Chapter 1,474 Shenzong

With the foundation in place, the Song Dynasty began to restart its development. Especially during the period when the late emperor was dictatorial, as the Song Dynasty became increasingly powerful, it also gradually reduced the burden on the people and adjusted the land system, household registration system, tax system, and administrative structure. , the economic structure, military structure, and strategic deployment have ushered in brilliant victories one after another.

From struggling to walk briskly, from being burdened to being free of burdens, from being weak to having strong muscles and bones, from being suspicious and timid to being confident and high-spirited.

The article deeply reflected on the new law's legislation, implementation, employment, and many other aspects. It was a past that was passed. For the first time, the new party faced this issue squarely, no longer covered it up, and admitted it generously.

The confidence to admit it generously comes from their subsequent achievements.

Zhang Dun listed in detail the great achievements in the fifteen years of the reform. Industry has grown from scratch. Not counting the New Song Dynasty and Dongsheng enclaves, the land area has expanded by a quarter, and fiscal revenue has increased from 100 million yuan to 200 million yuan. The output of gold, silver, copper and iron increased fivefold, and the cultivated land area recovered from more than 2 million hectares in the last year of Qingli to more than 4 million hectares, and then increased to more than 8 million hectares!

The transportation of grain by water has increased from 3 million guan a year to a maximum of 12 million guan a year. The country's annual surplus has increased from 7 million guan to 20 million guan, and the total national treasury surplus has remained at 60 million guan for a long time. superior.

This does not include the replenished Fengzhuang Library and the newly added Yuanfeng Library!

The new army has expanded from the initial 300 to 100,000 today, the redundant troops have been reduced from 800,000 to 500,000, the Xiang army has been completely abolished, and the navy has changed from a weak force on rivers to one with two fleets, Nanyang and Beiyang. , the number of war horses increased from 40,000 to 300,000.

Officials' salaries increased, people's lives improved day by day, and the population increased from 100 million to 150 million, while the proportion of households below the fifth level decreased from 40% to 30%.

There is no doubt that the Song Dynasty has been built into a prosperous age by the late emperor. Even if it faced Wenjing, Zhenguan, and Kaiyuan, it would not be ashamed of it!

This is the great achievement of the fifteen years of reform!

With such achievements, the Empress Dowager and Her Majesty, adhering to the legacy of the late emperor, are determined to advance the pace of reform from central Shu, Bianjing, Zhejiang, Nanhai, Ningxia, and Hexi to the west of Beijing, east of Hebei, and south of the Yangtze River and Huainan. , Guangdong, Guangxi, and Fujian are strongly supported by ministers.

At the same time, the Song Dynasty should adjust its national policies, repay the good people who had made great contributions to the country, eliminate the excessive preparations for all-out war in the early stage of the reform, and adjust the national policy from raising funds to prepare for war to supporting the people.

However, if a person has no long-term worries, he will have immediate worries; although the world is safe, if he forgets to fight, he will be in danger.

Therefore, Bao Jia can be abolished, but the power of state and county public security cannot be abolished;

Young crops can be discarded, but policies to support the poor cannot be discarded;

The charity warehouse can be abandoned, but the plan of filling up the grain and fodder cannot be abandoned;

The protection of horses can be abolished, but the policy of protecting military horses cannot be abolished;

The exemption from service can be abolished, but the water conservancy and transportation camp cannot be abolished;

The market changes can be abolished, but the levy of state taxes cannot be abolished;

Righteousness and bravery can be discarded, but the foundation of a strong army and a brigade cannot be discarded;

Fangtian can be abolished, but the suppression of mergers cannot be abolished!

Improving new laws is not about enjoying official duties;

Advancing the virtuous and repelling the evil does not mean eliminating dissidents;

To refresh the government's affairs, it is no longer necessary to make false claims;

To protect the country and the people, don’t be short-sighted!

When Su You saw this memorial, he couldn't help but applaud, it's such a thick chapter, this is what a true prime minister of the Song Dynasty should be like!

This memorial immediately divided the reformists into two camps, completely distinguishing those who truly chose reform for the sake of the country's strength, and those who hoped to advance by sponsoring the new law.

Compared with the conservatives, the reformists suffered because of their poor writing. Once Wang Anshi and Lu Huiqing left, except for Cai Bian, who was in Cao's camp and his heart was with the Han, the rest were basically weak chickens.

As soon as Zhang Dun's memorial was read, the group of reformers who were more serious about their work included veterans such as Han Zhen, Shen Kuo, and Zeng Bu, and newcomers such as Cai Bian, especially the two generals Wang Shao and Zhong who had great military exploits.

E, both openly or covertly sided with Zhang Dun.

Lu Huiqing, Deng Wan, Cai Que, Xing Shu, Li Ding, Su Dan, etc. were distinguished by everyone.

Among them, Lu Huiqing was originally quite capable, but because he slandered Wang Anshi and deceived his teachers and destroyed his ancestors, he could not be scapegoated.

Xing Shu, on the other hand, was on the wrong team entirely because he defected to Cai Que. He was originally from the conservative side, but he was also placed in the scapegoat camp.

Su You also secretly contributed a lot. Not to mention other things, there was a large group of people working with Zhang Dun. Among the seven, except Han Zhen, all of them had a close friendship with him.

The reformists were in a state of disunity before. After this integration, the situation in the government suddenly changed.

The combined strength of these people forced everyone to pay attention again.

Eighty percent of Zhang Dun's arguments were consistent with Su You's consistent words and deeds. He listed Su You's achievements during the Xining and Yuanfeng years as the achievements of the reformists, and Su You did not raise the slightest objection.

Cai Jing once ridiculed Zhang Zi for being thick-skinned, but Su You severely stopped him and clearly stated that those achievements were originally achieved under the leadership of Wang Xianggong and the late emperor.

There is really nothing wrong with this statement, because Su You has always been doing the business of selling dog meat to others.

But as long as that sheep's head is still hanging there, even if it has become smelly, the words "pursuing the new law and improving human nature" are still recognized by Wang Anshi and Zhao Xu, and are still carried out under the care of their leadership.

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Because Wang Anshi was the prime minister when Su You implemented these measures, and Zhao Xu was the emperor, his immediate superior, the second eldest son, and the boss.

It's that simple.

This is politics.

Wang Anshi, who was far away in Jinling, was even more relieved after seeing this memorial.

Zhang Dun's dazzling and decisive appearance immediately reintegrated the reformist forces that were about to be destroyed, forming a new political force. An objective and reasonable evaluation of the reform achievements of Zhao Xu and Anshi Xianggong was at least defined in the seventh century.

After three openings, Wang Anshi couldn't help but sigh that it was lucky that we were still alive.

Once this characterization is formed, the greater the achievements of the Song Dynasty's reforms in the future, and the image of Wang Anshi left in history as the pioneer and founder will be more glorious and noble.

So Wang Anshi wrote a long letter to Zhang Dun, encouraging Zhang Dun, and also sent the "Economic Theory" which he had studied for many years.

For Gao Taotao, balancing government affairs is the most important thing.

The "redirection" claimed by the reformists in the past really made her extremely angry.

Then Zhang Dun took himself out and wrote an incisive memorial to express his firm support for the Empress Dowager.

This memorial gave Gao Taotao his greatest theoretical weapon.

Practitioners of the new law all say that the Empress Dowager did not change the course, but only improved the inappropriate aspects of the new law. This was the late emperor's will, and she was of the same heart as the late emperor. She continued to move forward unswervingly along the established policy and line of the late emperor, and let Gao Gao Most of the resistance Taotao faced was removed at once!

Gao Taotao was also an above-average politician, and he immediately keenly sensed the best plan to balance the political situation.

All three factions are used together! Supported by the majority of people!

After Zhao Xu matured politically, he chatted with Gao Taotao on this topic more than once. This is evidenced by the fact that he wanted to appoint Su Shi several times.

However, they were all wiped out by Wang Gui, Cai Que, and even Da Su's own uncle Yao Yao.

Wang Gui believed that Su Shi was a threat, and Cai really wanted to use Su Shi as a tool to drag down Su You and Su Song. Su You, on the other hand, thought that the time was not right, and instead of letting Su come to the court to offend others, it would be better to travel outside. happy.

At the very least, two pieces of "Chibi Fu" are left for the flat pot colander!

Su You now made it clear that he did not want everyone to show humility and tolerance before Sima Guang and Lu Gongzhu.

In fact, it was also because he considered that he was too young to fight for this moment.

Position is not important, influence is enough.

But Gao Taotao felt that he owed Su You.

Now is the opportunity. To transfer Su Shi and Su Che into the court is the time when there is the least resistance.

A balanced court situation was slowly taking shape under his nose, and Gao Taotao still felt a sense of accomplishment.

The banner of reform now has the support of Zhang Dun and others among the reformists, and support from Lu Gongzhu and Fan Chunren among the conservatives. Su You himself has always been a reformist.

In other words, defining the New Deal within the framework of "new laws and reforms" can win the support of the majority of people in the DPRK and China.

In September, Yiwei, Gao Tao issued an edict to completely abolish the banking system nationwide.

The exemption money was originally created by Wang Anshi to ask banks to pay in order to exempt them from "requisitioning materials", but the effect after implementation was very poor.

After that, Suyou proposed that government procurement should be carried out through bidding and publicity, which relieved the burden on the bankers and made the "free money" truly "free."

Later, whenever there was a major disaster, it became a show of the Zhao and Song royal families to show their "fear of heaven and love for the people" by waiving the travel exemptions in the affected areas. For example, after the small earthquake before Wang Gui's death, they ordered a ban on travel in the affected areas. Toll free on Wednesdays.

Su You's plan to split up the four links to Gao Taotao would cause the court to increase the commercial tax by six million yuan, so when Sima Guang came to petition, Gao Taotao simply waved his hand and dismissed it completely.

This time, while abolishing the fee-free travel system, the old system of tax collection was not restored. In other words, this is a moral policy that completely relieves the burden on pedestrians.

The money is not much, the reputation is not small, and this exchange ratio makes Gao Taotao very satisfied.

In this way, the situation of the Great Song Dynasty gradually stabilized with the joint efforts of many people.

In the Wuxu period, Emperor Daxing was posthumously named Ying Liwu Shengxiao Emperor, and his temple name was Shenzong.
Chapter completed!