Does Wang Anshi want to lay off officials?
Of course he wants to!
Just don't dare.
At this point, he and Sima Guang actually thought the same thing, but they just couldn't do it.
His New Deal actually became distorted because of this, because he did not dare to touch these, and as a result, he was unable to reduce expenditures, so he could only double the revenue.
But if we just open up the source of revenue without cutting costs, we are definitely moving forward with a heavy burden.
The difficulty is doubled.
The success of Hezhong Prefecture was actually based on reducing expenditures rather than increasing revenue. They first disarmed and then started a series of reforms.
So it's very easy.
With less burden, there will be more space for activities, and you will not be constrained.
Therefore, Wang Anshi does not deny the debt restructuring in his heart, but he is unwilling to be such a bad person. However, according to the system, he is responsible for the debt restructuring, and the public prosecutor and the procuratorate do not have this power.
Therefore, he asked Lu Huiqing to write to Wang Juqing and try his best to consider the officials. No matter how hard he tried, the finances could not be improved, but this could make Fan Chunren and others do such evil things.
The process went as they expected. Fan Chunren and the others refused to compromise. They had been clamoring for layoffs before.
This is also what Fan Chunren and others have always advocated. To improve the country's bad governance, we must reduce expenditures. Any increase in revenue means changing the law to make money.
After Wang Juqing returned, he told the officials that we had tried our best, but the procuratorate was not only unwilling to mediate, but wanted to sue to death.
However, given the current financial situation in Qingzhou, if the public security organs, procuratorates, and law do not give them a chance, they will not be able to afford the compensation.
Not to mention that the autumn taxes haven’t been collected yet.
To put it simply, if the procuratorate is not lenient and cannot afford the financial burden, it must start debt restructuring.
This really pissed off the officials in Qingzhou.
There is no way to survive at all.
They are born from the same root, so there is no need to rush into mutual conflict.
This was related to their future survival, so on the one hand, they wrote to the court, saying that the procuratorate was avenging their private grievances and wanted to use debt restructuring to squeeze out loyal ministers.
But it is obviously untenable, because the evidence in the hands of the procuratorate is all provided by themselves. It is absolute ironclad evidence. Fan Chunren only needs to make a judgment according to the law.
Therefore, on the other hand, they quickly contacted the ministers of North Korea and China, hoping that they could prevent the debt restructuring.
In fact, needless to say, the ministers of the DPRK and China are also actively opposing this matter, and there is almost no annual holiday atmosphere in the entire capital.
Everyone is walking around and discussing countermeasures.
This cannot be compromised easily, even if you fight with the emperor to death.
Chui Gong Hall.
"Your Majesty, I personally think that this debt restructuring is too impulsive. I and many of my colleagues are very worried about this, so they say that the salary officers and the dispatch officers, although many salary officers may be relatively idle at ordinary times, the two actually complement each other. Many dispatching officers directly use salary-paying officers. According to the dispatching officers last year, 30% of them were salary-paying officers. If those sending salary officers are laid off, this will definitely affect the dispatching system and thus the entire court. personnel arrangements.”
Meng Qiansheng said sincerely: "I thought that we needed to discuss it carefully. In fact, the problem in Qingzhou is not big. We only need the court to allocate a sum of money to help us, without breaking our bones."
Wen Yanbo and Sima Guang were as clear as a mirror, but they were actually hinting to the emperor that this would undermine the imperial power. In fact, sending salary officials was to disperse the power of officials. If they cut off the officials, the power of officials would become greater, thus Threaten the imperial power.
This is the correct way to respond. Talking about family, country, world, and imperial power is easier than anything else.
Zhao Xu frowned slightly when he heard this.
Sima Guang chuckled and said: "Meng Zhiyuan should be in the Legislative Council that day. Didn't he understand?"
Meng Qiansheng remained silent.
Sima Guang added: "Debt restructuring is only done out of desperation. Qingzhou's finances cannot afford it, so they naturally have to save expenditures. This can also motivate officials. As long as the finances are handled well, they will not face debt restructuring. This is not a long-term solution." It’s not a plan, but an emergency.”
Of course Meng Qiansheng understood it, but he thought Sima Guang's words were just to fool children. Considering the financial situation of the Song Dynasty, it must be a long-term solution, because as long as there is a natural disaster, local finances may be on the verge of collapse.
If there is a debt restructuring, the court will not save it if it can.
Xie Jun immediately stood up: "Local finances are not good, that's just because most of the money has to be handed over to the court and very little is left. If the court is willing to reduce the state's fixed tax revenue, I believe local officials will not have too many complaints. "
You always talk about finances and say that local finances are not good, just to satisfy the central finances. Why don't you say it again?
Wen Yanbo said with a smile: "Didn't Scholar Wang often say that those who make their families rich will benefit the country, and those who make their country rich will benefit the world? As long as wealth increases, local finances do not have to worry about this problem. After all, the amount paid to the court every year is a fixed amount, and the wealth is The more, the more will be left.”
Wang Anshi immediately responded: "Of course, it is a pity that the New Deal did not go to Qingzhou earlier, otherwise, this disaster would not have happened."
After saying that, he immediately stood up and said to Zhao Xu: "Your Majesty, I think this debt restructuring is unfair to many officials who have sent salary. They are not incompetent people, but lack opportunities. According to the explanation of President Zhang, the debt restructuring It can indeed inspire officials to make progress, but the court must give those officials a chance, otherwise, it will be difficult to convince the public."
Sima Guang frowned. It was a tacit agreement, and you are planning to go back on your word. It is really unreasonable.
When Zhao Xu saw Wang Anshi standing up, he immediately asked, "What should I do according to your words?"
Wang Anshi said: "It just so happens that we set up the Ordinance Department of the Second Government to formulate a business law. If this law is promulgated, it can give those officials with salary a chance."
Business law?
What the hell?
The ministers looked at each other, but they had not heard that the Ordinance Department of the Second Government was formulating this law.
Including Meng Qiansheng and the others were also confused.
The Ordinance Department of the Second Prefecture did not hide or hide the new law and give everyone a surprise. In fact, it couldn't be hidden. After all, not all the people inside were Wang Anshi's confidants. For example, Chen Shengzhi often told everyone Talk about new laws.
Zhao Xu asked: "What is the business method?"
Wang Anshi said: "What you do is called business, and what you do is called business. The business method means that the court will pay for it to open some special official offices that can make a profit.
It is like a hospital that saves lives and heals the wounded, or it is like a college that teaches and educates people. Both are needed by the people. Not only can they make money for the court, they can also pay the salaries of the officials who send them to pay, thereby reducing the burden on the court. It can be said that it kills two birds with one stone. "
"No! Never!"
Sima Guang immediately stood up and said: "If the imperial court directly opens shops for business, how can the people survive?"
Wen Yanbo and Lu Gongzhu also quickly stood up to oppose.
What you are doing is more direct than the Qingmiao Law. It is a special official office, just opening a shop.
Meng Qiansheng and the others were a little confused and couldn't react.
Wang Anshi smiled and said: "Please be patient and listen to what I have to say."
Sima Guang hummed: "You don't need to say anything anymore, I don't know what you are thinking."
After all, the Qingmiao Law is a roundabout way to compete with the people for profit, and based on the regulations, it can be regarded as considering the people, opening hospitals and colleges, and clearly stating that it will make profits, then who can do it better than the court.
Wang Anshi had expected what Sima Guang would look like this morning, so he said calmly: "This is a special official office. It can also be regarded as a business official office, not an official office with powers, and it will not prohibit others from doing this business." , everyone competes based on their strength.”
Wen Yanbo wondered: "Even if you don't have power, who can win over the imperial court?"
Wang Anshi said: "Those with excellent medical skills can compete with the imperial hospital. Everyone just relies on their skills to make money."
Lu Gongzhu asked: "What if this special official office can't compete?"
Wang Anshi said: "If you can't compete, it proves that the officials who have paid the salary are incompetent. If you lay them off at that time, people will be convinced."
Lu Gongzhu frowned, with an expression that seemed to say, is it true?
Wang Anshi added: "Moreover, the establishment of hospitals by the imperial court can also crack down on those doctors who deceive the public and sell fake medicines. It is natural that these people cannot make money. Therefore, this move can not only rectify this industry, but also benefit the public." People, let people pay the same money, but they can get better treatment."
Zhao Xu nodded with interest and said, "What you said makes sense!"
He has known this for a long time. Otherwise, he would not dare to use this debt restructuring. This kind of thing requires one step forward and then half a step back.
Zhao Pian asked again: "But those officials who are sending salary may not know medical skills?"
Wang Anshi said: "Of course we will recruit those who are good at it. In addition, there are colleges, and we can also build residences and newspapers. These can all be profitable."
Wen Yanbo immediately said: "There are already many private colleges, and they have placed many failed students. If the imperial court builds a college, wouldn't it take away their livelihood? It will definitely cause complaints from students all over the world."
The culture of the Song Dynasty was too prosperous and land annexation was serious, which resulted in a large number of scholars. Even though the Song Dynasty admitted a lot of students and expanded the enrollment every year, it was not enough. A large number of candidates still failed. How to arrange these failed candidates, the Song Dynasty also big head.
After all, the ancestral law of the Song Dynasty was to give preferential treatment to scholars.
Therefore, the Song Dynasty encouraged private individuals to open colleges and provided them with land or tax exemption policies.
The land purchased by the college is actually tax-free.
Many students who failed the exam went home to teach. In the Song Dynasty, rural education was very developed. If scholars were not officials, they could only teach, and they were unwilling to do other jobs.
Wang Anshi smiled and said: "Please rest assured, Lord Wen, I have also taken this into consideration. What kind of knowledge is taught in the academy now?"
Wen Yanbo said: "Of course it is Confucianism."
The implication is, what else can be taught?
Wang Anshi smiled and said: "My career college teaches everything except Confucianism. In this way, there will be no conflict with them."
Wen Yanbo laughed directly, "If you don't teach Confucianism, who will learn it?"
Wang Anshi said: "The main purpose of young people studying Confucianism is to take the scientific examination. However, the candidates who go to Beijing every year are just geniuses from all over the country. It can be seen that most of them still fail to pass the examination. And it is difficult for these failed students to Earn a living through Confucianism.
My college specializes in teaching jurisprudence, arithmetic, agriculture, medicine, and even some strange skills and other profitable studies. I believe that this kind of knowledge can attract more people willing to spend money to learn it, because you If you learn it, you can make money. "
Learning to make a profit?
Um.
This is very much in line with Wang Anshi's style.
No one thought that this was actually Zhang Fei's idea.
Sima Guang didn't care where he was, and immediately said with disdain: "Wang Jiefu, we read the books of sages at the same time, why are you so different?"
Wang Anshi chuckled and said: "Isn't this all forced by you? You only know about debt restructuring and don't care about those officials who are sending salary. Why don't you allow me to help them think about their livelihood?"
"I."
Sima Guang opened his mouth, then fell silent.
The more he goes on, the more people he offends. After all, all the people standing here are officials, and Wang Anshi is on the side of the majority.
Wen Yanbo said again: "Wang Jiefu, would you like to let officials who are full of books from sages engage in business?"
Wang Anshi said: "Healing the dying and healing the wounded, teaching and educating people, why am I not willing?"
Wen Yanbo said: "But you can make a profit from this."
Wang Anshi immediately said: "So many scholar-bureaucrats in the world have set up colleges and charged tuition fees. This is normal! Moreover, civil servants must not forget that the salary earned by sending officials is a tax on the poor people. In comparison, I think this tuition fee is It is more benevolent and righteous, after all, it is voluntary.”
Wen Yanbo was immediately speechless.
The conservatives looked at each other in disbelief.
The opposition is also a little confused.
Xie Jun couldn't help but said: "But how many people can this hospital and college recruit?"
Wang Anshi said: "We can recruit some of them. In addition, aren't the public prosecutors and prosecutors recruiting people everywhere? Why not recruit those officials with salary."
Sima Guang almost bit his tongue and said quickly: "The public prosecutor's office is relatively strict in recruiting people."
Wang Anshi chuckled and said: "Many assistant judges in Hezhong Prefecture have randomly recruited young students from among the people. How strict can this be? The redundancy of officials in our court is already serious, but your public prosecutors have to recruit people from outside. On the contrary, It will exacerbate the problem of redundant officials, and this debt restructuring will be meaningless."
Sima Guang was speechless.
This matter also has a lot to do with him. If he hadn't been unable to send out manpower, Zhang Fei wouldn't have used local materials.
Wang Anshi came well prepared, and said to Zhao Xu: "Your Majesty, if that President Zhang can't even understand how to write articles, but he can rely on his talent in law to serve as the president of the Shaanxi Road Court, and he also opens that law firm and makes a lot of money every day. As a result, legal studies are now very popular.
Who can guarantee that in the future, Wang Wu will not be able to rely on arithmetic to become a scheming prime minister, or even worse, he will be able to earn a living, and will not become a prodigal son, or a rogue on the street. I believe that many parents will be willing to pay for education. Even if they have studied Confucianism or become a Jinshi, it would be excellent to learn this kind of knowledge. The court also needs such talents now. "
The Song Dynasty was still very open in terms of academics. Buddhism, Taoism, law, and arithmetic were all taken seriously, not to say that knowledge other than Confucianism was just rubbish.
Otherwise, Zhang Fei's legal methods would not be recognized by so many people.
It’s just that your knowledge cannot be anti-Confucian, that is anti-mainstream values, so the legal system is also based on Confucianism.
"What you said makes sense." Zhao Xu nodded, but then he said, "But how much money will it cost for the imperial court to fund the construction of these official offices?"
Wang Anshi immediately said: "This doesn't require much money, we can use the profits from the young crops on Jingdong East Road to supplement it."
Zhao Xu nodded, glanced around, and asked, "What do you think?"
Of course Lu Huiqing and others stood up to express their support.
Meng Qiansheng and others were a little undecided. Who would have thought that Wang Anshi would come up with a business law, saying that cuts are not cuts, but it seems that officials are allowed to make a living on their own. This...!
Although Sima Guang and the others did not believe Wang Anshi and believed that this was Wang Anshi's money-making method, if they were to be more aggressive, many officials would be dissatisfied with them. This was already a step back.
When Zhao Xu saw that everyone was silent, he said, "Let's just settle the matter."
After the meeting, Meng Qiansheng and others immediately surrounded Wang Anshi.
"Wang Jiefu, are those who send their officials to hospitals or colleges, are they still considered officials?"
"Of course it counts."
Wang Anshi said: "If they don't count as officials, why should the court pay for it? It's just that in terms of salary, they mostly rely on themselves to earn it."
At this point, he sighed and whispered: "Now that Qingzhou's finances are like that, we can't go into it. We can only find a place to put them first. If there is a chance, or if they do very well there, they can still Recommend them to return to the court."
After saying this, Meng Qiansheng and the others nodded.
If it is a temporary measure, it is feasible, after all, they are at a disadvantage now, and they want to hold it back.
"I really didn't expect that he would come up with a career method."
Wen Yanbo frowned and added: "But based on my understanding of Wang Jiefu, this will definitely compete with the people."
Lu Gongzhu did not object to Wang Anshi's ideas, so he said: "Let's take a look. Nowadays, officials are complaining about this debt restructuring. If we continue to fight over important matters, many people may be dissatisfied."
Sima Guang was also very worried and suddenly asked: "Why didn't Mr. Fu come today?"
Liu Shu said next to him: "It seems that today Zhang San is going to the Legislative Council again to explain about the assisting jury."
"Zhang San?" Sima Guang murmured in a low voice, and then said: "It's still early now, I'll go to Xiangguo Temple to have a look."
Wen Yanbo shivered from the cold, "It's too cold today, so I won't go."
Sima Guang came to Xiangguo Temple alone. Since this meeting did not attract as much attention as the previous one, it was arranged in the main hall behind Xiangguo Temple.
Sima Guang quietly came to the hall, but when he saw more than a hundred candidates and judicial officials sitting inside, they were silent and engrossed. He looked up again and saw Zhang Fei returning to the lectern from the screen and said loudly: "This is the role of the assistant jury. The law is nothing more than human relationships. This sentence also has a certain truth in the judiciary, but It often also makes judicial proceedings very complicated.
Moreover, this will require the president of the court to have a very deep understanding of this human condition, but many officials come from wealthy backgrounds and are unaware of the many sufferings of the people, and this often requires help from the jury.
Just like the case of Wu Zhang's mother-killing just mentioned, many wealthy families do not understand the principle of having no filial son before a long-term illness, and do not understand the pain of Wu's mother and Wu Zhang, because their families have enough servants to serve them. . If you don't understand, you will definitely hate this kind of behavior and take your husband's mother to commit suicide. How cruel this is.
At this time, the assistant jury can help the president. They can tell the president that this is not a special case, but a problem faced by every ordinary family. It is the pain that every parent in an ordinary family has to endure. They do not want to drag down their children. , but there was nothing they could do. At this point, the trial assistant can help the president understand the entire case more deeply.
However, the power of judgment is still in the hands of the president. If you want to sentence Wu Zhang to death, there is nothing wrong with it, and the sentence is based on the law. Because in cases like this, it is difficult to find a very standard answer. "
Su Shi suddenly asked: "Can we be found not guilty?"
Zhang Fei smiled and said: "That's what I'm going to say next, can I be acquitted? And this was what troubled me at the time. To be honest, in my heart, I hope that Wu Zhang will be acquitted. Because if found guilty, it may directly destroy a family and make Wu's mother's suicide meaningless.
However, if he is found not guilty, some people may use this precedent to murder his parents who have been ill for a long time. This would be a very terrible phenomenon.
There are two points sought by this case law in the Legislative Council. First, in this case, we cannot generalize and directly convict people of heinous crimes. A light sentence can be given. It depends on the specific circumstances of the case.
Secondly, whether it is a light sentence or a heavy sentence, it must be found guilty and cannot be treated as innocent. Even if the person deserves sympathy, otherwise, there may be serious consequences, which will also affect the people we value most. of filial piety. "
Sima Guang, who had just arrived here, was immediately fascinated and nodded frequently.
Zhang Fei added: "Let's talk about the trial assistant team. The trial assistant team system is just a way of assistance. The trial assistant team does not assume any obligations or responsibilities. The power of judgment is always in your hands. If it is a wrong verdict, it is the president of the court. The fault cannot be placed on the assistant jury.
This is because there is currently no system that can ensure that the assistant trial team will not be bribed. If the assistant trial team is to bear responsibility, then they must have rights and interests, and have the right to hear and judge the case. But if this is the case, They will definitely be bribed.
It's up to you whether you use them or not, but the assistant jury has no rights or obligations, so I will give them some remuneration in Hezhong Mansion.
This is the explanation about the assistant jury system and Wu Zhang’s mother-killing case. "
Fu Bi looked around and saw no one asked questions, so he stood up and said, "I'm busy, Judge Zhang. I'll stay here for today."
In an instant, there was endless discussion.
These officials and candidates stood up and had a heated discussion.
Seeing this scene, Sima Guang couldn't help but think to himself, if those officials who sent salary could have the skills of Zhang San, then some career college must be making a lot of money!
I can't even understand the article, but so many people love to listen to his lectures.
He walked to Fu Bi in a low-key manner and said, "Fu Gong."
Fu Bi was surprised and said: "Jun Shi is here, don't you have a meeting today?"
"The discussion has just been completed." Sima Guang said hurriedly.
Fu Bi asked: "About debt restructuring?"
Sima Guang nodded and was about to say something when Zhang Fei came over and said, "Zhang San has met Bachelor Sima."
Sima Guang asked: "Zhang San, has Wang Jiefu ever discussed business law with you?"
Zhang Fei blinked, "What business method?"
Fu Bi was also confused, "Yes! What is the Business Law?"
Sima Guang explained immediately.
Fu Bi shook his head and said, "This Wang Jiefu is really capable of doing things!"
He is also very opposed to this approach and allows officials to make a living. This is simply...!
Zhang Fei said: "It turns out that this is the business method. This Bachelor Wang talked to me, but he didn't say it was the business method."
Sima Guang said: "Then what do you think?"
This is my suggestion, what do you think I think. Zhang Fei immediately said: "I agree very much!"
Sima Guang said: "If the imperial court directly conducts business, isn't this taking away other people's livelihood?"
Zhang Fei said: "If the imperial court wants to engage in business such as restaurants and paper shops, I will definitely oppose it, but I will definitely support the hospital. How many serious doctors in the world can compete for benefit.
To be honest, Bachelor Sima, I didn’t dare to get sick in Hezhong Mansion. Who knows whether those doctors are trustworthy or not. If it is run by the imperial court, then I will definitely go to the imperial hospital to see a doctor. Although the medical treatment may not be good, at least I am not so worried. Will be poisoned to death.
After all, those officials read the books of sages. They would not lie to people for a small profit, and they would also be very cautious. After all, even if they kill people, even if it is not what they want, it will not be good to hear about it. After all, they are officials, and they are If you are not a charlatan, you should still cherish your reputation.
There are also colleges that would be great if they taught arithmetic, medicine, and law! My newborn son is probably about the same as me. He can’t write articles clearly and there is no hope for him to take the scientific examination. If he studies medicine and arithmetic, at least he won’t starve to death. That would be great!
Furthermore, you two don’t know how difficult it is for me to find talents in Hezhong Mansion. The debt and lawsuits are so complicated that I can’t handle them well without arithmetic talents. In the end, I have to spend money to train Cai Bian. They teach others half-heartedly. "
After these words, Fu Bi, who had been unhappy just now, suddenly fell into deep thought, while Sima Guang was also stunned.
What Zhang Fei said was not a profound truth. He looked at it from the perspective of a common person and felt that it was very beneficial to him.
It seems to be right.
Fu Bi suddenly said: "But today the imperial court can open a college, and in the future it is possible to open a restaurant to accommodate these officials."
Zhang Fei pondered for a while, "This requires legislation to stipulate that this government agency must not be purely for profit. It must also have some responsibilities of the government agency, and it must be beneficial to the people."
Fu Bi nodded slightly.
Sima Guang added: "But Wang Jiefu also suggested that the Public Security Bureau, Procuratorate, and Procuratorate should recruit those officials with salary, which would make the Public Security Procuratorate, Procuratorate, and Procuratorate a mixed bag."
"Scholar Wang didn't tell me."
Zhang Fei said: "But I think this doesn't matter, because according to what Wang Xueshi said, the imperial court does not directly send people to the Public Security Bureau, and the Public Security Bureau recruits people according to needs. Then we, the Public Security Bureau, will hire according to the process and let them take the Public Security Bureau examination. Those who pass the exam will , those who are hired and qualified must also start as auxiliary police officers or trainee prosecutors. If they do well, they will be promoted to royal police officers or prosecutors. If they do not do well, they will be dismissed directly."
Sima Guang frowned and said, "Is this possible? They have official positions."
Zhang Fei nodded and said with a smile: "Yes, he has an official position, but since it is not a transfer from the Ministry of Personnel or the Court of Judges, their positions will not change. Even if we dismiss them, they will still be sent to the official position. As for their salary, If we don’t pay salaries, that’s a financial matter and has nothing to do with the public security organs.”
Fu Bi stroked his beard and smiled and said: "Jun Shi! Thanks to having stayed in the court for so many years, my understanding of the system is not as good as Zhang San's."
Sima Guang smiled awkwardly, "It's not that I'm not as understanding as him, I'm just not as cunning as him."
At this point, he was stunned for a moment, "About this, if the court doesn't provide explicit regulations, it seems that this can really be done."
