Zhang Tingyu rushed to Xihua Gate in a sedan chair, when he looked at the watch, it was already the end of Shen and the beginning of the unit, the family was guarding the door, saw him get off the sedan chair, and ran to send a robe, crown belt, and pearls, and put it on the outside of the sedan chair, and drank a bowl of ginseng soup. I saw that the eunuchs outside the Yangxin Palace all held their breath and bowed down carefully, as if something had happened, he stood under the dripping eaves and calmed down, listened to no movement inside, and coughed lightly: "Long live the old minister Zhang Tingyu." ”

"Please come in." Qianlong replied in the hall.

When Zhang Tingyu entered the hall, he felt that the atmosphere was different from usual. Qianlong sat cross-legged on the big kang of the East Warm Pavilion, his face gloomy. Below, Prince Zhuang and Neqin all knelt straight and did not say a word, and only Ortai sat next to him alone, also without saying a word. Seeing Zhang Tingyu leaning over to make a big salute, Qianlong ordered: "Don't salute, you sit on the pestle over there." ”

"Thank you, master." Zhang Tingyu looked at Yunlu and sat down obliquely, feeling uneasy: although according to the rules, no matter how the prince and ministers see the driver, they all kneel and reply. But the emperor has always been generous and courteous, and the minister of military aircraft has given him a seat. What's going on today? Zhang Tingyu said: "The minister is late. Fu Heng was going to Shanxi, and he had a few words to tell him about some details. ”

Qianlong nodded and said, "Liu Kang is Liu Kang, Yue Jun is Yue Jun, what are you messing with?" It's not good for you to be a dear. Even Li Wei's patients were stirred in. At the beginning, Shandong Santai Yamen, plus the general, who didn't know He Li's complaint? But only one Li Wei took the case. Now those who refuse to accept the case have become meritorious men, and the only one who has received the case has become a sinner! Prince Zhuang, do you dare to say that you are not partial? Liu Kang won it at your family's banquet, if someone climbs you to conspire, are you convinced? Only then did Zhang Tingyu know the reason why Fang Cai Qianlong was angry, probably because he investigated Yue Junbao and Liu Kang to be promoted to Shandong Zhentai, and Yunlu asked for the investigation and punishment of Li Wei's hidden case and did not report it. Thinking that Liu Kang's promotion to Shanxi political envoy was written by himself, I couldn't help but feel a chill in my heart. Ortai said on the side: "Lord, it makes no sense to put Li Wei in the case. When Li Wei dealt with this case, he speculated about the sacred heart and did not play the Ming court in time, which is not without fault. It was Yue Jun, as the governor of Shandong, who knew that He Li had complained, and still protected Liu Kang, the deceased was wronged underground, but the murderer was on the rise, and it was difficult to escape the crime of negligence. This is what the minister thinks in his heart, and he does not dare to bully the king. Qianlong listened silently, paused for a moment, and asked Zhang Tingyu: "What do you think should be done?" ”

"In any case, it's not a decent thing to do." Zhang Tingyu sighed, "The minister thinks, it is better to divide it into two layers, inside and outside." Anyone who conspires with Liu Kang to commit a crime must be dealt with strictly and show the world that the world is in the right place. Where the case is ineffective in handling cases by officialdom, distinguish between the severity of the circumstances or strictly apply for punishment, or reduce the punishment or dethrone the case. What should I do, just don't make a big fuss, don't make a big deal of it, don't make your head feel that the emperor has changed the purpose of 'leniency for government', and people's hearts will naturally be stable. ”

"What a disgrace to the court!" Qianlong said angrily, "On the spot, I also asked Liu Tongxun to find out a Jing Zhaoyin." Yang Zengzhen looks at him well on weekdays, but it's not a thing! Ortai said: "Liu Tongxun is also reckless, can't he check calmly?" didn't ask for an order, and didn't discuss with Aaronke, and picked up a three-grade man's robe on the spot! - There's a system! ”

Zhang Tingyu said coldly: "I don't see it that way. Although I didn't go, my family came back to learn, and I appreciated his genius. If this kind of thing is not dealt with on the spot, I don't know what to do and how many people will be involved. Isn't that trickier? Liu Kang refused to admit his guilt after five punishments, with a stinky and hard posture, without this thunderous blow, I am afraid he may not be willing to confess. Ortai was unceremonious, and immediately pushed back: "What if it's wrong?" Zhang Tingyu said with a smile: "The general lost the battle and took his own guilt." ”

"What's the fight over here?" Qianlong saw that Ortai was about to speak, so he interjected lightly, and Zhang and E immediately returned to normal. Qianlong took the bowl, plucked the floating tea with the lid of the bowl, and said: "The fact is that the truth is right, will you not be affected by the order of the monarch outside!" But this should not be the case. What I appreciate is that Liu Tongxun does not avoid resentment, and this move is out of public intentions. If there is a small mistake, how can a person be without fault? He raised his eyebrows, got off the royal couch, and said while pacing slowly in the warm pavilion, "I have thought about it again and again, this case must be handled openly." At present, some officials have misunderstood our purpose, thinking that 'taking leniency as a government' means 'harmony with light and dust', that is, whitewashing the peace, and having no scruples about playing and laxity, and their feelings are very hateful! All officials who should be punished, those who should be explicitly reprimanded, and those who should be published in newspapers and periodicals, shall be handled as usual. The rule of officials is a big article, and this article cannot be ruined because of lenient and benevolent governance. ”

"But the purpose of leniency in government still can't be changed," Qianlong's eyes were bright, and he said Kankan, "All the officials who investigate and deal with the case must distinguish their responsibilities, such as Yue Jun, Li Wei, Qian Du, Yang Zeng, and the officials who originally worked with Liu Kang in the Dezhou Mansion. This organization cannot be chaotic, and the case cannot be used to create a big prison. ”

His words actually refuted all the people present, but his tone and rhetoric were not harsh: "I rule the world with the heart of justice, and I can't change the king chapter casually, but I want to set an example for future generations in the world." I don't use it. Wang De is like the wind, the people's morale is like grass, what wind you blow, the grass will fall to that side, dare not be cautious? Zhang Tingyu originally felt that Qianlong still appreciated his opinions, and only changed it slightly in order to take care of the decency of the other ministers. Listening to these heart-wrenching words, I couldn't help blushing, and I bowed my head and said nothing.

"You still have to take care of your face," Qianlong smiled, "Uncle Sixteen and his relatives, after going down, write an apology excerpt, and I will not send it in the middle of it." Today's small pilgrimage meeting, in the spirit of the speaker is not guilty. But the excerpts of your impeachment of Yue Jun and Li Wei have already been handed over, and without this holiday, it is difficult for others to say anything else. Done? ”

Prince Zhuang felt a chill in his heart. On the surface, this emperor is very different from his father Yongzheng's coldness and strictness, and he is full of benevolence and generosity, but in fact, when it comes to his heart, he is more ruthless than Yongzheng. Yongzheng encountered this kind of thing, but he was angry and scolded; This also has to leave a note, which is the evidence for Jing when he was a child! Thinking about it, Yunlu swallowed a mouthful of saliva. He kowtowed together with his relatives and said: "The emperor's caring and thoughtful heart is as clear as the sun and the moon. The minister respectfully requests that he be severely punished, and the emperor does not have to stay in the middle of the court. Qianlong smiled but didn't answer, turned his face to look at Zhang Tingyu, and said, "Old Minister Hengchen, what do you think Liu Kang will do?" ”

"Ling Chi." Zhang Tingyu did not hesitate and said, "According to the usual crime of homicide, Liu Kang just decided to die. But he has violated the ten evil laws, and he is wicked and rebellious, and he cannot be detained by ordinary laws. Ortai said: "The ten heinous sins are just unforgivable. It seems inappropriate to add guilt. But Liu Kang's crime is really beyond ordinary circumstances. The minions couldn't even think of how to cook this thing for a while! ”

Qianlong said to Yunlu and the others: "Get up and sit and talk." While turning his face, he said, "Liu Kang's evil rebellion is not only to He Luying, but also to the first emperor and me!" As far as his guilt is concerned, Ling Chi is not enough to vent the anger of the people. Such a case is rare not only in the past, but also in the past few years. Of course, it can't be done as usual. His thin white teeth bit his lip for a long time before he said, "Ling Chi, rip out his heart, and chop it in front of He Luying's spirit along with the three evil slaves!" Otherwise, you can't comfort the loyal soul! ”

The four ministers shuddered in unison. I know that this kind of punishment is too cruel, but today I have enough nails, and no one wants to ask for their own bad luck.

Qianlong sent the four auxiliary ministers to withdraw, and immediately ordered the sedan chair to rush to Li Wei's mansion. When the gatekeeper saw that Qianlong was coming, and wanted to go in to report, Qianlong stopped with a wave of his hand and asked, "How is your family's illness?" How is Madame? ”

"Our lord has not been good these days." The family's eyes were full of tears, and they choked up, "Madame is angry in her heart, but she doesn't dare to cry in front of him." It's really sad that we're watching from the sidelines. ”

"Huh?"

"The master commanded us not to say ......"

"Even me?!"

Hearing the menace in the voice, the family timidly looked at the west courtyard wall and snorted silently. Qianlong followed his gaze to the west, and saw that the outside of the cave gate in the west was dusty, and it seemed that construction was being carried out. He was stunned, "boom", the flower wall more than one person high was neatly knocked down, and a supervisor stood on the stepping stone in front of Li Wei's original study, and said loudly: "Pick up the bricks, pile them all up here, Lord Li's side is clean, and there is not a single grain of floating soil!" - Be quiet, what are you making a fuss about? ”

"What is that doing?" Qianlong was dazzled by the dust swept by the west wind, rubbed it, and asked, "Why do you want to demolish the house and level the garden?" Li Wei is so sick now, do you still have the heart to do this? The family muffled, "It's been four days." It's a person from the Ministry of Internal Affairs. It turned out that this mansion was rewarded by the first emperor, and no one has ever said anything about it, including the garden. In the past few days, a cousin surnamed Huang from the Internal Affairs Office has come and said that the Internal Affairs Office will accept this garden. Because the old man was ill, the lady was afraid that he would be angry and noisy, so she moved the old man to the east study. There, even tomorrow and all night like this, Madame can't ......" As he was talking, a girl came from the east and shouted: "Luo family, Mrs. asked you to take a few people to the upper room, cover the things, the wolf smoke is shaking, I am afraid of staining the things rewarded by the emperor, and I can't hand them over—heard?" As soon as she finished speaking, the girl suddenly recognized Qianlong, and was stunned there with her mouth open.

Qianlong's heart sank first, a sour and hot air surged up, his face turned red, and he turned around and slapped Gao Wuyong with a "snap", beating half of Gao Wuyong's face purple. Gao Wuyong said: "Master, master...... It's not a minion's business, a minion doesn't know ......"

"Two days ago, I gave medicine to Li Wei, didn't you come? What do you do to eat? Qianlong was furious and said to his family, "Go, call the steward over there!" ”

The family walked over quickly, and he was angry, so he refused to say it explicitly, but said, "Huang Tou'er, a master called you over." Tossing and turning here, the lord is not restless......"

"What's the upset?" Huang Tou'er patted the floating soil on his body, and while walking, his mouth was not dry and said, "Lao Tzu is in the soil all day long, and Lao Tzu is 'safe'?" ”

Qianlong couldn't hold back the anger in his heart, and turned around and shouted angrily: "Selenge!" You're getting dumber and dumber, and you're getting worse and less able to wait! For such a bastard, let him go wild in front of me! Selenge's purple face rose, and he bowed down and agreed: "Master, it's not a minion!" He turned around and pounced on him with an arrow, and slashed his face so that the yellow head had stars in his eyes, and he spun around like a top, but before he could stand firmly, he was kicked in the back of his spine and fell to the ground. Gao Wuyong was slapped for no reason, and his anger was nowhere to vent, so he pulled out a horsewhip from behind his waist, and he was slammed regardless of his nose and eyes. Cui'er had already arrived, knelt on the side, and when she saw that the beating was too heavy, she hurriedly kowtowed and said, "Master, he is a third-class minion, and it's not worth getting angry with him." Only then did Qianlong wave his hand to stop Selenge and Gao Wuyong. The yellow head couldn't move.

"Master," Cui'er said with tears in her eyes, "Please ......sit in the main room" Qianlong nodded, and said to Huang Tou'er, who was lying on the ground and looking at him in horror: "Go back and pass the decree, and ask you who are in charge of the internal affairs office to receive twenty whips to the Shen Punishment Division!" ——Li Wei is an old man of the first emperor and my confidant minister, and he is practiced by people like you? How can a house be given without a garden? Thesha is a snobbish! ”

After Qianlong finished speaking, he followed Cui'er to the main room of Li Wei's house. He sat on the side, took the tea that Cui'er had brought over, and panted with anger: "Cui'er, it's not that I said you, in the early years in the study of Lama Palace, I was studying, and you were also the girl who waited in front of you." At that time, I said a stubborn word, and you dared to snort and laugh at me. Why did you go out and be a wife for more than ten years, and you became more and more timid? This kind of thing should be sent out first, and then go back to me. If I'm busy, I'll tell my mother and I'll deal with it! Cui'er said with tears in her eyes: "Li Wei and I are from poor families, and we don't care about poverty." I feel bad. He was so sick that it was rumored that he had sinned. The Ministry of Internal Affairs came to practice it for no reason. Thinking of going back to my hometown, at this time, I was afraid that the master would suspect us of hiding, and I felt bad for a while, so it was better for me to beg for food with the dog for a while. Master, he's so sick these days, and I'm really sad in my heart. Pity him for being a big man, and entrusting his master to be such a big official, I don't even allow me to ask for a concubine first. I told the old master that I wanted to be a vinegar gourd, which made the old master laugh bitterly. In fact, there was a girl who treated him very well when he was in Nanjing, and I sent him out at that time. Now I picked her up again and waited for Li Wei. I can't give him a single thing for the rest of my life. After that, he wiped away tears and laughed. Qianlong wanted to laugh, but his heart sank. couldn't laugh, so he comforted: "Liu Kang's case has not been reported, Li Wei is indeed not, but Li Wei has made great contributions in his life, and I know it in my heart." Whoever says don't you believe those bastards. Qianlong said, hearing Li Wei's violent cough from a distance, as if he was roaring in the air. Seeing that Cui'er's face was pale and worried, she got up and said, "I'll go over and take a look." ”

Cui'er said "yes", took Qianlong out of the main house, passed through the east courtyard wall, and the two houses on the north side were the small study rooms where Li Wei's sons used to study. Through the window, I heard Li Wei gasp and say, "Don't guard me, go back when you should go." I have already said it to Master Fu, please take care of him. Looking at the emperor's thoughts, Liu Tongxun will be in charge of the punishment in the future. I also told Yanqing about you. If you have seen him, you will go and meet him, and if you don't meet, you will be disconnected...... Where is the reason for a man to be hanged on a tree? Qianlong listened to this outside, but he didn't know the essentials, and when he saw Cui'er pick up the cotton curtain, he stepped in with one foot, and said with a smile: "Li Wei, I see that you are here." After that, I looked around the study and saw three middle-aged men sitting in a row at the coffee table under the south window. A girl in her twenties sat on the edge of the kang. Li Wei half-tilted his body and coughed red. The girl held the cough bowl with one hand and gently beat him on the back with the other.

"Ah, master!" Li Weifang gasped, and in a blink of an eye, he saw that it was Qianlong who came in, and he reluctantly struggled to turn over to get up, and finally couldn't even turn over after a few struggles, and his two pale hands grabbed the edge of the kang and touched his head, crying "woo", and muttered: "The slave has come to this point,...... I don't even have the strength to salute my master...... Cui'er said to the three middle-aged people: "This is Long Live Lord, what are you doing in a daze?" Only then did the three of them wake up, pounce on the spot, prostrate themselves on the ground, and said: "The servants don't know the holy face, the emperor forgives the sin!" ”

Qianlong ignored the three people, frowned and sat on the chair looking at Li Wei, thinking that this young man on the kang had become a beggar; Once the situation was met, he successively served as the governor of the feudal territory, the governor of Liangjiang and the governor of Lilu, Anhui and Jiangxi; personally entered Wang Qinglou to lock and take the world's first good man Ganfeng Pond; broke into the cottage alone to dismiss the Dou Erdun rebels; Holding all the leaders of the rivers and lakes, black and white, can be regarded as heroes in the world, and now they are so sick! Thinking about it, Qianlong said: "What kind of etiquette is it okay to be sick to this situation?" Did I use the Chuanbei I cid? ”

"I've been using it." Cui'er saw that Li Wei was so panting that she couldn't speak, and replied on the side, "It's just that this disease is good and bad, and I'm most afraid that it will be at the turn of winter and spring, and when the leaves come out, it will gradually get better." He turned his face to the girl and said, "Yuqian, pour tea for the master." ”

Qianlong took a closer look at this girl, and saw that she was wearing a honey-colored skirt, a small yellow coat, a pair of half-sized bow shoes exposed, and her facial features were upright, and her appearance was not outstanding. Well, this name is good, Cui'er has this measure, why didn't she open her face and accept the house fairly? Cui'er smiled and said: "The first emperor has something to say, Li Wei is not allowed to take concubines if he is not ordered." Qianlong was stunned, couldn't help laughing, and said, "This master has done it." Yuqian's face was flushed, she held tea to Qianlong, and said: "This is the emperor's grace and the wife's kindness." The slave and maid are blessed, and they can serve our master for a lifetime, and their wish is fulfilled. ”

"Yuqian, I'm getting better this time." Li Wei held the edge of the kang and kowtowed to Qianlong, and said, "You help me to sit halfway." The master is here, and this look is too disrespectful. Yu Qian hurriedly agreed, and supported Li Wei to lean on the big pillow. Li Wei looked at Qianlong, tears flowed down his face, and he choked up for a long time before he said: "I have eaten all the medicine rewarded by the master, even if Cui'er is good, sometimes it is bad, this is the life of the slave!" When the old master was there, he asked Mr. Wu Sidao to give me a count, saying that I could live to eighty-six, and the old master said happily at that time, you are a slave left to my son. Now that I think about it, I know that Mr. Wu counted day and night and added something to me. The slave didn't care about the length of his life, but he didn't expect that he would live up to the hearts of the first emperor and his master and become a guilty person. Thinking of this, the slave is really a thousand arrows piercing the heart, and there is no redemption for a hundred deaths......" He was weak and quiet, and said in a sad and deep voice, Cui'er and Yuqian both covered their mouths and wanted to make a sound. The three men kneeling on the ground also shrugged their shoulders and trembled, unable to control themselves.

"Don't be so childlike." Qianlong has been with Li Wei's master and servant since he was a child, and he couldn't help but feel sad, and said slowly, "I came here today, half to see your illness, and half to comfort your heart." It seems that your heart is worse than your body. Liu Kang's case has now been concluded. You are wrong, the mistake is that you can see me day and night, and you are a slave who has been summoned for two lifetimes, so you shouldn't have secretly told me about your case. But no matter what, I know you don't have two hearts. I will give you a small punishment, but there will be no big punishment. I am peaceful in the world, and I am not willing to abolish the public for private reasons, nor do I want to abolish private affairs for public purposes. That is, it will be suspended for three years. Isn't it worth your day and night? ”

Li Wei is critically ill this time, and his heart disease is really greater than his physical illness. Liu Tongxun tried the case with lightning lightning, took witnesses, and implicated several provinces. Although there is Cui'er in his house, listening to the words revealed in the tone of the imperial doctor, "Don't worry, my lord, you can't act when you are sick, and they can't urge you anymore." We have to talk to the Criminal Department". - He's a shrewd man, what's there not to guess? Although he was not summoned to the court to match, he was always uneasy: he did not know how Liu Kang and He Li testified, nor did they know how the court would deal with him. Today, Qianlong personally came to visit the patient, he was already sick for most of his heart, and listening to these sincere and sincere words, it was really like a spring breeze in his heart, and his stomach was full of cold and ice: "The master is so gracious, how can the slave repay?" This life is not successful, only the next life will contribute to the master......" Qianlong didn't know whether he was deeply moved by himself or Li Wei's words, his eyes were also ruddy, and he smiled: "It's not easy for you to hook my heart!" You have just passed the age of not being confused, recuperate slowly, and the illness will naturally be cured. There are many days to contribute in this life! Speaking of this, he turned his face to look at the three people kneeling on the ground and asked, "Which ministry are you working in?" ”

"Your Majesty!" The three of them were already kneeling stiffly, and they hurriedly kowtowed, "The minions are not on errands in the ministry. ”

"Oh, it's a foreign official who came to Beijing to report on his work."

"Slaves are not foreign officials."

Li Wei said with a smile: "Your Majesty, these are the three major disciples of the Green Gang Luo Zu. Weng You (Ying Kui), Pan An (Shijie), Qian Bao (Sheng Jing), who had a book in front of him, were in charge of Cao Yun, although they did things for the imperial court, they had not yet been introduced. The servants have been in poor health for the past few days, and they are afraid that once they go, no one will take care of their group of people who eat Jianghu rice, and there will be chaos again, so they called to explain a few words about the future. Their master Luo Zu died, and they had to point to a new helmsman. When Qianlong looked at it, Weng Youshuo was long and haired, Pan An was black and thin, and Qian Bao was low and fat, but they were all bright-eyed, tigers and tigers, and their arms were covered with black yarns, obviously hanging filial piety for their ancestor Luo Zu. Qianlong said with a smile: "I have long said that I will meet you, and I will let go of many things." The grain was transported by your hands, and there was really no big mess, and you still have merit. ”

"Thank you for the compliment." Weng You kowtowed and said, "Since the minions are called the 'Qing' Gang, they naturally want to help me in the Qing Dynasty, and the grain ships will be handed over to the slaves for escort, and the minions will be fined ten catties for one pound short in Beijing." Today, I am blessed to see my master, and I ask my master to give me a grace-" Li Wei said on the side: "Don't talk about it, the court will naturally give the grace that should be given." What good is it to ask for something that should not be given! Qianlong saw that the three of them lowered their heads, and said with a smile: "Li Wei is too, why not talk about it?" ”

Weng You kowtowed and said: "Although the minions are mixed in the dock and obey the order, they have no name in the end, and they are often held hostage by the local officials along the way. Pray that the master will be considerate of the difficulties of the slaves, or give them a false title, or reward a license, and if there is an obstacle, they can consult with the officials, so that they will not be too low...... There are many difficulties here, and the slave can't tell it clearly for a while, so he always asks the master to learn from it! Qian Bao kowtowed beside him and said: "One sentence makes it clear, the minions are outside to charge grain, and they don't have the name of a grain officer, just like a little lady who doesn't open her face, she is also a girl at the end, and she doesn't even have an aunt's wife!" Cui'er and Yuqian both blushed when they said this.

"That's a good analogy!" Qianlong laughed and said, "It should also be said - if the name is not right, it is not good!" Isn't your master dead? I don't think there is any need to push any more helmsmen, the three of you can set up your own door, and you will all be given military attaché guerrilla positions. Although you don't bring troops, you are allowed to recruit disciples separately, well......" Qianlong pondered, and said, "Each person is limited to 1,326 apprentices, and 1,990 and a half ships with grain...... Count as your 'soldiers'. Specialized in food protection. However, Zhili has to transport four million stone grains every year, and whoever is short of a pound will cut whomever the first-class official is cut down, is this possible? ”

There are whole and zero apprentices, and it is reasonable to say, what kind of rules and regulations this "half" ship is, the room full of people don't know what's going on, and even Li Wei, Cui'er, and Yuqian are all surprised.