Northern Song Dynasty: Starting from the son of Song Renzong

Chapter 102 Autumn, July
Next…

Zhao Xin is really going to enter politics, and this is no joke.

At the age of five, all documents that had to pass through the hands of the prime minister in the past now had to be copied first, and then let Ouyang Xiu, Du Yan and others read it first and give their opinions, and Zhao Xin had to join in the discussion.

Still the same old routine!
In the early stage, it was Miao Niang who read it, in the middle stage, it was his teacher Yan Shu who read it, then it was Zhao Xun who read it, and now, it is Ouyang Xiu who reads it.

People like Zhang Dexiang and Yan Shu can also be considered prime ministers nowadays.

But actually...

Their power has been divided without them realizing it.

It has been scattered into the hands of people like Zhao Xin and Ouyang Xiu.

At this time, people like Ouyang Xiu were given the title of scholar of Longtu Pavilion, but there was no specific job arrangement at all.

Every day, it is almost like accompanying Zhao Xin to handle government affairs.

This of course made Ouyang Xiu feel very uncomfortable.

You said they were among the prime ministers.

But they don't have the power to rule.

It seems that we only have the right to make suggestions but not the right to decide on anything.

The key is……

Now, they really just provide Zhao Xin with opinions and suggestions.

There's really nothing else you can do.

But Ouyang Xiu's wish is not as simple as just accompanying His Royal Highness Prince Yu to study and learn.

What he wanted was a vigorous reform to sweep away the country's long-standing problems.

He has the heart to save the country!

……

Autumn, July.

The leaves began to turn yellow, and Ouyang Xiu finally expressed his strong dissatisfaction with Zhao Xin's indifference to the turmoil of the country and the people.

He said, "Your Highness Prince Yu, although Tiger Wing Soldier Wang Lun has been captured, I think the current problems of the Song Dynasty are too serious. We must do something as soon as possible to reverse the frequent rebellions in various places."

Zhao Xin sat there with the look of Emperor Taizong Wen and said, "You are right. Do you have any specific measures? However, let's not talk about things like persuading farmers to farm."

Ouyang Xiu said, "I think that the Song Dynasty should make changes at this time. For example, eight or nine out of ten officials in the prefectures and counties today are just eating and not doing anything. I think we should dismiss those officials who don't do anything and replace them with capable officials."

Zhao Xin leaned against the stool, looked at the roof, and replied thoughtfully: "What Ouyang Qing said makes sense! But this step is too big, it's easy to get hurt. I'll give you a county first, and you go to Sishui County in my fiefdom to rectify the administration there."

Although this major reform cannot take place.

But that is my old nest after all, so it is very necessary to clean the place up, otherwise I will not feel safe living there in the future.

But this county was probably too small for Ouyang Xiu.

It is impossible for someone like Ouyang Xiu to admit that he is the most talented person in a county.

Just as he was about to speak, Zhao Xin said, "By the way, you can also re-count and check the land, population and other things of that county. Do you know how to measure land?"

Although measuring land seems to be as simple as taking a ruler or counting steps and taking a walk.

But in fact, it is also a technical job.

He might not know this Ouyang Xiu.

Especially if there is some irregular land. But this is the northern region, so many fields should be regular, unlike the south.

Ouyang Xiu couldn't understand what Zhao Xin was doing.

This is about reorganizing the administration of officials, so why is it also talking about measuring land and counting the population?

Zhao Xin was actually afraid that the county magistrate would oppress the people too harshly and that an uprising or rebellion would occur in his own fiefdom.

Zhao Xin had to ensure that the people in his fiefdom could at least live a decent life. Otherwise, what if some courageous person heard that the official's son was here and took the risk to kidnap him?
Speaking of...

The heroes of Liang Shanbo also seemed to have happened in the Northern Song Dynasty. So, if there really are such desperate people, Zhao Xin must be vigilant.

Seeing Ouyang Xiu still standing there in a daze, Zhao Xin added, "This is all for the safety of my fiefdom. This mission is extremely important! If you don't know how to calculate, I'll ask Daddy to assign you a few more people who can."

How did Ouyang Xiu feel like he had become a servant of His Royal Highness the Prince of Yu?

"Your Highness Prince Yu..."

Ouyang Xiu wanted to say something else.

Zhao Xin said, "No need to say anything, just do it this way."

Originally, Zhao Xin wanted to say, "If you can't even clean up your own room, how can you clean up the world?" Fortunately, he didn't say that, because it was basically certain that Ouyang Xiu was a big mouth. If Zhao Xin said that, everyone in the world would probably know that he was going to carry out reforms.

In order to confuse more people, Zhao Xin also deliberately said, "Next... I will manage my own fiefdom well."

Got it!
When Ouyang Xiu heard this, he was shocked. The Song Dynasty was in such a mess now, and Your Highness Prince Yu was still only thinking about your own fiefdom.

Ouyang Xiu immediately said: "Please forgive me for not doing this. Your Highness Prince Yu should now solve the problems of the people of the world, not just care about your own fiefdom!"

Zhao Xin looked at the others and picked Du Yan out, saying, "Mr. Du Yan, you go and persuade them. Otherwise... Du Yan, you go!"

Du Yan: “…”

Don’t bring this!

As the saying goes, it is better to let my friend die than to let me die. Du Yan said, "Uncle Yong, you should go."

Zhao Xin knew that some things were definitely not convenient to say openly, so he adjourned the meeting directly and let them persuade them privately.

As soon as Zhao Xin and Zhao Xun left, the rest of the people looked at each other and started talking.

They thought that by following His Royal Highness Prince Yu, even if they couldn't get whatever they wanted, at least they would be able to make a difference in the court.

result……

He is still like an old bureaucrat, just following the rules and completing some daily tasks in the court.

"Uncle Yong, I'm already old, you won't let me go, right?"

Ouyang Xiu really wanted to quit, and this was not the first time he had quit.

Before this, he had already requested to be released once.

Seeing that he was unmoved, Du Yan also said: "I don't think His Royal Highness Prince Yu is the kind of person who only cares about his own fiefdom. Maybe there is a deeper meaning behind this."

Ouyang Xiu was a little moved, and then asked: "Mr. Du, what is the deep meaning of this?"

Du Yan also said bluntly: "What does His Royal Highness Prince Yu think? I am an old man, what do I know? It's just that His Royal Highness Prince Yu is smart, you and I have seen it, you can see that the people are in dire straits and suffering, can't His Royal Highness Prince Yu see it? His Royal Highness Prince Yu is patrolling everywhere under the scorching sun, what is the purpose?"

Du Yan continued, "Then why didn't he express his opinion? Have you thought about this?"

Only then did Ouyang Xiu slightly suppress his previous opposition.

(End of this chapter)