The fourteenth day of the first lunar month, Shouzhou, Huaixi.

The New Year is not over yet, and all the officials of Shouchun Mansion cannot sleep well or eat well.

In the past few months, officials sent from the Ministry of Revenue, and later people from the Su Provincial Academy, caused a storm in Shouchun.

On this day, Weng Yanguo, the transfer envoy to Huaixi, met Wang Zhongheng, the general judge of Shouchun.

"I am going to Beijing for a trip."

Wang Zhongheng was surprised and said: "Why did Weng Cao come to Beijing at this juncture?"

"Your Majesty summoned me," Weng Yanguo said, "It must be because of Wang Jing's suicide."

"Right now, Nie Chang, Li Chongwen and others are still in Shouchun. They forced a state magistrate to death. Doesn't the imperial court care?"

"It is impossible for the imperial court to ignore it. If the imperial court ignores it, wouldn't it lead to chaos?" Weng Yanguo said, "I am going to the capital to meet the Holy Spirit so that I can understand His Majesty's attitude clearly."

The emperor's ministers were forced to death by another group of ministers without any evidence. If the emperor ignored this matter and did not express his position, wouldn't it be the collapse of the imperial court?

Zhao Ji would not care about this kind of thing even when he was in power.

"Weng Cao, if you enter Beijing, will Zhao Ding hold you accountable and dismiss you from office because of tax collection issues?"

Weng Yanguo said: "Relax, this tax reduction is not unique to Huaixi. Taxes in all areas have dropped to some extent. If Zhao Ding uses this to remove me, it may be difficult to convince people."

"Even if Zhao Ding deposes me, I will not be afraid. At that time, the people of the world will be with me, not Zhao Ding."

Weng Yanguo said: "After I leave, you must control the situation."

"Don't worry, Weng Cao."

In the Song Dynasty, Tongpan was in charge of grain transportation, farmland, water conservancy, litigation and other matters.

When Zhao Kuangyin founded the country, in order to strengthen the court's control over local areas, the position of general magistrate was added.

Other local officials are reported by the Ministry of Civil Affairs and finally appointed by the Political Affairs Hall.

However, Tongpan was directly appointed by the emperor and had supervisory responsibilities over the governors of the state capital.

But the problem now is that Tong San is also involved in fighting the New Deal.

This illustrates a problem: as long as officials who have stayed in the local area, whether appointed by the political hall or the emperor, may resist the New Deal.

Why?

Because the butt determines the head.

When you stay in a local area, you will inevitably have interests involved, and you want to protect your own interests.

Nowadays, most officials of the New Deal faction in the capital are either those who once had a handle, such as Gao Qiu, or were promoted from the bottom with very shallow interests, such as Qin Hui and Zhao Ding, who were directly promoted.

In all political factions, attention must be paid to the interest conflicts of the actors involved.

There may be individuals among those with vested interests who betray their own group, but there will never be a group that betrays the group.

For example, Liu Che's method to check and balance and eliminate old-school nobles and generals was to promote new-school leaders like Wei Qing and Huo Qubing from the bottom.

So, in the final analysis, this is not a struggle between individual characters, but a competition between the interest groups behind it.

The 16th day of the first lunar month was sunny and breezy.

The ice surface of the Bianhe River was cut open.

There are dedicated people hoarding ice cubes for use in summer.

The water surface of the Bianhe River is sparkling, and the branches by the river are covered with snow.

Some young people walked across the Bianhe River.

It is said that the Imperial College is mobilizing students recently. There was a test conducted a few years ago, and those who passed the test were transferred to the University of Tokyo.

In just these two days, hundreds of students have obtained the qualification to enter the University of Tokyo.

Those young people were on their way to Tokyo University at this time.

Moreover, according to internal disclosures, all students who graduate from the University of Tokyo can work in local newspapers or local supervisory offices.

These are not the favorites among scholars of the Song Dynasty.

Traditional scholars in the Song Dynasty looked down upon officials, and some scholars were forced to become officials.

So what exactly motivates these young people?

The Yamanchang (president) of the University of Tokyo is a member of the current Zhao family. Being able to study at the University of Tokyo means that he will be a disciple of the emperor in the future, and he will rule the world with the emperor.

This kind of honor cannot be resisted by scholars.

Moreover, the "Gyeonggi Province Officials Regulations" launched together with the "Gyeonggi Province New Agricultural Policy Regulations" in June last year will greatly enhance the status of officials, and even have the opportunity to enter official schools for further studies.

In fact, Zhao Ning's policy on Xinxue is only the beginning.

The purpose of the University of Tokyo is to cultivate new talents, and at the same time, it is also to prepare and lay the foundation for the future "Village Official" plan.

The mobilization ability of a country is reflected in the execution ability of the grassroots.

In the past, the grassroots officials were all locals and lacked checks, balances and management. Therefore, in the history of the Song Dynasty, there was a characteristic of "weak officials and strong officials". They relied too much on officials, but were unable to effectively manage them.

After all, many policies cannot be implemented in rural areas, and their mobilization capabilities are as weak as rookies.

After students who graduate from the University of Tokyo work for a period of time in the local supervising and town government offices, and have a basic understanding of rural affairs, they can accept specific affairs under the name of "village official".

Including ideological propaganda, supervision and other matters.

Now is just the beginning of a game.

A middle-aged man in front of him rode a horse into Tokyo City and headed to the imperial palace. He was Li Ruoshui, the Minister of Rites.

Li Ruoshui has spent most of the past two years in the northwest, and is actually responsible for contacting Xixia.

Now that the situation has gradually stabilized, he has been recalled to the capital.

Li Ruoshui entered the palace soon.

"His Majesty."

"came back."

"This is presented to His Majesty by the Lord of Xixia."

Zhao Ning opened and read Li Qianshun's letter.

After talking a lot of nonsense, the last useful thing is, when can the salt and silk trade be expanded?

Li Ruoshui said: "Your Majesty, Master Sun sent people to investigate in Xixia a few months ago. After Xixia people bought silk from our court at a low price, they sold it to the northwest barbarians at a high price."

Northwest barbarians?

Xizhou Uighur?

Zhao Ning smiled and said: "It seems that Li Qianshun is ambitious!"

Sell ​​the silk at a low price and resell it at a high price. This is making money.

Xixia also made a lot of money selling salt.

If this trade structure continues, Xixia will inevitably become richer and richer.

When Xixia has money, it can expand its troops and strengthen its military preparations.

Once this place becomes powerful, they will inevitably turn their backs on the people and rob them whenever they can.

As for how to deal with Xixia, Zhao Ning actually already has a plan, so there is no need to rush now.

Zhao Ning said: "Promise them to expand mutual markets."

"Your Majesty, this is inappropriate..."

"No problem, promise them first."

"I'm afraid..."

"Li Qing, you are worrying too much. When there is a truce between the Song and Jin Dynasties, people's livelihood in the north eases, and the output of the salt industry in the Song Dynasty increases, I can also lower the price of salt for him. He sells it for 4 cents, and I sell it for 2 cents!"

"Your Majesty, our country does not have that many salt ponds, I'm afraid..."

"Please don't worry too much, I have my own solution."

On the twenty-fifth day of the first lunar month, Weng Yanguo entered Beijing.
Chapter completed!