Zhao Xu was locked in his study and was thinking more deeply about the issue of the "military system".

He has read a lot these days and recorded a lot. Now he is summarizing, summarizing, and scrutinizing the solutions one by one.

The Song Dynasty's army was only more than 100,000 during the reign of Emperor Taizu of Song, and less than 200,000 during the reign of Emperor Zhenzong. It surged to 400,000 during the reign of Emperor Renzong, and doubled again to 800,000!

Not only is the surge in the number of troops, but also the military post can be compensated and can also support the family. Such expenditures naturally become geometric exponential growth and become a very large end of the treasury expenditure!

How big is it? It accounts for 60% of the annual taxes, and at one point it is as high as 80%!

Such a comparison is simply unimaginable!

The Song Dynasty did not fight wars all year round. Renzong had almost no wars, Shenzong had not had many wars all year round, and there were almost no one since Yuanyou.

But military expenditure has remained high!

Zhao Xu looked at the numbers he listed and compared, with a solemn expression and solemnity.

Last year, the tax was 17 million jin and military expenditure was 10 million jin!

This number is really terrible!

"It must be changed..."

Zhao Xu's whispers with a burning gaze. With the expansion speed of the army, he will not only become increasingly unable to support it, but will also make the army unable to fight in captivity. Once there is a war, it will collapse in one battle and flee in sight. It is not difficult to imagine.

Zhao Xu thought about the performance of the Northern Song army during the Jingkang disaster in history, and his brows frowned, his eyes faintly and his coldness flashed.

It was less than night before Zhao Xu was in seclusion, and General Xu's memorial was delivered.

Zhao Xu knew that he couldn't work behind closed doors and couldn't wait to look.

General Xu was once the Minister of War. He had experience and ideas about the military system, which is worthy of reference and reliance.

While Zhao Xu and General Xu were planning to fight against each other, there was still a storm outside the palace.

Cai Jing and his son kept moving, and the house search was still in full swing, and various cases were being investigated at a faster pace, while the government and the people were slowly turning towards Lu Dafang and other cases.

The next day, Zhang Dun and Cai Bian discussed personnel appointments in the court. The public books in front of the two were listed with more than forty names.

Cai Bian stared at Gong Ben for a long time and said, "Three provinces, six ministries, seven temples, three officials, the Privy Council, and the Censorate, covering so many people, the court will not be so easy to pass."

In fact, most of this list was drafted by Zhang Dun, and he only added a very small number, a total of four or five.

Zhang Dun had a firm determination that could not be refused, and said, "They can't be allowed! In the afternoon, I went to the Ministry of Revenue to deal with the military pay on Huanqing Road. Cai Jing and others came over and told them four: Severely punish them and do not lend them!"

Cai Bian knew Zhang Dun's attitude and said, "I will go and see Su Xianggong later."

Su Song’s case of prime minister and Lu Dafang needs to be determined, so he needs to nod.

Zhang Dun snorted coldly, he didn't like Su Song.

In the afternoon, Cai Jing, Ma Yan and Cao Zheng all came. They represented the Three Laws, the Ministry of Justice, the Censorate, and the Dali Temple.

Cai Bian sat upright, his face was dull, his tone was majestic, and he said, "Is there any result?"

Cai Jing, Cao Zheng and Ma Yan each have their own expressions and thoughts. Seeing Cai Bian, the deputy minister, ask questions, Cai Jing and Cao Zheng remained unmoved.

Ma Yan was straightened and had to come forward and said, "Returning to Xianggong Cai, the case was basically lost. Lu Dafang's party deceived the emperor and the superiors, and he abolished power and reported to the country, and there was evidence. He also found evidence of bribery, bribery, selling official positions, and reselling military pay. Except for Lu Dafang, Lu Huiqing, Fan Chuncui and others, all of them pleaded guilty and the case was very clear."

Cai Bian was not surprised at all. Empress Dowager Gao was in power behind the curtain and relied on the outside court. Lu Dafang and others controlled the power. As for corruption and selling official positions, this was a secret that the court and the country had been publicly disclosed since Renzong. As for "reselling military pay", this was not something that had happened. The soldiers on the frontier wore ragged clothes and jackets, and they ate less than pig food, and they had not written a letter to impeach them.

These are all adult ills, accumulated over time.

Cai Bian took the public book handed over by Ma Yan, looked carefully for a while, and said, "What do you think? How do you judge these cases?"

Ma Yan stopped talking, and Cai Jing and others remained silent.

If it were the past, the meat was rotten in the pot, everyone turned a blind eye to each other, and those who were exiled, those who were exiled, and those who were exiled, they would find a way to fill the deficit, and everyone would quietly pass by and continue to enjoy peace.

But now, Lu Dafang and others have been in prison, and the city is full of wind and rain. How can they hide it?

But without any concealment, Lu Dafang is the prime minister and also involves many high-ranking officials, all of whom are famous people in the world. Moreover, the relationship is complicated, just like Fan Chuncui, the younger brother of Fan Chunren, the minister of the Secretariat, and the fourth son of Fan Zhongyan!

The relationship network here is so complicated, not to mention that other large and small are all over the interior and exterior of Kaifeng.

How to judge such a situation?

Seeing that they didn't speak, Cai Bian pondered for a while and said, "The case needs to be decided by Your Majesty. You must not tell it before it is decided. Also, we need to step up our care. If there is any trouble again, you know the importance! Go."

The three of them had their own thoughts, looked at each other again, raised their hands and said, "The Lord is leaving."

Cai Bian watched the four of them leave, thought about it, picked up the memorial and went to Funing Palace.

Zhao Xu was still busy studying, but when he heard Cai Bian was coming, he had to stop.

Cai Bian came in, raised his hand very respectfully, and said, "I have met the official family."

Zhao Xu waved his hand and said with a smile: "Chen Pi, bring a stool for Cai Qing's family and watch the tea."

Cai Jing quickly thanked him, and saw Zhao Xu's face tired again, and said, "Officials, you still need to pay attention to the dragon body and do not work harder."

Zhao Xu moved his shoulders and said, "Don't worry, I spend an hour every day, and I don't want to die young."

Cai Jing just took it as a joke, and sat down carefully on the stool that Chenpi brought over, took out the joint memorial of Cai Jing and others, and said, "The official family and the Three Laws have basically clarified the case of Lu Dafang and others. I dare not be good at it, so I ask the official to make a decision."

"oh?"

Zhao Xu was a little surprised and said with a smile: "They are quite efficient this time, and I thought it would be delayed for another year or two."

Cai Bian dared not speak, he knew the efficiency of the court.

Tangerine came forward and took it and handed it to Zhao Xu.

Zhao Xu opened his expression seriously. Seeing that the structure was clear and the evidence was perfect, he nodded slightly, put it aside, and said, "I will consider it again. By the way, do you have any ideas about the personnel affairs of the court?"

Cai Bian bowed and said calmly: "When I return to the official family, I think there should be no party division in the court, and it is best to appoint people based on their merits."

Zhao Xu looked at Cai Bian deeply, secretly surprised and very relieved.

This is Wang Anshi's son-in-law. He is able to abandon prejudice and resentment and say the four words "Personal for the sake of others". This public intention is rare.

Zhao Xu took the teacup handed over by Chenpi, fiddled with the tea, and said in his mind: "Ministry of War, Ministry of Personnel, Ministry of Works, these three ministers are kept, I will come to choose. The three officials will not move for the time being. In addition, the people you and Xianggong Zhang should conduct a survey. Don't just send the order, they will be involved, or something will be revealed. The survey will be carried out in both directions by the Imperial City Department and the Censorate, and will be reported to me directly."

Cai Bian listened and recalled that the three yamen were sealed and the three provinces were merged into the Political Affairs Hall, and vaguely felt that there was any connection here.
Chapter completed!