Emperor Qianlong: the beginning of his glory

Chapter 23 The Legend of the Golden Palace, the No. 1 Scholar, Crazy Fans of Miao and Xinjiang, and the Offenders Are Pardoned ([-])
Qianlong returned to Beijing from Henan, waiting for the good news of Zhang Guangsi in Miaojiang, Guizhou with great joy, and wanted to celebrate together with Enke's selection of scholars.The case of Zhang Zhao has not yet been concluded, and then Wang Shijun's ten-thousand-word memorial took place, saying that various policies since he ascended to the throne were useless, so he was depressed for several days.Hearing Prince Zhuang Yunlu's replay of meeting Wang Shijun in the study, it was like adding fuel to the fire.At that time, he was furious, put the milk cup on the table, and said: "Some people have long said in secret that I am the unworthy son of the late emperor. This Wang Shijun just jumped out to speak out. I treat people leniently, just like this. I really don't know how to flatter you!" He bit his lower lip and sneered, "It's not easy to be strict? That's just a decree! If you hear gossip again, tell him my decree! —— According to you , Wang Shijun acted so recklessly, is there someone else in the court behind the scenes?"

"Your Majesty," Yun Lu was stunned for a moment, and said dully, "I didn't hear what was being said about the Emperor. Wang Shijun is a Han Chinese, and it's not uncommon for him to seek fame and fame. Han people are like this, Zhang Zhao is also for the limelight. Han people are not things. "

Seeing Yunlu's incoherent speech, Qianlong was amused: "Uncle Sixteen, Han people are good too. After all, it is true that they are not as good as Manchus. Ertai is actually not the highest character among Manchus. I want him to be an important minister, do you know why?" Yun Lu looked at Qianlong with wide eyes, and said, "I don't know." Qianlong smiled and said, "You are too honest. The Manchus also have a bad thing, they are arrogant and refuse to study. Ertai is narrow-minded, but he has read a lot and has good conduct. You know, the memorials handed up from below are all in Chinese. Those who read the memorials are also Han, and those who handle government affairs are still Han. If things go on like this, will the power be left alone or not?" Yunlu asked hurriedly "That's right. I know the situation in the six ministries. It is said that each of the ministers is full of two Hans, and the real power is in the hands of the Han ministers. All the ministers are Bodhisattvas. They are worshiped and worshiped. If this continues, the court will not become a Han people." the world?"

"Uncle Sixteen understands what he said." Qianlong said, "So you have to teach our clan children to learn well. Some dispensable homework should be eliminated. The most important thing to learn from the Han people is to learn their politics. Don't let them learn. They have assimilated. Now you are the most respected old prince, Uncle Seventeen is dedicated to training in Gubeikou and Fengtian, and there are several kings and Baylor in the next generation, all under your supervision. It is more important than anything else to do this job well .”

"Yes, Your Majesty. My ability is limited, so I try my best to do my best. If there is something wrong, the Emperor will remind me sooner or later."

Just as he was talking, the eunuch Gao Wuyong came in, Qianlong asked: "Are you ready?" Gao Wuyong hurriedly said: "Go back to the emperor, everything is ready, Zhang Tingyu asked for an order, the emperor should pass here, or go to Qianqing Palace to call?" They go with them."

"I'm going from here—I'm tired, Uncle Sixteen. I'm feeling sulky, it's much better now." Qianlong got up and said, "Today I'm going to pass the Enke Scholars in the Palace of Preserving Harmony. I'll call again another day You. It is good for you to be honest, but you are too loyal to be deceived by others, follow my words and go back and think about it." Yunlu hurriedly stood up and resigned.Here Qianlong was changed by several eunuchs.When everything was in order, Gao Wuyong ran out of the Chuihua Gate, and said loudly: "The emperor has set off, please take care of me!"

Immediately, the fine music sounded, and dozens of Changyin Pavilion enshrined and performed music followed behind. More than 100 guards and eunuchs led the guard of honor, and walked out of Tianjie to the three main halls. All the retinues stayed behind, and only two guards followed Qianlong to the next step. I saw Neqin, Ertai and Zhang Tingyu, the three ministers who went to the study room, were already waiting at the back of the Palace of Preservation.Today, it is Neqin who presides over the Lu singing ceremony. He leads Zhang and E to kneel down to greet him, and shouts:
"The emperor is here - the new Jinshi kneels to receive him!"

There was loud music in front of the Palace of Preserving Harmony.The music here is not the same as that of the retinues. The 64 Changyinge eunuchs who specialize in practicing palace music are divided into Huangzhong, Dalu, Taicu, Jiazhong, Guxi, Zhonglu, Ruibin, and Cun. Zhong, Yize, Nanlu, Wushe, and Yingzhong Twelve Lu rhythms are the main rhythms, with flute, sheng, reed, flute, qin, zither, harp, and harp, accompanied by chime bells and copper chimes. , the sound is touching.Amidst the music, 64 priests sat upright holding guibans and sang:

When Yunhan was the sage of Zhangji, he ordered Dongguan, decorated with ax and algae, and carved with jade and jade lintel.There is no waste in picking rafters, and the five meridians are stored in the abdomen.Linxuan gathers people's thoughts, and is the capital of sages.Admiring the gods, vain and sincere is meaningless, but to get scholars, to Yongxi... Qi Tianlu, gentle and gentle here, Xiaoran Taiyi.Entering Chengming, the tiles move with the sun.Covered with brocade robes, enshrined in the spring ceremony, removed the golden lotus, returned to the hospital late, bestowed with jade, from Pengchi...

As Naqin walked, he peeked at Qianlong's expression.Qianlong listened very carefully, raised two brows as if he wanted to ask something, but at this time the grand ceremony was going on, hundreds of Xinke Scholars knelt in front of the hall, and held back.When they came to the front of the hall, the music stopped.Yang Mingshi and E Shan knelt at the front and shouted: "Long live the emperor!"

"Long live the emperor, long live the emperor!"

The Xinke Scholars kowtowed together.

Qianlong smiled and nodded to this group of young and old new scholars, stepped into the main hall, and sat down solemnly in the middle of Xumizuo.Neqin took a step forward, bowed to Qianlong, respectfully took the gold album with a yellow satin cover held by Gao Wuyong, and said loudly, "The No. 4 first-class Jinshi Liao Hua'en in the imperial examination!"

"Chen is here!"

A Jinshi with a fair and chubby face in his 30s came out in response. He didn't know whether it was heat or nervousness. His front was covered with sweat and stuck to his body. God stopped.Neqin made him calm down for a while before slowly saying: "By order, you will pass on the roll call—be careful, and don't lose your manners!" "Yes!" Liao Hua'en agreed, holding it like a baby The gold book, another thousand sons to Qianlong, came to the entrance of the palace.

Passing on the imperial examination is a job that is more showy than the number one scholar.The Jinshi who had been kneeling under the scorching sun for nearly an hour were already a little sluggish, but they all had their spirits up and looked at Liao Huaen.Liao Huaen calmed down his shortness of breath, opened the golden book and read aloud:

"In the first year of Qianlong's Enke Palace Examination, No. 1 Jinshi Zhuang Yougong!"

Although this was known in advance, but in front of such a magnificent golden palace with radiant verdant greenery, in front of the grand announcement of the "Son of the Holy Lord", Zhuang Yougong, who was kneeling in the third row, still "hummed" his head It's bloated.The scene in front of him immediately became blurred.Going out of work half asleep and half awake, in the music as light as a gossamer, following the ups and downs of the ceremonial officer's singing, he led eight first-class Jinshi to salute Qianlong, and the ceremonial officer led Zhuang Yougong and Bangyan Tanhua to kneel down to thank Qianlong and welcome them. list.After tossing for half an hour, Zhang Tingyu, Ertai, and Neqin three auxiliary ministers personally sent him to the Taihe Gate, and Shuntian Fu Yin Zao greeted him.Sending off the three tripods in person, opening the main gate of Tiananmen Square and ostentatiously, going to the colorful shed built on East Chang'an Street to eat hairpin wine, and let thousands of people admire their demeanor—this is the so-called "Praise the Officials on the Imperial Street", for hundreds of years The program remains unchanged.Zhuang Yougong was confused about all these etiquettes, he followed the crowd like a marionette, and his heart was mixed with joy and sorrow. Fortunately, he had already memorized the "Thank You Table" by heart, and he didn't come out. What's wrong.

But when the ceremony was over, the three tripods broke up, and the people who watched and praised the officials dispersed, Zhuang Yougong lost his composure.Seeing that no one came out to "pay respects" at the door of a siu mai shop by the road, Zhuang Yougong turned around and ordered the yamen servant from the Ministry of Rites to take him home to stop, dismounted and entered the shop.The boss was shirtless, with only a pair of trousers on, enjoying the cool air.Seeing Zhuang Yougong with gold flowers on his head and a new shiny Jinshi robe coming in, he was startled and flustered, but he couldn't find it when he grabbed the clothes, so he knelt down and saluted.Zhuang Yougong didn't buy anything, he stared at the boss obsessively and said, "I won the number one prize."

"The little one just came back from Chang'an Street." The boss said, "You are always the number one scholar, number one in the world!" The short and fat boss smiled so much that his eyes narrowed, and he waved his thumb, "In the future, we must do To Master Zhongtang!"

"Oh..." Zhuang Yougong threw a silver coin over, "You already know..." After finishing speaking, he went out and got on his horse again, took out an 80 tael silver note to the official of the Ministry of Rites, and said, "I want to be alone Let's go, you guys go back to the job right now. Take this little money to eat and drink first, and you have the right to give me an official position. I will invite you later." The group of people had already left with dry mouths and tongues, and their bodies were scorching hot. In a word, I received the silver as a reward, and went to find a place to have a drink with the solemn avoidance card on my shoulders.

It is the midsummer of June at this time, the sun is scorching, the cicadas sing and the trees are quiet. Every family is enjoying the cool and resting, eating melons and drinking tea to relieve the heat.But Zhuang Yougong only walked along the street, and when he saw a busy shop where no one came out to look at it, he went in to reward him with a dime, and left after hearing a few words of flattery.It caused a group of naked children to follow behind to watch the fun.In this way, four or five companies were transferred.Zhuang Yougong saw a butcher's shop in front. There was a big willow tree in front of the three doors, and a white cloth awning was stretched on the east side of the door. Under the awning, freshly cooked braised pork was placed on the table.A girl was sitting nearby to keep the stall.Zhuang Yougong walked over and was about to speak when he saw a man sitting by the counter in front of the door, wearing a bamboo cloth coat that had been washed white, holding a fan in one hand and writing an account book with the other.When the man raised his head, he met Zhuang Yougong's eyes:

"Zhuang Dianyuan!"

"Master Le!"

The two exclaimed almost at the same time, Le Min walked around the counter a few steps, and said to Yu'er: "This is my literary friend from the past, now—"

"Now I won the number one prize." Zhuang Yougong stared blankly at Liu Si who was swaying gently in the breeze, and said, "Didn't you see the praise just now?"

Le Min was taken aback: Why do you look like this and say such words?In a daze, he scrutinized Zhuang Yougong's demeanor, and saw that his eyes were drunk, dreamy and awake, and he felt something was wrong, and turned his eyes to Yu'er.Yu'er just covered her mouth with a handkerchief and giggled, and hurriedly said: "Yu'er! What are you laughing at? Move a stool out quickly." Zhuang Yougong said: "What's so funny about this? You earned it from the article!"

(End of this chapter)