(Ask for collection and recommendation)

The sky was just dark, and Duan Siyong came as promised, "There is a Guiyuan nearby, where the prince is quietly waiting for Lou Gongzi." ”

Lou Ji went out again against the order, and the old servant sighed repeatedly, but did not say anything.

The return to the garden is not big, the autumn cold flowers are defeated, the grass and trees are half dry and half glorious, and the lights shine, there is a different scenery.

Zhang Shiduan set up a banquet in the pavilion, the pavilion faces the water, surrounded by flowers on three sides, only one path leads in, the flowers are different, although it has decayed more than half, you can still imagine the gorgeous when it is in full bloom.

"Who would have thought that such a thing would happen? There was really someone stabbing the driver. Zhang Shiduan poured the wine himself, "It can only be said that the world is so big, everyone has it." ”

"Some people suspect that the main messenger behind the scenes is the general."

Zhang Shiduan did not deny the rumors, "Whether it is a general or not, at least it must have nothing to do with Lou Gongzi, because you went out at that time." ”

Lou Ji smiled, had nothing to say, and didn't dare to say more.

"How about it, can Mr. Lou gain from this trip?"

"It's been a reward."

"Oh, what do you see?" Although Zhang Shiduan is young, he is very interested in current affairs, and once again holds a pot and pours wine.

"I saw that the water of the Yellow River was about to overflow the westbound ships, and there were no exceptions."

"That's too much food and equipment transported, and the imperial court really wants to extinguish the thieves in Qinzhou in one fell swoop this time." Zhang Shiduan was a little disappointed with this answer.

"The ships were loaded not only with food and equipment, but also with gold and silver, silk, musical instruments and women."

"What are you bringing these things for? Is there a reward for meritorious service? ”

"I have inquired, these are all brought to themselves by generals and officials from all walks of life, and I can guess the purpose: gold and silver silk are used to bribe bosses to buy military merits, musical instruments, women can give gifts, and they can also be used for their own use."

Zhang Shiduan filmed the case, "How can this be reasonable, such a general should be imprisoned." ”

"I also saw that the government wantonly requisitioned people's husbands, and it was rare to see young and strong men in villages and towns, leaving only old and weak women and children, and let the officials run rampant. And those people, who didn't even know who they were requisitioned by, turned around, probably building houses and gardens for local tycoons. ”

Zhang Shiduan took the case again, filled with righteous indignation, "Corrupt officials and corrupt officials are innocent!" I must tell Your Majesty about this, and send someone to deal with these bastards. ”

Lou Ji drank a glass of wine, "If Your Majesty asks, whose ship is secretly transporting smuggling goods?" How many such ships are there? Which county order expropriates more people and pretends to be public and private? Which garden is being repaired? How does the prince answer? ”

Zhang Shiduan was stunned for a while, "You have to tell me these things." ”

"But I don't have an answer, I'm just a passer-by during my travels, I can give you a few names, but I can't find out how many boats, and I don't know how many counties and counties abuse people's power."

"But you did see it with your own eyes?"

"I see it with my own eyes, everywhere, light or heavy."

"Well, I will persuade His Majesty to send someone to investigate."

"What are you looking for?"

"Check the ships for smuggling, and the officials expropriate indiscriminately."

"Checking the ship will delay the delivery of military rations, the western expedition may be delayed because of this, the inspector will affect the requisition of the people, and the palaces, gardens, and canals everywhere will be short of manpower, can Your Majesty accept it?"

Zhang Shiduan was speechless for a long time, he knew that the emperor would never agree to stop the conquest and construction, even if it was suspended.

There was laughter from behind the flowers, "The answer is right in front of you, why should the prince wonder?" ”

Zhang Shiduan immediately understood, "Yes, the person who went out to travel was Lou Gongzi, and he had his own answer." ”

The foundation of the building shook the flowers, "I don't know that the eldest princess has arrived, and I can't meet it from afar, and I look at the sea." ”

"You're polite, listen to your sharp teeth just now, the prince can't answer correctly for a while, it must make you think that there is no one in the Zhang family."

"Don't dare, I just want to make things clear."

"We'll talk to you with someone else."

Zhang Shiduan said with a smile: "Seventh Sister is going to go out in person again?" ”

There was more than one person behind the flowers, and the county lord of Huanyan spoke: "I am in a hurry to hear it, so I don't want to interject a few words." I think I understand what Lou Gongzi meant: Your Majesty has lost his rules and regulations because of his urgency, and the conquest and dispatch should have been decided by the provincial and ministerial cabinets, and the prefectures, counties, counties, and townships should be implemented in an orderly manner, so as to facilitate supervision. Therefore, His Majesty often bypassed the ministers of the court and issued decrees directly to the counties, so that the court could not supervise it, so that the local officials took the opportunity to pretend to be public and private. ”

Lou Ji arched his hand and said: "That's exactly what it means." ”

Lord Huanyan continued: "Your Majesty has the numbers sent by various ministries, thinking that the people's power has not yet been exhausted, but he did not expect that if there is something good at the top, it will be very bad at the bottom, and His Majesty will requisition two or three percent of the people's power, and the local officials are afraid that they will double this number, and the people's power will actually be exhausted." ”

"It's not just local officials." Lou Ji added.

"Are the ministers of the DPRK and China also making trouble?" Zhang Shiduan was greatly annoyed, "You must tell Your Majesty the truth, and you must punish these corrupt officials with heavy laws." ”

The county lord of Huanyan behind the flowers said: "The prince forgot that once the corrupt officials are punished, all requisitions will be suspended, and Your Majesty will not agree." ”

"What then? You can't just watch corrupt officials suck the people's fat and ointment little by little and ruin the world, right? Zhang Shiduan looked at the flowers, and then turned his gaze to the foundation of the building.

Lou Ji said: "Maybe it can be like this, persuade Your Majesty to knock on the mountain and shake the tiger, first deal with a few officials who are particularly evil, declare the world, and then pacify the thieves in various places as soon as possible, so as to exempt a large number of military service, the current construction can be continued, and the completion of one is one, but there is no more construction, and within two or three years, the labor must be relieved." ”

There was silence inside and outside the pavilion, and after a while, Zhang Shiduan first said: "I think this is indeed a way, Your Majesty should be able to listen to it." ”

Lord Huanyan then spoke: "What Lou Gongzi said is easy and difficult, and it is easiest to punish a small number of corrupt officials, and Your Majesty will definitely agree; After the Qin and Erzhou were stabilized, His Majesty would have to go on an expedition to the He Rong Department, and this battle would not end when, but the military service could always be reduced; No more construction, the most difficult, His Majesty's plan has been scheduled for ten years......"

"Easy first, then harder." The eldest princess of Luoyang was also persuaded, "After Your Majesty sees the benefits, it will be easy to make it easier." Still like before, Huan Yan wrote, the son of the world took the opportunity to write, and I chose the opportunity to persuade. ”

Zhang Shiduan and the county lord of Huanyan claimed to be good, but Lou Ji said: "I'm afraid it's not appropriate." ”

"What's wrong? We've always done that, and it works great. Zhang Shiduan said in surprise.

Lou Ji arched his hand and said: "Your Majesty treats you as family, and you won't be really angry when you hear excessive words, but ......"

"But what?" Zhang Shiduan asked.

The county lord of Huan Yan on the other side of the flower bush sighed lightly, "Your Majesty is not angry, but he will not take our words too seriously, because we are 'family', and what 'family' talks about is a family matter." ”

"But what we want to talk about is state affairs." Zhang Shiduan also sighed, "What should I do?" ”

The eldest princess said: "Lou Gongzi is not a 'family'. ”

After saying this, there was no sound behind the flowers, Zhang Shiduan was stunned for a while, and said with a smile: "Lou Gongzi's eloquence must be fine, but ...... There is no official position, and it is a body of imprisonment - I have asked clearly what the imprisonment is all about, it is even more severe than I expected, the first emperor led his ministers to swear a poisonous oath in the Taimiao, no matter who it is, dare to lift the imprisonment, when he is alive, he will be in flames forever. ”

"I don't seek to be freed, and I don't want to be rich."

"And what are you asking for?" The eldest princess spoke again.

Lou Ji was silent for a while, "Since I was a child, I have studied the book of sages, although I don't understand its meaning, but I yearn for it, and I am willing to speak for all the people, even if Your Majesty only listens to it a little, and it is enough for me to relieve the people's hardship." ”

The eldest princess laughed, and Zhang Shiduan's eyes changed, including surprise, ridicule, and a hint of admiration.

"Well said." The eldest princess stopped laughing, "You are worthy of being the son of a great general, fifth brother, you should carefully taste these words of Lou Gongzi." ”

"Plea for the people? Isn't that what I've always wanted to do and what I've been doing? ”

"No, no, it doesn't matter who you are asking for, what matters is that you have the ambition and heart to 'ask for your life'. People are divided into dignity and inferiority, the humble work and are governed by others, and the venerable work hard to govern people; People have noble and low, the heart of the cheap is all in themselves, although the world is big, only take a foothold, the heart of the noble is tied to all beings, although in the humble room, do not forget the suffering of the rivers and lakes. Fifth brother, we are all born Venerable, noble, this is not just a fluke, but also a heavy responsibility, to be favored, we want to help Your Majesty govern the world, one day lose this favor, and do not be alone, others can retreat or escape, but we can't. ”

Zhang Shiduan shook deeply at the flowers, got up and said, "I understand." In this way, Lou Gongzi is his own person, the only difference is that we are favored, and Lou Gongzi is imprisoned, but he does not retreat, hide, or escape. ”

That's true. Lou Gongzi, please go home and wait, let us discuss a proper way. The eldest princess became more and more polite.

"I can't afford the word 'honorable', but I still have the courage to move forward, so please use it as she pleases. Leave. ”

Zhang Shiduan personally saw off the guests, chatting all the way, and was very respectful to the foundation of the building, and when he arrived at the gate of the garden, he withdrew the servant and said: "Lou Gongzi really wants to speak directly to His Majesty?" ”

"There are some things that outsiders are more suitable to say than family members. Of course, it is a great honor to be able to tell His Majesty in front of him, and it depends on how the eldest princess decides. ”

Zhang Shiduan lowered his voice slightly, "The habit of the eldest princess has always been like this, whoever is good is to use whom, she praised you to the sky just now, that is, she must send you to see Your Majesty." ”

"Just what I want."

"You have to think about it, if we provoke Your Majesty, we will be reprimanded at most, and you will be replaced by you - even if you are the son of a great general, it will not be of much use."

"If I wanted to take advantage of the general's power, I wouldn't confide in you."

Zhang Shiduan smiled, "Imprisonment can only prevent a person from becoming an official, it can't stop him from having the world in his heart, and Lou Gongzi will have his own future in the future." ”

The General's Mansion was not far from the Return Garden, and the servant Duan Siyong sent Lou Ji home, bowing and saluting when he left, showing more respect than when he traveled with his peers before.

The old servant didn't sleep, and he was relieved when he saw his master come back, "It's noisy outside, so it's better for the son to stay ......at home."

"I couldn't have safer places to go. Is anyone looking for me in the house? ”

"No, there is a box of gifts from the Marquis Mansion. If it's not a New Year's holiday, what kind of gift do you give? ”

"Birthday gift, a few days late."

"It's not been a few days, it's been almost a month."

The box was placed on the table, and inside were clothes, paper fans, jade pendants, etc., and the foundation of the building was turned down layer by layer, and a dagger was taken out at the bottom.

The dagger was extremely sharp, and a slight slash on the table left a deep mark.

"Enough." Lou Ji said to himself, he will never give up lightly about what he recognizes.