Although the civil representative Su Fengji and the military representative Shi Hongzhao are in the same boat, in the face of common interests, the two still have a common language, and they cooperate with each other tacitly and understand each other tacitly. As for the means of amassing money, the Eight Immortals cross the sea and show their magical powers.
In addition to teaming up to rob the wives and daughters of wealthy families, Su Fengji, Shi Hongzhao and others also accepted bribes from all parties, took money from others, and helped others to eliminate disasters. For example, Hou Yi, Wang Rao, etc. mentioned above all paid bribes to "people in power" bribery.
It is precisely because of the tacit understanding between civil and military generals that everyone in the wealthy households pretends to be grandsons, and their servants become uncles.
It was under this almost inhumane iron-fisted control that despite natural disasters and rebellions in various places, Bianzhou City, the capital of the empire and under the emperor's feet, actually kept its doors open at night, did not pick up things on the road, remained orderly, and did not dare to fart.
Therefore, after Guo Wei put down the three-town rebellion, he specifically mentioned Shi Hongzhao's great achievements in pacifying the rear and maintaining order in the capital.
Shi Hongzhao's cruelty did not stop at Bianzhou. He served as a vassal town. In addition to serving in the central government, he also served as the governor of Songzhou's returned army, so his greedy and cruel claws extended from the central government to the local areas. There are also two typical cases:
"Breaking the bones, sucking the marrow and squeezing Songzhou"
He sent his henchmen to collect taxes, and all of them were like wolves and tigers. They collected taxes arbitrarily and were greedy. They collected 10,000 yuan of money every month and gave it to Shi Hongzhao. This made the people of Songzhou hate Shi Hongzhao deeply.
"The Yue soldiers killed Yingzhou"
At that time, salt and iron, distiller's yeast, etc. were sold exclusively by the government, and the profits went to the central government (the third department). However, strictly speaking, we cannot summarize it as "salt and iron monopoly" because in many cases, salt and iron were opened based on local conditions and the situation. Liquor and alcohol were banned, and private operations were allowed, while the original profits were apportioned to households. However, regardless of whether it is a government exclusive business or a tax-collected household, the profits theoretically belong to the central government.
There was a commercial dispute at a distillery in Yingzhou. He Zheng, a general in Yingzhou, and Qu Wen, the person in charge of the distillery, were competing for control of the distillery. The dispute was so intense that a complaint was filed with the central government and asked for a ruling by the three departments. Of course, the Third Division supported Qu Wen, saying that the distillery should be under the direct control of the central government and local governments should not interfere.
He Zheng then found Shi Hongzhao and asked him to come forward.
Shi Hongzhao made arrogant words and made unreasonable troubles, saying that Yingzhou is his own state (returned to the German army), and you have to listen to me in my territory. Yingzhou is under my control, and everything in Yingzhou is under my control!
It's obvious that he is messing around, but when a scholar encounters a soldier, he can't explain why. There's nothing the IRS staff can do about it.
Shi Hongzhao not only occupied the wine bar, but also had Qu Wen killed on the grounds that he had "overstepped his rank": How dare you bypass me and go directly to the central government to ignore my existence when you file a lawsuit on my territory? Not only did he kill Qu Wen, but he also killed dozens of staff members related to this case.
Arrogant and unreasonable.
1.2 Grudges with the Civil Service Group
1.2.1 Taking chestnuts from the fire
Shi Hongzhao despised civil servants very much and often said publicly: "Literaturemen are the least of things. They always look down on us generals and call us 'pawns'. It's really hateful!"
Death can mean a soldier or warrior, such as a soldier, a soldier, or a brave soldier, but it can also mean death, such as the date of birth or death. The civil servants deliberately used the word "pawn" as a pun to refer to the generals. Shi Hongzhao and others were scolded in their heart. They felt bitter but could not express it, and suffered the consequences of being dumb.
However, the relationship between the civil representative Su Fengji and the military representative Shi Hongzhao is somewhat subtle. The two are both antagonistic and cooperative. However, in this kind of cooperation, Su Fengji basically used Shi Hongzhao to act as a pawn and a scapegoat, while Shi Hongzhao was short-sighted and was often driven by Su Fengji for the petty profit in front of him.
For example, in the case of Su Fengji's false accusation against Li Song mentioned earlier, the person responsible for interrogating Li Song was Shi Hongzhao's "Secretary Bodyguard". The petty profiteer who took the blame was Li Song's youngest daughter.
For another example, a group of scholars taking the imperial examination were dissatisfied with the dark corruption of the imperial court, so they gathered in front of the examination room, shouted loudly, and petitioned for the people, which was the Later Han version of "writing on the bus." Su Fengji arrested them all, then sent them to the Guards Department, and encouraged Shi Hongzhao to beat them severely and tattoo their faces. Of course, you can kill them directly if you want.
Shi Hongzhao foolishly wanted to execute it. His son Shi Dejuan knew right from wrong and was kind-hearted. He immediately jumped out to protect these scholars, saying that these students making loud noises in the center of state institutions were indeed lawless and should be punished, but - they should be handed over Give it to the police station or public security bureau instead of sending it to a military court. This matter is not your business. Dad, some people are deliberately digging a hole for you to make you suffer world-wide infamy! Why do you bother to take chestnuts from the fire for others?
Shi Hongzhao suddenly realized this and ordered the students to be released without charge on the spot.
When reading this period of history, a classic scene from cartoons always appears in front of my eyes: two villains, one is always short, fat and stupid, acting as a coolie and thug, while the other has a sharp mouth and monkey cheeks, acting as a dog-headed strategist. For example, the two dogs and the big horse monkey in "The Bear".
Brain is a good thing, but it's a pity that Shi Hongzhao didn't have one.
The peak of the conflict between Shi Hongzhao and Su Fengji and other civil servants occurred at two wine games in the third year of Qianyou (950).
1.2.2 "April Wine Bureau"
In April of the third year of Qianyou (950), in the face of the continuous harassment of the Hebei area by Khitan cavalry, the defenders of the towns in Hebei had no choice but to close the city to protect themselves, without the power or courage to fight back. Liu Chengyou A royal meeting was held to discuss appointing a general who was brave, resourceful, capable, and courageous to guard the area.
The ministers unanimously recommended General Guo Wei, who had just put down the rebellion in three towns in the west.
Therefore, Liu Chengyou decided to let Guo Wei go out of Weizhou to control the towns in Hebei and coordinate the anti-Liao affairs.
So far, there has been no opposition; this is the unanimous voice of the masses. However, the problem is that Guo Wei has the title of "Privy Envoy" on his head.
In principle, central officials can lead or serve as local officials remotely. For example, if a privy envoy is also a military envoy of a certain place, his working place is still at the central government, and the actual work in the local area is completed by his deputy envoy. "Temporary post", or honorary Jiedushi, receiving a salary of Jiedushi and enjoying the political status of Jiedushi, can be regarded as the favor of the imperial court to him.
The opposite is not true. Local governors cannot concurrently hold official positions in the central government. However, empty titles such as Prime Minister and Envoy are excluded. For example, many local powerful vassals have titles such as "Concurrent Minister, Tong Ping Zhang Shi, Zhong Shu Ling", etc. They only enjoy the corresponding political status and cannot fulfill the obligations of the Prime Minister.
After it was agreed that Guo Wei would leave Weizhou, Shi Hongzhao, who was also in the general camp, proposed that Guo Wei's title of "Privy Envoy" should be retained.
