"Zuo Zhuan said: The important affairs of the country are sacrifice and garrison." Liu Chehuan looked at the courtiers around him, slowly organized his words, and told the real purpose of his trip.
If we just want to fight corruption, does the emperor need to personally end it?
No need at all, a small official is enough!
Is there anyone who dares to resist the monarchy?
Only when earth, water, wind, and fire are to be redefined and the rules of the game rewritten, does the emperor need to step out personally to hold the battle in check.
"In the past, when the world was first settled, our emperor, Emperor Gao, ordered the prime minister, Xiao He, to make a decree to use the tax calculations as a means of managing the country's treasury, troops, chariots and horses. When our emperor's grandfather, Emperor Taizong Xiaowen, was on the throne, he investigated the mistakes of the previous dynasty's horse administration.
, then issued the "Recovery of Horses Order", clearly telling the world, "If you raise a horse, you will recover three soldiers. Five senior officials and above will be used as officials." Why did Taizong do this? Riders and chariots are also the country's armed forces!"
The Order of Restoring Horses was one of the guiding principles of national horse administration that was always implemented throughout the reign of the Western Han Dynasty.
According to this order, if a commoner raises a horse (war horse), he can be exempted from military service by three people. If the commoner's title is above the fifth official, he can automatically be elected as a low-level official such as a local lieutenant or a yamen officer.
Of course, if there is a war, these people will have to bring their own food and horses to go with the army.
This was the most important strategy of the Han Dynasty to encourage private horse breeding and at the same time strengthen the construction of private reserve cavalry.
Today's privileged class in the Northland and Longyou region, the Northland Knights, are the products of this order.
These knights basically came from families with small landowners or above. They were well-nourished, well-developed, physically strong, and good at riding and shooting. They were the backbone of the Han army's cavalry force.
And the Han Dynasty treated them very highly.
In addition to enjoying the preferential treatment of Fu Ma Ling, they were also given a higher social status than Shandong Fu.
Therefore, the landowning class in the north scrambled to raise horses and train their sons and nephews to become northern knights for family glory.
This is normal.
If the Chinese government in later generations makes an announcement one day saying that if someone can buy a XX machine and master the use of this machine, then they will immediately recruit special soldiers and give them the treatment of old Red Army soldiers. Look, the whole country will be affected.
Will it break your head?
However, this reinstatement order also has great limitations.
If you think about it, a family that can afford to raise a valuable war horse is definitely not a small family.
Since ancient times, the poor were poor in culture and rich in military affairs. In this era when it is difficult for a farmer family to support a retired scholar, a family that wants to support a retired martial arts knight and his war horse must at least be a landlord's family with several tenants.
Therefore, more than 20 years after the horse resumption order was issued, the climax of private horse breeding has never come.
On the contrary, it limits the way for people at the bottom to climb up.
The mud-legged people have no money to buy a horse, let alone learn how to ride.
So I can only hang out in the Caiguan and Crossbow troops.
The rich and powerful children of landlords, with their excellent family background and sufficient resources, have developed superb riding skills and joined the cavalry immediately after joining the army. If they perform a little better, they will be promoted immediately. Then there are rockets.
Promotion.
A typical representative is Li Guang.
In just a dozen years, he quickly went from a northern knight who surrendered to the army to becoming a feudal lord of the Han Dynasty and one of the Nine Qings.
Over the years, the outstanding young senior officers of the Han Dynasty were basically from wealthy landowning families like Li Guang.
Examples such as Bai Qi, who started out as a soldier, Guan Yingba, who started out as a butcher, and Han Xin, who started out as a ranger, have almost disappeared from the Han army in the past twenty years.
All senior military positions basically flow within a small circle.
The aristocrats and powerful landlords do not need to play tricks at all, and can easily exclude the mud-legged people from the ruling class.
This is unacceptable to Liu Che.
Even animals know not to inbreed.
As early as the primitive era, humans have known that they need to accept new blood to improve the genes of the race.
If upward and downward mobility cannot be allowed, people at the bottom can be promoted to the ruling class through their own efforts.
Then sooner or later, this country, this nation, and this regime will be terminally ill and hopeless.
Liu Che had previously broken the monopoly of the powerful aristocrats on civilian politics through examinations.
Now, he decided to break the monopoly of the northern landowning aristocracy on generals.
And this entry point is Ma Zheng.
Just like the examination, Liu Che at least wanted the peasants and small landowners to join the competition.
Therefore, Liu Che changed the topic and said: "Since the Horse Restoration Order has been implemented to this day, good generals such as Guduo Liang and Wei Weiguang are the proof! However, I still feel that this alone is not enough. The number of horses kept by the people is still
Too few, even the draft horses are very few. During the spring plowing last year in Guanzhong, even ten households had no draft horses. Corrupt officials and profiteers joined forces to steal the state's official horses, fake them with the common people, and charge high rents!
I don’t want to take this!”
The officials were immediately frightened and kowtowed to apologize.
Yuan An even buried his head, not daring to see anyone.
The problem pointed out by the emperor is indeed a fact.
"I want the people to raise more horses. If the people have more horses, there will be more knights. Even if there are bad horses, they can plow the land and sow crops, which is beneficial to farmers and mulberry trees. You are all good scholars and officials, and they are good at writing and allusions. I don't know if there is anyone who can teach me?" Liu Che
He stretched out his hands and asked in all directions.
Although he already had a plan in mind.
But as the emperor, he could not bring it up personally.
If the emperor personally proposes a certain policy, it will lead to a consequence. If something goes wrong, the blame will only be shouldered by the emperor. And in the process, if something disharmonious happens and hurts the interests of certain classes,
If they have interests, then these classes will direct their anger towards the emperor.
Although Liu Che is not afraid of these problems.
However, it is better to have someone to take the blame than to stand upright and bear the resentment from below.
At the very least, this will bring benefits. Your Majesty is a wise man. If something goes wrong and arouses resentment, it will be the fault of a treacherous minister.
From ancient times to the present, Chinese emperors have always played this way.
Liu Che does not want to break the rules of this game.
Moreover, Liu Che had already arranged the actors and was not afraid that the suggestions and opinions put forward by his ministers would deviate from the scope he had set.
As for Liu Che's exit, he had been gearing up for a long time, and the officials, big and small, who were waiting for such an opportunity, immediately became excited.
Of course, for most officials, they do not have the right to preface their decisions.
None of them dared to move until the emperor named them or allowed them to ask questions.
I can only look helplessly at those giants who have the right to advance before the king, praying in their hearts that these guys must not answer to the satisfaction of your majesty, so that everyone can get a chance to stand out.
And past experience. Tell these people.
They have a great chance to show off in front of the emperor.
The reason is very simple. On such a sensitive issue, if Jiu Qing and the two thousand stone giants are not completely sure, otherwise they will not easily express their opinions. If Tian Xin is not guessed, it would be shooting themselves in the foot. And it is extremely embarrassing.
!
Therefore, Jiuqing and Liang Qianshi would usually remain silent on such occasions, and instead let the people below them serve as cannon fodder to test the emperor's heart. Only when they test the emperor's mind will they take action.
Cannon fodder, of course, know their status.
But first of all, the emperor will be displeased because of Jiu Qing's nonsense, but he will never punish him because of the whims of a little shrimp worth about a thousand stones.
Secondly, with so many people, there are always one or two clever people who can hit the emperor's heart.
Therefore, although the cannon fodders all have their heads lowered, everyone is gearing up and eagerly waiting for their own opportunity.
Everyone understands that as long as they can scratch the emperor's itch accurately, their future will be smooth from now on.
Many people seemed to see Zhang Shizhi and Chao Cuo waving to them.
As a result, a strange scene occurred in the field.
Jiu Qing and Liang Qianshi lowered their heads, remained silent, and did not speak.
But more mid-level and low-level officials were blushing and their brains were working at full speed, searching for all the information and knowledge they could think of.
Liu Che looked at this scene and laughed.
He knew that Jiu Qing and Liang Qian Shi would not speak.
Therefore, after waiting politely for a while, he walked directly in front of the middle and low-level officials and asked everyone: "Do you have anything to gain?"
Countless people are waiting for Liu Che's words.
As soon as Liu Che finished speaking, many ministers immediately shouted: "I have something to report!"
"I have a humble opinion!"
In just one second, there were more than a dozen officials vying to be the first to perform.
Liu Che saw it and nodded.
The Han Dynasty's horse administration is a major national policy.
There are many people who know about it, just like the national policies of the Celestial Dynasty. Even ordinary people in the market can tell one, two, three, four, or even hear about it.
Nowadays, although it is not as advanced as the later dynasties, information is developed and information is exploding.
However, the officials here are not citizens of the Celestial Empire.
All of them are elites in the ruling class.
Insights, ideas and knowledge are all at the top of society.
Compared with the Jiuqing giants and the Two Thousand Stones, what many of them lack may be just their qualifications and status.
In terms of vision, knowledge, ideas and abilities, some of the people among them may not be inferior to Jiu Qing.
For example, the late Han Prime Minister Zhang Cang, Marquis of Beiping, was just a librarian who managed the books for the Qin court in the Qin Dynasty. However, in the Han Dynasty, he held the power of the country for fifteen years and brought everyone up and down.
It can be treated submissively and docilely.
It is said that times create heroes, but heroes also create times.
Therefore, Liu Che still has some expectations for the talents in his court.
If it is not necessary, Liu Che is not willing to let actors appear on the stage, but hopes to find a few insightful, discerning, rough jade that can be carved or even formed gems from these people.
"Queen, don't be anxious, come one by one..." Liu Che waved his hand and said.
Emperor Liu has always been keen on similar scenes.
Because this can build up reputation and spread the word, it can establish the image of the emperor as being broad-minded and able to speak to his ministers.
Therefore, the emperors of the Liu family in the past dynasties would find mid-level and low-level officials every once in a while to ask them about their opinions on national policies.
On the one hand, it is to learn from others' strong points and fill in the gaps, so as to prevent oneself from being deceived and ignored by others. On the other hand, it is to build up one's reputation so that people all over the world, especially the scholar-bureaucrat class, know that today's emperor has a generous personality and is kind to scholars, especially those who can treat scholars well.
Listen to advice.
In China, this is one of the symbols of a wise king.
Liu Che is now gradually awakening to his talent in this area.
He smiled warmly and said to an official who was relatively close to him: "Sir, please speak first!"
This official was about thirty years old, with a slender figure but not thin. He had a square face with strong features of northern scholars, with sharp edges and a full beard.
He held on to the jade guide and solemnly kowtowed to Liu Che, and then said: "Your Majesty, Prime Minister Shi Jin, died in ignorance: Your Majesty is kind and wants the people to raise more horses. If the people raise more horses, the country will be better armed. This is your Majesty's message."
It is holy and sage, so it can see thousands of miles away. I am forbidden to be ignorant and cannot reach it!"
From the first glance, this guy is a standard courtier flatterer. Liu Che is quite comfortable when photographed.
At the very least, he was not afraid of stage fright and could speak freely in front of Liu Che. Based on this psychological quality alone, Liu Che felt that he should be promoted.
So, Liu Che asked Ji An in a low voice: "Who is this?"
The Prime Minister's Office of the Han Dynasty was a huge organization with thousands of employees. It had hundreds of bureaucrats, big and small, under its jurisdiction.
Liu Che had never even met most of them.
It has been three years since he ascended the throne, and Liu Che still can’t recognize all of Prime Minister Hui Shi! (Prime Minister Hui Shi is worth six hundred stones, and the prime minister has a long history)
Not to mention the history of the prime minister, which cost four hundred stones and compiled dozens of people.
Just like the Chinese bosses, they generally don't recognize researchers from a research institution affiliated with the State Council.
But as a minister, Ji An had to recognize every clerk in the prime minister's house, especially the prime minister's history who was responsible for specific policy research and documentation.
Therefore, Ji An almost immediately replied: "Your Majesty, this is Prime Minister Shi Wenjin, from Hedong!"
When Wen Jin saw this scene, he felt as if his heart had been hit hard, and his mouth went dry for a while.
It is the dream of countless middle and low-level officials like Wen Jin to have their names heard by heaven.
Zhang Shizhi was a man who served Emperor Taizong for ten years and remained unknown to anyone.
But once he was promoted to Datianting, his official position was like a rocket. In just a few years, he completed the n-level jump, from an unknown petty official to a Han Dynasty court captain and a famous minister in the world.
Wen Jin's psychological quality was still good. He took a deep breath, swallowed his saliva, and continued: "Your Majesty asked, although I am dull and do not understand rituals and music, but I have a foolish opinion, and I am willing to share it with you.
Your Majesty, please give me some details!"
Liu Che laughed when he saw this. If everything else remains unchanged, this person can still keep his expression unchanged and his speech speed unchanged after Liu Che deliberately asked his name. This alone can promote him to Lantai.
Become a minister.
Liu Che has never been afraid to give respect and preferential treatment to talents, so Liu Che also said seriously: "Please give me a try!"
He is a complete example of a courteous and virtuous corporal, and a wise gentleman who is thirsty for talents.
In fact, in the Han Dynasty, when facing middle- and lower-level officials, the emperor would often put down his pretense as an emperor, be friendly, and even talk to them as equals, respectfully addressing them as "Ming Gong," "Sir," "Your Excellency," etc.
For example, when Liu Che's grandfather, Liu Heng, was in power, he addressed middle- and lower-level officials as "Ming Gong" more than once. Even if the other party's words slapped the emperor's face a few times, he would not get angry.
However, once this lower-middle-level official was promoted to more than two thousand dan, he immediately changed his face.
The reason is simple.
The old Liu family knew very well that showing respect and even tolerance to subordinates, especially lower-level officials who may only interact with them once or twice in their lives, can gain the loyalty of people all over the world and build their own image.
For example, during the duel between Taizong and Feng Tang, Feng Tang even bluntly said: Although your majesty has acquired integrity, Li Mu cannot be used!
But Taizong was just "angry and imprisoned." After two days, he couldn't hold it in any longer, so he sent someone to invite Feng Tang over and said, "Why do you, sir, why are you insulting me? I have nothing to do?"
It means, sir, why do you want to humiliate me in public? If you want to slap me in the face, you can tell me in private...
Feng Tang's stupid young man replied directly: I don't know what is taboo.
In any other dynasty, it would be very difficult for Feng Tang to die!
But in the Han Dynasty, his name was honored in the annals of history and will be immortal throughout the ages.
Immortal with him is the other protagonist in the story, Emperor Taizong Xiaowen of the Han Dynasty.
So, among the emperors throughout the ages, in terms of acting skills, who can compare with Taizong of the Han Dynasty?
As an emperor determined to follow his grandfather's good example, Liu Che naturally didn't care about such unrealistic things as moral integrity and face.
The emperor's attitude immediately made countless ministers, including Wen Jin, burst into tears. What does it mean to be a holy emperor? This is it!
In the spirit of a simple scholar-bureaucrat who dies for his bosom friend, Wen Jin kowtowed and said, "Thank you for Your Majesty's kindness. I have the courage to say this: If Your Majesty wants to let the people raise horses, he must be there first so that the people can raise them. Now it's a slave horse."
One horse is also worth tens of thousands, and if you get a good horse, it is worth hundreds of thousands. If you are a small country and have a small family of five, your annual income is less than 1,800 dan, but you can get more than 10,000 yuan. In addition to taxes, taxes, clothing, food, and new things, you are already rich.
If you have no money left, you will be a middle-aged man. With only ten hectares of land to cultivate, you will only have a few thousand left every year! So I think that the people are not willing to raise horses, but they are really unable to raise horses!"
Listening to these analyses, Liu Che nodded and looked happy.
In fact, everyone knows these things.
Knowing the problem and knowing how to solve the problem are two different things.
However, looking at this person's appearance, Liu Che thought that he should have a solution.
So, Liu Che smiled and encouraged him to continue. As an emperor, Liu Che knew very well that most of his officials were not without ideas or brainstorming. Looking at ancient and modern times and historical records, they could see the country's shortcomings and policy loopholes at a glance.
Officials and bureaucrats are like crucian carp crossing the river. They know how to solve the problem but they only know how to solve it.
But why can't they raise it to the higher authorities?
The reason is simple. First, they have no channels. Second, they do not receive encouragement from the rulers, especially the supreme rulers.
As an emperor, he wants to make his rule stable.
In fact, the method is also very simple.
First, you have to find a group of officials who can help you identify the problem. Second, you have to ask these officials to solve the problem.
This is what is called recruiting and employing people. (To be continued.)
ps: I’m getting ready to go home for the New Year. My ticket for the 27th will be automatically updated the day after tomorrow, and then it will probably be automatically updated on the 28th - -
