I studied in modern times

Chapter 709 Cotton Cloth Trend (1)

When I returned to Funing Palace, Liu Weijian was already waiting there with his men.

"Please give us the list of ministers who will receive New Year gifts this year!" Liu Weijian greeted Zhao Xu who had returned to the palace, bowed and asked for instructions.

As a retainer of Zhao Xu, Liu Weijian had been in charge of annual gifts since the Xining era.

"Yes!" Zhao Xu nodded, and then instructed Feng Jing: "Feng Jing, take the list I prepared and give it to the old commander."

"promise!"

After a while, the list was brought over. Liu Weijian took it, bowed again, and then stood up to review it carefully.

Then he let out a cry of surprise.

Because there was a name on the list that should not have been on it - Su Che, the Secretary of the Central Secretariat.

He raised his head and looked at Zhao Xu.

Zhao Xu ordered: "Except for the prime minister's family, the governor must go there in person. For the other families, the old governor can send his eunuchs to handle it."

"Yes!" Liu Weijian lowered his head, a strange look flashing in his eyes.

In addition to holding grudges, the current officials have another well-known character trait - protecting their own shortcomings.

These two qualities complement each other.

To the extent that outsiders cannot tell whether he holds a grudge because he is protecting his own shortcomings, or he protects his own shortcomings because he holds a grudge.

But everyone knows that as long as you work for him seriously, he will protect you even if you mess up.

A typical example is Li Xian.

In the eighth year of Yuanfeng, people inside and outside the government called for the killing of Li Xian.

At that time, Li Xian thought he was finished.

result……

Nothing happened!

All the impeachments fell on deaf ears when they reached the palace.

The young emperor who had just ascended the throne, despite internal and external pressure, managed to save Li Xian.

Although Li Xian's military power was stripped away, his wealth and treatment remained unchanged.

Moreover, from then until this year, Li Xian lived in peace for a whole year.

It was only recently that there was a stir again.

But the result remains the same!
All the impeachment memorials against Li Xian were left unanswered once they entered the palace.

Now, it’s still average.

Despite being attacked from both inside and outside, Su Che, the imperial lecturer, still appeared on the list of New Year's gifts this year.

This attitude is really important.

……

Xingguofang, the former residence of Zhang Qi, and the courtyard rented by Su Che.

Su Che was sitting in his study with a sad face, revising his self-defense.

This is the seventh edition he has revised.

But he was still not satisfied.

no way!
This self-defense letter needs to explain why he listed Emperor Wen of Han and Emperor Xuan of Han above the ancestors of the Song Dynasty.

Although, from an academic and historical perspective, he was not wrong.

But politically, he was dead wrong.

To take it to the extreme, this is a case of eating and smashing the pot, being disloyal to Emperor Zhao, and being dishonest to the Song Dynasty.

To put it more precisely, it means that he has ulterior motives and misses Liu.

It should be noted that the prophecy of the Mao Jin Dao has been circulating in the world since the demise of Shu Han.

Emperors of all dynasties have been extremely vigilant about this.

Even more terrible was the Liao emperor in the north, who claimed to be a descendant of Liu Bang, and whose Chinese surname was Liu.

Tongliao, it’s a capital crime!
Therefore, Su Che must take this issue seriously.

He had to give a convincing explanation and tell the palace that he really only ate one bowl of noodles!

Otherwise, if the two palaces and the emperor in the palace were a little sensitive, his whole family would be in trouble with him!

Just as he was worrying, he heard his wife Shi's voice from outside the door.

"Su Lang, Su Lang..."

"Someone from the palace has come to inform us that an angel will arrive!"

Su Zhe listened and suddenly became extremely panicked. "Angel?"

"Are you here to call for punishment?" he asked nervously.

"No!" Shi said, "It was sent by the government as a gift for the New Year!"

After hearing this, Su Che burst into tears.

"A New Year's gift?"

"I can have it, too!"

It’s incredible!
Even though he made such a mistake, the government still sent people to give him gifts.

The subtext is actually to appease - I believe in your loyalty!
If not, how could angels come to bestow gifts?

Not to mention giving gifts, even looking at it for even a second is annoying!

So Su Che hurriedly opened the door, and then, with the help of Shi, he put on his official uniform, put on his fu hat, tied his fish bag, led his whole family to the yard, set up the incense table, and waited for the envoy from the palace.

……

at dusk.

In the old residence of Mr. Zhang in Xingguofang.

The rhythmic voice of the eunuchs announcing the imperial decree came from Su Che's courtyard.

The neighbors on both sides pricked up their ears and listened attentively.

"Imperial edict to Su Che: "Rituals are used to correct names, which is the old tradition of the country! I have read the facts of the court and the hearts of the three thousand people. I am deeply impressed by your loyalty and diligence!"

After listening to the contents of the imperial edict, those officials who were on good terms with Su Che put aside their worries and began to feel happy.

why?
Because the imperial edict quoted two allusions.

The story of "filling the courtyard" comes from the Book of Rites - the common people's shame are displayed inside the stele, and the courtyard's fruits are displayed outside the stele!

This sentence is quoted in the Biography of Ban Gu in the Book of the Later Han Dynasty, praising Ban Gu's achievements: So the courtyard was filled with thousands of delicacies and tens of thousands of jars of fine wine.

From then on, Tingshi was used to refer to tribute and then to represent the power, resources and wealth of the court.

When used on a person, it means praising that person's talent and calling him a national treasure.

The second sentence is very important.

The quote comes from the Book of Documents. Tai Shi: I have three thousand ministers, but they are all of one mind.

The previous sentence is: Zhou has millions of ministers, but they have millions of hearts.

It talks about the truth that if the ruler and his subjects are united as one, they will be invincible!

Using it here means: I regard you, Su Che, as a treasure. We are of one mind as king and subject, and outsiders cannot separate us.

……

Su Che burst into tears as he listened to the imperial edict read by the angel.

If the king treats his subjects as state heroes, then the subjects should repay him by treating them as state heroes!
He prostrated himself and bowed again: "I respectfully obey your command and will never forget it!"

Then he stood up and took the imperial edict.

Then, he asked his family to put the prepared Jiaozi into the hands of the eunuch who came to read the imperial edict.

The eunuch took the thank-you gift, touched its texture, and felt its size, and realized that it was a fifty-guan Jiaozi note.

He immediately laughed: "Thank you, Sheren!"

As he said this, he had people bring in all the gifts from heaven.

A carefully framed portrait of Zhong Kui, a cake of tribute tea, and a set of tea sets.

In addition, there are two boxes.

The box was filled with cloth, but Su Che's family had never seen this cloth before, so they couldn't help but become curious.

The eunuch saw the curious look on Su Che's family's faces and said, "My two gentlemen, these are the newly woven cotton cloths made by the weavers of the Silk and Brocade Courtyard after the purchase, which are the old Jibei cloths!"

"We use the cotton that Xihe Road paid as tribute this year. If we use it to make clothes, it will be warm, comfortable, and very durable!"

"You two gentlemen can have someone sew some clothes for you. Once you wear them, you will know the wonderful use of this thing!"

"Oh, right!" The eunuch bowed to Su Che and said, "I almost forgot to tell my servant..."

"Everyone announced their intentions before coming..."

Su Che quickly knelt down facing the Funing Palace.

"My dear Su Che, the things I have given you are all grown with the sweat of the people of Xihe. They should not be wasted. You should sew them into clothes and wear them. Only in this way can you thank the people of Xihe for their hard work!"

"I will obey your command!" Su Che bowed again in the direction of Funing Palace.

(End of this chapter)