Outside the gate of the Dingzi Gu Palace, the right attendant of the Ministry of Works, Ruan Erxun, was waiting relaxedly, during this period of time, the members of the temple supervisors of the various ministries and temples in the capital can be said to be in danger of themselves, and they are in endless torment, but he received an edict from Zhenwu at this time, presiding over the rectification project of the Haihe River in Tianjin, which is tantamount to joy falling from heaven for him.

He is Kangxi 21 years of Renxu Branch a Jinshi, this year is only fifty six, the sea of ups and downs for 30 years, after several ups and downs, success is also upright, defeat is also upright, Kangxi forty-five years he was promoted from the imperial history of the capital to the Taichang Temple, but a few years, and because of the party attached to the prince was demoted to the Guangdong Taoist imperial history from the fifth grade, I thought that the career was blocked, do not want to, in the 51st year of Kangxi was suddenly promoted to the Ministry of Works, not happy for two years, but met the new emperor to ascend the throne.

As the so-called once a son of heaven and a courtier, he, a former princeling, a minister promoted by the emperor out of the ordinary, is definitely the target of suppression in the eyes of the new emperor, and he has long been psychologically prepared, but he didn't expect Zhenwu to move him at all, but instead entrusted him with important tasks, how does this make him dislike? If this errand can be done beautifully, not only can he sit firmly in the position of the squire of the Ministry of Works, but he will also be appreciated and reused by Zhenwu, he dare not think about being promoted, the second grade is promoted to the first grade, it is not an ordinary difficulty, only political achievements are not enough, and it depends on the opportunity, I don't know if this important task is considered an opportunity for him?

Just as he was thinking about it, a little eunuch had already hurriedly walked out and said in a loud voice: "The emperor has a decree, Xuan Ruan Er will inquire about the audience." ”

Ruan Erxun hurriedly collected his thoughts, bowed down and said, "Weichen has the order." So saying, he got up and walked quickly after the eunuch.

Entering the hall, Ruan Erxun glanced at Zhenwu quickly, and saw that he was dressed in Baolan-colored casual clothes and was sitting on the desk, and was busy kneeling down at the door and said, "Weichen Ruan Erxun respectfully invites the emperor to be sainte." ”

Zhenwu glanced up at him, and saw that he was not very old, but he was in his early fifties, which was considered young among the second-rank officers, and his body was on the thin side. A face was very white and elegant, and when he saw him get up and kneel down in front of him, he asked, "You are a native of She County, Huizhou, Anhui Province." Xuancheng Mei Wending, Mei Cheng, are you familiar with it? ”

As soon as he heard this, Ruan Erxun couldn't help but feel surprised, and hurriedly bowed down and said: "Back to the emperor, Weichen's ancestral home is She County, Huizhou, and later moved to Xuancheng County, with Mei Wending. Mei Cheng has a lot of contacts. ”

Zhenwu nodded slightly, and then said, "Who is leading the survey team this time?" ”

"Back to the emperor, the Western missionaries Lei Xiaosi, Bai Jin, Du Demei, and some scholars such as Suozhu, Bai Yingtang, Gongyi, and Shengzhu who are good at surveying in the capital have gone to Mobei Mongolia to explore and map maps. He Guodong is the only one who is proficient in surveying and has rich experience in surveying. ”

He Guodong? Zhenwu had never heard of this name at all, and only after a slight groan: "What surveys has this person participated in?" ”

Ruan Erxun knew that Zhenwu was not at ease with He Guodong, so he hurriedly bowed and said: "Back to the emperor, this person has been surveying the whole map of the Qing Dynasty with Lei Xiaosi, Bai Jin and others in various places for several years, and returned to Beijing to recuperate due to illness last year. ”

Did you participate in the drawing of the "Kangxi Emperor's Panorama"? That's a talent, a slight groan. Zhenwu raised his voice and commanded: "Xuan He Guodong is here." As he spoke, he looked at Ruan Erxun again, and said in a deep voice: "The Haihe River is straightened, and the project is huge. It is not only for the flood relief, but also for the convenience of shipping, and it is also a cash-for-work project to solve the drought, which is jointly responsible for you and Shi Shilun.

This year's spring drought is expected to be more serious, and the number of victims who will pour into Tianjin by that time is not a small number, and since the Haihe River project is a cash-for-work project, the resettlement and bereavement benefits for the victims must be given top priority, and the diet, epidemic relief, and so on must be meticulous and thorough, and of course, the quality of the project must not be slightly ambiguous.

The wages of the victims of the disaster must also be accompanied by the market. This is the cost of post-disaster reconstruction of the victims, and it is not allowed to be deducted or the price is reduced, you and Shi Shilun have a clear name, I am relieved, but it is difficult to say the officials below. At all levels, there must not only be a special person to account, but also to have a special person to supervise, you two must also be at any time spot checks, micro service private visits, to prevent officials at all levels from withholding and embezzling the victims' money and food, I will also send people to make secret visits, if a group of officials have illegal things, I don't mind borrowing a few heads to establish authority, this project is not only related to the image of the court, but also related to the two of you to clear your name, I hope you two will do it yourself. ”…,

Ruan Er's heart tightened when he listened, disaster relief has always been a good opportunity for the officials below to make a fortune, and he knows a little bit about some of the money-making methods and ways of those dirty officials, if he wants to completely eliminate it, I am afraid it is a little difficult, but Zhenwu's words are clear enough, if something happens, he and Shi Shilun can't escape the involvement.

This errand is difficult to do, but it is undoubtedly a great opportunity, if the errand is done beautifully, it will inevitably be appreciated by Zhenwu, and he groaned slightly, before he bowed down and said: "The emperor's teachings, Weichen keep it in mind." After getting up, he bowed down again and said: "Your Majesty, the officials have always been as clear as water, and the officials are as smooth as oil. ”

"It doesn't matter." Zhenwu said lightly: "I have a will, dare to have someone who takes food from the mouth of the victims, regardless of the officials, all over the house, and it is a permanent example, recorded in the "Great Qing Huidian" and "Household Regulations". If there is really a person who wants money and does not want to die, there is no need to wait for the will, but he will be beheaded on the spot, and then he will be destroyed. ”

Listening to these faint words, Ruan Erxun Dengjue's back was cold and fluttering, and he was all over the house, it was really not a joke, he hurriedly bowed down and said: "Weichen Zun. ”

Zhenwu nodded slightly, slowed down his tone and said: "Shi Shilun is an honest official, but his temperament is a little paranoid, he likes to help the weak, and he is even more expensive in money, although you are honest, you are from a rich family, and everything must be based on the overall situation." ”

Ruan Erxun hurriedly bowed down and said, "Weichen respects the order." ”

As soon as the words fell, he was dressed in casual clothes, but He Guodong, who was in his early thirties, walked in briskly and kowtowed: "Student He Guodong respectfully invites the emperor to St. Ann." ”

Hearing his voice a little hurried, he didn't get up after asking for peace, Zhenwu knew that he was nervous, and at the same time quite strange, how could he not have an official body? After a little hesitation, he said: "All are exempt from courtesy, flat body." As he spoke, he scooped up a scroll from the table and said: "Time is pressing, the Haihe River project must start as soon as possible, the first phase of the diversion project, from Jiajia Temple to Yangzhuang, the total length is not three miles, Tianjin Bay, Lao Ya Bay and Donghe Bay are cut, and the Haihe River channel is shortened by nearly five miles. ”

He Guodong couldn't help but be a little confused when he heard this, he was not familiar with the etiquette in the palace, when he came in, the eunuch taught some, but he did not teach what to do in this situation, the loss of honor in front of the king is not a trivial matter, he did not ask for help to look at Ruan Erxun, seeing this situation, Zhenwu couldn't help but smile slightly, and simply handed the scroll directly to Ruan Erxun, and said with a smile: "No formality, take a closer look." ”

Seeing Zhenwu's gentle attitude, He Guodong couldn't help but relax a little, walked to Ruan Erxun's side, and at a glance found the Jiajia Temple and Yangzhuang painted with red circles on the map, groaned slightly, and then knelt down and replied: "Back to the emperor, you can survey and draw a line within three days." ”

It can be completed within three days of listening, Zhenwu appreciated it by glancing at him, and after a little muttering, he said: "Build roads and bridges, build embankments and control rivers, explore and hide, surveying and mapping maps, and sea charts are inseparable from arithmetic and exploration and mapping. After a slight pause, he continued: "He Guodong is outstanding in learning, ambitious, and promises the country with his body, and really teaches the Ministry of Industry to be the head of the Water Cleaning Division. ”

He Guodong is from a noble background, and he has a lot of interactions with officials on weekdays, and he knows very well that the head of each ministry is the official title of the sixth grade, but he never thought that Zhenwu would directly give him the official position of the sixth grade, and for a while, he didn't react at all, and even forgot about thanks.

Ruan Erxun is envious and jealous, He Guodong is just a person, it is a great honor to be honored to be honored to be in Tianyan, but he didn't expect to be awarded the six-grade official position from the white body, how can this make the high school Jinshi embarrassed? It must be known that even if it is a first-class jinshi, the external release is only the title of the sixth and seventh grades. ..., however, after all, he has been in the sea for a long time, and he quickly reacted, Zhenwu didn't even ask about He Guodong's specific situation, only knew that he had been exploring and mapping with Western missionaries Lei Xiaosi, Bai Jin and others in the past few years, and he was actually awarded a five-grade official position, which was by no means rash and casual, if it was really rash, it could only be awarded a false title, not the actual director of the Qingshui Division of the Ministry of Industry, besides, Zhenwu was not a rash and absurd master, and he would never scoop up the lack of real officials and jokes.

Thinking about this, and then contacting Zhenwu's words, he immediately reacted, Zhenwu is using the exception to promote He Guodong to achieve the purpose of promoting Western learning, it seems that the imperial court is going to start vigorously advocating and encouraging Western learning, this He Guodong's luck is really bizarre, thinking of this, he couldn't help but glance at He Guodong, seeing that he was still in a daze, he couldn't help but remind softly: "Don't thank God yet." ”

He Guodong came back to his senses at this time, realized that he was suspected of losing his honor in front of the king, and hurriedly suppressed the excitement in his heart, and kowtowed calmly: "Weichen thanked the emperor for his grace." ”

Three days later, in a noisy gong and drum and deafening firecrackers, the Haihe River diversion project officially broke ground in the Jiajia Temple, the whole ceremony was presided over by the governor of Zhili, the Ministry of Works, Ruan Erxun, two people, most of the people of Tianjin City rushed to watch the fun.

Zhenwu's royal car set off back to Beijing in the faint sound of firecrackers, it has been nearly half a month away from Beijing, the capital is calm as usual, he has no need to stay in Tianjin, and the weather is getting warmer day by day, but it is still not raining, not to mention the peasants who rely on the sky to eat, even the merchants and gentry in the city are also aware that this year is afraid of another big spring drought, and the price of rice in Beijing, Tianjin and the surrounding prefectures and counties has begun to rise.

In this case, Zhenwu really had to hurry back to Beijing to go to the Temple of Heaven to pray for rain, otherwise the people would have to blame him for the cause of the drought. (To be continued.) If you like this work, you are welcome to (.) to vote for recommendation, monthly pass, your support is my biggest motivation. )