Begging in late Ming Dynasty

Chapter 602 Silver, Face

The mighty Ming Empire, the overlord of the entire East Asia, the bright pearl of the East Asian civilization circle, was the first to expel the Mongols who ruled the world, and the 50-scale army went north to sweep Mongolia several times, and the fleet went south to reach the Ming Empire in East Africa. At this moment, even the millions of taels of life-saving military pay for defending the capital cannot be paid. This is really a black humor in history.

On that day, Wu Xiang was summoned, and finally broke up unhappy.

But no one can stand still, because of the problem of military pay, the plan to transfer Ningyuan soldiers to guard the capital was stranded, and the Emperor Chongzhen immediately started looking for money, and made a list in person for several days, asking the emperor's relatives, civil and military officials to donate. rate.

However, at this point, the big ship of the Ming Empire is about to sink. Even if these nobles who have been favored by the country are no longer optimistic about the Ming Dynasty, who is willing to spend money to invest in this ship that is about to sink?One can imagine the plan to raise money!

Late at night, Zhou Mansion.

"Welcome to the Empress!"

Although she was clearly her own daughter, in the feudal era, the king was the ruler over the father and the son. When he saw the mother of a country, the old patriarch Zhou Kui had to kneel down and greet her at the door with his whole family.

But after getting off the phoenix chariot, Empress Zhou didn't put on airs at all, she greeted her with a brisk pace like a spring breeze, quickly helped her father up, looked around immediately, and said gently.

"Daddy, please get up quickly, everyone should get up too! Daddy, let's go in and talk!"

"Okay, okay, listen to the empress!" As if eating rice chicken, a smile appeared on Zhou Kuina's old face.

Empress Zhou is the queen of the sages. The Chongzhen Dynasty was so financially distressed, but she took care of the harem in an orderly manner. There was no trouble for Chongzhen. , She also led the concubines to weave cloth by herself. Some of the clothes of Emperor Chongzhen came from the hands of this virtuous empress, which is considered rare in all dynasties.

Only in her early 30s, this beautiful young queen has already had some wrinkles and weathering in her eyes due to hard work, but she does not hide her charm, but adds a little mature color to her. Unfortunately, this rare and virtuous queen, In her natal family, she was not welcome to see her.

The second elder brother, Zhou Hongfa, turned his head and left after the three Zhou Hongxun met. Even if the eldest Zhou Hongli had to accompany his father, he still had an ugly face and an impatient look to accompany him. Zhou Kui was the only one to accompany him. Still smiling, he followed into the inner mansion, and after being seated, he asked again.

"The empress is out of the palace late at night, but is she going home to visit relatives?"

"Father, Your Majesty has called on all the officials to help pay. I don't know what happened to the 5 taels of silver from the Zhou Mansion?"

Empress Zhou also brought it up straight to the point. Who would have thought that these words immediately made both father and brother change their faces, and Zhou Hongli immediately turned ugly and said bitterly.

"Little sister, are you from the Zhou family? Why are you turning your elbows out? Look, the Tian family and the Li family only gave out a few dozen taels. Why should our Zhou family have to give out 5 taels?"

It was because of Empress Zhou's impartiality that the brothers of the Zhou family didn't get any extra benefits. In addition, the empress Zhou was born in a side room and was looked down upon by the brothers, so the children of the Zhou family didn't treat this little girl of the same clan very well. I don't want to see you anymore.

"Hong Li!"

Before Zhou Hongli could finish speaking, Zhou Kui had already opened his mouth to scold him urgently, but immediately, the old man made a bitter face: "Empress Empress, logically speaking, His Majesty calls for donations, and we ministers should support it." Yes, but our Zhou Mansion really doesn't have that much money!"

"You haven't been in the palace for a long time and you don't know how expensive the rice is! In such a huge mansion, you need to spend money on food, and our Zhou family is a decent person. We can't lose the beauty of the empress. We have to put on a show outside." You look like a rich man, and you are all strong enough to donate, I have already sold the Yuan blue and white vase you gave me the year before last, 500 taels, the Zhou family can only give so much!"

"Old countryman! Over the years, the royal rewards have not been less than 50 taels of silver, right? You have [-] hectares of farmland in the suburbs of Beijing, and you can't support your family. Now, the court is in trouble, and His Majesty needs you and other noble relatives." Help, you are so stingy, are you worthy of His Majesty's grace?"

Xu Gao, the chief eunuch who accompanied him out, immediately refused, and shouted angrily from the side, this sentence pierced the old background of the iron roosters, and the two fathers of the country immediately became embarrassed.

But after all, they are my natal father and brothers, so it's not good to embarrass them too much, forcing a smiling face, Empress Zhou tried to smooth things over and reconciled.

"Eunuch Xu, my father has been poor for half his life, and it is indeed not easy to support the family! Maybe he really has difficulties!"

While speaking, Empress Zhou slapped her hands, and the little eunuch outside brought in a box. As soon as she opened it, the eyes of the father and son became a little straight. The box was full of large ingots of silver. Looking at the ugly appearance of the two princes, Empress Zhou shook her head sadly.

"Daddy, the country is in a difficult situation, and His Majesty really needs someone's support. In this way, the daughter brings 3000 taels of her own money from the palace, and daddy takes out 7000 taels, and our Zhou family will donate 2 taels to set an example for the big guys." Let's go! As long as we get through this difficult time, this year the Jinhuayin from Jiangnan will come, and I will give us an extra 5 taels from the Zhou Mansion, what do you think?"

"Your Majesty, 2 taels is too much..."

Before Zhou Kui complained again, Empress Zhou spoke hastily again: "Didn't Dad always think that our Zhou family has a queen, but we can't overwhelm the Tian family, and feel shameful? This time, His Majesty is merciful and bestows on Dad Jiadinghou! Everyone Dad needs to set an example! You must not refuse, just do it like this!"

Finally, there was some impatience in the tone. Empress Zhou winked, and Xu Gao held out the imperial decree. Under such circumstances, Zhou Kui and his son could only kneel down and kowtow to thank each other reluctantly.

After sending off Queen Zhou, the other children of the Zhou family also gathered together, looking at the silver box in the room, swallowing, Zhou Hongli yelled full of reluctance.

"Father, what should I do? Really pay 2 taels of silver?"

"Father, I heard that the thieves have already occupied the entire northwest. Our Ming Dynasty, we can't be optimistic. If we pay back this year's gold flower and silver, I'm afraid that if the silver is taken out, don't even think about returning it. Father, this money is not worth it." !" The second child, Zhou Hongfa, couldn't wait to shout, follow, the third child is indeed a virtue.

"Yes, father! My son still has a crush on Ruyu from Cuihonglou, and he has never had any money to redeem him. Don't you always blame your son for not being up to date and having no future? My son has already found someone to figure it out. Our six aunts and wives are only Ruyu can give birth to his son, if you donate the money, you will never have a grandson!"

"Shut up, go to the brothel all day long, look at your promising, useless bastard!" Old Zhou Kui was so angry that he leaned on his crutches and scolded his mother, but after scolding, he was tired of looking at the silver again.

"Let's do this, the emperor has become a marquis, so it's impossible not to donate the money, let's donate less!"

…………

The next day, from the Zhou Mansion, several carriages rushed to the palace with beating. This was originally a political show, and a few slaves in Tsing Yi swaggered through the market beating gongs and drums, beating and shouting lively.

"Mr. Zhou donated money, Mr. Zhou donated money!"

Under the watchful eyes of everyone, these carts of boxes were pulled into the palace.

At this time, Emperor Chongzhen was convening an early court to discuss how to deal with the current situation. The bustling voice actually reached the court hall. Hearing the eunuchs outside, he finally showed a little smile. Emperor Chongzhen deliberately asked left and right: "What is this?" What's the noise, it's even in the courtroom, what a shame!"

"Go back to Your Majesty, this servant will go out and have a look!"

Under the watchful eyes of civil and military officials again, Xu Gao also came out of the court with an enthusiastic appearance. After a while, the eunuch's expression was wrong and he rushed back.

"Xu Gao, what happened?"

"Back, back to Your Majesty!" His speech suddenly faltered, and Xu Gao faltered a little.

"Zhou Guozhang donated money and brought money to the palace!"

Before realizing anything, Emperor Chongzhen continued to ask "surprised".

"Okay, you are worthy of being my father-in-law. He knows how much he will donate for me. Tell everyone about it!"

"Back, back to Your Majesty, 2000 taels!"

"Okay, Master Zhou is sympathetic to me..., what, 2000 taels!"

For a moment, the emperor was stunned, and after a while, his face turned livid again!
…………

"When a country is about to perish, there must be demon ministers! Bastards! How did I treat them! When I needed it, I only gave out a mere 2000 taels?"

Zhu Youjian couldn't even remember how he insisted on presiding over the morning court under the strange expressions of all the officials. When he returned to the platform, he was even more furious. Memorials, books, pens and ink were thrown everywhere by him, and the table They were all turned upside down, and Zhu Youjian, who had always called himself a hard-working man, even shouted at the subjugation of the country, which shows his anger.

On the side, Xu Gao was even more disturbed. He didn't dare to tell the story that Queen Zhou had posted 3000 of his own money, so he lost his temper a lot, and Zhu Youjian sat back down again.

Captured Zhou Kui?Not to mention that Empress Zhou is innocent, but the matter of helping the salary has already happened once. The last time, Emperor Chongzhen, in a rage, ordered Li Guorui, Marquis of Wuqing, to be imprisoned and killed. Pretending to be a ghost scared the King of Mourning to death, the King of Mourning to death, and provoked Concubine Tian to be heavily armed. If it wasn't for the head of the state, Tian Hongyu, who risked his life to kowtow, he would ask Concubine Tian to take the fourth son of the Emperor Yongwang out of the palace to visit relatives in the south of the Yangtze River. Sightseeing and relaxation , maybe the charming and charming Concubine Li just died away.

The emperor had lost control of his courtiers and was slumped on the dragon chair. Zhu Youjian was also staring blankly at the vast and flourishing Forbidden City outside, without saying a word for a long time.

But at this time, the door to the platform was pushed open, and a eunuch with no eyesight walked in, and began to tidy up...

(End of this chapter)