Great Qing Xiangguo

Chapter 99

As the boat crossed the Yellow River, the emperor stood by the window, listening to the gurgling of the river, and said, "My first tour to the south, I saw people and trees on both sides of the river. On my second tour to the south, I only saw the river banks on both sides. This time I went south Patrol, I saw that the embankments on both banks are getting higher and higher.”

Prince Yinreng said: "Huang Ama, this shows that the river has been harnessed properly and the river is getting deeper and deeper. This is because Huang Ama managed well."

The emperor laughed and said: "I don't want to plunder people's beauty, Zhang Penghe's contribution is indisputable!"

Zhang Penghe hurriedly knelt down and said, "Thank you, Your Majesty, for your commendation!"

At this time, Suo'etu gave Yinreng a dark look.Yinfeng understood and stepped back slowly.The two slipped outside the cabin, and Suo'etu whispered: "Prince, this is the secret performance delivered by Chen Tingjing's flying horse!"

Yinreng hid aside and peeked at the secret performance.Gao Shiqi accidentally saw Yinreng peeking at the secret music, and was shocked.

Yinfeng returned to the cabin and played: "Ama Huang, I have something important to hear, please Ama Huang stand back to the left and right."

The ministers and workers all went out, and Yinfeng said: "Huang Ama, Chen Tingjing's flying horse sent a secret performance."

The emperor didn't care, and said: "Look at it, and then tell me."

Yinfeng hesitated to look at it, but the emperor said, "I told you to look at it, what are you afraid of?"

Yinreng opened the secret play, looked it over in a pretentious manner, and then said: "Return to Huang Ama, Chen Tingjing secretly reported that there is no such thing as local excuses for science, but the governor of Liangjiang, Ashan, mobilized the army and launched a large-scale welcoming project. The roads in Jiangsu and Zhejiang provinces have been rebuilt, and yellow sand has been prepared on both sides of the roads; the rivers are already unimpeded, but the people are ordered to dig deeper; and the palace is also built in Hangzhou."

The emperor said angrily: "This Ah Shan is too courageous. Who told him to build a palace?"

Yinfeng said: "Huang Ama, my son thinks that Ah Shan should be ordered to stop the construction of the palace immediately."

The emperor didn't answer, but taught Yinfeng a lesson, saying: "I know you have a close relationship with Ah Shan."

Yinfeng bowed his head and said, "My minister has no relationship with Ah Shan."

The emperor sounded stern, and said: "Yinfeng, you still want to deny it in front of me! As a prince, you must be careful in your words and deeds! If you make friends with ministers, you will get into trouble!"

Yinfeng didn't dare to plead any more, just knelt down and pleaded guilty: "My son is guilty."

The emperor waved his hand and said: "Don't worry about this matter, I will deal with it myself."

At night, the emperor stayed alone for a long time, wrote a secret decree, and ordered people to fly Ashan off after dawn.

Suo'etu secretly instructed Yinfeng outside the cabin: "Prince, you have to write a letter to Ah Shan, and ask him not to neglect the matter of picking up the driver. The emperor said so, it really made him feel uncomfortable, and he still has to blame !"

Yinfeng hesitated and said: "Huang Ama severely reprimanded Ah Shan for extravagance. I'm afraid it's wrong to write a letter to say so now!"

Suo'etu said: "Prince, you must remember that if you don't have a group of confidants among the ministers, it will be difficult to achieve great things! Ah Shan will be of great use in the future, and the crown prince will rely heavily on him. This time Ah Shan takes over, we have to Please help, the emperor must be satisfied!"

After hearing this, Yinreng thought it was reasonable, so he wrote a secret letter and sent it to Hangzhou.

In the back office of Yuhang County, the common people knelt between the streets, learning to greet the driver, and shouted long live in unison.A commoner knocked his head bang bang, and shouted seriously: "Your Majesty is wise, the world is peaceful!" Another commoner pretended to serve wine and shouted: "Your Majesty, this is our homemade rice wine. Take a sip." Bar!"

The master walked slowly among the people who lined the road to greet them, looking left and right.Zhang Xiangfu raised his head and looked at Master coldly.The master shouted: "Zhang Xiangfu, don't raise your head! Disrespectful reception is a serious crime!"

Zhang Xiangfu sneered and said, "Where is the emperor now? Maybe you are the emperor now?"

The master was about to have a seizure when a yamen servant ran over and said that the county magistrate asked Zhang Xiangfu to speak in the second hall.

When Zhang Xiangfu arrived at the second hall, Li Qilong stood up and said with a smile: "Xiangfu, these days are really difficult for you. Pick up, it's a big deal, I can't help it. From now on, don't spend all your time studying in the yamen. Long live. Sit down, sit down."

After Zhang Xiangfu heard this, he didn't want to know the reason, he just cupped his hands and said: "Then, let's take my leave!"

Li Qilong raised his hand and said, "Don't be impatient. Your Majesty's merits are high on the five mountains, and his virtue is universally recognized. He is a saint today. You are a scholar, you should write poems to praise the saints!"

Zhang Xiangfu said: "I can't write this kind of poem flattering the emperor! The county magistrate is also a scholar, so you might as well write it yourself!"

Li Qilong smiled apologetically: "I want to write it, but the people have to compete to write it themselves, so the emperor will be happy!"

Zhang Xiangfu also laughed, and said, "The county magistrate, go out and ask, see which common people are willing to compete for writing, and let him write it."

Li Qilong suppressed his anger and said: "Xiangfu's words are unreasonable. How many people can read? I still want to invite you, a scholar!"

Zhang Xiangfu said: "Anyway, I don't know how to write. If the county magistrate has nothing else to do, I will leave first."

Li Qilong finally got angry and said: "Zhang Xiangfu, don't be ashamed. I recommend you to present poems to the emperor to the master of Taiwan to save face."

Zhang Xiangfu sneered and said, "You can keep this face for yourself."

Li Qilong patted the coffee table and said, "Why are you so arrogant? At your age, my master has long been a Juren!"

Zhang Xiangfu also patted the tea table and said, "Juren? Isn't it just writing a few nonsense articles? I don't like it!"

Li Qilong roared and said: "My lord, let me stop here. You have to write this poem praising holiness, and you have to write it if you don't. When the emperor comes, I will push you on top of the emperor to advance the poem. It depends on how you explain it. There is no poem to hand over, so watch your head!"

Zhang Xiangfu bowed his head and thought for a while, then heaved a long sigh and said, "Okay, I'll go back and write poetry."

Li Qilong walked into the signing room with a flick of his sleeves, cursing in a low voice: "Shame on you!"

Li Qilong was still angry in the signing room, when a message came from the governor's yamen, saying that Mr. Ah Shan asked him to come and talk.Li Qilong didn't dare to be negligent, and walked out of the county office.Arriving at the governor's yamen, he saw Ah Shan running around anxiously in the second hall, and hurriedly asked, "Lord Zhitai, what are your orders for summoning a humble official?"

Ah Shan was very anxious, and said: "According to the imperial decree, the subordinate officials are strictly ordered not to make a big fuss about the reception. But the crown prince sent someone to send a secret letter, ordering the subordinate officials to be careful about the reception, and make sure to satisfy the emperor. Brother, it is very embarrassing." ! There are some things that I can only entrust to you brother, I can’t trust others.”

After Ah Shan finished speaking, he carefully put the prince's secret letter in the inkstone, confused it, and then threw it into the wastebasket.

Li Qilong saw that Mr. Ah Shan was so cautious and knew that the matter was serious, so he asked, "What is Mr. Taiwan's idea?"

Ah Shan said: "Brother invited you here to discuss with you. I don't trust other brothers, and some things can't be entrusted to others."

Li Qilong cupped his hands and bowed his head, and said: "Thank you for your trust, Mr. Taiwan! Just tell me what you want me to do!"

Ah Shan said: "The prince said in the letter that the emperor is indeed simple, but if he makes the emperor uncomfortable, he will be punished."

Li Qilong thought for a while, and said: "Let me say, what the superiors say is what they say, and we do what we do. It's always been like this. Your majesty, he is also a human being!"

Ah Shan laughed out loud when he heard this, and said, "Brother, I knew you, Li Qilong, would handle things."

Li Qilong shook his head humbly and said: "Thank you for your compliment, Master Taiwan."

Ah Shan looked around, lowered his voice and said: "First of all, you are preparing 120 young women. There is no mistake in this matter. In addition, here is a list. These princes, brothers, and ministers want to buy some beauties and bring them back to the capital." go."

Li Qilong took the list and read it softly: "Prince Yinfeng has eight, one who can sing, three for Prince Cheng, two for Prince Li, four for Suo'etu..."

Ah Shan quickly waved his hands and said: "Okay, okay, don't read it. You just need to memorize this list in your stomach! The crown prince specially asked for someone who can sing, you have to work hard, and you have to be both talented and beautiful, and able to play well." Sing."

Li Qilong said: "There is a woman named Mei Kejun, the number one oiran in Hangzhou, it is the most suitable gift for the prince."

Ah Shan said: "It's all up to you, I can't take care of it so carefully."

Li Qilong said: "I understand it, I remember it. Master Taiwan, but where does the money for buying the girl come from?"

As Li Qilong said, he looked at the list carefully, memorized it secretly, and followed Ah Shan's example, put the list into the inkstone to smear the ink, and threw it into the wastebasket.

Ah Shan said: "For the silver, the Yuhang County Government will take care of it first."

Li Qilong was a little embarrassed, and said: "My lord, the emperor's previous southern tours, our county has also advanced money, and it has not been made up yet! When I came to Yuhang to take up the post, I took over eight thick volumes of account books. It owes silver."

Ah Shan glanced at Li Qilong and said, "Are you confused?"

Li Qilong murmured: "My lord, the other 120 women are easy to talk about. They are just playing with the adults. If you grab a lot in the brothels in Suzhou and Hangzhou, it won't cost you much money. But if you want to buy a good girl to give birth to a child, you have to buy it." Spend a lot of money!"

Ah Shan said: "Are you confused again? Don't call it a brothel girl."

Li Qilong hurriedly said: "This humble job will be properly explained, but the money is really difficult."

Ah Shan said: "You just need to pay for the money, it won't be taken out of your own pocket anyway."

Li Qilong knew that it was useless to say it, so he shut up.Ah Shan stared at Li Qilong for a long time, then suddenly said: "There are two more girls, they are not on the list, but they are the most important."

Seeing that Ah Shan was so mysterious, Li Qilong asked in a low voice, "Two more? Who wants it?"

Ah Shan said: "I shouldn't have told you, you just have to prepare."

Hearing what Ah Shan said, Li Qilong opened his mouth and stared, not daring to ask any more.Ah Shan raised a finger and pointed towards the sky.

Li Qilong was shocked, he shivered uncontrollably, and asked, "Huh? Your Majesty?"

Ah Shan glared at him, shook his head and said, "Li Qilong, you absolutely can't say anything. Your future future depends on this pick-up!"

Li Qilong knelt down on the ground, and said: "Thank you, Master Taiwan, for your support! I will risk my life to get this job done!"

Ah Shan was very satisfied, nodded, and said: "Qilong, you have to do everything in secret. The prince's letter hinted that the emperor sent someone here. It is inconvenient for the prince to say so, this matter is extremely confidential."

Li Qilong was shocked when he heard this, and said: "The master of Taiwan didn't mention it, and he didn't dare to report it because he was afraid of appearing suspicious. This imperial envoy may have dealt with people from my Yuhang county government."

When Ah Shan heard this, his eyes turned black with shock, and he hurriedly asked what was going on.Li Qilong then told the story of the yamen servant going to Qinghefang Mantangchun to take people.Ah Shan was afraid that the imperial envoy was Prince Cheng, and if the Yuhang County Government offended Prince Cheng's people, it would be a big trouble.After all, it depends on Li Qilong to do things, so Ah Shan said that Prince Cheng had arrived in Hangzhou.Li Qilong was so frightened that he broke out in a cold sweat, how did he even think about it!After being anxious for a long time, Li Qilong shook his head again and said: "Master Taiwan, we only go to arrest people to collect taxes, and no one can catch it. The humble job is just extra cautious, and I am afraid that if you beat ghosts, you will be righteous! Besides, isn't Prince Cheng himself going to buy someone? Why don't I find a few beautiful women and send them to the Shouning Pavilion tomorrow, the prince is naturally happy, and everything will be fine."

Ah Shan shook his hand vigorously, and said: "No, no, you are really confused! Who said that Prince Cheng asked you to buy a woman? Prince Cheng called me to meet, but he didn't mention a word! We can only follow the note to send the woman Send it up!"

(End of this chapter)