Shen Congliang lowered his hand, stood in front of Xu Liang, and did not reply.

Xu Liang was simply angry. Originally, Xu Liang was not very satisfied with the Guanglu Temple Qing of this Shizi, but now he found that the entire Guanglu Temple Yamen was so out of tune, and among the yamen with nearly 100 people, there were less than ten people on duty inside and out, and the other subordinate officials did not even see a single figure.

Xu Liang snorted and asked for a long time, Shen Congliang lowered his head and did not speak, and the five or six people of Liao Liao in the yamen could listen to the movement, standing far away, watching the excitement. Xu Liang pointed at Shen Congliang with his finger, considering that this young man is also a young man of Guanglu Temple from the fourth grade, the first time they meet, they have to save some face for him, besides, Xu Liang will inevitably rely on him in the future, so he brushed his sleeves and shouted: "Come in with this official!" ”

Immediately Xu Liang angrily entered the office room, and Shen Congliang followed him with his head down, and after Xu Liang sat down, Shen Congliang stood in front of Xu Liang, staring at the ground, not daring to look at Xu Liang.

Xu Liang ordered two Tsing Yi guards to guard outside the door, stared at Shen Congliang, took a deep breath, and said, "Lord Shen, tell me, what's going on?" ”

Shen Congliang looked up at Xu Liang, his face was ashamed, and he arched his hand and said: "My lord, you have just taken office, and you don't know much about the situation in our yamen, and it has not been a day or two since our Guanglu Temple has been like this. ”

Xu Liang pointed to the empty chair next to him and said, "You sit down and say." ”

"Master Xie." Shen Congliang sat down lightly, and bowed his hand to Xu Liang again: "I heard that your lordship has been promoted from the position of participating in politics in Shaanxi, and you don't know much about the situation of our Beijing officials. Our Guanglu Temple is in charge of the banquet of the court, which was originally among the five temples. It is the yamen at the bottom of the ranks, and the current saint is sympathetic to the emptiness of the treasury. Practicing frugality, the feast in the court has been saved again and again. Our entire Guanglu Temple Yamen is counting on the banquet of the court. It's good to get some oil and water from it, now it's rare to have a banquet once a month, and our Guanglu Temple is no better than other yamen, without a banquet, there is no way to get money, colleagues in the yamen, it's really a poor life. ”

Xu Liang was stunned when he heard this, he had a personal experience of the low level of Ming Dynasty officials. For example, he participated in politics from the third grade. The monthly silver received is only twenty-six stones, which is a little more than five taels of silver, that is, the money for two medium banquets in the guest house. With such a little money, if Xu Liang didn't have a rich family, then the whole family would have to drink the northwest wind.

As for the six or seven grade officials in Guanglu Temple, the monthly income is only a little more than two taels. With such a small amount of money, there is only food and clothing.

Xu Liang understood that what Shen Congliang said was also the truth, so he slowed down his tone. asked: "Even so, you are holding the court's court, but you are so playful, once you let the imperial historian in the court know." An impeachment and dismissal are always inevitable. ”

Shen Congliang smiled bitterly: "My lord doesn't know, the head of the household said that the treasury was empty. It is proposed that the Beijing government pay donations, from last year to March this year. In fact, only half of our Jingguan's silver was issued. This kind of practice is for our Guanglu Temple. That was to add insult to injury, and if my colleagues didn't try to go out and find some errands to support their families, they really couldn't survive. ”

Xu Liang was shocked, he didn't expect the situation of Guanglu Temple to reach such a point. The subordinates had such a hard time, and it was difficult for Xu Liang to be held accountable, and after a while, Xu Liang bowed his hand to Shen Congliang and apologized: "It was the official who blamed you before, Lord Shen forgive me." ”

"Where, the adults can understand our difficulties, and the officials and others are grateful." Shen Congliang said busily.

Xu Liang asked: "But I don't know what kind of work the people below are doing to subsidize the family?" ”

Shen Congliang listened, pondered for a while, and sighed: "Actually, it's nothing, the people in the yamen are still officials after all, and they have to take care of the officials in the Inspectorate, and they don't dare to go out to do private work blatantly, most of them quietly do some part-time work, such as inscribe for others, write family letters or something, and also give lectures to the children of wealthy businessmen at night." Of course, there are also people who rent a small shop on the street to do some small business, such as our Ma Sicheng, who opened an oil shop in Xijiang Rice Lane. ”

Xu Liang nodded slowly, frowned and asked, "If they do this, aren't they worried about the inspectorate reporting it?" ”

Shen Congliang's face turned bitter, shook his head and sighed: "My lord, in fact, it is not only our Guanglu Temple, the yamen in Beijing, except for the six departments of the court, the Duchayuan, and the Dali Temple, and other powerful yamen, such as Taichang Temple, Tai Hospital, Qin Tianjian, Honglu Temple, and Qingshui Yamen, there are few people in the yamen who make a living outside." Even among those who gave things in the Imperial Procuratorate, there were not a few officials who secretly took private jobs. Saying that, Shen Congliang bowed his hand to Xu Liang and said earnestly: "My lord, those adults know a little bit about these situations in the court, but no one will expose them." ”

"Well," Xu Liang nodded slowly, according to what Shen Congliang said, there is basically this situation in the Qingshui Yamen in the capital, the eldest brother doesn't talk about the second brother, and the adults above turn a blind eye, just don't see it.

Xu Liang got up and sighed: "Lord Shen, the official knows all the information you said. That's it for today, come back tomorrow after the Japanese officials disperse, and I want to see everyone in the yamen here. ”

"Yes. Xia Guan understood. Shen Congliang nodded in response.

Xu Liang patted his sleeves, got up and walked out, paused, and said to Shen Congliang: "Also, this yamen is too buried, everyone will be here tomorrow, let's clean up together." ”

After explaining these things, Xu Liang left Guanglu Temple and returned to the Dongjiang Courtyard.

In the courtyard, Feng Suqin and Lou Xian'er waited for Xu Liang to come back, and when they saw Xu Liang enter the house, they followed up, and the two asked curiously: "Xianggong, how is the morning today?" ”

Xu Liang took off the cloak on his body, handed it to Lou Xian'er, and spread his hands: "What else?" Your father-in-law, I am now Guanglu Siqing, an official in charge of banquets, and I have nothing to do with the affairs of the court. ”

Lou Xian'er's mouth was the fastest, and when she heard Yanjiao, she smiled and asked, "Guan Yanxiang?" Isn't that just taking care of people's food? Well, the shopkeeper in Xuanwumen Street seems to do this kind of thing, but people are in charge of the people's food and drink, and it sounds more advanced. ”

Xu Liang glared at Lou Xian'er with his eyes.

Lou Xian'er was still unconscious, thinking of something. Laughing wildly, he asked, "What about ...... Messire. The emperor and queen in the palace, the ladies have three meals a day. Is it in your hands? ”

When Xu Liang heard this, he was a little uncertain, choked, and said, "This...... I shouldn't be in charge, right? ”

Lou Xian'er laughed even louder. Feng Suqin, who was on the side, stretched out her hand and patted Lou Xian'er angrily, and said with a smile: "Don't listen to Sister Xian'er's nonsense, the imperial diet in the palace is managed by its own imperial dining room." When I was a child, I heard my father say that Guanglu Temple is in charge of the court's rituals and court meetings. Feasting and so on. ”

Xu Liang slapped his forehead, shook his head and said, "I'll ask Shen Shaoqing when I go back, I don't know what the functions of Guanglu Temple are." ”

The next day, Xu Liang got up from the warm quilt with a painful face, and under the service of Yahuan Rou'er, he dressed neatly, and went to the noon gate again in the cold north wind. Wait for the hour and attend the court meeting. After the court meeting was over, and it was almost noon, Xu Liang would waste his good sleep time on this kind of court meeting. Bitter hatred.

When I came to Guanglu Temple, the hall in the yamen was full of officials from Guanglu Temple, and the entire yamen was carefully sprinkled inside and out. It looks brand new.

Shen Congliang, the young secretary of Guanglu Temple, introduced a group of subordinate officials of Guanglu Temple for Xu Liang, and Xu Liang responded to the subordinate officials' salutes with a smile. When I was introduced to the temple to the sun. Xu Liang quipped: "How is Master Ma's oil shop business?" ”

Ma Sicheng looked embarrassed, and said with a sigh: "It's okay." Ok......"

Xu Liang laughed, and after introducing all the subordinate officials, Xu Liang waved his hand and said: "Shen Shaoqing and Ma Sicheng stay, and the people who are also there, what should they do!" ”

Before Xu Liang arrived, all the subordinate officials learned from Shen Congliang's mouth that the newly appointed Guanglu Siqing would not delve into the private work of the subordinates, and now when they heard Xu Liang say this, they all hugged their fists and saluted: "Thank you, my lord." ”

Xu Liang waved his hand, and when everyone else retreated, Xu Liang beckoned Shen Shaoqing and Ma Sicheng to take their seats, and said in a deep voice: "Lord Shen, Lord Ma, although the people below are forced by the situation, it is by no means a long-term solution. The official left the two of them behind because he wanted to come up with a safe solution together. ”

Shen Congliang and Ma Xiangyang listened, their eyes lit up, they both looked at Xu Liang, and Ma Sicheng said excitedly: "My lord, Xiaguan and others have studied hard for ten years before they entered the court as officials in high school in one fell swoop. But what can be done about it? ”

Xu Liang groaned: "You have fallen into such a situation, it is nothing more than because of the low level of money in the court, as long as we try to increase the income of the people below, we will definitely be able to improve this situation." ”

Shen Congliang and Ma Xiangyang glanced at each other, looked at Xu Liang, and sighed: "If you want to improve these, it's not easy!" ”

Xu Liang said categorically: "The method was figured out by people. Today, the official didn't think of any good way for the time being, and after the two of you go back, think about it carefully, what is a good way to get money without violating the laws of the court. Well, Lord Shen, what exactly are the functions of our Guanglu Temple, do you have any information on this here? Find out first and show it to the officer. ”

Shen Congliang thought for a while, and then said: "The lower officials remember that during the Apocalypse, the officials had issued some of them, and they would be found by the lower officials. ”

Xu Liang nodded and sent the two out.

After half an hour, Shen Congliang came in with a yellowed dossier, presented it to Xu Liang, and said, "My lord, this is it, take a look." ”

Xu Liang frowned and took it, patted the dust away, and said, "You go down first." If there is something to do, the official will call you again. ”

"Yes." Shen Congliang answered, and then retreated quietly.

This dossier, which is equivalent to the description of the responsibilities of Guanglu Temple, is indeed very old, Xu Liang endured patience, spent two hours looking through it, and finally had some understanding of the functions of Guanglu Temple.

It was precisely because of his understanding of the duties of Guanglu Temple that Xu Liang suddenly found a glimmer of opportunity to increase the gray income of Guanglu Temple.

Opportunity comes from the palace. Although Emperor Chongzhen is thrifty, although the emperor, the queen and these concubines in the palace can't control the daily meals of Guanglu Temple, even if these masters in the palace are thrifty, they always occasionally have to entertain some officials or noble ladies. In fact, this belongs to the category of small feasts.

Since it is a feast, Guanglu Temple has the right to intervene.

So Xu Liang called Shen Congliang and Ma Xiangyang in again, and asked with a smile: "Two adults, this official has something to inquire about. ”

"Your Excellency, please speak." Shen and Ma arched their hands.

Xu Liangyi pointed in the direction of the palace in the north and asked, "This official asks you, the emperor in the palace, the queen and the ladies of the palace usually feast on ministers and noblewomen, who is running these banquets now?" ”

Shen Congliang and Ma Xiangyang were slightly stunned when they heard this, and they both smiled and said: "The banquet in the palace is naturally in charge of the Internal Affairs Office." ”

Xu Liang shook his head and said, "Definitely! Seeing Shen, both of them looked at themselves with puzzled expressions, then pointed to the old file on the table, and said: "According to this position, although the banquet in the palace can be handled by the Ministry of Internal Affairs in form, the royal banquet is related to the etiquette of the court, the royal face, delicacies, wine, utensils, and even the ranking of seats. Our Guanglu Temple has been established since the Qin period, which shows the importance of Guanglu Temple in all dynasties. The three of us are the prefects of Guanglu Temple, and we are subject to the court's favor and the emperor's grace, and we must not do that kind of thing that can get by and eat a vegetarian meal! ”

Xu Liang said with a righteous face, got up, faced the north, and solemnly arched his hand: "This official has decided to make a proposal to His Majesty tomorrow to offer advice and advice for the palace banquet!" ”

Shen Shaoqing and Ma Sicheng were dumbfounded, looking at Xu Liang with straight eyes, and the two hesitated and said, "But, my lord, we can't intervene in this matter......

Xu Liang suddenly glared at him, and shouted in a deep voice: "What do you mean you can't intervene?!" How can I meddle in the affairs of my own share! ”

After educating the two of his subordinates, Xu Liang drove the two out, sat down and began to think about how to mention this matter to Emperor Chongzhen. After thinking about it for a long time, I had a plan in my heart, and I just wrote "Chen Guanglu Temple Qing Xu Liang Qi plays my emperor's ......"

He stopped his pen and looked at the crooked handwriting on the snow-white rice paper, shook his head, threw the pen angrily, and turned around and rushed back to the Dongjiang Courtyard.

As soon as he returned to the courtyard, Xu Liang shouted, "Where is Rou'er? Get her here! ”

In the end, Xu Liang dictated, Yahuan Rouer wrote, and a barely smooth recital was written, Xu Liang read it and felt that there was no problem, so he ordered someone to submit it to the General Administration.

Late at night, Emperor Chongzhen in the palace in the Yangxin Hall turned over a stack of folds presented by the Tongzheng Department in the evening, when he saw the words of Guanglu Siqing, Emperor Chongzhen felt fresh, curiously picked it up and flipped it, and threw the fold to the side of the Bingbi eunuch Wang Chengen, shook his head and scolded with a smile: "This Xu Liang, even Guanglu Siqing didn't understand, so he began to make suggestions!" ”

Wang Chengen chuckled in his heart, because he didn't know what Xu Liang wrote in the fold, he couldn't speak for Xu Liang, so he asked with a smile: "Your Majesty, what does Xu Liang want to toss again?" ”

Emperor Chongzhen glanced at Wang Chengen, pointed to the letter, and said with a smile: "Look at yourself, this kid doesn't know which tendon is wrong, and he actually said that he wants to organize the banquet in the palace!" It's so idle! ”

Wang Chengen picked up Xu Liang's letter and read it. My mind was racing. Although I don't know what Xu Liang is doing this time, but thinking of Xu Liang's friendship with himself, Wang Chengen decided to help him, so he joked with a smiling face: "Your Majesty, this Xu Liang has only been in office for a few days in Guanglu Temple, what banquet etiquette can he know?" According to the old slave's guess, it was most likely that Shen Congliang, the young secretary of Guanglu Temple, asked Xu Liang to do this. After Shen Congliang beat the former Guanglu Temple Qing Liu and retired from illness, he has been grinding Wang Shangshu of the Ministry of Officials, wanting to go further. Now that His Majesty has sent Xu Liang over, Lord Shen is probably dissatisfied in his heart. ”

Emperor Chongzhen waved his hand and said, "A sour and rotten Confucian student, don't pay attention to him." ”

Wang Chengen nodded yes, thought about it, and then said: "However, what the old slave said on this fold is not completely unreasonable. If you shouldn't say something, some of the banquets in our palace really need to be ordered. The imperial dining room is all by the masters in the palace, a few days ago, the lady concubine invited the uncle to the country, and actually served the soup of the head of the road, this, this is too child's play! ”

When Emperor Chongzhen heard this, he couldn't help but put away his smile and pondered. (To be continued......)