Qianlong returned to Beijing from Henan, and was full of joy waiting for the good news of Zhang Guangsi in Miaojiang, Guizhou, and wanted to celebrate together with Enke. A Zhang Zhao case has not yet been concluded, and then Wang Shijun has made tens of thousands of words, saying that all kinds of policies since his ascension to the pole are useless, so he was depressed for several days. Listening to Prince Zhuang Yunlu's recital of going to the study to meet Wang Shijun, it was nothing less than adding fuel to the fire. At that time, he was angry, put the ** cup on the table, and said: "Someone has long secretly said that I am the unscrupulous son of the first emperor, and this Wang Shijun just openly jumped out to speak." I treat people with leniency, and I really don't know how to lift up my face like this! He bit his lower lip with his teeth and sneered, "It's not easy to be strict?" That's just a will! If you hear any more gossip down there, tell him my will! - According to you, Wang Shijun is so bold and reckless, is there someone else in the DPRK and China behind the scenes? ”

"Your Majesty," Yunlu was stunned for a moment, and said in a sneering manner, "The minister didn't hear what the emperor said. Wang Shijun is a Han habit, and there are people who want to be famous. Han people are like this, Zhang Zhao is not also in the limelight. Han Chinese, not a thing. ”

Seeing that Yunlu spoke incoherently, Qianlong was amused: "Sixteenth uncle, the Han people are also good." It is true that the integrity is not as good as the Manchurians. Ortai is actually not a superior character among the Manchurians. I want him to be a courtier, do you know why? Yunlu looked at Qianlong with wide eyes and said, "The minister doesn't know. Qianlong smiled: "You are too honest." The Manchurians also have a bad case, arrogant and unwilling to study. Ortai is narrow-minded, but he reads a lot and has good ethics. You know, the folds handed down are all in Chinese. It is also the Han people who read the excerpts, and it is the Han people who handle government affairs. In the long run, will the power fall or not? Yunlu hurriedly said: "That's it." I know the situation in the six parts, and it is said that the Shangshu of each part is full of two Hans, and the real power is in the hands of the Han Shangshu. The Manchu Shangshu are all bodhisattvas, offering incense and listening to flattery. If this continues, won't the imperial court become the world of the Han people? ”

"Uncle Sixteen understands this." Qianlong said, "So you have to take our clan disciples to study well, and some dispensable homework should be eliminated." The important thing to learn from the Han people is to learn their politics and not to let them assimilate. Now you are respected in the old prince, the seventeenth uncle is dedicated to training in Gubeikou and Fengtian, and there are several kings and Baylors in the next generation, all of which are under your control. It is more important than anything else to do this mission well. ”

"Yes, Your Majesty. I have limited skills, so I try my best to get errands. Is there a place, the emperor reminds sooner or later. ”

As he was talking, the eunuch Gao Wuyong came in, and Qianlong asked, "Are you ready?" Gao Wuyong hurriedly said: "Back to the emperor, everything is ready, Zhang Tingyu called for a request, the emperor is from here, or go to the Qianqing Palace to ask them to accompany him." ”

"I'll go from here—it's a lack of words, Uncle Sixteen. I was sulking in my heart, and it was much better. Qianlong got up and said, "Today, I will pass on the Enke Jinshi in the Baohe Palace." I'll call you again another day. It's good that you're honest, but you're too loyal to be bullied, so follow my words and think about it. Yunlu hurriedly got up and resigned. Here, Qianlong was served by a few eunuchs to change clothes. When everything was in order, Gao Wuyong ran out of the weeping flower door and said loudly: "The emperor has set off, wait for the public opinion!" ”

Suddenly, the sound of fine music started, dozens of Changyin Pavilion enshrined music followed, more than 100 guards and eunuchs carried out the honor guard to lead, and swept out of the heavenly street to the three major halls, and waited until the big stone steps opposite the Qianqing Gate, all the servants were left, only two guards followed Qianlong to pick up the steps, and the three ministers of the study had already been waiting in the Baohe Palace. It was the relatives who presided over the singing ceremony today, and led Zhang and E to kneel down to ask for peace, and shouted:

"The emperor has arrived-the new jinshi kneels to pick up!"

The music in front of the Baohe Palace was loud. The music here is by no means the same as Hu Cong, sixty-four Changyin Pavilion who specialize in practicing palace music teach eunuchs, each according to the direction, with Huang Zhong, Da Lu, Tai Tuan, Jia Zhong, Gu Xi, Zhong Lu, Rui Bin, Village Bell, Yi Ze, Nan Lu, Wu Shot, Ying Zhong 12 Lu music rhythm is the main, with Xiao, Sheng, reed, flute, qin, zheng, gonghou, harp harmony, chime and bronze chime accompanied, play really the sound of nine times, the sound is moving. In the midst of the music, sixty-four worshippers sat upright with their hands in their hands, and sang:

When Yun Han was the saint of Zhangji, he ordered the winter official, the axe algae ornament, and the carved jade frieze. The rafters are not cut without luxury, and the five meridians are stored in the abdomen. Linxuan gathers people's thoughts, and the holy place of talents. Mu Shenxian, vain and sincerity are meaningless, but the scholar is to Yongxi...... Qi Tianlu, Sven is here, and Xiaoran is too terrestrillous. Into Chengming, the tiles move in the sun. Covered with brocade robes, Meng Chunli, withdrawn the golden lotus, returned to the hospital late, gave jade, and self-pengchi......

As he walked, he stole Qianlong's look. Qianlong listened very carefully, and there were two eyebrows that he raised as if he wanted to ask something, but at this time, the grand ceremony was underway, and hundreds of new science and technology scholars knelt in front of the hall and held back. When they came to the temple, the music stopped. Yang Mingshi and E Shan knelt at the front, and the leader shouted: "Long live the emperor!" ”

"Long live the Emperor, long live it!"

The new scholars bowed their heads together.

Qianlong nodded with a smile to this group of new jinshi of all ages, stepped into the main hall, and sat down in the middle of the Sumeru seat. He took a step forward, saluted Qianlong, respectfully accepted the yellow satin cover gold book held by Gao Wuyong, and said loudly: "Liao Huaen, the fourth first-class jinshi in the palace examination!" ”

"The minister is here!"

A fair, round-faced jinshi in his thirties came out in response, I don't know whether it was hot or nervous, his front placket was wet with sweat and stuck to his body, he hurriedly entered the hall, knocked down his horseshoe sleeves and kowtowed to Qianlong three times before he froze. The relatives calmed him down for a moment before he said slowly: "By order, you will pass on the roll call - you be careful, don't lose your manners!" "Yes!" Liao Huaen agreed, held the golden book like a baby in swaddling clothes, and sent a thousand children to Qianlong to the entrance of the palace.

The palace test is a messenger who is more showy than the champion. The jinshi, who had been kneeling for nearly an hour under the scorching sun, were already a little sluggish, but now they were all full of energy and looked at Liao Huaen. Liao Huaen calmed his rapid breathing, opened the golden book and read aloud:

"In the first year of Qianlong, Enke Hall tried the first place in the first class, and Jinshizhuang Yougong!"

Although this was already known in advance, in front of such a beautiful and purple and green golden hall, in front of the "Holy Lord Son of Heaven" grandly announced, Zhuang Yougong, who was kneeling in the third row, still had his head "buzzing". The scene in front of me immediately became trance-like. Half-asleep and half-awake, in the light as a gossamer music, with the celebrant singing in a frustrated voice, with eight first-class jinshi saluted Qianlong, led by the praise officer Zhuang Yougong and the list of eyes to probe Qianlong kneeling and thanking the list. After tossing for half an hour, the three auxiliary ministers Zhang Tingyu, Ortai, and Neqin personally sent Taihemen, and Yin of Shuntian Mansion greeted him again. Personally send the Sanding Jia, open the main gate of Tiananmen Square and swagger out, go to the color shed set up on East Chang'an Avenue to eat hairpin wine, and let tens of millions of people admire the style - this is the so-called "Royal Street Praise Official", and the program has remained unchanged for hundreds of years. All these etiquette Zhuang Yougong are confused, like a marionette with the crowd, if the heart is bright and dark, like joy and sorrow in a confused area, fortunately, the "Thanksgiving Table" has already been memorized smoothly, but there is nothing wrong.

But when the ceremony ended, Sandingjia broke up, and the people who watched the praise of the officials dispersed, Zhuang Yougong became out of shape. Seeing that no one came out at the door of a siu mai shop on the side of the road to "pay respects", Zhuang Yougong turned around and ordered the official of the Ministry of Rites to send him back to his house to stop, and dismounted and entered the store. The boss was shirtless on his upper body, and he was wearing only a pair of pants on his lower body to cool off. At first glance, Zhuang Yougong put a golden flower on his head and came in wearing a new shiny jinshi robe, he was startled at first, panicked, and when he grabbed his clothes, he couldn't find it, so he knelt down on the spot and saluted. Zhuang Yougong didn't buy anything, stared at the boss stupidly and said, "I won the champion." ”

"The little one just came back from Chang'an Avenue." The boss said, "You are always the champion, the best in the world!" The short and fat boss smiled so hard that his eyes narrowed, and he stretched out his thumb and shook it, "In the future, I must be the master of the middle hall!" ”

"Oh......" Zhuang Yougong threw a piece of silver horn over, "You already know......" After speaking, he didn't say anything, went out again, took out a silver ticket of eighty taels to the official of the Ministry of Rites, and said: "I want to go alone, you will go back to pay the errand." This bit of silver, you should take it to eat and drink first, and the right to add it to me as an official. I'll ask you again. The group of people had already walked away with dry mouths and scorched bodies, and they wished for his words, received the silver reward, and went to find a place to eat and drink with the head of Xingxing, carrying the solemn avoidance card.

At this time, it is the middle of summer in June, the sun is shining, the cicadas are singing and the trees are quiet, and everyone is taking a break in the shade, eating melons and drinking tea to relieve the heat. Zhuang Yougong only walked along the street, and when he saw that no one came out to see the lively shop, he went in to enjoy a silver horn, and left after hearing a few words of welcome. provoked a group of bare-ass kids to follow behind and watch the excitement. So four or five of them were transferred. Zhuang Yougong saw a butcher shop in front of him, there was a big willow tree in front of the three doors, and a white cloth tent was opened on the east side of the façade, and the braised pork that had just come out of the pot was placed on the table under the canopy. A girl sat next to her and watched the stall. Zhuang Yougong paced over and was about to speak, when he saw a person sitting at the counter in the storefront, wearing a snow-white bamboo cloth coat, holding a fan in one hand and taking notes in the account book with the other. As soon as the man raised his head, he was looking at Zhuang Yougong:

"Zhuang Dianyuan!"

"Third Master Le!"

The two of them exclaimed almost at the same time, and Le Min walked out of the counter in a few steps, and said to Yu'er: "This is my former literary friend, and now-"

"Now I've won the top prize." Zhuang Yougong looked at Liu Si who was gently swaying in the breeze in a daze, and said, "Just praised the official, didn't you see it?" ”

Le Min was taken aback: Why do you look like this, say such things? After a stunned moment, Zhuang Yougong's demeanor was carefully examined, and he saw that his eyes were drunk, like waking up from a dream, and he felt that something was wrong, and he looked at Yu'er in a blink of an eye. Yu'er just covered her mouth with a handkerchief and laughed, and hurriedly said, "Yu'er! What to laugh at? Hurry up and move a stool out. Zhuang Yougong said: "What's so funny about this? The article earns it! ”

"It's not funny." Yu'er also saw that Zhuang Yougong seemed to be phlegm, so she went in and moved a stool to invite Zhuang Yougong to sit down, and said with a smile, "On such a hot day, a champion fell from the sky to our Zhangjia butcher shop!" Don't you say it, it should be the mud tire in which temple ran out - our family only kills pigs, not champions! ”

"Yu'er!"

Le Min scolded Yu'er, and said to Zhuang Yougong: "Congratulations on your high hair." But that's what Yu'er said. Now that you are the champion, you should raise Rong Weihua, so you came alone. In this way, you sit down for a while, I will go to find Brother Xueqin, and I also sent him a pair of pork livers just now. He said to me, I think you look a little unwilling. Zhuang Yougong said: "Huh? Why am I not kept? Champion! Earned by articles, you know? Lermin listened to him speak more and more distorted, and became more and more convinced that he was insane. There is no way to take this living treasure, and suddenly remembered "The History of Confucianism", Zhuang Yougong is very similar to Fan Jin, so he pulled Yu'er and whispered: "You just sarcastically mock him - more ruthless than sarcasm me!" Zhuang Yougong heard the word "sarcasm" and muttered: "sarcasm? What do I have to be sarcastic? I don't sarcastically criticize others, and it's not easy for people to read. ”

"Who said you were being sarcastic!" Yu'er poured a cup of herbal tea, put it on the table in front of Zhuang Yougong, and said solemnly: "I don't understand, what is the champion-champion?" Le Min was drinking a sip of tea to his throat, and when he heard this, he choked suddenly—he was busy coughing to hide his laughter.

Zhuang Yougong said seriously: "The girl is so smart, how can she ask this?" The champion is the first person in the world! Yu'er suddenly realized: "Oh, that's very disrespectful!" The first person in the world, one in a few hundred years? Zhuang Yougongmu made a face and said, "Three years!" ”

"One in three years?" Yu'er sighed, "I still think it's Sage Confucius and Sage Meng, and it will come out once in five hundred years!" There will be one in three years, which is less than the old sow's calves! Zhuang Yougong smiled bitterly and said, "How can you be so compared!" The Golden Palace takes the exam, the Jade Hall gives a banquet, the royal street praises the officials, and the Qiong feast hairpin flowers! Coming out of the main gate of Tiananmen Square, even the prince and prime minister do not have this decent scenery! ”

Seeing that Zhuang Yougong couldn't wake up, Le Min frowned beside him, and after a while, he said gloomily: "When Huangliang finally wakes up from a dream, Zhuang Yougong, your east window incident happened!" ”

"What?!"

"I just read the newspaper." Le Min saw Zhuang Yougong shrink all over, the pupils in his eyes flashed, and he knew that this blow was effective, so he said coldly: "You dredge the examiner and bribe the test papers." Sun Jiagan's imperial history has been impeached in chapters, nine times angry, the government and the opposition are shocked, and the title book of Sun Yu's history has been sent to Dali Temple, Liu Tongxun is the main trial, and the guard Fu Heng is sentenced - your head is difficult to protect within a few days, do you dare to put the champion score here? Before he finished speaking, Zhuang Yougong's face was like ashes, and he sat in shock, like an idiot. Le Min stepped forward and shook him, Zhuang Yougong was unconscious! Le Min couldn't help but be frightened, scared to death a champion, what to do!

Yu'er stood aside as if watching a play, listening to Le Min threatening Zhuang Yougong, at this time, seeing that Le Min was panicked, she came over to take a look, and said angrily: "Without that diamond diamond, why are you doing this porcelain work?" He's crazy or not, and he has to do with your - mind this! As he spoke, he pinched Zhuang Yougong with his middle finger, and Zhuang Yougong screamed "oops" and woke up.

"What's wrong with me? How did you get here? Zhuang Yougong blinked, his eyes were no longer straight, and his body seemed to tremble. He had completely regained his senses, and only looked at Le Min in a daze, and only smiled to himself for a while: "Eat...... Eating too much wine and getting drunk, ...... drunk" Yu'er pushed the tea bowl to his hand and said, "You drank too much ecstasy soup!" If you want me to say, it's better to be drunk, and when you wake up, you won't be the first person in the world! "I don't know why! She suddenly got a little angry, and with a flick of her hand, she entered the store. Le Min knew that she was robbing herself, and when she got up and went in to comfort her, she was afraid that Zhuang Yougong would be snubbed, and was about to speak to greet her, when she saw more than a dozen people in the east carrying a bamboo silk sedan chair coming over, and a person who looked like a housekeeper shouted from afar: "Master Zhuang!" Bangyan Ye is waiting in the mansion, how can you talk to this kind of person here! Zhuang Yougong hurriedly got up, bowed his hand to Le Min, and said, "Brother Le, I'm out of company, come to my house another day to talk!" "He walked away.

The Enke Hall trial release ceremony was completed, and the Military Aircraft Department received a report from Zhang Guangsi, the minister of Miaojiang Economic Strategy. Since the spring of the first year of Qianlong, the generals were adjusted, Zhang Guangsi's military power was unified, and the troops were divided into three ways to storm the upper nine shares, the lower nine units and the lower reaches of the Qingjiang River, where the rebels were entrenched. After winning the first battle, Zhang Guangsi took a short rest and recuperated, and then divided his troops into eight ways to attack the last nest of the rebel enemy. The cowhide is located in the Miao village, starting from the Danjiang River in the north, reaching Duyun in the west, connecting the Qingjiang River in the east, stretching for hundreds of miles of fog and rain, the poisonous miasma is pervasive, the stream is deep and the mountains are high, the dangerous rock cuts the clouds, it is a situation that is extremely sinister. Ha Yuansheng, Dong Fang and Zhang Zhao have all suffered defeats here. Zhang Guangsi was therefore very cautious, and first sealed the passage of the Jingkou and cut off the grain source inside. In May, when the miasma was at its peak, he took advantage of the enemy's unpreparedness and drove the soldiers and horses of the eight routes to attack together, and it took only ten days to win a complete victory. After Ortai and Zhang Tingyu received the report of victory, they knew that Qianlong was most concerned about the first priority of the military state, and they didn't have time to write an abridgement, so they rushed to the Palace of Nourishing the Heart with the original manuscript. The two signed up, but saw Qianlong holding a roster and talking to the minister of the upper study.

"It's a good booklet." Qianlong motioned to Zhang and E to excuse themselves, and continued, "I see that there are a lot of old Hanlin in the Hanlin Academy, and some of them are senior, and they should be released to be foreign officials. Otherwise, when I get old, I will only write four or six ges of praise to the saints, what is the use of so many sycophantic articles? I have read the first 30 volumes of Jinshi on the list this time, and it is still good. Then they will fill in the top thirty, and those who should read, those who should speak, and those who should be scholars. I see that although you are a relative of the country, you are still skilled in handling affairs - since Tingyu and they are here, there is no need to pass on the decree, from tomorrow onwards, you will also be the minister of the military department, and you must always be able to handle the civil and military missions, which is the whole material. "Let's just look at Zhang Tingyu.

Zhang Tingyu hurriedly smiled and folded Zhang Guangsi's recital. As soon as Qianlong saw the cover, he knew that it was from Guizhou, so he hurriedly opened it, first looked at the head, and then at the folded tail, jumped up with joy, and said: "Okay! I have thousands of thoughts, and only this one part of the fold has been removed! He stood in front of the window and read the fold carefully, handed it back to Zhang Tingyu, and said: "The full text of the Fadi Newspaper is published - Zhang Guangsi is promoted to the title of second-class duke!" The following meritorious members were listed by Zhang Guangsi and submitted to the ministry for discussion. Seeing Ortai standing aside without speaking, he smiled again: "Old Xilin [1]

, you won't be unhappy because of the great victory of our army, but you will be unhappy in your heart, right? ”

"Long live is a happy word, but it makes the slave ashamed of himself." Ortai hurriedly bowed down and said, "The slaves are thinking, the rebel seedlings are still those rebel seedlings, and the place is still Guizhou." The first emperor was also a wise emperor, why couldn't he do it? After all, it is because the minions are not competent, and they have made a discord with the generals in the front, and the rear is at a loss, and the minions are really to blame, and they must be severely punished. The minions also thought that after the army, the corpses were all over the field, and after the battle, they should be appeased. It is necessary to select and make up for the selection of officials who are honest and honest and love the people like sons to be in Miaojiang, and it will take a few years to complete the work. ”

He said it so sincerely, even Zhang Tingyu secretly admired it, and said: "It's all drudgery." Many of the officials who were sent in the past would rather abandon their posts than go. The emperor, the servant suggested, pick the county from the new jinshi, and pick the prefect from the county who has done well. If you don't go, you will be dismissed and never used; If you go, you will double the amount of money and silver, rotate every three years, govern well, and you will be rewarded when you come back. Knowing what is righteous, but also moving it to benefit. ”

"Good!" The more Qianlong listened, the happier he became, "Just follow this rule, the three of you will meet with the people from the ministry, and they will draw up a list to introduce them, and this matter must be handled quickly." After that, Qianlong returned to the kang and sat cross-legged, and said with a smile: "I just called Neqin to come over, because there are too many disagreements with Lu Lu because of the music of the Great Rite Ceremony." Governing the people in peace is not good at courtesy; Change customs, don't be good at fun. The sacrificial celebration of the imperial court is to worship the heavens and teach the people, which is different from the gentry and the common people's feasts for fun. I listened to a few places, but I don't know if it's the chimes or the over-the-top cluster that is not compliant, how awkward it sounds. It is necessary to meet with the Ministry of Rites, re-edit the music of the court, and examine the score of the palace merchants. ——If the rituals and music used in the court ceremonies are all upside down, what else will the people follow? - You see, who is the right person to do this errand? ”

The three ministers glanced at each other, and the name "Zhang Zhao" flashed in their hearts almost at the same time. Ne personally bowed down and said: "Zhang Zhao misled the country, he shouldn't have been recommended." But to test the rhythm of music and edit the movement, except for Zhang Zhao, no one can do it......" Zhang Tingyu also thought about it. Because this matter is related to Zhang Zhao and Ortai's discord, and he is also involved in it, he didn't say anything, just lowered his head and pondered. Ortai almost didn't even think about it and said: "Zhang Zhao lost his teacher and humiliated the country, and the crime is unacceptable, but this person is really useful." Is it possible to do an errand on the spot in the Prison God Temple Detention Center without being sent to prison, and make meritorious contributions to the crime? ”

"You're taking this too easily." Qianlong said with a smile: "This music book, how many archives do you have to consult to compile it." Although Zhang Zhao is not mellow, he is wise and sensitive, and he does not hide his flaws and flaws. His literary style is very good, and you can't match it! Avoid death, call him out, and do this errand at the Wuying Palace's book repair office. Xuanniao sings and Shang Zuoxing, and Lingtai plays and Zhou Daochang. This is no small matter. ”

Ortai saw that Qianlong was in a very good mood, and took the opportunity to say: "Wang Shijun's recital has already been held in the sixth department. He shall be sentenced to death according to the crime of great disrespect. The emperor, with the insight of a servant, although Wang Shijun is rude and harsh, he seems to be similar to Tian Wenjing, and his ethics are not bad. Can he be spared from death and sent to serve in the army to see the after-effects? ”

"His sin is not against me." Qianlong pondered for a moment, sat upright and stared into the distance, "When the Holy Ancestor was here, Guo Xiu and Yao Diyu all collided in front of the king. Sun Jiagan and Shi Yizhi were the same during the reign of King Sejong - not only did they not punish, but they were also promoted to become famous ministers. I don't care about Wang Shijun's rudeness. But he is against my national policy, and he proposes that I am turning over the accounts of the Patriarch, which is neither tolerable nor acceptable! ”

He tensed his lips for a long time before he said, "Hold off first, and then I will think about it......"

[1]

Ortai's surname is Xilin Jueluo.