A powerful minister of the Song Dynasty

Chapter 350 The Emperor's Diary: My Days as a County Magistrate
Zhang Liyi watched as Song Xuan fiddled with the bow:
"Scholar Song, is this how you usually play?"

"of course."

Zhang Liyi hadn't even had a chance to voice his doubts.

He then saw Song Xuan draw his bow and nock an arrow.

The arrow whistled and struck the bullseye thirty paces away.

Zhang Liyi's mouth opened wide involuntarily.

He pointed at Song Xuan, then at the target by the door.

Can't say a word.

Song Xuan casually shot two more arrows, both hitting the bullseye.

Zhang Li sat down in the chair, somewhat dazed.

Is it because it's too hot that my eyes are getting blurry as I walk?

He looked toward the door again.

There were indeed three arrows on the target; they weren't inserted at close range by someone.

When we were at home, my father had carefully instructed me not to throw a tantrum in front of outsiders.

We need to be especially careful in front of Song Xuan.

This kid is incredibly prone to going crazy.

He even dared to contradict his superior, and was scolded by Chen Yaozuo until he vomited blood and fell ill, so he stayed home to rest.

You really need to be sensible!

Zhang Qi is strict with his son at home, but that doesn't mean he can control his son's misbehavior outside.

Zhang Liyi originally didn't think Song Xuan had any ability. His father-in-law, Cao Liyong, was not as favored as his own father.

But after Song Xuan made that move, Zhang Liyi immediately felt that describing Song Zhuangyuan as a "standing Tai Sui" was not an insult at all!
No wonder Liu Congde, such a lawless person, suffered a loss of face in front of Song Zhuangyuan and didn't dare to retaliate. It turns out he really couldn't afford to offend him.

Putting aside the accuracy, just the fact that he can draw this three-stone bow is no ordinary feat.

The fists landed on people, one punch after another, without a sound.

No wonder Liu Congde dared not publicize it!
They also spoke highly of Song Xuan.

So she was scared of him!

How could those who benefited from surrounding the Empress Dowager not collude with each other in private?
Recalling his father's earnest teachings, Zhang Li immediately realized that experience truly matters:
"Twelfth Brother, my father wants me to follow you and gain some experience."

"If you need anything in the future, just give the order, and I'll go through fire and water for you!"

Seeing Zhang Liyi bow like this, Song Xuan felt that his father, Zhang Qi, had misunderstood his son.

Isn't that quite polite?

Moreover, he had heard that Zhang Qi was very strict with his son, unlike the Liu family who were so arrogant.

"Brother Zhang, you're exaggerating." Song Xuan said with a smile.
“It’s perfectly fine if you like martial arts. There’s a lot going on in Kaifeng County, so I’ll need you to stay by my side and help me out.”

Zhang Li was overjoyed to hear Song Xuan's words.

It turns out that the top scholar Song was not someone who liked to ridicule others; listen to what he said.

What kind of experience?
That's helping!

"I also have a few skilled fighters around me. You can spar with them regularly to hone your skills so that you can kill enemies and make contributions on the battlefield in the future."

"Good good."

Zhang Liyi felt that Song Xuan's archery skills, strength, and academic achievements were already extraordinary.

How many capable men does he have around him?

Having just witnessed Song Xuan's display of skill, Zhang Liyi wanted to prove that he was no pushover.

Therefore, Zhang Liyi immediately spoke up:

"Twelfth Brother, since we've got nothing else to do, why don't you have your best fighter spar with me first?"

"Now?"

"Yes, now."

When Zhang Li saw that Song Xuan had a question, his confident smile returned to his face:
"It'll also let the twelve brothers see what I'm capable of."

"Alright, let's each use half our strength, so as not to get really hurt."

Hearing Song Xuan's thoughtfulness, Zhang Liyi became even more convinced that the people around Song Xuan were not as brave as he was.

"Go and call Wang Bao and Xu Xianchun here."

"Yes."

After the old servant who had been serving him left, Song Xuan explained to Zhang Liyi that the two of them were responsible for protecting him.

Zhang Liyi understood, which meant that he still had some skills, so he had to be careful.

Wang Bao and Xu Xianchun stood there, one strong and the other thin, and they even looked a little sleepy.

Zhang Li stood up and looked him over, realizing that the burly man was also quite strong.

So he pointed at Xu Xianchun and said:

"You're the one, let's have a spar."

Xu Xianchun tilted his head to look at Song Xuan, who was sitting upright, and saw him extend his hand:

"Let's have a friendly spar."

Xu Xianchun then took a closer look at Zhang Liyi:

"Shall we spar?"

"good."

Zhang Li nodded slightly.
"I'm a famous martial arts instructor in Tokyo. I learned my skills from him since I was a child, so you'd better be careful."

Xu Xianchun nodded upon hearing this, his face solemn.

Wang Bao, however, moved aside as if watching a spectacle and sat down on the other side.

After revealing his background, Zhang Liyi bowed with a smile on his face.

The two assumed fighting stances.

Song Xuan also wanted to see just how strong the famous martial arts instructor in Tokyo really was.

Xu Xianchun first threw a punch to test the waters.

Zhang Liyi, however, threw a punch without any hesitation.

Song Xuan raised an eyebrow. Why was Zhang Liyi's lower body unstable?

The punches were delivered with great force, but Xu Xianchun saw no threat whatsoever.

Is it possible that the famous boxing coach in Tokyo teaches people to "make pretty punches for performance"?
To be on the safe side, Xu Xianchun wanted to test Zhang Liyi a bit more, so he would punch him every now and then, forcing him to use his ultimate move.

They even used a move that Song Xuan particularly liked:

White Crane Spreads Wings!

Although Zhang Liyi didn't understand, he could still see the provocative gesture.

He immediately shouted and rushed forward.

Then he slid back down on his bottom, lying on the ground and yelling "Ouch, Mom!"

Xu Xianchun looked at Song Xuan and spread his hands, saying, "I only used 30% of my strength."

Song Xuan took the initiative to help Zhang Liyi up:
"Brother Zhang, should I call a doctor for you?"

"Need not!"

Zhang Li gritted his teeth, clutching his chest, and forced himself to speak:
"It's nothing, it's no big deal, it's no big deal."

Song Xuan waved his hand, telling the two of them to go back and rest first.

Xu Xianchun realized what was going on halfway through his journey:
"Wasn't he just like me, someone who got fooled?"

Wang Bao glanced at him but didn't respond.

"Even if the people around him are truly capable, they certainly won't use their full strength because of his status; instead, they'll cooperate and put on an act."

Wang Bao understood.

Xu Xianchun was treated like a fool by everyone in his hometown.

Zhang Liyi felt that even three points of strength was quite considerable.

He began to doubt life.

Not even before today, he had fought against his fellow disciples one against many without being able to fight back.

Practicing martial arts is inherently not an easy task.

If you feel quite relaxed, it's either because you're an exceptionally talented individual, or because many people are supporting you, giving you the illusion that you're invincible.

Zhang Liyi forced himself to sit in the chair, constantly praising Song Xuan for his excellent judgment in choosing people.

He said things like, "If he spars with Song Xuan's men more often in the future, he will definitely be able to improve himself."

Song Xuan verbally agreed, but then added that the main reason was that Song Xuan was the most skilled martial arts instructor in Tokyo, so as his attendant, he had to be careful lest he lose his job by working for him.

Hearing Song Xuan's explanation, Zhang Li immediately felt the pain in his chest lessen considerably, and he quickly laughed loudly:

"Indeed."

After chatting for a few minutes, Zhang Liyi wanted to take his leave.

Song Xuan stood at the door watching him leave.

Zhang Li turned around and saw that Song Xuan had been watching him the whole time. He forced a smile and turned back.

He had never wondered why the street that the Empress Dowager had bestowed upon his father was so long!
But there was hardly any sign of people coming and going.

So much so that now he and his entourage are the only ones walking on the streets.

Why is Song Xuan still giving me so much face?

Could he please not watch me leave?

Only after hearing the door close did Zhang Liyi stop and ask without turning around:
"Did Scholar Song close the door?"

"It's closed."

Upon hearing this, Zhang Liyi immediately fell backward:
"Hurry up and carry me to the clinic, it hurts so much!"

……

The manager of Fanlou was very distressed.

When he was reviewing the accounts, he discovered that the turnover had declined extremely sharply.

If this continues, perhaps the sales figures in the ledgers that Song Xuan reviewed could actually become real.

By then, what competitive advantage will Fanlou have left?
Madam Lin remained stubborn and refused to give any explanation, instead telling him to find a way to fight back.

Manager Qian was so worried that he kept scratching his head.

Do you really think I've never seen Journey to the West?
Do you expect me, a hard worker, to kill "Tang Sanzang and his disciples"?
Who was the top scholar of the Song Dynasty?
That's the newly emerging "Standing Tai Sui" in Tokyo!
He dared to berate Chen Yaozuo, the Prefect of Kaifeng, until he vomited blood in front of the Emperor, the Empress Dowager, and the court officials, and he still wouldn't let that murderer go.

Indeed, after Sun Wukong wreaked havoc in the Heavenly Palace, nothing happened to him.

Everyone in the entire city of Tokyo who heard about this was both in awe and fear of him.

In this way, Song Xuan was more able to intimidate the ruffians in the capital than Chen Yaozuo, the prefect of Kaifeng.

In addition, there was the matter of Song Xuan using prisoners to clean the ditches.

As long as you don't commit serious mistakes like murder, he's willing to give you a chance to correct them.

Participating in labor reform can not only make your life more comfortable, but you might also be able to save some money after you are released from prison.

Some people are already planning to go to the Kaifeng Prefecture prison and work for Song Xuan.

Because it's not just about watching the prisoners, but about actually being able to eat your fill, even if the rice isn't new rice.

How many families in the entire city of Tokyo can afford to eat new rice?

The mere thought of being well-fed is enough to be appealing.

Tokyo has a population of one million, but not enough jobs to feed and clothe a large number of people.

These four words are enough to make many people flock to follow them.

After finishing his accounting, Manager Qian let out a long sigh.

He stepped out from behind the counter, stood at the entrance of Fanlou, and looked down at the ordinary people coming and going below.

Many people find it difficult to even eat at other restaurants, let alone come to Fanlou.

Manager Qian couldn't understand why, if harmony brings wealth, one must go against the government.
He didn't understand.

What a mess to a perfectly good business!

Will Fanlou be able to maintain its reputation as a "money pit" in the future?
Lowering prices to attract more customers is tantamount to suicide.

It was only about a thousand strings of cash, not a lot of money.

The shopkeeper's face could no longer bear a smile. He couldn't understand why someone who wasn't thinking straight could still be so high up and make so much money!

It was obvious that Fanlou's business was declining.

The group finally got the chance to besiege Fanlou's business.

Even without Song Xuan's efforts, people will naturally continue to spend money to promote it.

They wished Song Xuan could also put up a sign for honest business practices or timely tax payment in his shop.

This was to prove that their own shop was better than Fanlou's.

Fanlou's annual turnover was only 100,000 strings of cash. What were the other 71 regular stores thinking?
If a business's revenue is this low, it shouldn't be running a legitimate business.

Sell ​​the shop as soon as possible to avoid embarrassment.

Fanlou is now a disgrace. No matter how you explain it, the sales revenue from alcohol is not included, but many people still say that Fanlou's annual sales revenue is more than 100,000.

So many high-ranking officials and nobles spend their money, but where does it all go?
Rumors are something that, not to mention the large number of people who believe them in modern times, were extremely deadly in ancient times.

Otherwise, there wouldn't be so many examples like the fox's cry and the fish hiding silk in its belly that would have inspired the people to respond.

When Chen Sheng and Wu Guang led the Yellow Turban Rebellion, a large number of people flocked to this organization.

Manager Qian immediately discerned that Song Xuan's governing philosophy was that as long as you abide by the law, he would protect you and make things convenient for you.

If you break the law, I have plenty of ways to mess with you. I'd rather bankrupt you than let you break the law.

The situation at Fanlou was not good, and the business at Wuyoudong was also hampered.

Now that Song Xuan has sent people to promote the safety of inns, many inns have come to Kaifeng County to say that they can also pay taxes on time and ask if the magistrate can add their inn's name to the list.
They are now proactively sending money to the county government, and they've even prepared the fines.

Qi Lecheng, the watchdog, had never seen such a scene before.

As a result, the front yard was bustling with noise.

The people in charge of counting the money were too busy to keep up, so Magistrate Zhou asked the other households to send people to help.

At this time, Song Xuan was in the back room, while Zhang Liyi was practicing martial arts with Guo En in the backyard and watching him cook.

Zhang Liyi was no longer arrogant at all; he realized that he couldn't even beat the young Guo En.

This kid is really fierce.

This gave Zhang Liyi a sense of frustration, as if all his years of martial arts training had been in vain.

Zhao Zhen, who was serving as the "temporary magistrate," stood in the front hall with great interest.

He watched as the group of people rushed to pay their taxes.

Collecting taxes is always a difficult task for the government.

Whether they were ordinary citizens or wealthy merchants, everyone was very resistant to the idea of ​​taking money out of their own pockets and handing it over.

Therefore, the dynasty made an exception for them; once they became Jinshi (successful candidates in the highest imperial examinations), they were granted the right to be exempt from taxes.

The rest of the people must pay their taxes honestly.

However, with many years of famine, people could not pay taxes truthfully.

If the government can't collect taxes, problems are likely to arise.

As emperor, Zhao Zhen was particularly pleased to see so many people coming to pay taxes.

This means the imperial court can use the money to do more things.

Besides paying salaries, the largest expenditure of the Song Dynasty was disaster relief.

During the few years that Zhao Zhenguang was emperor, he discovered that natural disasters would frequently occur in various parts of the country.

Even Tokyo experiences a flood every year, and there are numerous reports of droughts and floods in other parts of the country.

In the event of a disaster, the imperial court would naturally need to spend a large sum of money.

So much so that, having suffered from illness for so long, they have become experts in their own right. The Song Dynasty's handling of natural disasters is indeed far superior to that of previous dynasties.

It's not to say that the people of the Song Dynasty were blessed, but they were at least a little bit luckier than those of the previous dynasty.

The situation where "the rich feast while the poor freeze to death on the streets" was unavoidable, but with the establishment of the Xiangjun system, it was greatly alleviated.

After all, joining the Xiang Army would only get you a basic living allowance; you wouldn't starve, but you wouldn't necessarily rebel.

Zhao Zhen wanted to pacify the Western Xia, repair the Yellow River, and recover the Sixteen Prefectures of Yan and Yun.

But all of this requires a lot of money to do.

Not to mention that the national treasury doesn't have much money, even if Emperor Zhao Zhen wanted to use his own private treasury to provide support, he couldn't come up with 100,000 strings of cash.

After watching for a while, Zhao Zhen led his men to the back hall.

He didn't quite understand why these people hadn't voluntarily come to pay taxes before.

Now, Song Xuan simply issued a notice, and many people rushed to pay their overdue taxes.

Zhao Zhen walked in and saw Song Xuan leisurely looking at the various account books of Kaifeng County.

"Twelfth brother."

"came back."

As soon as Zhao Zhen entered the room, he felt much cooler. He sat down to one side:
"So many people come to pay taxes, don't you even go and check on them?"

"What's there to see?"

Song Xuan said, "They only came to pay their debts because they wanted to see others eat meat while they could only drink soup. So, for the sake of long-term interests, they asked me to give them the reputation of being law-abiding citizens."

Zhao Zhen waved his fan, fanning himself, and pondered the deeper meaning in Song Xuan's words.

Thinking about it this way, those merchants who paid their taxes in advance actually benefited.

Now, those who haven't followed the rules see an opportunity to profit, so they also come to "pledge allegiance."

"So, what does Twelfth Brother plan to do with these people?"

Even after they pay the taxes, tell them to go home and wait for news.

Song Xuan put down the book in his hand:
"This is the government; when will the approval process be completed immediately?"

"After they paid their taxes, they wanted me to add their names to the official notices."

"Have you considered what those merchants who voluntarily paid taxes earlier think?"

How do you guarantee the interests of these law-abiding people?

Zhao Zhen was stumped by Song Xuan's series of questions.

Compared to many other government affairs, which were handled by Empress Liu E who would then provide the results and have Emperor Zhao Zhen observe and learn from them, Empress Liu E handled many other government affairs.

Emperor Zhao Zhen preferred Song Xuan's approach: when faced with a problem, he would first let you think about it, and only after you had finished thinking and expressed your thoughts would he share his own.

It's not about teaching you, but rather a clash of ideas.

One person's wisdom is limited, but three people's wisdom is superior.

After discussing the same issue with each other, a final decision is made and implemented.

It's not about "I am the emperor, you must listen to me, and you are not allowed to disagree."

I am the county magistrate, and you are not allowed to contradict me.

Zhao Zhen discovered that Song Xuan was encouraging his subordinates to boldly express their thoughts.

If he finds someone useful, he will record their contribution and give them an extra bonus when it's time to "distribute subsidies".

Because Zhao Zhen thought that Song Xuan was the kind of person who was autocratic and arranged everything perfectly.

It turned out that he had his own ideas, but he also asked his subordinates for their opinions.

Zhao Zhen asked Song Xuan why he did this, and he said that the locals knew more about the situation than he did.

Some things should be handled according to local conditions, rather than by rigid, dogmatic methods.

Some methods that work for urban management in Nanjing may not work in Tokyo.

Frankly speaking, no one likes a fatherly approach to education. As an emperor, Zhao Zhen had long been fed up with this kind of teaching.

He liked Song Xuan's way of doing things and was more willing to accept and agree with him.

“What Twelfth Brother said makes sense, so my idea is to let the other people’s businesses boom for a month or two first.”

"Then select two or three suitable shops from this group and add them back."

Zhao Zhen also wore a smug smile:

"In this way, those who pay taxes first benefit, and those who pay taxes later also become beneficiaries. Only by adding people to the list slowly can the interests of those who pay earlier be guaranteed."

"how?"

"good."

Song Xuan snapped his fingers:
"The only thing we need to be careful about is the shops in Xiangfu County, which are not under our jurisdiction, and they won't cooperate."

Zhao Zhen nodded, "That makes sense."

If the Prefect of Kaifeng were here, he could have acted as a mediator, maximizing the benefits for both parties.

"Twelfth Brother, we still need to send someone to communicate with Chen Gu, the magistrate of Xiangfu County."

Zhao Zhen then spoke up, saying, "In this way, Xiangfu County will have money, and can also use prisoners to dredge ditches, achieving multiple benefits at once."

“Hey.” Song Xuan immediately interrupted Zhao Zhen:
"I cannot pass on such a risky idea to Chen Gu unless he comes to me for advice."

"Why?"

Zhao Zhen did not understand Song Xuan's way of doing things.

"Sixth Brother, let's not talk about the story of how a small favor is appreciated, but a large one is resented."

Song Xuan leaned back in his recliner: "Let me just say one thing: you can't make a sale by being too eager."

"What kind of talk is that now?"

Zhao Zhen was genuinely clueless about Song Xuan's occasional use of "country slang."

"Merchants in Tokyo who chase after customers to force a sale will be pressured to lower their prices, but those who sit quietly in their shops and let customers come naturally can make a good profit."

Song Xuan turned to the side at this moment:

"Just like when my father-in-law went to the Liao camp to negotiate, Kou Zhun strictly demanded that he only pay 300,000. If he had agreed immediately, the Liao people would have definitely gone further."

"As it turned out, my father-in-law calmly maneuvered and gained the upper hand, and the Liao people knew when to stop."

Zhao Zhen nodded repeatedly and then spoke again:
"Haste makes waste!"

"Correct."

Song Xuan replied with a smile:

"Chen Gu might not be able to do as well as I have. What if he doesn't want to dredge the ditch?"

"What if he treats prisoners extremely harshly and an escape occurs? Wouldn't that harm law-abiding citizens?"

Zhao Zhen listened to Song Xuan's words and found them to be very reasonable.

Indeed, some policies need to be adapted to local conditions, but even more important is the ability of those who implement them.

Otherwise, good policies will turn into oppressive policies!

This was not the outcome Zhao Zhen desired.

"With so many officials in the country, it would be very difficult to assess their abilities one by one."

Zhao Zhen sighed softly; he couldn't think of a suitable solution at the moment.

Song Xuan didn't have one either; selecting and appointing people is inherently a difficult task.

In such cases, personal circumstances and the interests of all parties must be taken into account, making it virtually impossible to achieve fairness and impartiality.

"Sixth Brother, just think of it as panning for gold in the dung. If you find one, that's your luck."

Song Xuan didn't think Zhao Zhen was sad at all; compared to other emperors, he was quite lucky.

He discovered and recruited many of the most renowned officials in the Song Dynasty.

Zhao Zhen did not expect Song Xuan to use such a metaphor.

Doesn't that mean he looks down on many officials of the Song Dynasty, considering them all as worthless?

"Twelfth Brother's statement is rather biased."

Zhao Zhen tried his best to explain:
"Officials like Chen Yaozuo are a minority. As far as I know, he was also diligent and conscientious when he was young, and he was also targeted by people who used his position to settle personal scores."

"Sixth Brother is right. I shouldn't have generalized from a single case."

As a subject, Song Xuan could not speak too frankly with the emperor.

Just let it go; he's an adult, there's no need to change his choices.

It is very difficult to change a person's mindset.

However, Song Xuan felt that Zhao Zhen was a qualified emperor, which was enough for him to do his job.

If he were to encounter any of the other emperors of the Song Dynasty, especially Zhao Zhen's grandfather, Song Xuan would have to think twice.

After all, Zhao Guangyi didn't even trust his own son, which truly shows that he was poisoned by the ideology of the Five Dynasties period.

Zhao Zhen was very pleased.

Twelfth Brother is able to listen to his opinions.

If this were in the palace, his opinion would be the least important thing, given that he is the master of the palace.

They even have very few opportunities to delay gratification.

In addition, most of these Jinshi (successful candidates in the highest imperial examinations) were selected through the imperial examination system, and each of them proved their abilities.

The rest mostly came from official families, and having been influenced by their surroundings, they should have some confidence in doing things.

Therefore, Emperor Zhao Zhen was willing to trust these officials.

Song Xuan only slightly lifted the veil of shame before quickly dropping the subject.

"Twelfth Brother, I just have some doubts."

"What doubts?"

Song Xuan picked up a glass of iced water: "There are no outsiders here."

"That's because Chen Gu saw how efficient and effective you were, Twelfth Brother. And since he's also Prime Minister Lü's brother-in-law, how could he not try to emulate you and show off his skills?"

Song Xuan took a sip and then said, "Can I possibly think of him in the worst possible light?"

Zhao Zhen was puzzled:

"Why?"

"This is also a way of thinking, because many people have never hesitated to speculate about others with the worst possible malice."

Song Xuan's words were like a heavy hammer blow to Zhao Zhen's head.

Zhao Zhen was completely stunned.

He hadn't understood why his grandfather was wary of his father before, but after his twelfth brother's way of thinking, he suddenly understood the reason.

You may think that everyone around you is a good person, but do other people think you are a good person?
Many things that seemed illogical suddenly became clear.

Zhao Zhen swallowed hard and nodded: "Twelfth Brother, please speak frankly."

"Am I radical enough in my actions?"

"Correct."

Zhao Zhen replied without hesitation.

Since meeting Song Xuan, he has met the most radical person in his life.

What others don't know is that Song Xuan's approach to resolving Empress Guo's matter was extremely radical.

So frightened was Zhao Zhen that he realized she wasn't actually that radical and didn't necessarily have to be deposed.

"Therefore, some officials will certainly not like my style of doing things."

"Correct."

Song Xuan put down the cup in his hand:
"Compared to my radical actions, there will inevitably be some who are very conservative; whatever I do, they will not do!"

“Yes.” Zhao Zhen nodded again.

"From my observation, Prime Minister Lü is also a conservative person."

"What I did in Kaifeng County was very successful, and everyone was talking about it."

"Chen Gu, who is also a county magistrate, must also be itching to do so. He should have consulted his brother-in-law about this matter."

Song Xuan glanced at Zhao Zhen:
"The fact that Chen Gu hasn't sent anyone to inquire about anything or come to me for advice means that Prime Minister Lü has told his brother-in-law not to act rashly."

"Because when you're an official in China, the most important thing isn't to achieve anything, but to stay stable!"

"stable?"

A look of inquiry appeared in Zhao Zhen's eyes.

"Yes, stability is the top priority for officials to get promoted. As for political achievements, they don't need to be too outstanding. If you have connections in the Ministry of Personnel, you can naturally climb to a high position ahead of others."

Zhao Zhen still found Song Xuan's blunt words somewhat unacceptable.

It can be said that both Empress Liu and the great Confucian scholar were very successful in disciplining Zhao Zhen.

He wanted to refute, but he had nothing to say.

So they could only stand there, dumbfounded.

But Zhao Zhen was not one to give up easily. Even though he was confused by Song Xuan's words, he continued to think things through carefully.

There were some things that Song Xuan had told him, even though he had been emperor for so many years.

There are some things, just like his own mother is keeping him from now on, all of which are being kept from him.

Zhao Zhen thought for a moment: "So, this predicament is unchangeable?"

"Even if the powerful clans are eliminated, new smaller clans will still emerge. They will intermarry with each other and eventually dominate the court, wielding power."

Song Xuan stretched out his finger and said:
"There were only a little over a thousand officials in the early Song Dynasty, but now there are probably more than 30,000."

"However, the territory of the Song Dynasty was much smaller than that of the Tang Dynasty, so they had to divide one position into several positions in layers to prevent officials from rebelling."

"Furthermore, the Emperor has publicly promised to increase the number of Jinshi (successful candidates in the highest imperial examinations), so there will likely be more and more officials in the Song Dynasty in the future."

"Families with a strong ancestral background will naturally prioritize promoting their relatives by marriage or old friends, while others will likely struggle their entire lives to reach the rank of a fifth-grade official."

Zhao Zhen suddenly felt a little envious of Song Xuan being able to lie on a recliner; he wanted to have one too.

Zhao Zhen couldn't think of a solution to the problem raised by Song Xuan.

Even if he asked the temples to pay, he still couldn't figure out how to talk to the old lady.

So Zhao Zhen simply lay down on the bed and had Zhang Maoze fan him.

He was overthinking things, and sweat was pouring down his forehead.

Song Xuan turned over, looked at the ceiling, and slowly fanned himself.

It seems that the official is young and ambitious, wanting to do everything, but unable to grasp anything.

He definitely needs more experience as a county magistrate.

"My lord."

Magistrate Zhou walked in with a smile on his face, carrying the account books:
"Now all the inns in Kaifeng County have paid their taxes, and they are waiting for the high official to give them a lecture."

Song Xuan didn't even open his eyes, just waved his fan and said, "Ask my cousin what to do about this. He came up with the idea."

County Magistrate Zhou was taken aback, then looked at the young man resting on the bed.

Such a good idea, yet it didn't come from the high-ranking official.

So it turns out that Master Song also has a strategist by his side!
County Magistrate Zhou stepped forward very politely and asked Zhao Zhen, Song Xuan's cousin, to make the decision.

Zhao Zhen explained his idea, saying that the Song official was currently busy with work and would send people to inspect these shops later. Only after they passed inspection could the notices be reposted.

Otherwise, if government notices are posted yesterday and changed today, wouldn't there be absolutely no trust in them?

Magistrate Zhou nodded repeatedly: "What if the shopkeepers cause trouble?"

“If anyone causes trouble, circle their shop name and check it last.”

"Do I need to tell you how to deal with these troublemakers who dare to defy the government?"

Hearing Zhao Zhen's words, Magistrate Zhou realized that the two were indeed related.

Their styles of doing things are too similar.

"I will make the arrangements immediately."

When Magistrate Zhou saw that Song Xuan had not specifically instructed him, he knew that this matter was indeed done by Song Xuan's cousin.

Because high-ranking officials like to delegate authority, allowing their subordinates to do their jobs and rewarding them for doing them well.

Otherwise, why would the people in Kaifeng County be so enthusiastic about their work?

After everyone left, Zhao Zhen said excitedly:
"Twelfth Brother, was I fierce enough just now?"

"not enough."

"Huh?" Zhao Zhen felt that he had already said something very harsh.

"Next time, add his mother."

"damn it?"

Zhao Zhen tilted his head slightly:
"Damn you, you troublemaker!"

Song Xuan clapped lightly: "That's right, just like that. Next time in court, you can say, 'Damn treacherous minister, you dared to kill my men!'"

Upon hearing Song Xuan's instruction, Zhao Zhen couldn't help but laugh out loud.

He really wanted to release some of the oppressive atmosphere in the imperial court.

However, Zhao Zhen dared not be too presumptuous.

Because it's useless!

The Empress Dowager made the decisions on important national affairs, and no one else listened to her opinions.

At most, he would act in the name of the emperor.

I'd rather be a county magistrate under my twelfth brother and have some fun.

At least the decisions made are implemented by the people in the county government, and feedback on the results is obtained.

This positive feedback is what fascinates Zhao Zhen.

So this is what the feel of power is like!
Zhao Zhen lay back on the bed and began to fantasize.

At this moment, Jiao Ming walked in: "Young Master, the mutton offal soup is ready, let's go."

Jiao Ming returned from visiting relatives in Nanjing, and he felt that Tokyo City wasn't very interesting.

"Walk."

Song Xuan took Zhao Zhen to eat mutton offal soup, and also got some Da Lang steamed buns to soak in.

After finishing a bowl of soup, Zhao Zhen exclaimed that it was delicious and just as good as mutton!
"Is this edible?"

Emperor Zhao Zhen only ever ate thinly sliced ​​rabbit liver and rabbit heart cooked in hot pot, because this was considered imperial cuisine.

The liver was the food most readily accepted by the people of the Song Dynasty.

Because Grandma Cao's meat pie shop has a signature dish: fried liver.

Steamed lamb tongue and lamb brain together was a dish from the time of Emperor Gaozong of the Song Dynasty.

In the past, the Song court rarely ate offal.

"Of course you can eat it, as long as it's washed clean, and it's inexpensive to make."

Song Xuan picked up a piece of lamb tripe and said:

“I sent people to buy these things, but they were practically being sold or given away for free. They couldn’t get any price at all, and I even placed an order with the butcher for several days.”

Zhao Zhen nodded. Sure enough, his twelfth brother was a big eater.

Not only were the people in the county government office drinking mutton soup and eating steamed buns, but even the prisoners who were working were starting to look forward to what kind of food they would have to eat today.

The cooks at the four offices said that the head chef serving the top scholar Song was far more skilled than the chefs at the main restaurant.

The taste of the boiled meat alone was enough to leave them clueless about the exact recipe, making it difficult to replicate and requiring considerable time.

Nowadays, the cooks from the four departments are all willing to work at the Kaifeng County Government.

Even if you don't learn from others, it's still great to broaden your horizons.

When the wealthy and powerful people of Tokyo hold banquets, they can also come up with some new dishes to create a stronger competitive edge.

Zhu Guan was holding a bowl of mutton offal soup, along with three steamed buns:

"Today, each person is limited to two bowls of mutton offal soup, and you can eat as many steamed buns as you like. However, there is no more chilled mung bean soup. The master instructed that eating hot and cold foods alternately can easily upset your stomach."

Listening to the person distributing the drinks, Zhu Guan squatted down to the side and took a sip, his eyes lighting up.

This tastes really good.

"Some people like spicy food, so you can add some dogwood."

"We are truly blessed to follow the esteemed master."

Zhu Guan chuckled twice, patted his stomach, and leaned against the shade.

Qin Ying also found it unbelievable, because even though lamb is more expensive, very few people are willing to eat offal and the like.

The offal had a strong odor, but when cooked together, it tasted surprisingly good.

Qin Ying also drank two large bowls in a row, and he leaned against the steps:

“It tastes really good.”

Ren Fu also came here after learning that Qin Ying was the Tongpan of Kaifeng Prefecture.

He had been waiting for Song Xuan to bring the Emperor back so that he could secretly protect him.

However, according to the people at the county government, many people came to pay their debts today, so the official was too busy to distribute food.

“Yes,” Ren Fu added, “Scholar Song had quite a few talented and extraordinary people around him.”

Zhu Guan narrowed his eyes and glanced at Ren Fu:
"What, Chief Constable Ren also wants to get to know Master Song?"

Ren Fu really wanted to get to know Song Xuan.

After all, even the emperor himself could drive for him, which shows how great the imperial favor was.

The emperor will eventually grow up, and the empress will gradually grow old.

If one can establish a relationship with Song Xuan at this time, the possibility of being sent to serve as a general in the future will be very high.

Otherwise, even if one stood guard in the palace for a lifetime, one would only become a seventh-rank military officer.

Who would want to have all their skills but no use for them?
Ren Fu learned that the Western Xia people in the northwest were rebellious and that war was bound to break out in the future.

Following the path Wang Zeng took as prime minister, Song Xuan might have already been in a central position and had a say in things at that time.

Ren Fu also longed to climb the ranks and prove his abilities through military achievements.

"Song Zhuangyuan's reputation is widespread; who wouldn't want to know him?"

Ren Fu sighed softly:
"When he passed the imperial examination and paraded through the streets, I wished I could hold his stirrups and lead his horse, but he chose a young man named Di Qing instead."

"Di Qing was also quite good-looking. Later I found out that they had known each other for a long time."

The others understood Ren Fu's sigh.

Who would have thought that Song Xuan would achieve the highest level of success for a scholar at such a young age, without even experiencing a setback?

Qin Ying knew that Song Xuan had been dismissed by Yan Shu, and he even mentioned it in court.

In addition, Song Xuan's conduct since becoming an official has made him quite charismatic and easy to win over.

Nowadays, most of these prisoners are attracted by the food, comforting themselves that they can eat their fill for a few more days and fatten up before running away.

Some people even fanned the flames, and it's unclear whether they wanted to "arrest the brothers" and exchange them for reward money from Song Xuan.

Anyway, none of us knew each other before; we were just forced into becoming teammates by the government.

How many people can you truly confide in?
Despite being a prisoner, he still has quite a few schemes up his sleeve.

Don't worry about it.

Zhu Guan said with great pride:

"Once I've cleared the silt and finished the first pair, Master Song will definitely come to check the results. At that time, I'll help you make a connection."

"you?"

Ren Fu couldn't understand how a prisoner could be so shameless as to try to make connections.

"Of course, my lord has a deep impression of me."

(End of this chapter)