Historically, Wang Anshi promulgated the Recruitment Law in the fourth year of Xining, after the Qingmiao Law. At that time, the backbone of the conservative forces had basically been demoted from the capital.
A closer look at Wang Anshi's reforms reveals that the policies he initially implemented basically did not directly involve the superficial interests of officials.
Whether it is the Equalized Loss Method or the Young Crops Method, they only involve businessmen, landlords, and common people.
This is because Wang Anshi learned the lesson of Fan Zhongyan. Fan Zhongyan wanted to streamline officials from the very beginning. This problem of redundant officials could not be solved without cutting officials. As a result, the ministers immediately counterattacked, causing the Qingli New Deal to end quickly without any problem.
Wang Anshi saw this and couldn't be stupid enough to do this. Instead, he said that laying off a few officials would not save much money, and making money was the only way to go.
This also makes his current environment not as difficult as Fan Zhongyan and others.
But later, Wang Anshi also thought of various means to streamline officials.
However, the arrival of Zhang Fei changed many things, which made Wang Anshi think that the time was ripe for promulgating the Recruitment Law. If he missed this opportunity and promulgated it two years later, he would encounter greater resistance.
But again, there is no perfect government order. As long as the government order changes, some people will benefit and others will suffer. In the end, it will be the butt that determines the head.
The wealthy households were of course very happy, but the officials were very angry about this law.
Also includes Sima Guang, Wen Yanbo and others.
Chui Gong Hall.
"The people don't add gifts, the people don't give gifts, does this mean that your people don't give gifts?"
Sima Guang sat on it regardless of the emperor, angrily shaking the newspaper in his hand towards Wang Anshi, frothing at the mouth, and really wanted to throw the newspaper directly on Wang Anshi's face.
Isn’t this called adding a gift?
Wen Yanbo was also excited and said: "If your recruitment method is not to make money for the country, what is it?"
It's so quick for you to reveal your true colors.
In the face of the two men's questioning, Chen Shengzhi remained silent. This old fox rarely expresses his opinions on such occasions, which shows that he does not wholeheartedly support Wang Anshi.
Wang Anshi smiled slightly and said: "We assume that the national service fee is ten guan, which is borne by ten people. Each person has to pay one guan. But now the total has not changed, but it is borne by one hundred people, and each person only needs to pay one hundred guan.
, do you think this is an increase or decrease in gifts?
Of course, if the people in your eyes are only those officials, Taoist priests, and monks who were exempted from military service before, then I admit that you are right."
Zhao Xu nodded slightly after hearing this, obviously very supportive of Wang Anshi's statement. Don't think that I am blind. It has long been known to everyone that those Taoist priests and monks used their privileges to evade taxes and make money.
The same is true for official households.
"Don't confuse things here."
Zhao Pian angrily scolded Wang Anshi, "We are not referring to official households, Taoist priests, and monks, but to the lower fifth-class households. Their lives are not easy, but you still make them pay tax exemption. Aren't you going to kill them?"
"
Wang Anshi retorted: "This is a method to enrich the people, not a method to impoverish the people."
Zhao Pian was stunned, "How to enrich the people?"
How shameless to say such a thing.
"Exactly!"
Wang Anshi said: "Does Prime Minister Zhao still remember Geng Ming at Luomapo?"
Zhao Pian was stunned for a moment, "Of course I remember, I am the one who tried this case."
Wang Anshi said: "Before Geng Ming's accident, there were twelve upper-class households in Luomapo. After Geng Ming's accident, as of this year, there are only two upper-class households in Luomapo. One is Wei Yushan, and the other one is Wei Yushan.
One family is Geng Ming, who won home the business last year.
Why is this? It’s because the upper-class households work hard, but feel that they are not as comfortable as the lazy people next door, so they gradually slack off in farm work and work hard for the lower-class households, even becoming tenant farmers of the landlord.
So much so that agricultural taxes are decreasing every year.”
Wen Yanbo retorted: "Those are just a few people. Most of them are lower-income households. They don't have much livelihood. If you still tax them, it will only arouse public resentment."
Wang Anshi hummed: "The people here are not worried about the scarcity but the inequality. Everyone has to pay, and the family wealth is used to distinguish the rich and the poor, but the amount of taxes is determined. It is fair and equitable, but the people will not have any complaints. Why is the Yamen servant?"
If public dissatisfaction boils over, it means only the upper-class households are allowed to serve."
"You are simply making excuses." Sima Guang said: "According to your method, on the surface, it is divided based on the amount, but you don't want to think about where the fifth-class households will get their money. They have to first divide their own money.
They convert grain and silk into money, and then use it to pay taxes. In this way, the money they pay may not be less than that of wealthy households. Also, how do you explain your two cents of leftover money? You are not making money for the country.
Exploiting people, what is it?”
The Recruitment Law contains a budget system, which means that each state government first budgets the required service fees, and then shares them equally with the people. However, Wang Anshi requested that on this basis, an additional 20% of the leftover money be levied.
Prepare for disasters.
Wang Anshi further explained: "The generous surplus is taken from the people and used for the people. This money is used to prepare for disasters and famines. Moreover, although they are divided into two parts, the rich households have to pay more and the poor pay less.
During periods of famine, the poor are in greater need of relief, so the rich help the poor."
Sima Guang laughed angrily, "How can you help the poor with the rich? If the people of the lower and lower classes can't survive now, how can they survive the famine years? If you follow this method, the people will suffer from disasters every year. It is not a natural disaster, but a natural disaster.
It’s a man-made disaster.”
After talking about it, he pointed at Wang Anshi fiercely.
He turned around and cupped his hands to Zhao Xu and said: "Your Majesty, I think this method is absolutely impossible. Firstly, the people's burden is already very heavy. If the imperial court imposes another tax exemption, it will make them worse.
Secondly, this method ignores the reality. People use coins in exchange for labor, which will inevitably give profiteers an opportunity to fish in troubled waters. At that time, people will have to sell their property at a low price in order to pay taxes.
Thirdly, although there were many shortcomings in the previous Yamen service, it was only done once every year. According to this method, long-term employment is required every year, which will increase the burden on the people and the court at the same time. It is tantamount to abandoning the good and chasing the weak, and the gain is not worth the loss."
Wen Yanbo also said: "Your Majesty, this recruitment law will only give local governments more reasons to exploit the people. How much is the annual service fee and how the people's wealth is divided. This will give those corrupt officials an opportunity to take advantage of it. It is absolutely undesirable."
ah!"
Wang Anshi said: "Your Majesty, isn't this royal police just a draft service? Therefore, the court levied more carriage, horse and sedan fees, more street trespass taxes, and more violation fees?
Regardless of the number, everyone is equal in terms of license plate fees, violation fees, and street trespass taxes. It is said that this law was set by Zhang San, the founder of the legal system.
Regarding Zhang San’s legal attainments, I believe I don’t need to go into details.
What is the result? Public security is better, the streets are cleaner, and the traffic is not blocked. Even the dignitaries and the common people, even after paying money, still applaud it.
In addition, there is another very important reason. In the past, the servants did not get paid. They could only take advantage of their positions to exploit the citizens, which caused the people to lose far more than paying taxes.
many.
The Royal Police are paid and have opportunities for advancement. In order to cherish this job, they will not easily commit illegal acts. This is why the Royal Police are praised.
And where the police station was established, they said the same thing. Of course, Bachelor Sima didn't say much at the time, which after all was conducive to his judicial reform."
When the Royal Police comes out, who can compete with them?
This really caught Sima Guang off guard.
The Royal Police is a police force that was converted into a draft service, and it has achieved great success. If it had a bad image, it would not be called the Royal Police.
For the sake of the police department, the license plate tax, violation tax, and street trespass tax are all included in the finances of the Royal Police.
"okay!"
Zhao Xu interrupted their argument and said: "The success of the Royal Police is indisputable. In this case, why not use it for other services."
Wen Yanbo said eagerly: "Your Majesty, that's why the Royal Police is successful!"
Zhao Xu asked: "Why?"
Wen Yanbo was stunned, yes! Why?
Why was the police station so successful in the first place?
In this impression, it was just a few piles of feces, and then it became.
Wang Anshi immediately said: "Your Majesty, in fact, many of the duties overlap with those of the Royal Police. Isn't Your Majesty planning to expand the Royal Police? If the two are integrated, a lot of expenses can be left."
Zhao Xu's eyes lit up. The teacher and student really had a good understanding of each other, and he immediately said: "It's accurate."
After Zhao Xu left, Wang Anshi smiled at Sima Guang and said: "Jun Shi! Look, the laws I have changed are all beneficial to your judicial reform. Do you still think I have selfish motives?"
Sima Guang angrily shouted: "You are trying to destroy the police station. If the people know that the extra money they paid is all because of the Royal Police, will they still respect the Royal Police? Just wait, you are setting yourself on fire."
.”
After that, he waved his sleeves and left angrily.
Zhang family.
"Okay, okay!"
Gao Wenyin nodded happily and said with a choked voice: "It's great that this Yaqianbu is about to be deposed."
Zhang Fei glanced at Gao Wenyin in surprise, because this woman rarely expressed her opinions on such matters, and saw that her watery almond eyes were filled with tears, "Madam, is it not so exaggerated?"
Gao Wenyin said with a hint of anger: "This government official has done a lot of harm to people and should have been deposed long ago."
Zhang Fei said: "It depends on the person. I also served in the Yamen Service and I enjoyed it very much. It's a pity that they forced me to retire."
"You're right, it's the one who scored the points." Xu Zhiqian said angrily: "This reform by Bachelor Wang is so disappointing."
Zhang Fei asked again: "What do you think?"
Xu Zhiqian said: "Official households are richer than upper-class households, so why should they only pay half of the same as the poor? The poor already have a hard life, but it only adds to their burden. Shouldn't the official households pay twice as much and be exempted from it?
A poor man’s tax.”
She had always supported Wang Anshi's reform, but this reform disappointed her. It was different from what she had imagined!
Gao Wenyin nodded and said, "What Zhiqian said makes sense."
Zhang Fei smiled and said: "If you go by your words, the official family should pay the most taxes."
Xu Zhiqian said: "It should be so."
Gao Wenyin was startled, "Sanlang, Zhiqian, you can't say this nonsense!"
At this moment, someone outside the door suddenly said: "Senior Sima?"
The three of them looked up and saw Sima Guang walking angrily.
Before they could be greeted, Sima Guang had already arrived in the hall, and the three of them quickly stood up and saluted.
Zhang Fei asked: "Sima Scholar is here. What advice do you have?"
Sima Guang's face was filled with anger and he didn't say a word. He just glanced at Xu Zhiqian and Gao Wenyin.
The two girls left very wisely.
After they left, Sima Guang suddenly pointed at Zhang Fei and said, "This is all your fault."
Zhang Fei was surprised and said: "Why do you blame me?"
Sima Guang said excitedly: "If you hadn't set up a police station, how could Wang Jiefu use this as an excuse to make money for the country?"