Everyone sat down one after another. Guo Song invited Cao Wannian to sit down too. Cao Wannian was very familiar with Zhang Lei and also knew Li An, so he was not polite and sat down directly. Zhang Lei quickly ordered the bartender to serve wine and food.
Li An was still confused about getting a title. In fact, he had a title. In order to commend him for his contribution to the imperial business, Emperor Daizong Li Yu specially made him a baron. He almost forgot about it. Unexpectedly, today he was promoted from baron to county.
Man, this span was so big that he didn't even come back to his senses for a long time.
"Your Highness, why do you want to confer me a high title?" Li An couldn't help but ask.
Guo Song smiled slightly and said: "The purpose of conferring high titles on you and Zhang Lei is to commend you two for your contribution to the stability and prosperity of Chang'an, and also to commend you for your long-term contribution to the Hexi Army's delivery of military expenditures. This is not a fair thing.
Granting power privately is purely based on merit."
Guo Song told the truth. The two of them have been selling goods for Hexi for a long time, especially Zhangye wine, and marketing it in Guanzhong, Bashu, Hedong, and the Central Plains, allowing the Hexi military to obtain stable military funding. Both of them have made great contributions.
A little reward should be given, especially when the two of them took over the official residences sold by Zhu Si, leaving a large number of official residences for Guo and Song Dynasty, which solved the most important worries for the officials and generals of the Hexi Clan who would enter Chang'an in the future.
Zhang Lei said with some dissatisfaction: "Lao An, shut up now! Otherwise, my junior brother will think that you think your title is too small, so learn from me! Even if you make me a Duke, I can face it calmly."
Everyone laughed, and Guo Song said angrily: "Be content! I have never been on the battlefield once, and it is already very good to be granted the title of County Duke. The commanders under my command have made many achievements in battle, and now the highest title has only been awarded to County Duke. How can you still do it?"
Dreaming about the Duke!"
"Haha! I was just joking."
Zhang Lei quickly changed the subject, filled the wine glasses of Guo Song and Cao Wannian, and asked Cao Wannian: "What are you doing in Xinfeng County, Lao Cao? I'm very familiar with it. Let's see if I can help you with anything."
"Are you familiar with Xinfeng County Magistrate Liu Yiming?" Cao Wannian asked with a smile.
Zhang Lei laughed and said: "That guy is my drinking buddy, how can I not be familiar with him?"
Guo Song was somewhat interested. Du Wenxing recommended Liu Yiming as the Shaoyin of Jingzhao. Guo Song went out to inquire about this person's reputation among the people today. The results were mixed, which was a bit contradictory.
"Senior brother, tell me, what kind of person is he?"
"Actually, Lao An and I are very familiar with each other. Let me start by saying that Lao An can add something." Zhang Lei felt a little guilty. Although he knew the county magistrate Liu Yiming, he didn't really know him very well. There was often little difference between the wine table and real life.
Same.
"Go ahead! I'll listen." Guo Song picked up the wine glass and smiled lightly.
Zhang Lei scratched his head and said: "This Liu Yiming is a native of Chang'an. His family owns dozens of hectares of land and two shops in Chang'an. He has a fortune of tens of millions. This is the accumulation of several generations of his family and has nothing to do with him being a county magistrate.
He likes Meishou wine the most. He comes to the West Market Wine Shop when he has nothing to do. After going back and forth, we gradually get to know each other and often drink together. He is a sweet-tempered person. I always hear him scolding Zhu Si for harming the people!"
"Wait a minute!"
Guo Song interrupted him and asked with a smile: "I heard that the people at the bottom of Guanzhong are more supportive of Zhu Si, so why the word "murder"? Besides, Zhu Si didn't have contact with the people at the bottom, right! It's them who are the county magistrates who want to be killed.
It’s only right to harm the people, is he scolding himself?”
"This...I forgot about this at the time, Lao An will add it."
Zhang Lei felt that this topic was a bit hot and quickly pushed it to Li An. Li An said calmly: "I also asked County Magistrate Liu about this question. I remember clearly that this topic is that taxation varies among counties, and
It is mainly aimed at residents in the city. Some counties levy liquor tax, and some counties do not levy liquor tax. In fact, Zhu Si was still confused as to whether to tax the city. Many of his decrees were contradictory. He said that the Tang Dynasty should be abolished.
all taxes, but at the end of the year he will blame officials for too low taxes.”
"Secondly, it was mentioned that Zhu Si appointed officials as he pleased. Many county officials were illiterate. For example, Zhou Wei, the Prime Minister of Xinfeng County, was originally Zhu Si's personal soldier. However, he was old and unfit to join the army, so Zhu Si appointed him as the Prime Minister of Xinfeng County.
He didn't know a word, so he was thinking about making money all day long. His best trick was to frame and frame rich people for having illicit affairs with the Southern Tang Dynasty, then arrest the owner, force them to lose their property, pay money to redeem the people, and County Magistrate Liu scolded and tortured the people.
, refers to him, but he is Zhu Si's personal soldier, so he scolds Zhu Si together, scolding Zhu Si for randomly appointing officials, and these officials are trying to exploit the people all day long."
Zhang Lei also added: "Zhu Si is not really kind to the people at the bottom. In fact, the people at the bottom have little to gain and he looks down on them. He does not collect money through taxes, but lets his subordinates exploit the rich to accumulate wealth. This is completely
It is a bandit approach, so the rich people in Guanzhong hate Zhu Si, but the people at the bottom support him, this is the reason."
Guo Song nodded and asked Li An: "How is this Liu Yiming's character?"
Li An thought for a while and said: "I don't know about other aspects, but I am sure of one thing. He is not greedy. The main reason is that his family has money. He is not an official to make money. He can also do some facts, such as Xinfeng County
The bridge connecting Bashang has been in disrepair for a long time. It is in Wannian County and should be repaired by Wannian County. However, there has been no movement for so many years. He couldn't bear it, so he went around to raise money to repair the bridge. Zhang Lei and I both
He donated a hundred guan, judging from this incident, he still did something good."
"The only thing wrong with him is his drunkenness!"
Zhang Lei added with a smile: "If you want to appoint him as a general, he might get drunk and cause trouble, but he should be qualified for other official positions."
Guo Song drank another glass of wine and asked with a smile: "You have been in Chang'an for many years and have rich life experience. How do you think the state and county officials in Guanzhong are qualified?"
This kind of question was the most exciting for Zhang Lei. He immediately said: "It's easy. First of all, is it Zhu Si's appointment? If it is Zhu Si's appointment, all of them will be dismissed from their posts and arrested. After all the money he embezzles is wiped out, those who deserve to be killed should be released."
If you want to let go, I would rather kill three thousand by mistake than let one person go."
Zhang Lei's method was simple and crude, and Guo Song didn't bother to pay attention to him. He turned back and asked Li An, "Where is Uncle An's suggestion?"
Li An stroked his beard and said with a smile: "Actually, what the fat man said makes sense. Zhu Si appointed officials to collect money for him. Their duty is to collect money. County magistrates like Liu Yiming were eventually forced to resign, but in my opinion
Look, we should still look at how many practical things he has done for the people, how many bridges he has built, how many roads he has built, how many schools he has opened, what do you think, His Highness?"
"I've remembered your suggestions. Come on, let's have a drink!"
…………
After coming out of the restaurant, Guo Song rode back to Xingqing Palace. He smiled and asked Cao Wannian, "What do you think they said?"
Cao Wannian nodded, "I think what they said makes sense. First of all, the officials appointed by Zhu Si must be dismissed. This is a matter of principle. Zhu Si is not the former dynasty. He usurped the throne and rebelled, and was a traitor to the country. We can keep one or two by chance.
But large-scale reservations are really inappropriate, and then liquidation, corruption and bribery are carried out, those who exploit the people are forced to give away their stolen property, and finally those who deserve to be killed are killed, and those who deserve to be released are released!"
Guo Song pondered for a moment and said: "If we get rid of them, who will be the county magistrate?"
"The former county magistrate..."
"Inappropriate!" Guo Song objected.
Cao Wannian immediately realized that he should not make this suggestion. The previous county magistrates were all loyal to the imperial court, and they were now local officials who needed to be loyal to the Jin Palace.
Cao Wannian quickly said: "This spring we admitted a group of scholars who took the imperial examination. There are two hundred people in the imperial examination alone. They are officials in various places. The evaluation of the Department of Civil Affairs has come out. We can select a group of outstanding ones, and then
Then select some experienced people from the local officials of the Jin Palace, and the shortage of officials in various places in Guanzhong can basically be solved. As for the vacant positions, we can evaluate and promote them from those admitted by Ming Jingke."
Guo Song thought for a while and realized that this plan was not bad. He said happily: "Inform Pan Liao immediately to select officials and hurry up."
"I will handle this matter immediately. I also have a suggestion."
"I am worried that if the news spreads, these officials will flee with their money. Why don't you call all the ninth-grade officials in Guanzhong to Chang'an to meet with the King of Jin, and then investigate the officials appointed by Zhu Si. Those who take the initiative to confess will be spared death. If they are found out,
Those who take bribes will be killed without mercy. How does Your Highness feel about that?"
Guo Song was still weighing the pros and cons, and Cao Wannian advised again: "The only way to show your bodhisattva's heart is to use thunderbolt means. For the sake of the people, your highness must not be soft."
Guo Song smiled and said: "I didn't say no, I'm just considering some auxiliary measures. All the men you sent should go!"
"Everyone goes, they will get the most detailed information!"