Travel through the Qing Dynasty and become emperor

Chapter 667
At this time, Li Hongzao, who had been holding his breath, spoke next to him: "When Emperor Kangxi wanted to build a summer resort, Minister Sony and others persuaded him, saying, 'The summer resort is really cool, and the people are still in Rehe', speaking in folk colloquialism. Son, it’s true. Lord Kangxi stopped appropriating the silver taels. According to the views of the slaves, the repair of the garden is not a urgent task. If you have money, you should use it to strengthen the military and build various places, and use it for relief. The victims of disasters, and the rescue of those who are trapped in the world, can be regarded as the kings of Yao and Shun."

Li Hongzao said these words in a daze, and Guan Xuqing's smile disappeared immediately, "You mean that I am not the king of Yao and Shun, and I don't want to think about the people?"

Li Hongzao bowed his body, but his tone did not back down, and he said: "The emperor is a wise emperor, Tang Zong, Song Zu and my pilgrim ancestors are all talented and wise emperors, and they never regarded themselves as Yao and Shun, let alone the emperor!"

At this point, the conversation has become deadlocked, one monarch and one minister, Guan Xuqing raised his eyebrows condescendingly, stared at Li Hongzao without saying a word, Li Hongzao bowed his body, and did not look up at the emperor's expression.Guan Xu knew early in the morning that Li Hongzao was an unstoppable and unbeatable master, even the most authoritative princes gave him a three-pointer. He usually saw him as easy-going and courteous, but today he realized that what he said was true.Kang Youwei saw that there was an impasse, and wanted to say a few jokes to calm the atmosphere, but he swallowed it again, and he wanted to hear how the emperor would respond.

Guan Xuqing gasped for a while, seemed to calm down a little anger, and then said tepidly: "You are more than 70 years old, and you can be called a veteran of the three dynasties. I don't plan to do anything to you. It's just what you said." The summer resort is really cool, but the people are in the Rehe. That was something that happened during the Kangxi period. If you say it today, you mean to slander the king. There are now 10,000+ people in Chengde City. Can you point out which family is in the "Rehe" Is it in the river?"

"No." Li Hongzao said, "But the slave didn't lie either."

Guan Xuqing's face became more and more ugly.

"Rebuild the garden, once the decree is issued, the capital will be cleaned up immediately. All the homeless, unemployed, beggars, beggars, monks who placed orders were driven out half a year ago." Li Hongzao said: "The people left in the city are not businessmen. It is the rich man, of course 'cool'!"

He spoke one sentence after another until Guan Xuqing had nothing to answer, as if he was arguing with the emperor.No matter how well-mannered Guan Xuqing was, he couldn't help becoming angry from embarrassment. His eyebrows twitched twice, his face darkened, and he stretched his face even longer. He shouted loudly: "Don't think you have more seniority, how are you compared to Li Hongzhang? What kind of Jinshi are you? Which book taught you to talk to the king like this? You also admit that the world is peaceful today, and you say that I am not the king of Yao and Shun, what does this mean?"

Li Hongzao stood bent over like a scorched old tree stump. No matter how ugly the emperor's face was, he didn't even look at it. He pretended not to know, and said, "Yao and Shun regard the world as the public. It’s a good time to work hard. Overhauling the gardens may not be in line with the emperor’s diligent pursuit of governance! The Old Summer Palace has already spent 1000 million yuan, and the project has not yet completed one-third of the project. The Summer Palace has also used 700 million yuan. If this goes on year after year, how many families in the imperial court will be wiped out?" These words obviously included the cabinet, Xiong Xiling couldn't help but blush, but pretended not to hear anything.

Kang Youwei was preoccupied with asking for money, so he couldn't keep silent at this time, and said beside him: "Lan Sun, you are too thoughtless in your words, your academics are admired by all the civil and military people in the court, but it is too inappropriate to say such a thing. The emperor did not build these gardens for his own enjoyment. One is to open up some scenic spots, the other is to benefit future generations, and the third is to receive ministers and handle government affairs. The building is also for the great government of softening the distance and pacifying the barbarians. Nowadays, more and more foreign barbarians come to pay tribute to the DPRK. Don’t the gardens need palaces and pavilions to match? When the country’s financial resources are abundant, there are many unemployed people among the people. If you cause trouble in the local area, pay some wages to support them, and the imperial court has a place to receive foreigners, isn't it the best of both worlds?"

Unexpectedly, Li Hongzao pushed him back immediately: "Guangsha, you are the number one in literature, but you are also the number one in flattery! I will go to the provinces with you to see which province has fewer hungry people than five people." Wan, punish me for lying! Let me tell you, except for Suzhou, Hangzhou and Guangxi, which are a little rich, the common people in the north have a lot of food without housing! Sitting in the ministry, looking at the brochures handed down below, I think that the world is good Now, men can farm, women can weave, the old can be supported, and the few can be caressed. Is this the mind and ambition of your Kang Guangsha? Your majesty, Kang Youwei is a sycophant when he flatters the king!"

"Only you know how to be open-minded? What is a sycophant? If you don't understand the general situation, you can only be called a sycophant!" Guan Xuqing paled and said sharply, "I have more important matters than you. You step back! Wait for the order of punishment!"

Li Hongzao said without hesitation: "Your Majesty said that the minister is a courtier or a direct minister. I don't care at all, but now Enke is about to recruit scholars, and the test centers in various places have been abandoned for a long time. The test center in Changsha, Hunan is raining." , the water leaks everywhere, the examinees can’t take the exam at all, and now the emperor wants to use the money to repair the garden, which really makes my teeth cold.”

Guan Xuqing blushed and said: "When it comes to using money, I will discuss it for you. The money for garden repairs is paid by the Ministry of Internal Affairs. It is allocated from various city gate taxes and criminal charges, and has nothing to do with the Ministry of Finance. No!"

Li Hongzao sneered and said: "The words are high-sounding. The city gate tax should have been called the Ministry of Finance, and the money for crimes should have been in charge of the Ministry of Personnel. The emperor said it would be taken. Is the money really used so legitimately?"

Guan Xuqing couldn't bear it anymore, and shouted: "Li Hongzao! You are so courageous. You think I cherish talents, so you let him go. You slander the king in person. The crime is unforgivable. Come here, and shoot Li Hongzao on the spot!"

A row of imperial guards came over and pushed Li Hongzao to the ground. Li Hongzao trembled, but without saying a word, his face was on the ground, eyes closed, willing to wait for death.The guards pulled the bolts of their guns, and waited for the emperor's order before firing their guns in disorder.

At this time, Xiong Xiling and Kang Youwei saw the emperor trembling with anger, and their anger was very strong. Although they were anxious, no one dared to come to dissuade them, and they stared at Li Hongzao angrily and anxiously.Even Jingfen turned pale, this kind of matter belongs to state affairs, and she dare not intervene.

Guan Xuqing turned his face away, looked at the undulating mountains in the distance, and slowly raised his right hand, but he did not let it go. The air at the scene seemed to freeze. After a cup of tea, Guan Xuqing let out a long sigh, slowly Slowly put down his hands, turned around, and said slowly: "Let him go." The guards withdrew, Li Hongzao straightened up and knelt on the ground, his gray beard trembling in the wind.

Guan Xuqing said to Li Hongzao: "Lan Sun, I have convinced you, and you can actually commit a crime against you to death for a small matter of repairing a garden."

Li Hongzao kowtowed politely and said: "Your Majesty, repairing a garden is not a small matter, it involves the power of the state, if it can make the emperor change his mind, I would rather die to thank the emperor for his kindness."

Guan Xuqing raised his arm slightly and said: "Come on, you don't want to die. After all, you are doing it for money. If I don't need a little money from the country, do you think it's extravagant to build a garden? "

Li Hongzao was stunned for a moment and pondered: "I don't understand, how can this garden be repaired without using the state's money?"

Guan Xuqing smiled wryly and waved his hands: "Let's discuss this matter later. Before I raise this money, the garden repair project has been temporarily suspended."

Li Hongzao kowtowed with tears in his eyes, "Your Majesty is Youdao Mingjun."

Guan Xuqing said: "Youdao Mingjun is not something everyone can afford. Tired! Lansun, pay attention to your bones. To be honest, I still can't do without a straight minister like you. Go back first, I promise Take care of your business."

Li Hongzao shook his horseshoe sleeve tremblingly and gave the emperor a thousand blows, and then he left the Summer Palace.Xiong Xiling and Kang Youwei looked at his back as he walked away, staggering, as if he had aged ten years.When looking at the emperor, he was also looking at his back, his face has softened a lot.The emperor let out a heavy breath, his face turned pale, and he said, "Li Lansun, he used to be noisy when he was in court, but the older he gets, the more irritable he becomes. It used to be a small noise, but now it's a big noise. Talk to me bang bang."

Kang Youwei said: "He shouldn't call me a courtier. But I admire his courage. Since ancient times, if there are no noisy courtiers in the temple, something will happen to the country."

Xiong Xiling didn't know what punishment the emperor was going to give Li Hongzao. Hearing his tone, she felt a little relieved. Seeing the emperor lazily turning back to the palace, he said while accompanying the attendants: "Guangsha's words have the style of a minister. I think that Li Hongzao is a minister who handles practical things, and he only speaks when he can't hold back. How many people in the court are willing to speak, no matter right or wrong, it is always a good thing, so the punishment will be avoided?"

"Why are you so afraid of punishment?" Guan Xuqing said with a smile: "I not only listen to his words, but also his character. Li Hongzao has been an official of the Ministry for nearly 30 years, and his family is so poor that there are only three servants. Such an official is now There are fewer and fewer, how can you not give 'punishment'? Guangsha has been ridiculed by him, so you will pass the decree, give him a grade, and give him a double salary!"

Kang Youwei replied with a smile: "Cha."

Guan Xuqing's original interest in visiting the garden was completely disturbed by Li Hongzao. Although he didn't blame him, he felt that he was not interested.Back in the hall, he was still staring out of the window in a daze.Xiong Xiling and Kang Youwei didn't dare to leave without obeying the order, and didn't dare to ask, so they stood side by side by the dragon couch like puppets, looking at the emperor from time to time.

"It would be great if the emperor could be like the emperor in the play!" After a long time, Guan Xuqing sighed and said, "If there is something to go out to play, and nothing to do, you can reward as you want. You can spend your money however you want." After finishing speaking, he smiled lightly, "Unfortunately, those are all stupid kings, kings of subjugated countries."

(End of this chapter)