Chapter 741: Public opinion takes precedence
If I want to kill you today, you will have no choice but to accept it.
In fact, the only way to deal with natural disasters is to do your best and obey destiny. This has been true at home and abroad in ancient and modern times.
Soon, Wang Anshi wrote an article and published it in the official bookstore’s news paper.
The general content is that this natural disaster is a natural phenomenon and is inevitable for everyone. The only thing that can be done is to enhance one’s ability to resist natural disasters.
Then the imperial court that has undergone reforms has a stronger ability to withstand natural disasters. Wang Anshi also regarded this natural disaster as a test of the New Deal.
Furthermore, to reassure the people, the imperial court will soon issue relevant policies in order to rescue more people and prevent the people from famine.
As soon as this report came out, all these monsters and monsters appeared.
In the eyes of many people, Wang Anshi is provoking God.
Any store.
“Test!”
A middle-aged man put down the newspaper and sneered: “Since Mr. Wang is eager to be tested, why don’t we help him.”
This man’s name is Liu Ping, one of the first victims of the exemption law. He spent thousands of dollars to escape. After decades of living, it was the first time he suffered such a big loss, but he always felt sad in his heart. Remembered.
A middle-aged man next to him who was also wearing silk said: “Brother Liu, I think we should be more careful and subtle, at least look at what is said above.”
Liu Ping said with a smile: “Haven’t you noticed? Nowadays, the price of food has soared, and there is still a lot less food in the food shops. Don’t you still know who is behind those food shops?”
The person on the other side said: “We are not trying to cause trouble. During a disaster, ordinary farmers will try their best to stockpile food. There is little food on the market and the price rise is a reasonable thing. If the price increase is not allowed, then We won’t sell it. It’s not illegal. Aren’t the public prosecutors and the law supposed to defend personal rights and interests? This is our legitimate rights and interests!”
Liu Ping said coldly: “This time we not only have to earn back those fines, but we also have to take revenge.”
It’s not easy!
It’s not easy!
These landowners have been really “suffering” in recent years. They feel panicked even if they have an extra penny hidden in their homes. Finally, they are allowed to seize this opportunity.
Moreover, this is actually a common trick used by their landlords.
When hit with two sticks, they will quickly retract their heads and hide underneath. If they get the opportunity, they can kill them with one blow.
In fact, many dynasties who wanted to reform in the middle of the dynasty mostly ended in failure whenever they encountered natural disasters.
Because the private wealth is ultimately in the hands of the landlords, and the most important point is that the emperor, as the largest landlord in the world, is often unwilling to take out the money. After weighing the balance, the emperor can only join in the corruption with the landlords. , everyone conserves their strength.
This is the truth.
Fufu.
“This Wang Jiefu is really afraid of the world being in chaos. Now when faced with natural disasters, not only does he not feel afraid, but he even dares to make provocations. It is really unreasonable.”
Wen Yanbo slapped the news newspaper on the table and said angrily.
“I’ve read this article too.” Fu Bi was also furious, “Maybe he is so arrogant that he thinks he can compete with God. This is really hopeless.”
Wen Yanbo added: “It’s a pity that the officials believe his story, but if natural disasters continue, let’s see how Wang Jiefu ends up.”
Many people used this to petition the emperor to take back the restructuring. Of course, it was for political purposes, because they knew that the emperor wanted to return to the three provinces and six ministries. His main purpose was to personally handle the government affairs and control the power, which would weaken the power of the scholar-bureaucrats. Power breaks the balance between imperial power and prime ministerial power.
But then again, whether it is Fu Bi, Wen Yanbo, or others, they still believe in this natural cycle.
To put things into perspective, if this cycle is broken, the entire Confucianism will be wiped out.
But before they did not expressly oppose the reform of the emperor’s official system, it was because they could not give enough reasons. After all, Zhao Xu was under the banner of streamlining officials.
Now that God has made it clear, of course they will stand up and oppose the reform of the emperor’s official system.
Originally, they had not thought of Wang Jiefu, because in their view, Wang Jiefu was actually a victim, and the Ordinance Department of the Second Government was abolished.
Unexpectedly, Wang Anshi jumped out again.
Then we must clean it up together.
Wang Anshi’s three deficiencies have had a great impact on Confucianism.
Fu Bi, Wen Yanbo, and Sima Guang were all very opposed to it and even found it disgusting. They absolutely could not tolerate the spread of this kind of thinking.
Dong dong dong!
There was a knock on the door.
The servant immediately went over and opened the door, and then said to Fu Bi: “Master, this is Liu Shilang.”
Fu Bi said: “Invite him in.”
After a while, Liu Shu hurried in and said, “Master Fu and Duke Wen are here too. That’s great.”
Fu Bi asked: “What’s the matter?”
Liu Shudao: “Wang Jiefu deceived people too much. He published such treacherous and unethical articles in newspapers. Some people wanted to refute his theory in the newspapers, but the Ministry of Rites refused to publish it on the grounds of publication censorship.”
“What?”
Wen Yanbo was even furious.
This is really too much!
Fu Bi asked: “Does Jun really know about this?”
Liu Shudao: “I haven’t seen him today.”
Sima Guang, of course, went to find Zhang Fei to settle the score. When he saw Wang Jiefu’s article, he was also furious, and he knew that it was written by Zhang Fei again. After all, they had collaborated before. If Wang Anshi If you want to write this kind of article, you wouldn’t start with an eye-catching title.
“Senior Sima, calm down and please listen to my explanation.”
Zhang Fei put down his sleeves to block the spit and said: “Now that the matter has come to this, we should unite as one to help the country and the people tide over the difficulties. This is also what the legal system pursues. Blame this, blame that, this Yes. It’s meaningless.”
“How come it doesn’t make sense.”
Sima Guang puffed his beard and glared: “If you don’t understand, you can first ask me why I colluded with Wang Jiefu.”
Damn! Can you refute this? I still don’t believe it. Zhang Fei asked humbly: “It’s not too late to remedy the situation. I hope Bachelor Sima can wake me up.”
“You!”
Sima Guang stomped his foot angrily, “Why don’t you think about it, if today is not enough, then no matter how many people starve to death, what does it matter? Why did Wang Jiefu say this? It’s because he doesn’t want to take money from the treasury. He came out to help the people, and he wanted to keep the wealth he had collected.
Why don’t you understand such a simple truth? You say you are doing this for the sake of the country and the people, but in fact you are hurting the country and the people. ”
Sima Guang actually said it very cryptically. Wang Anshi was only secondary. The key was the emperor. If the emperor didn’t even fear the sky, then he would dare to do anything. Who could restrain him?
In fact, all this is a conspiracy, and everyone knows it. Wang Anshi is like the Legalist, helping Zhao Xu to lift all the constraints, but Sima Guang and the others are firmly opposed.
When Wang Anshi raised the three deficiencies, he was putting this matter on the table.
Historically, Wang Anshi won. Although his reform failed, he finally helped the emperor to free himself from the shackles. But now the situation has changed and he did not win.
Zhang Fei said: “But Master Wang has already said that he will adopt a work-for-relief approach to help the people tide over the difficulties.”
“Don’t worry.”
Sima Guang said: “He will definitely not touch the money in the internal treasury. Maybe he will also issue banknotes, because in his view, it is not a pity to kill a few people.
Just like when he went back to control floods in Hebei last time, did he feel any guilt at all for wasting money and people? Impossible. I know him too well. He always thinks that he is saving the country and saving more people.
In fact, he dragged the entire country into the abyss. ”
Zhang Fei blushed when he heard this. He really let the old man get fooled, but this was not Wang Anshi’s idea, but his. He nodded and said: “I probably understand what Bachelor Sima means, but I still have a question, that is, if everything has to be restricted by God’s will, then why should the law be used?”
Sima Guang’s expression froze.
Zhang Fei said: “The law of law is to defend the interests of the monarch, the country and the people.”
Sima Guang thought for a moment and said, “No, under this disaster, the people need relief. The legal system can only ensure that their interests are not expropriated, but we cannot ask others to help the people.”
Zhang Fei said: “Water can carry a boat, but it can also overturn it. The interests of the people are also the interests of the monarch and the country. If we can take advantage of this crisis and improve the laws in this regard, we will gain something.”
Sima Guang stroked his beard, seeming to be thinking about something.
Zhang Fei quickly struck again while the iron was hot: “And I don’t think the two are in conflict, because as long as it is a natural disaster, no matter how we deal with it, the monarch, the country, and the people will definitely suffer losses, and this will serve as a warning. The only thing we can do is to try our best to reduce the loss to the minimum.
So it is meaningless to refute Bachelor Wang now. It will only make more sense to discuss this issue after the fact and then discuss the country’s losses. ”
Sima Guang said: “In other words, you can guarantee that Wang Jiefu will really use money to help the people.”
Zhang Fei nodded and said: “Xueshi Wang promises that he will provide relief to the people and will never allow them to be displaced.”
Sima Guang suddenly realized that this guy did not answer directly, and couldn’t help asking: “When I mentioned banknotes just now, you didn’t seem to object.”
Wow. You really deserve to be Sima Qingqing. Zhang Fei could only say truthfully: “That’s because Academician Sima guessed it right. Hey! Wait, Academician Sima, please don’t get angry. Listen to me. I have persuaded Academician Wang to issue a kind of banknote that can be supervised by the Public Security Bureau.”
Sima Guang was about to get angry. When he heard this, he couldn’t help but ask: “What do you mean?”
“Tax coins.”
Zhang Fei said: “As the name suggests, it is a kind of banknote that can be used to pay taxes. In this way, the public security law can better supervise. Because if it is ordinary banknotes, it is actually an administrative policy, and the public security law is not very good. Intervention, but if it is tax currency, this includes tax laws, and the public security and procuratorate can provide good supervision.”
Sima Guang frowned and said: “If they regret it then, what are you going to do?”
Zhang Fei said: “First of all, the question of Bachelor Sima can be used for any policy, then this is not a problem.
Secondly, in the event of a disaster, people may not be able to pay taxes, but if there is a large-scale tax exemption, it will benefit many big landowners and big profiteers. When the state treasury suffers heavy losses, more extreme measures may be used. to make up for the financial shortfall. However, if the work-for-relief plus tax money can accurately help some poor people, at the same time, the court can use this to build more fortifications that benefit the people.
Finally, we must believe that the Public Security Bureau can do it, and judging from the situation in Hezhong Prefecture, the Public Security Bureau can still do a good job in supervision. The salt banknotes there are more complicated than tax coins and difficult to supervise. . ”
After listening to this, Sima Guang couldn’t help but think seriously.
He really didn’t think about the long term. For example, if a disaster strikes, what will happen to taxes this year? Will there be a large-scale tax exemption?
This will indeed give many big landowners and profiteers an opportunity to take advantage.
Using tax coins to provide work-relief can not only help the people tide over the current difficulties, but also enable the people to pay this year’s taxes without causing too much loss to the country.
This does sound perfect.
After thinking for a long time, Sima Guang looked at Zhang Fei again and said, “I will trust you for once.”
Zhang Fei smiled and said: “Sister Sima, in fact, I will always be trustworthy.”
Sima Guang just chuckled twice.
In fact, this kid often lied to him, but the results were often beyond expectations, so he could only make do with Zhang Fei.
When Sima Guang returned, he heard that the Ministry of Rites banned all newspapers from publishing articles about the disaster. He immediately regretted trusting Zhang Fei. What Wang Anshi did was not humane!
Conservatives as a whole are blown away.
The civilian scholar-bureaucrats also exploded.
Only you are allowed to speak, not us scholar-bureaucrats.
I can’t bear this!
The memorial to impeach the Ministry of Rites flew in front of Zhao Xu like snowflakes.
Zhao Xu also realized that he might have stirred up a hornet’s nest, and immediately took the initiative to ask about the matter at the prime minister’s memorial the next day.
What is going on?
Why don’t I know anything?
When Wen Yanbo came up, he directly targeted Wang Gui, the Minister of Rites, and only allowed Wang Jiefu to publish articles, and no one else was allowed to publish articles. Did you, the Minister of Rites, take me, the prime minister, seriously?
The conservatives also discovered for the first time that the power of the Ministry of Rites was not small, and they felt a little regretful that they did not fight for this position with all their strength.
“Your Majesty.”
Wang Anshi immediately stood up and said: “I asked Wang Shangshu to do this.”
Currently there are only two Pingzhangshi, and the six departments are under the Zhengshitang. Without the permission of the Zhengshitang, the Rites Department cannot do this.
Zhao Xu asked: “Why do you do this?”
Wang Anshi said: “I was ordered to preside over disaster relief matters, but there are always some villains who intend to disturb the people’s hearts. They can be punished, but in order to take the overall situation into consideration, I did not care about them. I just prohibited them from publishing to influence the people’s hearts. article, it’s all about the overall situation.”
Wang Gui also echoed: “Your Majesty, in these extraordinary times, extraordinary measures should be used.”
“The one who really upsets the people’s hearts is you, Wang Jiefu.”
Wen Yanbo pointed at Wang Anshi angrily and said: “The punishment from heaven has come, but you are trying to make an enemy of heaven. What are your intentions?”
Wang Anshi explained: “I am not trying to be an enemy of nature. I am just talking about things and telling the truth. Since ancient times, who among the wise kings has not encountered natural disasters.”
Wen Yanbo said: “Is there any wise king who has never done anything wrong? If there is a warning today, he should correct it immediately to avoid the spread of disaster.”
Having said this, he said to Zhao Xu: “Your Majesty thinks what the old minister said, right?”
Zhao Xu nodded and said, “What you two said makes sense.”
Now he doesn’t know how long this disaster will last, and he doesn’t dare to refute what Wen Yanbo said.
What the imperial power fears most is natural disasters.
Wen Yanbo immediately said: “What Chen Imitation Porcelain said was the point of view that the article was about to discuss, but it was banned from being published by the Ministry of Rites. However, it is better to guard against the people’s mouth than against Sichuan. His prohibition, The market was suddenly flooded with tabloids, and their content was more sinister, which gave those villains with evil intentions an opportunity to take advantage of it.”
As he spoke, he took out a tabloid and said, “Your Majesty, this is what I bought from a hawker when I came to the imperial city this morning.”
The chamberlain beside Zhao Xu immediately came over and took the tabloid with both hands, and then presented it to Zhao Xu.
After Zhao Xu read it, he found that the content was to criticize the Ministry of Rites for prohibiting others from publishing articles, which extended various conjectures and even suggested that the court’s doing so was tantamount to killing people and covering up crimes. Unable to help frowning, he ordered his chamberlain to bring the tabloid to Wang Anshi.
After reading it, Wang Anshi couldn’t help but said: “This kind of tabloid is really abominable. Your Majesty, don’t worry, I will definitely investigate this matter strictly.”
“Can you check it out?”
Wen Yanbo smiled coldly and said to Zhao Xu: “Your Majesty, a lot of things have happened in the past few years, but there is not a single tabloid on the street. This is because all major newspaper shops can publish articles normally, allowing tabloids to Unable to survive, because no one would believe the tabloid under the circumstances.
And according to the rules set by the imperial court, articles must be signed by their real names. Those who can publish articles in newspapers are all well-known scholar-bureaucrats. They cherish their reputation like birds cherish their feathers, so how dare they write casually? Even if there are accusations, they are loyal and courageous. Your Majesty should also be open to speaking out. Now that they are prohibited from publishing articles, it will allow villains to take advantage of them. This is not worth the gain. ”
Zhao Xu also felt that what Wen Yanbo said made sense. He had caught tabloids before, but they had never been completely banned. Moreover, the more banned, the more widespread they became. On the contrary, after the newspapers came out, the tabloids disappeared. After thinking for a while, he nodded. He said: “What Mr. Wen said is very reasonable, and I also believe that the scholar-bureaucrats are sincerely thinking about the country. However, the Ministry of Rites did this out of consideration for the country. After all, this is a special period, and a slightly excessive reaction is understandable. ”
Having said this, he looked at Wang Gui and said, “Wang Shangshu.”
“I am here.”
“For the time being, qualified newspaper shops are allowed to continue selling newspapers, but the Ministry of Rites can also think carefully about how to formulate the regulations for this publication.”
“I obey.”
Out of the palace gate, after Wen Yanbo left, Wang Anshi bowed and said to Wang Gui: “Brother Yu Yu, it is Anshi who has dragged you down this time!”
Wang Gui hurriedly helped Wang Anshi up and said: “Jiefu must not feel guilty. If I don’t agree, I will not agree. It’s a pity that this gentle man has a sword that is not old!”
He must support Wang Anshi in this matter, because it was his idea to change it back to three provinces and six ministries. If he doesn’t support it, who will?
The sword is not old yet? Wang Anshi was suddenly startled and suddenly asked: “Brother Yu Yu, have you ever seen anyone selling tabloids?”
Wang Gui stroked his beard and said, “Not really.”
Wang Anshi said: “Oops! We fell into a trap.”
Wang Gui asked hurriedly: “What trick did you fall into?”
Wang Anshi said angrily: “I am really careless. Nowadays, so many people have movable type printing plates. Even tabloids should not be able to copy. This must have been written by Wen Gong temporarily. Alas, Wen Gong’s sword is not old. Ah! If it were Sima Junshi, he would definitely not do this.”
I thought, it’s a pity that the old man doesn’t want to be the prime minister even if he dies.
Under Wen Yanbo’s operation, major newspaper stores regained the right to publish articles.
These newspaper shops are more or less supported by scholar-bureaucrats. Newspapers are inseparable from literati. Without the support of scholar-bureaucrats, no articles can be published.
There is only one newspaper that is special, that is Feng Yue Bao.
The scholar-bureaucrats were not stupid either. After the emergence of newspapers, they also realized that in order to continue to maintain their hegemony of public opinion, they must own this newspaper.
In addition, Zhang Fei did not monopolize this technology, but instead sold movable type to outsiders. Scholar-officials quickly established their own newspapers.
Suddenly, public opinion reversed.
They did not dare to face the emperor directly, so they could only use Wang Anshi to vent their anger, criticizing Wang Anshi’s three deficiencies.
Now they are only thinking about how to completely eliminate this “cancer”.
The purpose is still to limit the imperial power.
However, for Wang Anshi, it rained all night, and droughts came one after another in Huaibei and Hebei, especially in the Huaibei area, where the Green Crop Law had been implemented for a long time, but at the same time there was no supervision by the Public Security Bureau.
Now the disaster and the repayment period coincide with each other.
Many people who borrowed young people’s money suddenly fell into despair.
At the same time, prices in the capital began to rise crazily, and the citizens were complaining. The citizens did not grow food, but needed to buy it. Who can afford the price of food now?
This provides conservatives with fodder to attack the New Deal.
Wang Anshi can’t beat four hands with two fists, and they will spray him bloody. This is why he admires Legalism, because he knows in his heart that he is an alternative, and without the blessing of power, it will be difficult for him to win the final victory.
How could Wang Anshi be able to defeat this kind of open-ended struggle?
Hurry to Zhang Fei to discuss countermeasures.
“Alas.”
Wang Anshi sighed, “It’s all my fault. I was so careless at the time! I fell into Wen Yanbo’s trap.”
Zhang Fei smiled and said: “Scholar Wang is not careless, but he is falling into the opponent’s scheme.”
Wang Anshi asked: “How do you say this?”
Zhang Fei said: “I have read some of those articles, and they were all written by my own people for my own people. The reason Wang Xueshi feels regretful is because Wang Xueshi is also a person from this mountain, but in fact, the people don’t care at all now. Who is responsible and what happened?
The only thing the people care about is how the court will rescue them. As long as we come up with corresponding policies, Bachelor Wang will soon be able to take the initiative. ”
Three deficiencies and four deficiencies, the common people don’t care about these. You, Wang Anshi, care about it. That’s because you, Wang Anshi, are also scholar-bureaucrats, so you are surrounded by the opinions of scholar-bureaucrats.
Wang Anshi said: “I have arranged people to survey rivers, city defenses, river defenses and other fortifications. Since this money must be spent, we must do some fortifications that are truly beneficial to the country and the people.”
If you use work-for-relief, you have to spend money wisely!
“Of course.”
Zhang Fei said: “But we can announce the main plan first. At the same time, Academician Wang should quickly send people to the Huaibei area to delay the call for the young crops. After the relief policy is determined, we can discuss these debt issues.”
Wang Anshi nodded, and said with a slight embarrassment: “But you have to know that all the money from Qingmiao comes from Changpingcang.”
Changpingcang is the main government agency for relief. Now all the money is being loaned out. If it cannot be collected, Huaibei will not be able to use the money for disaster relief.
Hezhong Prefecture does not have this problem. The Procuratorate led by Su Zhe will definitely investigate whenever they have time, and no one dares to mess around.
Zhang Fei nodded and said: “But we are paying tax coins. As for food, I have prepared a bill. If it is passed, it will force the landowners to take out food.”
Under Zhang Fei’s planning, Wang Anshi immediately organized a new public opinion offensive.
He teamed up with the three departments, the Ministry of Household Affairs, and the Ministry of Industry to officially announce a disaster relief plan, which will involve large-scale renovation of major rivers and canals in Hebei, Beijing, and Huaibei.
However, he did not specify the specific amount and what he would use to remunerate him.
Without the Ordinance Department of the Second Government, he had to negotiate with the court to issue tax coins and how much money he would issue. It was no longer up to him to discuss with the emperor.
Every two days, the Procuratorate suddenly publishes an article pointing out the problem of rising prices in the capital and reassuring citizens. The Procuratorate soon submits a brand-new bill covering food and wine to the Legislative Council.
Wang Anshi’s article was as expected.
But the procuratorate’s sudden end really caught everyone off guard!
What food bill?
What liquor tax bill?