Fengtian Hall was extremely quiet, for fear that Zhu Youde would be unhappy and kill Lu Shengzhi with a knife.
Many ministers were ready to acquit him, but Zhu Youde suddenly laughed: "Okay, okay! This is the first time someone dares to refuse my reward! No matter if it is pretending or not, I like it!"
"Feng Yuyue, allocate one thousand silver to him from the Ministry of Household Affairs as an additional reward!"
Feng Yuyue accepted the order with a relaxed tone: "I obey the order."
Then Zhu Youde's eyes fell on Lu Shengzhi, and he handed over the golden imperial edict in his hand again.
Lu Shengzhi remained calm and did not accept the order.
Is this guy going to resist the order?! The faces of the officials changed drastically. Who is so ignorant of flexibility? Even if he doesn't want a reward, he can't lose his life because of it.
"Your Majesty, please exchange this reward for the same amount of food and distribute it to the people in the world who cannot afford to eat." Lu Shengzhi leaned forward and said.
"Oh?" Zhu Youde withdrew his hanging hand, narrowed his eyes and stared at him, his smile gradually disappearing.
The first refusal can be said to be reserved, deliberately pretending not to like the reward.
The second refusal is enough to show that he really doesn't care about rewards, even if he is waiting for nine months to enjoy his salary.
"I can turn this reward into food and give it to the people of Daliang, but you must accept the imperial edict!"
Zhu Youde spoke loudly and forced the edict in his hand into Lu Shengzhi's arms.
"I respect your integrity and avoid committing the above crime. Feng Yufeng, please calculate how much grain the ninth-class salary can be converted into every year, and convert a hundred years of salary into grain, and send it to Yanshan and Langshan to help the poor people!"
"Are you satisfied with this?" He asked again with a bit of anger.
Lu Shengzhi knelt on the ground with a plop: "Your Majesty is wise! But..."
"The edict must be accepted! I just established the rules yesterday. The people of Jinling City are paying attention to the fact that you entered the palace and were granted the title. If Xiong Xin is granted the title, and you are still wearing white clothes, how will the people of the world view me?"
"The same suggestions are accepted, why are they treated differently?! Wouldn't it shake the faith of the people all over the world, and wouldn't the prestige I established be shattered?!"
"Do you know the meaning?"
Lu Shengzhi's heart skipped a beat, no wonder the little emperor forced him to accept the edict...
"The common people are ignorant, thank you for your guidance. The common people accept the order!"
Zhu Youde nodded without saying a word and asked the cabinet scholar to post a notice in Jinling City to publicize today's events in the court.
Xiong Xin and Lu Shengzhi have played a role in building bridges. I believe that even the concerned people will not doubt the authenticity of the title.
In addition to Jinling City, he also ordered local officials at all levels to post posters and send special explanations to prevent farmers from being illiterate and losing opportunities.
According to historical records, after Xiong Xin and Lu Shengzhi entered the palace to meet the Holy Emperor, a trend of learning arose across the country, and a large number of marquises suddenly appeared.
This incident was recorded as the feudal incident.
Of course, this is all for later.
After going to court, Lu Shengzhi was surrounded by ministers, all expressing their admiration. Xiong Xin was in the same situation.
An establishment, an edict, a carp leaping over the dragon's gate, even central officials cannot underestimate it.
Of course, the minister's intention was not because of his title, but because of his own character and ability.
Many ministers expressed their intention to be friends with each other, and some ministers even invited the two of them to serve as aides, especially Lu Shengzhi, a doctor in the Ministry of Civil Affairs.
However, he refused one by one, and instead of showing any joy, he frowned slightly in disgust.
At Xuanwumen, Wang Zhonghou was waiting again.
"Your Majesty!" A group of ministers greeted each other.
Wang Zhonghou went straight to Lu Shengzhi: "Master Lu, your majesty has asked this slave to invite you to the Yangxin Palace."
The surrounding ministers looked at the two people's leaving figures and admired Lu Shengzhi even more.
Not to mention that they appreciate this person, His Majesty even invites him personally, why shouldn't he take off?
…………………………………………
The Hall of Nourishing Heart.
Zhu Youde looked at the two brochures handed over by Feng Yuyue and Cao Wang respectively, both of which were related to the investigation of Lu Shengzhi's background.
I have to lament that Daliang's information system is very developed. When he went to court, Zhu Youde sent someone to tell Cao Wang to inquire, and he sent it to Cao Wang after he went to court.
Lu Shengzhi's identity surprised Zhu Youde: "No wonder he is not moved at all when facing a ninth-level salary candidate. It turns out..."
Just as he was thinking about it, Wang Zhonghou protected Lu Shengzhi and asked to see him.
"The common people pay homage to Your Majesty!" Lu Shengzhi was about to salute, but Zhu Youde stopped him in time with his helpless hand.
"Sir, please take a seat!"
After saying that, he turned slightly to indicate that he should sit at the front seat. This shocked Lu Shengzhi. He looked at the smiling little emperor with wide eyes, suspecting that he was hiding his anger.
It's not easy to get angry in the court, but when you go to the Yangxin Hall, you are invited to sit down, and then you are beheaded for disrespecting the imperial power?!
It's not impossible based on what the little emperor did... Thinking of Lu Shengzhi in his mind, he said: "Your Majesty, don't make fun of me. I am just a commoner, how dare I call you sir."
"Mr. Lu was once a disaster relief minister appointed by the late emperor. He was a second-rank official. He had great prestige in the frontier generation. How can he not be called sir?"
It turned out that this person was a local minister during the late emperor's reign. He was good at disaster relief and was often dispatched to disaster areas to quell disasters. Fourteen of his fifteen years in office were spent in disaster relief, and another year he was on the way to the disaster area.
He was supposed to be promoted to Jinling and become a central official, but he lost his official position due to a villain's frame-up and the late emperor's mediocrity. From then on, he became disheartened and stayed away from official career. He loved to travel around mountains and rivers to experience the sufferings of the world.
I resigned from office for five years and traveled nearly half of the country. That’s why I raised the gap between rich and poor because I understand the sufferings in the world.
"Sir, please take a seat!" Zhu Youde invited again.
How can you be so coldhearted when you treat a meritorious minister? If the late emperor has not redressed your case, then I will take charge of it.
"Your Majesty, the common people have been dismissed from office for five years, and now they are just ordinary people." Lu Shengzhi emphasized his identity again, how could he not know the meaning of Zhu Youde.
"I would like to ask you to come out and help our governor solve the gap between the rich and the poor. Why would you waste your talents when you are a genius?" Zhu Youde had a humble attitude.
"I have ordered Mr. Dongchang's father-in-law, Cao Wang, to review the case of your resignation. I will definitely clear your name. Please take a seat."
Lu Shengzhi raised his head and glanced at the attractive seat, then looked at Zhu Youde with fiery eyes, and finally shook his head and sighed.
"The common people have made up their minds, I can't help you! Farewell!"
After saying this, Lu Shengzhi bowed and left directly.
"What a talented person! What a pity, what a pity..." Zhu Youde looked at his back and said with regret.
The late emperor was fatuous. In the government affairs, the political parties controlled the government. There was a poisonous thorn like Cining in the harem. Tigers were raised in the local area and the King of Yan rebelled... The state treasury was empty and the private treasury was like a decoration, which chilled the hearts of the officials.
"What a sin!" Zhu Youde cursed and ordered Wang Zhonghou beside him: "Send someone to protect you secretly. We must protect your safety and check where you are staying in the capital."
"In three days, I will personally come out of the palace to visit him and ask him to come out!"
"I obey the order!" Wang Zhonghou accepted the order and lowered his voice to say another message:
"King Yan is expected to arrive at Jinling City tonight..."