Great Qing Xiangguo

Chapter 77

The emperor was in the Changchun Garden that day, and the South Study Room presented Wang Jiwen's notebook.The emperor finished reading the paper and said, "The construction of Daguan Tower only costs 1 taels of silver, all of which are voluntarily donated by rich families. Let's go."

Chen Tingjing led the order and said: "Cha!"

The emperor said again: "Wang Jiwen's calligraphy is getting better and better."

Chen Tingjing said: "Back to the emperor, this is not Wang Jiwen's character, but the name of Kan Zhenzhao, a famous scholar from Yunnan." The emperor was surprised: "Is that Kan Zhenzhao who once served under Wu Sangui?"

Chen Tingjing said: "Exactly. All the documents that Wu Sangui communicated with the court back then were written by Kan Zhenzhao. I admire his calligraphy and paid special attention to it."

The emperor sighed: "Kan Zhenzhao, what a pity."

Chen Tingjing said: "Kan Zhenzhao worked for Wu Sangui, and he couldn't help himself. After all, Wu Sangui was named Pingxi King by the court at that time."

The emperor nodded, didn't say much, and continued to look at the booklet.

Mingzhu said: "Qi Zou Emperor, Galdan led [-] troops across the Wusan River, preparing to attack Kundulun Bo Shuoketu, Chechen Khan, and Tuxietu Khan, and declared that he would invite troops to Russia. Attack Khalkha."

The emperor let out a long sigh, and said: "I expected that Galdan would turn against him sooner or later, as expected."

After saying that, the emperor got off the kang, took a few steps, and said: "Tune Horqin, Karaqin, Wengniuqin, Bahrain and other departments, and join with the department of Shangshu Alani of the Lifan Academy. Send another [-] forwards of the Eight Banners in the capital. , Each Zuo led a guard army, two hundred Han troops, and some cannons, and marched to the Alani army to wait for restraint."

Mingzhu received the decree and went straight to the emperor Shengming.The emperor said again: "Galdan has no faith, no righteousness, and is very cunning. All ministries must not underestimate the enemy. The supply of food and salaries is especially important. He ordered the governors of Yunnan, Guizhou, Sichuan and Shaanxi to raise food and salaries and send them to Xining."

Mingzhu led the decree and said: "Zha, I will draw up the decree immediately."

The emperor pondered for a while, and then said: "Xu Qianxue was transferred from the Ministry of Households to the Minister of the Ministry of Industry, and Chen Tingjing was transferred from the Ministry of Industry to the Minister of the Ministry of Households."

Chen Tingjing and Xu Qianxue both felt awkward when they heard this, and they knelt down to thank each other.

The emperor said: "I am not afraid of fighting with Galdan, but I am afraid of fighting without money. Chen Tingjing is good at managing money, you have to fill up my treasury with silver!"

Chen Tingjing kowtowed to accept the decree, and shouted a chirp.

Chen Tingjing and Xu Qianxue chose an auspicious day, first went to the Ministry of Industry, and then to the Ministry of Households to hand over the seal and a document.Xu Qianxue said: "In the past few years, the southern provinces have been plagued by famines, and the emperor has exempted some provinces from taxation; and the imperial court used troops to Taiwan, which cost a lot. Now that the northwest is unstable, a lot of money and food will be used to conquer Galdan. Mr. Chen , you have a heavy responsibility!"

Chen Tingjing said: "I took a rough look at the documents and accounts sent by the officials, and felt that Yunnan, Sichuan, Guizhou, Guangxi and other provinces that do not have the responsibility to release money and food, Kuyin has a lot to say."

Xu Qianxue said: "Master Chen, I have also guessed this. These provinces only have the responsibility of coordinating the payment, and the Treasury Bank only needs to check and accept the household department. It does not need to be sent to Beijing, and it is all under the control of the governor. I have been in the household department for a few months. It’s time to ask about this.”

Chen Tingjing said: "A large number of treasury banks are all controlled by the local government. If the supervision is not effective, corruption will inevitably occur!"

Xu Qianxue said vaguely: "It is possible, it is possible."

Wang Jiwen discussed matters with his staff Kan Zhenzhao and Yang Wenqi in the second hall.Yang Wenqi said: "Master Futai, exempting the copper tax is Chen Tingjing's idea, and Chen Tingjing does not agree with the construction of the Grand View Tower. Chen Tingjing is really a nerd!"

But Kan Zhenzhao said: "Master Futai, I think the emperor approved Lord Chen's request to not levy a copper tax, which is justified. If the copper tax is heavy, the people will not mine it, and the imperial court will have no copper coins."

Yang Wenqi said: "But without the copper tax, where can the governor's office get the money? What kind of Daguanlou do you want to build!"

Kan Zhenzhao said: "Master Futai, it doesn't matter if the Daguanlou is not repaired."

Wang Jiwen allowed the two staff to argue for a long time before saying: "Mr. Kan, you are my staff, don't sit on your butt!"

Kan Zhenzhao said: "Master Futai paid me to hire me, so I should obey you. But I also have a sense of propriety in doing things, please forgive me, Master Futai!"

Yang Wenqi made sarcastic remarks, and said: "As a guest of Master Futai, Mr. Kan is a role model for Yang when he does things for others!"

Wang Jiwen heard what Yang Wenqi meant, and was afraid that the two would quarrel, so he said, "Okay, okay, both of you have done your best, and Wang is very grateful. Mr. Kan, although I, Wang, is not as good as Liu Bei, I still pay attention to the thatched cottage. I beg you When you come out of the mountain, you are respecting your talent. The emperor has approved the construction of the Grand View Tower, so it is not a matter of whether to build it, but how to build it to satisfy the emperor!"

Kan Zhenzhao had no choice but to say: "Kan, please do your best."

Wang Jiwen ordered people to choose a good day, and together with Kan Zhenzhao, Yang Wenqi, and local gentry and celebrities, they selected the site of Daguanlou by the Dianchi Lake.Everyone walked along Dianchi Lake for half a day, and the scenery everywhere was magnificent. I really didn't know where to choose the most appropriate place.

Wang Jiwen said: "The emperor allowed us to build the Daguan Tower. This place must be a historic site. The selection of the site is very important."

Yang Wenqi said: "There is Yueyang Tower in Hunan, Yellow Crane Tower in Hubei, and now we will have Daguan Tower in Yunnan soon! Congratulations!"

The gentry and celebrities only hope that the world will be peaceful and the people will be blessed.Kan Zhenzhao remained silent, looking preoccupied.

Wang Jiwen asked, "Mr. Kan, why don't you say a word?"

Kan Zhenzhao said: "I'm thinking about raising military pay."

Wang Jiwen said: "We will discuss this matter separately. Today we only talk about the location of Daguanlou."

Kan Zhenzhao nodded, but his mind was still not here, and said: "The imperial court ordered Yunnan to raise food and pay for the army and horses to enter Xining from Sichuan and Shaanxi. There is a great mystery!"

Wang Jiwen asked: "What mystery does Mr. Kan think?"

Kan Zhenzhao said: "I'm afraid there will be war in the northwest."

Wang Jiwen said: "I guessed the same way, but the imperial court only asked us to pay the food and paid nothing else. Mr. Kan, would you like to see this place?"

Kan Zhenzhao raised his eyes and saw that the Dianchi Lake was empty and shining with gold, and when the Taihua mountain wall stood on the water and sky, its color was like Dai.Kan Zhenzhao said: "This place is very good, Master Futai, I'm afraid there won't be such a good place anymore."

Wang Jiwen gazed into the distance, concentrated for a moment, and couldn't help applauding repeatedly.He also ordered Mr. Feng Shui to open the compass and do it like a ritual.Followers also echoed again and again, only Tao is the place where form wins.This is how the site of Daguan Building was decided.

The real headache is the payment.One day, Wang Jiwen discussed the salary agreement with Kan Zhenzhao and Yang Wenqi, and asked, "Mr. Kan, how much money do you have?"

Kan Zhenzhao said: "Ku Yin still has 130 million taels."

Yang Wenqi was very worried and said, "Master Futai, since there will be no copper tax in the future, I really don't know where to get the money."

Kan Zhenzhao said: "The only thing is to open up new sources of income."

Wang Jiwen sighed: "It's easier said than done!"

Kan Zhenzhao said: "I have pondered a new tax law with Quanzi Wangda, and it is only a draft. I will show it to the adults in Taiwan sometime later."

Wang Jiwen didn't care too much when he heard this, and just said: "Thank you Mr. Kan for worrying. Let's discuss the payment first. The court has urged me several times. Every time I pay the payment in Yunnan, it is as scheduled, and there is no delay or arrears. The emperor has rewarded us many times. This time, we can't fall behind others!"

Kan Zhenzhao said: "It is no small matter to raise 17 taels of salary, 13 dans of grain, and [-] military horses in a short period of time! Mr. Futai, in my opinion, it is better to make an offer to the court and talk about the difficulties. Just avoid it, slow it down if you can.”

Wang Jiwen shook his head and said, "No, I have been in charge of supervising food and payment since the day I joined the army to cut down the vassals, and I have never missed anything. It's not that I praised Haikou, I, Wang, is capable of doing things, and I have long been famous outside, and everyone knows it."

Yang Wenqi flattered: "That's right, the emperor highly values ​​the talents of Mr. Futai."

Kan Zhenzhao said: "Master Futai, I really can't do it!"

Wang Jiwen thought about it, and said: "Since Mr. Kan has difficulties, Wen Qi will handle the matter of coordinating the payment, and you will be in charge of supervising the construction of the Daguan Building. There will inevitably be some cumbersome matters in building the building, and Wen Qi will help you manage it."

Yang Wenqi nodded beside him, but Kan Zhenzhao felt ashamed and said, "Kan is weak in talent and strength, Master Futai should let me go home to study and water the garden."

Wang Jiwen said with a smile: "Mr. Kan doesn't have to be like this. Although you have no fame, you are the leader of Yunnan Shilin. As long as you sit in the governor's office all day long, I, Wang, will have a bright face!"

Kan Zhenzhao shook his head again and again: "Kan is ashamed, I really dare not take it!"

Wang Jiwen said: "The Daguan Tower must be a historic site, and it needs a famous couplet to be handed down from generation to generation. Please trouble Kangong to write a good couplet."

Yang Wenqi cupped his hands towards Kan Zhenzhao and said, "It is a great honor for Wen Qi to serve Duke Kan."

Kan Zhenzhao sighed: "Kan is a useless scholar, he can only write a few words!"

Wang Jiwen laughed at himself and said: "Wang is really ashamed. He only has the name of a scholar, and he has the martial arts of Pingfan. In fact, he is incapable of both calligraphy and swords. I heard people from the capital say that the emperor read the Yunnan Memorial and praised Wang Jiwen. The handwriting is good. I have unintentionally plundered the beauty of others, I am really ashamed!"

Although Wang Jiwen was ashamed when he said it outright, his expression was ambiguous when he spoke.Naturally, Kan Zhenzhao understood. He didn't take fame very lightly, and he was willing to be a favor, and said with a smile: "Since the emperor said that it was Mr. Futai's character, it is Mr. Futai's character. From now on, only Mr. Futai’s characters don’t have Kan’s characters.”

Wang Jiwen was in the middle of his heart, but pretended to say: "That's not what it means, that's not what it means!" After saying that, he burst out laughing.

(End of this chapter)