The Great Song Dynasty: You were put in charge of teaching, and you produced a whole bunch of prime

Han Qi slowly opened his eyes, straightened his purple court robes, his movements were slow and deliberate, yet they carried an oppressive feeling as if Mount Tai were pressing down on him.

Han Qi strode out, not in a fit of rage like the others, but with the composure of an elder. He stopped three feet in front of Jiang Lin, his gaze deep and unfathomable.

"Mr. Jiang, the questions raised by my colleagues just now were nothing more than trivial disputes over personal ethics."

Han Qi's voice wasn't loud, but it resonated clearly in the spacious hall. "Since Mr. Jiang was able to teach a top scholar like Su Shi, he must have a profound understanding of the world. Today, I will not concern myself with personal matters, but only ask you about a genuine issue of national policy."

Jiang Lin abandoned his previous nonchalant attitude and bowed slightly: "I would like to hear your insightful opinion, Prime Minister Han."

Han Qi's gaze sharpened as he posed the intractable question that had plagued prime ministers throughout history:

"Mr. Jiang, do you know what the greatest problem is that plagues the Song Dynasty today?"

Before Jiang Lin could answer, Han Qi began to answer his own questions, speaking rapidly, like a barrage of machine gun fire:

"It's the three redundancies! Redundant officials, redundant soldiers, and redundant expenses!"

"When Emperor Taizu founded the dynasty, the court had only a few thousand officials; now? More than 20,000! The imperial guards numbered only 200,000 during Emperor Taizu's reign; now? 800,000! Emperor Taizu's annual revenue of 30 million strings of cash was enough to make a surplus; now? Even with an annual revenue of 60 million strings of cash, the expenditures are still insufficient!"

With each sentence Han Qi spoke, he took a step closer, his imposing manner overwhelming.

"These three redundancies are like a festering sore, deeply entrenched and difficult to reverse. Fan Zhongyan used this as the subject of his reforms, but failed. Now, the Song Dynasty's treasury is empty and the people are suffering. Since Mr. Jiang claims to have the talent to govern the world, do you have any insightful opinions on this?"

The question caused an uproar throughout the court.

Ruthless! Absolutely ruthless!

This wasn't a question; it was practically putting Jiang Lin on the hot seat. These "three redundancies" were a terminal illness of the Song Dynasty; whoever touched them was doomed.

You say there's no problem? That's deceiving the emperor; you say there's a problem? Then give me a solution! If you can't, you're just a mediocre person who only knows how to talk big.

All eyes were on Jiang Lin's face, waiting to see his panicked expression.

However, Jiang Lin did not panic.

He even... wanted to laugh a little.

Sure enough, that's the problem. Whether it's the ancient Song Dynasty or a modern company on the verge of bankruptcy, the problem of "bloated staff and low efficiency" is exactly the same.

"That's a good question, Prime Minister Han."

Jiang Lin's lips curled slightly upward, a smile that exuded an inscrutable confidence. He slowly reached into his wide sleeves, rummaging and rummaging.

Han Qi frowned slightly: What kind of dirty secrets is this kid going to dig up this time?

Under the watchful eyes of everyone, Jiang Lin pulled out a neatly folded piece of paper.

"I have thought about this problem long ago. Not only that, I have also written a policy essay on it."

Jiang Lin unfolded the paper with a "whoosh" and said loudly:

"Since Your Excellency has inquired about it today, I will humbly read it to you all. The title of this policy essay is—"

He paused, his gaze sweeping over the fat, bloated officials, and then uttered the title, word by word:

"On the Poison of Redundant Officials and Expenses in the Song Dynasty and the Necessity of 'Layoffs'"

"Layoffs...layoffs?"

These two words were too unfamiliar to the officials of the Song Dynasty, but when they considered the context and thought about it for a moment, a chill ran down their spines.

"Mr. Jiang, read it aloud." Zhao Zhen, sitting on the dragon throne, became interested and leaned forward slightly.

Jiang Lin cleared his throat and began the "data bombardment" mode:

"During the Kaibao era of Emperor Taizu, there were no more than three hundred officials in the capital and no more than three thousand in the provinces. Now, there are three thousand officials in the capital and twenty thousand in the provinces! The number of officials has increased sixfold. May I ask you, sirs, has the administration of the Song Dynasty also increased sixfold?"

Dead silence. Only the heavy breathing of a few officials could be heard.

"No," Jiang Lin sneered. "What are these extra officials doing?"

"Three monks have no water to drink, ten officials do nothing! A cup of tea, a newspaper, a document—just a perfunctory gesture. Drawing salaries without working, occupying positions, and passing the buck—this is the reality!"

This string of blunt, straightforward remarks was like a slap in the face to many officials present.

"Why are there more and more officials? Because of patronage and favoritism!"

Jiang Lin's voice suddenly rose, directly tearing away this ugliest veil of pretense: "A prime minister can bestow official positions upon more than a dozen of his descendants; a vice minister can do so for seven or eight. Generation after generation, the number of officials only increases!"

He whirled around, his gaze sweeping over the assembled officials like a sharp sword:

"My lords, ask yourselves honestly—do your sons and nephews stand here based on their true talents and abilities, or on your own old faces?"

"presumptuous!"

"nonsense!"

The imperial court erupted in chaos. Several officials who had been living off their fathers' influence trembled as they pointed at Jiang Lin. This was ripping them off!

Han Qi's face was so dark it could drip water. He hadn't expected Jiang Lin to not only dare to answer, but also dare to flip the table.

Jiang Lin completely ignored their clamor and continued speaking, his pace quickening:

My suggestion is simple—layoffs!

First, the practice of granting official positions through hereditary privilege will cease. From now on, all official appointments will be based on the imperial examination system.

Second, regular assessments. An assessment is conducted every three years; those who fail are demoted or dismissed.

Third, streamline government agencies. Merge redundant departments and eliminate unnecessary positions.

"In this way, half of the redundant officials can be eliminated within ten years, saving tens of millions of strings of cash!"

After speaking, Jiang Lin raised the policy essay high in his hand and presented it with both hands:

"Your Majesty, this is merely my humble opinion. Without addressing the root cause, the Song Dynasty will inevitably succumb to its effects sooner or later!"

The hall was completely silent.

Zhao Zhen looked at the policy proposal, a hint of shock flashing in his eyes, but also a hint of hesitation.

That sounds good, but if we actually put it into practice, it would mean making enemies of all the scholars and officials in the world.

In the suffocating silence, an aged yet powerful voice suddenly rang out from the back of the hall:

"Absurd! Utterly absurd!"

Everyone looked in the direction of the voice and saw an old minister in a purple robe with white hair and beard stride out. His face was stern, but his eyes were as firm as iron, and he exuded an aura of stubbornness that said, "I am the truth."

Upon seeing who it was, even Han Qi took a small step back.

That was a Hanlin Academician, the future leader of the conservatives, and also the hardest rock in the Song Dynasty—

Sima Guang.

Sima Guang walked to the center of the hall and stared intently at Jiang Lin, as if he were looking at a traitorous minister:

"Mr. Jiang, your 'layoff theory' may seem reasonable, but it is actually disastrous for the country and its people!"

"Do you intend to destroy the century-old foundation of the Song Dynasty?!"