Shanxi Chief Envoy Department, Pingyang Prefecture, Puzhou.
As the New Year is approaching, every household has to visit relatives and friends. As a big family in Puzhou, the Zhang family is naturally not exempt from this custom.
Today, Zhang Siwei warmly received batch after batch of visitors.
Regardless of his status, he was always polite to merchants, scholars, officials and gentry.
Even in the presence of the proletarian red people outside the Great Wall, Zhang Siwei still sat facing each other and served tea politely.
"Today Bansheng has a population of tens of thousands, spread out for dozens of miles, 40,000 horses, 23,000 cattle, and 50,000 hu of grain..."
Lv Nanchuan has excellent business skills and summed up Bansheng's development this year in a straight-forward manner.
Zhang Siwei leaned forward, spread his hands on the charcoal stove, stared at the ground under his feet, and listened very seriously.
He interrupted from time to time and asked detailed questions.
There were only two people in the study, and their voices were not loud enough that the words could not be heard clearly when they were heard outside.
After Lv Nanchuan finished speaking, Zhang Siwei smiled and said, "It's almost time to catch up with your father's original grand occasion."
At the beginning, Zhao Quan and Lu Xichuan gathered tens of thousands of people, 50,000 horses, and 30,000 cattle in Bansheng to build a palace with nine halls. It was a great time.
After Xi'an Da Khan defected to the imperial court, he trapped and killed Zhao Quan, Lu Xichuan and dozens of others.
After that, King Shunyi took the court's face into consideration and no longer allowed Ban Sheng to recruit exiled Han people as he had before.
Now that more than ten years have passed, it is time to restore the old outlook.
Lu Nanchuan nodded in agreement: "Since King Anda Khan of Shunyi went westward, the Tatars have been living in exile. They have been shooting in two places, and the restrictions on Bansheng have been much reduced, so we can recruit exiles on a large scale.
"
After saying that, he respectfully got off the stool and poured tea for Zhang Siwei: "Of course, it is also thanks to the generous help of my adoptive father."
Zhang Siwei's smile did not diminish and he declined: "We are just talking about business."
The industries of Fengzhou people, such as tobacco leaves, miscellaneous grains, and the manufacture of oil, wine, tobacco, etc., without the tax collected by the court and without tariffs, the cost is much lower. In addition, the special products such as camels, horses, cattle, and sheep are of better quality outside the Great Wall.
, attracting frequent business trips from Shanxi.
As a result, local businessmen and people in Bansheng gathered together and gradually formed a market.
In this way, even if Zhang Siwei gave some guidance to Shanxi merchants, it would still be regarded as smuggling in name at most - there is no such thing as generous help.
After Lu Nanchuan poured the tea, he paused for a moment before holding his sleeves and sitting back.
Zhang Siwei kept turning his hands over, rubbing his palms and backs back and forth, and warned earnestly: "Take your time, don't be eager for quick success, let alone show your sage in front of others. When Zhao Quan became king, his father called him Taoist ancestor, which shocked the court and made the same mistake before."
"
Lu Nanchuan naturally continued to be educated.
He followed Zhang Siwei's words and explained: "My adoptive father is right. The name Bailian is just for gathering people in private. After Anda Khan returned to Huacheng from Qinghai, we changed our name to Baoshan Group.
Have no fight with the world.”
The Caotai Group's cult has a completely different spirit whether there are scholars involved in its organizational construction.
The name of the Merchant Protection Corps is very good. It protects public security and escorts business travelers. With such honest duties, even if the barrier of Guihua City is lost in the future, there is still a future for Zhao'an.
Zhang Siwei shook his head: "That's not what I'm talking about. It's your rallying slogan. Stop spreading it."
"Prime Minister Li gathered the White Lotus Sect in Henan, robbed homes and houses, and nothing happened for several years. In April this year, once he wrote a demon book and shouted slogans, the army came to crush the country and turned him into a powder."
He sat up straight: "There are some things you can do, but you must not make a big deal about them."
As power expands, everyone will eventually have more ideas.
At that time, Lu Nanchuan's father's idea was to encourage Anda Khan to proclaim himself emperor and call himself Taoist ancestor.
And the leader of the White Lotus Church became more and more eager to recruit Dingkou from within the pass, and even shouted the slogan "Born within the pass, raised outside the barrier, not a job, no food, everyone will have a happy life".
There is no official leadership in Bansheng, and the people really don't have to work as errands, nor do they have to pay for food.
This is naturally very attractive to the people of Jiubian who have been abused.
But precisely because of this, if this slogan really reaches the eyes and ears of the imperial court, this kind of slogan will inevitably be provoked to strike hard.
The slogan is the outline. Whoever dares to shout it will no longer be a small-time refugee bandit in the eyes of the government, but an outright rebel!
As soon as Lu Nanchuan mentioned the point, he was startled. He seemed to understand this point clearly. He immediately got up and said, "Father, I will stop chanting when I get back!"
Zhang Siwei waved his hand, not paying much attention.
Now that the imperial court insists on going its own way, and the New Deal has reached the stage of consolidating the land, it must not look back until it hits the wall.
This was followed by a fifty-year battle over tax law reform.
The emperor and Zhang Juzheng almost reproduced what Song Shenzong and Wang Anshi did, intensifying the conflict between the central government and the pillars of the dynasty to the extreme.
If he, Zhang Siwei, were still in the center, there was no way he could still bring order to the chaos and advocate for the suspension of the new law to live in harmony with the people.
It's a pity that the emperor is ignorant and immoral, and cannot distinguish between loyal and traitorous people... With refugees everywhere, it is bound to be a matter of time for him to lead the way for the king.
At that time, it was Lu Nanchuan's opportunity to make a slogan.
Zhang Siwei shook his head, suddenly remembered something, and talked about another thing: "Has Shangshu settled down?"
Lu Nanchuan nodded and was about to elaborate.
Zhang Siwei immediately interrupted: "Don't tell me how you settled down. If things are not kept secret, it will be harmful. Liu Shiyan's family was killed before. The bad thing is that you didn't silence the people sent by Li Xiang to do things. Otherwise, how could you be killed by Jin Yiwei?"
Follow the vine and touch the melon?"
Lu Nanchuan stopped abruptly.
Mentioning this matter, he couldn't help but show a guilty look on his face.
"You will gain wisdom after suffering a hardship. Let's talk about the situation outside the Great Wall."
Zhang Siwei gently dismissed the accusation.
Lu Nanchuan took a deep breath, quickly regained his composure, and brought the topic back to business: "Yes, foster father."
"After Anda Khan failed to recover, Eastern Mongolia has essentially become alienated."
"The month before last, Xin Ai and Huang Taiji separated and started a new family."
"Songshan Bintu, his wife and other chieftains are wandering at sea, and there is no news from them."
"Last month, Wei Zheng was shot to death by an arrow for robbing a student. His body was burned and his bones were taken back to his suitcase."
"Copy Hu'erqing, Bao Du'er Kusai, Ai Musu Aji's eldest brothers, uncles and nephews, Du'er his divination bag, Mang Su'er his divination bag, Yaya begging Qingshan for his divination skills, Wei Zheng his divination king
Badu'er and other tribes gathered tens of thousands of horsemen, seven hundred miles away from Jiayuguan, intending to attack Oara after the beginning of spring and advance westward."
"News came this month that the chieftain brothers took advantage of the situation and occupied the pond."
"..."
"Today, only Sanniangzi, in the name of the Great Khan's wife, has firmly controlled Guihua City and ordered not to disobey Huang Taiji and others."
"However, before I came, Sanniangzi had already left for Yanghe. It was said that the emperor had issued an order to urgently order King Shunyi and Sanniangzi to enter the capital."
Yanghe is the residence of Governor Xuanda. Since Sanniangzi has gone to Yanghe, she is obviously preparing to enter the capital.
At this point, Lu Nanchuan paused: "Father, I'm a little worried. The Third Lady has always been friendly to the court. Should we do something..."
The better the relationship between the imperial court and the Tatar right wing, the less space the Han people would have to move around outside the Great Wall. Lü Nanchuan understood this.
Sanniangzi, when the peace was negotiated in Longqing, she firmly persuaded the peace, and thereafter restrained the various ministries and presided over the matters of paying tribute to the imperial court.
Even the construction of Guihua City and obtaining the name from the imperial court were all advocated by Sanniangzi.
It is not a good thing for Lu Nanchuan to have such a low profile now and go to Beijing in response to the imperial edict.
Zhang Siwei heard this but did not respond immediately.
Silence fell in the study room.
Lu Nanchuan felt a little embarrassed for a moment.
Finally, Zhang Siwei slowly turned his head and looked at Lu Nanchuan: "Simon Gu Tuman Khan integrated 30,000 households on the left wing, combined into 24 troops in eight camps, and 200,000 warriors, starting from Liaodong in the east and reaching Taohe River in the west.
"
"Hold high the "Tumen Khan Code" to restrain the tribes and make the tribes in Monan make pilgrimages to the Great Khan again."
"With the momentum of the Hulitai Conference, we forced Horqin, Nei Khalkha and other tribes to surrender."
"He was also promised the position of great power to bribe the grandson of Anda Khan, Chekeli, and then used the Yellow Sect to win over the right wing and cut off Huang Taiji."
"If it hadn't been for the majesty of the Third Lady, the scattered sands of Dandong Mongolia would have been swallowed up immediately, and the old scene of Dayan Khan would have reappeared."
Zhang Siwei looked at Lü Nanchuan and shook his head solemnly: "The Han family's affairs will be settled by the Han family."
"Sooner or later, the Tatars will be the enemy of the Han family. You and I will use the Tatars as minions. It is okay to serve as a pioneer for the king, but we must not let ourselves sink and become a wedding dress for others."
The words were neither fast nor slow, and the two looked at each other quietly.
a long time.
Lv Nanchuan smiled awkwardly: "My foster father has great insights, but I was wrong."
"It's just that Fengzhou Beach relies on Guihua City as a barrier. I'm just afraid that the third lady will reach a tacit agreement with the court and the past will happen again. So I lost my position for a while and asked my adoptive father to punish me."
Zhang Siwei's face was stern for a moment, and then he smiled: "It's human nature, how can I blame you as a father?"
He paused: "As for Ban Sheng...you don't have to worry too much. Unlike Nai's father, you have thousands of fine cavalry and sophisticated firearms. Even the three wives have to treat each other squarely. How can you be like Nai's father back then?"
, in a few words, he was tied up and sent to the court."
Hearing this, Lu Nanchuan seemed to be relieved and nodded in agreement.
The unhappiness between the two disappeared briefly, and they were laughing and talking again, and the father was kind and the son was filial.
I don't know how long we talked about it.
Lü Nanchuan respectfully stood up and said goodbye to Zhang Siwei on the grounds that it was late.
The latter tried to show off, but the former repeatedly refused.
After another round of pulling, congratulations, and farewells, Lv Nanchuan persuaded Zhang Siwei to stop, and then swaggered out of Zhang's house, and hurriedly greeted him from the left and right.
It wasn't until he turned around that Lu Nanchuan lowered his face and gritted his teeth angrily: "Old guy."
Nurhaci quickly came forward and said, "Father, is this trip not going well?"
The language he spoke was already fluent in Chinese.
Lu Nanchuan snorted coldly.
He waited until he got back on his horse and then said: "The old cunning rabbit doesn't know how many holes it has, and he won't bet heavily on us at all!"
Having said that, Lu Nanchuan seemed to have made up his mind.
He turned to look at Nurhachi: "What you said before, I promise you now!"
Nurhachi looked ecstatic: "My adoptive father promised to let me borrow the horse back to Jianzhou!?"
Lu Nanchuan nodded and said nothing more.
"Lao Liu, if you go and respond to Chekeli, just say that I can't do anything about Sanniangzi, but naturally I support him occupying Guihua City more than Sanniangzi's son Butashri."
After saying that, Lv Nanchuan turned to look at another follower: "Old Qi, according to the rules of the past, you go to find those people from the same clan in Ningxia who serve as deputy generals, and send them gold and silver treasures to wish me a happy new year.
."
The two people who were ordered were obviously Mongolian-looking, and they hurriedly patted their chests after hearing this.
Fengzhoutan (Wuyuan County) is located between Ningxia and Guihua City (now Hohhot), and there is room for maneuver.
After giving instructions, Lu Nanchuan looked back at Zhang Mansion and spat disdainfully.
Then he greeted everyone and rode away.
…
On the twenty-first day of the twelfth lunar month, during the Great Cold, we visited Chengguang Hall in Xiyuan.
From the east of Taiye, Jinlang is flat, and the Furong small hall overlooks Xuming.
The emperor just went to sit down in Chengguang Hall, and the whole day was overwhelmed by numerous personnel affairs and memorials.
It wasn't until the sun was already fading that Zhu Yijun saw off the last minister who approached today.
"I forgot to ask just now, how is Ling Qing's performance after passing the exam in three years?"
Zhu Yijun had already sent Ling Yunyi away, but only later did he realize that he had been negligent.
Zhang Hong stepped forward quickly: "Your Majesty, Governor Ling has fought with Governor Wu Wenhua to level the rivers and pools since the fourth year of Wanli. He also captured and killed the bandits from the Guangdong Temple. His military exploits have been outstanding for three years."
Zhu Yijun nodded and told Zhang Hong: "The senior companion will give an order to the cabinet for me tomorrow. If Ling Qing passes the examination in three years, his son Ling Xiaodong will be the son of the country."
Zhang Hong silently memorized it.
Zhu Yijun flipped through the memorials on his desk. After confirming that he had reviewed them all, he turned his palms to the sky and stretched out greatly.
He yawned: "It's the end of the year again."
The Chinese New Year is just a few days away, and it’s hard to avoid feeling a little emotional when thinking about all the big and small events this year.
Check out the correct version one by one!
Wang Yingxuan silently closed the living note next to him: "Your Majesty, after I send the living note to Lantai tomorrow for sealing, I will have no official duties during the year. I would like to take a leave of absence two days in advance."
New Year's Eve falls on the 29th, and various ministries and yamen usually wait until the 25th or Saturday before listing the holiday - and also leave a few people on duty in turn.
Leisurely offices such as Hanlin Academy and Zhongshusheren disappeared during the Great Cold War.
"That's right." Zhu Yijun waved his hand and said casually, "The annual meeting is the day after tomorrow. Who will Lantai arrange to record history?"
As a young scholar, it is the right thing to take a vacation in advance to go out for a romantic vacation.
Not to mention that Xiao Wang is one of the "Four Yan Family" celebrities, so there is no reason not to criticize this lie.
Even official affairs still need to be handed over, such as the annual meeting - over the years, it has become a medium-sized tradition for the emperor and the six ministries and nine ministers to discuss state affairs at the end of the year and formulate work strategies for the coming year.
Wang Yingxuan quickly replied: "My colleague Yao Sanrang will be on duty for me."
Zhu Yijun said oh and waved his hand: "Yao Qing, forget it, let Wang Shizhen remember it in person."
The purpose of recording history is not to rely on the so-called fear of death and to go on and on to support the emperor. These people have their own slang to avoid scrutiny.
Just like in history, Gao Gong fell and Gao Yi died one after another within a few days. The actual record records that "the middle official was sent to treat the great scholar Gao Yi as ill, and gave him food and gifts, thanked him, and looked for his death."
This word "Xun" is very interesting to people. "Zhuzi Bianlue" says that all the phenomena are related to each other and it is called "Xun". If there is any causal relationship here, it is the so-called subtle meaning.
Therefore, whenever it comes to important meetings or key discussions, Zhu Yijun can only ask people whose positions are confirmed to record them.
When Wang Yingxuan heard this, he naturally had nothing to say.
Zhu Yijun stood up slowly and moved his muscles.
Since the annual meeting was mentioned, he asked Zhang Hong, "Sir, has the agenda of the annual meeting been decided by the cabinet?"
Upon hearing this, Zhang Hong bent slightly and replied: "Your Majesty, in addition to the minutiae, there will be seven major discussions at the annual meeting in the future, including annual tax collection, announcement of imperial property, addition of court officials, revision of Ming Dynasty laws, and maritime trade.
In general, Guizhou, Guangdong and Guangxi and other places reformed the land and returned it to local people, and mobilized to clear out households and farmland."
Zhu Yijun walked back and forth in the hall, activating his energy and blood.
After thinking for a moment, he ordered Zhang Hong: "Pan Sheng is asked to attend and listen to the official's addition."
"Let Li Youzi attend and observe the taxation matters."
"Invite Shen Li to attend and observe the affairs of the land."
The content of the annual meeting will vary depending on the situation each year.
Similarly, in addition to the cabinet and the six departments and officials, the number of people attending the meeting also varies from year to year.
But without exception, the courtiers who can attend are the group of people who are currently or will be closest to the center of power of the Ming Dynasty.
Zhang Hong quickly responded.
After Zhang Hong finished speaking, Zhu Yijun asked again: "Isn't Li Zaiting going to Beijing today? Where is he?"
Li Jin originally watched with his eyes, nose, and heart, and stayed calmly aside. When he heard this, he couldn't help but sigh in his heart. He was worthy of being an old minister of the East Palace. Even though he had been away for many years, he was still in the heart of the emperor.
He stepped forward in a small step, took over the conversation and said: "Your Majesty, Governor Li entered Beijing at noon today. He handed over a message to the Ministry of Civil Affairs and the General Affairs Department, asking for an interview tomorrow. Then he visited the master and went to Gao Ge Laofu. superior."
"I spent the entire afternoon helping Mr. Gao Ge repair the courtyard and roof."
Zhu Yijun couldn't help curling his lips after hearing Li Jin's words.
Gaoyi's house was rented, and after it was damaged, he immediately sent someone to repair it and pay compensation.
It makes it seem like he just let it go.
No wonder the courtiers regarded him as a treacherous minister. Isn’t this just like Li Tongwei who plowed the fields at the home of a retired veteran cadre?
Of course, the internal slander was the internal slander. Zhu Yijun still nodded seriously: "He will be gone tomorrow. Let him also attend the annual meeting the day after tomorrow to discuss maritime trade with all the officials."
Afterwards, Zhu Yijun gave instructions about tomorrow's affairs to the Chief of Ceremonies and the people of Zhongshushe.
After he sent away the people in Zhongshushe, he took off his hat and straightened his hair slightly.
"Who is going to bed today?"
Wei Chao, who was in charge of these matters, quickly stepped forward and replied: "Long live my Lord, I have ordered Concubine Zhang Shun today."
Although the emperor seemed to have some prejudices against the title of Concubine Zhang Shun, the harem paid attention to the importance of getting even rain and dew, and whoever was chosen would be the one.
Zhu Yijun put on the crown again: "Concubine Shun... let's wait until tomorrow. I want to find the queen today."
This is obviously a bit against the rules.
After all, when the emperor met the empress, he had to ask the two palaces for an edict, and he also had to beat gongs and drums to spread the word. There was no such thing as a sudden decision.
But then again, the emperor is different from the past after all.
What can Wei Chao say?
I had no choice but to respond silently.
Zhu Yijun straightened his clothes, led a group of female ministers, and wandered out of Chengguang Hall.
…
Thanks to Sejong's hobbies, there are many palaces in Xiyuan, and the harem and concubines can live together without feeling cramped.
The emperor lives in the Longevity Palace and has a long life.
The empress lives in the Yongshou Palace, and the imperial concubine lives in the Renshou Palace. Yongshou Renkang is just right in terms of etiquette.
After Zhu Yijun finished his dinner, he went straight to Yongshou Palace.
The female officer on duty at the door seemed not to have expected the emperor's arrival in such a hurry, and hurriedly came forward to greet him: "Your Majesty, please wait for a moment. The Queen is taking a bath and changing clothes. Later, we will lead the entire palace out of the palace to greet him."
As expected, Zhu Yijun was stopped outside the door.
Unlike Concubine Li, who was from a prestigious first-class family, Empress Liu's ancestors had to be granted the title of a minor official of Jinyiwei.
The small family life also developed Empress Liu's cautious character.
While he abides by the rules himself, he also pays great attention to etiquette in front of outsiders.
However, the emperor listened to advice in big matters, but was extremely stubborn in small matters.
Zhu Yijun turned a deaf ear and rushed in with a swagger: "There is no need to mobilize troops. I will just go to Nuange to wait for the queen."
You definitely can't go in directly when taking a bath. After all, she is a female queen, and the emperor must respect her.
It's just right to go to the Nuan Pavilion and wait.
The female officials could no longer stop him, so they had no choice but to stamp their feet, hurriedly passed the emperor, and went in to report to the queen.
Zhu Yijun smiled.
The natural next step is to drive straight in, pass through the corridor in a few steps, and step into the Nuan Pavilion.
Although the Liu family was a noble queen, she always kept in line with the emperor in terms of expenses and never wasted.
Except for meals and books, Empress Liu was able to save almost everything, so that the huge queen's palace was deserted.
Zhu Yijun walked to the bookcase and picked out a copy of "The Romance of the Gods" written by Zhong Shan Yisou just this year. Shi Shiran sat down behind the desk.
It should be said that Empress Liu did her job well, but these family members were really thoughtful. Books like The Romance of the Gods were also presented to the palace. Who is Su Daji here?
Zhu Yijun shook his head and read it with relish.
At this juncture in culture, it is not an exaggeration to say that a hundred flowers are blooming.
The queen likes to read stories, not only classic novels such as Fengshen, Three Kingdoms, and Journey to the West, but also short stories such as "The Rain Window Collection", "The Chang Lantern Collection" and "The Voyage Collection".
Especially as the trend of literati copying scripts to create short stories in vernacular became more and more popular, the creation of novels now began to decline, gradually reflecting the class outlook of the lower class of scholar-bureaucrats.
Therefore, Zhu Yijun never stopped the Queen from this little hobby that was not part of her real job, and would even occasionally ask the Queen to recommend something.
Precisely because this is a small habit after marriage, Zhu Yijun naturally became fascinated when he sat like this in the Queen's Warm Pavilion.
I don’t know how much time passed.
When Zhu Yijun was accusing the woman of taking a bath for too long for the twelfth time, there was finally movement outside.
The emperor withdrew his attention and gently closed the novel.
As soon as Fang raised his head, he saw the door of Nuange room being pushed open, and a figure stepped in.
Empress Liu did not wear a crown, but she was still wearing a ceremonial gown.
When walking, she is calm and self-possessed, and her etiquette is leisurely. The queen's temperament is as if she has been tailor-made, and she is really dignified and prudent.
"I pay my respects to Your Majesty."
Empress Liu bowed slightly and saluted the emperor.
Zhu Yijun did not get up to return the greeting.
Instead, he stared at the queen and suddenly slapped the book in his hand on the table!
"Queen, something happened to you! You are guilty!"
Queen Liu raised her head and glanced at the emperor, showing hesitation.
After struggling for a moment, she finally made a move.
He moved to the emperor, knelt down slowly, and said with a sad expression: "Your Majesty, I have found out that I have sinned. Please punish me."
Having said that, he buried his head.
Seeing the queen's reaction, Zhu Yijun finally did not hold back his expression and broke the law on the spot.
He quickly took the queen's hand as she undressed him and explained helplessly: "Queen, something really happened this time. It's business."
The queen raised her head in confusion.
Zhu Yijun quickly helped Queen Liu up.
He thought for a moment, then looked into the queen's eyes and said proactively: "The Yanshenggong family bribed the queen's family with thousands of acres of fertile land, and they have already been tricked into me."
"Does the queen know about this?"
Chapter completed!