Prime Minister

Chapter 1171 Give a chance

Chapter 1171 Give a chance

In the past, the government would definitely blame Zhang Yue for failing to supervise the situation of Aligu jumping back and forth between the Song Dynasty and the Dangxiang.

However, this time Zhang Yue was a little surprised. Not only did the emperor not blame him, he was even excited when he heard that after conquering Liangzhou, the Han and Tang dynasties' homeland was regained.

The official couldn't help but ask, "What's the plan?"

Zhang Yue thought that it would definitely take military pay to seize Liangzhou. Of course, there was a ready-made method, just like Cai Jing in another time and space made salt notes in the future.

First, commercial transportation and relocation were liberalized across the country, and then new banknotes were continuously issued to replace old ones, forcing merchants to use real gold and silver to buy salt banknotes.

How much money did Cai Jing make from this move?

In two years, he made 40 million strings of cash!

Song Huizong praised Cai Jing, saying that this Grand Tutor was a great addition to my family.

The solution is ready, but it is too damaging. However, it is not impossible for the court to issue an additional 300 strings of salt notes and put them on the market, but they have said that they will not issue additional salt notes this year. Wouldn't it be a slap in their own face if they suddenly issue additional salt notes?

If next year comes, the emperor will blame himself for not taking the capture of Liangzhou seriously and just fooling around all day long.

Right now the Song Dynasty is maintaining a balance of war and defense with the Dangxiang in Xihe Road. It is possible to add money, but where can we find it?

Although Zhang Yue had no idea what to do, he said with great confidence: "Your Majesty, your words are not about military or national affairs. I will go back and write a memorial to explain it in detail."

Zhang Yue clearly did not have any ready-made rules, but he spoke of them so solemnly that the officials felt that Zhang Yue was confident and had everything under control and was just being serious.

Although the emperor felt a little regretful, he said, "You are neither arrogant nor impatient, which is the character of a minister. I can wait for you."

Zhang Yue calmly stood up the official and left immediately.

Zhang Yue was thinking about the layout of the attack on Liangzhou along the way, but he was at a loss for ideas. He was not a planner, so if he really wanted to come up with a plan, he would be at a loss.

However, Zhang Yue is good at listening to others and can choose good suggestions from his subordinates.

Zhang Yue was on his way back home when suddenly someone rushed out from the side without being blocked by his entourage. Zhang Yue thought, this is bad, could it be that Li Bingchang or Aligu sent assassins to kill me?

Have you forgotten how Wu Yuanheng, the prime minister of the Tang Dynasty, died?

But the 'assassin' had mediocre martial arts skills and was pinned to the ground by Zhang Yue and Zuo Yuansui as soon as he jumped out, leaving him in a dog-eating-shit position.

"Is the Prime Minister alright?"

Everyone around him comforted him.

More than a dozen patrol soldiers who were patrolling here immediately caught up.

"This man is not an assassin."

Zhang Yue adjusted his official hat. Although he was a little panicked, he could tell at a glance that this person was not an assassin. After struggling hard, the other party said, "I, Sun Lu, want to see the Prime Minister. I am indeed not an assassin."

Sun Lu?

The name sounded familiar. Zhang Yue remembered that this person was the one who had reported to the higher authorities last time.

He actually dared to go around and tell tales to the emperor. No superior would allow such a person to live too long.

Now he had been dismissed from his post and ordered to reflect on his actions. He had repeatedly asked to see him, but he had always refused.

At this moment, someone had already moved a chair for Zhang Yue to sit down.

Zhang Yue looked at the other person's embarrassed look and said, "I don't want to see you, so you are guarding the road?"

Sun Lu bowed his head and said, "That's right. I have waited for three days for this opportunity. I beg to see the Prime Minister. If you can hear a few words from me, I will be willing to die."

Zhang Yue looked at the man carefully and found that he had a dignified appearance. He thought to himself that he was quite a character.

Zhang Yue was a person who never did anything to the extreme. This person had offended him before, but he had asked for a meeting many times before. This time he did not hesitate to stop them from meeting. Who knows what he would do next time.

Zhang Yue said, "Come inside and talk."

Sun Lu was overjoyed and said, "Thank you very much, Prime Minister, for the audience."

Zhang Yue ignored him and stood up, pointing at Sun Lu on the ground and said to his left and right: "You guys should watch carefully next time, don't let this kind of people get close to me again."

Dozens of followers all nodded in embarrassment.

After entering the mansion, Zhang Yue changed his clothes and drank tea. Sun Lu knelt beside him and said, "I have been in Shaanxi for many years and I know the local situation well..."

Zhang Yue interrupted him and said, "I want to ask you if you have any way to manage the local finances and raise military funds."

Sun Lu's expression brightened when he heard this and he said, "Yes, the current dilemma of Shaanxi Road is that the court needs money to raise military funds, but the burden on the people is too heavy."

"In the past, rich peasants and middle peasants all sought official positions to avoid being extorted and exploited by officials, but the rich peasants and middle peasants who did not have official positions were exploited by officials until they went bankrupt. This was not a drawback of the reform, but a consistent phenomenon from ancient times to the present."

Zhang Yue said disdainfully: "This is just the same old tune! It's just a bunch of nonsense!"

Sun Lu blushed at Zhang Yue's words and said, "Yes, the court cannot collect taxes. If we expand the financial resources, the people will oppose us. But if we don't collect taxes, we can't deal with the Tanguts."

"So I suggest that we start with the clerks. As long as we can reduce the exploitation at the grassroots level, the court will naturally collect more money, and the people will no longer suffer."

After listening to Sun Lu's words, Zhang Yue thought, this is the idea of ​​'eliminating the middlemen'.

"That being said, who would be willing to do this if it is resented by everyone?"

Sun Lu said in a loud voice: "I am willing to do it!"

Zhang Yue looked at Sun Lu and asked, "Did you have any grudges against local officials in Shaanxi before?"

Sun Lu was stunned when he heard this, and then said: "No grudge!"

"Wuchou?" Zhang Yue said with a smile, "Why does Wuchou have to make things difficult for me? Aren't you afraid of dying on the way?"

Sun Lu gritted his teeth and said, "This humble official deeply hates the exploitation of officials!"

"The taxes collected by the imperial court are actually additional expenses for local officials, such as the sparrow and mouse fee, which has been a practice for thousands of years."

"But the officials in Shaanxi are particularly excessive, digging three feet into the ground. I have witnessed this for a long time in Shaanxi, and I am filled with hatred and cannot tolerate it any longer."

"really?"

Sun Lu gritted his teeth and said, "To be honest with you, Prime Minister, I don't want to be an official in silence and follow the rules."

Zhang Yue said: "That's right. There are many talented people in the world, but talented people may not have great ambitions."

"There are too many rules and regulations in the current officialdom, which indeed makes many ambitious people waste their time."

"But I'll give you a chance, can you get up?"

"I can!" Sun Lu replied.

Zhang Yue examined Sun Lu's words and said, "I am also interested in rectifying the officialdom in Shaanxi. I see that you have some talent, so I will appoint you as the inspector of Qinfeng Road and start with rectifying this road."

Sun Lu was overjoyed and bowed, saying: "There are many people like me in the world, but there are few people who are as good at using people as the Prime Minister."

"I am deeply grateful for the Prime Minister's entrustment today."

Zhang Yue smiled and said, "Don't be grateful. I'll tell you the truth. I'm using you for the sake of merit. If you want to clean up the clerks, I'll let you do it. But if things get too serious, I may not be able to protect you."

"But if you do nothing, you are deceiving the truth, so both crimes are counted as one! You don't have to come and see me again, just find a river to jump into!"

"You have to decide the right measure for yourself!"

Sun Lu said: "Yes."

After Sun Lu left, Zhang Yue walked to the window and saw that the man was frightened at first, but when he walked to a place where there was no one, he regained his composure.

Zhang Yue thought to himself that this person was quite an interesting person.

If you are ambitious and have aspirations, God will give you opportunities even if you don't give yourself opportunities.