Beginning in the first year of Qianyou, the Han Dynasty began to implement the policy of granting land and positions to officers, and it has continued to this day. As of the eleventh year of Qianyou, the various prefectures under the Han Dynasty served as local prefectures and counties due to their military exploits and retirement.
The number of township officials has reached more than 50,000.
This is not a small number. Except for a small number who were appointed as state and county officials, the vast majority of them were assigned to return to their hometowns, or were arranged nearby and became local officials in the Han Dynasty.
This is also the so-called "imperial power going to the countryside" movement, with meritorious service personnel as the main body. Those who are awarded the title have all fought on the battlefield for the Han Dynasty, made meritorious service, and shed blood in order to receive rewards.
Therefore, these people have a relatively high degree of recognition of the imperial court, and they can actually respect the imperial court and implement policies. They have meritorious services, land, and power. With the imperial court as their backing, their honor and prestige can be felt in the countryside.
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This large number of people is a powerful weapon for the central government to strengthen its influence and management of local areas. Over the past ten years, it has indeed produced certain positive effects. At the same time, it also represents the resurgence of an ancient and traditional force. Then
It is the military landlord class.
However, everything has its advantages and disadvantages. The officers and soldiers who transferred to local areas not only served as catchers, dispatch officers, and maintained public security, but a large number of them were also responsible for the management of rural areas.
However, for a group of Qiuba who are basically uneducated, it is not a big problem to let them fight and fight on the battlefield. However, if they are allowed to manage people's livelihood, manage rents and taxes, and coordinate neighbors, it will be difficult to achieve smooth sailing.
Because they come from the military and have a tough style, many people act very rudely and do not follow the law or reason when things happen, but prefer to use their power to suppress others. If this is all, this has prompted many people to do things after going to the countryside.
Prestige is a blessing, a phenomenon in the fish and meat village.
Many disputes and cases were handled privately without being reported to the government. Theft, injury, adultery, etc. were all regarded as "minor matters", and even some incidents involving human life were handled without authorization.
As for these "officers" in the countryside, the people are either afraid of their power or intimidated by their coercion, so they dare not resist, and they dare not bring matters to the government's attention. Although, so far, this is only a partial phenomenon, but such phenomena are becoming more and more common.
This proves that there is a problem.
This is what Zhao Li has been following and investigating in recent times. Liu Chengyou immediately paid attention to it after reading his memorial. From the supervisory memorials received by the Metropolitan Procuratorate, Liu Chengyou dug out a series of
Disadvantage cases.
For example, there was a township chief in Beizhou who liked to flog the people. No matter how big or small the fault was, he would be punished with fifty lashes.
For example, Puzhou is one mile long, and there are cases under its control. The people are prohibited from filing complaints against the government and can decide on their own.
For example, there was a county captain in Huazhou who used poor land to enrich the people's land.
For example, there was a policeman in Jinzhou who seized other people's wives and persecuted their families...
And these people all have a common feature, they are all retired officers and soldiers. Similar incidents are too numerous to enumerate, and they can be said to be full of evil deeds, all over Daozhou counties and towns. And the local officials are clear and capable, and have great achievements.
There are many people who have been punished, but most of them are scrupulous due to their "status". As long as they don't go too far and make things big, they just turn a blind eye. After all, the emperor
I have also said that these people are all meritorious personnel of the Han Dynasty and an important part of the Han Dynasty in governing the countryside...
Before the Zhao Li case, he had been working hard to supervise and investigate such common cases. He was preparing to make a big move, impeaching local officials who were officers and soldiers, and asking the emperor to change the policy. However, what happened Before he was prosecuted, his own case was already filed.
Liu Chengyou had never paid attention to these matters before, and his officials rarely reported them. Even if they were brought to justice, they would only be handled on a case-by-case basis in accordance with the normal regulations of the court.
However, when this kind of thing becomes a common problem in the local area, it becomes a very serious problem from an overall perspective. The "imperial power sent to the countryside" that Liu Chengyou had long hoped for does not seem to have achieved the expected results. On the contrary, Over the years, it has gradually developed into a new malady.
Liu Chengyou intentionally weakened the influence of local clans and powerful officials and strengthened local control and management through these military landlords and officials. However, judging from the results, it seems that he only replaced part of the role of those people.
The rise of the military landlord class in the countryside only represents a new local force. They are not essentially different from the original clans, powerful people, and landlords. They only represent the imperial court in name, and in comparison, they are more interested in the imperial court. Submit.
At the beginning of the country, the central authority was strong. They were an extension of the policy will of the emperor and the court, which had great positive significance. But it is foreseeable that as time goes by, they will eventually integrate and evolve with local forces, and finally become entrenched. ...
With this understanding, Liu Chengyou suddenly discovered that he still took the governance of the countryside for granted. After all, the imperial power sent to the countryside was only an ideal state and a problem that could not be completely solved. In the current imperial society, it seemed that it could only be done within a certain period of time. , to make a certain degree of improvement. As for more, it is just delusion.
After thinking about this, Liu Chengyou felt helpless and depressed. Compared with the Zhao Li case, this made him feel more uncomfortable and helpless. Of course, for Liu Chengyou, this problem was not that serious. , because this seems to be just a matter of social governance and does not have much impact on the imperial power and his throne.
No matter how those military officers and landlords changed, in essence, they were a force that maintained the emperor and the court's local rule. However, the development of this force deviated somewhat from Liu Chengyou's original intention...
"Fan Qing is here! Take your seat quickly!"
"Thank you, Your Majesty!" In the Chongzheng Hall, they looked at the emperor who was rumored to be in a bad mood recently, and Fan Zhi accompanied him carefully.
"What brings you here?" Liu Chengyou got straight to the point.
Fan Zhi did not hesitate, and submitted a thick memorial, saying: "Your Majesty, regarding the Zhao Li fraud case, there are a total of 85 officials and personnel involved in the case, including criminals and criminals in Beijing, the Ministry of Punishment, and Dali Temple Now that the trial is over, the punishment is as follows, please review it by Your Majesty!"
"Yeah!" Liu Chengyou responded, picked it up and looked at the penalty result. He quickly frowned and said, "Is it too light?"
Hearing this, Fan Zhi said calmly: "Your Majesty, the government's judgments are all based on the severity of the crime and are handled in accordance with the "Penal Regulations"!"
According to Yousi's sentencing, there were 36 people convicted of the crime in Beijing. The circumstances were serious and only 11 were sentenced to death. Liu Chengyou's intention was also obvious: he felt that too few people had been killed.
After hearing his answer, Liu Chengyou said immediately: "I am not questioning the judge's decision, but I just judge based on the circumstances. The case of Zhao Li can be called the largest fraud case since the founding of the People's Republic of China. As a member of the Metropolitan Procuratorate, he is responsible for the heavy responsibility of supervision. His body is not upright. His behavior is unruly, his evil deeds are obvious, and he has ruined the reputation and authority of the imperial court. If he does not strictly punish him with strict rules and regulations, how can he give an explanation to the people of the world, and how can he warn the ministers of the world?"
Seeing the emperor's reaction, Fan Zhi was silent for a while, stood up, cupped his hands and said solemnly: "Your Majesty's legislation was originally designed to prevent rape. Now the officials have followed the rules and made the decision without any omissions. If the sentence is changed easily, it will be a violation of the law and unfair." .In this way, how can we show the seriousness of the Dharma and convince the people of the world?"
Well, this Fan Zhi started to argue with the emperor again.
In response to this, Liu Chengyou's expression turned cold and his tone became less friendly: "Is Fan Qing accusing me of improper usage and unfair law enforcement?"
"I don't dare, I just tell him based on reason and discuss the matter!" Facing the emperor's gaze, Fan Zhi showed no fear at all.
Hearing this, Liu Chengyou took a few deep breaths, calmed down, and said in a cold voice: "This is a special matter, and I will treat this case as a serious matter!"
Fan Zhi also said calmly: "Your Majesty, please issue an edict, but I dare not sign it!"
"you!"
Liu Chengyou choked and immediately recalled that it was also because of a corruption case that Liu Chengyou committed the murder and Fan Zhizhu punished him in accordance with the law. At that time, Fan Zhi also responded to Liu Chengyou in this way, and that time, he chose to listen to Fan Zhi. suggestion.
But this time, after looking at each other for a while, Liu Chengyou said forcefully: "All persons involved in this case will be punished with an additional penalty!"
Obviously, the emperor wanted to take action by force. However, Fan Zhi seemed to have no choice but to respond silently. As for Liu Chengyou, Zhu Bi made an approval and directly handed it down.
After forcibly implementing his will, Liu Chengyou's mood seemed to have improved a lot. It was a comfortable feeling. Looking at Fan Zhi with a stiff expression, he suddenly smiled at him and said: "Fan Qing, Zhao Li fucked me before he died. A memorial, I also have some memorials from the Metropolitan Procuratorate, take a look, I want to hear your opinions!"
After saying that, Liu Chengyou ordered people to give him all the piles of memorials about the shortcomings of military officials in the countryside for reading.
Fan Zhi also calmed down his helpless mood, took it and looked through it with a little doubt, and his expression gradually became serious.