Emperor Qianlong: the beginning of his glory

Chapter 42
Qian Du did not delay much in the Yang residence.He went to Li Wei's house and heard from a colleague who visited there that Yang Mingshi had passed away and the door god was confused.Since he was transferred to the yamen of the Criminal Department, he followed Liu Tongxun to Yang's house twice, and now that he is dead, he cannot live without a glass of water.Originally thought that there must be a lot of traffic here, not sure how lively it is, but it was only when we got there that we found out that the news of Yang Mingshi's death had not spread yet.He originally wanted to get to know more people here, so he couldn't help feeling a little disappointed.When Qian Du took the pledge book to read, it was Hong Brothers' 2000 taels at first.Later, there were more than a dozen people, there were eight hundred people, and there were also three to five hundred people.Qian Du smiled wryly and said to Yang Feng'er: "My handwriting is too small, I can't handle it. The land master eats grasshoppers, the size is a meat offering." He wrote the words "Qian Du 24 taels" in a correct manner.Under the names of a large number of prominent officials, his stroke is more conspicuous.After Qian Du finished writing, he put down his pen and resigned. He was bumping into a person, and when he looked closely, it turned out to be a small path!Wearing a half-worn gray cotton robe with a snow-white lining and a long suit, she was much fatter than when she broke up in Dezhou, but her appearance did not change.Qian Du couldn't help being startled and said, "This—isn't this a small path? Why are you here?"

"Master Qian, my name is Lu Shijing now." Xiao Luzi hurriedly called Qian Du and said, "I have come to Beijing a long time ago, and now I am also in Da Nei, serving the supper for the masters of the Military Aircraft Department. Actually, I have seen Qian Du Meet me, sir. You are a busy person, and I have nothing serious to do, just don’t dare to climb high.” Then he went to Beijing with Yang Mingshi and introduced him to the military aircraft department as a handyman, and said: “Master Yang is Honest official, I'm a servant, so I can't repay him for this kindness. At least I did my best to cry in front of his spirit. I'm here to ask for leave from the head of the kitchen..."

Qian Du didn't want to mess with this Lu Shijing at all, so he said perfunctorily: "That's good, it's better to have a bowl of safe food than anything else. Work hard inside, and I will take care of you if I can..." After finishing speaking, he went out and went back to the Yamen , along the way, I regretted that I shouldn't have come to Yang Mingshi so early.Qian Du returned to the Judiciary of the Yamen of the Ministry of Criminal Justice, and just sat down, Xiao Qin came in at the door and said, "Master Qian, Lu Taizun of Shunde Mansion is here to worship." Qian Du was startled for a moment, and then remembered that it was Lu Hong from Shunde Mansion Kam.In order to resolve the case of Zhang Tianxi beating to death the anti-tenant tenant Ning Zhuer, Zhang Tianxi was sentenced to death, but he refuted it, saying that the landlord and tenant had different titles, and the sentence was too severe.Lu Hongjin refused to accept it, and the documents of the government and the road were sent directly to the Ministry of Punishment.Qian Du suggested that Liu Tongxun maintain Lu Hongjin's original sentence - this is to thank him for upholding justice.Lu Hongjin swayed in wearing white pheasant men's clothes, Qian Du got up quickly to greet him, and said, "When did Lu Futai arrive in Beijing? I didn't come to see you. I'm so slow—please sit down!"

"It's nothing important." Lu Hongjin arched his hands and said with a smile on his face, "I just came from Mr. Liu's side, and when it comes to Mr. Qian's instructions, it's like a business between a landlord and a tenant, and there is no status." Human life is the most important thing, how can it be judged by the amount of capital?'—that is, the case of Ning Zhuer has been justified. I want to see the demeanor of the adult, so I take the liberty to visit." This is the first time for Qian Du The copywriting of the official document was admired by the foreign officials, and his face glowed with joy. While bringing tea to Lu Hongjin himself, he said humbly: "How dare you be a student! It is the old grandfather who is stubborn, which is admirable." He also listed how the laws and regulations of the Ming Dynasty were, and how the regulations were established during the Shunzhi and Kangxi years, and he talked endlessly for a long time.He also said: "From my point of view, Diao Dian should be punished for resisting rent, but it is only a small board. This case is obviously that Zhang relied on his official power to force rent to kill people, and the sentence of 'human life is the most serious', so it is not possible to say that resisting rent It’s the same as being forced to pay someone’s life.” Lu Hongjin nodded while listening, smiled and got up and said, “I’ve learned the lesson. The students still have to pay a visit to Mr. Hengchen. It’s too late to be respectful. Mr. Cai just said They are all practical and economical ways. Now the judges of these cases are deviant, and they are actually doing whatever they want. I will set up a drink some other day, invite some friends, and let’s have a good talk." He said and handed a green silk bag with both hands: " This is a Duan inkstone, the officials in Beijing are poor, and there are some beards and a few ounces of charcoal to respect, it will not hurt the integrity, please accept it." He said and laughed.

Qian Du felt heavy when he took it. When he was a teacher, it was just commonplace to collect such a small amount of things, but now he feels a little inappropriate.Thinking about the conclusion of Zhang Ning's case, Lu Hongjin did not have the slightest malice, but was also somewhat disrespectful.After half pushing and half accepting it, he saw that a senior member of the third rank had already entered the second door, Qian Du didn't dare to push back any more, so he sent Lu Hongjin out.When he returned to Qiao Shensi, he saw that the official who had just come in was already waiting inside. Qian Du came in to take a closer look, and couldn't help being surprised: it turned out to be Liu Kang!
"You are Mr. Qian Chunfeng?" Liu Kang stood up with a smile, and introduced himself, "I am Liu Kang, just came from Huguang."

"Ah... oh..." Qian Du suddenly recovered from the shock, arched his hands and said, "Jiu Yang! I heard that the Lord transferred the chief envoy of Shanxi, why did he come from Huguang again? "While inviting Liu Kang to sit down, while sitting at the coffee table.Accidentally, he almost overturned Lu Hongjin's bowl of tea.But after this panic, Qian Du calmed down, and said calmly: "Your Excellency, you don't take a single mustard to relieve the disaster in Laiyang. You live in Shandong by hundreds of thousands of people, and move them three times a year. It's really attracting the attention of the government and the public!" How did Liu Kang know about Qian Du? In my heart, I guard myself like a snake and a scorpion?Hehe smiled and said: "This is the kindness of the imperial court, the cultivation of Teacher Exilin (Ertai character). My brother came here for the case of Chen Xuxin's coaxing and humiliating officials in Pinglu County. Our Yamen in Shanxi reported this case to the Ministry three times. They all refuted it. This case has dragged on for too long, and there are a lot of rumors in the local area!" Qian Du said with a smile: "Your Excellency must have seen the Mansion Newspaper. Question the humble one?"

Liu Kang lit up a cigarette and said with a smile, "What is your lord talking about? I dare not question you. Chen Xuxin just moved to Shanxi from other provinces, and has nothing to do with his brothers. His case is indeed related to Zhang Tianxi and Ning Zhu'er." They are similar, except that no one is killed. If no one is killed, there is no law. How can you judge that Chen Xuxin was sentenced to death?" Qian Du turned his eyes to look at Liu Kang, and said with a faint smile: "These two cases are not the same. Ning Zhu The son was beaten to death by the landlord. Chen Xuxin injured the landlord Lu Jiang. Although there is no distinction between landlords and tenants, there is a difference. A lighter sentence. Chen Xuxin dared to roar in the court, insulting the county magistrate face to face as a "rich man's dog", Cai County magistrate put him in prison, and planned to hang him. This matter is unreasonable in the province. So here we uphold the original verdict. Changing to be a prison guard also means to fulfill the dignity of the yamen." Liu Kang laughed when he saw him repeating the explanation, and said, "I am not here to fight in the arena, but to build bridges. This is not a case in my hands, but the province I really can't get over my face, so I came here to ask for advice." As he said, he took out a small paper bag from his pocket and pushed it in front of Qian Du.

"What is this?" Qian Du took it over, and his hand sank. When he opened it, it was a golden ingot of 50 taels.Thinking about it in my heart, my face has changed color: "How can I afford a humble job? Please put it away, my lord."

"Master Qian..."

"Put it away!"

Qian Du's face was ashen, and he growled: "I don't like this kind of tricks for lowly positions! Lowly positions have their own salary!" Liu Kang was taken aback, but after all, he has been in office for a long time, and it is common for some officials who have just entered the official position to pretend to be clear So I just smiled and said: "It's not from me, it's a little idea from Cai Qing and the others. If the case is off-topic, sir, please don't mind. If you don't want to accept this little money, they will face it." How can you get it? Or you can save it first and return it to Cai Qing when he enters the capital." After saying that, he withdrew and walked out, but this caught Qian Du in his arms, and immediately shouted loudly inside the door: "Lord Liu! Treating me like this shows that you are not a gentleman!"

At this time, people from all divisions of the Ministry of Punishment were returning to their work. Hearing the noise from Qiao Shensi, they all came out to visit, but saw a third-rank official come out in a hurry, and Qian Du threw a paper bag "bang" inside the door. Yuanbao rolled out of the paper bag.The official muttered something in his mouth, picked it up and fled like flying.

"Huh!" Qian Du looked at Liu Kang's back contemptuously, a cold smile flashed across his face, he didn't chase after him and yelled, but he closed the door with a "bang", made a cup of tea, and looked through it leisurely. Looking at the file, burning coals and smoking a hookah, just meditating.After a while, he really heard a knock on the door, and Qian Du said in a vicious voice, "What do you mean? How boring would it be to eat before you would leave? You go! Tell Ertai to only take care of my surname Qian!" When he opened the door, he saw that it was the minister Shangshu Shi Yizhi and the servant Liu Tongxun who came in hand in hand.Qian Du hastily made way for the room, bowed on the spot, and said: "I don't know if it's the two adults, they collided rudely!"

Shi Yizhi didn't speak, and sat in Qian Du's seat just now, flipping through the case files that Qian Du had approved, but Liu Tongxun took the guest seat, looked at the cup of cold tea, and said, "Chunfeng, who will you be born with behind closed doors?" What about sulking?" Qian Du handed each of them a cup of tea, and said with a smile, "I'm not angry with anyone. It's the worst thing to hurt your liver if you get angry."

"You're still coaxing us." Liu Tongxun laughed, "Just now when you knocked on the door, you were angry, and you even brought E Zhongtang with you." Qian Du smiled wryly, "It turns out that when I was a master, I saw that officials were easy to do, but now I know that it is difficult to be a good official. The two adults in the case of Pinglu also know that the sentence in the county is not bad. I don’t know how they offended the yamen on weekdays. They took this case to find someone in Pinglu County, right? , to buy a reputation of 'loving the people'. It's hard to be a petty official..."

Shi Yizhi has been sizing up the emperor's special job.He himself was from a Kejia background, and he had never looked down upon officials who came out of the wrong way, and he suspected that Qian Du was just trying to get fame.Hearing about Qian Du's secret room but gold, I specially invited Liu Tongxun to visit Qian Du. Seeing that Qian Du was neither humble nor overbearing, and his demeanor was elegant without showing off, he fell in love with him, so he said: "Liu Fansi is usually an official. His voice is very good, but he did such a thing below, it’s really inexplicable! This is not a thing, you don’t pay attention to him, the ministry will decide for you!” Qian Du hurriedly said: “With the protection of two adults, the lowly position is not afraid of anything! Left But E Zhongtang gave me a pair of small shoes to wear." Shi Yizhi laughed loudly, and said, "How powerful was Nian Gengyao back then? Someone Shi didn't let him be three feet away, let alone E Xilin? Don't worry, no one will give it to you. You can’t wear small shoes. I’ll go to Shanxi to investigate the case this year, and I’ll entrust you to see what they dare to do.” The three chatted for a while, and Qian Dufang sent Shi Yizhi and Liu Tongxun out, while other officials pointed out at the door. Pointing and whispering, Qian Du suddenly felt that the scenery was much better.

Liu Kang scrambled and fled from the compound of the Ministry of Criminal Justice, his heart beating wildly.To him, the scene just now was like a sudden bad dream on a sunny day.The so-called Pinglu case is not worth mentioning at all.What he really meant was that after he came to Beijing, he heard rumors that Ah Gui and Qian Du had received Qianlong's kindness, and he expected that the two would be relocated in the future, and they would come to win over the relationship in advance.It never occurred to me that a senior member of the third rank would be flattered on the hoof if he rushed to beg the favor of a Cao of the sixth rank. Even if he didn't want to accept the gift, he shouldn't be so public.Qian Du had no enmity with him in the previous life, and he has no grievances in this life, so why bother to attack him alone in public? ... As if being slapped with a sap, he didn't go out for the whole afternoon, sitting in the room like an idiot, feeling uncomfortable.It wasn't until it was dark that Liu Kang was a little sober.Suddenly thinking of the Hungry Ghost Festival tomorrow, Ertai invited himself to have a drink at the house tonight.Liu Kang hurriedly washed his face with cold water, and rushed to Ertai Mansion in a sedan chair.

(End of this chapter)