Manchu traitor, how can you let me be the emperor of the ages

Chapter 278 The Strange Name of the Levee

He Shen heard the words and looked across the river, and the surrounding gentry followed suit.

The distance was too far, and they couldn't see anything at all. There were only groups of fuzzy black spots moving back and forth in their vision.

Combined with the sound of fireworks and firecrackers before, everyone suddenly understood that this must be something that many people were celebrating...

"In the midst of the catastrophe, another captive from the north went south, and it's so extravagant..." He Shen shook his head with emotion.

Seeing this, Liu Quan tentatively asked: "Master, do you want to send someone to find out..."

"Just go and do it."

He Shen used his ass to figure out that this must be a moth made by Yan Song.

"Yes, sir."

Not long after, a small boat dangled away from the shore...

At the same time, on the north bank of the Yellow River.

Surrounded by a group of rich gentry, Yan Song stood on the wide stone embankment, looking at the three big characters "Yan Gongdi" flying in front of him, with a flash of satisfaction in his eyes.

"Ruzhen, this is too flamboyant!"

When he turned around, Yan Song had already lowered his face, and reprimanded in a deep voice: "It's too extravagant! With the manpower and material resources to build this monument, how many people can have enough food?"

Hu Zongxian lowered his eyebrows and was pleasing to the eye, and kept saying yes.

The gentry around him didn't dare to breathe. Although Yan Song usually looked like an approachable little old man, when he was really angry...the power of the right minister of the court would be fully revealed.

Yan Song didn't stop, still grieved and said: "Ruzhen, the truth has always thought that you are a talent to be made, and you are the future pillar of the imperial court!"

"But I didn't expect you to be so..."

It seemed that he couldn't bear to reprimand Hu Zongxian, and he stopped abruptly at this point, but a long sigh fully expressed the old minister's disappointment with the younger generation.

"That's what Yan Xiang taught me."

Hu Zongxian did not fully accept the reprimand this time, but "struggled with reason".

"But this time, Prime Minister Yan really wronged me!"

With his head held high, he said bluntly, "The erection of the stele was not instigated by the lower officials, and even the lower officials just found out about the stele."

"Huh?" Yan Song frowned slightly.

Hu Zongxian was not afraid at all, and said loudly: "Yan Xiang, this monument was not erected by anyone's instigation, and no one is in collusion with it!"

"This is a monument erected by the people of my original Wu County to appreciate the kindness of Prime Minister Yan!"

The surrounding gentry were shocked by Hu Zongxian's bold move. After a while, someone boldly followed him and said, "Mr. Yan, we really didn't tell the county lord."

"Yes, Prime Minister Yan. At the beginning, the students were grateful for the kindness of Prime Minister Yan, and remembered the matter of erecting a monument and building a shrine, but they didn't expect Liu Yuanwai from the East Village to have the same idea at that time!"

"There are also Zhou Juren and Sun Yuanwai from our Dawa Township. When Cao Min thought this way, he didn't expect those two brothers to come to me at the same time!"

"The tenants in our village are grateful for Yan Xiang's kindness..."

Seeing this, Hu Zongxian seemed to have received some kind of approval, turned his head and said to Yan Song emotionally: "Master Yan, you see, it's not that the lower officials connected them, but the people of my former Wu County spontaneously erected this monument! "

"Non-vegetation, ruthless Practice makes perfect?"

"Yan Xiang has allowed tens of thousands of disaster victims in the original Wu County to survive, so that they are not only displaced, but also able to have a good meal... May I ask who can not be grateful for Yan Xiang's kindness??"

"Establishing this strict embankment is like a child repaying the kindness of his parents!"

The squires were taken aback for a while, and nodded their heads in approval.

Yan Yi, who was following Yan Song, was also a little dumbfounded, and looked at Hu Zongxian blankly. He knew that Hu Zongxian was much better than other magistrates, but now he was shocked by his behavior, and only one thought remained in his mind : This child is so terrifying.

Yan Song was also silent and couldn't speak, and it took a long time before he let out a long sigh.

"The truth... I know."

"Xiaguan, Yuanwu County, and even the whole of Xingyang dare not forget Prime Minister Yan's kindness."

Hu Zongxian said solemnly: "So, in the name of Yan Gongdi, I ask Prime Minister Yan not to refuse any more!"

Yan Song sighed again, and took a deep look at Hu Zongxian: "That's fine."

"The will of the people cannot be violated. Since it is the will of the people of Yuanwu County, the truth will no longer refuse."

He changed his voice, and said again: "This monument has already been erected, let's forget about life shrines, portraits, etc., it's a waste of manpower."

Statue?

The gentry around were a little confused, what kind of statue?
Did we mention statues?
Hu Zongxian opened his mouth, and hurriedly said again after regaining his senses: "Mr. Yan, my servant..."

"No more."

Yan Song waved his hand and interrupted him blankly: "Although the truth will return to Beijing in a few days, I will still pay attention to Yuanwu County at any time. I hope you will not let the truth down, and don't do extravagant and wasteful things."

Hu Zongxian immediately understood, and hastily cupped his hands in response: "Mr. Yan has worked so hard, and I understand."

"only……"

He said with embarrassment on his face: "The lower officials will not do this, but the common people will spontaneously build shrines and statues for the good officials they love..."

Yan Song snorted coldly: "As a county parent official, you naturally have to restrain yourself."

Hu Zongxian smiled wryly, and said helplessly, "As Prime Minister Yan said, the will of the people cannot be violated, and the admiration of the people cannot be restrained. The officials can only do their best, and it may not be possible to completely ban this matter."

The squires also came to their senses, and a wise man hurriedly said: "Mr. Yan has a high reputation in my original Wu County. It can be said that he is well-known to every household. Some villagers even enshrine the tablet of Enxiang at home! How can this be prohibited?"

"That's right, ten families can pool their money together and erect a stone statue by the riverside in honor of their benefactor. It's impossible to guard against!"

"Since this is the case, it is very reasonable for people in a village to raise money to build a living shrine for their kindness..."

Yan Song was a little helpless when he heard the words, and heaved a long sigh. Just as he was about to say something to Duou, something unexpected happened here.

A small boat with a black awning sailed unsteadily from the other side of the river.

With so many big figures here, the security work is naturally done well. There are still some distance from the shore, and there are two small boats to meet them.

"Wu Na man, what do you do?"

The boatman seemed taken aback by the battle and didn't answer. He turned the bow of the boat and was about to row back. Before leaving, he stretched his neck and kept looking up the embankment.

Naturally, this kind of movement cannot be concealed from the people on the embankment. The other gentry may not pay much attention to it, just take a look and pass by.

But Hu Zongxian, Yan Song and Yan Yi clearly sensed that something was wrong, especially the way the man looked back before leaving, the more he looked, the more he looked like he was here to inquire about news.

The boat sailed straight to the center of the river, heading for the opposite bank of the river.

Hu Zongxian looked south along the direction of the awning boat, and suddenly discovered the abnormality on the other side of the river.

"Yan Xiang, over there..."

In this case, Hu Zongxian naturally listened to Yan Song's opinion.

Yan Song also frowned and looked over there, after thinking for a moment, he said: "Send someone to inquire, what is that for?"

"Yes, Prime Minister Yan."

The people sent by Yan Song had just set off, and the people sent by He Shen to investigate returned to the south bank.

"what?"

He Shen's eyes widened suddenly: "Yan Gongdi?"

The squires were a little dumbfounded when they heard that, what's going on?Stealing an idea? ?
He Shen came back to his senses, and forgot to glance at Zheng Chen with his strange eyes.

He felt that others might not know, but Zheng Chen must know something inside, right?

It's just that this time he seems to have really wronged Zheng Chen.

"And my lord...this..."

Zheng Chen's forehead was covered with sweat, and he really didn't know how to explain it.

You can't fool He Shen at this time, the two parties have been getting along harmoniously for more than half a year, how can they come out like this before leaving, before leaving?
"My lord, it suddenly occurred to Cao Min that the monument has not yet been built."

In desperation, Zheng Chen came up with a remedy.

"Not finished yet?"

He Shen also helped him climb down the slope.

"Yes, and my lord."

Zheng Chen replied: "Actually, there is still a standing statue missing beside the stele."

In such a short period of time, he made a plan in his heart, and at this moment he said with confidence: "It's a standing statue with your lord!"

"Only the name of He Gongdi, others may not immediately know that this is the merit of Master He... It cannot express our gratitude."

"If another stone statue is erected on the side of the stele, not only can passers-by and common people see the heroic appearance of Mr. He, but it will also allow our fathers and villagers in Xingyang to express their gratitude!"

"This……"

He Shen was lost in thought.

If it was him, he definitely wouldn't need to act so ostentatiously.

But now on the other side of the river is Yan Song's Yan Gongdi, if he is exactly the same as him, it would be too uncomfortable.

He Shen paused for a moment, then asked again: "Old Zheng, isn't this too extravagant and wasteful?"

Zheng Chen was overjoyed when he heard the words, and hurriedly said: "No, no!"

"Please don't worry, my lord. It's just a standing statue. What's the waste? It must be released before I return to Beijing with my lord!"

This time He Shen was really a little surprised: "Before returning to Beijing?"

"Old Zheng, I'm going back to Beijing in three days, is there still time?"

"It must be in time!"

Zheng Chen made a promise that as long as there is a division of labor and cooperation, some will sculpt heads, some will sculpt hands, and some will sculpt legs and feet... Are you afraid that you won't be able to do it all night?
"Going back to Beijing with my lord must take the water route. Then I will board the boat from here, and take a look at this statue by the way!"

"That's not necessary." He Shen refused.

"My lord and I must come, we must come."

Zheng Chen insisted on this, and He Shen must not leave grudges in his heart...

While a group of country gentry were busy currying favor with He Shen, the boat sent by Hu Zongxian to investigate the intelligence also made a circle here and returned to the north bank.

"He Gongdi??"

Yan Song stared blankly at the servant who came to report the news. Although he didn't say anything, the people around him already felt that the atmosphere was a bit abnormal.

The surrounding gentry were also dumbfounded, and everyone looked at Hu Zongxian together as if they had lost their backbone.

What does it mean?Stealing an idea?

In fact, Hu Zongxian's current mood is not much stronger than theirs, but at this time, apart from him, no one can stand up and preside over the overall situation.

"Yan Xiang, this..."

Hu Zongxian wiped off his sweat, and with an idea, he thought of a solution: "Actually, the monument has not been finished yet."

"Before I was dismissed as an official, I heard from all the sages in the village that it is not only the stele of Yan Gongdi, but also a tall standing statue beside the stele."

Although it has been said just now that the statue should be erected, where it is erected is also the key.

Standing next to this stele now, it is of great significance to be able to overwhelm Mr. He on the opposite side at once.

"Ok?"

Yan Song withdrew his gaze from the other side of the river, turned his head to look at Hu Zongxian: "Ruzhen, isn't this too extravagant?"

"Naturally not extravagant."

Hu Zongxian secretly breathed a sigh of relief, and hurriedly explained: "It's just a stone, what's the waste?"

"Compared to the gratitude of the people of Yuanwu to Prime Minister Yan, it's just a drop in the bucket!"

Yan Song paused for a moment, did not comment, but said to him: "Let's see this first today, I'm tired of the truth, it's time to go back."

"Yes, Prime Minister Yan."

Hu Zongxian hurriedly responded, and the gentry behind him also gave way to him one after another. Yan Song passed through the crowd and walked towards the bottom of the embankment...

~~
Three days later.

In the same place, Yan Song passed through the crowd again and walked onto the embankment.

The difference from the previous few days is that this time there are still many people living under the embankment, and these people came here spontaneously to see Yan Song off.

Some of the people brought a few baked pancakes, some with pickled pickles, and some hard-boiled eggs...

Although Yan Song would not accept it, it also represented their intentions.

Yan Song was wearing a patched green robe, and Yan Yi was carrying a small black cloth bag for clothes. Compared with when he came, there seemed to be nothing more, nothing less.

The gentry and officials on the embankment were all saying goodbye to Yan Song, respectfully sending the Right Prime Minister to leave Yuanwu County.

Among them, the "Yan Gongdi" stone tablet was still lonely the day before yesterday, but today there is an extra stone statue as a companion.

This statue is all gray and white, and it is an old man in sackcloth walking in the mud.

Although the wind and rain covered his face, he still walked firmly, which perfectly reflected the tenacity of this person.

As for the appearance, it is the completely restored Yan Song himself.

In fact, if someone who doesn't know anything is looking at it, I'm afraid he wouldn't think that this is the prime minister of Dagan, the Minister of the Household Department, because he doesn't have any dignity or official position at all, and his appearance is no different from those mud legs in the countryside.

When designing this statue a few days ago, many gentry opposed Hu Zongxian for this.

But Hu Zongxian still resisted all opinions and insisted on doing so.

When Yan Song just came up, he saw the standing statue, nodded with Hu Zongxian, then walked through the crowd, came to the stone statue, and looked it over carefully.

The squires raised their hearts to their throats, for fear that he would suddenly get angry.

Although Hu Zongxian looked confident, he couldn't help becoming nervous at this time.

It wasn't until Yan Song nodded slightly and turned around with a smile on his face that everyone heaved a sigh of relief.

"Ruzhen, after the truth returns to Beijing, you must take good care of Yuanwu."

It was just such a simple exhortation, after Yan Song finished speaking, he turned around without hesitation, and boarded the boat through the pier.

"Yan Xiang, I will keep your entrustment in mind."

Hu Zongxian waved his hands to send Yan Song away, and there seemed to be two sparkles from the corners of his eyes.

May be excited.

(End of this chapter)