HCB Chapter 1093 Return
Chapter 1093 Return
Wang Yan's reform is all-round. Whether it is the officials, the people, or the big families stuck in the middle who control local power, everything must be changed, everything must be changed.
The only way to suppress unrest and prevent brainless people from putting themselves in danger is to impose severe punishments and kill one person to serve as a warning to others.
In the same way, if you kill one hundred, you will serve as a warning to ten thousand; if you kill ten thousand, you will serve as a warning to millions. As long as the murderers who dare to jump out are tortured to death, as long as a group of people are brutally tortured to death in various places, then the rest will not have the courage to cause more troubles and live an honest work life.
What's more, the opposite of harsh punishments and laws are greatly favorable conditions. As long as you work hard and live a good life, you can overcome the better situation. Rather than the final period when the dynasty collapsed, the more people were killed and the more ruthless they were, the more intense the resistance became.
Wang Yan first used the law to rule the central court, cleaned up all levels of civil and military officials in Bianjing, and unified opinions at the highest central level. Then it takes the three points of Northwest, Hangzhou and Kaifeng as the center and radiates to the surrounding areas.
The Western Army and the Northern Army deployed a total of 300,000 troops, leaving only 100,000 troops to suppress the various ethnic groups.
Now that Xixia and Khitan have been defeated, the foreigners have become insignificant, and some troops are enough. In addition, in order to avoid unexpected situations, Wang Yan once again rectified the officials who governed foreigners and purified the customs to prevent these officials from excessively oppressing and exploiting foreigners, causing disunity and eventual armed resistance.
In addition to these 300,000 troops, Wang Yan also mobilized 100,000 troops from the permanent imperial army stationed in the capital. Counting the Xiang troops that will be trained in various places, the total is 500,000 troops.
They were scattered in various node cities in the Song Dynasty and referenced each other in key positions. The military posture does not need special logistics supplies, because they are scattered, with no more than a thousand people at most, and only a hundred or so in some places. The logistics are easy to handle, and the place to eat is convenient. After all, this time it is just an old case, that is, becoming a landlord.
Wang Yan was not prepared to forgive this time and did not say anything. If before he took office, when Fan Zhongyan was in power, he had successfully increased the commercial tax, and there were no big discrepancies between Qingtian and Zharen, he would not have made another big move. As long as he pays taxes according to regulations and treats the people according to his decrees, then nothing will happen.
But unfortunately, they are not so sensible, and they are not so lucky.
This time, Wang Yan was no longer planning to clear the land. He was going even more ruthless. He wanted all the land to be nationalized. Although it is said that the whole world is not the land of the king, it is obvious that the king is not that awesome because his will cannot be implemented at the lowest level of the land. But what Wang Yan is doing now is really not Wang Tu. As a king, he is still relatively good.
All the problems facing the Song Dynasty now can be solved as long as the land issue is solved.
For example, after solving the problem of hidden households, the landlords and population checks are all follow-up tasks. They were given money to hide, but they didn't hide it. Because the land was really divided, the land tax was further reduced. The current policy is that it is only one tax per fifteen. At the same time, the poll tax was also abolished. Without labor, work is just money. Money hires.
For example, on the issue of paying business taxes, those who dare to collude and fight are industries run by people with strong roots. Those who just run their own small shops to make a living have basically no ability to resist. They do whatever the government says and even have to pay more. Life is quite difficult. Not much better than the common people who farm the land. Now that these well-established people have been dealt with, their business taxes will naturally not be a problem.
For example, the problem of corruption and collusion among local officials and the problem of local gangsters being hired to commit murders are the same. If a powerful local family is exposed, what problem can't be found out? Even if it can't be proven through trial, then it can't be fabricated? There is no chance to tell who is the good guy and who is the bad guy at this time. Regardless of whether it is good or bad, right or wrong, it only depends on the position. As long as he stands on the opposite side of Wang Xiang's reform, he will be punished.
For example, when it comes to monopolizing supplies such as salt, iron, tea, and wine, all those with qualifications are big families. Now they are all uprooted, and no conspiracy or trick can be done.
With the army in hand and the people's will, the country of Song Dynasty is really like calligraphy and painting, which can be painted over at will by Wang Yan. He can do whatever he wants. This is a true portrayal of his power.
Although such fierce anti-landlords would have a major impact on the commercial trade of the Song Dynasty, it was just an operational problem. Output was not affected, and sales were not affected.
The capable people may have been beaten to death, and the rest may not be enough, but that doesn't matter. Wang Yan opened a government-run trading firm and directly transferred the goods to the government. At the same time, it also provided loans to businessmen who were not affected, allowing them to expand their industries and unravel the commercial legacy of the original wealthy families. Although there will inevitably be some gaps, there are no major problems and it can be considered a very smooth transition.
Of course, there are also problems with this. During the implementation process, grassroots officials will still be corrupt and collude. And the newly cultivated ones, even if they are no longer landlords, are all kinds of commercial capital, and they all want to eat people.
But if you want to run everything government-run, that’s impossible. After all, the current means of production are far from being ‘extremely abundant’, and the government is not enough to handle everything.
Wang Yan completely wiped out everything in the Song Dynasty, from the organizational structure of the government to various production and life in society, it took six years to reform everything.
And in these six years, Dali was defeated, the barbarians in Lingnan were subdued, and Jiaozhi was invaded. At the same time, they also fought to make Tubo surrender and the Uighurs surrender.
This is Wang Yan's powerful personal ability. The world is a game of chess, and all aspects are under his control. The external war did not affect internal reforms, and internal reforms did not hinder the war.
On the contrary, the two were promoted. After all, without internal reforms and family love, the Song Dynasty could not sustain the consumption of war on all sides.
In the past six years, sweet potatoes, potatoes and other crops have spread to most of the world, and grain output has doubled. And he also thoroughly promoted banknotes.
In fact, banknotes are no longer limited to the northwest and foreigners. With the prosperity of business and the banks he opened all over the country, they have already been circulated. Some people even have banknotes in their hands, and they have comprehensive basis for implementation.
There is another very important thing, that is, in the imperial examination in the year when Wang Yan came to power, his "new learning" became a test question. In the following years, Xinxue became mainstream. Six years later, the new learning has become the highest thought guiding the development of the country and guiding individuals to pursue their careers. The views of being pragmatic and truth-seeking have also been deeply rooted in the hearts of the people.
All in all, under his hands, the Song Dynasty was no longer the familiar Song Dynasty, making everyone feel strange. Six years seemed like six hundred years had passed. That kind of vigorous vitality, needless to say, is so powerful that it makes people both happy and worried.
It's just that Wang Yan doesn't think it's enough, but others think it's enough, and enough can't be enough anymore.
At the beginning, Zhao Shu was very supportive of Wang Yan's reforms. However, as the reforms gradually deepened and the national power became stronger than originally imagined, Zhao Shu became somewhat satisfied.
The most important thing is that at that time, Wang Yan's reputation was already at its peak. Wang Yan placed many people in various positions on both the military and political sides. Zhao Shu resisted, but he couldn't resist. Those people were all because of various reasons. The illegal behavior was carried out by Wang Yan.
How is illegality determined? It was Wang Yan who led a group of people and rescheduled the rules one by one.
Of course, it can't be an excessive law, but if you want to make trouble for someone, you can do anything at home, not to mention that the person who was wrong is still caught and has solid evidence to deal with it.
At that time, Zhao Shu wanted to stop, but he found that Wang Yan had unknowingly influenced the situation of the court. Veteran ministers were squeezed out, and close ministers did not dare to approach. Everyone kept silent and objected, and in fact became Wang Yan's voice. Among the people, Wang Yan's reputation is even more terrifying.
If you go out and take a walk, you will see that ten of the ten households offer Wang Yan’s longevity sign.
Zhao Shu didn't understand what kidnapping was. He didn't understand that when everyone worshiped Wang Yan, even if some people didn't want to worship, it wouldn't work. Anyone who didn't worship was a heretic. Neighbors wanted to exclude them, and even some low-level officials who admired Wang Yan extremely had to deal with them.
Wang Yan has actually driven the consciousness of the entire Song Dynasty to some extremes. But this extreme is good for Wang Yan's needs. If he works hard in one place, everyone will farm, produce, and live, increasing output value step by step, pushing the Song Dynasty to a new peak.
But Zhao Shu was afraid, and his headache became more severe. He began to make some small moves overtly and covertly. He wanted the organization to be able to dissipate Wang Yan's power at once.
In this way, until the first snow fell in the ninth year of Zhiping (1074), the imperial court compiled various data from the beginning to the autumn harvest of the year, including grain output, tax revenue, and the production growth of various materials, etc. Everyone was stronger than last year, and they were all in a state of joy.
The elders Ouyang Xiu and Bao Zheng asked Wang Yan to have a drink and enjoy the snow at noon.
The place is nothing special, just on the outer city wall of Bianjing. Snowflakes have fallen all over Bianjing City, and it is quite a feeling to watch the scene inside and outside the city from the city wall.
There is a pavilion on the city wall, and charcoal fires are lit in all directions in the pavilion. On this snowy day when there is no strong wind, the temperature of the pavilion is raised a lot. Seventy-five-year-old Bao Zheng and sixty-seven-year-old Ouyang Xiu were wrapped in thick fur coats.
Bao Zheng's physical fitness has plummeted in the past two years. His heart is not good, but Lao Bao is also a perseverant person. He has cultivated his character over the years, mainly because after Wang Yan came to power, Lao Bao has no rivals and is the one who complains the most. It's Wang Yan, and Wang Yan has always accepted criticism. So now I can still move around, eat and drink, and am in good spirits.
Ouyang Xiu was much stronger. Although he was the prime minister, all the power was in the hands of Wang Yan, and he was not required to do any work at all. He mainly studied literature, studied history, and other things, and was involved in education. Ouyang Xiu presided over the imperial examination every year. In addition, his age is much different, so he should be in better condition than Lao Bao.
Wang Yan, who is forty-four years old, is still handsome and handsome, because he does not look older and still looks in his twenties. For this reason, he deliberately grew his short beard and a goatee to make him look older.
Wang Yan was wearing a coat and playing with the pots of tea on the stove between the three of them. This tea has higher calories and is more flavorful, so the two old men can feel more comfortable.
"Bao Gong, teacher, why do you have to come here today? Wouldn't it be better to burn the earth dragon at home?" Wang Yan poured tea for the two of them, took a sip himself, and asked them with a smile.
Bao Zheng put down the tea cup, let out a sigh of relief, and said with a smile: "I am already an old man, why don't I walk around outside more while I can still move? How many times can it be cold again?"
Ouyang Xiu nodded repeatedly: "This makes sense, there is not much good time left. Calculating carefully, it has been twelve years since Xiwen passed away. The older I get, the more I feel like the deceased..."
"The waves behind the Yangtze River push the waves ahead, and a new generation replaces the old. This is the law of nature. Teachers don't have to worry, the students are now old people, and now it is the world of young people." Wang Yan poured tea for the two of them and served them.
After hearing Wang Yan's words, Ouyang Xiu and Lao Bao looked at each other and said: "Now our Song Dynasty is at its peak, even if it is as powerful as the Han and Tang Dynasties, it is far behind. The new law has been successful, the country is rich and the people are strong, and all industries are prosperous. Look around us Invincible Hands, the ambitions you and I made back in Yangzhou have now been realized. Since Ziyan understands the principle of replacing old people with new people, why not retire with success? It’s enough.”
"I haven't seen the official family for a few days..."
After listening to Wang Yan's words, Lao Bao understood the meaning. He is a real person and speaks truthfully: "You are right, Ziyan. It was the officials who sent us to convince you. Retiring after success is in fact. You know the fate of reformers since ancient times. . The benevolence and righteousness of officials will definitely not make things difficult for you. Besides, now that you are unworthy and at the top of the list, what else can you do if you have the intention to rebel?"
"The students are not people who want to exercise power, they just want to preserve the results of the reform. Today the students resign, and tomorrow everything in the past will come back. In less than five years, what it was like during the Qingli period will be what it was then. Everyone thinks it is enough, but in fact it is far from enough. The Song Dynasty today was created with the hard work of students, so how can we bear to let it go to waste. "
"Can you still control it for hundreds of years? Now that the new law has extended the life of the Song Dynasty for two hundred years, it is an immortal achievement." Ouyang Xiu answered. Both he and Bao Zheng tried to relieve Wang Yan and let Wang Yan take the initiative to delegate power.
"Students cannot control it for hundreds of years, but students can use decades to infiltrate the rules into the hearts of the people of our Song Dynasty. I dare not say more, but at least it can be guaranteed that at any time, foreigners cannot mess up our land in the Central Plains. Civil strife is inevitable, but the barbarians do not dare to have different intentions, and the people can also eat better.
Teacher, Mr. Bao, students, tell the truth. When students implement the new method, it is never for the Zhao family, but for the millions of Chinese people. Now that students are in power, no one dares to treat the people as human beings and bully and trample them at will. The people have dignity in order to make them live a better life. Nowadays, the common people cannot eat meat. The next step is to increase investment in animal husbandry. One day, everyone in the Song Dynasty can eat meat.
Bao Gong said that officials are benevolent and righteous, and the students tentatively agreed. However, no matter how benevolent and righteous, there is no reason for students to live. It was just a temporary appeasement, and the students were put under house arrest for two years before being killed. At that time, no matter what the reason is, the student will die of illness and will remain in history..."
Wang Yan shook his head with a smile, and continued to pour tea for the two of them without stopping.
Many things can't be done just how you want them to be. Once Wang Yan became prime minister and implemented the new law, there was no turning back. Because he is not an ordinary minister, limited by his vision, the innovations he made still did not exceed the shackles.
He was different. His reforms were many years ahead of the times. Some systems are even the same as in modern times. What restricts development is productivity and the traffic of information. Except for the failure to capture the imperial power, his reforms were almost complete. His degree of centralization was also thorough, and he was destined not to be tolerated by the imperial power.
But the imperial power cannot be taken away, because after all, someone has to be in charge of everything. It is just a matter of restrictions. Even if he starts a parliamentary system, it will still be the same. In the end, he will still create a ruthless person. If not, it would be even worse. All we have is constant party strife and internal strife, weakening our own strength.
As for establishing a constitution, that is even more impossible. The Qing Dynasty was destroyed, but Puyi still had loyal ministers and people kowtow to him. What's more, at this time, it has been a hundred years since the Song Dynasty was founded, and there are more loyal ministers.
Even if a constitution is established, how will the prime minister be chosen? If they were not his descendants, Wang Yan, their family would definitely be in bad shape, and the results of the reform would be destroyed. Even if there is only a trace of willfulness and corruption in the upper-level power, it will be a huge chasm at the lowest level. The most terrifying thing is that, limited by their position, selfishness, and vision, those in power are not corrupt and act from a better perspective, but the results are fatal.
This is not to mention the counterattack by the constitutional imperial power, or the ambitious prime minister who wants to be the emperor.
After weighing the pros and cons of all these outcomes, the best solution is for his old Wang family to become the emperor. After all, it is a fool to give up the imperial power, voluntarily give up the power to protect one's own safety, and be willing to be trapped and tortured to death without knowing when.
When the old Wang family is the emperor, the fruits of reform may not last long and will collapse, but what can be guaranteed is that for a long time, the descendants of his family will not be killed as pigs or regarded as political achievements. brush. If they want to make some major changes, the opposition can still argue that the ancestral system cannot be violated, so that they will not casually turn back the clock on history.
After hearing Wang Yan's words, Ouyang Xiu and Bao Zheng fell silent.
They know the truth Wang Yan said, and they also know that Wang Yan would be better off as emperor, but they have struggled for the Song Dynasty all their lives...
"Drink tea." Wang Yan was still smiling, gentle and generous, giving people peace of mind.
"It won't reach this point." Bao Zheng sighed.
"No, no, no..." Ouyang Xiu also sighed.
"Bao Gong, teacher, I said that I would establish my mind for the world, my life for the people, inherit the lost knowledge of the past saints, and bring peace to the world. But I never said that I would work hard for the Zhao family. If he can tolerate me, then I will be a loyal minister of the Song Dynasty. If he wants to kill me, then I will not sit and wait for death. The initiative is in the hands of the emperor. Let's see what he does. I am still the prime minister of the Song Dynasty! But you can rest assured that I will not commit murder. After all, I have been an official in the Song Dynasty for 25 years, so I will not be so ruthless and ungrateful. In fact, I have a friendship with the emperor. But he didn't listen to me and became the emperor." Wang Yan shook his head, looking a little sad, and smiled, "When I was in the northwest, the Song Dynasty could still tolerate me. Now there is no way to retreat, and I can't help myself. I can't wait. Death. Bao Gong, stop staring at the student, save your strength. If the government makes trouble, Bao Gong will live a few more years to see how the student is the emperor. Teacher, you too, don't be upset, the Song Dynasty has not perished, it is only the Zhao family that has perished.
Blind loyalty is the most unacceptable. If it is a foreign race, then I will swear to die rather than surrender. In the case of the student, it is not that far. At this age, what else can you not see? It is really not worth it to be angry with the student. It will not be too late to scold the student later. There is plenty of time.
You should rest well at home in the next few days. The government can send you to persuade the student, I am afraid that they have already made preparations. Life or death, it will be in these two days. "
After that, without listening to the other words of the two, Wang Yan waved his hand and asked someone to help the two leave and sent them back to their respective houses.
He drank tea alone on the city wall and roasted beef jerky.
He didn't think about anything else, he was really just enjoying the snow scenery.
He had long been indifferent to the day and night, and had long been unmoved by the wind. Time makes him strong and calm...
Wang Yan overestimated Zhao Shu's patience. Less than an hour after Lao Bao and Ouyang Xiu returned, when it was getting dark, someone came to the top of the city to convey the order, saying that Zhao Shu wanted to discuss with him how to deal with the snow disaster.
This is a good reason, because today's snow is really heavy.
Although there are precedents for this kind of disaster, the specific arrangements must be set by the upper level first and make plans. When receiving disaster reports from various places, solve the problem as soon as possible. Emperor Zhao Shu cares about the people and has no problems at all.
Wang Yan drank up the tea in one gulp, stood up, untied the fur coat he was wearing, put on his purple official robe, picked up the winged hat on the side, and put it on his head.
"Swoosh... Woo..."
The signal arrow rose to the sky on the city wall, and the sharp sound went far away. Then more signal arrows sounded, which was a response.
Wang Yan didn't care. He got off the tower and didn't take a carriage. He walked slowly in the snow with his hands behind his back. He stepped on the soft snow and made a creaking sound. Someone walking on the street recognized him, grinned and greeted him, wishing him a long life.
He walked towards the palace step by step.
I don't know when, there were fewer and fewer people on the street, and teams of armored soldiers appeared on the street. They were silent.
Bianjing City was very big. Wang Yan walked for a long time before he arrived at the gate of the palace. At this time, the palace gate was wide open, and outside the palace gate, there were all silent soldiers.
Wang Yan walked into the palace gate. The situation inside was not much better than outside. At least more than a thousand soldiers gathered. In the distance, clusters of torches could be seen, moving quickly, and occasionally a few shouts could be heard.
He kept walking inside. He smiled and nodded at the soldiers beside him, giving people a sense of security. From time to time, he would call out some people's names and give them a casual word of encouragement.
Just like that, he walked step by step to the Chongzheng Hall with the door wide open.
He stamped his feet, shook off the snow on his body, and then walked in.
This is a familiar place. Wang Yan took the palace examination here, entered the official career here, and participated in many grand court meetings here.
But today, there is only one person here.
Zhao Shu held the sword in one hand and rubbed his head with the other hand. He sat on the dragon chair in a daze, watching Wang Yan walk step by step to the imperial steps.
Wang Yan still had a smile on his face, stood still, bowed his hands, and saluted.
"Your Majesty, why did your Majesty rebel?"
Looking at Wang Yan's smiling face, Zhao Shu rubbed his head. He knew that Wang Yan was teasing him.
He asked in confusion: "When did it start?"
Wang Yan understood that Zhao Shu was asking why those generals who were won over by promising various benefits did not kill him, and when did they start to arrange it.
"From the day your majesty ascends the throne, let them accompany your majesty to relieve your boredom."
This is a bit of a murderous heart attack...
"Heh..." Zhao Shu smiled bitterly, and then threw the sword in his hand fiercely, "Traitor! Traitor! Wang Yan, you have long had the intention to rebel, and my Song Dynasty..."
Wang Yan did not move, watching the sword fall not far in front of him. Zhao Shu on the dragon throne did not finish his words of condemnation, because he was so angry that he fainted because of his headache.
Wang Yan shook his head and smiled: "I have said that your majesty is not suitable to be an emperor, it will shorten your life. Come on, send your majesty back to rest."
Several soldiers came in from outside the hall, walked forward, and drove the unconscious Zhao Shu away.
Wang Yan turned and walked to the door of Chongzheng Hall again. He took a step out, and the wind and snow hit him, and the corners of his official robes flew up and down.
He put his hands behind his back and stepped forward step by step, looking at the dark group of people below.
Finally, a soldier shouted.
"Long live my emperor!"
"Long live my emperor!"
"Long live my emperor!"
Wang Yan chuckled...
Under the light of the swaying torches, snowflakes flashed by at great speed. If you enter the microscopic world, you will probably see ambition reflected on the prismatic snowflakes...
The snow is getting heavier...
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