bookrandom Chapter 1340: Waste or Not
Chapter 1340: Waste or Not
Chapter 1340: Waste or Not
In the Funing Palace.
When the prince was attending to the sick, he took the opportunity to bend over to tuck in the corner of the quilt and glanced at the shadow behind the screen.
He saw his uncle, Prince Yong, passing through the crack in the emperor's curtain and whispering something to the Empress Dowager Gao. He did not even avoid the Empress and Concubine Zhu when they were beside him.
When the prince saw the emperor lying on the sickbed seeing this scene, he could only stare at it but could not say a word.
Who can now take the real emperor into consideration? They just treat him as a dead man.
The prince dug his fingertips into the brocade quilt, leaving a crescent-shaped blood mark. He stared at the withered emperor on the sickbed - that was his biological father, but now he couldn't even cough or breathe. Tears were about to burst out of his eyes, but were forced back by the young man. In this palace, a tear is a flaw.
But the prince is a little sensitive.
What King Yong was talking about was not something else.
In Funing, Prince Yong said to Queen Mother Gao.
"Empress Dowager, Lü Huiqing's dispatch of troops to attack the Tanguts has attracted the intervention of the Liao Kingdom. According to military reports, the Liao ruler not only continued to send more troops to Shuozhou, but also sent Yelu Tabuye to station 100,000 troops at the Juma River and station them at the Baigou River, demanding a new boundary and asking for 700,000 tributes."
"Lü Huiqing took the initiative to start a border conflict. The Liao people wanted more than just money and silk."
Empress Dowager Gao said, "Sima Guang was right when he said that Lü Huiqing was a treacherous villain."
"They deliberately provoked a war in the northwest to attract the intervention of the Liao Dangxiang. This way, the imperial court would have to continue to use these old officials to guard the border, and I would not be able to abolish the new law."
"They are using the blood of our Song soldiers to help these new parties gain credit! How hateful!"
At this time, Queen Xiang happened to come over, holding up a bowl of ginseng soup with white mist rising from it, and she personally served it to Queen Dowager Gao.
"My lady, be careful not to get burned."
Queen Mother Gao drank the ginseng soup slowly and said, "We have to protect this country for our sixth brother."
Prince Yong's eyes dimmed when he heard this, and he quickly said, "The Queen Mother is right."
Queen Xiang did not express her opinion. She didn't know whether Empress Dowager Gao said this intentionally for her to hear.
"I think the immediate measure is to issue 3 million strings of salt notes to relieve the court's urgent financial needs and to expand the army and prepare for war."
When Zhang Yue was in power, the court's financial system was always very measured, and the amount of salt notes issued each year was controlled within a certain range. At the same time, the scope of use of salt notes was continuously expanded, so the salt notes not only did not depreciate, but actually appreciated a little.
However, after Zhang Yue left, the government immediately issued an additional 3 million strings of salt notes in order to deal with the battle of Yongle City. Now they are going to issue more salt notes and use them as another treasury of the court. Sooner or later, the salt notes will go the way of Jiaozi and depreciate all the way. This really destroyed Zhang Yue's original efforts.
Queen Mother Gao was fully aware of these malpractices, but she did not object to Prince Yong's plan.
Empress Dowager Gao nodded slowly and asked, "Where is Zhang Yue?"
"I have arrived in Hangzhou. I submitted a memorial yesterday, but it has not been shown to the Empress Dowager yet." Zhang Maoze said.
"The person hasn't arrived yet, but the letter has." said Empress Dowager Gao.
After reading the memorial, Empress Dowager Gao said, "Zhang Yue requested that a trading office be set up in Jianzhou to completely replace tea permits with salt notes to facilitate exchanges between officials and the public."
"All tea purchased from Jianzhou must be purchased with salt notes. If the court gives a little more profit, it can issue an additional million strings of salt notes to make up for the loss."
Zhang Maoze said: "Jianzhou produces 3 million catties of tea a year, and Nanjianzhou produces 400,000 catties. The actual estimated amount is 800,000 strings of cash. It is reasonable to make an additional estimate of 200,000 strings of cash."
Empress Dowager Gao said happily: "Wang Anshi often said that the state can have enough money without increasing taxes on the people, but this false estimate of 200,000 is the real way to have enough money without taxes."
"He can be a prime minister in the imperial court, and he can also be a capable official in the local areas. When he returns to Beijing this time, the Khitan side still needs him to take charge."
The corner of Prince Yong's mouth twitched. Compared with his own printing of money without an anchor, Zhang Yue's method of printing money with an anchor was naturally several times better.
However, Empress Dowager Gao indicated that she still did not intend to use Zhang Yue as prime minister again, and obviously wanted him to go to Hebei.
Empress Dowager Gao put down the memorial and said, "Let the city council discuss the matter of Jianzhou Exchange."
After saying this, Queen Mother Gao stood up and walked to the Crown Prince outside the tent.
The Crown Prince's face turned stern and he immediately acted reserved in front of Empress Dowager Gao.
Empress Dowager Gao asked, "From what I heard from Servant Cheng, you have already reached the stage of studying things in the University?"
The Crown Prince said, "My grandson is dull and is still trying to figure out Master Cheng's concept of 'respect' in the chapter on 'sincerity'."
Empress Dowager Gao did not have much research on Confucian classics.
The emperor and the crown prince carefully and cautiously chose the ideological direction of the entire country through daily lectures and the guidance of Confucian scholars.
But Empress Dowager Gao advocated that governing the country should be based on "human relations".
Empress Dowager Gao said, "Respect is a very good word. Loyalty and filial piety are born from respect. Laws and regulations are nothing but human nature. This is the teaching of Emperor Renzong."
"My grandson will remember your teachings."
Queen Mother Gao smiled and said, "It's hard for you to serve me every day. Go back to the palace and rest tonight."
The Crown Prince's heart trembled, and he immediately remembered that Cai Que and other prime ministers had repeatedly warned him not to leave the emperor's side for even a moment.
The crown prince said: "I am not tired. I am willing to serve Your Majesty here and wait for Your Majesty to recover."
Queen Mother Gao nodded and said, "What a filial child."
At this point, Empress Dowager Gao sighed and looked back, and saw the emperor still lying on the couch in the tent.
……
It was midsummer when Sima Guang arrived in Beijing again.
As soon as he arrived in the capital, Sima Guang hurriedly presented a petition requesting the court to allow more people to express their opinions. No matter whether they were officials or not, anyone who understood the court's shortcomings and the sufferings of the people could submit a petition.
Cheng Hao came to visit Sima Guang's house.
At this time, it was already a little hot in Bianjing. He saw Sima Guang, wearing a hemp short jacket, asking his servants to move twenty boxes of "Zizhi Tongjian" into his study.
After they finished their work, they sat opposite each other under the shade of the parasol tree. The servant served tea to Sima Guang and Cheng Hao.
The tea in the rough pottery cup tasted bland. Cheng Hao was moved by Sima Guang's extremely simple food and daily necessities.
Sima Guang stroked the scroll and sighed, "Since the publication of the Zizhi Tongjian, people all over the world have been vying to read it, but before they have read a single page, they have already stretched themselves and started yawning."
"The only person who could read the entire chapter was Wang Shengzhi (Wang Yirou)."
Cheng Hao said: "Wang Shengzhi is a really studious person, but it's a pity that he is arrogant because of his talent."
Sima Guang said, "Mr. Mingdao, you never come to the Temple of the Three Treasures for no reason. What do you want to teach me?"
Cheng Hao politely replied, "I don't deserve it. But there is one thing I don't understand. When Sima Gong arrived in the capital, he immediately submitted a petition to open up the channels for people to express their opinions. But there was a sentence in it: 'For the common people without property, I am worried that they may be treacherous. I have asked Bao Zhi to be in charge, and I will take orders and release them at will.' What does it mean?"
Cheng Hao asked Sima Guang that for ordinary people without property, they must have someone to guarantee them before they can speak.
Sima Guang said: "Mr. Mingdao is well versed in classics and history, how could he not know?"
Cheng Hao said: "Wang Jiefu once said, 'Changing the legal system is inconvenient for scholars and officials, but why is it inconvenient for the people?'"
"Now that Lord Sima does not allow the common people to speak, who is he going to let speak?"
Sima Guang said: "Those who have stable property have stable mind. This is what Mencius said. I am afraid it was instigated by the clerks."
"I was not able to persuade the emperor with my utmost sincerity, so Anshih alone bore the blame. I blame him deeply."
Cheng Hao asked: "Sima Gong, the implementation of the new law was caused by us. At that time, I felt ashamed that I could not move the emperor with sincerity, which led to the disaster today. My party should share the blame with Anshi!"
"Yuanfeng Zhanggong has found a way to help it with the economy! I hope you will slow down the matter and abolish the law."
Sima Guang listened to Cheng Hao's words and shook his head and said, "Zhang Duzhi's method and Wang Jiefu's method are like the pot calling the kettle black when the pot is fifty steps away."
Cheng Hao said, "Does Sima Gong know that Zhang Gong is going to return to the court? He told me that he wanted to reconcile the old with the new."
Sima Guang said: "Reconciliation? That's just wishful thinking."
"I have read all the memorials and articles written by Mr. Zhang in recent years, and I don't think they are much better than the New Interpretations of the Three Classics."
Cheng Hao knew that Sima Guang had the habit of "reading all the works of his opponents", and he was even very familiar with Wang Anshi's "New Interpretations of the Three Classics".
Cheng Hao asked: "Can the method of protecting horses be kept for a while?"
Sima Guang said firmly: "It must be abolished!"
"Can the baojia system be abolished?"
"It must be abolished."
Cheng Hao couldn't bear it and said, "We can't even abolish the exemption law!"
Sima Guang remained unmoved: "It must be abolished!"
Cheng Hao could not help but stand up. Sima Guang's granite head was such that not a single word of his could make sense.
Seeing Cheng Hao was about to leave, Sima Guang said, "I have been idle for fifteen years and wanted to seek a job, but the Empress Dowager summoned me back to the court and wanted to appoint me as the Minister of the Imperial Household!"
"But I have become drowsy and have forgotten many of the stories. The new law is indeed like a wall on all sides, but I only know three or four out of a hundred of the officials in the court."
"I am like a yellow leaf in a strong wind, about to fall!"
When Sima Guang said this, Cheng Hao saw that all his teeth had fallen out and his body was as thin as a stick. He really looked like a yellow leaf trembling in the autumn wind. He wondered if he would have many days left to live.
Cheng Hao thought that he had known Sima Guang for decades, and that the other party was worthy of his lifelong learning in terms of both character and knowledge. But why was he so stubborn on the issue of abolishing the new law? It didn't make any sense at all.
"Mingdao, please stay and give me a hand."
Cheng Hao said: "If you can listen to me a little, I am willing to help you."
Sima Guang smiled happily and said, "Okay, okay."
Cheng Hao knew that Sima Guang did not really agree, so he had to leave his house and go to Lu Gongzhu's house. It happened that Zhang Zhi was also in Lu's house.
Cheng Hao expressed Sima Guang's ideas, and both of them sighed.
Cheng Hao said, "Sima Gong asked me to tell Lu Gong that you have been too silent. If you don't stand up, you may become corrupted by the New Party. His words are all in the letter."
Lu Gongzhu smiled bitterly and shook his head.
Zhang Zhi looked at his father-in-law and thought to himself that his father-in-law was originally the purpose of the government to stir up trouble by dissenting opinions, and he was placed in the court.
Although they had opposed Zhang Yue many times over the years, today they had actually become a new party in Sima Guang's eyes.
In fact, Lu Gongzhu also had some intention of abolishing the new law, but in Sima Guang's eyes, as long as you have some reservations, you will be classified as a "new party".
Lu Gongzhu read Sima Guang's letter and shook his head, saying, "Even if the court wants to change, it needs a method. The Qingmiao Law only needs to eliminate the problem of suppressing the people, and the exemption from military service is even better! However, Sima Gong said that the exemption from military service is a problem that will plague the country for generations to come."
Zhang Zhi could not help but get angry when he heard this. The exemption law was the hard work of Han Jiang, Wang Anshi and Zhang Yue, but in Sima Guang's eyes it had become a fatal problem for the whole world.
It's simply unreasonable.
I wonder what Zhang Yue, who was rushing to Bian Jing, would think if he knew that Sima Guang intended to abolish all the new laws, including the exemption law that he had worked so hard on.
At this moment, Zhang Yue had already changed to a light boat in Hangzhou and headed north to Bian Jing by water.