In the eighth year of the Qingli period of the Song Dynasty, the country's strength steadily increased.
At this time, the Song Dynasty had already built its first railway - the Jingxiang Railway, which was not yet officially put into operation and was in the trial operation stage.
The steam power plant was completed on September 23rd and completed power generation on the 24th.
Steel mills, cement plants and brick factories were built in various places.
The output of various grains increased rapidly, and the market price of grain was kept very low. After the land tax was equalized, the population entered a period of rapid growth.
There are various glass shops, eyewear stores, and grain shops everywhere in the streets and alleys.
There was a constant stream of merchants coming and going from Bianliang.
Although in the vast rural areas, many people still live in poverty and hardship.
Despite extremely low taxes, they still worked hard on the farm, barely able to support their families and avoid starvation.
Huge gaps between the rich and the poor still exist.
But the rich people's thousands of miles of land had been destroyed. The court kept attacking the landlords, confiscating their land, and allowing the poor to own their own land.
As construction continues to deepen, labor wages are rising steadily, and many people are living a well-off life.
This was the era of the Song Dynasty, the best era of all feudal dynasties. Even the Kaiyuan era of Emperor Xuanzong of Tang could not compare to the magnificent scene today.
Time quickly came to late October of the eighth year of the Qingli period. Although it had not snowed since the beginning of winter, the weather was getting colder.
Everyone on the streets and alleys wore cotton-padded clothes and wrapped themselves tightly, not affected by the cold air at all. They continued to do what they were doing, with people coming and going, and the place was full of vitality.
After the morning court session on the 26th, Zhao Jun and Fan Zhongyan did not go to the Constitutional Court to work, but instead got on a carriage and headed towards the west gate.
In addition to Zhao Jun and Fan Zhongyan, there were also Privy Councilor Zhang Kang and Minister of War Fu Bi in the carriage.
This time we went out to actually mobilize the imperial guards.
Fan Zhongyan lifted the curtain of the carriage, and a gust of cold air suddenly blew in, making people shiver.
He looked at the crowds of people on the street and couldn't help but sigh, "What a peaceful and prosperous time! There's not even a beggar on the street."
"It's not that there aren't beggars, but they've all been cleared out by Lao Bao."
Zhao Jun laughed and said, "There are lazy people everywhere. They have all the limbs, but they still go out to beg for food. They are all caught by Lao Bao and sent to the factory to screw screws."
Fan Zhongyan was stunned for a moment, then said, "Is there really no one with a difficult family situation?"
"Of course there are, and a lot of them."
Zhao Jun turned his head and looked at the street outside the window. There were crowds of people, and people were everywhere struggling to make a living with patched clothes on their bodies.
He whispered, "But unless you really can't make a living, you're an orphan or a widow, or you're sick or disabled, who would be willing to be a beggar?"
"Don't the government care about these people?"
"Of course we have to take care of it."
"How do we manage it?"
"The court allocates funds, so you're in charge. You usually deal with documents from the Ministry of War, the Privy Council, the Censorate, and various other places regarding military affairs or reform achievements, but you pay little attention to people's livelihoods."
Zhao Jun said, "I've noticed a lot of official documents regarding this, and I've also received many letters from Kaifeng Prefecture and other local governments. Those struggling families like the ones you mentioned are often the focus of attention from Kaifeng Prefecture and other local governments. I've established a five-guarantee system, and monthly rice, oil, and subsidies are distributed on time to ensure the well-being of these struggling people. Although this means a significant increase in annual budget expenditures, it's also a measure of national support for the people, and it's the very reason for the nation's existence."
"That's good."
Fan Zhongyan nodded repeatedly after hearing this and said with deep emotion: "Han Long is indeed very thoughtful."
"The current prefect of Kaifeng Prefecture is Lao Bao, right?"
Zhao Jun smiled and said, "I'm still very satisfied with his abilities. He's very attentive to the care of these needy families. In the past, there have been cases of people bullying these weak people, or even falsely claiming subsidies for the "Five Guarantees" (households), and he's severely punished them."
"Well, Bao Zheng is indeed a good fit for this job. I hope he can continue to do a good job in his post in Kaifeng Prefecture."
Fan Zhongyan was also quite pleased.
Bao Zheng was promoted from the magistrate of Kaifeng Prefecture to the assistant magistrate, then to the co-magistrate, and finally to the prefect of Kaifeng Prefecture. It has been nearly ten years since then. He has a high reputation in Kaifeng Prefecture and can be said to be the popular choice.
No matter whether they were royal nobles or high-ranking officials, they would definitely not have a good ending if they fell into his hands. Even Zhao Jun was scolded by him in the street.
In the eyes of many officials in later generations, such subordinates are at most hardworking and willing to do all the dirty and tiring work. As for promotion, it is probably out of the question.
But in Zhao Jun's eyes, he is the best subordinate.
What he needs are officials who are capable of getting things done and working for the well-being of the people.
Therefore, even though Bao Zheng was under great pressure in the court and many powerful people had opinions about him, Zhao Jun still stood behind him like a pillar.
There was still a lot of traffic outside the car window, and their team slowly passed through the inner city streets.
"Cooked pancakes, freshly baked pancakes!"
"Give me a bowl of delicious wontons, give me a bowl."
"Today's newspaper headlines are quite interesting. They're constantly condemning the Western bandits for their repeated border raids over the years. Has the imperial court made any moves?"
"What kind of movement could there be? Ever since the recapture of Yanyun, the imperial court has been quiet. I'm so angry I'm dying."
"Look at the Great Wall, winding across the mountains; the Yellow River, meandering through the east. The Five Mountains are majestic, the Three Rivers are vast, the blue sea and blue sky reflect the bright sun. China is thriving, and all industries are flourishing."
"A good poem! This 'Qin Yuan Chun' should embody the style of our mighty Song Dynasty."
The tea stalls on the street are still crowded, and many people, even those who are not educated, will read newspapers to see if there is any latest news from the court.
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