When Zhao Xu arrived at the Qingshou Palace, he immediately discovered that the Empress Dowager's face was obviously very bad.
Just when she saw him coming, she forced a smile: "The officials are here..."
"The great mother is well." Zhao Xu stepped forward and saluted: "The queen is well."
"The official family has finally arrived..." When the Empress Dowager saw Zhao Xu, she couldn't help but say, "Something has happened to the court again!"
For the Empress Dowager, this April left a deep impression on her.
First, Zhang Dun won a great victory in the southern expedition, Jiaozhi surrendered, and the two countries negotiated peace terms, which fully satisfied the face of the Empress Dowager.
Just when she thought she could spend her birthday comfortably.
Things that made her angry happened one after another.
First, Wang Zhongxiu, Wang Gui's son, had an affair with a prostitute while observing his filial piety, which caused an uproar.
After finally calming down, Wu Anchi, the son of the former prime minister, came to commit murder in the street, causing a disturbance in the middle of the court, causing the crows at the Yushitai to chirp for several days.
It hasn't calmed down here yet, but another case of Zhang Chengyi robbing his father's tomb popped up over there.
It made the Empress Dowager feel that these people were all here for her.
I just don’t want her to have a comfortable birthday!
Now, we have encountered the case of Li Zong on Zizhou Road.
The Queen Mother just felt tired.
I just want to celebrate my birthday happily, is it so difficult?
But it’s impossible not to deal with these things.
Especially the Li Zong case, both the Central Committee and the government and the public are keeping an eye on this matter!
"It's all Wang Anshi's fault!" The Empress Dowager couldn't help complaining in her heart.
In her opinion, if Wang Anshi hadn't instigated and deceived the late emperor to violate the ancestral laws, how could there have been so many unpleasant things?
The world has long been at peace.
Zhao Xu nodded: "Replying to my mother-in-law, Sun Chen read the file before coming here."
"What do the officials think?" asked the Empress Dowager.
"Reporting to my mother-in-law, Sun Chen remembered that Emperor Taizong of the Tang Dynasty once said: Water can carry a boat but it can also capsize it."
"Since Yushitai said that many of the disadvantages of Zizhou Road originated from Li Zong, the Deputy Transport Envoy, in this case, Li Zong can no longer stay on Zizhou Road no matter what."
The two palaces listened and nodded.
This is a very reasonable choice.
After all, Li Zong is now, strictly speaking, being impeached.
The evidence of his crimes and crimes are only told by the crows at the Yushitai.
Theoretically, the imperial court neither knew nor grasped the relevant facts of the case.
Therefore, investigation is required.
During this process, it is a normal process to transfer Li Zong away and conduct an off-site review.
After all, he is a scholar-official!
Be decent!
In the Song Dynasty, civil servants became high-ranking officials at the level of envoys.
They already enjoy numerous preferential treatment in politics.
To put it bluntly, even if they are in jail, they are still different from others.
For example, when Su Shi was in prison for so many years, during the most miserable period, he did not miss out on eating and drinking, and even drank and had fun with his friends.
His suffering is only relative to that of him before the training.
This is the Song Dynasty.
A feudal dynasty that ruled the world together with scholar-bureaucrats!
"Your Majesty, not long ago, didn't the capital say that there was a vacancy in Jizhou? So they transferred Li Zong to the post of magistrate of Jizhou and ordered him to stay in the palace and be on standby?" Empress Dowager Xiang thought about it and said to the Empress Dowager.
"That's fine!" The Queen Mother nodded: "Let's do it this way."
"But, what should we do about the Zizhou Road matter?" asked the Empress Dowager.
Zhao Xu replied: "For the present plan, we can only send a capable minister and an honest official to Zizhou to investigate and appease the people."
After thinking for a while, Zhao Xu continued: "If the imperial court can, it would be best to exempt Zizhou from taxes..."
His experience of studying abroad in modern times told Zhao Xu a truth - the small-scale peasant economy in feudal society was extremely fragile.
It is common for children to suffer disaster at one year old and starve at three years old.
Moreover, the recovery of the small-scale peasant economy is extremely slow.
What Li Zong did on Zizhou Road must be a huge waste of people's power.
Therefore, Zizhou farmers must be given a chance to breathe.
This is not Zhao Xu’s change of character.
But he knows the importance of this long and thin stream.
The two palaces frowned when they heard this.
Of course they know about tax exemption, but what about money?
The country's annual revenue is so much, and military expenditures consume 60 to 70 percent.
This is because since last year, the peace talks with Dangxiang have reduced military expenditures along the border from their high levels, saving seven to eight million dollars.
But the money saved was swallowed up by other places in the blink of an eye.
Especially the floods in Hebei last year and the drought across the north.
Not only did it eat up the military surplus, but it also affected this year's tax revenue - Hebei, Hedong, Henan and the Yongxing Army were all exempted from taxes.
Therefore, the heads of the two palaces now somewhat know why the late emperor wanted to change the law in the first place.
If the law is not changed, the country's finances will not be able to sustain itself.
Money, money!
Money is needed everywhere.
If it weren't for Jiaozi, and it was related to Beilu, both palaces might have accepted the advice of some courtiers and printed more Jiaozi to solve the current financial crisis.
There was no other way. Empress Dowager Xiang could only hold Zhao Xu's hand and said: "The officials don't know something. Now the Ministry of Revenue doesn't have much money."
The Ministry of Accounts originally had some money.
But in the blink of an eye, the money was already booked on Huainan Road.
That's where you have to spend money.
The disaster in Huainan must be contained!
Otherwise, once the water transportation of the Grand Canal is affected, millions of soldiers and civilians in Bianjing City may go hungry.
So now, not a penny of the money from the Ministry of Accounts can be touched.
They must all be left on Huainan Road just in case.
"If it really doesn't work, we can only use the late emperor's sealing warehouse..." the Empress Dowager sighed.
"No!" Zhao Xu and Queen Mother Xiang said almost in unison.
Queen Mother Xiang naturally felt that all this money was left to her sixth brother by her husband.
Before Sixth Brother takes charge, she, the mother, must keep an eye on her.
She couldn't let her husband's hard-earned family fortune be ruined.
Zhao Xu is even simpler.
This opening cannot be opened.
Because as long as this hole is opened, the money for sealing the pile treasury no longer belongs to him.
The courtiers will, like ants moving, empty out the pile storage in a few years.
That is, it's a bit awkward for mother and son to speak out at the same time.
The Empress Dowager was also stunned for a moment, and then reacted.
She said in her heart: "They are really mother and son!"
Then she looked at Zhao Xu: "As expected of my Zhao family!"
This person who protects wealth as much as his life is indeed her husband's grandson.
As long as I live, I will tightly cover my wallet.
Even a copper plate will not be taken out at will.
Zhao Xu smiled shyly and said softly: "Mother, it's not that Sun Chen is stingy..."
"It's true that this money was left behind by the imperial examination, and Sun Chen couldn't bear to spend it casually..." As he spoke, his eyes turned red, he hypnotized himself, and entered into the story of Emperor Xuan of the Han Dynasty's old sword and his deep love for it.
"Besides, transporting money and silk from Bianjing to Zizhou is too far and expensive, so it's not worth it."
"It's better than this..." Zhao Xu thought for a while and said: "The mother-in-law and the queen mother will issue an edict to use the money from the sealing pile treasury in the palace to be injected into the household department to pay the exemption money due this year and next year on behalf of the people of Zizhou.
, free of charge."
This is equivalent to the central government spending money to provide financial subsidies to Zizhou Road.
At the same time, it can be regarded as a kind of capital injection.
Because according to the system, the money for free service and free travel on Zizhou Road, after deducting local expenses, will eventually be sent to Bianjing.
Now Zizhou Road can keep this part of the money.
In this way, the local market in Zizhou can be lubricated by this part of the funds.
The two palaces listened, looked at each other, and then nodded.
The matter on Zizhou Road can only be handled this way for the time being.
After all, the imperial court is actually keeping a dark eye on the specific situation of Zizhou Road.
Now, all the imperial court knows is the impeachment situation of the censors at the Yushitai.
But are these situations common in the local area? What are the details of local people’s lives?
The empress dowager, who was far away in Bianjing, was completely unaware of this.
Thinking of this, the Empress Dowager looked at the Queen Mother and asked: "Empress Dowager, do you remember Yan Shouqin, the Dihou who was beside the Queen Mother in the past? Now he is in Chengdu?"
He nodded to the Queen Mother and said, "Reporting to the Queen Mother, it is indeed the case."
"Why don't you let Yan Shouqin go to Zizhou Road and take a look as a casual official?"
"That's fine." He nodded to the Queen Mother.
Yan Shouqin went to Chengdu Prefecture, but still maintained the frequency of one small newspaper every three days and one big newspaper every ten days, reporting what he did in Chengdu to Bianjing.
Visit farmers, summon tea merchants, inquire about business routes...
At the same time, he taught farmers the techniques of growing tea and taught them how to make tea.
Overall, he did a pretty good job, and at least he felt to the Queen Mother that he didn't disgrace her.
"It's just that some of the ministers will be discussed by the courtiers."
"We have to select a civil servant to go to Zizhou Road."
The original transfer envoy of Zizhou Road retired from office last year.
This is also the reason why Li Zong has become more and more crazy this year - he wants to take over and successfully become the transporter.
In this way, he will have the opportunity to become an important minister at the waiting level.
The Empress Dowager thought for a while and said, "Why don't we send Zuo Si, who impeached Li Zong, to admonish Lu Tao?"
He hummed to the Queen Mother and said, "Your Majesty's arrangement is very appropriate."
"However, Lu Tao's qualifications are still a bit shallow."
"Zhong Manzhongxing, Zuo Si Lang, once served as the imperial censor and knew miscellaneous matters. He is familiar with the laws of the country and has always been upright. Why not send him to go with Lu Tao?"
The Queen Mother thought for a while and remembered who Manzhong Bank was?
The late Emperor's imperial censor, Shi Zhizhi, was the right-hand man of Huang Lu, the censor at that time.
After the death of the late emperor, he was appointed as the national messenger and went to the northern captives to announce the mourning of the Song Dynasty.
This person is from the New Party and has a good relationship with Deng Runfu, the leader of the New Party.
And Deng Runfu has always been the Empress Dowager's man - this is known to both the government and the public!
The Queen Mother's thoughts flashed across her mind, and she turned to the Queen Mother and said, "What the Queen Mother said is true."
It is normal for the Queen Mother to want to cultivate her own power.
As the Queen Mother, hasn’t she always done this?
Courtiers will also approach them intentionally or unintentionally for support and promotion.
"So Manzhongxing and Lu Tao were appointed as censors and went to Zizhou Road to investigate Li Zong's fraud case. Yan Shouqin was appointed as a free agent to handle official affairs and cooperate with the two censors." The Empress Dowager summoned Liang Congzheng and said to him: "That's it. According to this idea, tell the Academy of Sciences and order the Academy to implement it, and then send it to Yousi to implement it."
"promise!"
…
Chengdu.
The patter of rain hits the bluestone roads of this ancient city.
The wine flag in the distance flutters in the wind in the light summer rain.
Yan Shouqin squinted his eyes and sat in an elegant seat of the restaurant, sipping the fine wine from Huayang.
"How is Wang Zhongxiu doing lately?" he asked a man standing respectfully in front of him with a smile.
"Reporting to official business, the Wang family has been staying behind closed doors recently." The man nodded and bowed in reply.
"Staying behind closed doors?" Yan Shouqin pondered and sneered: "You're quite clever!"
"It's a pity...it's useless to be clever."
After Wang Zhongxiu kept his filial piety and had an affair with a prostitute, now the whole Chengdu Prefecture has known about it, so Wang Zhongxiu, the son of the Prime Minister Wang Gui, Duke of Xi, is unfilial.
This caused a devastating blow to the Wang family's reputation in Shilin.
There are already some scholar-bureaucrats who despise dealing with the Wang family.
But, this is only the first step!
The man in front of Yan Shouqin swallowed, leaned in front of him, and asked in a low voice: "What do you mean by official business?"
Yan Shouqin raised his head and glanced at this guy: "We didn't say anything."
The man laughed along with him: "Yes, yes... I didn't say anything about official matters."
But in my heart, I already understand it like a mirror.
The personal testimony of the big Diao Dang next to the Empress Dowager from Bianjing City - that behemoth in Huayang, the home of the prime minister that makes people like them feel terrified even when they look up at it.
It turns out that the palace is really evil!
They are guilty of this!
As a result, my thoughts have completely changed quietly.
The prime minister's house that I once looked up to, the hairpin's house that I was afraid of being neglected even if I took another look at it.
Now he has turned into a big fat pig, fat and strong, making his mouth water.
Although they had heard some legends in the past.
But in the end, no one dared to verify it.
That's the prime minister's home!
Moreover, it is said that the new officials in Bianjing were particularly tolerant of the old officials of the late emperor.
Former prime minister Runguo Gong is the best example!
Feng Guang returned to his hometown and went to Fujian. As soon as he returned to his hometown, he took charge of the construction of Quanzhou Shipping Company.
Moreover, every month, envoys from the capital go to Fujian to deliver gifts from the palace.
I heard that even one of Duke Runguo's concubines was given the title of county monarch by the current officials because of her meritorious service in serving Duke Runguo.
Therefore, in the eyes of Huayang people, the Wang family is still a fierce tiger!
No one dares to touch it.
It wasn't until the case of Wang Zhongxiu's affair with a prostitute broke out some time ago that the local people in Huayang woke up from a dream - it was just a sick tiger that had lost all its teeth and could no longer eat humans.
So, some people sharpened their heads desperately and moved closer to Yan Shouqin.
I just want to get confirmation from the palace that the Wang family will not be protected.
And now, they got the answer they wanted.
The Wang family is more than just a sick tiger?
Simply a fat sheep!
From Yan Shouqin's attitude and tone, they could clearly feel Yan Shouqin's encouragement.
"I heard that when brother Wang Zhongxiu returned to his hometown with his coffin in his arms, he brought back nearly a million dollars of goods..."
"It is said that the gold and silver alone can fill more than a dozen cars..."
Just thinking about it made this man unable to hold himself back.
A million-dollar windfall!
He only needs one bite and it will last him a lifetime!
This chapter has been completed!