Now that Zhao Xu wants to meet Zhang Fei, he doesn't need to be so secretive. After all, Zhao Xu has praised Zhang Fei more than once in class. Strictly speaking, Zhao Xu is Zhang Fei's student.
Summon Zhang Fei into the palace and ask him about this academic matter.
"I really didn't expect that a small independent declaration would make my ministers panic and uneasy, and there would be complaints in the imperial city."
Seeing Zhang Fei, Zhao Xu praised him repeatedly.
Although Zhang Fei had explained it to Zhao Xu in advance, even so, he did not expect that this independent declaration would be so powerful, leaving many people at a loss.
So far, only complaints have been heard, but no memorial of impeachment has been seen.
This is very strange.
Zhao Xu couldn't help but praise this.
Zhang Fei said very modestly: "The official family has been over-reputed. Everything is difficult at the beginning. It is as difficult for us as it is for them, but the only thing that remains unchanged is their human nature and sophistication. So in a few years, they will become better again." Being able to get along like a fish in water in this independent declaration is not much different from now. This kind of thing has happened many times in history."
Zhao Xu thought for a while, nodded and said: "It makes sense. Throughout the ages, there has never been a method that can achieve perfection. So, it seems that there is no long-lasting method in this world?"
Zhang Fei pondered for a while and said, "It depends on how the officials define this long-term method?"
Zhao Xu asked: "How do you say this?"
Zhang Fei said: "If the long-term official law refers to unchanging laws, there is no such thing. Because the law is the defensive side in the end. There is a spear first and then a shield. If no one steals, naturally there will be no Theft Act.
The law is not afraid of being attacked, because it will definitely be attacked. It is afraid that after being attacked, it cannot be repaired in time. For example, the collapse of the land equalization system in the Tang Dynasty was because the state failed to formulate remedial measures in time, so that it was ultimately difficult to recover.
The government stipulates that the law be revised once every three years, but this is actually a precaution. Precisely because there is no perfect method, the key to this method is to persevere in tinkering day after day, year after year. If you think of long-lasting Dharma as persistence in Dharma, then I think this is right. It’s not because of how good the law is, but because without the law, the country would definitely be gone. "
"The most important thing is persistence."
Zhao Xu nodded slightly and said with emotion: "This is exactly the most difficult thing."
Zhang Fei smiled and said: "That's why no one has done it so far."
"This is all because of us unworthy descendants!"
Zhao Xuruo has some advice.
Zhang Fei couldn't help but his expression changed, and he thought, do you want to play this big?
Zhao Xu glanced at Zhang Fei for a moment and said, "Zhang San, do you know why I suddenly summoned you today?"
Zhang Fei pondered for a while, "But because of that Zongzheng Temple Governor Zhao?"
Zhao Xu was stunned for a moment and said, "Have you already guessed it?"
Zhang Fei said truthfully: "It didn't happen at the time, but after Li Bao left, I did think that it might be the official's order, because it is impossible for Li Bao not to report this to the official first."
Zhao Xu smiled and nodded, "That's right! I asked him to ask you, but your answer surprised me."
Zhang Fei chuckled and said: "To be fair to the officials, in fact, I have always been louder than thunder. It can also be said that I ask for high prices and pay back on the spot."
Zhao Xu chuckled: "You are being humble. The fate of Wang Wenshan, Wang Hong, and Gu Ji is still vivid in our minds."
Zhang Fei hesitated for a moment and said: "Except for Wang Hong, whether it is Wang Wenshan or Gu Ji, I have never forced them to die, and I have never taken the initiative to provoke them. On the contrary, they always want to do anything to me." To die."
"That's true."
Zhao Xu nodded slightly and asked, "Then do you know why I did this?"
Zhang Fei shook his head and said, "I really don't know that."
Zhao Xu asked again: "You didn't ask your father-in-law?"
Zhang Fei said: "It's not too late yet."
In fact, he asked after he returned, but discussing the clan is still quite sensitive. Zhang Fei couldn't figure out what Zhao Xu was thinking, and he would not confess Xu Zun.
Zhao Xu nodded, his expression changed, and he said seriously: "My dynasty inherited the Tang Dynasty system, which stipulated that the descendants of the clan outside the five robes should stop receiving salary and rewards, and instead divide the land into acres, so that they can stand on their own feet and never appear again. In the royal family tree. This is in line with etiquette, and Taizu also warned about this.
But today, many descendants of the clan outside the Five Servers stay in the capital alone and enjoy generous salaries, which makes them not seek advancement but covet pleasure. At the same time, it also places a heavy burden on the country's finances. "
Zhang Fei asked cautiously: "Does the official want to reform the clan?"
Zhao Xu nodded with a firm look, "I have sent people to calculate that if no reforms are carried out, the burden caused by this clan will increase exponentially in a few years."
Zhang Fei nodded in understanding.
In fact, the Song Dynasty is not yet too burdened. If compared with the Ming Dynasty, it is simply dwarfed by the Ming Dynasty and not worth mentioning at all. It just shows that the princes are in the local area and the emperor is out of sight and out of mind, but The clans of the Song Dynasty basically supported the capital, and the emperor could directly feel the financial pressure.
And unlike the Ming Dynasty, Zhao Kuangyin had already thought of this and was prepared for this when he first legislated. As far as the national system was concerned, it was illegal to raise too many clans.
Of course, there was another reason that Zhao Xu did not mention.
His father, Song Yingzong, actually ascended the throne because Renzong had no children. But it was precisely because of this that other clan members felt very unhappy, thinking that it should not be his father's turn. His father's throne was incorrect, and his father was in poor health. Well, he has a rather cowardly personality and is often made things difficult by the clan. Although his father tried to appease the clan again and again, he only got more dissatisfaction in return.
Zhao Xu had witnessed how these clans oppressed his father since he was a child, and this would inevitably affect his authority. In addition, the clans brought a huge burden to the finances, and he needed money to fight. All these reasons gathered together Together, he was very eager to carry out clan reform.
"But this is an official family matter." Zhang Fei said slightly hesitantly.
"This emperor has no family affairs."
Zhao Xu smiled bitterly and said: "I tried it when I first came to the throne, but many ministers in the court were opposed to the clan reform."
Zhang Fei couldn't help but wonder: "Why do they object?"
"Etiquette!"
Zhao Xu sighed: "They believe that doing so will destroy the Confucian way of kinship. They even advocate the restoration of the clan system of the Western Zhou Dynasty. If the ritual system of the Western Zhou Dynasty is to be restored, all the descendants of the clan outside of the Five Clothes will be It’s included.”
"ah?"
Zhang Fei was speechless about this. It was natural for the emperor to protect the clan, but for ministers to protect the clan, he was a little puzzled.
Zhao Xu smiled and said, "It seems you really don't understand this."
Zhang Fei shook his head and said, "I really don't understand."
Zhao Xu said: "Don't you often say that the bustle in the world is for profit, and the hustle and bustle in the world is for profit."
Zhang Fei suddenly opened his eyes, "They are afraid that the Enyin system that is closely related to them will also be affected."
Zhao Xu nodded: "That's right. If I want to reform the clan system and weaken the clan's treatment, can they not worry?"
This clan system and the Enyin system are actually of the same origin. We all belong to the ruling class. You can only have more and I have less, but you cannot have it and I have not.
Your relatives can enjoy welfare, so our son can enjoy some welfare, which is not too much.
On the contrary, if the welfare of the clan is reduced, the emperor will definitely weaken the enyin system.
This is inevitable.
"really!"
Zhang Fei nodded and said: "Actually, this money is still a trivial matter. The key point is that it will make people lose their enterprising spirit. Even though there are many state officials, there will be no available talents, and those who are truly capable will not get what they deserve." Opportunity."
"That's good!" Zhao Xu nodded and said, "But your method of legal control gives me hope. You should know about the five uniforms to control crime?"
Zhang Fei shook his head and said, "I don't know."
Zhao Xu was surprised and said: "As an Erbi, you don't know about this crime?"
Zhang Fei was very embarrassed and said: "I usually go to see Song Xingtong when needed."
"You can't even endorse it?" Zhao Xu also felt that this was outrageous.
A great master of your generation, you don’t even know about such a famous crime.
Zhang Fei whispered: "You can look it up, why should I memorize it?"
".?"
Zhao Xu shook his head speechlessly, and then explained: "If relatives offend each other, and offend a respected person with humiliation, the punishment will be heavier than ordinary people. The closer the relationship is, the heavier the punishment will be. If someone with respect offends a humble person, the punishment will be lighter than ordinary people. Relationship The closer you are, the lighter the punishment. The reason for this rule is the unity of etiquette and law you mentioned.
But your legal method is to separate etiquette from law, and etiquette is only used as a reference. In this way, the etiquette system will be weakened, and I will have the opportunity to reform the clan. "
This unity of etiquette and law is the biggest obstacle to the reform of the clan. When they oppose it, they will definitely not be able to make the Enyin system reasonable.
This etiquette and law are actually the rule of law, and all the ten evil crimes are derived from etiquette.
Although there is a rule of giving out five clothes, in the eyes of etiquette sects such as Sima Guang and Ouyang Xiu, the royal family should set an example and obey the etiquette beyond the limit, so that the people below will abide by the etiquette.
The royal family should do better.
However, the emergence of the legal system gave Zhao Xu a glimmer of hope. According to the legal system, the law must be observed, and etiquette is only used as a reference.
This gave him a reason to reform the clan.
Zhang Fei thought for a moment and said: "I absolutely support the officials doing this. This kind of generous salary system will not only increase the burden on the country, but also make the clan lose its enterprising spirit. Those big families whose family fortunes are in decline are not all because of Are future generations greedy for pleasure?”
Zhao Xu nodded: "That's exactly what I think. I often encourage them to take scientific examinations or even go into business, but the results are very little!"
Who is willing to work hard if you can eat while lying down?
Zhao Xu added: "This recruitment law has violated the interests of the clan. Although the clan is not included in it, most of their relatives are included in it. And as far as I know, they put many fields in the A relative's home or a servant's home. Therefore, I hope to use this matter to knock on the door to reform the clan and at the same time demonstrate my determination to reform."
I would directly operate on my own family members and ask you if you are afraid.
In Zhao Xu's view, this was a two-bird-with-one-stone plan.
Zhang Fei hesitated slightly and said, "But both Bachelor Wang and Bachelor Sima have told me not to go too far, lest I make too many enemies and lose more than I gain."
"This is why I came to you."
Zhao Xu said, and then added: "Besides, you don't have to worry about Bachelor Wang. I have discussed this issue with him a long time ago, and he also supports me in carrying out the clan reform."
Zhang Fei thought for a while and said: "I think the officials have to hide their thoughts in this regard for the time being. After all, the recruitment law has caused a lot of complaints. If the two things are put together, they will inevitably be exploited and divided. The clan makes the official family suffer from enemies from both sides, and the gain may really outweigh the loss."
Zhao Xu frowned slightly and nodded slightly, thinking that Zhang Fei wanted him to slow down first.
Unexpectedly, Zhang Fei changed the topic: "But if the government agrees, Governor Zhao can be included in the recruitment law to scare the monkeys, and at the same time highlight the financial burden caused by the clan system through litigation. That would be feasible. This can also establish the authority of the judiciary.”
Zhao Xu perked up and asked, "What are you going to do?"
Zhang Fei said seriously: "Teach them a lesson and let them have a deep understanding of what is the rule of law."
In Zhang Fei's plan, this independent declaration was actually a battle for the tax department's fame, so it was definitely meant to scare the monkeys, but he really never thought about using the clan as a weapon.
He didn't know much about the situation of the Song Dynasty clan.
Because the main problem in the Song Dynasty was Sanduan, and the clan was only a relatively minor issue.
But he never expected that Zhao Xu would bring the clan into the mix.
this..
This is of course a good thing. The emperor's crimes are the same as those of the common people. This is a bit far away. But if the clan can commit the same crimes as the common people, the effect of establishing prestige will be much better than what he planned!
But this needs to be redeployed, and the clan cannot be so casual.
Fortunately, there is still enough time. Although Li Bao and the others have found out that some people will lie about their financial affairs, if they are just lying about their financial affairs, the crime is not serious and the procuratorate may not pay attention to it, let alone impose a fine.
Tax evasion must become an established fact before you can prosecute them.
At present, the tax has not been determined, and it is still too early.
Even the ministers only complained verbally. After all, nothing had been decided. It was too early to file an impeachment petition!
Therefore, this statistical work was carried out quite smoothly, and the people were very cooperative. I have never seen such gentle calculation households. Although there was a little bump in the process, it was not harmful.
On the seventh day after Kaifeng County and Xiangfu County started statistical work, after the newly appointed auxiliary police officers gained some experience, Zhang Fei began to plan the entire Kaifeng Prefecture.
After all, he wanted to complete all statistical work before the summer tax so that he could collect the first tax exemption when the summer tax was collected.
So he transferred 300 key members from the police station, the earliest batch of police officers, and took 3,000 auxiliary police officers, including 800 civilian personnel, to the remaining fourteen counties to conduct financial statistics.
The remaining two hundred backbones led the newly recruited two thousand auxiliary police officers and Erbi from the Bianjing Law Firm to continue to conduct statistics in Kaifeng and Xiangfu counties.
(End of chapter)
