When Ouyang Xiu suddenly heard the news, his doubts were palpable. He didn't understand why Li Hao suddenly came up with this idea.
Then he asked: "What are your specific thoughts on abolishing the Third Division?" In fact, Li Hao had thought about the idea of abolishing the Third Division, but he was still in office at the time and had the power to monopolize the power. There was no need to undermine himself.
But now the situation is different. If I need to leave the post of Third Division Envoy, I will simply dismantle it and leave the savings to others.
Faced with Ouyang Xiu's question, Li Hao replied: "In fact, our court has been under the control of officials for a long time. The positions of official, rank-level and postal officials are extremely messy, which has led to many disadvantages. Official names are inconsistent with actual powers, and government offices at all levels are complicated and constraining each other. The name is not worthy of the name, redundant officials are redundant, and financial resources are exhausted. Reforming the administration of officials is the first priority of the New Deal, but it has not been implemented due to the opposition of hundreds of officials. But now the New Deal has been implemented for more than five years, and both the government and the opposition have already The foundation has been laid, so I think the time has come to reform the administration of officials." After hearing Li Hao's words, Ouyang Xiu closed his eyes and fell into deep thought.
Li Hao watched from the side, waiting for Ouyang Xiu to make up his mind. After all, without Ouyang Xiu's consent, this matter would definitely not be done now.
In that case, you can only wait until you become prime minister before doing it again, which may take a few more years.
But if this is the case, the successor to the Third Secretary must be chosen carefully, otherwise he will be easily stolen.
Fortunately, in the end, Ouyang Xiu lived up to Li Hao's trust and asked: "Since you raised this proposal, I guess you have a specific plan. Let's talk about it!" When Li Hao heard this, he immediately knew that Ouyang Xiu was going to do this. I was going to agree, after all, the understanding over the years was not in vain.
So he calmed down and didn't show too much joy on his face, and explained to Ouyang Xiu: "This is what I think. The functions that represent the original salary in the official rank will be merged with the official rank to become a new official rank. The official rank will be abolished. The concept of official rank. The functions and dispatches that originally represented the title of the official in the official rank were merged and became a new dispatch. At the same time, the relevant departments were abolished and merged into new functional departments. For example, the functions of the three divisions were transferred to the household department. Let the official positions and dispatches Being able to correspond to each other will not only be convenient for us, but also make it clearer in the history books. In case that thousands of years later, future generations will see from the history books that I, the doctor of Hubu in the Song Dynasty, did not work in the Hubu, but in the local area. It is ridiculous to be the magistrate of the state. Specifically, it means restoring the duties of the Six Ministries, Nine Temples and Five Supervisors, and the parallel institutions may be merged or eliminated. For example, the financial power of the three divisions will be transferred to the Ministry of Household Affairs, and the power of craftsmanship will be transferred to the Ministry of Industry; Taichang Li will be abolished. The functions and powers of the Yuan Yuan and the Gong Yuan were returned to the Ministry of Rites; the Punishment Yuan and the Penal and Prison Department in Beijing were dismissed, and their powers of punishment and prison were returned to the Ministry of Punishments; the West Yuan, the Tribunal East Yuan and the Sanban Yuan were dismissed to appoint and remove officials, and conduct examinations The power will be returned to the Ministry of Personnel." After Ouyang Xiu heard this, he thought about it in his mind and said, "Oh, from what you said, it seems that there is no matter about the Ministry of War and the Privy Council. The other six ministries, nine temples and five supervisors have all been mentioned. What about the three provinces? "...Li Hao smiled when he heard this. My uncle was joking with me: "The military is a major matter for the country, and officials in the past generations have strictly guarded against it. Even if the current official does not care about anything, it is difficult to guarantee the future officials. I don't know how to settle accounts after the fall. Even if I don't have to worry about myself, I still have to think more about my children. As for the three provinces, I think it is too complicated and easy to interfere with each other, which will affect the speed of issuing edicts and the efficiency of the central agency. .After all, according to the process of the three provinces in the Tang Dynasty, all documents issued in the palace and memorials and petitions in various places need to be sent to the Menxia Province and the Zhongshu Province, and they need to be sent to the Shangshu Province. Each department under the jurisdiction will review the agreement, search for documents, and trace the source of the changes." Those who are near will go to the temple and supervisor for review and agreement, and those who are far away will go to prefectures and counties. After everything is cleared up, they will be sorted out and filed, and reported back to the Shangshu Province.
The Shangshu Province then sent it to the Zhongshu Province to collect the decree, and asked the Zhongshu Province to forward it to the Menxia Province for a replay.
"Hua Ke", then
"Rip" was sent to Shangshu Province. The Shangshu Province will issue six more departments, and finally it can be conveyed to the yamen at all levels. It can take a few months for a matter to be completed, and it can take more than a year for a long time. It is so cumbersome.
In the final analysis, I have no confidence in the efficiency of our officials in the Song Dynasty. It is better to be simpler and still use the Zhengshitang to control the six ministries, nine temples and five supervisors and preside over the government affairs. After listening to Li Hao's explanation, Ouyang Xiu also laughed and said, "You are indeed becoming more and more prudent in doing things, and the reasons you make up are becoming more and more high-sounding." Okay, this time I will fulfill your wish. When I go back, I will submit the entire method and I will come and discuss it with Mr. Fu Da. " Seeing that the matter was settled, Li Hao was naturally happy. After bidding farewell to Ouyang Xiu, he returned home to prepare documents.
This adjustment of official positions did cause some disturbances in the court, but in the end it was still unable to resist the reformists headed by Ouyang Xiu and Fu Bi.
At the same time that the three divisions were abolished, Li Hao entered the Zhengshi Hall and served as the Councilor for Political Affairs, and also served as the Secretary of the Ministry of Household Affairs, continuing to control the financial power.
As for the Ministry of Industry, because it took over the workshops and workers at all levels below the Third Division, it also involved the research and development and manufacturing of artillery and muskets that Li Hao had hopes for.
Therefore, with Li Hao's intervention, Sheng Hong was admitted to the Ministry of Works and served as the Minister of Works, with the title of senior official of the third rank.
It is also a pity that if there had not been a reform of the official rank structure, Sheng Hong would have already become the Yinqing Guanglu doctor.
Li Hao also felt that he didn't remember it earlier, otherwise he would have left Dr. Yinqing Guanglu in the third rank and made a wish to Sheng Hong.
However, it seems that Sheng Hong is quite satisfied now. He is now a third-grade official. His name and other things, Sheng Hong said that it is all just clouds and he is just working hard.
In addition, Shen Tugang was also very happy at this time. This guy also benefited from it and became the Minister of the Ministry of Personnel, receiving the second-grade title. You must know that this is the Ministry of Personnel that has taken back the real power of personnel appointments. Shen Tugang this time It's awesome.
Of course, Ouyang Xiu still suppressed him and did not let him enter the political hall, otherwise he would have to be higher than Li Hao in the official position.
After all, the Ministry of Personnel is the head of the six departments, responsible for the selection and examination of hundreds of civil and military officials, preparation of notes and transfers, Yinzi, Xufu and other political orders.
...However, Li Hao naturally couldn't take it easy to review the plans, so he arranged Sheng Changbai and Yan Jingwen to join the Ministry of Personnel as the Minister of the Ministry of Personnel, and were in charge of Zuoxuan, the Minister of Finance, and Zuoxuan, the Minister of the Ministry of Personnel, respectively.
Although Sheng Changbai was a little wronged in terms of official rank, after all, although the doctor of the Ministry of Personnel had great power, his official rank was indeed not high.
But there is no way, the officials have too much power, so they have to find people who are strict and self-interested to do things. The characters and temperaments of these two people are the most suitable.
As for other positions, the reformists also took the lead this time. Zeng Gongliang served as Minister of War, and also served as Tongzhi Privy Councilor.
Of course, Zeng Gongliang's position as the Minister of War is only temporary. After Fu Bi retires, Zeng Gongliang will take over the post of Privy Councilor, and the Minister of War will choose another person.
In addition, the Minister of the Ministry of Industry and the Minister of the Ministry of Punishment are also people who are inclined to reform. Only the Minister of the Ministry of Rites is from the conservative school, but even so, the Minister of Rites is also a member of the reformist group.
It can be said that the current top leaders of the central government are in full swing. Moreover, the Zhengke here is different from the Zhengke of the Donglin Party in the late Ming Dynasty. At least from now on, these people are capable of doing practical things.
In the next few years, Fu Bi first asked the court to serve as an official and return to his hometown to recuperate due to his physical condition. After the court tried to persuade him to stay but to no avail, he returned to his hometown in Luoyang again.
Fu Bi really couldn't return to Bianjing this time, and died of illness in Luoyang after another year in office. With Ouyang Xiu's participation, Zhao Zonghan stayed away from court for three days, personally wrote a memorial in memory of him, and posthumously awarded him the posthumous title of Taiwei.
"Wenzhong", and worthy of enjoying the temple court of Renzong. Then Ouyang Xiu's health gradually failed, and he began to let Li Hao take over.
However, in order to make Ouyang Xiu's career more prosperous, and after so many years of hard work, the state treasury is full of money and food, and he can do some big things.
So Li Hao personally brought the Pingxia plan to Ouyang Xiu's house and explained it to him one by one. When Ouyang Xiu heard this plan, although he was well-informed, he was still shocked.
After all, since the reign of Renzong, there had been no large-scale wars between the Song Dynasty and foreign countries, and Li Hao had not shown any warlike intentions in the past, so why did this suddenly happen now.
Ouyang Xiu asked: "Why did you suddenly think of this? Our Song Dynasty has been at peace for a long time, and the people are living and working in peace and contentment. How can we start the war lightly? If we lose, won't it ruin my efforts over the years? ." Faced with Ouyang Xiu's question, Li Hao replied: "It is precisely because the country is rich and the people are strong now that it is even more important to eradicate foreign enemies at this time and plan for future generations. One generation has to do the work of one generation. After all, none of us can We can't guarantee the quality of our successors. If we don't do it now while we have the ability, when the imperial court declines in the future, the foreign enemies we left behind will in turn endanger the Song Dynasty." But even if No matter what Li Hao said, Ouyang Xiu was still undecided.
But this is normal. After all, throughout Ouyang Xiu's life, although he has been a Privy Councilor for several years, he has never been in charge of military affairs. It is difficult for him to make this determination.
In fact, it would be the same thing to wait until Li Hao took over the political affairs hall. Now Li Hao mentioned it only because he was sure of winning, and wanted to give Ouyang Xiu a big gift.
...It would be such an honor to regain our homeland and destroy Xixia during Ouyang Xiu's tenure. As for why the goal is to destroy Xia instead of destroying Liao and recover the Sixteen Prefectures of Yanyun, it is naturally because this task must be left to myself.
So in the face of Ouyang Xiu's hesitation, Li Hao said: "Uncle, don't worry, since I came to make this proposal to you, I am sure of victory. You can follow me to a place and you will understand after seeing it." Ouyang Xiu I thought, I might as well go take a look and see what gave Li Hao such confidence.
Anyway, if it doesn't satisfy me, then I will definitely not agree, and I even have to persuade Li Hao to remember not to start the war lightly.
As Ouyang Xiu accompanied Li Hao out of Bianjing City, they headed west. Originally Ouyang Xiu thought he was going to the western suburbs camp, but in the end he saw that the direction was wrong.
In the end, Ouyang Xiu realized that he seemed to have arrived at a newly built martial arts field. What was strange was that not far behind the martial arts field, there were several lonely city gates. I don't know what they were used for.
On the martial arts field, a group of people noticed that Li Hao and the others had come in and hurried over to greet him. After walking in, Ouyang Xiu saw clearly that there were generals such as Gu Tingye and Yang Wenyuan, and he also saw the Privy Councilor Zeng Gongliang.
After Ouyang Xiu got out of the car and said hello to Gu Tingye and the others, he asked Zeng Gongliang: "What's going on? Did Li Hao tell you his thoughts a long time ago?" Zeng Gongliang quickly replied: "I, too, was Li Hao yesterday. I only found out the news when the Minister came to tell me. I wanted to report it to you at that time, but Li Hao said that I would tell you in person today, so I didn’t send a message. As for this, it was actually communicated to me two years ago. A newly built martial arts arena is said to be used to test new weapons. But what it is for today, I really don’t know. I just say that it is to see the magic weapon for victory." Li Hao also explained to Zeng Gongliang at this time: "That's true. I asked him to help hide it. It only took one day anyway. After all, it takes time to equip my secret weapon. If I had told you in advance, I would have kept you so worried that you couldn't sleep at night." Li Hao joked. On his own, Ouyang Xiu replied: "Okay, if you can't satisfy me with your secret weapon, you see how I deal with you." Li Hao replied: "Don't worry, you will definitely not have this chance." After talking to Ouyang Xiu , Li Hao turned to Gu Tingye and said: "Since the audience is all here, let them start. But you heard what the Grand Prime Minister just said. If they drop the chain and make me look bad, I will have a good harvest for you. They eat." Gu Tingye heard the words and said with a smile: "Don't worry, I have practiced it countless times. If I still make mistakes, I will be the first to ask for punishment." After getting Li Hao's consent, Gu Tingye rushed down to prepare. .
Li Hao accompanied Ouyang Xiu to the stage and asked him to watch the next performance. Zeng Gongliang and several generals who did not need to appear also followed Li Hao and went to the viewing platform.
It's just that except for Ouyang Xiu and Zeng Gongliang, everyone else has seen the drill, so their mentality is relatively peaceful.
...While everyone was waiting, they heard a burst of thunder from both sides of the martial arts arena. It was like thousands of horses galloping, but it was extremely neat, and the ground seemed to shake slightly.
Seeing all these situations, Ouyang Xiu and Zeng Gongliang looked at Li Hao with doubts on their faces, indicating to ask what was going on.
Li Hao said quickly: "You will know after you read it." The two of them retracted their gazes and looked around, as if they wanted to see what noise was coming from outside through the wall.
The sound was getting closer and louder. When it reached a climax, Ouyang Xiu and Zeng Gongliang finally saw that it was the sound of soldiers marching in unison.
Speaking of marching in unison, Li Hao also did it when he led the imperial army, and Ouyang Xiu also saw it at that time.
But at that time, Li Hao had a small number of people under his command, and the training time was not long enough, so although the results were somewhat amazing, they were really nothing compared to today's scene.
Present are 10,000 soldiers who have been carefully trained by Gu Tingye for three years. Of course, this does not mean that they only trained 10,000 soldiers in three years, but the space is limited and there is really no room for too many people to practice.
Although neither Ouyang Xiu nor Zeng Gongliang had ever experienced a battle in person, they were both former privy envoys and were no strangers to the western suburbs camp.
So when you see the spirit of these soldiers in front of you, you can tell at a glance that they are more elite soldiers than the previous four armies.
Then, under the command of Gu Tingye, the soldiers in the audience conducted weapons and battle formation drills in batches, which shocked Ouyang Xiu and Zeng Gongliang.
After reading it, Ouyang Xiu said to Li Hao: "This is the winning weapon you mentioned. It is indeed usable, but how many elite soldiers are there in total?" Li Hao replied: "Over the years, Gu Tingye and the others have worked hard. Adding in the money like water from the Ministry of Finance, we can only train a total of 60,000 horses!" Ouyang Xiu heard this and said: "Not enough. These soldiers and horses may indeed be elite and brave men, and they can be equal to ten, but if you want to destroy Xia in one fell swoop, This is not enough." Faced with Ouyang Xiu's doubts, Li Hao smiled and said: "Of course I know this, this is not my trump card." After saying that, he waved his hand to indicate Gu Tingye to continue the next step of the drill.
Ouyang Xiu saw that Li Hao still had tricks up his sleeve, so he continued to wait to see if there was any surprise. What appeared later really made Ouyang Xiu and Zeng Gongliang's eyes light up, and they made up their minds to support the start of the battle to destroy Xia.
Because what comes next is the artillery and muskets that have been iterated for countless generations under the guidance of Li Hao.
Li Hao didn't explain the specific power to Ouyang Xiu and the others, but when they saw the dilapidated city wall with their own eyes, there was no need to say anything more.
