"If you don't take a peek at the garden, you will judge its status after the curtain is drawn." [Writing a Zheng Fu]
Zhao Yan did not bring Chen Ji into the Xuanshi or Qingliang Hall, but took him to the edge of Cangchi near the front hall of Weiyang Palace.
There were still nearly a hundred steps away from the Diaoyutai, so Zhao Yan and others were stopped by Yu Linlang, the guard in front of the imperial court. They were allowed to enter only after seeing the credentials. Chen Ji noticed that hundreds of steps centered on the Diaoyutai.
Within a few steps, except for a small yellow door with a head hanging under the eaves, there was not a single person waiting around, and the Diaoyutai was almost surrounded by water on three sides, with light on all sides, completely ensuring the privacy of political discussions.
The cool breeze blowing from Cangchi made Chen Ji feel a little refreshed.
Mu Shun of Xiaohuangmen, who was standing under the eaves, saw Zhao Yan and Chen Ji. He immediately walked forward in small steps and said to Chen Ji: "Your Majesty is discussing matters with the princes of Chengming Palace. Mr. Chen is standing in the shade for a moment."
Wait, let me go and report it first."
So Zhao Yan took Chen Ji to a small pavilion on one side, blowing in the wind, and waited for the summons.
Chen Ji looked around at the railing and saw an isolated islet in the center of Cangchi floating between the sky and the water, dimly hidden in the waves. There were several pavilions on the isolated island, which were simple and solemn, like immortals left behind in the world.
Island. He watched all this quietly, listening to the sound of water waves in his ears, as if he had arrived at the coast of the East China Sea. The Weiyang Palace Cangchi alone was so magnificent. Isn’t the legendary Kunming Pond really real?
Can it accommodate a city?
Thinking of the wording he had prepared, Chen Ji felt more and more feasible. He was thinking endlessly. At this time, among the veil floating like white mist in the water pavilion, the voices of several people talking were faintly heard. The voices had an old feel.
There are a few, some are deep, some are hoarse, and some are sharp. Among them, there is only one whose voice is extremely loud. The pronunciation of every word is the most standard Luoyang Yayan. His words are sonorous and powerful, with a subtle tone.
There is no power, but the voice can be heard, but it is like a child who has not yet finished changing his voice:
"An imperial censor impeached Fu Rui of Youfeng Feng, who did not think about storing water to prevent drought, but instead dug ditches and ponds, causing unplanned evaporation and harming the people. And Fu Rui also reported that Duyang, Chencang, Yongxian
Since April this year, there has been no water drop in the area, and many acres of land of the people in this area have been damaged. The water management has to be carried out immediately. This year, the imperial army is going to attack Shu, and the grain transportation is all in Fufeng. Li Shu is working hard.
Fu Rui sympathizes with them and loves the people, so how can he be criticized by the censor?"
This tone was obviously that of the emperor. Chen Ji nodded slightly and continued to listen:
"What the imperial censor reported is indeed true. Now that the drought is not in full swing and the extent of the disaster is unclear, releasing water in vain will only cause waterlogging in low places, while the drought in high places will remain unresolved. His Majesty once said that where water is needed, where water is not needed
When water is needed, where there is more water and where there is less water, it should be done like merchants, calculating carefully and allocating it rationally so that the water can really flow into the place where it is needed." The man's voice was rich, but what he said surprised Chen Ji.
Suddenly he thought of something and couldn't help but frown slightly.
The emperor did not accept this rhetoric and immediately refuted it: "Don't use what I said to prevaricate me! Do you have to wait until the drought is severe before the people are allowed to use the Pichi? I have already given strict orders to officials from all over the country to do their best to protect Sui.
, Drought prevention can be done cheaply, and there is no need to obey the orders of the court. It is necessary to prevent the flooded people from losing their jobs. Unexpectedly, the censor actually started to impeach people. Since he said that Fu Rui had done something wrong, he should call Kong Shui envoy.
Rong goes to Youfufeng again to see what’s going on there and then let’s talk!”
"I promise, I made a mistake for a moment, and I hope your Majesty will forgive me." The man lowered his voice.
Chen Ji frowned a little, and he was worried that the emperor was the kind of person who didn't understand the general affairs. Although he was smart, he could easily be fooled by the tricks of the bureaucrats and subordinates in the court. Now it seems that the emperor is not only smart, but also familiar with the general affairs. Heart, it is also easy to handle:
"As for the taxation of money and grain for the land, it has already been exempted for one year. Now that the land has to transport military supplies and other items, it is difficult to make a living. It should be given more favors, and the land rent for the second year of the first year of Jian'an will be exempted. In addition, , since the military resurgence last month, hundreds of thousands of grain and grass and nearly tens of millions of money have been allocated. Now the military affairs in central Sichuan are gradually completed, but expenses are still needed for the aftermath and the relief before the army. And the warehouse in Youfufeng should also be We have some surplus to prepare for urgent needs. Now we will allocate another 200,000 grains. The edict will be issued immediately, so there is no delay."
"I promise," someone said in response.
"These days, the county guards of Sanfu, Hongnong and other places are begging the court to dispatch food and grass to prepare for seasonal relief and avoid the trouble of temporary dispatch." Seeing that Chen Ji was listening seriously, Zhao Yan lowered his voice and whispered Said: "Although this matter is reasonable, there is no precise report of the disaster, and His Majesty is not willing to make arbitrary arrangements. After all, Yizhou still has to fight, and Liangzhou has to be on guard. The imperial court must have a batch of food and grass in order to be stable. People’s hearts.”
Chen Ji nodded and continued to listen to Zhao Yan's analysis: "Your Majesty gave a special case to You Fufeng Fu Jun this time. Although it inevitably opened a hole for others to take advantage of, it also shows that Fu Shihe is deeply grateful. .”
"Fu family in the North is famous for his righteousness and righteousness. He said that Guanxi is not in vain for His Majesty's preferential treatment." Chen Ji softly agreed, but he was thinking that this was a very good topic. He could take advantage of this later. Topic, future tense, everything you heard is clearly stated.
The monarchs and ministers covered by the gauze discussed the drought situation again, and the topic gradually turned to the recent death of Xuzhou Mu Tao Qian, Liu Bei temporarily acting as the prefecture pastor with the support of Xuzhou powerful people, and fighting against Yangzhou Mu Yuan Shu.
"... Yuan Shu is really arrogant! At first I saw him taking the lead in sending envoys to pay homage to Duke Zhao when he was announcing his condolences to Guandong. I thought that there were not all those rebellious and traitorous people in the Yuan family, but there was still a loyal person. But who could I know that this person dares to violate the laws of the imperial court, regards the laws of the imperial court as nothing, and dares to send troops to Xuzhou... 'The beauty of a gentleman will be killed in the fifth generation'. Is this the end of the fourth generation and the three princes of the Yuan family?"
The deep voice responded: "Yuan Shu rebelled. He faked the title of Yangzhou Shepherd granted by the imperial court and the honor of the general, wantonly conquered and conquered people, and corrupted the law. The imperial court should punish him severely and announce his crimes to the world, so that the world can be enlightened. Bo Wei’s commandment.”
What this man said was really to the point. Chen Ji listened calmly. It seems that the imperial court knew that the Yuan brothers had ulterior motives, but still wanted to order Yuan Shu to be the shepherd of Yangzhou. Today, the imperial court was trying to pull him apart. On the one hand, they deposed Yuan Shao, the Jizhou Mu with an unjustified reputation, putting him in an embarrassing situation. At the same time, he elevated Yuan Shu's status and made him a "loyal minister" of the Han Dynasty to a certain extent.
If this 'loyal minister' can continue to follow the route planned by the imperial court, break with Yuan Shao, and follow the leadership of the imperial court. Then with his status and status, Yuan Shu will not only be a Yangzhou shepherd or a rear general in the future, but in this way, his name will be Position became the shackles that restrained Yuan Shu, but how could Yuan Shu be a person trapped by fame?
Yuan Shu's attack on Xuzhou this time was like trampling on the "loyal minister" hat the imperial court forced him to wear, betraying the trust of the imperial court, and not being supreme. On the one hand, he ruined the Yuan family's reputation with his own hands, which clearly revealed
One's own ambition is another aspect.
It would be great if the person restricted by the imperial court with "name and position" was Yuan Shao. Chen Ji suddenly thought that with Yuan Shao's face-saving character, he would be very respectful to the imperial court.
But it is also possible that the imperial court knew that the two men had very different temperaments and might have done so deliberately. But in this case, how could the imperial court maintain its prestige?
Chen Ji was puzzled, and turned slightly to look at the largest pavilion on one side. Inside, the curtains were fluttering, and a few blurry figures could be vaguely seen.