With the launch of a series of relief work for the victims, the reputation of the two empresses in the harem among the people of the capital reached its peak. Yang Ning, who was specifically responsible for this matter, originally had a reputation accumulated by supervising the army to counter the rebellion in Ningxia and going to the grassland as an envoy. It has been greatly improved. Almost no one in the entire capital knows about it. With the flow of people from the north to the south, this fundraising for disaster relief has also spread outside the Central Plains, north and south. Everyone in the world knows that there are two people in the Ming Dynasty today. A kind and compassionate queen and concubine. I also know that there is also a young eunuch who is promising and talented.

Even the officials dispatched from various ministries who participated in the fund-raising and disaster relief were quite respected and envied among their colleagues and neighbors. This made these officials really proud for a while. And this incident also brought about an unexpected result. That is Jin Yiwei, who has always been like a wolf and a tiger, has made people jealous. Because of his participation in this matter, his bad image among people has been greatly changed. For the first time, positive praise has appeared among the people.

After all the disaster relief work was completed, all accounts were settled, and all physical supplies were distributed. However, there was a lot of silver taels left from this donation. It was nearly one hundred thousand taels.

But Yang Ning didn't want to keep the money. After much deliberation, he discussed with Wei Xuezengyi and finally decided to choose a few key places on the river in the outskirts of the capital to build four "merit bridges" in the name of the two empresses. All the money collected from the donation has been spent. It can be regarded as a good deed that benefits the people and will be remembered for future generations.

Yang Ning mentioned this idea to Concubine Li. Although Concubine Li hesitated and felt that it was a bit too showy, Yang Ning could not see that she was happy in her heart. He no longer asked for her consent and directly ordered Wei Xuezeng to supervise this project. thing.

I heard that the two empresses wanted to build a "merit bridge" for the people. Naturally, the victims who had just received the great blessing responded immediately. Young and strong laborers gathered to sign up. They came to help build the bridge for free, even though it was freezing cold at this time. However, there are many skilled craftsmen among the victims. With the large number of people, everyone is very enthusiastic and full of energy. This "Gongde Bridge" was built very quickly. Judging from the progress, it is estimated that it will be completed before the year.

After finishing the errands, it's time to reward them based on their merits.

In compliance with his previous promise, Yang Ning ordered people to build a towering "merit monument" in the square outside Daming Gate in the imperial city. The donors in this fundraising and disaster relief event were engraved on it. Because there were too many people, Yang Ning He ordered that only the names of those who donated more than one hundred taels of silver should be engraved on it. The name "Stele of Merit" came from Emperor Longqing's handwriting.

Yang Ning still admires Emperor Longqing's calligraphy. His writing is vigorous and powerful, and his handwriting is flying and dancing. At the same time, Yang Ning is also surprised. Looking at these words written by Emperor Longqing, it really doesn't look like the ball is going to die at any time. Could it be that one called Is there really any secret recipe for Yuyangzi's evil way that killed him? Yang Ning asked Concubine Li. Concubine Li also said that when she saw Long Qing, he looked much better than before. This made Yang Ning wonder about the history of the matter. There are still doubts about how it will evolve.

With the participation of Queen Chen and Concubine Li, Longqing had a purpose. All the internal supervisors, ministry officials, and imperial guards who participated in the fundraising for disaster relief were all promoted to the first level. Even Yang Ning was criticized at the beginning. Zhao Yongqing and Guo Zhengxu, who later also contributed to fund-raising for disaster relief, were no exception. However, there was only one exception, Gu Zhaoze, the eighth-rank governor of the Metropolitan Procuratorate.

Concubine Li got the news and knew that this man had despised and insulted Yang Ning. Therefore, not only did she not reward him, she also directly dismissed him from his official position. Of course, he did not participate in the subsequent fund-raising and disaster relief. Unlike Zhao Yongqing and Guo Zhengxu, Yang After Ning Cong slapped him, he never used this person again. Seeing Gu Zhaoze's fate, Zhao Yongqing and Guo Zhengxu couldn't help but secretly rejoice. Compared to being promoted, they felt that even the few slaps they received were worth it.

During the process of issuing decrees to reward meritorious personnel, Li Guifei deliberately let out the wind and gave all the favors for the reward to Yang Ning. While all the officials were happy, they were even more grateful to Yang Ning for asking for merit for them.

As for Wei Xuezeng, the head of the household department, under Yang Ning's care, he was directly promoted two levels. He suddenly became a fifth-rank doctor in the Shandong Qing Li Division of the household department. Regarding Wei Xuezeng's promotion, Yang Ning had some thoughts. He He originally came down from the position of head of the Shandong Qing Officials Department. Now he has not only returned to the original department, but has also been promoted to a full fifth-grade doctor. It can be said that he is very proud. The Shandong Qing Officials Department doctor who was at odds with him was transferred to the Zhejiang Qing Dynasty. Officials.

Yang Ning also had another deeper reason for promoting Wei Xuezeng in this way. The two got along for more than ten days. Wei Xuezeng, who was originally a bit arrogant and arrogant, became increasingly close to Yang Ning. As for Yang Ning's ability to do things, He was also impressed by his methods.

One time when the two were drinking together, Wei Xuezeng had a heart-to-heart with Yang Ning while he was drunk. He revealed the real reason why he was removed from his position as the head of the Shandong Cleaning Department. It turned out that the matter was related to the Shandong flood. It was related to relief work. It involved officials from the Shandong Qingli Department of the Ministry of Revenue and local officials from Shandong Province embezzling money for disaster relief. Because Wei Xuezeng refused to agree, he became a thorn in Shangfeng's side. He was later relieved of his duties. According to Wei Xuezeng, that household Zhang Benzhi, the minister of the Ministry of Finance, and Wang Pan, the doctor of the Shandong Qing Li Division, were both related to corruption. However, Zhang Benzhi was the chief minister of Gao Gong.

Although he had long heard rumors that the disaster relief funds had been embezzled by relevant officials, Yang Ning could not help but feel resentful when Wei Xuezeng exposed it. The victims were devastated and displaced. It was already miserable enough, but these officials wanted to attack them. The imperial court's idea of ​​providing disaster relief funds was so small that it really didn't care about the life and death of the people at all.

Hearing Wei Xuezeng say that Gao Gong was involved in this matter and that another Dajiu Qing was involved. Yang Ning immediately realized that this matter was not trivial. He also saw the articles behind it that could be used. But he also knew that this matter should not be rushed. Take your time. Therefore, he discussed with Wei Xuezeng. After the donation was completed, and when the merits were discussed and rewards were given, Wei Xuezeng was promoted to the rank of Langzhong of the Shandong Qing Dynasty. He planted a nail among those who were greedy for ink. Then he waited for an opportunity. move.

Wei Xuezeng knew that Yang Ning considered him one of his own when they discussed this with him. Although he was aloof and arrogant, he was also smart. Through the fundraising, he saw Yang Ning's ability and mind, as well as his ability in front of the two empresses in the harem. He was so favored. At this moment, he had made up his mind to pursue a career with Yang Ning. What's more, he also hated those officials who were greedy for money for disaster relief. He immediately agreed.

Yang Ning also kept his word. For the wealthy businessmen who spent generously in this donation, he also made a request for them to be awarded official rank honors. Of course, there were too many large households who donated. Yang Ning had already said so in the notice. The court only The top twenty people with the highest number of reward donations. This matter was handed over to the Ministry of Personnel Verification Department in Longqing's order. Soon, from Chengde Lang, Rulin Lang, etc., who were in the sixth rank, to those who were in the ninth rank. General Zuolang suddenly had twenty honorary private officials in the capital. Among them, the richest man in the capital, Hao Mengyang's father, Hao Fengxian, was awarded the sixth rank of Chengdelang because he donated 20,000 taels of silver, the largest donation. For a time, after these twenty-odd households received the rewards, every household seemed to be celebrating the New Year. It was very lively for a while.

Everyone else rewarded him with rewards and promotions. As the person in charge, Yang Ning encountered trouble with his rewards. Now Yang Ning is the highest rank among the internal prisons. It is the fourth rank. According to the rules, he cannot go up any higher. According to official positions, the only officials above him were Feng Bao, the chief eunuch of the ceremonial department, and the eunuch Bingbi. Feng Bao, the director of the Dongchang factory, could not be promoted. Therefore, Concubine Li brought up the old matter again and wanted to make Yang Ning a marquis. Yang Ning refused. He felt that he would definitely attract opposition from the ministers of the DPRK, especially the officials of the Gao Gong faction. When he came back from the grassland, some ministers of the Zhang Juzheng faction of the DPRK proposed to grant him a marquis title. But in the end, the officials of the Gao Gong faction strongly opposed it. He was not granted the title. And the contribution of this donation for disaster relief was much smaller than the contribution of the mission to the grassland. It was even more impossible to be granted the title of Marquis.

Concubine Li didn't listen. She got fierce and said, "I'd like to see who dares to stop me." When she handed it over to the Ministry of Personnel along with the letters awarding other officials, the result can be imagined. She also held the post of Minister of the Ministry of Personnel. The ministers and officials of the Gao Gong line and the Yushi Yanguan all jumped out and tried to persuade the emperor to take back the order. In the end, Long Qing couldn't bear it and the ministers came to the palace every three days to see him. He reluctantly informed Concubine Li. In the end, the matter of making a marquis still failed. Concubine Li was so angry that her eyebrows stood up, and she gnashed her teeth with hatred towards Gao Gong. But now Wanli has not succeeded to the throne. After all, she is just a concubine, but there is nothing she can do.

In the end, Yang Ning was awarded the honorary title of a Chiayi doctor, with the honorary rank of a third-grade internal official, and with the help of Concubine Li, he was granted the title of Prince Shaobao. The Chiayi doctor was originally an internal official, a casual rank. There is nothing wrong with that. . But the prince Shaobao was given a title from a first-class civil servant. Granting it to an internal official was also a violation of the rules. Concubine Li also expected that officials from the Gao Gong line would object. This time she asked Long Qing to go through the cabinet and The Ministry of Officials directly issued the reward with the "Edict". Then the imperial edict was issued and the matter was done. No matter how much the ministers objected, it was of no avail.

Just like that, they organized a fundraiser for disaster relief. Yang Ning received two false titles. The first one was not painful at all, but the official title of Prince Shaobao was extremely glorious. There really were no eunuchs in the history of the Ming Dynasty. Can give official titles to those who are awarded "Three Gongs and Three Solitaries".

After the imperial edict to reward Yang Ning was issued, the government and the public were in an uproar. But the emperor's edict has been issued. It is a done deal. It is useless to object anymore. What's more, a big incident has happened among the officials of the Gao Gong faction. . They were all too busy to take care of themselves. They no longer had the time to pay attention to Yang Ning's affairs. This major event was that a shocking and dumbfounding "scandal" was exposed in the home of Zhang Siwei, the current cabinet minister and minister of the Ministry of Personnel. Then It was his wife who ran to the palace crying and beating the drum to complain. The person who complained was her husband Zhang Siwei. The reason was that Zhang Siwei was lustful, shameless and unruly. He had raised seven children outside the palace behind her back. Eight-bedroom concubine. There are actually two geishas among them.

As soon as this news came out, the government and the public in the capital were in an uproar. Many people didn't believe it at first. But the news spread among the people. It was even said with certainty what the names of the concubines Zhang Siwei kept were known. Where was Zhang Siwei raised? Some people even saw with their own eyes how the shrew Li Ruhua went to these places one by one to catch these concubines, and how she beat them up and scratched her head until her head was bleeding. From then on. This matter has been confirmed beyond a doubt.

Zhang Siwei's reputation has always been good in both the government and the public in the capital. He is an upright and honest official. He is also very talented and good at political affairs. In addition, he is personable and looks like a humble gentleman. Therefore, he has always been very good. He won the favor of the people and other officials. However, precisely because of his good and consistent image, such a scandal suddenly came to light. You can imagine people's surprise and contempt.

In addition to his consistent good reputation, Zhang Siwei is also famous for being "henpecked". He is a typical "strong wife" type at home.

Zhang Siwei's wife's name is Li Ruhua. She is his first wife. Speaking of which, she is also Lan Feifeng's husband's biological aunt. She looks like Wuyan and has a tougher personality. When Zhang Siwei was young and down and out, it was this Li Ruhua's father, Lan Feifeng's father-in-law, took Zhang Siwei in, recruited him as his son-in-law, and sponsored him to go to Beijing to take the exam. It can be said that Zhang Siwei's current status is entirely due to his father-in-law. Because of this, Zhang Siwei has always been short in front of Li Ruhua.
Chapter completed!