Guide to traveling through the Northern Song Dynasty

The trials of corruption cases are still ongoing, and almost every four or five days, someone is sentenced to death or exiled.

The number of exiles has exceeded 10,000!

Guangdong, Fujian, and Zhejiang provinces were exiled to the Penghu Islands and established water villages (small naval bases) on the Penghu Islands.

Jiangxi, Hunan and Guangxi provinces were exiled to Zhenyuan, Rongzhou (Rongshui), Xunjiangbao and Linxibao (these two places were in Sanjiang County).

Shaanxi and Henan provinces were exiled to Xihe and Hengshan areas.

Sichuan and Hubei provinces were exiled to Nanguangbu in southern Sichuan.

The remaining provinces, depending on the severity of their crimes, will be exiled to Youyan, Pyongyang, Tsushima Island, and Sado Island.

Especially southern Sichuan even used the army.

The Southern Guangdong Department is probably located in Gaoxian, Gongxian, Junlian and Xingwen areas, where various ethnic minority tribes are scattered.

The garrison and Cao troops in Sichuan and Hubei mobilized 30,000 people to kill them, forcing the various ministries in Nanguang to surrender, and set up forts at key locations. The exiled officials and people settled around the forts for cultivation.

…

Imperial City, Council Hall.

The atmosphere in today's imperial meeting was still somewhat depressing.

Xiao Chu was the first to speak: "There are only more than 20,000 high-ranking officials in the country, and now hundreds have been beheaded, hundreds have been exiled, and more than 1,000 people are in custody awaiting trial. One-tenth of the officials have been investigated and dealt with in the turmoil inside and outside the court , local government affairs are stagnant, this is not a long-term solution. It is very good for officials and princes to rectify the administration of officials, but everything must be done in a certain way!"

Zhai Ruwen first looked at Zhu Guoxiang, then observed Zhu Ming's expression, and then said, "Please let me know how long the case will be investigated."

Zhu Guoxiang said: "The investigation will end on New Year's Day. The first day of the first lunar month of the sixth year of Hongwu will be drawn as a boundary. As long as there is no corruption and bending of the law in the future, the previous crimes will not be pursued. If you dare to commit the crime again, the new and old cases will be investigated together."

At this time, there is still more than a month before the Chinese New Year. When all the cases are completed, it is estimated that more than one-tenth of the criminals will be dealt with.

Is Ju Ming not as ruthless as Zhu Yuanzhang?

Although the number of dead in the three major cases in the early Ming Dynasty was in the tens of thousands, there were really not that many officials who were beheaded, and a large number of family members and common people were among them.

As for Zhu Yuanzhang's crackdown on corruption, he kept killing people without daring to kill them. He could only let officials continue to work in chains.

"With punishment comes reward," Ju Ming began to change the subject. "The rest are all honest officials, or they are lucky. I will discuss with Your Majesty to increase the official salary again so that truly honest officials can live a more dignified life."

This is to give a stick and a sweet date to quickly appease the officials.

The father and son began to sing the double act. Zhu Guoxiang continued: "The salary in the former Song Dynasty was too complicated. Although it was streamlined in the Ming Dynasty and the New Dynasty, it still seemed too complicated and trivial. I plan to divide the material money, additional money, rice, job money, and meal money. , salary, charcoal, salt, paper, yuan and money, etc., are all converted into money and grain, and except for spring and winter clothing, they will not be separately provided in the future."

People usually understand salary as lumi and job money.

But other wages are also very terrible. For example, the former Song Dynasty prime minister and privy envoys received 300 guan per month. This is just the salary money. During the holidays, there is also special money given out.

The prime minister's meal money is 50 guan per month.

In addition, Yuan Sui is allocated, such as the prime minister, who can recruit seventy followers, and the court is responsible for paying wages.

(For those with "envoy" as their official title or with a title of nobility, the maximum amount of material money is 400 guan, and the maximum amount for followers is 100.)

Compared with the preferential treatment of civil servants in the Song Dynasty, the Ming Dynasty was indeed too harsh.

Zhu Guoxiang said: "The first grade is: the salary is 600 guan, and the lumi is 300 shi. The first grade is: the salary is 550 guan, and the lumi is 280 shi. The second grade is: the salary is 500 guan, and the lumi is 250 shi. The second grade is: the salary is 450 gu. Guan, Lumi 220 stones.”

The important ministers did not react much after hearing this.

Because this is the result of converting all benefits into money and food.

The Ming Dynasty, which treated officials harshly like Zhu Yuanzhang, also had other benefits besides regular salary.

The cloth distributed in winter and spring alone is worth the old nose's money, but now you have to buy it yourself, and the court is only responsible for issuing two sets of official uniforms.

Moreover, the salary that was so high just now was only for a first- and second-grade official.

How much are the first and second products in the country combined?

The salary of third-grade officials must have dropped significantly!

Sure enough, Zhu Guoxiang continued: "From the third grade: the salary is 350 guan, and the lumi is 200 shi. From the third grade..."

Look, compared to the second grade, the monthly salary of the third grade has dropped by 100 yuan.

When I think about the fifth- and eighth-grade officials, my salary suddenly drops again.

Zhu Guoxiang said: "The seventh rank: the salary is 50 guan, and the lumi is 60 shi. The seventh rank: the salary is 45 guan, and the lumi is 55 shi. The eighth rank, the salary is 30 guan..."

There are more than 20,000 officials in the country, and more than 80% of them are eighth- and ninth-grade officials.

This is the bulk of salary expenses!

When the Song Dynasty talked about preferential treatment for civil servants, it was just crazy salary increases for senior officials, but the eighth- and ninth-grade officials had a very difficult life.

The salaries re-established by the father and son made the actual salaries of middle- and high-level officials much lower than those in the Northern Song Dynasty. However, the salaries of seventh-, eighth-, and ninth-rank officials at the bottom were somewhat higher than those in the Northern Song Dynasty.

Zhu Guoxiang continued: "If it is an official position with harsh conditions, such as being an official in a desolate and remote place, there will be additional money in addition to the salary. In principle, regardless of actual position or false title, the position with the highest grade shall prevail. It is absolutely not allowed. Get two or three salaries. In addition, the third division, third young master, Zhu Guo, special Jin, etc. who are promoted to official positions can receive an additional salary."

Although the ministers and ministers present were not short of money.

But the new salary law announced by Zhu Guoxiang still made them smile. It's not about money, it's about thinking that you get the respect you deserve.

Zhu Guoxiang added: "You recruit the personal entourage of officials at all levels yourself, and the court will not pay the personal entourage."

Ju Ming answered: "The benefits of the title have also been improved!"

"The price per household in Shiyi will be increased from 25 cents per month to 30 cents per month, and the number of households with food seals will be increased. In addition, the number of titles for civil servants will be increased, and a large number of titles will be given after the Kingdom of Jin is destroyed."

"The new dynasty can have ten thousand households, and it will be a real seal!"

When these words were spoken, all the ministers were shocked.

In order to suppress the military generals in the Northern Song Dynasty, firstly, they did not allow hereditary titles, and secondly, they suppressed the number of households with real income.

In the Northern Song Dynasty, Prince Zhu even said that 3,000 households were allowed to have 10,000 households.

Honor aside, what practical benefits does Wanhuhou have?

With 30 coins per household, it is enough to provide food for thousands of households, which is only 300 coins per month.

How many thousands of households can exist at the same time?

It is estimated that there are only one or two. Even among the founders of the country, only four or five are worthy of the heaven.

This amount of money is not much for the court, but it can bring great honor to the generals, who are really willing to risk their lives for meritorious service.

Ju Ming added: "The title decreases when it is hereditary, and the title decreases faster when it is hereditary. This is to encourage the noble children to use their own swords, weapons, and titles instead of relying on the shadow of their fathers to enjoy their achievements."

Those titles in the Ming Dynasty were more hereditary than those in the Song Dynasty.

However, not only did the title decrease, but also the title dropped rapidly. Perhaps two or three generations later, the descendants of nobles will still be marquis or earl, but apart from the fixed salary based on their rank, there will no longer be any other benefits.

It just sounds nice to say it. If you want to get the food seal, you have to make meritorious service to the court!

After the imperial meeting, the important ministers left one after another, and their spirits became much higher.

The father and son have never been emperors or princes, and the country's system and laws have to be gradually improved. This time, they have been improved through a major case.

Overall, the annual official salary expenditure of the Ming Dynasty was actually much lower than that of the Northern Song Dynasty. Moreover, canceling various benefits and converting them into money and grain can also eliminate many illegal operations and reduce the corresponding number of officials.

Allowing officials to purchase welfare supplies on their own can also make the market more standardized.

In addition, the path of Enyin officials was blocked. Even if redundant officials did appear in the Ming Dynasty in the future, it would definitely not be as serious as the Song Dynasty.

The next step is to revise the "Da Ming Law". It is estimated that Ju Ming will die before this thing can be completely finalized, and then the emperors of the past dynasties will come up with some supplementary provisions.

After everyone left and the eunuchs also voluntarily stepped down, Zhu Guoxiang suddenly said: "At the end of the sixth year of Hongwu, I will officially retire."

Ju Ming nodded: "Alright."

Now it was Zhu Guoxiang's turn to be surprised: "You actually agreed?"

Ju Ming said: "This time to fight corruption, I have the final say in everything. How can you still have any authority as the emperor? Did you do this on purpose?"

"Hehe." Zhu Guoxiang smiled proudly.

Investigating and punishing one-tenth of the total number of officials in the country has almost reached the limit. If the investigation continues, the world will be in chaos.

Zhu Guoxiang felt very tired and refused to be emperor again.

"Xu Fuyan's two sons are too innocent. Let's find an opportunity to reinstate them in the future." Zhu Guoxiang warned.

Ju Ming nodded and said: "I have recorded the officials who have been innocently implicated, and only a few of them are reinstated every year. But it cannot be done with a big fanfare, so as not to affect the effectiveness of the fight against corruption."

Zhu Guoxiang asked: "Li Bangyan is dismissed, who will be replaced as cabinet minister?"

"Zhao Quan, Minister of the Ministry of Industry," Ju Ming said, "This man has done a good job in water conservancy. This time, many officials in the Ministry of Industry were investigated, but Zhao Quan was not corrupt. Such an honest and capable minister should be commended and promoted."

Zhu Guoxiang asked again: "Who will take over as Minister of the Ministry of Industry?"

Zhu Ming smiled and said: "Qin Hui is good. He is extremely capable and will definitely be qualified for this position. Moreover, there is a lot of money in the Ministry of Industry. It just depends on when he reaches out. I don't believe he can bear it!"

Zhu Guoxiang said: "Then let Meng Zhao be transferred to the position of Minister of the Ministry of Punishment, and then give him an additional official position as compensation. Huan Guo was promoted to Minister of the Ministry of Rites, and in addition, Zhao Ding, Li Gang, Ling Guxu and others were recalled to the Six Ministries as Ministers."

The father and son discussed various aftermath matters, and the investigation and punishment of corrupt officials continued.

Soon, the salary adjustment plan was promulgated in the form of an imperial edict, which stabilized the minds of officials to a certain extent.

Especially the adjustments related to titles, the senior generals are particularly happy.

Everyone wants to have enough food to seal ten thousand households. Three hundred guan per month is nothing. What they want is the honorary title of "ten thousand households".

During the Northern Song Dynasty, the ten thousand households in a food town belonged to the prince level, and the Shishi Feng was one-tenth of the food town. If you continue to make meritorious deeds, the food allowance will basically not increase until 3,000 households reach 5,000 households. Those who reach 5,000 households will be very rare.

Li Bao, Zhang Guangdao and others are very likely to be able to seal thousands of households, which is equivalent to crushing all the nobles in the Northern Song Dynasty!