How to manage "publicly funded tourism" in ancient times

How to manage "publicly funded tourism" in ancient times

Nowadays, it is not uncommon for officials to travel at public expense. There are issues of governance methods and intensity of governance. So, how did the government manage this "old problem" in ancient China?

In ancient times, transportation was extremely underdeveloped, and it was extremely inconvenient for people to travel to various places. Therefore, since the Qin and Han Dynasties, the central government has established a corresponding reception system along the way, and local governments in various places have set up "stations" to be responsible for the reception of passing officials. The materials and funds required for the station shall be borne by the central or local government.

The establishment of Jumpmh provides convenience for the delivery of official documents and official travel: first, free use of boats, horses, boats and other means of transportation; second, free accommodation; third, we can get some Local products.

In the Tang Dynasty, the post system became more and more complete. Not only the central government has set up guest houses, but local governments have also set up "inns", forming a large number of "inns".

This not only provides the necessary material conditions for officials to travel on business, but also gives officials preferential treatment, which has evolved into a privilege. Civil servants who enjoy the reception services of the post must obtain the approval of their superiors and bring their passes to receive corresponding treatment. Of course, the standards for food, accommodation, transportation, and horses are also different depending on the official's status and grade.

The reception system of post houses during the Song and Yuan Dynasties generally continued the policies of the Tang Dynasty. In the early years of the Ming Dynasty, Zhu Yuanzhang, who was born into a poor peasant, learned the lesson of the "overflow of gifts and invitations" in the late Yuan Dynasty, which led to corruption in the administration and boiling public resentment. Starting from the first year of Hongwu, he issued decrees to restrict some privileged people.

He ordered that "no appointments shall be made except for major military matters" and stated that officials, no matter how big or small, "should not take and send ships and horses without authorization, and violators will be punished." Zhu Yuanzhang also paid attention to the combination of theory and practice, killing the chicken to show the monkey, taking his own relatives as an example.

In the 30th year of Hongwu, Lun Ouyang Xu used dozens of carriages in the post house to smuggle tea out of the country without authorization. Zhu Yuanzhang immediately ordered Lun Ouyang to die. Because Zhu Yuanzhang used harsh punishments to govern the post office, a long-lost situation emerged in the early Ming Dynasty: "The post office is peaceful and happy, but the inner armor is not disturbed".

But after the mid-Ming Dynasty, the local government could not bear the state corruption, the posthouses were proliferated, and the management was chaotic. Some local officials took the opportunity to deceive their superiors and subordinates, extort money from the post office, and extort money to support the post office. They corrupted and violated the law and harmed the people.

In order to please the officials, many post houses also built pavilions and pavilions, or built internal landscapes with beautiful scenery in all seasons due to mountains and rivers, or dug ponds and planted trees. As a result, the voice of "Qing Post to help the poor people" can be seen everywhere in the government and the public, forcing the Ming government to carry out large-scale reforms in the management of post stations three times. Unfortunately, no matter how good the regulations are, some children of princelings do not have the right to enjoy services, but they still control their own journey and enjoy the same treatment.

Hai Rui, who was known as "Blue Sky" by the people in the Ming Dynasty, served as the prefect of Chun'an. Once, the son of Hu Zongxian, Minister of War, passed by Chun'an. He was dissatisfied with Chun'an's simple reception of Cheng Yi and hanged Cheng Yi.

Hai Rui ordered Mr. Hu to be detained and reported to Hu Zongxian: "You have clearly instructed not to hold receptions with great fanfare, but now someone dares to pretend to be your son and cheat. I would like to ask how everyone should deal with it." Hu Zongxian, a mute, eats Coptis chinensis, but I can't tell you what I'm suffering from.