After Daodi returned to Beijing, he summoned Shang Shuhe from the official department and asked about politics. Vulgar rules that conform to the history of Britain and China are becoming more and more serious and almost become unwritten rules. There are many names, such as birthday ceremony, ceremony, ceremony, disrespect, student ceremony, sign, fold, gun, autograph and so on. Collect money and grain. Officials use this to extort corruption and the people are exploited. Therefore, it is suggested to find out the customs of each province one by one, and save or abolish them respectively.
Daoguang was in power for only half a month, that is, on September 1 1 day, he issued a decree aimed at checking illegal regulations. The imperial edict said: "The wind of collecting and digging garbage bins is increasing day by day, and private deposits are consumed by lawsuits, and people's livelihood is extremely difficult. It is better to give it to others than to take it yourself. " "The difference between provinces, such as ships and cars, fire consumption, miscellaneous taxes, salt regulations, etc., has different names. If there is something here and nothing there, there is something else to cut, but not here. Although it was forbidden, the boss used it to intimidate his subordinates, and Wang sued the officials for it. It is better to stipulate the articles of association and restrain it. It's just that the situation is different in different provinces. Let the local governors check the bad rules in their respective regions one by one, and save them and change them. " Search later, once found, hell to pay.
Emperor Guangdi sent a letter to the provincial governors to investigate abuses, which was an important measure to rectify the state bureaucracy and reverse the decline. In addition, his predecessors regarded checking bad rules and eliminating official management as an important part of refreshing politics. 16, he issued another imperial edict, stating his original intention to show his determination: "Local officials in other provinces always use salary as an excuse to extort money excessively. I can't control Li Yuan. " He also instructed the governor to be cautious. "At the beginning of legislation, especially considering the all-out measures, a little carelessness will inevitably lead to abuses in the future." He also warned officials: "When discussing various affairs, we should profit from the shortcomings, not damage the state system, and make up our minds to help public opinion. I am not the Lord of tolerance, I must enforce the law and punish severely, and I don't borrow it at all! " Strictly order the governors and provinces "not to beg for help, not to shirk, and let them steal the bell."
Daoguang issued two imperial edicts in succession. Naturally, some officials echoed and suggested writing "rewarding accumulated disadvantages", which means that in order to rectify the current habits of bureaucrats, people's livelihood and scholars, we must "get rid of the disadvantages of conformity, observe the taboos of decoration, cherish people's wealth and cultivate talents." Then, at 17, Daoguang ordered officials to take practical and concrete measures to correct this bad rule. The imperial edict said: "Although what you said is insightful, you only tell the reasons for its disadvantages, and there are no practical measures to rectify it. This is empty talk. Every minister's suggestion must be based on the importance of the national economy and the people's livelihood and the remedy of its disadvantages. This will help. Without specific measures, what's the use of empty talk? "
After issuing several imperial edicts aimed at cleaning up bad laws and regulations, North Korean officials and local governments are not sure what the new emperor's intentions are and how determined he is to correct the accumulated abuses. However, the imperial edict of checking bad rules did give them a
Some officials know that this is not feasible, but they are afraid to raise objections publicly, so some people propose an extension. In his final speech, JUNG WOO Jialin said, "To break the rules, the governor must thoroughly investigate the unannounced visits, handle them calmly, and not exist in name only." At the same time, I am also worried that once some ugly rules are legalized, they will bring endless disadvantages. Daoguang thought Zheng Jialin's words made sense, so he explained the bad rules again. 10 year 10 on October 30th, he said, "You speak very well. Bad rules in the province and local areas have been followed for a long time and emerge one after another. Therefore, the governor is required to check the bad rules, save them and change them, so that local counties and counties can't shirk their responsibilities and the king won't suffer from them every day. I love the people, but I can't help caring about the officials. It is not tempering justice with mercy, but satisfying the greed of corrupt officials. For example, in Fold, the number of counties is arbitrary, ranging from tens of thousands to thousands. This is the stolen goods greedily obtained by various states and counties. How can it be called a bad rule! Therefore, secretly giving is better than publicly giving, and it is limited. This is the original intention of setting bad rules. " Regarding the abuses caused by this, Daoguang Emperor pointed out: If the abuses are caused by this, then it is extremely harmful for counties and counties to steal clocks at will. When was it? I once again reiterate my previous orders, ordering provincial governors to conduct thorough investigations and secret visits to former counties and counties, and ensure that it is detailed. But the deadline is no longer required, pointing out that "it may be a little longer."
Soon, things changed. First, officials from Beijing came out to protest. Later, local governors also demanded to stop the inventory and ask Daoguang Emperor to withdraw his life.
Wang Tingzhen, the minister of rites, and Tang, the assistant minister of the official department, went to the government successively and thought it was not feasible. Tang Zhao said: "The customs demanded by all localities are from the people, and local officials dare not ask for them publicly. I'm afraid that the competent authorities above will punish their crimes when they know about it. Now, if there is a clear stipulation in the articles of association, that is, the example deserves it, it must be a blatant extra. Although there are strict orders, they cannot be prohibited. Besides, the names of ugly rules are fragmentary and changeable, and they vary from place to place. It's easy to disturb one by one. Whether the articles of association should be clearly formulated or improperly formulated. Official management is valuable to those who get it, and they get it. Although it is taken from the people and loved by the people, it will not harm the people. If you are not a man, although you can't get the people and the people hate it, how can you talk about it? There is no rule of law in governing the people, but the measures taken by the rulers are made public and are not restricted by district legislation. " Tang first pointed out that bad rules should never be legalized, then explained that bad rules could not be found at all, and finally stressed that only people can rule, not the rule of law.
Since then, Shanxi scholar Chen Ye has been on Bo's side, thinking that it is not feasible to find out the bad rules. Then some governors' letters were handed to the court one after another. Fang Shouchou, governor of Zhili, and Sun Yuting, governor of Liangjiang, demanded that the inventory be stopped.
Sun Yuting said, "I am very lucky to meet you. I have been a government official for 20 years. Although the world is unknown, the reason is the same. " After a detailed investigation of the laws and regulations of past dynasties, we have thoroughly studied and figured it out. No one has ever dared to say that the articles of association should be publicly promulgated. First of all, he also emphasized the rule of man. "If the governor and the second division are right, the measures will be abolished, and the solution will be small and not expensive. Don't worry about the harsh treatment of patients. If it is not the right person, it is always flattering. Although restricted by legislation, it will still exist in name only, and its disadvantages are even worse. " Secondly, I strongly state the harm caused by the legalization of bad rules: "If people are forbidden to take them, if they are allowed to take them, just as the Oracle thinks that' bad rules are allowed to take them according to law', they have no scruples about their interests and will inevitably run out of people's ointment and fat. I found that people on one side were greatly hurt by crime. " People once again pointed out that Daoguang can never set this precedent. He said that bad rules and regulations have always been with us, "not only today", but also "I have never heard of anyone who explicitly took them away from the people as messengers". He also gave an example: "In the fourth year of Jiaqing, Yin Zhuangtu was called to Beijing, and he suggested that the local bad rules and regulations be thoroughly investigated. He wants to express the rules and regulations. At that time, he received an imperial edict:' This habit can only be corrected twice. "Then, Sun Yuting stated that it is difficult to find out the rules and regulations:" The rules and regulations of the government and the state govern the second child, and salt is the water supply. The poor regulations in Tingzhou County are related to money and salt. Cao Qian's era was full of regrets. Salt cannot be set to a constant amount because it is turned on and off at the right time. Moreover, Daogui is currently being ordered to clean up the shortcomings of Cao Cao, which is even more inconvenient to customize. "Moreover, local officials have different situations, different expenses, complicated and simple government affairs, and it is impossible to unify them. Also, "the five elements are uncertain, but it is difficult to check the expenditure of local officials in detail." "There are many bad rules around, and local officials refuse to report themselves. The eyes and ears of the governor can't be everywhere. Even if someone is sent to check, it will inevitably be covered up. The inventory involves many ships and vehicles, which is complicated and trivial, especially indecent. Therefore, the benefits of violating the rules have not been seen in the future, and the trouble is now very serious. The disharmony between public opinion and state system is unfavorable to local officials. Finally, Sun Yuting said that the above-mentioned "businessmen in the three provinces thought that they had lived in peace for a long time, so there was no need to discuss it separately, which led to more disputes".
Since then, Chengdu general Jiang was sent to Beijing to knock Zigong, making it clear to Daoguang Emperor that it was not feasible.
Daoguang weighed the pros and cons, decided to stop, and sent a letter in 65438+February 65438+March to stop checking the bad rules. The imperial edict said, "I just returned to Beijing from the Imperial Palace during my funeral, and the world was in chaos. At the beginning of the value of pro-government, the feeling of governing people's livelihood in the world is unknown. The British people understand this and dare to speak out. Listen to what they say, it seems reasonable. So the imperial edict ordered the governors to observe the situation and discuss it in detail. According to the decrees of Tang, Chen and Wang Tingzhen, this will not work. " "I have realized in my heart that this move is wrong. When the heir comes to Beijing from a domain, he asks around first, which means it is difficult to get in the way. Jiang insisted on doing it yesterday when he said it was right. According to Sun Yuting and others today. He spoke in great detail. This matter is not only unhelpful to people's livelihood, but also harmful to the state system. Fortunately, both internal and external officials know this.
Getting rid of graft is the first important measure to govern officials and punish corruption after Daoguang Emperor came to power. However, unexpectedly, it turned out to be a squib. This incident is quite thought-provoking and the lesson is extremely profound. First, bad rules have become a common phenomenon in the whole country. From the central government to local government agencies, they are everywhere, and they can neither be found out nor found out. As the saying goes, "it's hard to get back." The formulation of "inventory" policy has formed an insoluble contradiction between subjective desire and practical feasibility, so "inventory" itself has become an impossible order. Secondly, it is absurd in theory, but the result is dangerous: once the legitimacy of some bad rules is recognized, there will be endless trouble. Fortunately, many officials came forward to stop the investigation, otherwise the consequences would be very serious.
The bad rules also gave us some enlightenment. Daoguang didn't know the disadvantages of bureaucracy, but in the face of declining frustration and many disadvantages, he had to cover his ears and let it go. During his more than 40 years in power, he can only impose some restrictions, treat the symptoms rather than the root cause, but he can't find effective ways to eradicate the accumulated disadvantages.
Failure to stop bad rules cast a heavy shadow on Daoguang politics. At the beginning of Daoguang's administration, the first reform attempt hit a wall and had to be terminated. This laid a cautious and firm foundation for his future ruling tone, and he dared not try to change it again, which also doomed him to never go further than his father Jiaqing. However, under the dreary situation of "hordes of troops", how can we cheer up without major reforms and changes? Looking at the major policies of Daoguang dynasty, we can see that the Zhang Geer rebellion was put down by being conservative and appeasing, showing weakness and short-sightedness in dealing with the aftermath of Xinjiang, and lacking long-term strategic vision; To deal with the problem of water transport, it is necessary to carry out sea transport instead of insisting on sea transport; Wait, the behavior is conventional and lacks motivation. Especially in the face of the invasion of western powers, the whole country was beaten passively, helpless, forced to sign a contract and humiliated.
Daoguang can only be regarded as "mediocrity and inaction" at best. Fortunately, he passed away and did not witness the outbreak of the Taiping Rebellion. He experienced foreign troubles, but he escaped the most serious internal worries of the Qing Dynasty.