Qianqing Palace in the Forbidden City

After entering the winter moon, the weather quickly cooled down, and the sun hung brightly in the sky, and there was no warmth at all.

Although Liu Zhong had changed into winter clothes, he couldn't help but shrink his neck and tighten his cuffs, blocking the cold wind that kept drilling into his clothes without losing his manners.

When he entered the East Warm Pavilion, the curtain was provoked by the warm breeze, and when he stepped into the door, he immediately felt warm all over his body, and Liu Zhong breathed a long sigh of relief.

The little waiter who opened the curtain came over and asked for warmth, and Liu Zhong also responded politely with a smile.

As soon as he made a mistake, seeing that there was no one left and right, the little chamberlain quickly whispered, "Qiu Ju didn't say anything." Gao Feng said after the election. Gu Dayong said Xiyuan. Grandpa is very unhappy. ”

Although this little chamberlain worshiped Liu Jin as his godfather, he was actually Xiao Jing's person, and Xiao Jing left it to Liu Zhong.

Liu Zhong nodded quietly, straightened his clothes, and went to the inner room.

The house was as warm as a spring day, and Brother Shou was dressed in light and light clothes, and was lying on the small table of the Luohan bed looking at a few paintings.

Liu Zhong saw the salute, and the corner of his eyes quietly swept away, and he knew that it was the artwork of the Xiyuan Garden.

Brother Shou looked straight for a long time, then stretched his waist, stretched his muscles, and said to Liu Zhong with a smile: "What kind of Tibetan Pavilion monk Gu Dayong is looking for is really good." Then he said: "You can do the matter of transferring the disaster victims to Xiyuan to work for relief." ”

Liu Zhong's surprise could hardly be concealed, but the emperor opened the golden mouth, and he still reflexively received the order and thanked him very quickly, but he still couldn't help thinking about it in his heart.

Usually, such a good thing of going out of the palace to do business and fishing for oil and water is a beautiful difference that can only be obtained by the emperor's close eunuchs.

Although both Xiyuan and the disaster victims are arguing about the sky, it is not an easy errand to deal with, and those treacherous eunuchs will not accept it, but it is not a hot potato, and everyone does not want it.

After all, he Liu Zhong has been by the emperor's side for a short time, so it should not be his turn to talk about it.

Then he heard the little emperor say again: "These are the notes of Xiyuan and the victims written by Shen Rui, you can take them and take a look at them, and get the errand done." ”

Liu Zhong's heart was relieved, it turned out to be because of his and Shen Rui's incense relationship...... But then his heart tightened again, and he answered yes, and peeked at the little emperor's expression.

Because of the matter of Xiyuan and the victims, the princes of the court quarreled endlessly, and no one mentioned the loss of Shen Zhou's private morality in Nanjing, but he was a close minister of the Son of Heaven who knew about it, and the emperor was very annoyed about this matter.

The emperor has now handed over the matter of handover to Shen Rui, Shen Rui's old man, is it to appease Shen Rui, or is there a temptation......

Brother Shou called Liu Zhong to come over a few days ago, put away the drawings and those notes, shook his head, and said with a virtual point of paper: "Shen Rui is really a practical person. It's a pity that he doesn't have a reputation now, and he has been dragged down by his family repeatedly. ”

Liu Zhong heard the regret in these words, and he replied with a smile: "The emperor also often says, 'Motivation and forbearance have benefited what he can't', Shen Hengyun has been tempered by this, if he can be tenacious and increase his talents, he will be better able to serve the royal family in the future." ”

Brother Shou smiled and said, "You went to talk to Zhang Hui." I thought so too, and it would be good for him to sharpen it. ”

Seeing Liu Zhong pack up his things, Brother Shou said again: "Zhang Yong's third good news has also arrived." I want to be able to end the matter of Taihu Lake before the next year, and return to the court after the year. ”

Liu Zhong was overjoyed when he heard this, and hurriedly bowed down and said, "Great joy!" Exultation! Congratulations to the Emperor! ”

Brother Shou smiled and waved his hand: "Rejoice and rejoice." He smiled so much that there was only a slit in his eyes, revealing a mouthful of thin white teeth, but he said: "You have to be free, Zhang will go to the Shen family, and discuss with Shen Rui how to attract and resettle the victims." ”

The topic changed quickly, Liu Zhong's brain reaction was not slow, and then he knew what Brother Shou meant, and his heart was completely down-to-earth, he took the message, took Tiao Chen, and went out to find Zhang Huitong and go to Shen's house.

Brother Shou sent Liu Zhong away, thinking about the situation after the completion of Xiyuan next year, he was in a good mood, went to the bookcase, picked up the top one on the thick stack of folds, and paced gently in the hall while reading.

However, before he read a few sentences, he stupidly dropped the fold and muttered and scolded: "Defeated, what is Liu Daxia doing here!" ”

This is the third time that Liu Daxia, the secretary of the Ministry of War, has written to beg for rest due to illness.

Now that the border is tight, and there is war everywhere, where will Brother Shou let him go, and he has been rejected several times.

It is true that Liu Daxia wants to say that his body is not good, but it is really not to the extent that he is too sick to be a director, it is nothing more than what he asked for.

After the first emperor's great trip, Liu Daxia first asked the eunuchs of the Quartet to guard the eunuchs within the quota, but Brother Shou did not approve it.

Later, he was allowed to dismiss 48 people, including Xue Fujing, a redundant Han general, and these people made trouble in front of Brother Shou in a strike posture, and Brother Shou responded to the invitation of Fan Kai and reinstated everyone's official positions.

Regardless of whether Liu Daxia is begging because he is disgruntled or discouraged, Brother Shou will not let him go at this time.

And the celebrant put such a fold on the top, and his intention was also clear.

Leaving the fold, Brother Shou muttered a few words in his mouth, walked back and grabbed another book with hatred, looked at it at a glance and ten lines, but he was quickly stunned, slowly sat down on the dragon chair behind the bookcase, and read it twice.

He first raised his eyebrows in surprise, and slowly, a childlike smile appeared, and then when he looked at it, he actually laughed out loud, and then laughed heartily.

There were already two little chamberlains at the door who heard the laughter and quietly paid attention to the situation in the hall, waiting to hear Brother Shou shouting inside: "Call Mu Bin and Qiu Judu to come over!" ”

The little chamberlains looked at each other, and they were all puzzled, but they thought that it was a good thing for the emperor to laugh, so they all rushed down to spread the word. Just the words "the emperor smiled" can get a lot of rewards.

Brother Shou has a little bit of a playpiece in his hand.

This is the excerpt of the Ministry of Rites, Yan Jin Mansion Qingcheng King Nanhai County Junyi Bin Li Shi was convicted of collecting money and grain, and the county monarch actually entered Beijing without permission, beating the drum to sue for grievances, the Ministry of Rites sent a letter to ask the envoy to be sent back, and the king was still restrained, and the professor and the city guard were punished.

After the Ming dynasty sealed the domain, they were not allowed to leave the domain without permission, and they were not allowed to return to Beijing without an edict.

This Nanhai Junjun is really bold, in order to get her husband out of prison, he dared to enter Beijing without permission.

Brother Shou really can't remember which one of the Qingcheng Wang's family is this county monarch, because the vein of King Qingcheng is really to continue the Zhu family's incense, and now there are more than 90 adult children recorded by King Qingcheng.

However, no matter who she is, it doesn't matter if she wants to come, otherwise she wouldn't come to Beijing in person.

However, even if he is taking money and food, he still dares to enter Beijing to "sue for grievances", I really don't know if he is too stupid or too shrewd?

Brother Shou sneered and slapped the fold on the case, with a cold light in his eyes.

At this time, the tax is mainly collected in kind, the field is divided into summer tax, autumn grain, summer tax wheat, autumn grain rice, in addition to silk, silk, cotton and linen, etc., some areas also have to pay forage, all require households to transport the designated items to the designated place to pay.

Collecting money and grain refers to bundling and relieving taxes, among which it is not uncommon for traitors and gentry to extort small people and shoddy grain and rice materials.

During the Jingtai and Chenghua years, the household department had played, and there were scoundrels who took money and grain, and the grain was mixed with soil, the forage was wet, and the thin cloth was replaced with thick cloth, etc., and when the official was returned, he did not admit the account, and all the money was pushed on the household. Nahu was afraid of his momentum, so he had to swallow his anger and make up for the official family, but instead of "saving trouble", the burden became heavier.

In all dynasties, this is a felony.

At that time, policies were also introduced to crack down on a period of time, but there were still those who made great profits, and there were still those who took risks.

For a while, Jin Yiwei commanded Mu Bin and Qiu Ju, the head of the East Factory, to kneel in front of Brother Shou.

Brother Shou threw the fold at the feet of the two of them, and instructed lightly: "Go and check, how did Nanhai get into Beijing, and who gave her the idea?" A fool, I'm afraid I won't be able to go to the capital. Go and check, what kind of goods is this Li Bin, what's the matter with the money and food, who sentenced it? ”

Mu Bin and Qiu Ju all responded again and again, and after discussing it in detail, they failed to report to the clan for entering Beijing without permission as soon as possible, and let her beat the drum to voice her grievances, and the two of them were actually guilty of negligence.

Brother Shou didn't plan to pursue these, but got up and walked to Mu Bin's side, and ordered in a cold voice: "Go and investigate, what does this disaster victim have to do with this Li Bin." ”

Mu Bin had a chill down his spine, reasoning, and being greedy for money and food, but it would not cause so many victims, and the victims also claimed that they were the victims of the earth's dragon, but the emperor said so......

In the past few days, the government has been criticizing the Shanxi political envoys and the state capitals for disaster relief, is the emperor trying to catch the scapegoat?

Thinking that the border is tight, Shanxi officialdom should still seek stability, and Mu Bin, who thinks that he has figured out the emperor's thoughts, is busy receiving orders.

Qiu Ju knelt aside, and his heart was the same as Mu Bin's, and he was even more glad that he didn't talk much when he saw him first.

Since the incident of the victims came out, He Dongsheng began to send silver to him again, thinking that he wanted to take advantage of the victory after bringing down Shen Zhou, and then bring down Shen Hui, the son of the Shen family who served outside Shanxi.

Qiu Juke is not a person who takes people's money and people to eliminate disasters, the He family's silver is not mistaken, as for Yu Qian's words, he plans for his own family, and manages the life and death of the He family! But if you don't have eighteen thousand silver, you can ask him to open the golden mouth of the big stall.

He threw the He family's request out of the clouds, never planned to mention it again, peeked at the red on the fold, "The county monarch has a good etiquette law when he goes out of the city to litigate, and he will be ordered to meet the law council", and then he had another thought, Zhang Yong frequently won victories, and taking Taihu Lake was just around the corner, and the emperor folded King Ning's arm, and he was going to knock the northwest domains again......

*

Renshoufang Shen Mansion

Although Liu Zhong came in civilian clothes, his arrival undoubtedly reassured Shen Rui, the Xu family, and the third master.

It is nothing for a Shen Zhou to lose his official position and go to work, the important thing is not to let the emperor have a prejudice against the children of the Shen family because of Shen Zhou's affairs, otherwise the Shen family is afraid that his career will be bumpy, and Xu Youzhen is a lesson from the past.

After the change of Tumubao, Xu Youzhen, whose name was still Xu Hui, was disgusted by the inner court because he suggested moving the capital to Nanjing.

After Emperor Jing ascended the throne, Xu Hui wanted to seek the prince of the country to supervise the sacrificial wine, and reported to Emperor Jing, Emperor Jing bluntly said, "This person is cunning in nature, and serving as the son of the country will corrupt the prisoner's mind" and did not allow it.

It wasn't until Xu Hui listened to the suggestion of the cabinet minister Chen Xun to change his name to Xu Youzhen and was recommended to govern the Yellow River, that Emperor Jing did not know that Xu Youzhen was Xu Hui, so he appointed him as the imperial history of Zuo Yudu, and Xu Youzhen had the opportunity to turn over.

Shen Rui knows Brother Shou's character better, and he is not very worried that Brother Shou will stay away from him because of Shen Zhou's affairs.

However, Liu Zhong was able to deal with him about the disaster victims, which still made him breathe a sigh of relief, at least it was much better than the internal officials or Jinyi guards next to him who needed to deal with each other again, and with Liu Zhong's cooperation, he was more confident to handle this matter beautifully.

If you want to gain a firm foothold in front of the emperor, it is simply not enough to rely on youth friendship, eating, drinking and having fun.

As he grew older, the little emperor needed loyal ministers who were talented and able to do practical things.

And right now, he Shen Rui doesn't even have a reputation, and it will be two or three years before he becomes a member at the earliest, let alone show any talent, so he can only accumulate Brother Shou's favorability from the errands on the side.

This is the first time Shen Rui has done things for Brother Shou, he doesn't ask for any amazing talent, he is not a character like Wolong and Phoenix Chick, as long as it is done steadily, it will be a credit.

Shen Rui welcomed Liu Zhong and Zhang Hui into the study, because he was getting closer and closer to Zhang Hui now, he didn't hide it from Zhang Hui, and bluntly said that Liu Zhong was his "uncle".

Liu Zhong was taught by Wang Hua in the inner school, and he had a heavy master-apprentice status, and later became friends with Wang Shouren, Wang Shouren always called him as a "junior brother", and even Shen Rui, although he was only one or two years younger than Liu Zhong, he was a generation shorter, and he wanted to call him uncle.

Zhang Hui didn't know that they still had this relationship, but after hearing Shen Rui's introduction, he pretended to be angry and said: "I have always been a fellow with Brother Qiyan in the palace, but now because I recognize you Shen Hengyun, you are a generation shorter, you say, how can you compensate me?" ”

To say this is to put yourself in Shen Rui's group, and it also shows the meaning of closeness.

Shen Rui said with a smile: "When the disaster is over, I will be the east another day, and then I will eat a warm pot called flower chicken on the Zhuangzi." ”

Zhang Hui smiled and stretched out his palm, wanted to high-five Shen Rui, and said, "But a word is a certainty." He said to Liu Zhong again: "Uncle Liu will also come then!" It is called flower chicken, which sounds pickled, and it tastes like a wild taste. ”

Liu Zhong is the same age as them, and he also has the heart of a young man, but he is in the palace and in front of the emperor, and he has to suppress his heart.

Now seeing the two frolicking, they are obviously extremely close, and whether it is Zhang Hui's life experience or the relationship with the emperor, he should also be good friends, so he also let go, with a hearty smile unique to young people, and said to Zhang Hui: "Zhong Ming is called like this, but I don't dare to answer, it's better to talk about each other, and it's better to talk about it on the same generation." ”

Zhang Hui laughed, as good as flowing. Originally, he was the best at making friends with people, and he was on an errand in the palace, and he also intended to be a good friend of the emperor's close attendants, and the two became closer and closer after a few words of conversation.

talked about jokes, and when he got down to business, Liu Zhong didn't hide it, and told Shen Rui the emperor's expectations for Shen Rui, as well as the news that the emperor passed on to Shen Rui through his mouth and Wang Shouren was about to return with a great victory.

Shen Rui couldn't help but lift his spirits when he heard Wang Shouren's news, and he was happy for this master from the bottom of his heart.

Speaking of the victims, Shen Rui first said that he detained the leaders of the victims for interrogation.

Sure enough, someone found Lizheng in several disaster-stricken villages, Xu Yin ranged from fifty taels to one hundred taels, and asked him to take everyone out to escape. In this way, people were led to the capital step by step.

This wave of people is from several villages on the left, and many of them are familiar with each other and even have relatives, so they eventually converge all the way.

There were more than 400 people when they came out, and along the way, there were inevitably old and young people who fell to the side of the road, and there were only 300 left.

However, it's not just this wave of people who come out.

After the incident of the victims was kicked out by the emperor, there were signs of displaced people in various counties in Hebei one after another, but the number of displaced people in several waves was not too many, there were dozens of people in waves, and there were hundreds of people in waves.

"It's not good for me to torture in private, all the confessions I got were presented to the emperor together with Tiao Chen, if Uncle Shi came here to transfer the victims to Xiyuan in batches, were these people detained by the yamen, and then asked carefully?" Shen Ruidao.

Before Liu Zhong could answer, Zhang Hui had already said: "This emperor has ordered me, when I go back to Qiyan to transfer people, I will send those few to Beizhen Fusi." He paused and said, "We have to find out who is making trouble." ”

Shanxi is close to the outside of the Saiwai, and the people have to supply the border soldiers with food and grass, and the burden is the heaviest.

Moreover, it is by no means easy for the victims to go straight to the capital of Beijing.

The three of them discussed the matter of Xiyuan for work relief, and decided to go to Xiyuan together, actually inspect it, and then add the details of the plan.

When they arrived at the land selected by Brother Shou in Xiyuan, the three of them inspected the Xiangfang and other buildings left by the previous dynasty, and compared them with the garden drawings, and finalized the dwellings that the victims of the disaster should first repair, as well as the temporary dwellings for the craftsmen who would be mobilized to work in the future.

The three of them talked about how to classify craftsmen and farmers, how to manage men and women separately, how to arrange women to be responsible for washing and cooking, which land to clean first, and where to build ditches first.

Liu Zhong is worthy of being a high-achieving student who can enter the master of ceremonies from the inner school, and his memory is excellent, and the pen and ink brought out by Shen Ruite are almost useless, and he relies on his brain to remember all kinds of supplements, which makes Shen Rui admire.

The three of them came out of the West Garden, and it was already dusk.

Zhang will have dinner with Zhang Luo, although Liu Zhong has a house outside the palace, but if he wants to go back to the palace first to return to the emperor, he needs to return to the palace before the key. And Shen Rui has filial piety, although he has passed Xiaoxiang, it is still not suitable to go in and out of the wine shop to socialize.

So I had to say goodbye and make an appointment to meet again next time.

When he was saying goodbye on the street, someone suddenly shouted Zhang Hui's name.

The three of them looked over, and the two nobles in brocade came with a group of servants.

First, a young man of the same age as them came over on a horse, and he was running to Zhang Hui with a smile, and when he got closer to see Shen Rui beside Zhang Hui, he said "Huh", and said with a smile: "Shen Er!" Long time no see. ”

Because it was dark, the man walked to the front to see Liu Zhong, and couldn't help but say "oops", just wanted to say hello loudly, but suddenly remembered that it was the street, hurriedly covered his mouth, smiled embarrassedly, and said, "Lord Liu." ”

Shen Rui also saw the person who came, it was Zhou Shi who had not been seen for a long time.

The last few times Brother Shou came out of the palace to play, he didn't bring Zhou Shi, and looking at Zhang Hui with a polite smile on his face at this time, Shen Rui also knew that Zhou Shi was no longer in Brother Shou's inner circle.

Zhou Shi was unaware of the attitude of several people, and happily said to Zhang Hui: "Now that I have changed my value, I can't meet you, I haven't been there to look for you a few times, it's rare to meet today, I'm about to go to eat and drink with my cousin, it's better to go, my younger brother is the east!" ”

Zhang Hui waved his hand and said: "It's not a coincidence today, Lord Liu wants to go back to the palace before the key, Shen Er, you also know, in filial piety, where can you drink." Go back another day, if you have this heart, how can I not kill you and make a good meal? ”

Zhou Shi looked at Liu Zhong with regret, and couldn't help but say: "Really, really, alas, I have long wanted to invite Lord Liu, and my lord is busy, so I can't be idle......"

While he was chattering, another nobleman in brocade had arrived.

Zhang saw the salute and said, "Brother Xian." Shen Rui and Liu Zhong were introduced to this person, Zhou Xian, the son of the eldest princess of Chongqing.

Shen Rui politely saluted, and looked at the gentle-smiling noble son in front of him expressionlessly.

The murderer who killed Shen Luo, Zhou Mao, was the brother-in-law of the person in front of him.

And this "well-known" person, after listening to his brother's evil deeds, personally came to the door to apologize, and removed his brother Zhou Mao from the clan in the name of "unfilial piety".

Not long after, Zhou Mao "fell into the water drunk and died".

The Zhou family lost their lives, and the Shen family couldn't help it.

However, the real cause of Shen Luo's death is unknown.

(End of chapter)