Chapter 131 Thunderous Means! (Coming!)

"Not a son of man!"

Standing outside the Political Council Hall, Zhang Heng spat and cursed.

Fan Zhongyan called him a living Cao Cao and threatened to behead him. He asked one more question about the sea trade and was kicked out.

So, should we do it or not?

He turned around and saw Xu Yuan looking at him in surprise.

Zhang Heng sighed and said: "Fan Shenzheng loves this boy so much, but the boy doesn't understand Fan Shenzheng's love and care. He really is not a son of a man!"

Xu Yuan: "..."

Well, it’s better not to offend someone who even scolds you if you are cruel.

When Xu Yuan entered the Political Council Hall, he heard Fan Zhongyan also scolding: "You are not the son of a man, you are not the son of a man!"

Xu Yuan: "..."

"Participate in politics?"

Fan Zhongyan raised his head and saw that it was Xu Yuan, so he closed his mouth and forced a smile on his face: "Zichun is here."

Xu Yuan smiled and said, "Did that boy offend you?"

Fan Zhongyan snorted: "That's not to say, it's just that boy who brought me a lot of trouble!"

Xu Yuan raised his eyebrows: "Open the sea?"

Fan Zhongyan nodded: "Have you heard of it recently?"

Xu Yuan nodded and said: "There have been more and more noises like this recently, probably because of the war in the northwest. Bandits have occupied the Western Region, and the trade routes there have been cut off. They will not be able to open in a short time, so some people are looking at the sea and the benefits of maritime trade."

In fact, it is quite abundant. There have been some voices over the years, but they have always been insignificant. Now the voices have become louder again."

Fan Zhongyan thought for a moment and said, "What is the public opinion like now?"

Xu Yuan's face was quite solemn: "There are those who agree, and there are those who despise it.

Those who agree believe that maritime trade benefits the country and the people, and it is best to implement it as soon as possible to make up for the dilemma of insufficient funds and depleted people's wealth.

Those who despise it believe that sea trade is a scourge that must not be let go. If it is let go, there will be a shortage of money and people will not be able to make a living.

Anyway, people have different opinions and insist on their own opinions. If they have different opinions, they may still quarrel."

Fan Zhongyan was suddenly frightened: "Has it reached this point?"

He thought to himself: This guy is really awesome. He is obviously just a small official, but he can single-handedly start such a big discussion and encourage so many people to cheer for him... Alas, such a person came out of the Song Dynasty.

Monster, I don’t know whether it is a blessing or a curse.

Xu Yuan nodded and said: "Actually, it is what happened in the past ten days. In the past few days, it has suddenly become more intense. A certain person in the transportation department even heard some subordinates discussing this matter. It is possible that this discussion has even

It extends into the market."

"Then what do you think?" Fan Zhongyan asked suddenly.

Xu Yuan was stunned for a moment and smiled: "I am very busy every day..."

Fan Zhongyan waved his hand and said: "I'm not asking for anything else, I just want to ask your opinion. The reason why I asked you to serve as Jianghuai's shipping magistrate is because you are capable and able to deal with current affairs.

The Jianghuai Shipment Department is the most important place for wealth and the best place to recruit people, so I specially transferred an official to Chao. Now it seems that I have a good vision. Since you took office, you will reduce redundant expenses and smoothen the sources of profits.

It harms the people and helps the military and the country.

You are a professional talent, and sea trade is also a field of wealth. If you talk more about it, maybe you can give me some reference."

Xu Yuan suddenly became serious. He thought about it carefully and said, "I haven't thought about sea trade in detail, but I do have some experience in management..."

He slowly said: "... I believe that there is no stability without agriculture, no strength without industry, and no wealth without trade. Agriculture, industry and trade are the foundation for the stability, prosperity and strength of a country.

Participating in politics and your suggestions of equalizing public land, enriching agriculture and mulberry trees are all excellent policies, which can ensure that the country's foundation is not shaken, but industry and trade are also very important.

According to someone's observation, the industry and trade of the Song Dynasty was the strongest in the world. In the past, it was sold to the Western Regions through the Hexi Corridor. It was precisely because of this export that the Song Dynasty became rich.

Because unlike agriculture, agriculture generally has a high self-sufficiency characteristic. Even without trade, farmers can be self-sufficient. However, the things produced by industry are different. They must sell them in order to continue to operate and make profits.

Support your family.

The current situation in the Song Dynasty is that agriculture has no way to feed more people due to insufficient arable land. Therefore, if industry can prosper, it can also feed many people, but the premise is that the products produced can

Sell ​​it.

This creates a problem. When more and more people invest in the handicraft industry, more and more things are produced, but the pots, pans, vehicles, utensils, etc. required by each household are all

constant, then their products will be unsaleable, and handicraft owners who cannot sell their goods will go bankrupt. When they go bankrupt, they will become refugees. They have neither land nor craftsmanship to support their families. In this way, the number of refugees will increase.

The more.

Therefore, with the war in the northwest, the number of refugees became more and more, not just because of droughts and floods, but more of the refugees themselves were craftsmen. Because the northwest passage was cut off, the products they produced could not be sold.

So, they became refugees.

...I don’t know what the consequences will be if we let go of the sea trade issue, but I know that if sea trade can sell a large number of products from the Song Dynasty, then the handicraft industry can accommodate a large number of refugees.

Refugees are a factor of instability. Uprisings and mutinies in various places are ultimately due to the problem of refugees. If refugees are included in handicraft workshops, all unrest will be unrest.

Maritime trade will also bring a large amount of taxes. To the court, a large amount of taxes is like having a lot of clean water for a person who is about to die of thirst. Isn’t it a life-saving thing?..."

Xu Yuan spoke slowly, and Fan Zhongyan listened quietly. When Xu Yuan gradually stopped, Fan Zhongyan smiled and said: "You haven't thought about it. You have obviously thought about it deeply, right?"

Xu Yuan smiled bitterly and said: "I'm talking about trade, not sea trade."

Fan Zhongyan smiled and said: "Actually, it's the same truth, it's just a different way."

Xu Yuan grinned when he heard this: "It is better to have a thorough understanding of politics when participating in politics. Whether it is the Silk Road, internal trade in the Song Dynasty, or maritime trade, in the final analysis it is all trade, and it does not differ just because of different forms."

Fan Zhongyan nodded and said: "So, if the Silk Road was not cut off, the Song Dynasty would not refuse trade to the Western Regions, and it would be even less likely to prohibit trade within the Song Dynasty, right?"

Xu Yuan nodded firmly.

Fan Zhongyan smiled and said: "So, these two trades are beneficial to the country, the court, and the people, right?"

Xu Yuan nodded affirmatively again.

"Then, sea trade is also beneficial to Guo Jia, the court, and the people, right?"

Fan Zhongyan said.

Xu Yuan nodded and said: "There is no doubt about it."

Fan Zhongyan nodded and said: "So, that boy really gave me a big trouble!"

His eyes became firm and he whispered: "...Since you have pushed the matter to this point, let me swing the last hammer!"

——

The pirate leader and the gang were escorted to Beijing. Fan Zhongyan immediately ordered the Kaifeng Mansion to take over. The person in charge of the Kaifeng Mansion was Zhang Heng.

Zhang Heng worked with the police all night to join the army to conduct criminal investigation. The pirates originally wanted to resist.

However, Zhang Heng interrogated them separately, and used some tricks to create a situation where someone could no longer bear it. He tried to get the first blow and tried to report him to reduce his guilt. He breached the fortress and obtained first-hand information, and finally revealed the secret behind the scenes.

The people dug it out.

Zhang Heng immediately conducted a second round of interrogation, uncovering the maritime merchants behind it and the local officials involved, etc., and sent the materials to Fan Zhongyan as soon as possible.

Fan Zhongyan attacked overnight and discussed with Zhao Zhen. The next morning, after the morning court, Zhao Zhen summoned the chief ministers of the second government and the third department to a meeting in Chongzheng Hall.

After a heated argument, it was finally settled.

Zhao Zhen issued an order to mobilize troops attached to the Privy Council and rushed through the military post to rush to Jianghuai.

In the evening, Chen Zhizhong, who was stationed in Chuzhou, immediately led his troops southward and arrived early the next morning to station outside Hangzhou to create a shock.

The arrests were not carried out by Chen Zhizhong, because no one could guarantee whether the troops would burn, kill, and loot when they entered the city, but deterrence was necessary.

The arrest list has been sent to Liangzhe Road Criminal Prison Department and Jiangnan East Road Criminal Prison Department along with Chen Zhizhong's arrival, and these two Criminal Prison Departments will carry out the arrest work.

Under the leadership of the supervisor, the officials of the Prison Department acted separately according to the guidance of the list. Some teams directly stationed in prefectures and counties to arrest colluded officials in prefectures and counties, and some directly broke into the mansions of maritime merchants to arrest them.

After half a month of arrests, torture, expansion, arrests, and interrogations, a steady stream of materials were sent to Bianjing. The Prison Department of Bianjing was also very busy, following the list of officials in Beijing who were arrested.

Seeing that the situation was escalating, Lu Yijian could not sit still and dragged his sick body to his knees and begged to see the official.

Zhao Zhen was a man who missed old friendships. He took Lu Yijian in and talked for a whole afternoon. Then Lu Yijian was carried out. After that, Zhao Zhen ordered to stop expanding the scope.

However, officials with confirmed charges, murder cases, and excessive corruption were punished in accordance with the law. After this battle, the Jiangnan Department was greatly damaged and its vitality was severely damaged.

Jiangnan Maritime merchants who participated in obstructing this disaster relief and burning grain, and who blocked the attack at sea, had their homes confiscated, their heads beheaded, and their main personnel exiled.

Those grain merchants who were not involved, but who raised grain prices, were also imprisoned and allowed to pay copper fines in lieu of their crimes.

Fan Zhongyan then wrote a letter requesting the opening of the sea ban. Ouyang Xiu and others also wrote in support. Wu Yu, Jia Changchao and others also wrote to express their support. The other chief officials and magistrates also wrote letters requesting the opening of the sea.

Zhao Zhen complied with the requests of the officials and the people and ordered the opening of the sea. The first batch of ports to be opened were Fuzhou, Quanzhou, Mingzhou, and Haizhou, and municipal shipping departments were set up in these open ports to manage maritime trade matters.

In Hangzhou, the center of this incident, the work of the Municipal Shipping Department has been temporarily suspended, and maritime merchants are naturally not allowed to go to sea.

——

Zhang Heng was dumbfounded as he watched these things happen one by one, sweeping away like thunder. Many officials were sacked, tortured, and dismissed from their posts. Then Jiangnan maritime merchants were also sent to him for investigation and interrogation. The newly built prisons of the government were all
To be continued...