Chapter 1,569 Redundant Officials

From now on, paying tribute must be an envoy sent by the king, with a legal status recognized by the Song Dynasty, and a seal issued by the Song Dynasty. Only then can he serve as a tribute envoy and enjoy the preferential policies of the Song Dynasty for vassal states.

The rest are all considered businessmen, and must pay taxes on goods cleared through customs.

For this "vassal" status, countless city-states started wars, and countless small countries began to split and become independent, with the goal of that "duty-free pass".

This was the infamous "Tribute Restriction Order" in later generations. Zhang Kai's memorial sent more city-states in the South China Sea into blood and fire.

This alone is not enough to show Zhang Kai's evil intentions. In the process of fighting between various countries, this kid still acted as a mediator and a negotiator for all parties, so that the South China Sea nobles were in a state of drinking poison to quench their thirst.

In order to consolidate his power, he did not hesitate to sell his motherland for weapons and his own interests, and "voluntarily contributed" several good trade ports to the Song Dynasty, including Medan and Jambi on the other side of the strait, allowing Zhang Kai to completely control the entire strait channel.

As for the cities that had fallen into the arms of the Song Dynasty, Zhang Kai vigorously introduced Dongshengzhou varieties of cassava, sweet potatoes, and corn, and vigorously developed the cultivation of local coconuts, abaca, sugar cane, and spices, forming an abnormally prosperous colony based on maritime trade.

The economy made these cities more and more dependent on the Song Dynasty.

The best people in the Song Dynasty never needed to be taught how to engage in intrigues. Zhang Qi was very good at it out of instinct.

The explosive growth of national income in Yuanyou's three years made Gao Taotao very happy. Once he had money, he would spend more money.

Ding Mao, the imperial edict was to give the soldiers clothes and fur in the third month of the year.

Renyin, in front of the palace, Commander Yanda reported that the Fourth Army had been expanded and re-equipped, and had returned to its highest level in history. Each army had 10,000 troops on the left and right sides, totaling 80,000 elite troops.

Geng Shen, the commander of the four divisions, conducted exegesis, and sent it to Chaogu. The Hebei Eighth Army also completed its training.

The newly appointed Minister of Household Affairs Han Zhongyan, Minister Su Che and Han Zongdao said: "This department has recently compiled the "Yuanyou Accounting Records". The money, grain, gold, silver, coins, silk and other materials collected by the world in one year are enough to support several years."

"

"However, during the Xifeng years, the country became redundant and suffered from poverty and poverty. This is because the past and future generations did not take into account the comings and goings of the future."

"Now I would like to issue an order to this department. We will examine the situation in detail and make appropriate decisions. The two sages will take the lead, and the ministers will take the lead. Who will not be convinced!"

The memorial came in and the edict was issued: "The Ministry of Household Affairs will collect and use the necessary funds. Except for the money, clothing and food awarded to the various squads and military personnel, and the special expenditures will remain the same, the rest of the floating expenses will be cut and saved at the same time, and will be heard in each section."

Su Yuanzhen, the imperial censor, said: "The former emperor thought that the officials were unpaid and it was not enough to punish them for being honest, so he set them up with responsibilities, punished them severely, and then paid them. Go to the appointed official to verify the redundancy, and ask the supervisor to write a letter of responsibility."

Jia Yin, Gao Tao Tao, issued another edict: "The problem of redundant officials has always existed; the extreme disadvantages have actually emerged today, and the number of personnel has been doubled to the number of officials.

There are officials who have been idle for a long time and have neglected their duties, and there are people who have been harmed without reporting it. Therefore, the ministers are ordered to examine the origins. If they do not cut down the number of people who have entered the army, they cannot clarify the reasons for selecting scholars.

Now I take the lead in the world with my own body, and I will always be at the beginning of the emperor's reign. I have always been responsible for the imperial edicts, and I have taken care of my personal relatives. In the past, there was no fixed limit. I only had little virtue and dared to match my predecessors!

It has been decreed that the kindness of the family should be limited to being obedient to the mother, but now it should be lost again to show that it must be done.

I see that the late emperor cared so deeply for me and held so much responsibility in the world. I have no love for my hair and my skin even if it is beneficial to the country!

The act of showing kindness is actually the same as that of a noble person. Loyal and righteous people should realize this and forget about their sincerity, so as to form a system of economy.

From now on, on every holy day, major ceremony, and birthday, if you receive the favor of your relatives, your four points will be reduced by one.

The Empress Dowager, the Empress Dowager approves this."

This is to lead by example and start to cut down on the civil service system, reduce floating fees and streamline the organization.

Twenty years of reform in the Imperial Song Dynasty marked the beginning of the transition into deep waters.

Su You said: "When Yuanfeng was made, all officials in the world had regular salaries, and all states in the world had banks."

"Therefore, it is better to abolish all the outside jobs and fields and collect the public funds."

"The rest of the governors who have given them gifts should also be dismissed and used as reserves for the country."

He also said: "Today's affairs are as complex and simple as those in ancient times."

"However, in the prefectures and counties, it is beneficial to follow what Zhai Si said before. For example, in the South China Sea, the Western Regions, Jinghu, Dianxi, and Guangnan, people think that bad places are difficult to deal with. Even though the imperial court orders it, there are still some who ignore it."

"Please redefine the three levels of prefectures and counties in the world. Those who dare to be appointed to remote and lower-level prefectures and counties will be transferred twice every three years; those who are middle-level will be transferred once every three years; and those who dare to be appointed to the upper-level counties will be transferred once. To show the intention of rewarding hard work."

This is a firm response to Gao Taotao's call.

The general idea of ​​Yuanyou's reform was to be lenient to the people and strict to the officials.

Before Su You went on patrol, the imperial court had already begun to take action, and officials were trying new methods to prepare for this.

Only now did everyone realize that it was just a drizzle of new techniques that Li tried, and now this set is the real combination boxing.

On the one hand, Gao Taotao led by example, reducing the number of "remote officials" who allowed his relatives and clan members to receive royal salary for free, and continued to reduce the expenses of the clan and the palace by a quarter.

This article alone directly reduced the annual fee of 10 million guan paid by the imperial court to relatives of the clan and the court to 5 million guan.

Immediately afterwards, Su You also applied to Gao Taotao to be exempted from the messy rewards given to senior officials during the New Year and holidays, and at the same time, he took back the jobs of all Luzhou and county officials, and all their salaries were distributed through banks that have been established in each state. This move further reduced the court's salary expenditure by 3 million yuan.

Next, the new Minister of Household Affairs Han Zhongyan opened the door with three axes, searching for court positions and picking out those officials who had been idle for a long time, neglected their duties, and were waiting for election.

Tai Jian immediately exerted its corrective function and demanded that these officials be reassessed.

There is a stick on one side and a carrot on the other side.

But it takes some effort to get this carrot - Su Youming said, your way out is to go to the place where the country needs it.

Under heavy rewards, there must be brave men. The transfer of low-level officials was extremely difficult in the Song Dynasty.

Su You would not do the kind of thing that requires horses to run and not eat grass, so he made an opening for them: Anyone who goes to serve as an official in the poor areas bordering the old and young, the court will let you do something based on your qualifications. Years are equal to two years of service, and the chances of promotion upon return are much higher than those of colleagues.

This is also the experience of later generations. When a country adds so much territory, it naturally needs officials to guard it. In fact, it is not that there are too many officials in the Song Dynasty, but that everyone is crowded in Bianjing City and would rather wait and grab their head than go to a more miserable and poor place. Give it a try.

In fact, many places have great potential for development, but officials who have the ability to earn a living in court are not willing to go there.

For example, in the Xinzhou where Cai Que and Xing Shu were demoted, a satellite was launched as soon as Xing Ju arrived. He only built two miles of dikes and acquired 15,000 hectares of land. According to Su You's current method, this is equivalent to continuous After taking two positions, he immediately widened the gap among his peers.

After three years of work, even if Xing Ju is involved by his father again, he will not be able to escape as the official of Guangdong Road or Chang Pingcang.

This is also a shortcut for promotion designed by Su You for low-level officials with backgrounds in science and engineering.

After all, we don’t have diamonds, and we don’t dare to take on such porcelain work easily. However, the diamonds that can really be used in these places in the Song Dynasty are actually in the hands of officials with science and engineering knowledge.

In the end, Su Yuanzhen, a "lone minister" who was not afraid of offending others, raised Shang Fang's sword high and threatened. The meaning of the remonstrance was very clear, that is, the court was about to take action, and all idle officials from now on would be dealt with in a one-size-fits-all manner.

, "verify and eliminate redundancy".

The imperial court of the Song Dynasty has always been "confused by different opinions," let alone such a "civil service reform" that touches the interests of all officials.

But this time it was really strange. He issued an edict loudly, and the royal family, the prime minister, the six ministries, and the Taiwanese remonstrated with each other. Everyone started from their own responsibilities, came up with ideas, and came up with a combination of punches. They were stunned.

This made all the officials lose their temper.

The banner of justice was indeed useful. After Su You received the imperial edict, he directly discussed the matter at the three-provincial court meeting and the joint meeting of the capital and provinces.

Even though many people have dark thoughts, they dare not expose them to the sun.

So the decision was made, Bingyin, Gao Tao Tao issued an imperial edict to appoint six Cao Cao as Shangshu officials; the Ministry of Civil Affairs ordered the six Cao Cao to be determined in detail, and the temple supervisors repeated the benefits and disadvantages; under the imperial edict, Zhongshu and Hou Province quickly enacted legislation.
Chapter completed!