Chapter 681 0676 [Let the Lu Family Investigate the Lu Family]

Whether it is a Confucian temple or a martial arts temple, the ranking must first be politically correct, followed by the personal preferences of those in power.

The generals handed over their favorite lists, and Ju Ming looked dumbfounded.

Many generals are uneducated. I don't know who the good generals were in ancient times. Most of them are listed based on the impressions in Zaju operas.

Ju Ming simply took matters into his own hands and did it exactly according to his own likes and dislikes.

Officiant: Jiang Taigong.

Accompanying the priests: Zhang Liang, Zhuge Liang.

Ten philosophers: Guan Zhong, Sun Wu, Bai Qi, Wu Qi, Han Xin, Li Jing, Huo Qubing, Sun Bin, Le Yi.

Seventy-two generals: Li Ji, Wei Qing, Lian Po, Li Mu, Wang Jian, Zhou Yafu, Guo Ziyi, Murong Ke, Wang Meng...

Logically speaking, Huo Qubing shouldn't be ranked among the ten wise men, but he couldn't resist Prince Zhu's liking!

After confirming the list of sacrifices in the Martial Temple, Ju Ming felt that it would be better to build the Martial Temple and the Military Academy directly in Luoyang to avoid the hassle of moving the capital in the future.

"Invite Lu Haowen, Lu Benzhong and his son," Ju Ming said.

Bai Sheng immediately ran outside the palace and came back after giving instructions.

The Lu family and his son were officials in Kaifeng. They were called into carriages one after another and headed to the East Palace in confusion.

Because his grandfather and father were beaten as members of the Yuanyou Party, Lu Haowen was first assigned to Suzhou for seven years and then transferred to Zhenzhou Shipyard. He finally became a minor official, and because he offended Cai Bian, he was assigned to Yangdi for twelve years.

A descendant of a prime minister has wasted half his life like this.

His own father was in such a miserable state, so Lu Benzhong, as his son, was naturally not much better off.

Zhao Huan succeeded to the throne and brought order to the chaos. The father and son were recalled to the capital, but the Song Dynasty disappeared just halfway.

"The prince summoned me, I don't know whether it is a blessing or a curse." Lu Haowen was worried.

However, Lu Benzhong was quite excited: "The prince is wise and powerful, and is good at appointing talents. Today's summons may be to re-appoint Lu!"

"Hard to say."

Lu Haowen had long been disillusioned with his official career.

This person has an even-tempered personality and is a "good old man", just like the ancestors of the Lu family.

Historically, he not only persuaded the puppet emperor Zhang Bangchang to welcome Zhao Gou. He also asked Li Gang, in this ghostly world where the king's career is difficult, it is normal to hide evil and evil. You punished those people (those who were forced to invest money) severely, and how can everyone work together in fear?

In the end, the two sides couldn't please each other and was killed by Zhang Bangchang.

"You two, please follow me."

"The noble man of labor will lead the way."

The father and son came to the East Palace and saw the prince reviewing documents, so they stood at the door and waited quietly.

After a while, the two were allowed in.

"Meet His Highness the Crown Prince." The father and son bowed and saluted.

Ju Ming smiled and said, "Sit down."

They thanked each other again and sat down upright.

Ju Ming picked up a book on his desk and said, "When I returned to Beijing a few days ago, Your Majesty showed me this book. I heard it was Mr. Lu's masterpiece."

"I don't dare to take it." Lu Benzhong said with cupped hands.

Ju Ming asked: "What are your current positions?"

Lu Haowen replied: "Reporting to Your Highness, I am participating in the compilation of "History of the Song Dynasty" at the History Museum of the Hanlin Academy."

Lu Benzhong replied: "I am working as a household servant in Kaifeng Mansion."

"This "Guan Zhi" is extremely well written and can serve as a guideline for officials all over the world." Zhu Ming praised.

Lu Benzhong said: "What is written in the book is a summary of the Lu family's official experience in the past dynasties."

Ju Ming nodded and said: "Excellent. But I don't agree with the sentence 'treat other officials like slaves'."

Lu Benzhong advocated that official affairs should be treated as family affairs, kings should be treated like parents, superiors should be treated like brothers, colleagues should be treated like family members, officials should be treated like slaves, and people should be treated like wives.

Lu Benzhong explained: "Your Highness has also been a local official. You should know that all the officials in the world are cunning and greedy. Many young officials take office with the intention of being honest and selfless, but they are often induced and instigated by the officials, and they unknowingly end up accusing themselves of corruption." Small corruption becomes big corruption. Then the officials collude and prey on the people, and the government is ruined! Therefore, we must be careful when dealing with officials and treat them as slaves, and do not join in the corruption!"

"There are also honest people among the officials." Ju Ming said.

Lu Benzhong, however, was categorical: "Absolutely impossible! Even if the Ming Dynasty gave some public officials salaries, how could it stop them from enriching their own pockets? If they were not corrupt, how could they become public officials? They would not be able to get promoted! And those without salaries would not be able to do so! Private officials, if they are not corrupt, how can they make a living?"

It makes sense, and Ju Ming is speechless.

In ancient times, giving salaries to all officials would drag down the finances.

What Ju Ming can do is to divide the necessary civil servant positions into several levels and pay them for promotion, and even civil servants can be promoted to officials.

This kind of official with a salary has been called "public official" by the people.

When they need to perform busy official duties in the short term, such as collecting grain and collecting taxes, salaried officials will recruit temporary workers. This kind of temporary workers are called "private officials" by the people. The court requested to put an end to them but could not stop them at all.

Ju Ming said: "After all, it is still inappropriate. Let's change it to 'treat officials like students.' If students are not sensible, they will definitely make mistakes. Officials should correct them like teachers."

But Lu Benzhong said: "If I have such a student, I will definitely expel him from the school!"

"Don't change?" Zhu Ming asked.

Lu Benzhong said: "It cannot be changed."

Ju Ming sighed: "If it is not changed, the imperial court will not be able to help promote this "Guan Zhi"."

Lu Benzhong said: "This book can spread naturally."

Zhu Ming still likes "Official Precepts" very much. The book warns officials not to be greedy for petty gains, otherwise they will become corrupt officials. It also says that officials should have the people in their hearts, and should work steadily and not falsify things, etc.

And it is not just preaching, but all derived from the interests of officials.

For example, if you do not levy heavy taxes on the people, then you will be more successful as an official, and there will be fewer messy troubles. For example, if you falsify things as an official, it will be exposed in the end, which will seriously affect your promotion.

This is a book that teaches people how to be honest and diligent, and to be promoted to a high official by political achievements!

Zhu Ming asked: "Do all the Lu family members behave like this?"

"Yes, all the officials of the Lu family are honest and diligent!" said Lu Benzhong.

Zhu Ming smiled and asked again: "Is it the Lu family of Donglai, the Lu family of Luoyang, or the Lu family of Shouzhou?"

"All three Lus are like this." Lu Benzhong said.

Lu Haowen felt something was wrong, and his son seemed to fall into the prince's trap.

Zhu Ming asked again: "I will promote you to the position of Tongpan of Luoyang Prefecture, and go to investigate the land of the Lu family in Luoyang. The Lu family is honest and selfless when they are officials, and I believe they are strict in managing their family, and they will not do anything wrong."

"This..." Lu Benzhong was a little dumbfounded.

The Lu family was originally from Donglai, and moved to Henan in the early Song Dynasty. Two sons moved to become officials, one moved to Luoyang, and the other moved to Shouzhou.

The Luoyang Lu family and the Shouzhou Lu family produced eight prime ministers in the Northern Song Dynasty!

"Don't dare?" Zhu Ming frowned.

Lü Benzhong said, "I was born in the Lü family of Shouzhou, but I was ordered to investigate the Lü family of Luoyang. This seems to be a little inappropriate."

Zhu Ming said, "It seems that I still dare not investigate. The family tradition of the Lü family is not worth investigating."

This is related to the reputation of the Lü family. Lü Benzhong was immediately enraged and stood up and said, "Why not? If there are people in the Lü family of Luoyang who ruin the family tradition, I will bring them to justice!"

"You are worthy of being the son of the Lü family!"

Zhu Ming clapped his hands and praised, "If it is found that the Lü family of Luoyang has committed crimes, the criminals will be handed over to the authorities, and the rest of the clan will be split and relocated to various counties in Hebei. The vacant land will be allocated to build a military school and a martial arts temple. How about it?"

Lü Benzhong said, "Good!"

Zhu Ming said again, "After investigating the Lü family, how about investigating other large families in Luoyang?"

"Good!" Lü Benzhong gritted his teeth and said.

Lü Haowen almost fainted, but did not dare to speak out to stop him.

Luoyang has numerous clans. Although the number of farmland may not catch up with that of Chengdu, their political influence is much stronger than that of Chengdu.

Once Lü Benzhong conducts a thorough investigation, he will certainly offend countless people, and the reputation of the Lü family in Shouzhou will be ruined!

If Lü Benzhong wants to fool around, Prince Zhu will definitely settle accounts with him later, and the careers of the descendants of the Lü family in Shouzhou will definitely be ruined.

Zhu Ming smiled and said, "I wish you success. Go now."

The father and son said goodbye.

Zhu Ming was in a good mood. In the next few years, the capital will be moved to Luoyang, and the surrounding areas of Luoyang must be sorted out.

At least, the land for the military school and the martial temple must be found out first.

The father and son left the East Palace, and Lü Haowen sighed.

Lü Benzhong said, "Father, why do you have to sigh?"

Lü Haowen said, "Let the Lü of Shouzhou investigate the Lü of Luoyang. This matter shouldn't have happened. Just find an excuse to get away with it. Why do you have to take this troublesome task?"

Lü Benzhong said, "The prince lured me into a trap. How can I retreat when the time comes? If I refuse, my life will be ruined."

"Your career is ruined, but the descendants of the Lü family are still there," Lü Haowen said more and more anxiously, "If you punish the Lü family in Luoyang and split them up and relocate them, the entire Lü family in Shouzhou will bear the stigma of being a family with bad relations in the future!"

Lü Benzhong muttered, "I will bear the stigma alone. The Lü family in Shouzhou has already produced a traitor, and it's just another one."

The last traitor was Lü Jiawen. The whole family opposed the reform, but Lü Jiawen supported it. He was displaced for more than ten years and was not allowed to return to his hometown for burial after his death. He was rejected by the whole family.

"You...you are confused!" Lü Haowen was almost angry to death.

Although Lv Benzhong was lured into the trap by Zhu Ming, he wanted to show his skills at this point.

He was proud of his talent in managing the country and benefiting the people, but because of the party imprisonment, he could not be promoted normally.

He had served as a county chief clerk, a state official, and a prefectural official, all of which were assistant officials who actually handled government affairs. He was honest and selfless, and worked diligently, but his political achievements were all the work of the chief official, and even his reputation was the chief official's.

He was already in his forties. The Ming Dynasty was full of meritorious officials, and the competition in the officialdom was extremely intense, but he was still only a Kaifeng Prefecture official.

If he did not seize this opportunity, even if Lv Benzhong worked until retirement, he would probably be promoted to the fourth rank at most.

The fourth rank official was indeed not low, but his ancestors had been prime ministers for three consecutive generations!

Zhu Ming, however, muttered to himself in the East Palace: "'I hate that you are not like the moon in the river tower, north and south, east and west, north and south, east and west, only follow each other and never leave. I hate that you are like the moon in the river tower, temporarily full and then waning, temporarily full and then waning, when will we be reunited?' If Lu Benzhong had not experienced the hardships of the Southern Song Dynasty, he would probably not have been able to write this poem."

Bai Sheng walked in from outside: "Your Highness, the Duke of Shu and his wife came to the palace to meet the emperor, and the emperor asked you to bring the Crown Princess with you."

(The previous chapter was wrong, Wu Qi was in the Wu Temple during the Huizong Dynasty.)