The Little Officials of the Song Dynasty

It is said that Bao Zheng was awarded the post of Adviser on Political Affairs and officially became the Deputy Prime Minister. In the original book, this person is a descendant from the stars in the sky. He has always had a sense of mission.

Bao Zheng called Gongsun Ce, Zhan Zhao, and Yun Yan back. These people can be said to be his trust, and their character is also reliable.

"Since I have become a prime minister, I must do something." Bao Zheng said seriously.

Yun Yan hurriedly replied, "I know, I know."

Bao Zheng let out a "huh", "How do you know by chasing the wind? Let's hear it."

Yun Yan replied solemnly: "Mr. Xiang is also very old. He has been busy with political affairs and has no time to get married. We all see this and keep it in our hearts. As the saying goes, first get married, then start a career... If Mr. Xiang is at ease, this matter will be settled. Leave it to us!"

Bao Zheng: "..."

Both Gongsun Ce and Zhan Zhao secretly laughed.

"Leave it to you, what do you want to do?" Bao Zheng pointed at Yun Yan and replied, "You!"

Yun Yan quickly made an open-hearted gesture: "Master, please enlighten me."

"I have become a prime minister at such an age, and it is because of the trust of the officials. In the past few years in Kaifeng Mansion, I have some insights." Bao Zheng glanced back at Yunyan, "So I want to offer advice and advice, and the three of you have different opinions. Director, so I ask you to come and have a look."

After finishing speaking, Bao Zheng took out a document, which was as thick as a finger.

Gongsun Ce said with a smile: "Zhufeng is also a joke, Xiangye said, let's listen carefully and contribute our strength."

Bao Zheng nodded, and said: "Not long ago, we cleaned up Tokyo, which took several years to complete. It is still like this to govern a government, let alone a state and a country? In the final analysis, it is caused by two reasons."

"First, the people in many states in my dynasty are strong and strong, and there are many people who are green forests and robbers. Second, they emphasize civility over military affairs, and redundant officers and soldiers. Although there are many soldiers, there are many old, weak or cunning people. This is the case with the Xiang soldiers, let alone other places?

"Most robbers are born because they have nothing to do, and some just want to oppress the people. What about this redundant army..."

Having said this, Bao Zheng paused for a moment, as if he was thinking about what to say.

Yun Yan replied, "It's a problem left over from history."

After Bao Zheng thought about it, it was quite accurate, so he nodded and said: "Yes, this is a problem left over from history."

Because at the beginning of the founding of the Song Dynasty, they were afraid of generals, and they have always emphasized civility over military affairs until now. However, there have been constant wars on the border, and many soldiers have to be raised to maintain combat effectiveness. Therefore, there are many soldiers but not good ones, and the entire army system is relatively chaotic.

Although Bao Zheng was a civil servant, he did not despise military generals, but thought it was a malady.

Bao Zheng said again: "In the past, the imperial court also ordered these vagrants to join the army. However, after learning some skills in the army, they fled again and became thieves. Joining the army seems to be for the sake of They are as skilled as thieves."

"From Tokyo's experience, we can see how to solve it. After the crackdown in Kaifeng Prefecture, those hooligans in Tokyo were able to switch to other things because there was work to do. There is no way out.

"Furthermore, all the soldiers in this chamber have been subdued. Zhan Wei, Bai Wei and others have even taught these people their skills. I heard that some of them fought with the imperial army and won?"

When Bao Zheng mentioned this, Zhan Zhao suddenly felt embarrassed. He thought that Bao Zheng didn't know, so he nodded helplessly, "Although we often practice, we still have to fight hard."

Zhan Zhao didn't dare to say it out, and it wasn't because of Bai Yutang's instigation.

Gongsun Ce nodded lightly and said, "What Xiangye means is that you want to offer advice to the officials so that everyone can imitate it?"

"That's right, every time there is a famine, the imperial court always urges temples and Taoist temples to invest in building bridges and roads, hire people, and provide relief with work." Bao Zheng said.

"However, this cannot completely solve the problem. What if the building is not a bridge or a road, but a place that can make money, and it is not only repaired during a famine? Take Puguanze as an example. How many people were hired during the construction process? Folks, how many long-term jobs have been provided after the completion?"

"I've earned a lot of money," Yun Yan replied, "Shen Cunzhong told me before that only when the money flows can it play a greater role and solve more problems."

Although what Bao Zheng said was an issue of public security, it actually involved many important aspects. This is the experience of Kaifeng Mansion, and it is not impossible to apply it to other places.

Bao Zheng came to ask for an opinion, and since he said it, Gongsun Ce and Zhan Zhao also added it one after another.

Zhan Zhao thinks that the army's equipment is too poor, like their box soldiers, their weapons are all rusted, and a lot of equipment is only stored in the accounts.This is a problem that exists throughout the Song Dynasty, let alone weapons, many cavalry in the Song Dynasty don't even have horses.

Gongsun Ce shook his head and said, "There is no place to raise horses in the territory of Song Dynasty, and it is difficult to produce good horses!"

This kind of good horse can only be bred in an alpine place, and there is no horse-producing area in the Song Dynasty.Not to mention good horses, even ordinary horses are now a problem.

Yun Yan pondered for a while, "For one thing, the Lord Xiang just mentioned the issue of hiring peasant husbands to provide jobs, so why can't the horses be raised by peasant households? I heard that the Zhenzong Dynasty also had supervisors and herdsmen, but because there was no large pasture land, They actually used cultivated land to raise horses. But why bother to herd them in groups? They can be dispersed and asked households to raise horses voluntarily, and the horses that meet the requirements can be exchanged for corvees and taxes.”

When Bao Zheng heard it, he called out Dashan repeatedly. The issue of raising horses was completely covered by everyone, but he didn't expect Yun Yanhui to actually have a good suggestion, "Secondly?"

"Secondly," Yunyan laughed back, "Didn't we establish the chieftain system? When I chatted with Xiaohuo, I knew that there are actually many alpine grasslands in Guangnan. Many Tu people from all over the country live in the deep mountains, and they are looking for a place to live. When it comes to land, they will give priority to the richness and beauty of the land, so the little tigers and the others know that there is such a place."

"I don't know how to raise horses, but just now Zhanwei talked about the conditions for good horses, and I just remembered that the grasslands in these high mountains are a good place to raise horses. In many places, the Tu people are educated by officials. It is to ask them to come out of the mountains and live in the city. However, it is not possible to use their familiarity with the deep mountains to ask them to raise horses in exchange for salt and tea supplies?

"I don't know how many grasslands like this exist, but mosquito legs are also meat, so it can be used to strengthen the control of the Tusi and Tu people."

When Yun Yan said this, the others unconsciously nodded their heads, and their thinking became broader, and the discussion was full of enthusiasm for a long time.

In the end, Bao Zheng wrote down all the suggestions, and it was true that Xin Dao called them to discuss. The three cobblers are as good as Zhuge Liang, let alone the three who have experienced the past few years with him.

Bao Zheng wants to sum it up again, and then enter the palace for Renzong.

Bao Zheng looked very confident, and sent Yun Yanhui and the three of them out of the door.

Yun Yan thought about it in his heart, and seeing Gongsun Ce and Zhan Zhao also looked relaxed, he suddenly remembered that he was actually worried before that the historical problems of the Song Dynasty were hard to change, but this is not completely true history.

Bao Zheng is a descendant of the stars, Renzong is still a generation of Mingjun, he recruits talents everywhere, and he also values ​​people with strong martial arts like Zhan Zhao and Bai Yutang.So, Bao Zheng said together, if Renzong thinks it is right, maybe he will really change his previous style of emphasizing culture over martial arts!

No, it's not that maybe... According to Renzong's appearance, it is very possible!

Yun Yan immediately laughed out loud.

Both Gongsun Ce and Zhan Zhao looked at Yun Yanhui in surprise, "What are you laughing at?"

Yun Yanhui immediately restrained his expression, and happened to see Zhao Yunchu not far away, so he said: "I'm not laughing, I saw Xiao Chu, I'll go find him for dinner!" After spending a long time thinking about Bao Zheng, He is really hungry.

Yun Yanhui happily ran over, patted Zhao Yunchu, put one arm on his shoulder, and the two went to the cafeteria intimately.

Zhan Zhao said with emotion: "It turned out that I saw Brother Zhao, no wonder they laughed so happily. The two of them really deserved to be misunderstood as friendship with broken sleeves! Isn't it, Mr. Gongsun?"

Gongsun Ce was also looking at Yunyan looking back at their backs, but now he looked away, turned his head, smiled, "If you think so, then it must be." Then he walked away.

"??" Zhan Zhao was puzzled, feeling that he didn't understand what Mr. Gongsun meant, did he say something wrong?

……

"What's the matter with Mr. Bao looking for you?" Zhao Yunchu asked with concern, "If you're so busy, there won't be any more work, right?"

Yun Yan shook her head back and said: "What are you thinking about, no, I just want to give Xiangye a detailed look..."

What I said today is not easy to spread, no matter how close the relationship is, this Yun Yanhui still understands, so he said seriously, "It's about whether the prime minister should get married or not."

Zhao Yunchu was shocked: "Master Xiang wants to get married?"

Because Zhao Yunchu was surprised and didn't pay attention to lowering his voice, the passers-by heard it and were shocked, "Master Xiang is getting married?"

The difference of one word makes a huge difference. Now, everyone around them leaned over.

"Married? Which noble daughter is it?"

"Our husband is now a political adviser, what kind of noble girl is not worthy of it!"

"This is a great thing. Mr. Xiang is busy with government affairs and has no time to think about marriage. It's time to start a family."

"Yes, many people are also concerned about this matter."

Yun Yan replied: "..."

Yun Yan hurried back and made a solemn statement that nothing happened yet.Everyone responded verbally, but then they turned their heads and started discussing in low voices.

"That's just thinking? That's right... Master Xiang is no longer young, and there is no one in the room..."

"That's right, you should think about it. Xiangye's family members are not in Beijing, and there is no one to take care of it. Otherwise, why would it be like this!"

Yun Yan was also speechless when she returned, as she had witnessed the origin of a rumor with her own eyes.

A few days later, Renzong listened to the suggestions, and indeed issued a decree, with several orders.

The first is to promulgate a new horse breeding law, which includes two parts. One is to ask the people to raise horses to offset taxes, and the other is to ask the Tu people to set up horse farms in the alpine grasslands in Guangnan, where the chieftain was tested, to raise horses for the imperial court.

The second is that Pu Guanze is doing very well. Kong Ji is also opening a class to accept apprentices. Branches can also be established in other states. Powerful state capitals can participate in the operation. Just submit an application. This matter will be handled by Youyuan Management will be responsible.

The third is to establish a new department such as the Military Weapons Supervision.

This is called raising horses by the Tu nationality, and Puguanze opened a branch garden, neither of which is very special.

Many people think that the former is to further consolidate the status of chieftain, and the court has been working hard to increase the number of horses.The latter has long been heard that Pu Guanze will go to the national chain in the future.

Another courtier said, can we open one in Liao or the border between the two countries to earn money from the Liao people, at least we can get a troupe to go there.

You know, not only are people all over the country eagerly looking forward to Bian Opera, but people in Liao Kingdom are even more obsessed with it, and they have been calling for the Kong family to perform in the past.

The only thing that is relatively new is the establishment of the Military Weapons Supervision. It is said that this is a place that specializes in the research of weapons and will collect ideas from across the country.Officials were transferred from other departments, and Shen Kuo, who was originally from the Ministry of Industry, was transferred to be his deputy.

However, this incident did not cause much disturbance.No one knew that this idea and the candidate were all brought up by Yun Yan, and he had great trust in this brother-in-law's ability.

When they talked with Bao Zheng that day, they said that if a worker wants to do a good job, he must first sharpen his tools.

It is very necessary to establish a military supervision department. We can develop weapons now, and in the future we can supervise the quality of military weapons in various places.

This is actually already a signal. When the country was founded, it attached great importance to the research and development of weapons, and then it gradually decreased. Now it has increased, and a special department has been established.

These are just the first steps. In the future, Renzong will gradually increase the control and rewards of the army and generals, including eliminating miscellaneous soldiers, recruiting high-level people, and training the army.This is the beginning of a rich country and a strong army.

Because he was afraid of causing backlash from civil officials, Renzong could only carry out reforms quietly, step by step, and when the development was good, it would be useless to let those people shout.No more than two slaps were given to people in the court who knew about it.

Bao Zheng saw that everything was going smoothly as planned, and he was in a good mood, humming the opera "Liu Bei Crossing the River" and went home.

As soon as he returned to the mansion, someone reported that several matchmakers came to the door today and had been waiting for a long time.

Bao Zheng was stunned, "Matchmaker? What is the matchmaker here for? Sue?"

Bao Zheng thought about it, could it be that some major case related to matchmakers happened, and these people were asked to report the case together, and they were directly reported to him. You must know that many cases are now being tried by the lower officials.

The government official reported: "I heard that Xiangye intends to get married and wants to be a matchmaker for you..."

Bao Zheng: "..."

Recently, Yun Yan mentioned a few things about his marriage, that is, when everyone was discussing strategies.When Bao Zheng thought about it, his face immediately turned (more) dark, "It's unreasonable, go and call Yun Zhufeng over!"

The government official was very surprised and said: "Hey, why... Did Mr. Yun know that the Prime Minister wanted to see him? What a clever plan! Earlier he said that if the Prime Minister wanted to look for him, he would tell you that he went to the government school to invigilate the exam , I won’t be able to come back in three or five days, and I will have to watch it again in seven or eight days!”

Bao Zheng: "..."