When Li Hao arrived outside Funing Hall, Zhao Zhen happened to have something to discuss with someone in the hall, so after meeting with the internal officials, Li Hao waited outside the hall.
However, before Zhao Zhen's matter was finished, Gu Tingye got the news that Li Hao had entered the palace and came to find him.
When he saw Gu Tingye, Li Hao really wanted to turn around and leave, because Li Hao knew that if he came to find him now, he would definitely do nothing good.
Whether Gu Tingye wanted him to help reject Zhao Ceying or to help persuade the old lady of the Sheng family, Li Hao was not willing to get involved.
But at this critical moment when he was waiting for the summons, it was not easy for Li Hao to leave directly.
So he was caught by Gu Tingye, who wanted to pull Li Hao aside to talk.
Li Hao was naturally unwilling, so he said, "I'm still waiting for the officials to summon me. If I don't finish my work, I'll come over to you and let's chat slowly."
But Gu Tingye was so easy to deal with. He said directly: "We won't go anywhere else. Just talk next to each other. I'll ask the internal officials to help watch. When the officials summon them, just come and tell us."
After saying that, he greeted the officials outside the palace and asked them to help, and they actually agreed.
So Li Hao had no choice but to walk aside with Gu Tingye.
At this time, Gu Tingye complained: "What are you doing? It seems you want to avoid me."
Li Hao said: "What are you talking about? I've been busy with official duties recently and haven't been back home much. I don't have time to hide from you."
Gu Tingye answered: "As long as you are not hiding from me, you told me last time that if I have any problems, I can ask you for help."
Li Hao said in his heart, this is not a side effect. He was forced by the Wei family to marry Minglan, so he wanted to help Gu Tingye to disrupt the situation.
But now that he has made a marriage arrangement, it doesn't matter whether he helps Gu Tingye or not. And considering Gu Tingye's image in the eyes of the Wei family, if Li Hao helps Gu Tingye, he will probably be blamed.
But Li Hao couldn't do it face to face. After all, he still wanted to save face, so he had to say: "Yes, what can you do for me? Let's talk about the ugly things first, and I'm not doing anything." Everybody can help.”
Gu Tingye said: "Don't worry, I will definitely not make things difficult for you.
Recently, the old lady of the Sheng family has started to look for someone for Minglan, and I want you to help her. "
Hearing this, Li Hao said speechlessly: "This is not to make things difficult for me. How can I help you with this matter? The old lady won't listen to me."
As a result, Gu Tingye said: "It's up to you to help me find a solution. Otherwise, why should I come to you?"
Li Hao was about to refuse, but he hadn't said it yet.
Then I heard a call from an internal official, saying that the official family had some free time and wanted to summon Li Hao into the palace.
Then Gu Tingye took the opportunity and said, "I'll leave this matter to you. I believe you can help me handle it."
After saying that, he turned around and left without giving Li Hao a chance to refuse.
When Li Hao came to his senses and was about to catch up and talk, the internal officer grabbed him and said, "Stop chasing him and go in quickly to reply. The official is still waiting."
At this time, Li Hao couldn't refuse directly, so he had to follow the internal officials into Funing Palace, thinking that he would find Gu Tingye when he came out. ….
After entering the palace, Zhao Zhen said: "Speaking of which, since you took up the post in the Third Division, you have not been in the palace these days, and you have never come to see the affairs of the former Division."
Li Hao explained: "After I arrived at the Third Division, Academician Ouyang ordered me to sort out the account books. I was busy for three months. I just finished my work a few days ago. I really don't have time to enter the palace. Please forgive me."
"I have also read the account books you compiled. The accounts are clear and easy to understand, and the transaction details are also clear at a glance. They are indeed well done."
Zhao Zhen first praised, and then asked: "By the way, what's the reason why you asked to see me today?"
"Thank you so much for your compliments." After Li Hao thanked him, he explained the reason for his visit: "The reason why I came to the palace today is because the officials had previously said that they wanted me to be clear before making an appointment. They said they had gifts to send, so I am entering the palace today. for this
thing. "
Zhao Zhen said with a smile: "So that's why you came here. When will your family betrothed and the wedding date be decided?"
Li Hao said: "The appointment is scheduled for the first day of the next month, and I will go there with my mother.
As for the wedding date, we have calculated a few days, but we have to wait for confirmation from the British father-in-law before we can decide. "
Zhao Zhen was very pleased to see that the marriage he had planned was about to be completed.
However, Zhao Zhen was also worried that Li Hao might not really like this, and if something went wrong in the future, he still warned him: "Actually, I understand that you may not really like this marriage, but now that it has been decided, You have to accept it.
The British prince is a veteran of three dynasties and a pillar of the country. You must not treat his girl lightly. "
Li Hao replied: "What are you talking about? Since I want to marry her, I will treat her as a guest in the future, but I will not treat her lightly."
Hearing this, Zhao Zhen felt something in his heart. Queen Cao was not the person Zhao Zhen really liked at the beginning.
But Concubine Yang ordered Zhao Zhen to marry her and make her the queen, so they respected each other as guests.
At this time, Zhao Zhen stopped talking and said, "I have taken note of this. I will send the reward to your house in a few days, and then you can send it to the British father as a betrothal gift."
But Li Hao was still curious, so he asked, "Thank you for the reward, but what are you planning to reward?"
Zhao Zhen replied: "You will know then. Do you have anything else to do?"
Hearing this, Li Hao knew it was time to leave, so he said, "No more, I'll leave first."
After leaving Funing Hall, Li Hao originally planned to go find Gu Tingye, but when he walked to Youchengtian Gate, he asked the guard at the gate and found out that Gu Tingye had already gone to the harem with his people to inspect.
After all, it was inconvenient for Li Hao to go there, so he had to leave the palace and prepare to return to the Third Division.
Unexpectedly, before Li Hao reached Xuande Gate, he was stopped by Zhu Neiguan. He only heard Zhu Neiguan say: "Master Li, you made it easy for me to find him. Come back to Funing Palace with me." , the officials have something to do with you."
Although Li Hao was surprised, he still followed Zhu Neiguan back, and then heard Zhu Neiguan complain: "You want to go out of the palace through Xuande Gate, just go directly, why did you go around to Xihua Gate?" Let me find it easily."
Hearing this, Li Hao knew that he must have gone out to ask someone, thinking that he was going that way to leave the palace through Xihua Gate. ….
So I searched there first, and then I guess I found out from the guards at Chengtian Gate that I had to leave the palace through Xuande Gate, so I took a long and wrong road to find myself.
So Li Hao explained: "I originally planned to go find Gu Tingye, but later I heard that he was leading people to patrol the harem, so I took a detour to Xuandemen.
Isn't this place close to Sansi Yamen, and if I go directly from here, I will probably leave the palace long ago, and you will be in more trouble with me then. "
After explaining, Li Hao asked: "By the way, I just left the official's house not long ago, why did the official's call me back again? Is there something wrong?"
Zhu Neiguan said: "I don't know about this, but just now Academician Ouyang and the two Grand Masters went to Funing Hall, and not long after that, the officials ordered me to come to find Mr. Li."
Hearing this, Li Hao knew what was going on and quickly said, "Thank you so much, Zhu Neiguan."
Zhu Neiguan also nodded, which made Li Hao sigh. It was useful for him to make good friends in the palace. At least the information would be better informed.
When the two of them arrived outside Funing Hall, Zhu Neiguan went in first to report, and soon Li Hao entered the hall.
The scene in the palace was exactly what Li Hao had imagined. Zhao Zhen was reading the reform outline written by Li Hao in his hand.
He was so absorbed in watching that he didn't seem to notice Li Hao who had come in.
On the contrary, Han Qi and Fu Bi, two great ministers sitting next to him, looked at Li Hao after Li Hao came in. There was something strange in their eyes, as if they were looking at a monster.
However, without Zhao Zhen speaking, no one in the hall spoke, so Li Hao felt that the people in the hall
The atmosphere is a little weird.
And this silence did not begin to improve until Zhao Zhen read the entire strategy and pondered for a while.
Because at this time Zhao Zhen finally spoke: "I just heard from Ouyang Qing's family that you came up with this strategy alone. This is true."
Li Hao replied: "This strategy cannot be regarded as being thought up by me alone. After all, I also combined many old policies in it.
Especially the provisions of the New Deal during the Qingli Period were summarized. "
Hearing Li Hao's words, Zhao Zhen still didn't believe it, and said: "I still can't believe it. You have achieved such achievements only a few years after entering officialdom.
If you tell the truth now, I will count you as having merit for your advice and will not blame you at all.
But if I were to find out that you were pretending to be someone else, that would be the crime of deceiving the emperor. "
Li Hao replied firmly: "This is what I have concluded myself. I will never dare to deceive you."
What Li Hao said was righteous. Anyway, the guys who introduced these policies have really not thought about it now.
When it comes to the timeline, the initiative must be mine, so of course there is no problem in saying so.
Having said this, Zhao Zhen actually already believed it, but for verification.
Just like Ouyang Xiu, he asked Li Hao to answer questions based on this strategy.
After seeing that Li Hao could give in-depth answers and explain in detail based on the actual situation, Zhao Zhenzhen was convinced that this was Li Hao's own idea. ….
So he couldn't help but boast: "I didn't know you had such a talent for dealing with the world. Such a perfect strategy must not have been accomplished in a day. It seems that you have started to prepare for it a long time ago."
After hearing this, Li Hao thought: "Of course it can't be written in one day, but it doesn't take as long as Zhao Zhen thought.
After all, a lot of the content was poorly researched by later generations, and I just sorted it out and adjusted it based on the actual situation.
However, Zhao Zhen naturally had to follow Zhao Zhen's words, otherwise he would not be able to show off his merits. "
He replied: "Serving the imperial court is my duty. As soon as I came to study, I have been thinking about establishing my heart for the world, establishing my destiny for the people, inheriting my unique knowledge for the saints, and creating peace for all generations."
Therefore, since I entered the court, I felt the pain of the failure of the New Deal during the Qingli period, so I began to prepare these things. Now that I am valued by the officials, it is also my blessing. "
As a result, before Li Hao finished speaking, Zhao Zhen and the others were stunned.
Only then did Li Hao think of the four sentences he just said about Hengqu, which had not yet come out at this time.
After all, Zhang Zai and himself were Jinshi in the same year. At this time, they were still serving in the Weizhou Signing and Judges Office and had not even started lecturing. Naturally, these four sentences had not yet come into being.
So when you first heard these four sentences, you can imagine the shock brought by Gang Zhaozhen and others.
Soon several people reacted, and Zhao Zhen said: "Okay, what you said in these four sentences is really good. Set up a heart for the world, establish a destiny for the people, carry on the unique knowledge for the saints, and create peace for all generations.
I'm very happy that you have such great ambitions. "
Of course, not only Zhao Zhen, but also Fu Bi, Han Qi, and Ouyang Xiu looked at Li Hao with gentler eyes.
Soon, Zhao Zhen recovered and got down to business, saying, "But the idea you proposed was thought of by several grand ministers. Just a few days ago, several grand ministers asked for orders to continue the reform.
Candidates have been selected and sent to Yongxing Military Road to trial the Fangtian Equalization Tax Law. At the same time, they have also dabbled in other measures, many of which are slightly different from yours. "
Hearing this, Li Hao just wanted to be humble when he heard Fu Bi say: "The officials should not make false promises for us. Li Hao's reform plan is far more complete than what I thought.
Of course, there is no way to strengthen the army. I think it was just considering the current situation, so I didn't trigger it.
Otherwise, Li Hao would have been leading troops in the army for a long time, and he would not have failed to understand the pros and cons. "
After hearing this, everyone looked at Li Hao again, waiting for Li Hao's reply.
Li Hao replied
: "This is indeed true. In fact, our dynasty has always valued culture over military equipment, so there are naturally mistakes and omissions in military equipment.
It’s just that in my opinion, things have priorities, some things can be done now, and some things should not be impatient. "
Zhao Zhen asked: "Oh, please tell me in detail."
Li Hao explained: "If we want to implement reforms in the Song Dynasty, the first prerequisite is to make the government and the public understand that the current court has encountered a crisis and the reforms have to be carried out.
At the same time, what needs to be done in the early stage of the reform are some quick and effective measures that can produce results in a short period of time without causing turmoil between the government and the opposition.
It made the people feel the actual benevolence and benevolence from the reforms, and also made all officials conduct deep reflection and reform, making the reform a consensus trend. ….
Only when all the officials and the people recognize it can they support the reform. We unite the majority of people to attack a very small number of people, so that the reform can be truly successful. "
Hearing this, Zhao Zhen asked directly: "Then tell me, if it were you, what would you choose to do now?"
Li Hao replied: "If it were me, the first thing I would reform is the salt policy.
I have roughly calculated that from the Qingli period to the present, the salt tax collected by the court has continued to decrease over the years. This situation is very abnormal.
A large amount of the salt tax was embezzled by salt merchants and local corrupt officials in the form of private salt. If the embezzled salt tax could be paid back.
I estimate that the amount of salt tax that has been misappropriated is at least 20 million taels. After eliminating these moths, the average annual salt tax revenue will be increased by nearly 4 million taels. "
Hearing this number, the other people were a little surprised. They knew that a lot of money was left out of the salt tax.
But I never imagined that this number would be so big.
We must know that the total tax revenue of the imperial court for a year at this time is only more than 80 million taels, so this number is already very objective.
After Zhao Zhen thought about it, he immediately asked: "If I order you to pay the salt tax, are you sure that you can complete this task?"
After hearing Zhao Zhen's words, Li Hao didn't speak yet, but the others couldn't sit still either.
Han Qi first said: "Master Li may indeed be very talented and worthy of being entrusted with important tasks.
However, to pay the salt tax, one must contact local officials, and Mr. Li lacked experience in this matter.
Is it better to send important ministers from the DPRK to pay the salt tax? This would be more secure, and at the same time, it would suppress some local officials so that they would not dare to cause trouble. "
Then Ouyang Xiu also said: "Yes, and you also pointed out the marriage to Li Hao. Paying the salt tax cannot be done in a short time.
How about letting others go, and Li Hao can help come up with ideas in the court. "
Zhao Zhen felt that what Han Qi and Ouyang Xiu said made sense, and said, "What you said is also good, but after all, this matter was sorted out by Li Hao himself, and he is the only one who is most familiar with it."
So he asked Li Hao his opinion: "What do you think about this matter? Do you want to go south to pay the salt tax in person?"
Li Hao replied: "Of course I am willing to serve the government, but as Mr. Han said, I don't know much about local affairs.
If I were asked to go and settle the payment, I am afraid that the government would have to appoint a prudent minister who is familiar with local affairs to go with me.
In addition, there must be a large amount of salt tax evasion, and there must be local soldiers and horses involved, and a soldier and horse from Beijing need to be transferred to accompany them. "
Seeing that Li Hao had thought about it, Zhao Zhen agreed, "Okay, then I'll leave this matter to the Qing family.
I agree to what you just said. You can dispatch soldiers and horses from the front department of the palace. Many of them are your old troops, so it is convenient for you to use them.
As for the personnel to assist, you can select them now and report them to me.
In addition, it is not appropriate for you to handle this settlement as a judge of the Third Division. I appoint you as the deputy envoy of the Third Division of Quanzhi. "
Although the official rank has not been promoted, since it has been temporarily replaced, when he returns from his meritorious service, he will probably be promoted to at least the fourth rank. ….
So thank you quickly
Said: "I thank the officials for their kindness."
Zhao Zhen said: "Okay, then you can prepare these days first. After you accept the appointment, you will immediately get up and go south.
I will also help you explain this to the British father-in-law. After all, you are busy with official business. I think the British father-in-law will definitely support you if you come here. "
Later, Zhao Zhen, Li Hao and others discussed the strategy. This study ended at dusk, and they hurriedly left the palace before the palace door closed.
On the way, Han Qi and Fu Bi praised Li Hao greatly, but Ouyang Xiu felt something was wrong.
When they left, because Li Hao didn't come in his own carriage, he went back with Ouyang Xiu.
On the carriage, Ouyang Xiu said, "What can you do if you have nothing to do? You think those salt merchants and officials in the south are easy to deal with."
Li Hao replied: "I know my uncle cares about me, but this has to be done by others. If others can do it, why can't I do it?
As for those salt merchants and colluding local officials, I really don't care much.
This time, there are people in front of the palace, so they won't dare to gather their troops to fight with me. If this is the case, I will be very happy. "
Hearing this, Ouyang Xiu said: "You, of course they dare not act recklessly on the surface, but no one can say what they will do secretly.
Anyway, when you go down this time, you must be careful and don't act impulsively. "
After giving these instructions, Ouyang Xiu asked again: "Who do you want to take south this time? Do you have any ideas?"
Li Hao replied: "I have a rough idea of the specific candidates. The people in front of the palace are easy to talk to and I am familiar with them all.
Only in the civil service department, I really don’t know many people I know well. I must have a trustworthy team here.
So I plan to bring in my Uncle Sheng, and my senior brother Yan Fu, and then select a few people from the Third Division who are good at arithmetic. That should be enough. "
After hearing this, Ouyang Xiu said: "That's good. Your uncle has also been a local official for more than ten years. He is familiar with many things and is trustworthy. He is indeed a good candidate.
I'll find people from the Third Division for you, and I'll recommend someone for you. Do you remember Cai Xiang? ".
Learn from knowledge to power
