Outside Xuande Gate, several people wearing silk and satin appearance gathered next to Dengwen drums and whispered to each other.

One of them said: "Penwai, are you from the capital city, or are you from the drums and you can write a letter by the way. We outsiders, how can we figure out the things in the capital city? I don't know what the matter is to beat this drum."

A black-faced middle-aged man named Peng Yuanwai said calmly: "What's the point of beating a drum? This drum is set here for people all over the world to beat. You two Huai tea merchants benefit the most, and they are directly dealing with it. Naturally, they know more about it than others. Just beat the drum. If an official asks, you just tell me."

After hearing what Guru Ue said, the others hesitated and no one stepped forward.

There are many rules under the feet of the emperor in the capital. Several officials are naturally overlords in their hometowns. When they arrive in the capital, they become local buns and are very careful in every move. The more Mr. Peng said that he could reach the sky directly by beating the drum, the more cautious these people were.

The drum officer couldn't help but feel impatient and said to everyone: "The emperor loves the people and is very willing to listen to the sufferings of the people. What are you worried about? When Emperor Zhenzong was the emperor, he would not only beat the drums, but the emperor could invite a car to go out of the palace on the imperial street! Every time the emperor came out, the street was crowded. My father was brave back then, so he once stopped the imperial guards. Isn't it okay? You are worried about anything!"

When others heard this, someone asked, "Why did Mr. Gu invite a car driver? Is the injustice cleared?"

"What an injustice! My father is just curious and wants to see how the emperor looks and what the crown robe looks like!"

After hearing what Mr. Peng said, everyone was in an uproar. It turned out that they could use this excuse to stop the imperial guards, and the people in the capital were brave enough.

After the Chanyuan Alliance, Zhenzong always felt embarrassed. Before the East and West Sacrifice, he was particularly friendly to the people. Every time he left the palace, the people used all kinds of strange excuses to invite cars and drivers, and Zhenzong was kind to him. Later, it became more and more intense, and the excuses used by the people became more and more incredible. For example, just to want to see the sky, he stopped the emperor's ceremonial guard. For a while, Zhenzong had to use the heavenly calculation for a short walk after leaving the palace. In the end, he was so annoyed that he set the rules. Subjects were not allowed to invite cars and drivers at will, but according to the procedures.

Specifically, whether the people in the capital have any grievances or suggestions to write letters to the country, they must first go through the two channels of Dengwen Guyuan and Dengwen Procuratorate. Only when this channel is not accessible can a car be invited.

As for the people in other places, the local governments must first pass through the local government. If the prefectures and counties ignore them, they will sue them to the transshipment envoy. The transshipment envoy is obliged to transfer them to the people for letters, and they must be sent to the capital in a practical way. If this road does not work, then it will be higher than the next level. The transshipment envoy should give the letter to the letter, and the inn should provide food and accommodation. The subsequent procedures will be the same as those of the people in the capital.

Inviting a car to the emperor means blocking the emperor's road to complain. At least in this era, it was one of the legal channels of appeal, and it was the last resort. However, the appeals beyond the level have been banned now.

The tea merchants in Lianghuai wanted to write a letter to change the tea method, which was said to be necessary to pass the local officials in Lianghuai first, one level after another. Mr. Peng was not sure about the consequences of beating the drum, so he repeatedly refused and asked the tea merchants to beat it themselves.

The sun was rising, and the front hall began to open. A large number of idle officials left the imperial city. They saw the crowd surrounding the drum at first sight. Those who had good things surrounded them and stood aside to watch the fun.

Seeing officials watching, several tea merchants from other places became even more panicked and were at a loss for a moment.

Finally, a thin middle-aged man was impatient, gritted his teeth, stepped forward and picked up the drumstick, stepped on the lunge, raised his arm, and hit the huge Dengwen drum with one drumstick.

"Dong——" A dull drum sound floated in front of the imperial city.

"Knock it! Knock it!" The few young officials who were watching the fun clapped and applauded.

Since the empress was deposed, although many officials have written letters to object, it is a failure to report. These days, the capital has been a bit boring. People from somewhere came from beating and listening to the drums, and I think it will be lively for a while.

These small officials do not have any business, and they go to court every day, and then they have nothing to do. Moreover, many people often don’t go to court. People always have problems when they are idle, and they especially like to watch the fun. This is the case with these small officials.

Nie Guanqing, who was sentenced to Dengwen Drum Court, had just returned from His Highness Chuigong. He was still a distance from the yamen. He could not help but feel trembling when he heard the sound of drums coming from not far away.

A few years ago, the price of charcoal rose due to heavy snowfall was hit by a drum, which caused a lot of controversy in the capital. The charcoal merchants in the industry were almost caught empty, and the aftermath was still not resolved. This time someone beat the drum again, but I don’t know what it was for, but don’t cause such a big trouble like last time. Now my boss Sun Zude is not as responsible as Fan Zhongyan.

He rushed to the gate of Dengwen Drum Courtyard and saw many people surrounding the door. Nie Guanqing stopped first and adjusted his breath, and then walked forward steadily.

When he got outside the crowd, Nie Guanqing coughed in a deep voice and said loudly: "Who beats the drum? What's the matter?"

When a tea merchant saw Nie Guanqing's appearance, he was no different from the officials surrounding him watching the fun, and said, "What kind of official is coming? We just need to beat our own Dengwen drum, why bother to make things difficult?"

The officials watching the fun around laughed and watched Nie Guanqing feel embarrassed.

Nie Guanqing helped his official hat and said in a deep voice: "I am the official who is in charge of Dengwen Drums. Are you not beating the drums to let me come out?"

Only then did the tea merchants realize that the main owner had arrived and hurriedly stepped forward to salute: "I have met the official!"

Seeing that the people who were watching the fun were not individual, Nie Guanqing said to the tea dealer: "You come to the yamen with me!"

After saying that, I walked into Dengwen Drum Academy first.

The tea merchants looked at each other and finally looked at Mr. Peng together.

The drum officer said in a deep voice: "The official has spoken, why don't you go in together yet!"

After saying that, he got into the group of tea merchants and followed the officials out to the Dengwen Drum Courtyard.

When he arrived at the official hall, Nie Guanqing sat down and asked the tea dealer standing in the hall, saying, "Why do you guys beat the drum? Are they from the people in the capital or from other counties? But what kind of injustice should be brought forward? Or are there anything else?"

A tea merchant was pushed forward by everyone and greeted him, "Report to Shangguan, the young ones are tea merchants in Huainan. Now the solar term is over, and it is raining and it is almost time to collect tea. In the village, the young ones heard that the tea method will be changed this year, but they waited for no news, so they were uneasy. Then they made an appointment to come to the capital and write to the court to modify the tea method!"

Hearing this, Nie Guanqing frowned. Recently, news about changing the tea method has spread from time to time, but there was no specific action, but Huainan tea merchant jumped out first.

...
Chapter completed!