When a dynasty falls, only ordinary people suffer. And these ministers, with rich net worth, either transformed themselves into serving the new dynasty, or retired to the mountains and forests to live alone. Those who truly sacrificed their lives for the country were only one or two out of ten.
In times of peace, there is nothing wrong with scholar-bureaucrats cultivating themselves. But this happened to be a time of great competition between the weak and the strong. The Song Dynasty, which was on the verge of war and life and death, could not withstand the torment.
If one had cultivated one's moral character and cultivated one's character, the Southern Song Dynasty would not have perished. There will be no Queen of Yashan in history.
"Your Majesty, as long as the scholars in our dynasty cultivate themselves and manage their families, they can govern the country and bring peace to the world; as long as they are sincere, the world will be well governed. Our dynasty builds the country with Confucianism and uses culture to control military affairs. This is just to prevent warriors from separatist rule. It is actually the way of kingship. I The court must cultivate both civil and military skills, and we must not let the martial arts dominate. Your Majesty, think carefully."
Hu Ju was still not convinced, he had another reason.
"Your Majesty, you established the Naval Academy and the Martial Arts School, and have worked hard for the country and the people. I and other ministers admire you very much. But we must not fail to guard against the harm of domineering warriors!"
Zhen Dexiu couldn't help but remind him.
The Song Dynasty founded the country based on Confucianism, which can be said to be based on literature to control military affairs. The nobles and nobles in the Manchu Dynasty were all scholars. How can we tolerate those vulgar warriors among the brilliant scholar-bureaucrats?
"Your Majesty, the truth is absolutely true. Although the Qin Emperor and the Han Dynasty were great in martial arts, the people were miserable due to heavy taxation. The people of the Song Dynasty live and work in peace and contentment. If your Majesty allows the warriors to be in power, it will not be a blessing to the court and the country."
Xue Ji was also cautious and talked about Zhao Hong's poems.
Under the rule of the two great emperors Qin and Han, martial arts were astonishing throughout the ages, but the lives of the common people were really difficult.
"Your Majesty wants to rectify the armed forces, and the veterans all admire him. But if the warriors are too strong, it will be of no benefit to the country. Your Majesty, think carefully."
Xuan Zhen also had a sad face and spoke to Zhao Hong.
It seems that the four ministers were always wary of the emperor's establishment of the Song Dynasty Naval Academy and the Jinling Martial Arts Lecture Hall.
But so what? It’s not like King Qiankun is arbitrary!
"Can Di Qing be slandered by Ouyang Xiu and others and die in depression? Can Yue Fei be killed by Gaozong Qin Hui without any reason? If he is not strong in literature and weak in military, how can he be ashamed of Jingkang? They were all driven to half of the country in the south of the Yangtze River, and they still think about guarding against generals all day long. You guys Are you going to give up only if the Song Dynasty dies?"
Incompetent bungler. As an important minister of the country, he does not know how to save the country and has no measures to govern the country. I usually talk about my character with my hands closed, but know nothing about practical learning. He spends his days living in a state of dissipation and debauchery, and when it comes to doing things, he is a bunch of idiots.
"The Song Dynasty has died, and I have become the king of the subjugated country, at the mercy of others. You can continue to be your ministers of the new dynasty, living in seclusion in the mountains and forests, free and easy. You are really my humerus ministers of the Song Dynasty!"
Unable to convince the ministers, Zhao Hong couldn't help but burst out.
Before and after the fall of the Yuan Dynasty to the Song Dynasty, only 20% of the people died for the country, and half of them were secluded and unofficial. Together, these two types of people accounted for 75% of the number of scholar-bureaucrats. Those who surrendered or served as officials in the Yuan Dynasty accounted for 25%.
Scholars in the Song Dynasty had always had the habit of being conceited and extravagant. In the Southern Song Dynasty, the atmosphere of pseudo-Taoists was added to the atmosphere. Since the 70th year of the rise of the Song Dynasty, the fine scholarly style of emphasizing ethics, advocating morality, uprightness, and loyalty advocated by Fan Zhongyan, Ouyang Xiu, and others has greatly weakened in the middle and late Southern Song Dynasty, and the style of chatting has become prevalent.
If left unchecked, it would not be the martial arts that destroyed the Song Dynasty, but the empty talk and blindly using culture to control military forces that would end the Song Dynasty.
"Your Majesty, I have no intention of doing this!"
"Your Majesty, forgive me!"
Zhao Hong became angry, and several ministers were shocked. They stood up one after another and knelt down to apologize.
It seemed that the emperor was really pissed off.
"I'll say it again. I founded the Jinling Martial Arts Hall and the Naval Academy for the sake of national armament. I will serve as the principal of the Jinling Martial Arts Academy and the Naval Academy, and Wei Shilang will serve as the vice-principal. In this way, I and all the students will have The righteousness between the king and his ministers, the love between teachers and students, how come the disadvantages of the domineering warriors?"
Zhao Hong's face darkened and he attacked Zhen Dexiu and Xue Ji again.
"Speaking of heavy taxes, my dynasty imposed a lot of excessive taxes, and people had to pay taxes when selling their own things. I cut leeks so confidently. Compared with the Han Dynasty, my dynasty is probably like pigs laughing and crows black."
Does he need to be so straightforward about these things?
"I want a balance between civil and military affairs. All civil servants and generals will serve the country and share my worries. No need to say more, gentlemen!"
Zhen Dexiu still wanted to persist, but Zhao Hong made a decisive decision.
When it comes to using civil power to control military power, these ruling ministers are all stubborn and stubborn.
However, he will never give in on the matter of restoring the martial arts of the country.
Meng Gong and Yu Jie, the two war gods of the Southern Song Dynasty, had great martial arts skills, not inferior to Yue Wumu. Didn't they both die at the hands of the big-headed monster Song Lizong, Zhao Yun and Zhao Guicheng?
Once the military generals gained power, they killed them mercilessly, and the heroes were tortured to death by internal strife. Could the Song Dynasty survive?
Under his rule, Zhao Hong, these things would never happen.
There is no doubt that the Chinese people are smart, but their morals are corrupt, their morals are sluggish, and their people are in disarray. Everyone is impetuous and selfish, and likes to take shortcuts and backdoors. What they lack the most is bloodiness and the spirit of sacrifice.
At the end of every dynasty, the moral level is at its lowest, and Wu Sangui and Hong Chengchou were all the same. The bottom line is that it's not just a shiver. This has been true in all dynasties, and the Southern Song Dynasty is no exception.
"Your Majesty, the imperial court's finances are tight and the treasury is empty. Abolition of taxes on the people's heads will greatly reduce taxes. Your Majesty, think twice."
Zhen Dexiu finally spoke, but he was worried about the abolition of excessive taxes and miscellaneous taxes.
The imperial court has been fighting wars for so many years, and the treasury is empty. Although the abolition of exorbitant taxes and miscellaneous taxes has great merits, where does the liberality of the imperial court come from?
Exorbitant levies and miscellaneous taxes are just passed on to the people. And those with vested interests, such as powerful officials, will do everything possible to evade taxes.
"My lord, according to your estimate, if the exorbitant taxes and miscellaneous taxes on the people's heads are abolished, how much tax revenue will be reduced?"
The New Deal implemented by Jiangnan East Road is precisely to abolish the exorbitant taxes and miscellaneous taxes on ordinary people, and to allow those who evade taxes to pay taxes in accordance with the law.
All the ministers looked at Zhen Dexiu together.
"Your Majesty, I haven't calculated it carefully, but it should be five to six hundred percent."
Zhen Dexiu replied thoughtfully.
"In my government's taxes, tea, salt, goods and wine taxes accounted for about 60%. Grain, cloth, tea, and salt alone accounted for 60-70% of the commercial tax. The people sold the grain, cloth, and fruits they grew. , chickens and ducks, only account for about 10% of taxes, and only 23% are paid to the national treasury.”
Zhao Hong shook his head, feeling heavy in his heart.
"How much can the people sell for themselves? Most of the 10% of taxes on their heads goes into the pockets of corrupt officials instead of actually being paid to the national treasury. There are already enough exorbitant taxes and miscellaneous taxes on the people. For the sake of the people Two or three, are we going to force the people to rise up? The taxes hidden by those powerful officials are probably far more than this."
I have already said that this is cutting leeks from the people, but several ministers are still unyielding. If this dedication is really used to "love the people", why should the Song Dynasty be weak?
When Jiangnan East Road implemented the New Deal, he didn't believe it. The powerful officials committed crimes and misappropriated less than 56% of the tax burden!
Zhen Dexiu continued to argue, and Zhao Hong's face darkened.
"My true lord, I have made up my mind and there is no need to repeat it. I immediately draft a decree and publish it in a newspaper to inform the world that all people in the Song Dynasty will be exempted from all taxes on self-made cloth, grain, fruits, vegetables, bamboo, wood and cattails. I will also publish it in the newspaper. Promote it. If any local official breaks the law and exploits the common people, the court will severely punish him!"
Removing the shackles on the heads of ordinary people and businessmen also activates the private economy. Such heavy taxes have stifled the enthusiasm of private capital. This reminded him inexplicably of the reform and opening up in later generations.
"I obey the decree!"
Even the "rising forces" were brought out. Zhen Dexiu and others had no choice but to accept the decree and say yes.
Zhao Hong was fierce and decisive, and handled political affairs vigorously and resolutely, which was not the late emperor's "listen but not act".
These ministers are actually observing words and expressions. Under normal circumstances, if the emperor has made up his mind, they will not try their best to obstruct it.
"My true lord, I am not acting rashly. The people of the Song Dynasty are suffering, and I have to do this as a last resort. As for the difficulties we encounter, let's increase our income and reduce our expenditures to tide over the difficulties."
Zhao Hong spoke with sincerity and sincerity.
"I implemented the New Deal on Jiangnan East Road, and then implemented it in various areas of the Song Dynasty. The reason why I was resisted by the powerful officials was really due to interests. The national taxes have gone into their pockets, where can the country still have taxes? The benefits of the New Deal, After it is actually implemented, you will know the pros and cons. Compared with the exorbitant taxes and hidden taxes on the people, they are a drop in the bucket."
Zhao Hong's words made Zhen Dexiu and others feel solemn.
The emperor is also a kind-hearted and convincing saint.
"Your Majesty, the imperial army in front of the palace has been mobilized. Many generals are unwilling to return to their original places. The noise is quite serious and it gives me a headache."
Xuan Zhen said with a grimace, his heart pounding.
The new emperor is fierce and will take advantage of the weak rather than the strong. If the arrogant and powerful generals make such a fuss, they may lose more than they gain.
"Do you know those officers? Do you have a copy of the memorial?"
Zhao Hong asked softly.
Ordinary soldiers who serve as soldiers and eat food will never have these distracting thoughts. Even if there were, it would not alarm Xuan Zhen, the Minister of War and Privy Envoy of the Song Dynasty.
It must be those middle and high-level officers who are used to the glory and wealth of Lin'an City and are not willing to throw away those bottles and jars and want to cause trouble.
Do they really think that they can be manipulated at will just like the weak father-in-law?
"Your Majesty, this is their memorial. Some of the generals have a close relationship with the commander-in-chief Feng Shu."
Xuan Zhen panicked and quickly handed over the book.
The new emperor is serious about his work and will only be reprimanded if he is perfunctory.
The emperor had just eliminated Shi Miyuan's remaining members in the Dianqian Department. If he attacks these petitioning officers again, the Dianqian Department will undergo a major change.
"Feng Shu? Sign a petition!"
Zhao Hong was slightly startled. After reading the memorial, he threw it directly on the table.
"As soldiers of the Song Dynasty, they are unwilling to just be transferred back to their place of origin. How can we expect them to go into battle to kill the enemy and defend their home and country? What kind of bunch of bastards are they!"
Zhao Hong pointed to the memorial on the table, his face ashen.
"Xuan Qing, all the officers above will be expelled from the army immediately, leaving no one behind. If there are any troublemakers, military law will be dealt with! I would like to see, without them, would the sky of the Song Dynasty still fall?"
"I obey the decree, I will do it now!"
Xuan Zhen was sweating on his forehead and said yes again and again.
These ignorant fools thought they could threaten the military and make the emperor take back his orders. This time he kicked a stone, which would be bad luck.
"Xuan Qing, you are the privy envoy and the Minister of the Ministry of War, in charge of military affairs, and you are more familiar with the military generals than I am. For those vacant military positions, you will recommend loyal and capable people to fill them. This is a national matter, and you must not abandon the public service for private reasons. .I will consider them personally when the time comes."
Xuan Zhen felt comfortable and quickly accepted the order.
The new emperor is decisive in killing and trusts these ministers who participate in politics. In this way, I can free my hands and feet to do things, and my heart will be much more open.
"Your Majesty, I'm afraid Feng Shuai needs your Majesty to appease him."
Xue Ji said carefully with a grimace on his face.
"My Majesty is lax and threatens the Emperor. He should come and apologize to me."
Zhao Hong smiled coldly and his eyes flashed coldly.
Still want to repeat the old tricks, and think that the Emperor of the Song Dynasty is cowardly and dares to bully him? Then take a look at what thunder, rain and dew are, they are all your kindness.
He seemed to feel more at ease after taking care of these monsters before going to Jinling.
