Three Kingdoms

The fifth year of Taixing, the first month.

Although the Han Dynasty still failed to quell the war and smoke was everywhere, people still had longing and were full of expectations for the new year.

From the fifteenth day of the twelfth lunar month to the fifteenth day of the first lunar month, basically all government offices are sealed to celebrate the New Year. Whether it is officials, nobles, or people in the countryside, they are busy celebrating the New Year and participating in various sacrifices and celebrations.

The whole of Chang'an is immersed in a festive atmosphere.

Fei Qian's daily schedule is actually not much different from his previous beliefs. The only difference is that there is a small figure beside him.

Fei Zhen followed Fei Qian and treated others with Fei Qian. After being taught by Cai Yan for a period of time, Feizhen's words and deeds were relatively in line with the standards of the current gentry. From time to time, she could respond to others by quoting scriptures, so she was unanimously praised by many people.

A sensible heir is always more reassuring than a naughty child. Fei Qian knows this, and the officials under Fei Qian also know this.

But Fei Qian felt that Fei Zhen was still just superficial. When no one was watching, she still had little self-control and was easily distracted. She would often throw the book away halfway through the book and then go Touching the phone... uh, something else...

So Fei Qian was prepared to use the trip to Yinshan as a lesson for the little guy. However, Feizhen was completely unaware of what problems he would encounter, and was even immersed in the longing and longing for long-distance travel. In fantasy.

"Mother, mother, are the mountains in Yinshan big?" 』

"Mother, mother, are the barbarians over there fierce?" 』

"Mom, mother, I heard that I was born in Pingyang. Is it nice there?" 』

"Mother, mother..."

To be honest, only mothers have so much patience.

As for Fei Qian, he really doesn't have the patience to deal with Fei Zhen's endless questions. He has other things to deal with, especially the overall arrangements for the new year.

Thanks to some influences from later generations, Feiqian's foresight in the Han Dynasty was not just an inference of the overall situation, but some specific government affairs habits.

For example, the three-year plan, the five-year outline, the overall plan at the beginning of the year, and the summary at the end of the year. These behaviors may have become commonplace in later generations, and may even be a bit annoying, but in the Han Dynasty, they are very common. It is eye-catching, and even makes many people think that Fei Qian is deeply scheming, strategizing, and planning carefully, but they dare not act rashly.

After all, most people feel that Fei Qian must have thought more than what he said. It is impossible to say that Fei Qian's five-year plan has actually been considered for ten or twenty years. So, is he already in Fei Qian's plan? In the midst of a calculation? Especially after witnessing many of Fei Qian's previous actions, those one-to-one arrangements made some powerful nobles feel desperate, as if they were facing a big net but didn't know where to hide. Yes, I can only hope that the net will not catch me.

Just like now...

Some people suddenly realized that they were secretly shocked. It turned out that the Hussar General had already made arrangements for things in Hedong. This time, he apparently said that he was taking Feizhen to Yinshan, as if it was a leisure trip, but in fact it was to clean up the corruption in Hedong. Officials! Going up this way, wouldn't it just happen to be killing all the way?

This time, I don’t know how many heads will fall...

The feudal class hierarchy was so strict, how could one tolerate offense? But going on a killing spree just after the New Year makes people feel a bit...

"If killing one person can benefit a hundred people, then a severe punishment can be used." Fei Qian said calmly, "Such corrupt people should use the method of conscription to recover all the money they have taken, including the wives and children of the family!" 』

What about beheading for big greed and beheading for small ones? What about one person committing a crime and the whole family suffering, and then thinking it's unfair? It's just a joke. What kind of freedom, equality, fairness and unfairness are there in the feudal era?

"Wei Yuanzheng..."

"I am here." 』

"Seed participation law." 』

"I am here." 』

"Guo Gongze." 』

"I am here." 』

The three of them came out of the queue and stood in the middle.

"I will give the three of you ten days to check the crimes. If there are any discrepancies, we will report them in writing," Fei Qian said. "If there are no discrepancies, we will all be questioned and executed after ten days." 』

Wei Duan and the others smiled bitterly in their hearts, but they had to accept Fei Qian's order.

Obviously, these three people were thrown out by Fei Qian to attract firepower. These three people are unlikely to stop within ten days. On the surface, it looks like Fei Qian gave these corrupt children from Hedong and wealthy rural families an opportunity. In fact, this is another trap...

If the three people are not stupid and do not reduce the evidence for these corrupt people in Hedong to get people, then they will naturally be hated by these people in Hedong. Even if these people in Hedong know that the main one is Fei Qian, they will not hinder these people. People will keep Wei Duan and the others in mind and do it whenever they have the opportunity.

If these three people think they can take advantage of the opportunity, it doesn't matter, because from now on, their every word and deed will be closely watched. For example, many secret behaviors of the corrupt people in Hedong have been exposed and recorded. How can Wei Duan and the others ensure that their actions will not be noticed?

At the same time, the most important point is that even though the three of them are in the Senate, in fact, the three of them are not harmonious at all. If one of them fails, someone will be arrested before they can use the newly received money. Two other people reported...

As the saying goes, people do their best.

Fei Qian finished the first thing in an understatement, and then gestured for Pang Tong to step forward.

Pang Tong had a sullen face. He first saluted Fei Qian, then turned to the rest of the crowd. He took out a scroll of writing from his sleeve, unfolded it and read: "Every county in the world is under the order of the king, and the power is to protect the people. I will act on my behalf." Wang Ling. Only those who are good and good can govern and defend, and only by governing the people with sincerity can they achieve peace. Therefore, to treat the environment, we must first treat the mind. If the mind is not pure, it will be difficult to calm down the delusional thoughts. If the delusional thoughts rise, the understanding will be unclear. If we do not understand the truth, we will confuse sentient beings. If we confuse right and wrong, how can we govern the people safely? 』

"Therefore, the first priority in governing the people is to govern their hearts." How can one be left alone if he is not equipped with virtue and has not managed his mind? The king's life is in his body, and it is his appearance. If his appearance is not straight, he cannot seek a straight shadow, and if his position is unclear, he cannot be blamed. If the body does not have self-control, but hopes to govern the people, it is like bending the surface and seeking a straight shadow; if one does not cultivate oneself, but wants the people to practice, it is still unreasonable and will be criticized. 』

"Therefore, when you serve as an official, you should be like white jade, practicing benevolence and righteousness, practicing filial piety, practicing loyalty, practicing courtesy, practicing integrity, practicing frugality, and then be tireless and discerning. Do these eight things to train your people. This must be feared and loved by the people, and they will imitate it and practice it, and it will be cured through education. 』

These are all great principles. Although the great principles sometimes seem a bit empty, being able to call them "great principles" at least means that these things can be presented openly and in line with the moral standards of most people.

So when Fei Qian asked Pang Tong to pause for a moment and ask everyone for their opinions, everyone said that they had no objections and that Pang Tong was right...

Fei Qian nodded slightly, and then Pang Tong continued: "But now the great Han Dynasty is in chaos, and it is spreading in all directions, and it has been going on for several years." The people did not see its virtues, but only its harms. They did not have food and clothing, but starvation. They had no new life, but died on the road. In the three auxiliaries of Guanzhong, if there is a slight improvement, corruption will be rampant. In the northeast of Hebei Province, if people's livelihood is slightly stable, silverfish will take over. This is despising the king's order, ignoring the monarch, poisoning the people, and ruining the country. It is a truly heinous crime! 』

"When you serve as an official, you should bring benefit to one party." It is better to pass down scriptures to one's family than to be kind to those who follow. Living between heaven and earth, food and clothing are the most important thing. If you don't have enough food, you will be hungry; if you don't have enough clothes, you will be cold. Hunger and cold are all over the body, and those who want to make the people know the etiquette are like taking a pill against the slope, and they will not get it in the end. Therefore, the herdsmen must have enough food and clothing before education and education can follow. The reason why herdsmen have enough food and clothing is because they do their duties wholeheartedly. 』

"The number of people in each place and the thickness of the land cannot be generalized. However, mountains can be used for wood and tea, paint and mulberry, and water can be used for fish, glue, water chestnuts and lotus roots. Without mountains and water, livestock can also be raised, mines can be mined and transported. The person who is in charge of this matter is only the Chief Mu Shou. The people are ignorant and do not know their own wisdom. They must wait for advice and then do their best. All prefectures and counties should use fields for farming, silkworms for mulberry trees, and rivers for fishermen. When they are cultivated and developed, they should not lose their place. After the planting is finished, the seedlings need to be taken care of. Wheat is in the fields in autumn, and silkworms are in the house. At this time, it is appropriate for young men and women to work hard, and for men and women to work together. Then the farmers will not waste their work, the silkworm women can do their work, the people can have food and clothing, and the elders can have their fame. , the country has to pay taxes, and everyone has his own beauty. Is there any reason why the people are not strong and the country is not prosperous? 』

"The matters of aiding drowning and bandits can be assigned to inspections, mulberry farming, and farming. They can be assigned to farmers, water conservancy, and labor services. They can be assigned to workshops. In this way, within the county, everyone has their own place and everyone knows what they are doing. For, especially those who are idle and lazy, come home early and leave late, enjoy leisurely work and are not diligent in their careers, they will be punished by a formal ultimatum to the county, and they will be punished according to the order. Then there will be political peace and local stability, which is the key to holding office. 』

Fei Qian asked Pang Tong to stop again. On the one hand, it was to give everyone some time to think. On the other hand, it was also to add explanation: "Do not be too frivolous in government, and simplistic things will annoy the people. Don't be too simplistic in teaching. Simplistic things will bring trouble to the people." lazy. Those who are good at politics must know the appropriateness of the times and be at ease with troubles. Therefore, there is a poem that says, neither hard nor soft, administration is excellent, and one's fortune is sought. The three special posts of inspection, agriculture, and engineering were created not to seize the power of the county governor, but to share their concerns. When the manpower is exhausted, how can the affairs of a place be exhausted? If you don't know about farming, and you don't ask about agriculture, but you only rely on speculation, don't you ask about it because you are blind? Although I tried my best, it was not effective. Now, someone here reiterates again and again that the commanders and chiefs of various counties need to know the four words "win-win cooperation". Anyone who blindly excludes dissidents and does not listen to good advice should be dismissed and never used again! 』

"Only..." Everyone responded one after another, and then couldn't help but look at each other. Some people were happy, and some were disappointed.

Fei Qian signaled Pang Tong to continue.

Pang Tong nodded slightly, and then continued to speak loudly: "With the three emperors and the five emperors, there will be taxes. If the country has no wealth and no pay for the soldiers, how can it defend its borders? How can the officials be safe without having to pay their salaries? How can the people be prosperous without repairing canals?" Therefore, since ancient times, there have been laws for taxation. Although the severity is different, they are useful. However, the creation of wealth is not easy. The achievements of weaving and spinning start gradually and cannot be accomplished in ten days. Classes must be encouraged and organized in advance. In Silk Township, weaving was done first, and in Ma soil, weaving was done early. Prepare before the time comes, and lose when the time comes. This is the right path. 』

"Although there are large-scale taxation in various places, the ranking of the rich and the poor depends on the county governor. If the decision-making is done well, the government will be harmonious and the people will be happy; if the law is ineffective, the officials will be traitorous and the people will be resentful. If corvees are sent out without much intention, then the poor and weak may be forced to do the corvee more heavily and guard at a distance, while the rich and powerful may be sent lightly and guard closer. It is a crime to keep the order with this attitude and not to have any sympathy for the people, and it will cause serious harm to the people. 』

"Therefore, as a politician, you should make plans. At the beginning of the year, subordinates should be summoned to count the registered land, approve tax sources, calculate income and expenses, and live within their means. Accounts within counties and counties are all entered in black, marked in red, and marked with "Old management, new acquisition, expulsion" , see in the four accounts, calculate the warehouses, and count the surplus. 』

There was a faint sound of breathing among the people...

"In the past three years, all the government affairs, gains and losses of various counties and counties are listed here. You can see them for yourself, choose the good ones and follow them, and change the bad ones if you know them..." Pang Tong first went to Feiqian. He paid tribute, then turned around and asked the guards to bring up the large banner they had made before, and then hung it and unfolded it in the hall, which immediately caused a louder and more gasping sound, "Everyone, look... Well, for example, Anding Lin In Jing, after two years of service, there were 100 acres of mulberry forest, 3,000 more households, and nearly 10,000 fertile fields... If this is the standard, it should be praised by the superiors..."

Among the crowd, Zhao Ji managed a smile on his face, but cold sweat was pouring down his back. Around Zhao Ji, there were also compliments, whether real or fake, that made Zhao Ji feel on pins and needles.

Seeing Zhao Ji who had "excellent political performance" and was put on the list, some people began to move their butts uneasily, although some of them were not governors, magistrates and other consuls, but were sent by these consuls. However, those who can come to Chang'an on official business are more or less able to oppose the local governor, and they also know a little bit about the actual local situation. Now I see that Pang Tong has reported what they have reported in the past two or three years. When the contents were listed, his face was inevitably a little ugly.

It is an old Chinese tradition to hide things from others. Therefore, when reporting the actual situation directly, it is basically safe. As long as the superiors do not want to investigate, the surrounding counties have no idea what they are doing. There is something mentioned in the chapter, so what if we put a few large satellites? Maybe someone else put a space station...

But now that I'm hanging out, it's different.

Because Fei Qian is limited by communication and transportation, it is impossible to obtain information from various places in a timely manner, but if the surrounding areas want to know something, who can keep it a secret? What if there is a fool or a hostile leader among them...

What's more, there are all kinds of false reports, fake sales, and misappropriations over the years. If someone sneaks out...

Zhao Ji only felt chills running down his spine.

I'm afraid the sword of Hedong will fall on me!

In the following time, Zhao Ji didn't know what he heard. He couldn't even remember how he returned to where he stayed after finishing the meeting. His mind was filled with three questions: "What should I do?" word.

One more year?

And then transferred elsewhere?

This was originally Zhao Ji's wishful thinking, but now, even if Zhao Ji can survive this year, gain high praise again, and then be transferred to a larger county as an official, but the newly arrived Linjing County Magistrate He would definitely not be willing to take the blame for Zhao Ji's legacy...

There are hundreds of acres of mulberry forest, which should be about the same in the whole county combined, but the problem is that there are not many people raising silkworms at all...

You must know that there were no constant-temperature rooms in the Han Dynasty. These silkworms have very high requirements. They are not suitable for being too cold, too hot, too dry, or too wet. Even if they were raised near that place, they would not be able to produce any good silk.

The reason for the increase of 3,000 households is because of the Huqi’s new policy, which stipulates that refugees will be exempted from taxes within three years of settling in, and tax will be reduced within five years. Therefore, for the sake of political performance, Zhao Jixu created a lot of data on the settlement of refugees. Anyway, these household registrations are not needed. Pay taxes, and when three or five years are up, you will have left long ago. If there are any problems, it will be a matter for the next person.

The amount of fertile land worth nearly 10,000 yuan is even more deceptive.

Linjing is a place that lacks water and is relatively dry. How much fertile farmland is there? It is said to be fertile land, but it is just for the sake of looking good on the stamp. Anyway, it can be said to have been covered up by wind and sand, destroyed by refugees, gnawed by cattle and sheep, and even the little official who made the statistics before made a mistake and the lines were drawn crookedly. Wait...

But, what to do now?

Especially now that it is necessary to completely change to "four-column accounting" to count inventory and sort out accounts, this is almost a direct cut into Zhao Ji's weakness, making Zhao Ji feel unbearable pain even breathing.

Why Zhao Ji dared to cheat was because the previous accounting model of running accounts was extremely difficult to verify. Even if a merchant shopkeeper is proficient in arithmetic, when faced with a huge running account, it is not that he can sort out the ins and outs of the account and organize it clearly in three seconds. Therefore, even though the Cavalry General Fei Qian had promoted the "four-pillar accounting" method for a while very early on, it was rarely adopted by counties and counties. The reason is naturally well known to everyone. matter.

But now because of the corruption in Hedong, this issue has been brought up again by Fei Qian, and the most important thing is that Hedong is a lesson learned from the past, and then he refuses to change the accounts?

Isn’t that just asking for it?

But if the changes are based on accounts, how do we fill in the holes in the previous accounts?

Zhao Ji scurried around the room anxiously, like a trapped beast.

rebel?

Zhao Ji doesn't have the courage yet. After all, Fei Qian has a lot of troops under Chang'an's Third Assistant. Xu Huang and Zhang Liao can wipe out all the guys around who dare to act rashly!

So, now it seems that there is only one way left...