Chapter 296: Recruiting all Empress Wus brain trust
Lixingfang.
Li Mansion.
This is a property purchased by Duke Wei in Luoyang. It is located in the north of the city, not far from the imperial city, and has a rather low-key style.
Li Yan has been keeping a low profile these days. He goes to the martial arts training ground at work and gets off work on time at noon. Everything follows the story of Chang'an.
But sometimes it’s not good to go home too early, as there is an endless stream of people visiting every day.
Those who gave gifts, those who sent poems, those who invited to banquets, those who wanted to visit the house, all kinds of things, the invitations were piled higher than the people.
Li Derjian was old and stayed in Chang'an and did not come over. Fortunately, many stewards and servants from Duke Wei's mansion came over, and Li Yan was handed over to them.
Most of them refused, a few responded with a gift, and a very few only met in person.
Even so, there was a long line of carriages waiting outside the house, just hoping to get lucky when he got off work.
Li Yan was not surprised by this. The scene outside Li Jingxuan's mansion in the past was even more spectacular than this. He was young, and many older people would not be able to keep their faces down, otherwise they would be even more exaggerated.
But this time, Li Yan took the initiative to greet the guests.
From a distance, I saw Miao Shenke walking forward quickly and bowing down: "Li Jiyi has been so kind to me, but I can't repay it in return!"
Li Yan immediately helped him up: "Miao Zuolang, you and I are also old friends, why should we do this?"
Miao Shenke lost a lot of weight, even a little bit emaciated. His eyes turned red: "Yes! I must! Li Jiyi's move is a gift for reincarnation. The subordinates dare not deceive him. Originally, we all had the desire to resign and return home."
I miss my family..."
Li Yan looked at this North Gate bachelor and thought to himself, if it hadn't been for my appearance, you would be in great glory now.
Historically, the Six Beimen Bachelor Group had been in prominence for nearly twenty years, and were not eliminated until the eve of Wu Zetian's ascension to the throne.
Since Li Yan entered Chang'an, Empress Wu's path has become unsatisfactory, and even her think tank has been miserable, and they even have the idea of resigning.
How many people work hard every year just to get an official position. The Beimen bachelors come from a poor family and their family background is not high. It is not easy to get to this point. They are forced to resign. This shows how much pressure from the outside world is there.
It wasn't until the prince intended to give a mansion to the first family of the list, and at the same time arrange residence in Luoyang for middle- and lower-level officials, and the six Beimen bachelors were on the list, everything changed.
Rewards from superiors are never just rewards, but also political signals.
Just like the Gong family, how could they have such a distinguished family background in just a few decades? It was precisely because they succeeded in building Luoyang and won the award from Li Zhi. Everyone knew that this family had caught the eye of the saint, so they took advantage of the opportunity to expand.
stand up.
At this time, the prince's inclusion of the six North Gate bachelors in the room allocation list was also a clear signal, and the path for Miao Shenke and others was immediately broadened.
This tolerance slightly changed the attitude of the officials.
After all, everyone wants their immediate boss to be humane, not unkind and unkind.
Li Yan helped Miao Shenke up and took him to his seat.
After Miao Shenke thanked him again, he took out a memorial and said with some trepidation: "This is the "Eight Suggestions" we have drafted. I hope His Highness the Crown Prince can adopt it. I would like to ask Li Jiyi to read it first."
Li Yan waved his hand: "I am not an official of the East Palace. I never accept the memorials given to His Highness the Crown Prince."
Miao Shenke said nervously: "That's not what I meant by the official. Originally, the six of us wanted to visit the mansion together, but we were unsure, so I came first..."
Li Yan saw that he was quite incoherent, and knew that this person really needed some confidence, so he nodded and said: "There is no need to take a look at it. Please give Miao Zuolang a few words."
In fact, he was quite curious about what the "Eight Things to Say" was about. After all, it was a stepping stone for the prince, and the North Gate bachelor must have racked his brains.
Miao Shenke cheered up, put away the memorial, and said directly: "First, encourage farmers and mulberry trees, and pay less for corvee."
Li Yan nodded: "This is the king's way. It is about sharing the same interests with the people. As long as it is implemented in practice, it is excellent."
Miao Shenke continued: "Second, restore the three auxiliary lands and exempt the Guanzhong area from corvee service."
Li Yan agreed: "The disaster in Guanzhong this time was too serious. The burden on the people of Guanzhong should be reduced to facilitate reconstruction after the disaster."
Miao Shenke paused and said slowly: "Third, save time and money and avoid strength classes."
Li Yan's eyes lit up: "Okay, I have long thought that strength classes were inappropriate!"
"Officials have many benefits, so how can they lack some labor force? The labor courses are mostly designed to exploit the people!"
"He Lan Minzhi was like this in the early years. I couldn't do anything to him at that time. Now it would be a great blessing if I could be exempted from the strength class!"
These words were sincere and set the tone.
It is precisely to let the North Gate bachelor know that once he switches to the crown prince, his priorities will change.
Sure enough, Miao Shenke understood that what the Crown Prince was doing was different from that of Empress Wu, and he immediately expressed his stance: "We will be loyal and diligent in the king's affairs, manage people's livelihood well, make the people live in peace, and work for all the people!"
Li Yan didn't believe what he said. He wanted to see actual actions. He nodded and said, "Go on."
Miao Shenke said: "Fourth, no construction should be done in the palace city, and it is forbidden to be cunning."
Li Yan thought for a while and suddenly said: "His Royal Highness is not an extravagant person, but the officials and the people don't know it. The promulgation of this matter can also let the world see that His Highness is frugal and set an example. He is indeed thoughtful."
Miao Shenke said: "The fifth is Guangyan Road; the sixth is Du Slander."
Li Yan frowned: "What about seventh and eighth?"
Miao Shenke showed a cautious look again: "Seventh, officials of the eighth rank or above will receive a salary increase; eighth, officials who have served for a long time, but those with high talents and low positions will be delayed in advancement."
Li Yan fell silent.
It sounds like this is to rectify the administration, allow more talented officials to be appointed, and prevent those **** from getting high positions.
But this is actually the old profession of the Beimen Scholar, who wants to assist the prince in dealing with officials from aristocratic families who are from the high-men gentry clan.
Even if the poor family in this era is not poor, Li Yan still hopes that talented scholars from poor families can get the treatment they deserve.
Because only when the opportunities for poor families are greater, ordinary people will have more opportunities to rise, and the solidification of classes will be further eliminated.
but not now.
Li Yan pondered for a moment, but did not reject it directly. Instead, he asked: "Miao Zuolang was born as a Jinshi. In his early years, he studied at the Sixth School of the Second Hall of Chang'an?"
Miao Shenke smiled bitterly and said: "How can we be lucky enough to enter the second school and the sixth school? We all studied in the prefecture and county schools."
Li Yan nodded: "Taizong established academies in various states to allow more people to receive education. However, the doctors from many academies were perfunctory and misled their children..."
He still remembers that the doctor from Liangzhou Academy ignored the facial features. You must know that he is still studying history, and traveling back to ancient times can be regarded as his professional counterpart. As a result, it took three months to brew, and the doctor didn't even bother to ask for a name.
This grudge will last a lifetime.
Miao Shenke was deeply moved: "The PhDs in the prefecture and county schools are indeed mixed, but I met a famous teacher by chance and gave them advice, otherwise there would be no hope for the imperial examination."
Li Yandao: "If we can change the educational bias in prefectures and counties all over the world, then talents from poor families can make progress. This is difficult to do, and the road ahead is long and arduous!"
Miao Shenke understood and hurriedly said: "I was too hasty..."
Li Yan did not finish his words: "Your Highness, the current priority is the disaster. The top priority of the imperial court is to completely quell the disaster in the pass and allow the people to recuperate. The dead are gone. What we can do is to make the lives of the living better."
"
Miao Shenke stood up and saluted sincerely: "I understand, thank you very much Li Jiyi!"
He was ready to go back and discuss with the other five people to revise the "Eight Suggestions" to focus entirely on people's livelihood.
Li Yan stood up and returned the courtesy: "It is also a blessing for the country to have such talented people assisting the prince. I hope you will become capable officials in governing the world and leave your name in the annals of history!"
Historically, when Wu Zetian became the Queen of Heaven, she promulgated the "Twelve Matters of Advice", which was the result of the collective efforts of Beimen scholars.
There are many more contents in it, such as requiring everyone below the prince to study "Laozi", and requiring officials to mourn for three years after their mother dies, etc.
The former is to use Taoist learning to further attack Confucianism, which believes that men are superior to women and women are inferior. The latter is clearly to enhance the status of women and further consolidate her position as the Queen of Heaven.
Selfishness is back on the agenda, but the other ten points, taken together, are also good strategies for enriching the country and strengthening the people, making good use of talents, and winning over hundreds of officials.
During the period when Empress Wu was the Queen of Heaven, she was relatively satisfied with her current status. While firmly holding on to power, she was able to manage state affairs. Later, she had a new goal and wanted to be the empress, and she gave in to power in state affairs and people's livelihood.
Now that he can recruit the North Gate bachelor who is extremely efficient in his work, and add more strength to the disaster relief and rescue the people, his hard work will not be in vain.
After Miao Shenke felt relieved and left happily, the stewards began to sort out new greetings and invitations, picking out those that needed attention.
Li Yan fed Xiao Hei and Ying'er, watching Xiao Hei's black eyes looking to the side from time to time, and rubbed its head: "Do you miss Wan'er?"
"She went to the palace to visit the Crown Princess and will probably stay overnight."
"Next, I have to restore her surname, remove her sinful body, and rescue her mother from Shang Gong. I'm very busy!"
Xiao Hei couldn't understand the particularly complicated words, but he also roughly understood that Wan'er wouldn't be back tonight. After eating, he curled up next to Li Yan.
Li Yan petted the cat comfortably, thinking that even if he continued to reduce his workload at work, there were still a lot of things going on recently.
There are Yang Zaiwei and the man in black who need to be solved, and there is also the strange head that Zheng Sanlang was unwilling to explain in the previous case of Beiya Baiqi's disappearance.
All this requires capable helpers, and he really missed Di Renjie and Qiu Shenji.
These two people are still in the village near Tongguan. If Zheng Sanlang still doesn't explain what happened to the head in a few days and the village owner doesn't come back, they will be summoned to Luoyang first.
At this time, Xu Da went inside and reported: "Xiao Lang, there is a commander of the imperial army coming to visit outside. He is a Silla man named Jin Liangtu."
Li Yan raised his eyebrows. He asked An Shengan to investigate this person, but there was no result yet. Why did he take the initiative to get involved and come directly to the door?
You must know that this is very rude behavior except for people who are very close to you, and the other person does not seem to be such a rash person.
"Let Jin Changshi come in, arrange to wait in the front hall, and give him a cup of tea."
Thinking of that obedient look, Li Yan decided to meet him and smiled slightly: "From now on, we will call them Tang Dynasty people. This is the most proud and sensitive thing about people like them..."