Great Song Dynasty Writer

Chapter 258 "On the Gains and Losses of Official Governance Since the Han and Tang Dynasties" [Third Update, Seeking Monthly Tickets!]

Unlike his elder brother, Cheng Yi's face showed obvious disapproval, and even some annoyance.

He believed that Lu Beigu had exaggerated the role of clerks and officials, comparing such insignificant people as "heavenly principles" and "virtue," which was a desecration and belittling of the way of sages.

In Cheng Yi's mind, as long as the scholar-officials uphold the principles of rectifying their minds and sincerity, investigating things and extending knowledge, and comprehending the principles of Heaven, and use the power of morality to influence people from top to bottom, the evil deeds of those clerks will naturally be eradicated.

Cheng Yi viewed Lu Beigu's view as overemphasizing the filth of reality and neglecting the power of the moral source as putting the cart before the horse, and even suspected of being somewhat "utilitarian".

Cheng Yi's lips moved as if he wanted to refute, but seeing his brother's solemn expression, he ultimately did not speak immediately.

"Hey"

Ouyang Xiu let out a long sigh.

As a seasoned official who had experienced the ups and downs of officialdom and was well-versed in the ways of the world, he understood better than anyone else present how deeply rooted and difficult to eradicate the harm caused by petty officials.

Many setbacks of the Qingli New Policies were due to the insincere compliance and exploitation by local officials.
Looking at the young scholar before him, he was both shocked by the depth of the scholar's insight and the sharpness of his vision, and overwhelmed by a profound sense of powerlessness. How easy is it to talk about "governance"!

At this moment, Zhang Zai spoke up.

“I agree with Brother Lu’s point of view! Laws and education are like boats and oars, but without good officials to steer them, even a treasure ship will capsize in a ditch!”

Although the famous "Four Sentences of Hengqu" had not yet been published at this time.

However, Zhang Zai has always been concerned about people's livelihood. Lu Beigu's discourse on the difficulties of implementation at the grassroots level resonated strongly with his long-held ambition to "establish a life for the people".

After a long silence, Wang Anshi finally spoke up and asked a question.

"In your opinion, where does the root of this corruption of petty officials lie, and how should it be 'rectified'?"

"The prince has gotten to the heart of the matter."

Lu Beigu pondered for a moment and said, “In my opinion, the problems of today have existed since ancient times. To get to the root of the problem and break the deadlock, we must study history and examine its gains and losses. The problems of these petty officials are not a problem that has arisen overnight, but a chronic disease accumulated over thousands of years under the county system due to the imbalance in the relationship between officials, clerks and the people.”

"My thoughts are numerous and difficult to express in words, so I will write them down."

Lu Beigu addressed the servants of Qingfeng Tower who were standing to the side in a loud voice.

"Please bring me a brush, ink, paper, and inkstone!"

The servants quickly brought out writing brush, ink, paper, and inkstone, and spread out a sheet of fine Xuan paper on the table in front of Lu Beigu.

Lu Beigu rolled up his sleeves and calmly ground the ink.

After a moment of concentration, he picked up his brush, dipped it in ink, and with his wrist suspended in the air, the brush tip landed steadily on the paper.

Lu Beigu wielded his brush with lightning speed, and lines of vigorous, flowing regular script leaped off the paper. "On the Gains and Losses of Official Governance Since the Han and Tang Dynasties"

It is said that the first priority for those who govern the people is to select officials; and the key to selecting good officials is to clarify the law. Since the Qin Dynasty broke away from the feudal system and established prefectures and counties, the system has been a pillar for hundreds of generations. However, the specific details have varied from generation to generation, and the gains and losses are evident, serving as a valuable lesson.

In the early Han Dynasty, local officials were given exclusive authority, leading to the flourishing of education by Jia Yi and the reform of Shu during the reigns of Emperors Wen and Jing. However, this also led to the rise of powerful and influential figures, and by the time of Emperor Wu, the selection of officials was restricted to high-ranking ministers. The title of "filial and incorruptible" gradually became a hollow honor. By the time of Emperors Huan and Ling, the sale of official titles had become rampant, and the court was filled with the stench of money.

Therefore, it is said that "the purity or impurity of the people determines the well-being of the common people." Zhang Shizhi, who was in charge of criminal law, and Ji An, who governed the Huai and Si rivers, both benefited the people through their writings. Fang Xuanling, Du Ruhui, Wang Anqi, and Wei Yingwu were not pure Confucian scholars, yet they achieved the prosperous reign of Zhenguan. Indeed, the essence of governance lies in adaptability and change; how can it be limited to adhering to literal texts?
The authenticity of performance evaluations depends on the distinction between the honest and the corrupt. In the past, the Han Dynasty's "Superior Account" was extremely strict, and the Tang Dynasty's "Four Virtues and Twenty-Seven Excellences" were extremely detailed. However, while the administration was clean for a time, in later periods, the number of examinations was inflated, and auspicious omens became commodities in the market. This was due to the vast difference in the quality of officials.

Since the Han and Tang dynasties, legal and administrative duties have been largely delegated to clerks and lower-level officials. These officials, lacking the means to maintain their positions, possessed the ability to ruin families, thus many exploited the people for their own survival. As the saying goes, "Nine out of ten sheep are shepherds," how could the sheep not become emaciated?
Alas, Emperor Xuan of Han once said, "Those who govern with me are none other than those of high rank, holding the rank of two thousand shi." How true these words are!

The last stroke was made, the ink still wet.

The article was then passed around from Ouyang Xiu to everyone, and each person who read it was captivated by it.

This historical essay, though short, carries immense weight in every word, with a clear structure, irrefutable historical facts, and a direct and incisive analysis!

Lu Beigu's opening remarks directly address the core issue, pointing out that the key to effective governance lies in the selection of officials, and the key to selecting officials lies in the clarity of the law. The prefecture-county system is the foundation of good governance, but its specific operation has varied throughout history, and its successes and failures serve as a mirror for today.

After discussing the systems of the Han and Tang dynasties, he turned his attention to the performance evaluation system.

The Han Dynasty's "Shangji" system, which required local prefectures and kingdoms to report population, cultivated land, and grain to the central government, was very strict. The Tang Dynasty's "Four Virtues and Twenty-Seven Excellences" assessment criteria were extremely detailed. So why was the administration only clean and efficient for a short time, and why did local governments start to falsify cultivated land figures and treat auspicious omens as commodities to be bought and sold in the later period of the dynasty?

The reason is simple: the gap between officials and commoners is vast!
For thousands of years, paperwork and legal affairs have been delegated to clerks. They have no salary to support their families, but they wield the power to ruin people's homes and lives. Therefore, they can only enrich themselves by exploiting the people. Because officials are high and mighty and clerks are lowly, the assessment of officials is a mere formality and even becomes an excuse for extortion.

The ten words, “lacking the means to support themselves, yet capable of ruining their families,” are like a cold dagger, precisely piercing the systemic root of corruption among clerks!
"On the Gains and Losses of Officialdom Since the Han and Tang Dynasties" uses the evolution of the system as its framework and the Han and Tang dynasties as a mirror to deeply analyze the root causes of the "abuses of clerks and officials". It can be said that this is not just an article, but a powerful article that directly points out the abuses of the Song Dynasty and has strong realistic criticism significance!
As Ouyang Xiu read the article, his expression grew increasingly solemn, his eyes filled with both amazement and worry.

This article laid bare the deep-seated problems that the Qingli Reforms failed to solve, revealing them to him in a stark and brutal way!
Ouyang Xiu stroked his beard and sighed, "Incisive and penetrating! We should drink a large cup of wine!"

Then, he actually tilted his head back and drank the whole glass of wine in one gulp.

Yan Jidao had also finished reading the entire text. The sarcasm on his face had vanished without a trace, replaced by an almost imperceptible sense of apprehension.

The breadth of vision, insight, and sharpness displayed in this article made this young nobleman, accustomed to romance and leisure, feel intensely uncomfortable.

"Snapped!"

At this moment, Wang Anshi suddenly slammed his hand on the table, causing the cups and saucers to rattle softly.

Lu Beigu's previous pointing out of the abuses of the clerks had already made him reflect, but this article was like pouring a bucket of boiling oil on the long-suppressed fire in his heart!
He suddenly stood up, his robe sleeves billowing in the wind, and walked a few steps to Lu Beigu.

"The gains and losses of the Han and Tang dynasties are vividly portrayed! 'How can a sheep not be thin?' What a poignant question!"

Wang Anshi stared intently at Lu Beigu: "Since you have such insight, you must have thought about it! How should we cure this age-old ailment? How should we resolve the predicament of 'lacking the means to support oneself' and the evil of 'having the ability to ruin a family'? Do you really intend to emulate Shang Yang, using severe punishments and bloodshed to the point of rivers flowing?"

(End of this chapter)