Great Qing Xiangguo

Chapter 76

Soon in March of Yangchun, the emperor came to Fengze Garden to perform farming.A yellow curtain was set up beside the imperial field, the emperor sat on the dragon chair, and the three princes and nine ministers stood beside him.Four old farmers held their oxen and stood respectfully in the imperial field.Mingzhu led the four guards to carry the imperial plow and set it up, then went to the field and knelt down and said: "Qizou the emperor, the imperial plow is set up."

The emperor nodded and put down the teacup in his hand.Holding the imperial bullwhip on a plate, Suo'etu walked up to the emperor respectfully, and knelt down and said: "I respectfully invite the emperor to perform plowing!"

The emperor stood up, picked up the bullwhip, and went down to the field.Four old farmers bowed their heads and led the oxen, and four guards supported the plow. The emperor only put his hands on the plow lightly, whipped the oxen, and shouted loudly.Gao Shiqi carried the seed box and followed closely behind the emperor, while Xu Qianxue sowed the seeds.The emperor plowed back and forth four times and went to the field to rest.The father-in-law brought the basin early, washed the mud off the emperor's feet, and put on the dragon boots.Mingzhu, Suo'etu, Chen Tingjing and other three lords and nine ministers took turns plowing the fields.

The emperor looked at the ministers and workers plowing the fields, and talked to Mingzhu and Chen Tingjing, saying: "Nowadays the world is peaceful, and the people have their own jobs. They should reward farming and have enough food and clothing. In the places that were hit by the disaster last year, the seeds and silver allocated by the imperial court were paid for. Distribute it to the people as soon as possible. Immediately inform the world of the imperial court's intention to persuade farmers."

Mingzhu bowed her head to lead.The emperor said again: "To govern the world, the most important thing is to use the right person for the governor. I think Wang Jiwen, the governor of Yunnan, is very good. The people in Yunnan call him Wang Qingtian."

Mingzhu said: "The emperor knows people well, and the common people are blessed."

The emperor suddenly remembered Wang Jiwen's excerpts, and asked: "Wang Jiwen asked to build the Daguan Tower. The excerpts have been uploaded for several months, why haven't they been settled yet?"

Chen Tingjing said: "Qi Zou the emperor, the ministers and others discussed it, and thought that Wang Jiwen should be asked to figure out how much silver taels it will cost to build the Grand View Tower, and how to raise the money. We should also play the detailed map of the pavilion, and ask the emperor to look at it first."

The emperor said: "Even so, the book should be sent back to Yunnan as soon as possible."

Chen Tingjing replied: "Your Majesty, the excerpts have already been sent back to Yunnan. I will pay attention to the excerpts from Yunnan."

The emperor didn't ask any more questions, but Chen Tingjing became puzzled in his heart.He saw that the exchange of documents between the imperial court and the provinces was getting slower and slower. In the past, the documents issued to Yunnan would receive a reply in about a month, at most no more than two months, but now it takes three months.Wang Jiwen's last notebook was sent back at the beginning of the new year. It has been almost three months and there is still no news.

It turned out that all the provinces submitted the documents and memorials to the imperial court, and they had to be sent to Mingzhu's home in advance, and he had to review and revise them, and then sent them back to the province, copied them again, stamped with the official seal, and then sent them to the South Study Room through the Minister of General Affairs.Mingzhu only said that this was to appreciate the holy will, and the provincial officials were eager to walk away from Mingzhu's door.No one else in the South Study Room knew about this cutscene.

That day and night, there were a dozen or so people sitting in the upper living room of Mingzhu's mansion, all dressed as ordinary people, sitting upright, just drinking tea and not saying a word.Occasionally, their eyes met, and they either hurriedly avoided, or smiled awkwardly.They are all officials from various provinces who went to Beijing to perform affairs, but they did not reveal their identities to each other.Antu, Mingzhu's family member, was in charge of greeting people inside and out, whoever he called would follow him in.He didn't call out the names of the guests either, and he would stand up and follow him when he came out and pointed at anyone.

Antu's name at the moment is Liu Chuanji, an aide to Hunan governor Zhang Qian.Liu Chuanji hurriedly responded, and followed Antu inside.Antu led him to an empty room and said, "Sit down first."

Liu Chuanji asked: "Excuse me, Mr. An, when can I see Ming Xiangguo?"

An Tu said, "Master, I'm done with my work, so I'll call you."

Liu Chuanji quickly thanked him and sat down with peace of mind.An Tu said again: "I still have to tell you a few words. The master took all the things you brought, and my master received the filial piety from your governor. Just see the master later, don't mention it. "

Liu Chuanji nodded and said, "Yongshu understands."

Antu went out for a while, then came back and said, "Come with me."

Liu Chuanji got up and followed Antu, turned left and right through several corridors, and entered a room.Mingzhu sat on the kang, and when she saw Liu Chuanji, she nodded with a smile.

Liu Chuanji gave a big gift and said, "Liu Chuanji, the governor of Hunan Province, pays his respects to Xiangguo Ming."

Mingzhu smiled and said, "Your governor, Mr. Zhang Qian, is an old friend of mine. He praised your literary talent in front of me. Please sit down quickly. How long has it been?"

Liu Chuanji said, "It's been three days."

Mingzhu turned around and blamed Antu: "It's not easy for him to come here from Hunan, why make him wait for three days?"

Antu lowered his head and said, "Master has too many people to meet, and I can't make it."

Mingzhu was a little angry, and said: "This is dealing with important national affairs, even if I don't eat or sleep, I still want to see them."

Liu Chuanji clasped his hands and said, "Ming Xiangguo takes care of all kinds of opportunities every day, it's really hard work! Yongshu is new to Mr. Zhang Qian's curtain, and he doesn't understand etiquette in many places, so I still look to Ming Xiangguo for advice."

Mingzhu shook her head and said politely, and said with emotion: "Serving the emperor, no matter how hard it is, you have to endure it! The emperor is even harder. I will check here first, so the emperor's burden will not be so heavy."

Liu Chuanji quickly nodded in agreement.Mingzhu said: "I won't gossip. Hunan has been suffering for years, and the people are suffering. The emperor is very worried! Your governor asked you to pay 70 taels of tax, I think it is not enough!"

Liu Chuanji was overjoyed and said: "Ming Xiangguo, if you can spare more, the people in Hunan will remember your kindness!"

Mingzhu said, "Let's get rid of 80 taels."

Liu Chuanji knelt down and said, "I kowtow to Ming Xiangguo on behalf of the Hunan people!"

Mingzhu helped Liu Chuanji and said: "Please hurry up! Take the booklet back and draft it again. If you want to save 80 taels, you have to write 100 million taels in the booklet."

Liu Chuanji looked distressed, and said: "Ming Xiangguo, disaster relief is like saving lives. I will go back and forth again, and it will take another two months."

Mingzhu said: "There is no other way. It's easy for you to write a new book, but you have to have the governor's seal!"

After Liu Chuanji thought about it, he had no choice but to say, "Okay, I have to go back."

Mingzhu said: "After rewriting the excerpt, send it directly to the Minister of General Affairs, and don't send it to me again. Hurry up, many places are submitting the excerpt to ask the emperor to reduce or exempt taxes. If it is too late, it will be difficult to say."

Liu Chuanji was very anxious in his heart, and said, "I'm afraid I won't be able to catch up if I go back again."

Mingzhu said nothing more, and smiled kindly.Liu Chuanji had no choice but to thank him again and again and leave.

An Tu led Liu Chuanji, and went around in circles in the Jiuqu Corridor.

Antu asked: "What to do next, do you understand?"

Liu Chuanji said: "Understood, Ming Xiangguo has given orders."

Antu shook his head and said, "So, you still don't understand."

Liu Chuanji asked: "What else? Master An, please tell me!"

An Tu said: "The emperor approved you to exempt 100 million taels, but Hunan can only exempt 80 taels, and the extra 20 taels will be handed over to the department."

Liu Chuanji was taken aback, and said, "What did you say? I'm completely confused."

An Tu got angry and said: "It's a clear account, what's so confusing? Your original master knows much better than you. Let me tell you, if the emperor approves Hunan's tax exemption of 100 million taels, you will pay 20 taels." Two work department fees."

Liu Chuanji asked: "That is to say, the more the emperor approves, the more money we will pay for the department fee?"

Antu nodded and said, "You understand."

Liu Chuanji was impatient, he didn't care where it was, and said straightly: "So it's like this? Why don't we just ask the emperor to exempt 70 taels."

Antu snorted and said, "Without our master speaking for you, a tael of silver would have been unavoidable!"

Liu Chuanji shook his head and sighed, "Okay, I'll go back and report to the governor."

Three days later, Mingzhu went to the South Study Room, and when she entered the door, she asked, "Master Chen, has Wang Jiwen's brochure from Yunnan arrived yet?"

Chen Tingjing said: "I haven't seen it yet, but I received a note from Hunan Governor Zhang Qian asking for a tax exemption of 100 million taels."

Mingzhu was secretly taken aback when she heard this, she couldn't believe that Liu Chuanji had returned to Hunan so soon, he must have engraved the official seal privately.His face seemed to be all right, he just took the note and said, "Hunan has suffered disasters year after year, and the emperor knows about it. It's just how much the tax is exempted from. Let's discuss it and invite the emperor."

At night, Mingzhu asked Antu to go to the Hunan Guild Hall and call Liu Chuanji.It turned out that Liu Chuanji was worried that if he went back to Hunan again, the tax exemption would fail, so he really engraved the governor's seal privately.Liu Chuanji naturally knew that this was a serious crime, but he thought that Mingzhu asked for 20 taels of silver, and he didn't dare to say it when he knew it.

Antu led Liu Chuanji to see Mingzhu, and scolded as he walked, "Master Liu, you are too ignorant. Our master is so busy, you have to let him see you twice! Our master never tells anyone He's really angry this time."

Liu Chuanji bowed his head and said nothing, just followed along.Seeing Liu Chuanji entered the study, Mingzhu immediately cursed: "Chuanji, what do you want me to say about you? How dare you engrave the governor's seal privately? How dare you be so bold? Zhang Qian will fall into your hands!"

Liu Chuanji was not afraid in his heart, but said with a bitter face on purpose: "Yongshu only wants to finish the errand quickly, but he is afraid that it will be too late and the emperor will not approve it. It is a last resort."

Mingzhu shook her head, and said: "You are so confused! Do you know that this is a serious crime of beheading? If the emperor finds out about this, Zhang Qian will also be dismissed and investigated!"

Liu Chuanji said: "Anyway, only you, Ming Xiangguo, know about this matter! Please open your eyes and close your eyes, and you will be fine."

Mingzhu sighed and said: "Zhang Qian is my old friend, I will not report this matter to the emperor. The emperor has given permission to exempt Hunan from taxes of 100 million taels. You should go back to Hunan immediately."

Liu Chuanji knelt down, kowtowed a few times, and got up to say goodbye.Mingzhu said again: "Don't worry about Chuanji, I still have a letter here, please bring it to Lord Zhang Qian."

Liu Chuanji accepted the letter, saluted respectfully, and withdrew.Antu Zhaomingzhu ordered to see off the guests, Liu Chuanji hesitated again and again, and said hesitantly: "Master An, please tell Ming Xiangguo that we have difficulties with the 20 tael fee."

Antu said angrily: "You dare not say that in front of our master, what nonsense are you talking to me? I am about to tell you, the department fee is now 30 taels!"

Liu Chuanji was so surprised that he couldn't close his mouth from ear to ear. It turned out that Mingzhu took advantage of him to engrave the official seal privately and asked for an extra 10 taels of silver.Liu Chuanji glared at Antu and said, "If the emperor only exempts 70 taels, Hunan will not ask the people for a tael of silver in the past two years. Now that the emperor exempts us from 100 million taels, we have to charge 30 taels from the people. How could this be possible?" reason?"

An Tu said: "How can Zhang Qian use such an ignorant aide like you! Don't forget, you will be beheaded if you engrave the official seal privately!"

Liu Chuan was basically a person with a temper, and now he couldn't hold back the anger in his heart, so he rushed out.

On the second day, Liu Chuanji left in no hurry and asked Zhang Penghe for a drink.It turned out that Liu Chuanji and Zhang Penghe were Juren in the same year. They met in the capital for the examination. They were very close friends and kept in touch with each other.Zhang Penghe later became a Jinshi, but Liu Chuanji did not go well in the examination. He spent a few years looking for a library to make a living, and was recently invited by Zhang Qian to be a staff member.Liu Chuanji had something on his mind, so he only drank alcohol by himself, and soon became drunk, and said loudly: "Mingzhu, he is the most corrupt official in the dynasty."

Zhang Penghe hurriedly said: "Brother Liu, speak softly, the capital is full of pearls!"

Liu Chuanji didn't care so much, and said loudly: "I, Liu, is incompetent and failed many times, so I had to be an assistant. But it's not easy to be an assistant. You have to do things against your conscience!"

As Liu Chuanji said, he drank it with the jug in his arms, and shouted: "For the sake of the governor, I have to pretend to be a grandson in front of Mingzhu, but I look down on him from the bottom of my heart! When I go back, I will tell the governor that 30 taels Fei, we will not leave!"

Zhang Penghe drank with Liu Chuanji until dark, and sent him back to the Hunan Guild Hall.After leaving the guild hall, Zhang Penghe went to Chen Tingjing's mansion, and explained Liu Chuanji's words in detail.

Only then did Chen Tingjing suddenly realize, and said, "No wonder the exchange of documents between the imperial court and the provinces is getting slower and slower!"

Zhang Penghe said: "Nowadays, if we officials have memorials, we have to go through Mingzhu first. The emperor's ears are sealed by Mingzhu! Master Chen, it's better for us to closely visit Mingzhu."

Chen Tingjing said: "It's impossible to act recklessly, you have to find out what the emperor wants first. It's not that there are no secrets to ginseng pearls, but the emperor has his own opinions."

Zhang Penghe shook his head and sighed, and said that the bright pearl covered the sky and the sun, and he deserved death for his crime.

(End of this chapter)