After breakfast, Zhao Xu, under the protection of Yu Longzhi, walked from the corridor between Funing Hall and Baoci Palace, facing the continuous winter rain, to Baoci Palace.
At this time, the two palaces were reviewing the memorials. When they saw Zhao Xu coming, they both laughed.
"Brother Six, did you sleep in again this morning?" Queen Mother Xiang asked with a smile.
"The official is young, so it's normal to sleep more!" the Empress Dowager said with a smile.
Zhao Xu paid his respects, sat down between the two palaces, and replied: "It's too cold in winter, so I took a nap for a while."
At this time, the little girl from the Wen family brought warm winter drinks.
This little girl was very careful in her work. After entering the palace, she took the lead in preparing the drinks for the two palaces and Zhao Xu.
I have to say that the Wen family really knows how to maintain good health.
There are different drinks for the four seasons, and they should be adjusted according to different seasons.
For example, hot drinks in winter are usually perilla drinks and Ophiopogon japonicus drinks.
Zhao Xu was already familiar with her, so he nodded to her and said, "Thank you, Xunniang!"
The latter said a long blessing and took the initiative to retreat aside.
This is someone who is very observant!
Zhao Xu smiled and looked at the drink he cooked today. It was Ophiopogon japonicus drink, with Codonopsis pilosula and other things in it.
Zhao Xu nodded, picked it up and drank slowly.
The taste of Ophiopogon japonicus is mixed with the faint fragrance of Codonopsis pilosula, a little honey for seasoning, and a special cooking technique, making it extremely comfortable to drink.
After Zhao Xu drank most of the tea, he put down the tea cup and said leisurely: "Mother, Queen Mother, I heard that Sima Gong came to Beijing yesterday?"
"Yeah!" The Queen Mother snorted softly.
The wife of the Gao family was always in front of her, speaking ill of Sima Guang in a roundabout way.
Especially after Sima Guang went to Chenzhou, the Gao family told her about the things in Chenzhou in a sarcastic way.
Naturally, Sima Guang's ability has been infinitely doubted in the heart of the Empress Dowager.
After all, a minister can only establish his authority by killing people.
How can one serve the country?
That is to say, the late emperor had a decree, so she had to hold her nose to recall him and prepare to appoint him as Prime Minister.
But that’s where it ends.
"Mother, Sima Gong is a minister who is close to the emperor, and he is also a famous official in the world."
"But I heard that Lord Sima doesn't even have a place to live in Bianjing City..."
"So I want to give the mansion to show that the Song Dynasty treats the Confucian officials well and tolerates the administration of the elders... I don't know what the mother-in-law and the queen mean?"
Empress Dowager Xiang said happily: "Sixth brother can think like this, it is really a blessing for the country and the country!"
"What do you think, Your Majesty?" She looked at the Empress Dowager.
Although the Empress Dowager was a little dissatisfied, the officials had already made demands. If she refused, it would not be good news.
Furthermore, it is tradition for the prime minister to confer rank.
After all, even the two palaces know the price of a decent mansion in Bianjing City, and it is absolutely unaffordable even with the normal salary of a minister.
Should Zaizhi be allowed to rent a house?
If it doesn't work well, there will be cases where prime ministers rush to marry widows just for the sake of a mansion.
The descendants of one of the parties involved are now sitting in Baoci Palace!
At that time, after this incident happened, I heard that even the Liao people were secretly watching the joke.
Where can people still laugh at people like this in the Song Dynasty?
Therefore, the residences of the prime ministers in Beijing after Renmiao were all given by the emperor.
However, most of it will be taken back after dismissal from office.
Only those prime ministers who were deeply trusted by the emperor could have a house in Bianjing that could be passed down to their descendants.
This is also a long-term meal ticket.
So, Xiang asked the Queen Mother: "Where does Sixth Brother want to give Duke Sima?"
"Let's go to Zhaoqingfang. I heard there are a lot of houses there!"
Nodding to the Queen Mother, the Queen Mother thought for a while and nodded.
Of course Zhaoqingfang and the others know where it is.
It is on the side of Fengqiu Gate in the northeast of the inner city of Bianjing, adjacent to Huihe Square and Dawa Temple.
The reason why the two palaces know this is because one of the inner court institutions of the Song Dynasty, Ling Jinyuan, was originally located in Zhaoqingfang.
Therefore, most of the houses here are owned by the royal family.
The rest are basically families granted by the royal family.
The noodles are naturally good, and it has always been popular among scholar-bureaucrats.
Zhaoqingfang is where the old residences of celebrities from the Taizong Dynasty were planted.
Zhong Fang never married and had no children, so his property was left to his nephew Zhong Shiheng.
Zhong Shiheng later devoted himself to military service and became the founder of the Zhong family, a general in the Western Army of the Song Dynasty.
In other words, the Zhong house in Zhaoqingfang is the ancestral house of the Zhong family.
The children of the Zhong family will spend their youth and youth in Bianjing City, and then head to the northwest to take over the mantle of their father.
…
Sima Guang looked at the continuous winter rain outside the window.
A peace train, loaded with coal, passed slowly on the road in front of the official house.
Even though it was raining, people along the street still appeared on the roadside wearing raincoats.
They were all waiting for the Taiping Car to stop and then buy the coal from its seller.
Winter is here, and with it the most expensive season in Bianjing City.
Sima Guang could even hear some people complaining: "Why has the price increased again? Wasn't it only two hundred yuan per stone a few days ago?"
One stone weighs ten buckets, which is one hundred and twenty kilograms.
After all, a pound of pebbles costs more than one yuan, which is indeed a very cheap fuel.
The price is only one-third or even one-quarter of charcoal.
But Sima Guang heard the vendor holding the peace cart shout loudly: "You think it's too expensive, Sajia still thinks it's too expensive!"
"Today's coal in Tianmafang is already one hundred and eighty yuan per stone!"
"Two hundred and thirty-five yuan per stone. Sajia only earns thirty-five yuan per stone. It's very cheap. How about you go to Tianmafang outside the city and buy..."
Sima Guang sighed and closed the window.
He knows that for one stone of charcoal, one needs to keep warm and cook.
An ordinary family of four would be burned out in less than half a month.
In other words, the heating bill for an ordinary family is 400 or more per month.
And people can't make much money in winter.
Well……
Not right either!
Sima Guang remembered something he heard from Fan Zuyu last night.
Officials are still ordering Kaifeng Prefecture to purchase sacks from the private sector.
It is used as a reserve and for transporting wheat and beans in the future.
Therefore, there are many families in Bianjing City who can weave sacks to supplement their household income even in winter.
In addition, the officials also asked Kaifeng Prefecture to purchase large quantities of saltpeter.
For the soil materials in various toilets or livestock pens, Kaifeng Prefecture will pay specifically based on the quality of the soil.
Generally, one stone of ordinary saltpeter can be sold for a lot of money.
If it is boiled into saltpeter, the price is said to double.
This can be regarded as a way to make money.
All the saltpeter was sent to the Specialized Arms Manufacturing Bureau.
It is said that Shen Kuo was ordered by an official to study firearms in depth.
This saltpeter and saltpeter are indispensable things for firearms.
Just like rubber leather and rubber bands.
Thinking of this, Sima Guang sighed: "He is indeed a benevolent and sage emperor!"
A young master who is not only willing to benefit the people, but also willing to abolish those double-eating methods.
In addition, His Majesty is courteous to his subordinates and is willing to listen to the advice of his ministers.
It was indeed the most perfect model of emperor that he could imagine.
Just as he was thinking about this, his son Sima Kang came to him excitedly and said, "Sir... the emperor has sent an envoy..."
After hearing this, Sima Guang immediately stood up and ordered: "Quickly prepare court clothes and incense table for me..."
He thought that the emperor was going to summon him to the palace to confront him alone.
Unfortunately, when the angel came and read out the decree, Sima Guang was somewhat disappointed.
But he still accepted the order respectfully.
"Does the official have anything to say to the old minister?" Sima Guang asked with hope, the close minister of the emperor who had read out the decree.
Then he listened to the other party say: "So that your husband will know that after everyone heard the news that your husband came to the capital yesterday, we have already ordered to confer a title to show the country's system of praising Confucian ministers and favoring elders..."
"Today I asked for the mercy of the two palaces, and I ordered someone to come and deliver the decree!"
"Before XX came, everyone also warned XX, saying: Sima Gong is the late emperor and a veteran, a famous person in the world, so you must not neglect him!"
After Sima Guang heard this, he turned to the Funing Hall and thanked him again: "The official is so kind, and the old minister is so grateful!"
Although there is no immediate decree to summon Dudui.
But this heart inspired Sima Guang.
"The officials support me..." Sima Guang said in his heart.
As long as he has the support of officials, he can fight against the villains in the capital.
The news that Sima Guang was conferred by the imperial decree immediately spread in the capital hall and Zhongshu.
Although it is very common for governors to grant titles.
But it is a bit rare for someone to be given a title before he has even worshiped the Prime Minister.
After Han Jiang learned about the incident, she began to think about it.
"Give me the title Zhaoqingfang?"
"What exactly is the official's holy will?"
Although Zhaoqingfang is a favorite place for many scholar-bureaucrats and ministers.
But it is not the traditional place where the chief ministers confer titles.
The titles conferred by the prime minister are usually on both sides of the imperial street, and generally the closer to the imperial city, the more attention they receive.
Zhaoqingfang is a bit far away.
To go to court every day, you have to come from Tushizi.
Sima Guang is also old. He rides a horse every day and braves the cold wind to go to court?
How many cold winds can he withstand?
Of course, Sima Guang could ask the emperor to give him a shoulder carriage.
The question is, except for becoming an official, who would want the emperor to give him a shoulder carriage?
Moreover, based on Han Jiang's understanding of Sima Guang, he knew very well that even if Sima Guang died, he would not be carried to court - it is not the behavior of a gentleman to treat people as animals!
so……
It’s really nerve-wracking!
Han Jiang was thinking and saw Zhang Dun coming out of the court hall.
The two looked at each other and smiled, both understanding what the other was thinking right now.
Now, Han Jiang and Zhang Dun have become partners in the capital.
Especially after the adjustment of the service law, a review of the young crop law began.
Zhang Dun endorsed Han Jiang with his authority in this regard.
It was with Zhang Dun's strong support and Lu Gongzhu's cooperation that the capital recently passed the provincial decree establishing the Youth Law Review Department.
This matter has aroused criticism and attacks from many New Party ministers - they feel that the Green Crops Law is already perfect, so what needs to be revised?
Just adjust a few laws and regulations.
But those who really know the facts all know that the quality of the Qingmiao Law depends entirely on the quality of the officials.
When you meet a good official, the green seedling method is a good method.
It can give full play to its characteristics of truly relieving the people and encouraging mulberry farming.
However, once you encounter a bad official, or even a mediocre official, he will be a weapon that can destroy your family and destroy your family in an instant!
This is also the bad thing about many of Wang Anshi's laws.
That stubborn man, wishful thinking, thought that all the officials in the world were of the same quality as him, and that they could easily subdue local subordinates just like him.
But the fact is - there are very few officials who actually work in accordance with the regulations of the Young Crops Law, and there are even fewer people who can tame the subordinates.
As a result, the Green Seed Method was completely deformed during its execution.
According to Wang Anshi's decree, the interest rate on Qingmiao loans is only 20%.
However, after Yuanfeng, the Qingmiao loans in local prefectures and counties, except for a few military prefectures, were really implemented in accordance with Wang Anshi's decree.
In other places, the restrictions of Wang Anshi's decree have been exceeded.
In many places, people are bullied into being illiterate and the 20% interest rate is turned into 40%. If the summer tax is collected once and the autumn tax is collected again, isn't it 40%?
As for where the overcharged money went?
According to Han Jiang's understanding, it does not necessarily go into the pockets of officials themselves.
Most of the money was actually stuffed into the pockets of subordinate officials.
But, this is still good.
What I fear the most is the case where officials themselves are greedy and the people below them are even more greedy.
These guys have directly turned Qingmiao Loan into something more terrifying than the loan sharks used by big business owners to exploit people in the past.
Not only did they go out nine times and come back thirteen times, they also forcibly divided the money!
You have to borrow if you want, and you have to borrow if you don't.
This pushed a large number of farmers into desperate situations.
Then these farmers either became bandits, left their land and houses behind, fled to other places, became customers, or fled into the city.
The farmers were forced to lose their land.
You can imagine the greed of those people.
Therefore, Han Jiang knew that it would not work if the Green Seeding Method remained unchanged.
Zhang Dun knew that if the Green Crops Law was not changed now, it would probably be abolished in the future. Rather than being abolished, it would be better to reform the Green Crops Law so that it would have fewer problems and more benefits.
As for Mr. Lu’s work?
When he was in Yangzhou, under Lu Xizhe's persuasion, he did Qingmiao Loan in the name of Chang Pingcang, and he also experienced some benefits and sweetness.
The three of them hit it off immediately.
Therefore, now the censors have begun to impeach the three of them.
Said the three of them formed a party!
Some people from the Korean Party, the Lu Party, and the Zhang Party all talk about it.
Therefore, if it is not necessary now, even in the capital hall, the three of them will avoid suspicion and will not walk around as they did in the past.
Zhang Dun returned to his headquarters.
He ordered people to close the door, then sat in front of the public case and lit a fire.
One thing after another went through his mind.
But he still hadn't guessed what the official's attitude was towards Sima Guang.
"How about asking for forgiveness?" he thought.
But this idea was killed by him as soon as it came up.
Xingshu is very majestic now!
Yi Zhongshushe was from Zhongshu, and San was the envoy accompanying the embassy - he not only chatted and laughed with the Liao people, but also went back and forth with the envoys from the West.
I can pry a lot of things out of these people's mouths every time.
Therefore, Zhang Dun knew that if he took the initiative to ask Xing Shu, he might not be able to find out anything, but Xing Shu might sell him to Zhang Zihou - Zhang Dun was spying on the Sacred Heart!
This crime is not easy to bear.
so……
"How about... please?"
Zhang Dun blinked his eyes and his heart was beating loudly.
It just so happened that the Qingmiao Law Review Office was established, and the governors wanted to send individuals to confront the officials and explain the capital's ideas in order to gain as much support as possible from the officials.
Thinking like this, Zhang Dun picked up the pen and started writing the correct chapter.
