When the meat was served, Liu Ji smiled slightly, casually put a plate of meat slices in front of him, and pushed the large basin containing the meat. When Du Zhongxiao saw it, he suddenly remembered that not all of the people who were guests today could eat meat every day. He used the habits of his previous life to think about problems, and all the officials here today are officials with real power in prefectures and counties, and income is naturally not a problem, only whether he eats well or not, and where there is a problem of whether he is full or not. Liu Ji's action made Du Zhongxiao realize that he was very wrong.

The county-level officials of this era, unless they are Beijing officials like Gu Zhixian, can only be regarded as township and town cadres in the current generation. Their standard of living, put in the difficult period of Du Zhongxiao's previous life, there are more children in the family, isn't it normal that they can't eat meat? It was the same in those days. It's like you can't take it for granted that lamb will be more expensive than pork at any time, and you shouldn't take it for granted that you will use your own living habits in your previous life to set this era. In this year, there are no dual-income workers, and every official has to raise a large family, and it is normal to not be able to afford meat.

Thinking of this, Du Zhongxiao sighed secretly in his heart. I am still mistaken by common sense, and I don't have a clear understanding of many things, and my understanding of the times will also be skewed. In the previous life, it was an industrial society, and naturally many understandings were marked by that era, and even forgot what an agricultural society should be like. After thinking about it carefully, although there were strong enemies outside at this time, and the war with the party had just eased, the society as a whole was quite stable. If you really want to compare yourself with your previous life, it is probably the consumption level when the People's Republic of China was just founded.

According to Du Zhongxiao's thoughts in his previous life, the real power officials of the state and county, even if they are a little lower, have a lot of power in their hands, and they can pick out a little bit casually, and their lives will be as rich as ever. Now that I wake up, I realize that it is far from that. In his previous life, when the economy was bad, how many lower-level officials could rely on corruption and eat big fish and meat every day? Except for a few positions, it really can't be done.

Of course, the officials of this era do not have the consciousness of the officials of the previous life, but they are by no means corrupt for officials, and the lower the level, the smaller the proportion of corrupt officials. The reason is simple, not the personal integrity of officials, but their lack of channels for corruption.

The Song Dynasty's acquisition of local power, the most important thing is financial power, what are you greedy for if you don't have money? There is not even any money from the minister in the county, and almost all the money collected is clearly accounted for and has to be handed over to the state. It's hard to get all this money, where is there any extra for you to be greedy?

Seeing that Cheng County Lieutenant was holding a large piece of mutton and gnawing there, Du Zhongxiao used his brains to think about what possible channels he had to get money. Thinking about the past, I can only make a fuss about the prison lawsuit. It's a pity that the public officials below colluded and swallowed up the money, and there was no scum left for the county lieutenant. Even if County Lieutenant Cheng knew, there was no way at all, no wonder he was so energetic to clean up Ma Meng and his gang. As for thinking about the filial piety of local households, it is even more of a dream. According to the system of the Song Dynasty, the local forces are either black and white collusion like Ma Meng, covering the sky with one hand, and they are not afraid of county officials at all. Either you are honest and honest, and you will be ruined according to normal governance, which one has the money for you?

Quietly called Chai Xin over, and whispered to him to pack the rest of the mutton, and quietly bring it back to County Lieutenant Cheng in a while. It's not easy to be an official to do this job, and it looks majestic from the outside, but as a result, there is not often wine and meat at home. It is no wonder that Fan Zhongyan mentioned more than once that the treatment of officials was too low at this time, and as soon as he was allowed to preside over the government, he tried every means to improve the treatment of officials. Fan Zhongyan's ranking is not high, and he joined the army as a manager, he really started from the bottom, and he was born poor, so he knows the difficulties of these low-level officials best.

An agrarian society is different from the industrial society of its previous life. Du Zhongxiao silently recited several times in his heart and reminded himself again. Many things that he took for granted in his previous life would not work in this era. In particular, the grassroots have no financial power, and they are completely two worlds.

After eating a large piece of meat for the county lieutenant Cheng, Du Zhongxiao raised his glass and said: "After today, arrest the people who are complicit with Ma Mengxin, and we will do a great harm to the locality." Once this fang is removed, the place can be quiet for a period of time. Come on, and have a drink! ”

After everyone drank the wine, Zheng Peng sighed, and said with emotion: "After this year, my term of office will expire in February of the next year, and I hope to do this case beautifully and change to a rich place as an official." A few days ago, Fan and Han were princesses, and there were new regulations for the promotion of officials, and I don't know whether it was a curse or a blessing. It is customary for me to be far away, but my mother is old, if I go to Liangguangchuan Gorge, where can the old man walk? ”

Liu Ji smiled slightly: "Manager rest assured, as long as this case is understood, how can the governor of Zhizhou sit idly by and ignore you?" Don't talk about being an official in a wealthy place, a letter of recommendation, and it is common to be promoted to a Beijing official. ”

Zheng Peng's eyes lit up, and he hurriedly raised his glass: "Xie Tong judged auspicious words!" ”

After saying that, drink it all.

The new rules for newcomers, the reform measures proposed by Fan Zhongyan are reflected in the governance of officials, and the most important manifestation is to raise the moral requirements for officials. Not only the imperial examinations, but also the promotion and promotion of officials, emphasizing the role of sponsorship. When an official's term of office expires, he will be promoted if he is sponsored by a minister, and if he does not have it, he will be promoted. The governor of Bozhou is Han Yi, an important minister with a senior minister, and his opinions are much more important than before under this system.

When it comes to these reform measures, Du Zhongxiao has an indescribable feeling. High standards, strict requirements, theoretically speaking, Fan Zhongyan's idea is certainly not wrong. If everyone who is an official is a righteous man and a gentleman, and of course the person they recommend is also a gentleman, why worry about the world not being governed? It's just that this kind of thing can be thought of, but it is not feasible at all in reality, and history has not proved this in Du Zhongxiao's impression.

"Duke Zhou was afraid of rumors, and Wang Mang was humble and did not usurp the time. Xiang Zhi died at the beginning, who knows the truth of his life? "True gentleman and hypocrite, who has the sharp eyes to see clearly? The gentlemen's and villain's party struggle that began at this time is really politically suspected of turning back the clock on history.

After thinking about these things, Du Zhongxiao no longer dwelled on this, no longer thought about it, and had a drink with Zheng Peng.

After drinking a few more glasses of wine, Du Zhongxiao said: "General judgment, in the official document signed by the king of Yangzhou, there is a Chai Jie level, which is a Yu Hou in the state court. A few days ago, he was transferred to inspect the village to listen to it, but in order to prevent leakage, he has not been touched. This time, all the people related to Ma Meng were taken into custody, is it also a trial of him? ”

Liu Ji shook his head: "Don't worry, let's take this matter as if I don't know for the time being, just let him do his job." Sili Zheng, you find a few officials who are absolutely trustworthy, and together with this Chai Jie, watch him act, and write them down one by one. Wait until the matter is over, see what things have been tried, and then suddenly take it down, and use heavy punishment in the inspection village! What cases have been committed and what things have been done at this Chai Jie level, not a single one has been missed, and all of them will be asked! ”

Zheng Peng was taken aback and hurriedly asked, "Why do you want to deal with this person like this?" I don't know the verdict—"

Liu Jidao: "According to the official document signed by the king of Yangzhou, Song Sigong, who committed the crime there, was introduced to Ma Meng by this person. But we have been investigating until now, and this person has not appeared in any of the cases. Hmph, I don't believe that such a person has not committed a crime, so he can only be clever in his means. He is an old official in the state government, and he knows things that others can't compare. Back in the state office, this person must have a fellow party, and it will be difficult to find out again. Now that he's been transferred here, don't let it go. - Manager, you've been in prison for many years, and there's always a way to get people to speak. An old official, who has been in the state court and the manager's house, what haven't you seen? You're going to have to put a little more effort into it. ”

Zheng Peng said yes. He was an old hunter, and he didn't expect to meet an old fox this time.