bookbashuk Chapter 100: Scholar Zhuang's Elementary School Begins
Chapter 100: Scholar Zhuang's Elementary School Begins
Chapter 100: Scholar Zhuang's Elementary School Begins
"It will take some time for the imperial court to receive feedback, discuss countermeasures, and then notify the local authorities."
Moreover, frequent adjustments not only lead to unpredictable changes, but also cause local residents to worry about further changes and feel panicked.
This not only damages the court's prestige but is also detrimental to the reforms.
Wang You paused for a moment, then continued, "Why don't we select a place as a pilot site and handle it on a case-by-case basis?"
Once any problems are found with the new law, adjustments should be made in a timely manner. After continuous adjustments and modifications to improve the new legal system, it should be promoted to the whole country.
This would not only allow officials and court officials to see the effects of the new laws directly, but also reduce resistance to the reforms.
The pilot areas for the new law can also be used as training grounds for officials.
From now on, whether they are newly appointed Jinshi (successful candidates in the highest imperial examinations) or officials who have entered officialdom through hereditary privilege, they can be sent to pilot areas for learning before being officially appointed.
Once they understand the new laws, they will be granted official positions, and upon arriving in their localities, they will naturally be able to better implement the new laws.
"What a great pilot program!"
Ouyang Xiu slammed his fist on the table in admiration, exclaiming, "If we had done it this way from the beginning, how could the new laws have failed!"
Although Wang You and Wang Anshi spoke softly, they became so engrossed in their discussion that their voices unconsciously returned to normal.
This attracted the attention of Hai Wenqing, Ouyang Xiu, and others.
They didn't disturb him until they heard Wang You's remarks, at which point Ouyang Xiu couldn't help but applaud.
The failure of the Qingli Reforms was a painful experience for those who participated in and supported them.
Although he believed that the new laws formulated by Fan Da Xiang Gong were not problematic, the previous failure had actually dealt a heavy blow to the reformists.
The government gradually reinstated officials who had been dismissed due to the new laws, but none of them submitted a petition to reform the laws after returning to the capital.
This is because, in addition to the blow they suffered from the failure of that year, which made them doubt the new law,
Another reason is that the reformists have suffered too much loss of strength.
After the death of Grand Chancellor Fan, many other elderly officials either passed away or were not reinstated.
As Wang You suggested, selecting a location as a pilot area could not only restore the confidence of the reformers but also cultivate a group of people who support the reforms.
"Uncle Ouyang, you flatter me," Wang You quickly said modestly.
He had some idea of what Ouyang Xiu was thinking and wanted to tell him that it was unrealistic.
Pilot programs at the local level are only suitable for policies that address local issues.
Fan Zhongyan and Wang Anshi's reform strategies were completely different.
Wang You gave Wang Anshi this advice so that he could recognize reality.
But Fan Da Xiang Gong's strategy was different; it targeted the military, political, and bureaucratic systems.
Even a simple restriction on hereditary privilege and a streamlining of the imperial examination system were destined to face tremendous opposition, let alone piloting them.
Moreover, even if court officials agree to the pilot program, it will only target the local official system.
Although the Song Dynasty had a heavy burden of redundant officials, the local official system was not actually that serious.
The most serious problem is actually the hereditary system. In recent years, the court has had too many officials to use, resulting in a large number of officials who are given official titles but not real positions.
There's no other way; there's simply nowhere else to put them.
In local pilot programs, these officials cannot be touched.
Personally speaking, Wang You did not actually support abolishing the hereditary title system.
After all, once he became an official, his son could also become an official as long as he climbed to a certain rank.
Instead of competing with hundreds of thousands of scholars in the imperial examinations.
Don't say things like this is of no benefit to the country and will drag the court down.
Most people in the world are not so noble and virtuous; they are more concerned with themselves.
Just like in later generations, when state-owned enterprises were reformed, the laid-off workers also caused quite a few disturbances.
You can tell them that the factory is not doing well and has become a burden on the country. For the sake of the country, everyone should be laid off as soon as possible.
Moreover, emperors were all hereditary rulers. Even if an emperor knew his son was stupid, he would still pass the throne to his son. There was no reason for him to choose a virtuous and capable person to abdicate for the good of the country.
If even the emperor acts this way, how can he expect his ministers to consider the country's interests? Isn't that a joke?
For a subject, the world belongs to the emperor, and hereditary titles are the most advantageous thing for him.
You worked so hard to pass the imperial examinations and become an official, achieving upward social mobility, but your son couldn't become an official. Who would be happy about that?
If the imperial court hadn't had this system in the first place, that would have been fine, but it clearly did.
While it may not guarantee that the family will hold official positions for generations, it can certainly guarantee several generations.
Who would be willing to give up?
Wang You asked himself, if he had a son in the future, but the son was not ambitious and had only average abilities, would he pave the way for them?
The answer is yes.
Therefore, officials are certainly the most resolute in their opposition to this matter.
However, after hesitating, he still didn't say it.
"Ziqian, there's no need to be modest. I will tell Master Fu the truth about what you said when I see him, and let him see how feasible this matter is," Ouyang Xiu said with a smile.
"Thank you very much, Uncle Ouyang!"
Wang You smiled bitterly to himself. This was practically a recommendation, something others would beg for, so he really couldn't refuse.
Fortunately, the Emperor has no heir now, and the court is about to fall into a turmoil over the succession. With Prime Minister Fu's wisdom, he must know that now is not the right time for reform.
It will take at least seven or eight years for things to settle down.
After having lunch at Hai's house, Ouyang Xiu and the others took their leave.
After seeing everyone off, Hai Wenqing kept Wang You behind, called out his wife, son, and daughter, and introduced Wang You to them.
Now that Wang You has become an apprentice, he will definitely visit his master frequently and will need to get to know his master's family.
Hai Wenqing's wife's surname is Zhou. She looks to be in her thirties and has a gentle temperament.
After Wang You changed his address, he also gave Wang You a jade pendant as a gift.
Because of the Hai family's unique rules, Hai Wenqing had no concubines, only two sons and one daughter.
The second son's name is Haiquan, and he is just fifteen years old this year.
His only daughter, Hai Chaoyun, is Sheng Changbai's future wife and is about the same age as him.
After getting to know Hai Wenqing's family and chatting for a while, Wang You and his father said goodbye and left.
The next day, Wang You came to the Hai family again. Hai Wenqing gave him a test on his reading, and then recommended some books to him, telling him to go back and read them carefully, and to come back and ask him if he didn't understand anything.
I was asked to stay for lunch before I finally said goodbye and left.
Upon returning home, he was told that Zhao Sheng had come looking for him that morning, but upon learning that he was not there, he left a congratulatory gift and departed.
"You'er, what is the identity of that young man named Zhao Sheng?" Wang Min asked.
"He's someone I met when I took the prodigy exam last time," Wang You said.
"Did he also participate in the prodigy exam?"
Wang Min breathed a sigh of relief when he saw Wang You nod.
He was terrified when he heard the surname Zhao, fearing that the person was a member of the imperial clan.
Since Zhao Sheng participated in the prodigy examination, he could not possibly be a member of the imperial family.
"He's very generous; the gifts he sent weren't cheap. Do you know which family he's from?" Wang Min asked.
"I didn't ask," Wang You shook his head.
Although he guessed Zhao Sheng's identity, it was just a guess.
Moreover, it's not something I can easily tell my father.
Wang Min didn't ask any further questions, but said, "Scholar Zhuang has arrived. The Sheng family sent someone to inform you that you should go to the Sheng family for classes tomorrow."