Five hundred and ninetieth chapters wagtail in the original (ten)
Forbidden City Qianqing Palace
After entering the winter months, the weather quickly became colder. Even though the sun hung brightly in the sky, there was no warmth at all.
Although Liu Zhong had changed into winter clothes, he still couldn't help but shrink his neck and close his sleeves, trying to block the cold wind that kept getting into his clothes without losing his etiquette.
After entering the Dongnuan Pavilion, the curtains were lifted and a warm breeze hit his face. When he stepped through the door, he felt warm all over his body. Liu Zhong let out a long sigh of relief.
The little waiter holding the curtain came over and greeted him with fawning greetings, and Liu Zhong responded politely with a smile on his face.
As soon as he turned around and saw no one around him, the little chamberlain quickly whispered, "Qiu Ju didn't say anything. Gao Feng said about the post-election. Gu Dayong said about Xiyuan. Grandpa Qian was very unhappy."
Although this little chamberlain worshiped Liu Jin as his godfather, he was actually Xiao Jing's son, and Xiao Jing was later left to Liu Zhong.
Liu Zhong nodded calmly, straightened his clothes, and went to the inner room.
The room was as warm as a spring day. Brother Shou, dressed in light casual clothes, was lying on the small table of the Arhat bed and looking at some paintings.
When Liu Zhong saw the gift, he glanced at it from the corner of his eye and knew it was a drawing of Xiyuan Garden.
Brother Shou looked at it for a long time, then stretched out, stretched his muscles and bones, smiled and said to Liu Zhong: "The painting that Gu Dayong found by some Cangting layman is really good." Then he said again: "Modify the victims. It’s up to you to do the work-for-relief work in Xiyuan.”
Liu Zhong could hardly conceal his surprise, but the emperor spoke the golden words. He still responded quickly to the order to thank him, but he still couldn't help but think about it.
Usually such good things like going out of the palace to do errands to make money are the good jobs that can only be obtained by the eunuchs who are close to the emperor.
Although there is a lot of quarrel between Xiyuan and the victims, it is really not an easy job to deal with. Those cunning eunuchs will not accept it, but it is not a hot potato, and everyone does not want it. want.
After all, Liu Zhong has only been with the emperor for a short period of time, and it is not his turn no matter what.
Then he heard the little emperor say again: "These are the notes written by Shen Rui about Xiyuan and the victims. Take it and read it, and finish the errands."
Liu Zhong felt relieved, it turned out that it was because of his and Shen Rui's romantic relationship... But then his heart tightened again, he said yes, and looked at the little emperor's expression furtively.
Because of the affairs of Xiyuan and the victims, the princes in the court were quarreling endlessly. No one mentioned the previous incident of offering wine to Shen Zhou in Nanjing Imperial College, which was not good for his personal ethics. However, he, a close minister of the emperor, knew about it, and the emperor was very concerned about this matter. It's annoying.
The emperor has now handed over the matter of dealing with Shen Rui to him, Shen Rui's old friend. Is this to appease Shen Rui, or is he trying to test it...
Brother Shou called Liu Zhong over to collect the drawings and notes before filing the case. He shook his head, nodded at the papers and said, "Shen Rui is really a hard-working person. It's a pity that he doesn't have any fame now, and he's been dragged down by his family many times. ."
Liu Zhong heard the regret in these words, and felt reassured, so he smiled and replied: "The emperor also often said that 'tempting one's heart and forbearance will help you achieve what you can't do'. Shen Hengyun has been tempered by this, if he can strengthen his mind , increase your talents and serve the royal family better in the future."
Brother Shou smiled and said: "You and Zhang Hui have already talked about the same thing. I think so too. It would be good for him to sharpen his skills."
Seeing Liu Zhong packing his things, Brother Shou added: "Zhang Yong's third good news has also arrived. I hope that the matter in Taihu will be settled before next year, and I will return to the court after the new year."
Liu Zhong was overjoyed when he heard this and hurriedly bowed and chanted: "Great joy! Great joy! Congratulations, Your Majesty!"
Brother Shou smiled and waved his hands and said: "We are all happy." He smiled until there was only a slit in his eye, showing his thin white teeth, but he said: "When you have time, go to Zhang Hui and go to Shen's house.
We also have a good discussion with Shen Rui on how to guide and resettle the victims."
The topic changed quickly, and Liu Zhong's brain was not slow to react. He immediately understood what Brother Shou meant. He felt completely at ease. He took the instructions and went out to find Zhang Huitong and go to Shen's house.
Brother Shou sent Liu Zhong away, thinking about the situation of Xiyuan after it was completed next year. He was in a good mood. He went to the bookcase, picked up the top one from the thick piles of memorials, and read it gently in the hall.
Pacing.
However, after reading a few sentences, he threw down the note angrily and muttered, "It's such a shame, why is Liu Daxia making such a fuss!"
This is the third time Liu Daxia, Minister of War, has written to beg for leave due to illness.
Nowadays, the borders are tight and there are wars everywhere. How could Brother Shou let him go? He refused several times.
It is true that Liu Daxia said that he was in poor health, but he was not so ill that he could not do anything. It was just a matter of not getting what he asked for.
After the late emperor's great success, Liu Daxia first asked to appoint eunuchs from all directions who were not within the quota, but Shou Ge did not approve.
Later, he was allowed to dismiss redundant officials, Han generals Qianbaihu, Xue Fuking and 48 others. These people went on strike and made trouble in front of Brother Shou. Brother Shou accepted the request of the consort Fan Kai and reinstated them to their official positions.
Regardless of whether Liu Daxia is begging for divorce because he is dissatisfied or discouraged, Brother Shou will not let him go at this time.
And it was clear to him what the Director of Ceremonies meant by putting this book at the top.
Leaving the book aside, Brother Shou muttered a few curses, walked back angrily and grabbed another book. He read ten lines at a glance, but was quickly stunned. He slowly sat down on the dragon chair behind the desk and read over and over again.
Did it twice.
He raised his eyebrows in surprise at first, and then slowly, a naughty smile emerged. Then he laughed out loud, and then burst out laughing.
There were already two waiters at the door. Hearing the laughter, they quietly paid attention to the situation in the palace. When they heard Brother Shou calling someone inside: "Call Mou Bin, Qiu Judu come over!"
The young chamberlains looked at each other and were confused, but they thought it was a good thing that the emperor smiled, so they all ran to spread the word happily. Just four words of "the emperor smiled" can get a lot of rewards.
Brother Shou once played the memorial in his hand.
This is an excerpt from the Ministry of Rites. It is said that Li Shi, the king of Nanhai County, the king of Qingcheng in the Jin Dynasty, was convicted of taking money and food. However, the prince went to Beijing privately to beat drums and file a lawsuit. The Ministry of Rites wrote a letter asking for the envoy to be sent back, but still ordered the king to restrain him.
, and punish the professor and the city guard.
After a clan of the Ming Dynasty was granted a vassal status, they were not allowed to leave the vassal territory without permission, and were not allowed to return to Beijing without permission without an edict.
This Nanhai County Lord is really brave. In order to get his husband out of prison, he dared to enter the capital secretly.
Brother Shou really can't remember which of the Qingcheng Wang family this county prince is. Because King Qingcheng's lineage has really contributed a lot to continue the Zhu family's incense, now the Qingcheng King's adult children are recorded in the book.
More than ninety people.
But no matter who she is, she is insignificant, otherwise she would not come to Beijing in person.
However, since he is collecting money and food, he still dares to go to Beijing to "litigate grievances". I wonder if he is too stupid or too smart?
Brother Shou sneered and slapped the book on the case, his eyes filled with coldness.
At this time, taxes were still mainly collected in kind. Field taxes were divided into summer tax, autumn grain tax, summer tax on wheat, autumn grain tax on rice. In addition, there were silk, cotton and linen, etc. In some areas, fodder was also required, and households were required to bring designated items to themselves.
Delivered to designated location for payment.
To extort money and grain refers to soliciting for payment of taxes. It is not uncommon for evil gentry to extort money and extort money from ordinary people, and to pass off substandard grain and rice materials.
During the Jingtai and Chenghua years, the Ministry of Household Affairs reported that there were scoundrels who took money and food, mixed the food with soil, soaked the fodder, replaced thin cloth with thick cloth, etc. When they were dismissed when they were handed over to officials, they would not acknowledge the account and put it all in the household.
Nahu was afraid of his reputation, so he had to swallow his anger and go out to supplement the official family. Not only did it not "save trouble", but it made the burden heavier.
In all dynasties, it was a serious crime to collect money and food.
At that time, policies were also introduced to crack down for a period of time, but the profits were huge, and some people still took risks out of desperation.
After a while, Mou Bin, the commander of the Jinyi Guards, and Qiu Ju, the head of the Dongchang stall, knelt in front of Brother Shou.
Brother Shou threw the paper at the feet of the two of them, and said calmly: "Go and find out, how did Nanhai get to the capital, and who gave her the idea? She is a fool, and I'm afraid she won't be able to get to the capital. Go and find out, this Li Bin is a
What kind of stuff is this? What’s going on with all the money and food? Who made the judgment?”
Mou Bin and Qiu Ju both responded one after another. In detail, they failed to report the clan's unauthorized entry into the capital immediately and asked her to beat the drum to complain. They were both guilty of negligence.
Brother Shou had no intention of pursuing these matters. Instead, he stood up and walked to Mou Bin, and ordered in a cold voice: "Go and find out whether the victims of this disaster have anything to do with Li Bin."
A chill ran down Mu Bin's spine, and he reasoned that the greed for money and food was not small, but it would not have caused so many victims. Moreover, the victims also claimed that the disaster was caused by an earth dragon, but the emperor said so...
In the past few days, the government has been criticizing the Chief Envoy of Shanxi Province and the various state governments for their failure in disaster relief. Is the Emperor trying to find a scapegoat?
Thinking that the border was tight and Shanxi's officialdom should seek stability, Mou Bin, who thought he had figured out the emperor's thoughts, hurriedly accepted the order.
Qiu Ju knelt beside him, thinking the same thing as Mou Bin, and he was even more fortunate to have met him first and didn't say anything.
Since the incident about the disaster victims came out, He Dongsheng began to send money to him again, thinking that after overthrowing Shen Zhou, he would pursue the victory and then overthrow the eldest son of the Shen family, Shen Xuan, who was serving in Shanxi Province.
Qiu Juke was never one to use people's money to eliminate disasters. He accepted the money from the He family without fail. As for the imperial speech, he planned for his own family and took care of the life and death of the He family! But he couldn't do it without eighty thousand silver.
He Qiu's stall opened a golden door.
He threw the He family's request out of the sky and never planned to mention it again. He glanced at the comment on the brochure, "It is a good etiquette for a prince to go out to the city to litigate, and he is ordered to meet with the judicial council." Then he had another thought, Zhang
Yongpin has won many victories, and the capture of Taihu Lake is just around the corner. The emperor has broken King Ning's arm, and is he going to attack the northwest vassals again...
*
Renshoufang Shen Mansion
Although Liu Zhong came in casual clothes, his arrival undoubtedly gave Shen Rui, Xu and the third master a reassurance.
It is nothing if Shen Zhou loses his official position. What is important is that the emperor cannot have any prejudice against the children of the Shen family because of Shen Zhou's affairs. Otherwise, the children of the Shen family may have a bumpy career. Xu Youzhen is a lesson learned from the past.
After the Tumubao Incident, Xu Youzhen, whose name was still Xu Jue, was disliked by the inner court for suggesting moving the capital to Nanjing.
After Emperor Jing ascended the throne, Xu Jue wanted to arrange a wine ceremony in the Imperial Academy, so he reported to Emperor Jing. Emperor Jing bluntly said, "This man is cunning by nature, and serving in the Imperial Academy's wine ceremony will corrupt Jiang Sheng's mind" and refused.
It was not until Xu Jue changed his name to Xu Youzhen at the suggestion of his cabinet minister Chen Xun and was recommended to govern the Yellow River that Emperor Jing didn't know that Xu Youzhen was Xu Jue, so he appointed him as the censor of Zuoqiandu, giving Xu Youzhen a chance to make a comeback.
Shen Rui understands Brother Shou's character relatively well and is not very worried that Brother Shou will distance himself from him because of Shen Zhou's matter.
However, Liu Zhong was able to deal with the disaster victims with him, which made him relieved. At least it was much better than the internal officials or the imperial guards who had to deal with it all over again. With Liu Zhong's cooperation, he was more confident to handle this matter well.
If you want to establish a firm foothold in front of the emperor, it is impossible to rely solely on youth friendship, eating, drinking and having fun.
As he gets older, the little emperor needs loyal ministers who are talented and capable of doing practical things.
But now, Shen Rui doesn't even have any fame, and it will be two or three years before he becomes an official at the earliest, let alone show any talent as an official, so he can only accumulate brother Shou's favorability through side errands.
This is Shen Rui's first time working for Brother Shou. He doesn't expect any surprises. He is not a crouching dragon or a phoenix. As long as he handles things steadily and properly, he will be credited.
Shen Rui welcomed Liu Zhong and Zhang Hui into the study. Since he and Zhang Hui were getting closer now, he did not hide it from Zhang Hui and bluntly said that Liu Zhong was his "master uncle".
Liu Zhong was taught by Wang Hua in the inner school, and he had the title of master and apprentice. Later, he became friends with Wang Shouren. Wang Shouren always called him "junior brother". Even though Shen Rui was only one or two years younger than Liu Zhong, he was shorter. After a generation, you should call me uncle.
Zhang Hui originally didn't know that they had this kind of relationship. After hearing Shen Rui's introduction, he pretended to have a straight face and said: "I have always known Brother Qiyan as my equal in the palace, but now I recognize you, Shen Hengyun." , I am just a generation shorter for nothing, tell me, how can you compensate me?"
Saying this is to put yourself in Shen Rui's group, and it also shows your closeness.
Shen Rui smiled and said: "When the victims of the disaster are over, I will be the host another day and eat a hot pot of beggar's chicken at Zhuangzi."
Zhang Hui smiled and stretched out his palm to give Shen Rui a high-five, saying: "But it's a deal." He then said to Liu Zhong: "Uncle Liu will be here too! The beggar's chicken sounds pickled, but it tastes different. Wild fun.”
Liu Zhong was of the same age as them, and he also had the mentality of a young man, but in the palace and in front of the emperor, he had to suppress his true feelings.
Now that he saw the two of them having fun, they were obviously very close, and whether it was Zhang Hui's life experience or his relationship with the emperor, he should try his best to make friends with him, so he let go and said to Zhang Hui with a hearty smile unique to young people. : "Zhong Ming calls him like this, which makes me afraid to answer the phone. It's better to just talk to each other and be friends with each other as equals."
Zhang Hui laughed out loud and followed the good example. He was always good at making friends with others, and when he was working as an errand in the palace, he also deliberately made friends with the emperor's servants. After a few words of conversation, the two of them became closer and closer.
After joking, it was time to get down to business. Liu Zhong did not hide anything from him, and told Shen Rui all about the emperor's expectations for Shen Rui, as well as the news that the emperor used him to convey to Shen Rui orally that Wang Shouren was about to return victoriously.
When Shen Rui heard the news about Wang Shouren, he couldn't help but feel refreshed and felt happy for this master from the bottom of his heart.
Speaking of the victims, Shen Rui first talked about how he detained the leaders of the victims for questioning.
Sure enough, someone approached Li Zheng from several disaster-stricken villages and asked him to take everyone out to escape. Every time he went to a designated place, Li Zheng got a sum of silver. That's it. Leading people to the capital step by step.
This wave of people came from several nearby villages, and many of them were familiar with each other and even had relatives, so they eventually merged together.
There were more than 400 people when we came out. Along the way, there were inevitably old, young, sick and weak people lying dead on the roadside. When we got here, there were only less than 300 left.
However, this wave of people is not the only one coming out.
After the incident of the disaster victims was exposed by the emperor, various counties in Hebei Province gradually reported signs of refugees. However, the number of refugees in each wave was not too large. There were some in waves of dozens, and some in waves of hundreds.
"I don't want to be tortured in private. All the confessions I have obtained will be submitted to the emperor together with the statements. If the uncle here comes to arrange for the victims to go to Xiyuan in batches, will these people be detained by the Yamen? Let me ask you carefully.
Passed?" Shen Rui said.
Before Liu Zhong could answer, Zhang Hui said: "The emperor has told me that when I go back to Qiyan to transfer people, I will send them to Fusi, Beizhen." He paused and said: "
We have to find out who is causing the trouble."
Shanxi is right outside the Great Wall, and the people have the heaviest burden to provide food, grass, and labor for the border troops. If the people there are incited to run away, there will be no need to guard the border.
Moreover, it is by no means a simple matter for the victims to go straight to the important areas of the capital.
The three of them discussed the work-for-relief project in Xiyuan and decided to go to Xiyuan together to have a practical inspection and then add details of the plan.
When they arrived at the piece of land selected by Shou Ge in Xiyuan, the three of them inspected the elephant houses and other buildings left behind by the previous dynasty, and compared them with the garden drawings. They decided on the residences that the victims should repair first, as well as the unified mobilization for the future.
Craftsmen build temporary homes.
The three of them watched and chatted, discussing one by one how to classify craftsmen and farmers, how to separate men's and women's camp management, how to arrange for women to be responsible for starching and washing the kitchen, which land should be cleaned first, and where canals should be built first.
Liu Zhong is worthy of being a top student from the inner school who can be admitted to the Department of Ceremony. He has an excellent memory. The pen and ink brought out by Shen Rui are almost useless. He relies on his brain to memorize various supplementary points, which makes Shen Rui admire him endlessly.
It was already dusk when the three of them came out of Xiyuan.
Zhang Hui and Zhang Luo had dinner together. Although Liu Zhong had a house outside the palace, he wanted to return to the palace first to report to the emperor, so he had to return to the palace before issuing the key. Shen Rui, on the other hand, had a filial piety, so even though he had passed Xiaoxiang, it was still not suitable to go out and socialize in restaurants.
So we had to say goodbye and make an appointment to meet again next time.
As we were saying goodbye on the street, someone suddenly called Zhang Hui's name.
The three of them reined in their horses and looked over. Over there, two noble men in rich robes came with a group of servants.
First, a young man of similar age came over. He was running towards Zhang Hui with a smile. When he got closer and saw Shen Rui next to Zhang Hui, he said "Huh" and smiled: "Shen Er
!Long time no see.”
Because it was already dark, the man saw Liu Zhong when he was approaching. He couldn't help but said "Oh!" and was about to say hello loudly. Suddenly he remembered that it was on the street. He hurriedly covered his mouth and smiled awkwardly, saying: "Mr. Liu."
Shen Rui also saw clearly that the person coming was Zhou Shi, whom he hadn't seen for a long time.
Brother Shou had not taken Zhou Shi with him the last few times he came out of the palace to play. Looking at the somewhat polite smile on Zhang Hui's face, Shen Rui also knew that Zhou Shi was no longer in Brother Shou's inner circle.
Zhou Shi was not aware of the attitude of these people, and said to Zhang Hui happily: "Now that I have changed my values, I can't meet you anymore. I went to see you several times but you were not there. It's rare that I bumped into you today. I was about to meet you with my cousin."
It’s better to go and have a drink than to go and have my little brother serve as a host!”
Zhang Hui waved his hand and said: "Today is also unlucky. Mr. Liu has to return to the palace before the key is released. Shen Er, you also know that there is no place to drink in Xiaozhong. If you go there another day, you have such intention, how can I Can I give you a nice drink?"
Zhou Shi looked at Liu Zhong again and again with regret, and couldn't help but say: "Really, really, alas, I have wanted to invite Mr. Liu for a long time. He is so busy that he never has time..."
While he was chatting incessantly, another noble man in rich clothes had already arrived.
Zhang greeted the meeting and said: "Brother Xian." He introduced this person to Shen Rui and Liu Zhong, Zhou Xian, the son of the eldest princess of Chongqing.
Shen Rui bowed politely and looked at the noble gentleman with a gentle smile in front of him expressionlessly.
Zhou Mao, the murderer who killed Shen Luo, was the concubine of the man in front of him.
After hearing about his brother's evil deeds, this man with a "well-known reputation" personally came to apologize and exterminated his concubine Zhou Mao from the clan for being "unfilial".
Not long after, Zhou Mao "drunk and fell into the water and died."
One life of the Zhou family must be sacrificed, and the Shen family cannot be spared.
However, no one knows the real cause of Shen Luo's death.