In the afternoon of the next day, Chongzhen discussed with the cabinet ministers, during which he talked about the shortage of grain in the northwest, the severe drought in Henan, Hebei, Shanxi, and other provinces, and the shortage of grain in the government. After the negotiation, the eunuch led Zhang Xiaodong, who was to be appointed as the prefect of Suzhou, to meet with him, which was the rule of the Ming Dynasty, and the emperor had to personally receive the instructor before the magistrate above the fourth rank took office. Zhang Xiaodong entered the hall and knelt on the ground and kowtowed, and paid homage to the emperor, and after Chongzhen admonished and encouraged him as usual, he suddenly asked: "I heard that you have a deep relationship with the little duozi in front of me, but is there such a thing?" ”

When Zhang Xiaodong came in, he had already peeked at Wang Qiang standing behind Chongzhen, and he didn't expect it to be a big deal, so he calmly replied: "Long live back, Weichen didn't dare, but I met the prince in the palace on the street that day, and I heard that he talked about the Three Kingdoms very well, and it happened that Weichen was also a fan of the Three Kingdoms, so he dared to invite him, and he didn't dare to break the rules of the court." ”

"Oh? You also study the Three Kingdoms! But what do you have to learn, let's hear it. Chongzhen asked with interest.

"Yes, the ministers have benefited a lot from reading the Three Kingdoms, not only can learn the law of governing the people, but also learn the way of loyalty and righteousness. Weichen especially likes Guan Yunchang, and the minister is willing to be loyal to the emperor with Guan Gong's loyalty and serve the court. Zhang Xiaodong said loudly.

Chongzhen was very satisfied, and suddenly had an idea, thinking of Wang Qiang, he nodded and said: "Well, it's enough to see these truths, don't you want to discuss the issue of the Three Kingdoms with Xiaoduozi, okay, I will give you a chance." Little Duozi! ”

Wang Qiang heard Chongzhen's greeting, hurriedly turned out from behind the bookcase, and replied, "The slave is here." ”

"I will give you an errand, you go to Suzhou with Zhang Xiaodong, observe the wind and inspect along the way, and then escort the grain and grass back to Beijing with Tian Jingming."

"Hey, slave obeys!" Wang Qiang was overjoyed in his heart, the emperor gave himself a chance to go out to practice, he got up and asked: "Your Majesty, is it considered a Qincha if the slave maid is ordered to go out of Beijing?" ”

"Well, this?" Chongzhen hesitated for a moment and said: "Sort of, but your trip is just to watch the wind, understand the people's livelihood and the conduct of local officials, remember to only listen and watch, and do not dispose of it without authorization, and report it at any time if there is any situation, understand!" ”

"Obey, Emperor Xie." Wang Qiang was happy to play a thousand again, with the identity of Qincha, when he arrived at the local official level of the senior half, the officials at all levels had to kneel down to greet him, and his identity was not trivial, so it was naturally a beautiful difference.

Wang Qiang was still too insufficient, and asked as if he was climbing the pole: "Your Majesty, since the slave and maid are Qincha, then do you have to give the slave and maid a sword of heaven or something, or who will recognize us in the place?" ”

Hehehehe, Chongzhen was amused, he sent Wang Qiang on patrol this time just to let him experience and understand, and didn't expect him to do anything, even this Qincha just said casually, and Wang Qiang was still young and didn't understand government affairs, so he let him come by his temperament, so he smiled and said: "You slave!" The appetite is not small, I sent you out this time, just to watch the wind, and I don't want you to deal with any government affairs, you don't need the sword of the Son of Heaven, as for the identity, the cabinet will inform the officials at all levels in the palace newspaper. We must be cautious in our words and deeds, and learn from Mr. Zhang and Mr. Tian for advice on government affairs, do you understand? When Chongzhen said this, his earnest entrustment was overflowing.

"Yes, slave maid understands."

"I'll grant you leave today, go down and prepare, and tomorrow I will go on the road with Lord Zhang, and I won't need you to serve here." Chongzhen commanded.

"Yes, the slaves and maids are not around to serve, and I hope that the emperor will work hard, you have to pay attention to rest more." Wang Qiang knelt on the ground and kowtowed to Chongzhen to say goodbye, with a reluctant look, Chongzhen's heart was also hot.

The two parted with each other, and when the ministers next to them saw it, they all understood it, and said secretly: "This little eunuch and the emperor really have an unusual relationship, it seems that the emperor is going to use this Wang Qiang." ”

After Wang Qiang withdrew, Chongzhen was very uneasy considering the long distance and the rampant bandits, so he brought Fan Hu, the deputy envoy of the Jinyi Guard on duty, and asked him to select a few loyal and reliable guards with high martial arts skills to protect Wang Qiang's safety along the way.

Let's say that Wang Qiang went to the chief manager Lin Zhe to clarify the situation, handed over the messenger of the south study, and then rushed back to his residence to command his entourage to pack up. Wang Qiang was busy, only to see Fan Hu with a few guards pouring into the courtyard, Fan Hu arched his hand at Wang Qiang, and said: "Princess, oh no, Lord Wang, Lord Wang, Lord Wang, this time, the emperor has an order, tell my brother I will arrange a few capable people to follow and protect Lord Wang, and I will bring people to you." After speaking, he waved his hand at a few people behind him and said, "Come on!" I haven't seen Lord Wang yet. ”

All the guards bowed together, Wang Qiang stroked his palms and smiled: "Oh, this is really good, I'm worried that if I encounter a thief or something along the way, I won't be able to deal with it, then I will bother a few brothers, thank you General Fan." ”

"Alas, do you still need to be so polite to your brother, the emperor attaches so much importance to Lord Wang, sooner or later it will be of great use, and we will have to rely on you to carry me more when the time comes." Fan Hu and Wang Qiang are both doing things by the emperor's side, they are old acquaintances, and they naturally seem close when they speak. As a few people were talking, Yang Guangguang, the secretary of the ministry, strode into the courtyard, and shouted from afar: "Oh, I said Lord Wang, let me find it all the way, hey, Lord Fan is also there, just said together, tonight brother I will be the east, give Lord Wang a meal, Lord Fan and these brothers also participated, as well as Tian Jingming, Zhang Xiaodong also went, our brothers have a good time." ”

Wang Qiang felt that it was inappropriate, and hurriedly excused himself: "Lord Yang is too polite, he is a lowly official, how dare he bother your lords, and talk about this ------" He was afraid that Chongzhen would be suspicious if he knew about it, but he was embarrassed to say it.

Yang Guangguang saw Wang Qiang's thoughts at a glance, he said with a smile: "Lord Wang is worried, you are now the emperor's appointed envoy, no longer an internal supervisor, just now the emperor came to me, specially asked me to give you a detailed introduction to the situation of the officials along the way, I thought about it, let's just eat, while saying, isn't it two poops, so, I can be regarded as acting on orders, to say that the emperor really didn't say anything to Lord Wang." ”

Hearing this, Wang Qiang happily agreed. In the evening, when I arrived at Yang's mansion, I had a drink with Yang Guangguang, Fan Hu, Zhang Xiaodong, Tian Jingming and other ministers, and several people knew that Wang Qiang was deeply trusted by Chongzhen, and sooner or later he was a useful person, so he naturally flattered him, and each of them gave Cheng Yi a thousand taels, and Wang Qiang had not yet left Beijing, and there were already thousands of taels of silver in the account.

Early the next morning, Wang Qiang rushed to Dongzhimen with a few entourage, Zhang Xiaodong, Tian Jingming and others were already waiting at the city gate, the three of them were already familiar with each other yesterday, no longer polite, after seeing the ceremony, they got on a car with a horse Luni, Zhang Xiaodong commanded, and the team set off.

Among the three people in the carriage, Zhang Xiaodong is the new prefect, a fourth-grade officer, with the highest grade, and belongs to the return journey; Tian Jingming is a court official in the household department, and from the five products, it is the positive difference of this escort of military rations; Wang Qiang has no character and no position, no serious envoy, but he is the emperor's messenger, and the three of them are in the same sedan chair, but the relationship is a little delicate.

Zhang Xiaodong intended to curry favor with Wang Qiang, and said with a fist: "Lord Wang, the lower official is going back to Suzhou to take up his post, and the emperor instructed me to guide the way for the adults along the way. ”

Wang Qiang was just about to excuse himself, but Na Tian shrewdly also said: "Yes, Lord Wang, if the emperor's will is to let you escort the grain and grass, I am sent by the household department to do the errand with you, so naturally everything is only for you." "Tian Jingming is thin and dry, with high cheekbones, a brain, and small but shining eyes, at first glance, he is a shrewd and capable character, but he is also worthy of his name.

"Huh! The two adults are too polite, in this trip is just to watch the wind, the emperor also ordered me to ask the two to ask for government affairs, besides, I am a little eunuch who doesn't understand, I have never been far away, let alone escort grain and grass, out of the capital even the southeast and northwest can not be distinguished, along the way to rely on the two adults to mention it. Wang Qiang is self-aware, and although his words are vulgar, they are also sincere.

"Lord Wang said so, then the official will be overstepped, we first walked on the dry road for more than 20 days, out of Beijing, through Zhili, into Shandong, and then in Yanzhou, Shandong to board the ship and take the Beijing-Hangzhou Grand Canal, you can go directly to Suzhou. In fact, the emperor may not know about the situation below, but he just found an excuse to let the adults experience it, which is a painstaking effort of the emperor. When they arrived in Suzhou, the lord of Ziyoutian and the lower officials were responsible for the collection of food and salary, and when they returned, the government would naturally send their own soldiers to escort the grain and grass, so they did not bother the adults. Zhang Xiaodong said.

"Okay, everything will be arranged by Lord Zhang." Wang Qiang leaned back and said.

The three of them were talking and laughing in the car, and the group had already left the capital and went on the official road, Zhang Xiaodong accompanied him with more than a dozen trailers, carrying goods purchased from the capital, plus dozens of entourage guards brought by the three of them, and the long line headed all the way to the south, which was quite impressive.

Wang Qiang lifted the sedan curtain and looked out, pointed to the carriages behind him and asked, "Lord Zhang, why are you following so many cars?" ”

These cars are all goods purchased by Zhang Xiaodong for his own business house in Beijing, which is an opportunity to do private affairs on official errands, and he is not good at saying to Wang Qiang, and said vaguely: "This, this We use a lot of items along the way, so naturally we need to prepare more." Besides, these cars are also for adults. ”

"For me?" Wang Qiang asked puzzled.

"That's right! The first time Lord Wang went out to Beijing on an errand, officials from all over the country admired the demeanor of adults, presumably there will be some filial piety items, these cars are ready to be used to load those things, this, this, I don't know what Lord Wang plans to do about this? Zhang Xiaodong asked very implicitly, implying that Wang Qiang's officials along the way would definitely give gifts to see if he would accept it or not.

Wang Qiang naturally understood what Zhang Xiaodong meant, and thought that Emperor Chongzhen once said that as long as someone gives gifts, they should accept them, so he smiled and said: "Oh, I understand, where we pass, officials from all over the country will give us gifts, so I won't make a fortune all the way." You even prepared the car for me with gifts, it's so thoughtful, thank you Lord Zhang. ”

Zhang Xiaodong and Tian Jingming listened to Wang Qiang's words, and they secretly breathed a sigh of relief, and said in their hearts: As long as you are willing to stretch out your hand, then we are "people in the same way", and they can't help but get closer to Wang Qiang in their hearts.

Wang Qiang has been depressed in the palace for many days, this trip is like a bird out of the cage, feeling relaxed, thinking that he is a Qincha, there are Zhang and Tian along the way to take care of him, don't worry about anything, and officials from all over the country can make a fortune by inviting guests and gifts along the way, don't mention the pride in his heart. Wang Qiang pondered, Zhang Tian and the two must have some scruples about being the emperor's close ministers, if they don't explain it, they are always so polite to each other, it will be too boring, so he smiled and said: "Two adults, I don't know whether to talk about it or not?" ”

"Lord Wang is too polite, if you have any ideas, you can say it clearly, we will definitely comply with it." Zhang Xiaodong said politely.

"Okay." Wang Qiang changed his serious face and said: "Two adults, I am still young, I have no ability and experience, I have to rely on the care of the two of you along the way, I am a wasted person, there are no other relatives and friends in this world, in my place, take the two as their own friends, if we are so polite along the way, it will be boring, if you don't dislike it, we are called brothers, what do you think?" ”

When Zhang and Tian heard this, they felt that this little eunuch had a straightforward temperament, and he was not as bitter and unreasonable as other eunuchs who ran errands, so he naturally became close, Zhang Xiaodong said: "The three of us are on the same road, that is fate, we are brothers, so I will climb high." Hahahaha. ”

Na Tian is just a subordinate Cao from the fifth grade, he is cautious, where do he dare to promise, and hurriedly said: "I don't dare to climb the two adults in the next million, if you don't dislike it, the two adults will call me Lao Tian." ”

Zhang Xiaodong saw that Tian was shrewd and did not allow it, knowing that he was cautious, and he did not force it, so he smiled and said: "Hahaha, okay, then we might as well be respectful and obey our fate." ”

Wang Qiang also said happily: "Great, Brother Zhang, Lao Tian, although I am a person next to the emperor, I also eat grains, we don't have to hide it when we talk to each other, report it to the emperor, brother, I have my own measure." ”

Several people laughed, and the distance between them shortened all at once.

Zhang Xiaodong's family is already wealthy, and Suzhou City Bosi is a fart fat crotch, so he spends money to spend lavishly, he arranges his subordinates to arrange everything along the way to compromise and thoughtfully, a few people go all the way to chat, but not lonely, Wang Qiang asked Zhang and Tian for the etiquette on the face of the instructor and the way of being an official, and the harvest is also quite rich.

Two days later, the group arrived at the realm of Zhili. As soon as I left Beijing, the situation of people's livelihood was completely different, although there were large fields on both sides of the road, they were basically barren, the fields were overgrown with withered yellow weeds, and there were no farmers to cultivate.

Wang Qiang asked suspiciously: "It's early spring, it's the season of ploughing land and sowing, why do you say that no one works in this field?" And where have all the people in this village gone? ”

Zhang Xiaodong and Tian Jingming glanced at each other, and Tian Jingming said: "I won't tell you anything, eighty percent of them went out to escape the famine." ”

"Escape?"

"Hmm!" Tian Jingming looked serious, nodded heavily, and said: "Last year, there was a great drought in the north, and several provinces of Zhili, Shandong, Shanxi, and Henan were all affected. Now last year's grain storage has long been eaten, and today's grain has not yet grown. ”

"Then the local government won't help you?"

"What relief! Now that there are continuous wars in the northwest and northeast, the food and salaries in front are still tight, and there is not much grain in the granaries of the state capitals. It's hard to say. "Tian is a shrewd and familiar old official, and he has been in the household department for many years, and he knows a lot about the situation and disadvantages, but it is not good to say it to Wang Qiang.

Wang Qiang and the others were chatting lively, and suddenly heard the entourage report that there was an official honor guard waiting on the side of the road not far in front, Zhang Xiaodong said with a smile: "It seems that Baoding Mansion has come to greet Lord Qinchawang." It turned out that the unwitting team had reached the ground of Baoding Mansion.

When Wang Qiang heard this, he was slightly surprised and asked, "We are all in casual clothes all the way, how do they know our itinerary." ”

Tian Jingming said with a smile: "Hehe, my lord doesn't know, the local government offices have built book offices in the capital, which are specially responsible for exploring the movements of the imperial court, dredging up the relationship between all aspects, and immediately reporting back as soon as there is any news." Your brother is a close minister of the emperor, and this time he was ordered to go on patrol, which is not trivial, and the prefectures and counties must have gotten the news, and we don't know how many local officials and officials follow and inquire before and after our team. ”

"Oh, I see." Wang Qiang was relieved, he remembered that there are offices all over the country in modern Beijing, and he probably does this.

The team moved forward, sure enough, a large group of officials from Baoding Mansion were waiting on the side of the road, Wang Qiang and others got off the sedan car to meet them, and the officials also stepped forward, kneeling down, and one of the leading officials said: "Baoding prefect Ma De led his subordinate officials to greet Lord Qincha, I wish my emperor long live, long live, long live!" ”

"Everyone, don't get out of your way." Wang Qiang said decently.

"Lord Sechincha." Everyone agreed in unison and got up.

Ma De stepped forward to greet Wang Qiang and others, because Wang Qiang was the identity of Qincha, naturally Wang Qiang was the first, and everyone surrounded Wang Qiang into Baoding City. Baoding city is full of a lively and prosperous scene, the street is cleaned very clean, the shops on both sides are full of lights, like a festival, the hawkers' shouting comes and goes, the people walking on the street are also brightly dressed and bright, beaming, the official sedan chair of the prefect of Baoding passes, the people on the side of the road all bow down and salute. Seeing this scene, Wang Qiang said secretly: "It seems that Baoding Mansion is well governed. ”

Wang Qiang said to Ma De beside him: "This city is different from outside the city, we have seen all the way, a lot of land is deserted, I heard that many farmers have fled to the wasteland, and there is no one in this city." ”

Ma De's face flushed, thinking that Wang Qiang was ridiculing him, and hurriedly said: "Lord Wang doesn't know, this year's disaster in Zhili, there are indeed a lot of hungry people fleeing the famine, and the lower officials have set up a porridge shed in the east of the city to relieve the people fleeing the famine, so the hungry people in this city have gone there." ”

"Yes! Well, it seems that Master Ma loves the people like a son, and he is really a good official, no wonder he is supported by the people. Wang Qiang couldn't help but praise.

Ma De was praised, and immediately said with a smile: "Lord Wang has won the award, this is all the emperor's wisdom, and the lower officials and others are just acting according to the emperor's will, and it is a matter of humble duty to appease the people on one side." ”

Wang Qiang had only seen the setting up of porridge sheds on TV to help the victims, and he didn't know what the situation was in reality, so he couldn't help but be a little curious, so he said: "Master Ma, I want to go to the school to see how it is?" ”

Ma De replied: "Of course, my lord ignored the fatigue of the saddle horse, and as soon as he arrived here, he went to observe the people's feelings, and the lower officials were deeply admired. After speaking, he opened the sedan curtain and ordered: "Go to the school field." ”

The group turned to the east, and after a while they arrived at the school field, the school field was full of people, crowded with people begging for food, these victims were all yellow and thin, and their clothes were ragged, and the school field was just west of it, and there were four large iron pots in a row, and the victims were crowded in a line, holding the porridge in their hands, a few big men were shirtless, and they were holding a big iron spoon to make porridge, and there were a few officials holding a leather whip in their hands to maintain order. Ma De took Wang Qiang and others to the front of the iron pot, Wang Qiang saw that the pot was thick rice porridge, boiled and steaming, and couldn't help but nod with satisfaction. Just as he was watching, a thin man in his forties squeezed in front of Ma De, knelt down and said, "Lord Qingtian, you are really the living bodhisattva of our people!" We eat full every day, such a good meal is better than eating at home in the countryside, you have saved our family, after going back, we will give you a longevity tablet. ”

Ma De said with a humble expression: "This fellow please hurry up, such a false praise, Ma is ashamed to be, my emperor has the virtue of a good life, Ma is entrusted by the emperor, as a parent, this is the way to do, you have to thank you, you should thank today's saint, wise and martial, benevolent and righteous and love the people." ”

"The emperor is benevolent, he is a life-saving bodhisattva, long live my emperor." The man prostrated and shouted.

Although Wang Qiang is not familiar with the world, but at least common sense is still there, listening to this person say that the food here is better than eating at home, I also feel awkward in my heart, but seeing that this is indeed She porridge relief, it is estimated that it is an exaggeration under the gratitude of the victims. After all, he is young and doesn't know these weird tricks of officialdom, but Zhang Xiaodong and Tian Jingming know in their hearts that this is just a scene prepared by Ma De, deceiving Wang Qiang, and they just look at it coldly, and it is not easy to say it.

On the way back to the palace, Wang Qiang thought about the man's words just now, and faintly felt that something was wrong, so he said: "Master Ma, you love the people like a son, and you admire it, but this is also a bad thing, I think you have to be so porridge, so that these victims feel more comfortable than farming at home, it's a bit too much, if it goes on like this, who wants to go back to farming, I think it's better to boil porridge, so that everyone will not starve to death, and they can't eat, and after this period of time, they will go home to farm, wouldn't it be better?" ”

Namad slapped his head and pretended to be suddenly enlightened and said, "Oops! Xia Guan actually forgot about this. I was so bent on feeding my people that I didn't even think about that. Fortunately, Lord Qincha mentioned it, otherwise he would have missed a big event. The adults think so thoughtfully and long-term, the lower officials are admired by the five-body throwing to the ground, no wonder everyone rumors that Lord Wang is a young talent. ”

Wang Qiang was praised, thought he had a plan, and said in his heart: "This ancient person just can't do it, he can't even think of this, and he wants me to remind him." ”

That night, Ma De led a large group of local squires in Baoding Mansion to set up a banquet for Wang Qiang to catch the wind, and the ears and faces were hot when they drank, and the banquet was full of eulogies. After the dinner, Ma De and Wang Qiang took a sedan chair together, personally sent him back to the post house, on the sedan chair, Ma De took out a paper envelope from his sleeve, stuffed it into Wang Qiang's hand and said: "Lord Wang, we are poor in this place, you have a long way out of Beijing this time, and you spend a lot, this is a little heart of the lower officials, please smile." ”

Although the emperor said that he could accept gifts when he met them, Wang Qiang felt that Ma De was a good official who loved the people like a son, and he was a little less comfortable with his money, and he didn't want to leave the impression of Ma De who was greedy for ink and made people look down on him, so he said seriously: "Master Ma, what are you doing here?" You are an honest official, and I am not a villain who sees money, and I can't ask for this money. ”

Wang Qiang was kind, but Ma De thought that Wang Qiang was afraid of the lack of money, and deliberately said the opposite to ridicule him, so panicked that he almost knelt on the ground, and said anxiously: "Lord Wang, the lower officials don't mean that, this is Cheng Yi who is filial to you and the lower officials, and will leave tomorrow, and there are local characteristics to give, please accept it." ”

Wang Qiang was surprised, and sighed in his heart: This is the world, and it is difficult to be a clean official. Seeing that Ma De looked frightened, he had no choice but to accept it.

Ma De saw that Wang Qiang had accepted the silver ticket, his heart sank, and then said: "Lord Wang, the lower officials have a reluctant request, say it, please don't be surprised." ”

Wang Qiang was full of affection for Ma De, patted his chest and said: "Master Ma, if you have something to say, as long as you can do it, you will definitely not refuse." ”

"Here's the thing, this year, the ground of Baoding Mansion was drought, and the hungry people from all over the country went to the city to eat, as a parent, I was anxious, no matter what, there was a teaching that hurt the emperor and loved the people like a son, but you can manage it, you have also seen that so many disaster victims, a lot of food will be consumed every day, after all, the food in this official warehouse is limited, and the relief of the victims is barely enough, but if we are called to support the front line, it will be a bit stretched, I want to ask you to report to the emperor about this matter, exempt us from supporting the front line's food and salary, I really can't bear to let so many people starve, and I am here to beg you, Lord Wang, for the thousands of people in Baoding Mansion. Tears flowed down his cheeks.

Wang Qiang was very moved, thinking that a good official who can cry for the people's lives is rare in modern times, and he couldn't help but say: "Lord Ma, don't worry, I will fight hard in front of the emperor to exempt the military money and food of Baoding Mansion." ”

Back to the post house, Wang Qiang dictated, asked Tian Jingming to write, will be seen and heard in Baoding Mansion detailed into a chapter, the chapter really praised Ma De, but also solemnly applied to the emperor to exempt the Baoding Mansion from the money and grain, that Tian Jingming knew that it was inappropriate, several times to say and stopped, after all, Wang Qiang is not deep, and received the benefits of Ma De, so he had to write it down.

The next day, Wang Qiang set off with his team, and Ma De sent Wang Qiang and them to the border of Baoding Mansion, where officials from Hejian Mansion were already waiting at the border. In this way, Wang Qiang and the others stopped and stopped all the way, and there were local government and county officials to pick up and entertain them everywhere, and everywhere they went, there was a scene of harmony between the government and the people, singing and dancing, and Wang Qiang was more and more puzzled: Is this world really so good! If that's the case, then the emperor can still be guilty of having such a sad face all day long! These grandsons can't be a gang with me, right?