"Your Majesty!" After a long time, Fan Zhi just finished reading the information given by Liu Chengyou, raised his eyes to observe the emperor's expression, and sighed slightly: "Officers and soldiers in the army are mostly uneducated and subject to strict military discipline. He behaves roughly and is able to maintain public order, but he lacks the ability to govern affairs and coordinate with the people. This situation is not surprising! I wonder what your majesty’s instructions are?”
When asked, Liu Chengyou looked very calm and said: "Since the disadvantages have occurred and are known, the imperial court should take effective measures to correct them and restore peace to the hometown! What suggestions do you have?"
The emperor expressed his attitude, and Fan Zhi also thought about it seriously and responded in a deep voice: "I have three suggestions for the military officials in the countryside!"
"Fan Qing, please speak!" Liu Chengyou sat upright and looked at him.
Fan Zhiping said: "First, for those local military officials who have neglected their duties, violated the law, and committed evil acts, we should order the local department to conduct an investigation and deal with them in accordance with the law, so as to eliminate law and discipline and restore peace to the villagers!"
"This is natural! Although they are meritorious people, I gave them official positions, money, food, and land, and allowed them to return to their hometowns with honor. This is not only to reward their merits, but also to allow them to benefit the hometown and express their kindness. It is not to let them be arrogant. He is a blessing to the common people. Now that he has violated the criminal law and committed an offense, he should be dealt with strictly to serve as a warning to others!" Liu Chengyou said.
Talking about the emperor's clear-eyed expression and his willingness to listen to advice, Fan Zhi felt slightly relieved. He was really worried that Liu Chengyou would have other ideas and use imperial power to suppress the law.
After raising his hand, Fan Zhi added: "Secondly, for the many military officials who serve in prefectures, counties, towns and villages, the local prefecture and county officials and supervisory officials should be ordered to strengthen supervision, conduct regular assessments, and promote, punish, and demote them. "
"In this case, I'm afraid it will also increase the burden of local governance, and it will be difficult for those lazy and mediocre officials!" Liu Chengyou said, seeming to be teasing.
"Tell me about the third one!" Liu Chengyou asked again, obviously agreeing with the second one.
In this regard, Fan Zhi hesitated for a moment, and then solemnly asked: "Thirdly, I would like to ask Your Majesty to grant land, money and food to the meritorious officers and soldiers, and to provide them with the posts of security guards, thieves, rural soldiers, and jailers. But when it comes to governing the people, we should be cautious.
After all, the root cause of the shortcomings of this task lies in the large number of military officials who have no ability to manage affairs and no love for the people, but they are responsible for governing the people. In this way, how can something not go wrong?
Although the rural officials were humble and not worthy of life, they were the most direct personnel for the imperial court to manage civil affairs and control thousands of households. Its role is even more important than that of state and county magistrates. Your Majesty should understand this.
Therefore, when appointing officials in the imperial court, they should also be based on their character and ability, and should not be appointed solely on the basis of military merit. Otherwise, if things go on like this, the accumulated disadvantages in the countryside will become increasingly serious and public resentment will inevitably arise.
Furthermore, over the past ten years, a large number of military officials have been added to local villages, which has also led to an increase in redundant officials and increased the burden on local finances..."
After listening to the third point of Fan Zhi's words, Liu Chengyou's face obviously showed a little strangeness, as if he didn't take it seriously. After thinking for a while, Liu Chengyou said: "This has inherent disadvantages, but we cannot only look at the disadvantages and ignore the advantages. There are tens of thousands of officials in the imperial court. Are they all evildoers? How can the entire class be blamed for a few people?"
For example, in the newly conquered Sichuan and Shu, there are more than 40 prefectures, more than 200 counties, and countless villages. Without these trustworthy officers and soldiers and the favor of the court, how could they go to the countryside? Aren’t the lessons from the previous powerful rebellion profound enough?
As you said, if local officials are all based on their character and talents, where will the imperial court come from with so many talents to serve as rural officials? There may be some unscrupulous officers and soldiers, but it is enough to provide more supervision and education and not to intimidate them. How can we deny them in one word? "
After listening to the emperor's words, Fan Zhi frowned tightly. His old face was not angry, but thinking seriously. Seeing his state, Liu Chengyou smiled and said: "However, Fan Qing's concerns are not unreasonable. Officers and soldiers lack culture. It is definitely not advisable to govern the people with military laws. In this way, from now on, military honors will be awarded and politics will be managed. People's appointments must be strictly inspected in front of the government before being appointed. Those who fail to meet the standards will be made another arrangement!
Also, supervision and governance should be strengthened! "
"Your Majesty is wise!" After understanding what Liu Chengyou meant, Fan Zhi bowed seriously and respectfully.
In fact, Liu Chengyou was determined to support the military landlord class of the Han Dynasty. The low-level military officials were only the foundation, and the core was the upper-level military nobles. Although the country has entered bureaucratic politics and the bureaucratic landlord class is also growing, Liu Chengyou still hopes that the country and the court will have a force that is different from the scholar-bureaucrat bureaucracy.
"Let's handle the matter like this for the time being!" Looking at Fan Zhi, Liu Chengyou ordered: "You should work with all the officials in the political affairs hall and draw up a specific agreement based on this idea and implement it. Investigate what should be investigated. Do what needs to be done!”
"Yes!" Fan Zhi responded.
After pondering for a while, Liu Chengyou said again: "This time, I have learned a lesson from Zhao Li's case. Since ancient times, it has been difficult to cure the problem of official administration. It can only be controlled by supervision and the law. Zhao Li was promoted from a low position and given the power of supervision, but he knew the law and violated the law. Dereliction of duty and favoritism. Every time I think about it, I feel depressed and embarrassed!"
Hearing his emotion, Fan Zhi rarely spoke out to persuade: "Your Majesty, don't be too worried. Zhao Li has failed the emperor's kindness because he lost his original intention and it is not the fault of the court system. We only need to strictly enforce the national laws so that those who come after him will be in awe. Just don’t dare to act rashly!”
"Speaking of latecomers, now that Zhao Li is gone, who does Fan Qing think can take over the Procuratorate?" Liu Chengyou asked.
Facing the emperor's inquiry, Fan Zhi remained silent, as if he did not dare to make any rash suggestions. After all, the Metropolitan Procuratorate was a relatively independent yamen among the ministries and departments, and its authority and status were no less important than those of the Third Department of Finance.
At the same time, Fan Zhi had served Liu Chengyou for ten years, and Fan Zhi was not incapable of figuring out the holy will. Fan Zhi had already felt that although the Zhao Li case made the emperor particularly angry, it did not make him lose confidence in the imperial court's supervision system. On the contrary, he would continue to strengthen and improve the system so that it could continue to assume its function of supervising internal and external military affairs and people's livelihood.
As the chief official of the Metropolitan Procuratorate, Zuodu Yushi's position became even more sensitive and important. Now as the chief minister, Fan Zhi had been in charge of state affairs and had great power since the emperor delegated power. In this case, be more cautious.
After thinking for a while, Fan Zhi replied: "Li Weizhen (Li Gu) is famous for knowing people. Your Majesty, why don't you ask about it?"
In response to his answer, Liu Chengyou couldn't help but smile and look at the prime minister who was known for his uprightness and uprightness. It was rare for him to see Fan Zhi being so cautious.
Without any delay, Liu Chengyou said directly: "What do you think of Cui Zhoudu, the minister of Dali Temple?"
Judging from the emperor's attitude, it was obvious that he had already decided what he wanted in his mind, so this consultation was probably just a casual idea. After thinking about it for a moment, Fan Zhi replied: "Cui Zhoudu is an upright man. He was born as a censor and admonisher. He is familiar with the law, acts cautiously, and obeys the regulations. His ability is enough for him. However, he has a strong temperament... .”
Hearing Fan Zhi raise doubts about Cui Zhoudu's character, Liu Chengyou secretly thought, in terms of temperament, how can you, Fan Zhi, be better than Cui Zhoudu? There are many anecdotes in the imperial court, and some rumors are not just rumors. For example, when Fan Zhi was in court, when he had disagreements with his colleagues, he would always fight with them, speak fiercely, and spit, and get others to agree with him. Or just stay silent...
Many times, people tend to see the shortcomings of others but not their own. This is true even for Fan Zhi, who has the qualifications of a famous minister.
Of course, Liu Chengyou couldn't express this kind of complaint directly. Instead, he chuckled and replied to Fan Zhi: "Fan Qing thinks that Cui Zhoudu has the ability of the General Xiandu Procuratorate. That's enough. As for personality issues, There are differences among people, but as long as they don’t interfere with official duties, they can be tolerated!”
The emperor has said this, and Fan Zhi can no longer express his dissent.
"Zhongshu is responsible for drafting the appointment. The Metropolitan Procuratorate is the place where the imperial court has important responsibilities and needs to be sorted out as soon as possible!" Liu Chengyou instructed.
"yes!"
"In addition, what I think about Zhao Li is that he is in sole control of the Metropolitan Procuratorate. He has great power and no one to check and balance him. As a result, his awe has been greatly reduced and he cannot maintain his original intention and stick to his duties. If there is a left, it is convenient to keep a right. I intend to use the left to control the capital. Under the historical records, another censor of Youdu was set up to cooperate with the supervision. What do you think?" Liu Chengyou asked again.
As soon as Liu Chengyou finished speaking, Fan Zhi immediately understood what the emperor meant. This was another matter of decentralization and checks and balances. After thinking about it, he found that Zhao Li had been acting alone before, but there was something wrong with it. There was no reason to object, so he immediately responded: "Your Majesty is very concerned! I have no objection!"
"Okay! That's it!" Liu Chengyou showed a satisfied expression again.
