Chapter 948 I don't want it, I have a chance to grab yours
On the way back to the capital, Banshi passed by various military and state officials who invariably presented Cheng Yi to Xiao Tang in the name of celebrating the success of the Song army. Not only did they hold large banquets, but they also carefully prepared heavy financial gifts. Some even prepared several large carriages and cages, which cost a lot of money. The reason why the bureaucrats and gentry from all walks of life held large banquets and prepared ceremonial cars was because they knew that Xiao Tang, as a celebrity in front of the officials today, was also on the side. The court has repeatedly accomplished extraordinary feats, so they all hope to win over the powerful officials in the court.
Even some state officials who have always believed that martial arts are inferior to nobles are not exempt from vulgarity. After all, Xiao Tang's success in the court was not achieved just because he was a martial artist. Since he was a close minister of the emperor, As a second-rank official, you can't miss the opportunity to do favors to Xiao Tang.
From the boundary of Xihe Road all the way to Gyeonggi Road, there are many military prefectures. Every state official and wealthy businessman in the place he passes has to prepare at least 30,000 to 40,000 guan, and as many as more than 100,000 guan as gifts. Not to mention the Xiao Tang Dynasty. The beginning of a rift with Tong Guan was not publicized. No matter which party he or she was leaning towards, the disciples of the powerful ministers secretly said that when someone favored by the officials beat him and ruled the state capital, it was considered a favor to pay him a lot of money. Nowadays, it is an unwritten rule in the officialdom. In the court, figures such as Cai Jing, Liang Shicheng, Wang Fu, etc. collect bribes every time they go out to the capital for official business. It is not uncommon for someone to send millions in money. Although Xiao Tang has seniority in the court, It's shallow, but considering his official rank, his popularity among officials, and the standard in the eyes of various state government bureaucrats and wealthy businessmen, it's worth spending more time to curry favor with him.
At this time of year, in addition to using a transport team or ten ships to measure the "gang" of tea and salt, Zhao Ji is also famous for his love of exotic flowers and stones, and he does not hesitate to waste time and money on land transportation. , the flower and stone guide that is transported by water to Bianliang in Tokyo to ensure transportation; the birthday guide that transports batches of birthday gifts to the formation of powerful officials in the DPRK every year... If Xiao Tang accepted all those congratulatory gifts without restraint, he would not be allowed to receive them from him. The names of "Dao He Gang" and "Celebration Gang" will be spread again.
However, Xiao Tang declined the filial piety gifts from most of the bureaucrats and wealthy businessmen he passed.
In fact, even if Xiao Tang accepted all the large-money gifts without scruples, even if someone in the court wanted to impeach him for this matter, it would be difficult to succeed. Originally, the Song Dynasty's law "Song Xingtong" was based on the Tang Dynasty's "Tang Laws and Comments". "After that, the punishment of corrupt officials was obviously lighter, and it was far less severe than the penalties for punishing corrupt officials in the Ming and Qing Dynasties (only based on legal documents). What's more, the Song Dynasty's governance style of combining leniency and violence from the early years of the founding of the People's Republic of China. Now that Zhao Ji, the romantic emperor, is in power... there are very few powerful officials who are close to him who have clean hands and feet. They are so cunning when it comes to corruption and asking for money. Who can sue whom and punish whom?
However, even if Xiao Tang is now secretly running several mountain villages in the green forest and setting up towns and cities in Liaodong, he still needs a lot of financial income, and these large favors have long been regarded as "routine" by many officials. He is also very aware that some Money must not be tainted. After all, most of the green forest heroes who are willing to join him in the righteous cause hate the corrupt officials in the capital court and various military states. The slogans of fighting corrupt officials are shouted on the hills everywhere. My brother But he is doing the business of a corrupt official. So what will the close brothers in the villages in the green forest feel about Xiao Tang after they learn about this? Even if the brothers under his command can understand, like Zhao Ji's Hua Shi Gang and Cai Jing's Birthday Gang, he receives so much money The name of the ritual spread, and over time, in the minds of the green forest heroes, it may have become the same as that of Taiwei Gao Qiu, who used the official weapon for personal use and had a notorious reputation in the world.
What moved Xiao Tang even more deeply was that when he fought on the Yanyan Road, Jingyuan Road, Xihe Road and even in the Xia Kingdom, he led the soldiers of the Western Army and other military and state tribes to fight for their lives and sleep in the open air.
I can always feel the tragic and heroic feelings of fighting and iron horses in the turbulent years, but since the class teacher left the side court, Xiao Tang often passed through a state capital to entertain the local dignitaries who came to congratulate him.
At that time, a luxurious and exaggerated, but rotten bureaucratic atmosphere almost hit my face. The iron-blooded muscles and bones hardened in the war have been exposed to such an official environment where philistinism is common for a long time. I am afraid that I am determined to do something.
The hearts of the soldiers who risked their lives to protect the country could only feel cold, their blood could only become cold, and their bones could only become soft...
It’s no wonder that Yue Fei, his younger brother, who is still studying and training diligently with Zhou Tong in the Xiaojiaji of Daming Mansion, will one day express his emotion: "Civil officials do not love money, military officials are willing to die, and the world is at peace." Although it is simple and easy to say
I understand, but only those who have personally experienced the rough and tumble military career and the treacherous officialdom can have such an unforgettable experience.
Born in sorrow and died in happiness, although the Western Army tribes guarding the border court have been fighting fiercely with the Xia Kingdom for a long time, and their strict military administration and the combat quality of their soldiers are far better than those of the Forbidden Army under the Military Department of other states, there are indeed some officers in the army.
The phenomenon of generals lining their own pockets. Since Xiao Tang had the power to take charge of a military force, the most severe measures to attack were those army bugs who ate empty pay and drank the blood of soldiers, such as appeasing the east and west routes of Beijing, suppressing the Hedong selection and training of the Jingnan Army
During the period of the various tribes, Xiao Tang had been doing his best to protect the pension, food and pension system in the army, but he still could not stop other tribes from having generals deduct the wages, grain and pension of lieutenants in the army. There were still countless soldiers who sacrificed their lives for the country. However,
Even if they died on the battlefield, most of the rewards they deserved were still lost by the greedy worms in the army. If Xiao Tang had accepted all the heavy gifts with peace of mind, he would have lost the battle with those greedy and cheating people.
What a difference.
Therefore, usually when powerful ministers enter and exit the capital under orders, they will rack their brains to ask for money wherever they go. However, Xiao Tang had to think hard about how to refuse the large sums of money that came to his door.
All the state officials and wealthy gentry who could state their names and come to congratulate and send gifts to Xiao Tang were all well-known figures. Moreover, most of those officials, local wealthy businessmen and the stewards sent by them were also eloquent.
He was a well-rounded man who had such a eloquent tongue that you would be embarrassed to refuse even if you wanted to. As a last resort, Xiao Tang had to order the astute Xu Guanzhong and Xiao Jiasui to deal with the rich and powerful bureaucrats, and only accepted the gifts sent from various places.
Some local specialties, gold, pearls, jade, and rare treasures were all returned. At most, they only received money and goods of up to three thousand guan, and went to banquets and entertainment along the way. This was also because of the officialdom of the Song Dynasty, people were
He complained that Xiao Tang was stupid and rigid, and unwilling to engage in human relations.
As for the singing and dancing prostitutes presented by some wealthy businessmen who were beautiful in appearance, graceful in figure, and very good at serving their masters... Xiao Tang didn't even see them and directly ordered them to be sent away.
In the Bianjing Xiao Mansion, he had to discuss in detail with his close brothers every day the important matters related to supporting the Green Forest and managing Liaodong. How could Xiao Tang teach a group of men and women who did not know the truth to come and go at will?
What Xiao Tang did along the way was also seen by Liu Fa. The veteran general of the Western Army, who was originally going to Bianjing for trial and punishment, also had a lot of emotions. One day in the Taiping carriage, Liu Fasui said to Xiao Tang
: "Xiao Jieshuai, although Liu knows that he is an upright and upright man, but in the officialdom, one must observe the sophistication of the world... Although it is said that the pure will self-purify, but in today's world, Xiao Jieshuai sticks to his own heart, and only
I'm afraid that in the eyes of others, I am an alien who is unkind in official circles."
Xiao Tang heard that Liu Fa, a famous general who had always commanded the army with dignity and calmness, would say this. He must have been disheartened because of the persecution by Tong Guan. He thought for a while and then said: "Corrupt and profit-loving people who rely on law to invade
Mou, did not know how to restrain himself, and the resentment was in the hearts of the people. When the army was indiscriminately consuming the country's money and food, it was of no use when it came to battle. When the military and state government oppressed the good people, they were unscrupulous, but the people under their rule were forced to find no livelihood.
Directly teach the innocent to become thieves. The younger generation has always been deeply disgusted by the scum of the country, so even though they know how the world is today, they don’t want to live in the world and compare themselves to traitors..."
After Liu Fa heard what Xiao Tang said, although he was silent for a moment, he respected him even more in his heart. However, Liu Fa didn't know what Xiao Tang was thinking about now: how to make love among the government offices in Junzhou along the way.
I am afraid that many of those who give the most generous gifts are corrupt officials and evil gentry who are accustomed to corruption. Most of their large sums of money and property are ill-gotten gains from squeezing the people's wealth and anointing. They are short-handed in taking people and soft-spoken in eating people. How can I do this?
Make a favor with that servant? But if a good man wants money, he can get it in a good way. At least there are corrupt officials and bullies along the way.
In terms of means, it would be easier to find those guys to add a little more wealth to the village...
I don’t want what you give me, but if I have the chance, I will come and steal it from you.
But I don’t know if Liu Jinglue knew that I was thinking so much, would he immediately turn against me? Xiao Tang smiled and shook his head slightly. At this moment, he heard that some military soldiers were coming to report from the Taiping car.
: "To report to Xiao Jieshuai and Liu Jinglue, the ceremonial guards, chariots and horses sent by Bianjing to welcome Jieshuai are waiting three miles ahead."