Chapter 396 The Li family receives the imperial edict
On the seventh day of December, the day before the Laba Festival, the old house of Li You's family in Xishui Town, Xujiang County.
Father Li was lying on the bed with his eyes closed, and it had been like this for a day and a night. A group of people gathered around the bed and were worried. If it weren't for his breathing that was still steady and strong, everyone would almost think that he was going to be directly promoted from the sixth grade to the third grade.
Of course, this third grade can only be engraved on the tombstone.
Zhu Qincha sighed. When he was conferring the imperial edict in Yangzhou, Li You was the protagonist. When he was conferring the imperial edict in his hometown in Xujiang County, Li's father was the protagonist. He was so sleepy that the ceremony could not be carried out. If Li's father had any shortcomings, he would also
It's not good to go see Li You.
Zhang Zhixian sighed, and it was rumored that he frightened Father Li by saying "brother Li". This was really a fall in June.
The old head of the Li tribe in Xishui sighed, Li Zheng, the only scholar of the Li tribe in Xishui, sighed, Li You's brother Li Zuo also sighed, and Li's mother, Zhu, secretly wiped her tears.
Dr. Zhang Zhen, a famous doctor in Xujiang, was called over to make a diagnosis. He frowned and said, "This is a soul-locking syndrome. The soul is shocked by an accident and loses contact with the world."
"Is there any way to diagnose and treat it?" Zhu asked eagerly.
"You can call the ghost and shout some familiar words from the old gentleman as an introduction."
Among the people present, only Li Zuo was suitable to shout. He stepped forward and shouted in front of his father's bedside, but unfortunately it still had no effect.
The scholar Li Zheng had an idea, and bowed respectfully to Zhang Zhixian: "To wake up Uncle Zeng, I have to trouble my father to come forward, so that's all."
Zhang Zhixian gave a wry smile, then stepped forward, took on the posture of going to court, and shouted in Li's father's ear: "Li Bai! Today I'm chasing you, you cheated and failed to solve the case, and you got twenty heavy responsibilities.
Drive him out of the yamen and never use him again!"
When he heard that he was being kicked out of the Yamen, Li's father's eyes widened suddenly and he shouted urgently: "Sir, please forgive me. I am willing to accept my punishment and make meritorious service!"
Seeing him wake up, Zhang Zhixian finally gave up and said with a smile: "Mr. Li... There is really no room for you in the county government!"
The next day of Laba, after the festival, it was the ninth day of the Lunar New Year, which was the day when the Li family was officially honored.
The news has spread, attracting countless people to watch the excitement, and almost no one is in the streets within a ten-mile radius. The crowds are crowded, and the entire roof of Xishui Town is packed with people. Even if you are idle at home during winter leisure, it is also idle.
…
Xujiang County is also a major imperial examination county. It has many officials and many imperial titles, which is not unusual at all. However, like the Li family in Xishui Town, there are special angels who come to issue imperial envoys and confer the title of sixth grade to a living person.
No more.
What interests the people the most is that according to the county annals, the Li family was the first family in the county to be awarded a golden book and an iron certificate by the imperial court. This legendary "gold medal for immunity from death" must be witnessed quickly.
In fact, this "gold medal for immunity from death" was given to Li You himself. After Li You's death, it will be inherited by the descendants of the hereditary third-grade commander. It has nothing to do with others, so it should not appear in Xujiang County at this time.
However, in order to show off to his hometown, Mr. Li entrusted Zhu Qin to take the golden book and iron coupons home and show them in front of the people in his hometown. He knew that ordinary people who had been influenced by storytelling novels would not understand what a sixth-grade military envoy was.
Things, but the "death-free gold medal" and "One word side by side king" are very well-known and very attractive.
Besides, wealth does not return to its hometown, just like walking at night in brocade clothes. At this glorious moment, Mr. Li had to stick to his post and could not go home because his bones were in the hands of the emperor. Therefore, he took his gold book and iron coupons back, which can be regarded as a slight compensation.
Partly regretful.
The Lu family, the largest family in Xujiang County, the Cao family, the richest family in Xujiang County, the Zhao family, the He family in Suzhou Prefecture, and the Song family, a giant businessman in Dongting, all sent people to watch the ceremony. Their friendship with Li You was significant. At this time,
Naturally, I want to come and support you.
Although the doors and windows of the main hall of the Li family were smashed and there was no time to repair them, they could still be managed with some papering. However, all the furnishings in the hall had changed. There was a tall case in the middle, where the imperial edict was placed, and a short case in the bottom, where incense was placed.
.
In fact, the whole ceremony did not last long. At a good time, accompanied by drums and music from the Caiting Pavilion, Zhu Qin sent a chariot directly to Li's house. Li's father went out to greet him, and Li's mother, Mrs. Zhu, was waiting at the door.
After the imperial edict entered the hall, Zhu Qinxian entered the main hall holding the imperial edict in his hand and placed it on the imperial edict. Amidst the loud shouts of praise from the official, the whole family of the Li family bowed five times and kowtowed three times to the imperial edict.
Immediately, Zhu Qinqian held up the imperial edict again and stood on his throne to proclaim it. After the promulgation, Li Jiashan shouted long live and officially accepted the imperial edict. The wealthy officials who came to watch the ceremony came forward to congratulate him. The first stage came to an end.
After that, we entered the much-anticipated second stage, where we worship our ancestors at the Yi Zong Temple. Compared with the first stage, this is the most glorious stage, which is equivalent to the number one scholar parading around the streets to praise his officials.
Father Li's face flushed with excitement, he put on his official sixth-grade crown uniform, held the imperial edict in his hand, and slowly walked out of the house. Behind him was his eldest son Li Zuo, holding a gold book and an iron coupon.
The Li clan members came out in full force and gathered outside the door. When they saw the imperial edict and the golden book and iron coupons coming out, they cheered together and resounded through the sky. This was the pride of their entire clan. With these things, the Li clan in Xishui could grow and develop.
The strongest backbone.
Following the pre-selected route, Li's father and Li Zuo, surrounded by their clansmen, walked around the town to satisfy the eyes of the people who were watching the excitement. It turned out that the "death-free gold medal" looked like an iron tile...
Entering the ancestral hall, they burned incense to worship their ancestors. Dozens of men from the entire Li family lined up their positions inside and outside the ancestral hall and bowed in unison. For the first time, Li's father was tied for first place with the clan leader. Li Zheng, the only scholar in the family, served as a memorial and tribute here.
Role.
After paying tribute to the ancestors, today's ceremony is over. As for subsequent matters such as changing tombstones and building memorial arches, there is no rush today.
But from today on, a saying spread throughout Xujiang County, "You should have a son like Li Erlang!" Within a few months, this saying spread throughout the south of the Yangtze River, as far away as Jiangyou, and was often heard in Fujian.
However, in the circle of Jiangnan boudoirs, this saying has become "a royal guard when you give birth to a child, and you should marry Li Tanhua when you marry!"
The liveliness of Li You's family is far from over, and being ordained is just the beginning.
That night the old clan leader came to the door in the dark and said, "I have something to tell you. All the fields owned by our clan, except for your family and Li Zheng's family, totaling 325 acres, will be given to you."
Father Li was very hesitant, "This... I'm afraid if word spreads, it will just be me who usurped the family property."
The old patriarch blew his beard and glared: "Who dares to say that we are seizing the family property? It is obvious that the wealth does not go to outsiders! When your family becomes rich and prosperous, do you forget about your relatives?"
Suzhou has the highest taxes in the world. Common people can evade taxes by entrusting their land to the names of officials and gentry. This is called dedication. After dedication, they only need to pay a certain amount of land rent in the name of tenants, which is always lighter than taxes.
The Li You family is obviously going to have hairpins for generations to come, which means it is tax-free for generations, making it an excellent target for donation. That's why the old patriarch said that the wealth should not flow to outsiders.
Although Li's father was worried about being accused of seizing the family property, he was so pestered by the old patriarch that he had no choice but to force him with family trees, so he had no choice but to accept the more than 300 acres of land.
Early the next morning, Mr. Sun, Li You’s neighbor for decades, brought his son Sun Ji to visit him.
Speaking of this son, Father Sun became very angry. This son and his neighbor Li You had been playmates since childhood, and their relationship was unparalleled by others. When Li You started to rise to prominence, no one could pick him up a few times. But he
I couldn't save my face and became Li You's subordinate.
Now I see Li You soaring into the sky, and this son is still dawdling, which is very annoying. If he had followed Li You at the beginning, I don't know how much glory he would get now, and he might even be above the rank.
"Brother Li, Master Li! For the sake of decades of friendship, I have two things I want to ask of you." Master Sun said, "First, I have a shop at home. Just take it!"
Although Father Li was sometimes vicious, he also insisted that rabbits not eat grass from the edge of the nest. He politely refused Sun's request and said, "How can I occupy your family's property for free? Don't mention this matter again!"
"If you don't want it, you are looking down on your old neighbor, so I will burn it! At least 60% of the shares will be taken away!" said Mr. Sun persistently.
In the same way, if you have an official status and do business, you can be tax-free...
Father Li asked again: "What is the second thing?"
Father Sun slapped Sun Ji, who was downcast, and said, "I will sell my son to your family as a slave for no money. For the sake of the old neighbor's face, can I ask him to work as an errand for Li You?"
Li's father was speechless and tried his best to decline, but he agreed to write a letter and send Sun Ji to Li You.
The old patriarch and Father Sun were far from the last ones to have such thoughts. On the tenth day of December, there was an endless stream of people of all kinds who came to see Li's father. The theme was to give away fields and shops for free...
When Li's father was a government servant, he had done a lot of dirty things by taking advantage of others. Otherwise, how could he have earned dozens of acres of good farmland and an inn from scratch? But at the time, he never imagined that one day he would also be raped.
I have to deal with all kinds of industries, and I have the trouble of being merciless when accepting gifts.
Before, he worked hard all his life, but he only earned a house, a shop, and dozens of acres of farmland. But today, in just one day, he added ten shops and a thousand acres of farmland to his name. What kind of speed is this?
Thinking about this, Father Li felt a little regretful. If he had known this, why did he do it in the first place? When he was young, he might as well have been content with poverty, earned a good reputation from all over the country, and endured all the hardships until today.
The wealth earned by ruining one's reputation in a lifetime is less than one-tenth of what it is today. Moreover, after collecting so much today, it can also be exchanged for praise. It is simply a double gain of fame and fortune. Why bother in the first place!
Now it seems that as long as he is willing, it is very simple and casual to acquire tens of thousands of acres of land and hundreds of stores, and he will also gain a good reputation in the countryside for taking care of his neighbors.
The slaves don't have to worry. There is almost a crowd outside his house. All kinds of poor people come from all directions and line up in the alleys at the door. There are all kinds of children, young men and women, all of whom voluntarily sold themselves into slavery to earn money.
sheltered.
Because after becoming a slave of the Li family, at least you don't have to do corvee labor, pay taxes, or deal with official duties, and you will definitely have something to eat.
This world is really... Father Li vaguely touched a realm that he had never experienced before. It turned out that this was the feeling of the upper class of the country officials and gentry! When he was a head catcher, his prestige in front of the common people was just a frog in the well!