"Your Majesty, it is true that Baode Mansion is remote and poor, but looking at its customs and sentiments, I am quite surprised!" Shi Xizai said.
"What you said also surprised me!" Emperor Liu smiled: "As you said, is it possible to be poor and peaceful at the same time?"
"Exactly!" Shi Xizai replied without any pretense.
Facing Emperor Liu's scrutinizing gaze, Shi Xizai slowly said: "Although the area under the jurisdiction of Baode Mansion is remote, it has been in good health for a long time. The people live in peace and enjoy their jobs. Your Majesty should also know that before the founding of the Han Dynasty,
Thanks to Lao Ling Gong's achievements in protecting the territory and the people for twenty years, when the imperial court conquered the Khitan in the north, conquered the Dangxiang in the west, and defended the territory from moving north, there was no need to worry about foreign aggression and border dangers. It can be said that the officials and people of Baode Prefecture have enjoyed peace and tranquility for more than forty years.
....."
After hearing what he said, Emperor Liu nodded and said: "It is indeed not easy to have peace for such a long time. However, being comfortable for a long time is not necessarily a good thing. In such a long time, the growth of two or three generations will not be
Will it cause governance problems and social conflicts?”
Obviously, it is impossible to convince Emperor Liu with a few words. Shi Xizai responded: "If I say no, I will be deceiving the emperor! I inspected the prefectures and counties, and I did see some unfair people and unfair things. Among the officials,
There are also those who are lazy and lazy in government, but this is not a problem of Baode Prefecture alone.
Its folk customs are fierce and simple, and they are respectful to the imperial court. Even a small citizen knows how to respect the majesty of the imperial court. Although the people's livelihood is poor, outside of the years of famine, they pay the two taxes every year in full and on time. They are also very active in military service and corvee service.
response.
Of course, the common people are so active because of His Majesty and the imperial court's long-standing policy of lenient administration and benefiting the people, and the people are grateful. What I see from this is that the monarch and the people are harmonious, and the officials and the people are consistent, which is the high-spirited and glorious destiny of the imperial dynasty.
..."
"Okay, okay!" Seeing that Shi Xizai was getting more and more mysterious, Emperor Liu quickly interrupted him and glanced at him sideways: "Let's talk about the problem of Baode Mansion!"
Baode Mansion was established in the fifth year of Qianyou's reign, and its jurisdiction consisted of Yuanfu and Linzhou. It was a product of the restructuring of Hedong. However, it seems that this remote place is still not suitable for building a mansion.
Noticing Emperor Liu's eyes, Shi Xizai had a slight embarrassment on his face, and then continued: "If there is any problem, it is that the people's customs are fierce, private fights are serious, vicious incidents often occur, and it is difficult to effectively control them, and the people
When things happen, it’s better to keep things private. The government’s management of affairs is limited to towns. If there is no detailed investigation and investigation, it will be difficult to go to the countryside. Officials are also happy to reduce the trouble of governance..."
"How can this be the situation in Baode Prefecture? Except for the fierce folk customs, this is the case in most parts of the country!" Emperor Liu sighed.
This means that the imperial power will no longer go to the countryside. Even if Emperor Liu doesn't want to see this, there is really nothing he can do. The national conditions are like this and the social class is like this, and the court cannot achieve such meticulous management.
At that time, we also tried changes, such as letting retired officers and soldiers go to the countryside and return to the villages as officials, with the intention of breaking the old clan system. There were positive effects, and some results were achieved, such as improving the people at the bottom's understanding of the Han Empire and Emperor Liu
recognition.
But as time went by, I discovered that I still took it for granted. What he did was just to give grace to the retired officers and soldiers, allowing them to rely on the authority of the imperial court and become the new clan elders, local snakes, and the structure of the imperial countryside.
Nothing has changed.
By now, Emperor Liu had long given up on his delusions about the imperial power going to the countryside...
"Baode Mansion is also home to many ethnic groups. How are the conflicts between the Hu and Han people?" Emperor Liu asked again.
In this regard, Shi Xizai once again gave an unexpected answer: "The territory under its jurisdiction is half Han people, and the other half is Dangxiang, Khitan, and Tyuhun ethnic groups. However, after years of mixed living and integration, conflicts along racial lines are already very rare.
Farmers and pastoralists should not invade each other."
"To put it this way, it is not as troublesome as the other ways in the northwest!" Emperor Liu smiled a little. The issues left over from history and the ethnic conflicts in the northwest have almost become Emperor Liu's heartache.
"In your words, the officials and people of Baode Mansion are my loyal ministers and obedient people. Since they live in poverty, can there be policies and measures to help them become rich and enjoy food and clothing forever?" asked Shi Xizai with interest.
In response to this, Shi Xizai slowly shook his head: "To be honest with you, I am personally satisfied with the political and public sentiment in Baode Mansion. With all due respect, all I can do is to maintain political integrity, keep officials clean, and combat corruption."
Illegal, seek justice for the people, and provide them with a relatively fair and comfortable livelihood. Other than that, I don’t want to do too much.”
"Your idea is unique and much more practical than those officials who swear in front of me that they will make the people under their rule rich!" Emperor Liu raised his eyebrows.
Shi Xizai also answered truthfully: "The Han Dynasty has a vast territory, with thousands of prefectures and counties. There are places of wealth and nobility, but there are places of poverty and hardship that don't even know about others. It is our duty and responsibility to seek the welfare of the people. However, if you want to
Wealth, wealth, food and clothing depend on the people themselves.
We have always been worried about inequality rather than scarcity. For the people, fairness comes before poverty. Therefore, all I need to do is to do my best to be fair to the people, be public-minded, and uphold the public law. That's all!"
Seeing that Emperor Liu was thoughtful, Shi Xizai continued: "I have been inspecting Hedong for several months and have come to this conclusion. I plan to follow this policy in the future. If there is any inappropriateness, please correct me!"
Upon hearing this, Emperor Liu suddenly came to his senses, took a deep look at Shi Xizai, and sighed: "I originally thought you were a scholar, but this scholar's view is really thought-provoking!"
"Everyone is different, and they each have their own governance policies and ideas. You can use it according to your ideas. I will wait and see. I hope that in a few years, Hedong will be greatly governed. But one thing needs to be remembered. Focusing on agriculture and nourishing the people is a basic national policy.
You should pay more attention to this matter!" Emperor Liu said seriously.
"I will remember your Majesty's teachings!" Shi Xizai said.
After a while, Emperor Liu asked: "After so many years, what is the reputation of the Zhe family in Baode Mansion?"
Hearing the emperor's sudden question about this matter, Shi Xizai suddenly felt a little nervous. He raised his eyes and observed, only to see a casual look on Emperor Liu's face. After hesitating for a while, he decided to tell him honestly: "The people within the territory, especially the original
The people of Fuzhou are still grateful for the kindness of the two generations of princes of the Zhe family. The people also voluntarily donate to the public temple of Zhe Laoling, offering worship at all times, and the incense is endless. The Zhe family is still the leading family in Baode Prefecture, with a high reputation.
.”
Unlike other relatives, the Zhe family has a base that has been operating for many years, and its influence spreads all over the country. Although the former Duke of Zhe started from Ruan, Emperor Liu consciously reduced his family's influence on the prefecture. At that time, he merged the prefecture with the prefecture.
, this is the reason. Until the state head Zhe De was transferred from Baode Mansion, Emperor Liu did not take any more actions towards the Zhe family.
Therefore, some of the key members of the direct lineage of the Zhe family were transferred to various places in the Han Dynasty to serve, but there were still many members of the clan left in Baode Mansion to maintain the prestige and influence accumulated over two generations.
For the Zhe family, more than twenty years is enough time to put the family's mark on a place. This is what happened to Fuzhou in the past and Baodefu today.
Looking at Shi Xizai's nervous expression, Emperor Liu smiled freely: "When the world was in turmoil, Mr. Zhe, the old man, endured hardships and overcame all obstacles to create a rare place of shelter for the people of Fuzhou. He has never forgotten his kindness to the people of Fuzhou. To this day,
I am still very grateful, which shows that the simplicity of the people's hearts is understandable and should be praised!"
After saying that, Emperor Liu ordered Zhang Dejun who was waiting on him: "I have given an oral instruction that after passing through Taiyuan, Concubine Zhe and her son will go to Baode Mansion to pay homage on their behalf. It just so happens that after more than twenty years, Concubine Xian will also be honored.
Come back!"
"yes!"
"Your Majesty is so magnanimous and benevolent that I admire you greatly!" Shi Xizai said immediately after hearing this from the sidelines.
Emperor Liu smiled, and a gust of autumn wind blew by, and he couldn't help but sneeze. Seeing this, Shi Xizai said: "Your Majesty, it's cold here, so you should go back to the hall and rest!"
Emperor Liu did not force himself to hold on. He was still very careful about his health. He stood up and told Shi Xizai: "Assist Li Ye to prepare for the ancestor worship!"
"This is what it should be!" Shi Xizai responded immediately.
When arriving in Jinyang, it is naturally necessary to worship heaven and ancestors.