The Political Affairs Hall has built a consensus and has once again increased its investment in the "Kaifeng Prefecture Pilot" to promote more supporting facilities for the "new law". Zhao Xu quietly returned to the palace.

Zhao Xu washed up and first went to see Concubine Zhu, then went to Queen Meng to sit for a while, and then went to Cining Hall, although he was unable to enter as usual.

The Gao family and ten nobles were searched. Even though there were serious crimes such as "digging open the Yellow River" that were both angry with people and gods, I still don't know how many people pleaded for mercy and defense.

Zhang Dun was still in a position of measure and did not go too far with the Gao family. Finally, he retained the last bottom line of Empress Dowager Gao.

The Ministry of Justice, the Ministry of Revenue and others are cleaning up the property of these people. Even if it is just preliminary, the total number is still shocking, which is enough to compare with the treasury income of the Song Dynasty for half a year.

Zhao Xu returned to Funing Palace and began to deal with the accumulated government affairs.

Zhao Xu looked at and reviewed it one by one.

It was not until Chen Pi quietly came in and lighted the light that Zhao Xu suddenly looked at the dark sky outside and said, "Is it over there on the Zhengshi Hall?"

Chen Pi put the lamp at a distance between Zhao Xu and then said: "Not yet, Su Xianggong, Zhang and others have gone to six ministries and are holding small meetings."

Zhao Xu nodded. It seemed that Cai Bian gave Zhang Dun and others a lot of new ideas this time.

Zhao Xu continued to look down at the memorial. The one in his hand was a joint memorial from Jingnan Road, which was about the disaster inside Jingnan Road and the impeachment of several prefects.

Zhao Xu looked at it and shook his head secretly.

The territory of the Song Dynasty was small or large, and adopted the prefecture-county system. The road was initially divided by tax transportation, and then evolved into administrative regions and military regions, but it was not an administrative agency, and the governments were still directly under the central management.

This is also a means of direct administration when the Song Dynasty was founded, and the vassal states were worried about the reappearance of the vassal states and weakening the local governments.

"Province……"

Zhao Xu said softly that with the beginning of the "new law", not only the court needed to centralize power, but the local scatteredness and the situation of people being overdoing things needs to be changed.

However, the territory of the Song Dynasty was not large, and with the Jingji Road where Kaifeng Prefecture was located, there were twenty-three roads, that is, twenty-three provinces!

This must be too much and needs to be merged.

However, it is not that simple to merge the road. In addition to the considerations of people's hearts and official hats, the road also has the nature of administrative and military regions. It is necessary to cooperate with the plans of the Privy Council and the Ministry of War and promote it vigorously.

"I can't hurry..."

Zhao Xu said to himself, putting this memorial aside.

The problems of the Song Dynasty were too complicated and involved institutional reforms, so they were definitely not something that the emperor and the court could do as soon as they were told. They also needed enough preparations to ensure that there was no big trouble.

Chenpi couldn't understand it, so she quietly stepped back and stood not far away.

I don’t know how long it took, but a yellow gate outside the door came over and said, “The official family, Su Xianggong, Zhang Xianggong, Cai Xianggong, and Han Xianggong asked for a meeting.”

Zhao Xu raised his head again and looked outside. Seeing that it was already dark, he pondered for a moment, and said, "Let them go to the side hall, let the imperial chef set up food in the side hall, and burn it with charcoal. I will eat and chat with you all."

"Yes." Chenpi responded and turned around and went out to make arrangements.

Zhao Xu looked at it for a while before he got up and left the study room and headed to the side hall.

In the side hall, Su Song and others were standing and waiting, and they were about to salute when they saw Zhao Xu coming in.

Zhao Xu waved his hand and said, "No gift. It's the evening, thank you for your hard work. Sit down and eat while talking."

As he said that, Zhao Xu took the lead in sitting down, and Su Song, Zhang Dun and others sat down one after another.

Zhao Xu looked at the steaming porcelain pot and the fragrant food, and suddenly had a great appetite. He picked up the chopsticks and ate it. He smiled at Su Song and the other two and said, "Eat it casually without any rituals."

Su Song, Zhang Dun and others watched Zhao Xu eat, as if they didn't want to ruin the atmosphere, so they picked up the chopsticks and took a bite.

Zhao Xu was indeed hungry, so he just took the rice and ate half full before he drank the soup. Looking at the four people who had been sitting upright, he smiled and said, "Tell me."

Su Song leaned over and said with a long time ago: "The government, Imperial College, Imperial College, etc. have basically been prepared. In this way, you can start recruiting students in mid-March. I have discussed carefully with the Imperial College. The first batch was planned to recruit 300 people, and then gradually relax. In the early stage, branches will be set up in other three Jings to expand in a planned manner..."

Zhao Xu listened and nodded, "I have talked to Shen Kuo before. There are several things that are indispensable in the Imperial Academy. The first is a knowledgeable and talented professor, that is, talents. The second is basic supporting facilities, including money, teaching buildings, dormitories, dining, etc. The third is teaching supporting facilities. The first priority is textbooks, and the second is auxiliary materials. Textbooks are not difficult. I thought that the largest library building in the Imperial Academy should be built, and other academies should be established everywhere, and they should be open to those who borrow...

...In addition, I have told Shen Kuo that in the Imperial Academy, we must include everything, and there is no distinction between teachings, and we cannot only teach the classics. The six arts of gentlemen and all schools of thought must be included, and we must not exclude or target them. Also, students and teachers cannot engage in factions or party struggles! Education, regardless of wealth, academic viewpoint, or relationship... are equal! Ten years of trees and a hundred years of cultivation of people, in terms of culture and education, we must treat them as the first important matter. Talents are the most important time..."

Su Song, Zhang Dun and others listened with a solemn expression. Whenever Zhao Xu talked about it in a long way, he expressed his importance to this matter.

Zhao Xu was dry and picked up the soup and took a sip, saying, "Let me listen to it. After a while, I will issue an edict to the Imperial College."

Su Song bowed and said, "Yes."

Zhao Xu's eyes turned to Zhang Dun and Cai Bian.

Han Zongdao, the assistant minister of the government and the prefect of Kaifeng Prefecture, looked a little unnatural.

"Kaifeng Prefecture Pilot Project", he, as the prefect, seemed to be an outsider.

Cai Bian spoke and said, "Officials, I went to several counties in Kaifeng Prefecture, and then I found that the matter was more serious than what I expected from Chen and others, and it was still developing further, so I will continue to deal with it..."

Zhao Xu picked up the bowl, ate slowly, and listened.

After Cai Bian finished speaking, Zhang Dun began to talk about the response of the Political Affairs Hall. Zhao Xu already knew about these things and was listening carefully now.

"I believe that such chaos is caused by the relaxed laws and the lack of people's affairs..."

Zhang Dun looked serious and said, "So, my plan to use heavy punishments to punish illegal people, strengthen the crackdown on illegal people, and reshape the prestige of the court, so that those people can deeply understand the court's firm will and abandon their delusions..."

"Actually, I have other ideas,"

Before Zhang Dun finished speaking, Zhao Xu held a bowl in his hand and interrupted him, looked up at the four people, and slowly said: "We have always thought about eliminating bad policies. The people have been suffering from bad policies for a long time. We should welcome and support them. But Ignore that bad policies are caused by the court. If the court comes to change, do the people believe it? If the people do not believe it, they will not support it."

Su Song, Zhang Dun and others were a little stunned when they listened.

It’s not that they don’t know this truth, but that from their hearts, the “reforms” of the court seem to have nothing to do with the people, and they just need to obey.

Zhao Xu was stunned when he saw their reaction, and then said thoughtfully: "The fundamental reason for the 'Fangtian Tax Law' is the land, but it is more about people and the people. I have found too many wastelands in Yongqiu County. The people have land, but abandoned the land to flee. Why? Because the local government's heavy taxes have forced them to plant land! The people have no place to escape, and the consequences are known to me. Therefore, the "reform" must win the hearts of the people, especially the support of the people!

Before, we ignored it. Now, I feel that there are two things that need to be done: First, sort out the tax rules, clarify the world's taxes, and announce the world's taxes, and the extra taxes are not allowed! Second, strictly control local officials, especially taxes, you can consider establishing a special tax collection department to bypass the local area. Third, it is public opinion. We must do everything possible to make the people believe in the court and believe that the court can really change! It will not change the worse and worse, and will not go back! This is particularly important!"

Zhao Xu said, put down the bowl, looked at Zhang Dun, Cai Bian said, "I have told you before that the reason why the 'Xining Reform' failed is because you have a small number of people, have not obtained the support of the majority, and have a lack of consensus. Now, this sentence needs to be corrected, that is, the 'Xining Reform' has not won the hearts of the people, and has not made the people believe it. If the people do not believe it, it means that it is standing on the opposite side, and then it is a matter of time to lose."

Zhang Dun and Cai Bian each had their own expressions and fell into deep thought.

Zhao Xu's words touched them a lot and forced them to reflect on them.

The "New Law" has always been a battle in the court. The "new and old" parties fought to the death. With the support of Shenzong, the "New Party" was proud of the court for more than 20 years. However, afterwards, Emperor Shenzong passed away, and the "old party" couldn't wait to abolish the "New Law" within a year.

Is this a simple party struggle?

Why was it so difficult to have the "New Party" that the emperor had never supported before in the Shenzong Dynasty, but it was so easy to abolish the "New Law"?

After all, the "people's heart" is not on the side of the "New Party"!

After seven years, not many people miss the "New Party". What they miss is the Renzong Dynasty, the peaceful and prosperous era, whether it is the gentry group or the people!

Su Song listened silently. He always "seeked stability". Although he did not improve, he was trying hard to prevent him from becoming worse.

Even though the officials and the court were in full swing and forced repeatedly, he was always determined and unswerving.

He doesn't think he's wrong, and now, that's the case.

Han Zongdao suddenly became excited and couldn't help but speak: "Officials, the people's hearts are not changing the law. The court does have many bad policies, but they can be completely eliminated. There is no need to dig three feet into this way. Please correct the new law to follow the people's hearts and to peace in the world!"

Zhang Dun and Cai Bian turned their heads suddenly to look at him, looking cold.

Han Zongdao suddenly seemed to realize that he was impulsive, his face stiffened and he didn't say anything anymore.

Su Song also frowned and said in a smooth manner: "Officials, there are indeed some problems in the implementation of the new law. We should check for omissions and fill in the gaps to make perfect."

Zhang Dun ignored these two people, looked serious and said, "What Your Majesty said is very true. The Political Affairs Hall plans to rectify prefectures and counties across the country, strengthen the publicity of the "new law" and build the greatest consensus. I believe that with the gradual advancement of the new law, people in the world will understand that the "new law" is the most beneficial and correct for the country and the people!"

Zhao Xu looked at him and said in a deep voice: "It's not enough. In the past, the newspapers were for government officials at all levels. We should go deep into the local area and strengthen publicity to the people. We should now strive for more support from gentry, and at the same time we should also gain the support of the people. At this time, it is particularly important!"

Zhang Dun bowed slightly, his expression hesitant and did not speak.

Including Cai Bian, he also pondered and said nothing.

Su Song and Han Zongdao were the same, silent.

Zhao Xu frowned. He had already said so clearly. Why did these four people react like this?

When Zhao Xu saw this, he picked up the soup and took a sip, and waited quietly.

After waiting for a long time, Su Song saw that Zhao Xu was not speaking, and seemed to understand, and said, "Officials, the people can use it, but not to know it."

Zhao Xu naturally knew this sentence and understood the meaning of it. He couldn't help but be stunned and stunned, not knowing what to say for a moment.

The general meaning of this sentence is that the people just need to obey and cannot let them know too much. The derivative meaning is that the people know too much and it will be difficult to control it, which will cause turmoil in the world and threaten the stability of the country.

As the leader of today's feudal society, Emperor Zhao Xu of the Song Dynasty really found it difficult to speak for a while and didn't know what to say.

When Cai Bian saw this, he hurriedly said, "Officials, officials will grasp the measure of this matter, convey to the people, seek support from the people, and vigorously promote the progress of "land measurement". They will definitely complete the established tasks on time..."

Zhao Xu came back to his senses, looked at the four people quietly and said, "The matter of Guangjian Academy should be implemented as soon as possible. We should instill the 'new law' in students and carry out larger-scale publicity. This is very important and urgent. The newspapers should also be enlarged. Not only to government officials at all levels, but also to use institutions at all levels, such as academies, post stations, prefectures, county schools, etc., to spread to everyone..."

Su Song and Han Zongdao changed their colors, and Zhang Dun and Cai Bian followed suit and showed a congestion.

When should the affairs of the court be explained to ordinary people?

But seeing Zhao Xu repeatedly stressing, they could only respond, but did not say more.

Zhao Xu picked up the bowl and understood in his heart that the position and interests of the emperor and the court were not always consistent, and the two parties of the "new and old" were not completely hostile, but were the same on some issues, after all, they had the same class.

These things have to be carefully supervised by Zhao Xu, and even arranged them personally.

"Official family,"

Seeing that the atmosphere was a little wrong, Cai Bian hurriedly said, "After the inspection of my ministers and others, I found several people with outstanding abilities and character in 16 counties. The magistrates of Zhongmu County, Yongqiu County and other counties were decisive and did not retreat when encountering problems. I admired them very much and suggested promotion to encourage officials at all levels of Kaifeng Prefecture."
To be continued...