In Zhejiang, after a winter dry season, the peach blossom flood has also passed, and in the fourth lunar month, the Xin'an River water will reach the most abundant water, generously watering the green seedlings of the boundless rice fields on both sides of the river from the various weirs it flows through. The river is so clear and calm, it can't help but remind people of the proverb in the Tao Te Ching, "good is like water", and suddenly there is endless gratitude.

But this year, all the weirs have been blocked, and the water of the Xin'an River, which has been blessed by God, is flowing down in vain by the embankments on both banks. The prediction of Zhang Juzheng and others was all said, and as soon as the national policy of the imperial court to change the rice fields into mulberry fields was implemented, it brought disaster to the people of Zhejiang. On the embankment of the Xin'an River in Chun'an County, at this time there were soldiers and servants with knives and guns, and Ma Ningyuan, the prefect of Hangzhou, with his subordinates Chang Boxi of Chun'an Zhi County and Zhang Zhiliang of Jiande Zhi County, was forcing the implementation of the national policy of changing rice to mulberry.

On the embankment, all the people kneeling in sight were people, and their faces were full of despair. Next to the rice fields under the embankment was a neat row of war horses, all of which were soldiers in nail armor.

"Step on the seedlings!" Ma Ningyuan roared.

The horse team was driven, and countless flipped horses' hooves swept away like a mountain of seas. It was not a battlefield, there were no enemy soldiers, and under the horse's hooves were cracked farmland, green seedlings that had grown several inches high. In the midst of the sound of horses' hooves, the cries of countless people followed. The horse team stepped over one hill of seedling fields, and then stepped on another hill like a sea of mountains.

"Insert!" This roar was made by Chang Boxi and Zhang Zhiliang beside Ma Ningyuan.

Several officials carried wooden signs and ran to the seedling fields that had been trampled. The wooden sign was poked in the middle of the seedling by one of the officials, and the other officer picked up a hammer and nailed the wooden card into it. The wooden sign is impressively written with two big characters of "Sangtian"!

The cry was louder, and the horse team was still stepping towards the seedling field in front of them!

"Daddy!" Suddenly, a woman's frightened cry rang out amid numerous cries!

In the horrified eyes of many people, an old man ran desperately towards the seedling field, running towards the hill seedling field that the horse team was about to step on!

The horse team is still galloping forward. The old man ran to the middle of the seedling field and threw himself down, his face pressed tightly against the field between several green seedlings, and his outstretched arms were slightly inwardly enclosed in a circle, as if to protect his children and the seedlings that had already withered and yellowed. The caravan was getting closer and closer to the old man.

"Death anyway!" A young man roared angrily, "Let's fight!" With a roar, he jumped and flew towards the seedling field where the old man was lying on his stomach. Immediately afterwards, a group of young and strong farmers jumped and ran towards the seedling field.

The horses were still rushing forward, and in front of them, a wall of people had risen in front of the old man lying on the ground. The soldiers on the horse were nervous, and many eyes were on the officer in the middle of the horse. The officer began to subconsciously pull back the reins in his hand, and many soldiers began to pull the reins in their hands as well. But the inertia of the galloping horse is still running towards the human wall. The officer in the team sweated his face and began to pull the reins back tightly. All the soldiers pulled the reins back desperately. The distance was less than a zhang, and the horse team stopped in a daze! Many horses were spraying their noses frantically, and many horses' hooves were frantically scraping the ground.

"Diaomin!" Zhang Zhiliang of Jiande Zhi County stomped his foot, and then looked at Ma Ningyuan beside him.

"It's anti-people!" Chang Boxi of Chun'an Zhixian County said sharply, "Just now, someone openly said 'the opposite'!" ”

"Who's saying the opposite?" Ma Ningyuan's face turned blue.

"I see it clearly." Chang Boxi pointed his hand, "It's that person!" ”

"Grab it!" Ma Ningyuan let out a low roar.

A group of officials rushed over with chains and rulers. After a while, the man who took the lead in blocking the horse had been pulled over by the chain, and more than a dozen men were also pulled by the chain.

The people, who had been kneeling, rose to their feet and began to stir, and the swords and spears of the cavalry and infantry sergeants formed a formation to block the crying crowd.

Several men were chained and pulled in front of the officials. Ma Ningyuan, who had always been pale: "Who is the person who said 'reversed' just now!" ”

"It's me." The man who took the lead replied immediately. Chang Boxi and Zhang Zhiliang were both stunned, and then glanced at each other.

"Good! It's good to dare to say and admit it. Ma Ning glanced at the man from afar, then turned his eyes to the side, and then asked, "What's your name?" ”

The man: "Qi Dazhu." ”

Ma Ningyuan: "What do you do for a living?" ”

The man: "Local Sannon." ”

"Thornnon?" Ma Ningyuan turned his head to look at the man again, "Why did Sang Nong come to make trouble with the rice farmer?" ”

The man was silent for a moment and replied, "My heart is unfair." ”

"Good, good. It's a man! Ma Ningyuan nodded his head and suddenly accentuated his tone, "What kind of leader are you in Wang Zhi?" ”

"Wang Zhi?" The man who took the lead was stunned, "Which Wang Zhi?" ”

Ma Ningyuan: "Wang Zhi, the leader of the Japanese Bandits!" ”

The man who took the lead was stunned for a moment, and then replied loudly: "I don't know." ”

"When the time comes, you'll say you know." Ma Ningyuan's face turned blue again. After saying this, he faced the people who were oppressed by the black and said loudly: "Change the rice field to the mulberry field, which will benefit the country and you!" Such a great good thing just can't be implemented! Today, they are still gathering people to fight! Now I understand that there are Japanese robbers inciting rebellion! ”

That's a big crime. As soon as Ma Ningyuan said a few words, the crowd that was still rioting and crying just now suddenly fell silent.

Ma Ningyuan then ordered loudly: "Continue to step on the seedlings!" Those who dare to obstruct one will be caught one and escorted to Hangzhou with these few! ”

Chang Boxi and Zhang Zhiliang shouted at Miao Tian's cavalry in unison: "Step! ”

The horse team stepped towards the seedling field in front of them, and the horse's hooves passed by the patches of fallen and scattered green seedlings!

Suddenly, the leading officer in the cavalry looked at him with surprise and began to strangle his mount. He saw a group of five horsemen on the embankment galloping towards the embankment. As the gallop approached, many people could clearly see the large red tassels on the helmet of the leading rider and the black on the back of the shoulders and the red cloak on the back of the shoulders flying backwards in the gallop.

"It's Lord Shojin!" The officer cried out and grabbed the reins. He recognized this person in three-grade armor as the top boss of his group of officers and soldiers, Qi Jiguang, the current chief soldier of Taizhou Town, Zhejiang.

The horse teams in the seedling field all stopped in unison.

The five galloping horses were getting closer and closer. The infantry soldiers on the embankment immediately ran forward and lined up in two neat rows on the embankment.

Qi Jiguang, who was on the horse, slammed the reins a few feet away from the two lines of infantry, and the five horses stopped neatly.

Qi Jiguang's eyes looked at the cavalry in Miao Tian, who had already driven their horses to the embankment at this time. Soon, the cavalry and horses all climbed the embankment, dismounted in front of the infantry, and lined up in two rows.

Qi Jiguang then rode his horse and slowly walked to the middle of the two lines of cavalry, his eyes first looked at the crowd on the embankment, and then looked at the farmland under the embankment that was cracked and green seedlings were mixed. His gaze was so cold that the infantry officers and soldiers lined up there were silent, and even the horses were motionless.

The sudden restlessness of the army only made Ma Ningyuan, Chang Boxi, and Zhang Zhiliang understand that Qi Jiguang was coming!

Chang Boxi: "What is he doing here?" ”

Zhang Zhiliang: "It's not here to transfer the soldiers, right?" ”

"The soldier was transferred to me by the ministry, and he can't be transferred." Ma Ningyuan said and strode towards Qi Jiguang. Chang Boxi and Zhang Zhiliang also followed.

"You didn't happen to be there when you were deployed." Ma Ningyuan approached Qi Jiguang loudly, "I can leave you with the transfer order of the ministry." ”

Qi Jiguang ignored him at this time, but stared fiercely at the cavalry officer in front of him: "You took these green seedlings to step on?" ”

The officer said: "It's a subordinate ......"

With a "snap", the horsewhip in Qi Jiguang's hand flashed on the officer's face like lightning, and a bright red blood mark immediately appeared on the officer's face! The officer was whipped heavily and then stood more straight.

Qi Jiguang then asked sharply: "Who else has stepped on the green seedlings, all stand up!" ”

The soldiers who had stepped over the green seedlings took a step from the side of the horse to the horse's head, still in two neat rows. Qi Jiguang rode his horse from the middle of the two lines of soldiers who were standing, the whip in his hand flew left and right, a whip and a blood mark, and each soldier who was drawn straightened up. The horses are still walking, and the whip is still flying.

Chang Boxi and Zhang Zhiliang were stunned, the officials were stunned, and the people far away were also stunned, but Ma Ningyuan's face became more and more blue.

The horsewhip in Qi Jiguang's hand stopped, and then said loudly to those officers and soldiers: "It's water cut off again, and it's stepping on seedlings again!" When soldiers eat food, whose food do you eat? ”

"Of course, it's the imperial grain!" What else did Ma Ningyuan not understand at this time? Immediately shouted on.

Qi Jiguang couldn't ignore him at this time, and looked at Ma Ningyuan: "Where did the imperial grain come from?" ”

"Under the whole world, it is not the king's land!" Ma Ningyuan's voice became louder, "Of course the imperial grain is the emperor's!" ”

"Well said!" Qi Jiguang's eyes looked at Ma Ningyuan, "Then what you cut off is the emperor's water!" The one who stepped on it was the emperor's seedling! ”

These words immediately put Ma Ning far away, and his face was suffocated.

Qi Jiguang ignored him again, sat up straight, and looked at his soldiers: "Do you know what crime it is to cut off the emperor's water and step on the emperor's seedlings?" ”

"Capital offense!" All the soldiers replied loudly, apparently knowing the purpose of their general's questioning.

"It's good to understand!" Qi Jiguang ordered loudly, "Assemble!" Back to the barracks! ”

All the soldiers began to run in front of him and assemble.

The people understood, and some people began to shout: "They also arrested people, General Qi, tell them to release our people!" ”

"Let go!"

"Let go!"

Many voices rang out!

Qi Jiguang no longer glanced at the people, and continued to look at his soldiers.

"This, is this against us, or against the court!" Chang Boxi was furious.

"Lord Futai, you can't let Qi Jiguang take the officers and soldiers away." Zhang Zhiliang also panicked, and hurriedly said to Ma Ningyuan.

Ma Ningyuan rushed to Qi Jiguang and shouted: "Qi Jiguang, your officers and soldiers were transferred to me by the ministry, and you have no right to take them away!" ”

Qi Jiguang's voice was cold, but very firm: "My soldiers are going to fight the Japanese invaders." ”

Ma Ningyuan: "Is there an order?" ”

Qi Jiguang: "Of course there is." ”

Ma Ningyuan: "Whose appointment?" ”

"I don't need to show you an appointment." Qi Jiguang sneered, "If you want to know, go up there and ask." ”

"I know where you're coming from." Ma Ningyuan's eyes widened, "Is it the order from Tan Lun?" ”

Qi Jiguang was silent for a moment, ignored him no longer, and continued to watch the officers and soldiers assemble.

Ma Ningyuan stood in front of Qi Jiguang's horse: "Qi Jiguang, you are a member of the ministry, and I am also a member of the ministry. ”

Qi Jiguang looked at his face, smiled coldly, lowered his head, and said in a low voice: "Since you are a member of the ministry, I will advise you." Release all the people who were arrested. Otherwise, as soon as my men and horses are gone, they will not throw you into the river. After saying this, he slammed the reins and ordered loudly: "Go!" ”

The horse galloped away.

With the sound of neat hooves and footsteps, all the officers and soldiers swept past Ma Ningyuan, who was standing there alone, and followed Qi Jiguang's horse and galloped.

The crowd of ordinary people began to surge, and the black pressure rushed towards Ma Ningyuan, their three-passenger sedan chair and the few people locked by a dozen officials on the embankment.

"Let go!"

"Let the people go!"

There was another roar among the people.

Chang Boxi and Zhang Zhiliang panicked first, and leaned towards Ma Ningyuan at the same time. Chang Boxi looked panicked and asked, "Lord Futai, let people go." Back in Hangzhou......" Ma Ningyuan's fierce eyes glared at Chang Boxi and Zhang Zhiliang: "Afraid of death?" If you are afraid of death, leave the gauze hat behind, and you go. ”

Chang Boxi and Zhang Zhiliang were stunned.

Ma Ning turned to the officials who were also panicked: "Don't let people go!" Then he alone greeted the crowd of civilians.

The people stood still. Ma Ningyuan said sharply: "Benfutai is standing here alone now!" Whoever dares to rebel will come and throw me into this river!" ”

The surging crowd was unexpectedly suppressed by his momentum, and the entire embankment was as silent as death.

Ma Ningyuan still faced the people: "It is the national policy of the imperial court to change the rice field to the mulberry field, you either change it yourself, or sell it to others to change, a thousand people die, ten thousand people, and the people of Zhejiang have to change it even if they die!" Qi Jiguang took the soldiers away, and there are still millions of officers and soldiers in the imperial court! Gather people to fight, this life is with you! Speaking of this, he shouted loudly: "Escort these thieves back to Hangzhou first!" ”

Chang Boxi came to his senses and said loudly to the officials: "Escort people, go!" Chang Boxi, Zhang Zhiliang and the servants escorted those people and began to walk forward.

At this time, Ma Ningyuan slowly turned around and walked forward.

The people were so kind, and there was so no way out, all the people stopped rioting, nor did they disperse, and they all followed Ma Ningyuan away.

"With so many people, if you really follow Hangzhou, things will make a big fuss." Chang Boxi sweated on his face and followed Ma Ningyuan and said.

"It's a big deal!" Ma Ning strode over, "When you arrive in Hangzhou, I'll talk about it when I see Lord Ministry!" ”

The water of the Xin'an River still flows calmly, like the calmly squirming crowd on the embankment beside it.

Hu Zongxian, the governor of Zhejiang and the governor of Zhejiang, who was called by Ma Ningyuan and them, was helplessly dragged by Yang Jinshui, the eunuch in charge of the Jiangnan Weaving Bureau and Zhejiang City, to watch silk patterns with a group of Western merchants in the hall of the Weaving Bureau.

The drums are not beating people's ear drums one by one, but beating people's hearts one by one! This kind of drumming can only reach this state without fireworks during the Jiajing period of the Ming Dynasty. Accompanied by the sound of the drums in the hall is the kind of flute that can only be found in the Jiajing period of the Ming Dynasty, which is clearly played by the flute master sitting there in front of him, but it makes people feel that it comes from the distant sky above the huge hall.

This is one of the greatest art forms in Chinese history – when Kunqu Opera was just coming of age, and it was played here by the first class of Kunqu Opera from all over the world invited from Suzhou.

With the performance of Kunqu Opera, like a cloud and a stream, a long silk horse swept the long staircase in the middle of the handrail in the middle of the lobby and flowed upward. The silk that swept through the staircase seemed to have color, and it seemed to have no color; There is a pattern, but it is like there is no pattern; One zhang, two zhang, three zhang, four zhang, five zhang. The end of the long silk was draped over the shoulders of a slender woman. The music played by the sound of the drums and the flute was so seamless that the woman in silk had just reached the end of the second staircase, and with a smile in her eyes, the song was over.

There was a round of applause on the north side of the hall on the ground floor, on the opposite side of the long staircase.

The people sitting in the long row of chairs stood up with a smile. The person in the middle is Hu Zongxian, next to him to his left is Yang Jinshui, who is in charge of the plate today, and standing on his right is Zheng Michang, the political envoy of Zhejiang, and He Maocai, the envoy of Zhejiang. On either side were five richly dressed merchants. These wealthy businessmen could see at a glance that they were "not of my race", two of them had high noses and deep eyes, and the other three had particularly dark skin, and the applause just now was taken by them.

"Palm Candle!" Yang Jinshui screamed with laughter.

Immediately, two attendants approached through the two doors on either side of the hall with a lighted candlestick in his hand. Yang Jinshui, Zheng Michang, He Maocai, and the few exotic wealthy merchants each received a candle flame from an entourage. Only Hu Zongxian's hand did not reach for the candlestick, and Zheng Michang and He Mao immediately asked him about it.

A tired smile appeared on Hu Zongxian's clear face: "Gonggong Yang and you will lead it and take a look." ”

Yang Jinshui smiled and continued: "Lord Ministry, I've always been really tired, but we don't dare to let you go." You still have to sit here and rest, and you will have to decide how much silk you can sell and send to the West, and how many ships you can send to escort you. ”

Speaking of this, he smiled at Zheng Michang, He Maocai and the exotic businessmen beside him: "Come, come, let's go and see the goods." ”

So saying, he walked forward with the candlestick to the silk still on the stairs, and as he went, he shrieked, "Extinguish the lights!" ”

It had been prepared for a long time, and the people who had stood next to each lantern that had hung high in the cloister on the second floor immediately extinguished those lanterns. The tall hall immediately darkened, and only the candles held by the few men appeared in a circle of light in the center of the hall.

Under the illumination of the candlelight in his hand, Yang Jinshui's face became clearer, it was a typical eunuch's face. He took the lead with the candle in his hand and walked towards the staircase in the middle. The merchants followed them, and the group approached the staircase with candles, and approached the silk.

Hu Zongxian sat down again in the middle of the row of empty chairs and slowly closed his eyes. The captain of the Governor's Office, who was standing at the door of the hall, immediately walked over with a cloak on his arm, gently covered Hu Zongxian's body, and retreated lightly.

Yang Jinshui, Zheng Michang, and He Maocai led the merchants up the first few stairs along both sides of the silk, and immediately two attendants pulled up the silk at the lower end of the stairs, and the front end of the silk was pulled away from the steps.

"Please." Yang Jinshui shone the candlelight in his hand, and several other people also shone the candlelight in his hand:

- The wings of butterflies and the wings of bees are like being able to see through the wings from this side of the wings, and what is even more rare is that each butterfly, the color of the patterns on each bee is different, and each wing, each wing has a different amplitude of flying, but they are all really flying, flying around the buds that have not yet bloomed!

A few businessmen laughed back, but remained reserved.

"Please look up." Yang Jinshui led the group up the second step again.

The two attendants downstairs took a step back by tugging at the two corners of the silk, and the second section of the silk was pulled out of the steps.

Several candles shone at the same time:

- It's still those butterflies, it's still those bees, it's still those flowers, butterflies and bees are still flying around the flowers.

Several merchants glanced at each other, still smiling, but showing some disapproval.

Yang Jinshui stopped smiling, and pointed to a flower in the middle with a woman's fair and soft hand: "Look at this flower first, take a closer look." ”

Candlelight and human heads approached the silk.

You have to look closely, and you have to be a connoisseur, to see that this flower is indeed a little different from the buds of the previous section - the petals have opened slightly!

"It's on!" This was blurted out by the dark-faced merchant, who apparently often came to the Ming Dynasty to do business, and could speak Chinese, but with an awkward Wu Yin.

"Okay!" Yang Jinshui smiled and praised, "The previous paragraph was worn at seven o'clock in the morning according to your Western clock, and the flowers were still flowers, so the butterflies and bees just flew around." Speaking of this, Yang Jinshui looked at the businessman who spoke Chinese. The businessman immediately translated Yang Jinshui's words in another language to several other businessmen. The merchants nodded knowingly.

Yang Jinshui continued: "This section is worn by your Western clock at ten o'clock in the morning, the flowers have just bloomed, and the butterflies and bees are ready to eat pollen. ”

The Chinese-speaking merchant immediately translated.

"Oh!" Several merchants forgot to be reserved at this time, and exclaimed in unison.

Zheng Michang and He Maocai both had smug smiles on their faces, glanced at each other, and then looked at Yang Jinshui.

"Please look up again!" Yang Jinshui smiled again at this time, not only proud, but more reserved, holding the candlestick and leading the group to the top again. They were all soft-soled boots, and they stepped on a thick felt carpet, and suddenly only a slight snoring from Hu Zongxian could be heard in the hall.

The door of the weaving bureau was alarmed by the sound of horses' hooves coming in a hurry.

This was originally the highest eunuch yamen in Jiangsu and Zhejiang, and the regulations were very strict in peacetime, but today because the highest officials of a province are inside, and the pro-soldiers of the governor, the political envoy, and the pro-army of the inspection envoy are all on guard outside, it is even more strict. At this time, a team of horses rushed to this street, and a group of soldiers immediately ran in the direction of the sound of horses' hooves.

A few horses appeared, and the team of soldiers recognized that it was Ma Ningyuan who was sitting on the horse at the front, and he was still hesitating whether to stop it, Ma Ningyuan galloped the horse and went straight to the gate of the Yamen of the Weaving Bureau before stopping.

The captain of the Governor's Office also saw that it was Ma Ningyuan, who was obviously very familiar, and greeted him from the steps of the gate.

Ma Ningyuan turned over and dismounted, threw the whip at the person behind him, and asked loudly to the captain of the pro-soldiers, "Is Lord Ministries inside?" ”

"Yes." The captain of the pro-soldier continued, "What's the matter with such a hurry?" ”

Ma Ningyuan: "Rebellion!" There are thieves who have instigated thousands of people, and they have all made trouble in the governor's yamen! He said as he walked towards the gate.

The captain of the pro-soldier hurriedly led him into the gate.

Walking inside from the gate, I knew how deep the Yamen Hall of the Weaving Bureau was, Ma Ningyuan was led by the captain of the personal soldiers, and I didn't know how many doors guarded by heavy soldiers passed through before I saw the door of the hall hall. There were no soldiers here, only two eunuchs standing outside the door of the hall.

Ma Ningyuan had already left the captain of the personal soldiers behind him at this time, and walked straight to the door of the hall to enter.

"Hey! I said Master Ma, when? Are you just stunned to break in? The two eunuchs who guarded the door shut him out, and although their voices were low, their tones were very hard.

Ma Ningyuan, who was full of vigor all the way, had to bow down when he arrived here, and forced a smile: "There is an emergency, I have to see Lord Butang and a few other adults immediately." ”

"No matter how urgent it is, you can't go in now. Look. One of the eunuchs whispered into the hall.

Ma Ning looked inside from afar - the huge hall was surrounded by shadows, only a candlelight on the stairs, Yang Jinshui, Zheng Michang, and He Maocai seemed to be floating in the air and were smiling at the silk with those merchants.

Ma Ningyuan swallowed a mouthful of saliva and lowered his voice: "It's a rebellion!" Gotta report it immediately. ”

"Rebellion?" The two eunuchs glanced at each other and immediately showed nervousness.

A eunuch: "Where?" How many centaurs are there? ”

Ma Ningyuan: "The people can't talk about it now, and thousands of Diao people have flocked to the door of the governor's yamen." ”

The two eunuchs who were still holding it in their throats just now immediately relaxed again, and looked at each other.

One of the eunuchs: "We thought there were soldiers and horses fighting here." Then just wait, just a moment. ”

The captain of the pro-soldier answered: "Two fathers-in-law, the lord of the ministry hasn't seen the silk at this time, I'll lead him to the ministry first." ”

Ma Ningyuan hurriedly continued: "Yes." I didn't bother Gonggong Yang and them to see the tricks, I just went to report to the minister. ”

The two eunuchs hesitated for a moment, then looked at each other again.

Obviously, it was not easy to stop Hu Zongxian's personal captain, and a eunuch looked at him: "Is there something yours to do?" ”

Captain of the Soldiers: "Don't worry, it's going to be fine." ”

Another eunuch: "Then quietly, you know Gonggong Yang's temper." ”

Ma Ningyuan hurriedly replied, "I know." ”

A eunuch: "Go ahead." ”

The captain of the pro-soldier led Ma Ningyuan to walk lightly towards Hu Zongxian, and there were still a few steps away from him, and the captain of the pro-soldier stretched out his hand to stop Ma Ningyuan.

In the afterglow of the candle, they saw Hu Zongxian sitting there with the cloak covered, his body still sitting upright, but he was already snoring slightly.

The captain of the pro-soldier looked at Hu Zongxian's thin face and hesitated, and looked at Ma Ningyuan. Ma Ningyuan also hesitated, stopped there, and could see from his demeanor that it was not that he didn't dare, but that he couldn't bear to call him, so he had to turn his anxious gaze to the candlelight shining on the stairs shining on Yang Jinshui.

On the stairs, Yang Jinshui had already led the group up the stairs close to the woman.

The two attendants standing at the bottom of the stairs took another step back, and the five-zhang long silk was completely straightened.

Several candles shine at the same time on the last piece of silk:

- Like butterflies, like bees, but instead of butterflies and bees, they are petals floating one after another!

Yang Jinshui: "This is worn at night, according to your Western habits, that is, it is worn at the party." ”

The Chinese-speaking merchant translated his words again. All the merchants were heartily appreciative at this time, and one of them asked a few questions.

The Chinese-speaking merchant immediately translated to Yang Jinshui: "He doesn't understand why the same pattern has to be designed with such a variation. ”

Yang Jinshui smiled more reservedly: "A real nobleman is unwilling to let people see at a glance when he changes his clothes. If you look closely, you can see that you have changed your clothes four times a day, and this is a noble person. ”

As soon as the sentence was translated, several merchants began to speak to the Chinese-speaking businessman.

The merchant immediately smiled at Yang Jinshui and said, "They say that the nobles there must like this kind of silk." They, and I, each asked for 100,000 horses this time. Ask if there are so many goods in the Celestial Empire. ”

Yang Jinshui hesitated for a moment, and then said, "Yes! Yes! You have as many as you want. At this point, he raised his voice: "Shine on the sky!" ”

The hall gradually brightened up - the curtains that had been tightly covered on each window on the second floor were slowly opened, and the daylight outside the window shone in at this time, and it was actually colorful!

It turned out that there was still a wing of silk of various colors and patterns hanging on each window, and the sunlight was shining through these silks!

At this moment, the sound of drums, flutes, and gongs all sounded softly.

Hu Zongxian's eyes opened suddenly, and he saw Yang Jinshui and his party coming down the stairs with an excited smile.

The captain of the pro-soldier hurriedly and gently uncovered the cloak on his body, and when Hu Zongxian slowly stood up, he found Ma Ningyuan next to him. The relationship between Ma Ningyuan and Hu Zongxian has obviously reached the level of "informality", and it was too late to salute at this time, so he immediately approached his ear and hurriedly said.

I don't know if the official has achieved this position, the word "quiet qi" is already an inevitable effort, or he has already foreseen that this kind of thing will come sooner or later, Hu Zongxian listened to Ma Ningyuan's report at this time and did not react, his eyes still showed a tired smile, looking at Yang Jinshui and his party who were gradually approaching.

Laughing, Yang Jinshui approached Hu Zongxian.

"This time they will need a total of 500,000 horses!" Yang Jinshui smiled and said loudly to Hu Zongxian, "500,000 horses is 7.5 million taels of silver!" It's all up to you, Lord Ministry. ”

Although Zheng Michang and He Maocai also smiled, they didn't dare to show Yang Jinshui's excitement when they looked at Hu Zongxian. Because although Hu Zongxian barely had a tired smile in his eyes, the corners of his mouth were tightly closed.

A few more exotic merchants muttered. The Chinese-speaking merchant said to Yang Jinshui, "Mr. Sahari, they said, how many women do you have here, and can you sell them a few along with the silk?" ”

Yang Jinshui smiled: "This is not my responsibility, I have to ask them." Saying that, he looked at Hu Zongxian, Zheng Michang, and He Maocai with a smile.

Zheng Michang and He Maocai just smiled and looked at Hu Zongxian.

Hu Zongxian's eyes were all smiling at this time: "What my Celestial Dynasty has is silk, tea, and porcelain. But don't sell people. ”

There was no need for translation, and the merchants had already seen the meaning from his face, and they all restrained their smiles.

"Let's send a few merchants to the post house to rest first." Hu Zongxian stopped talking about this topic and looked at Yang Jinshui.

Yang Jinshui, Zheng Michang, and He Maocai only found Ma Ningyuan standing beside Hu Zongxian with an anxious face at this time. Ma Ningyuan's anxious gaze was also looking at them at this time. Of course, Yang Jinshui and Zheng Michang understood that something must have happened, and their eyes met.

Yang Jinshui's face first flashed a trace of unhappiness, but immediately turned to the businessmen and smiled: "There is heaven above, and there is Suzhou and Hangzhou below." This team was specially invited from Suzhou. A big boat has been arranged for a few people to visit the West Lake today and listen to Kunqu Opera. Business will be discussed tomorrow. ”

As soon as these words were translated, the merchants were immediately overjoyed.

Yang Jinshui slapped his palm.

Immediately, a few eunuchs came over and led a few merchants out with a smile.

"Let's go to the governor's yamen." Hu Zongxian only said this sentence to Yang Jinshui, Zheng Michang, and He Maocai, and then took the lead towards the door of the hall.

Yang Jinshui, Zheng Michang, and He Maocai stared at Ma Ningyuan almost at the same time, and then walked towards the door of the hall. Ma Ningyuan followed closely.

The large flat outside the governor's yamen has four acres of square according to the regulations, which implies the meaning of "the imperial court rules the four directions". Usually in the middle of the big flat there is a three-zhang long flagpole with a bucket, facing the two huge stone lions on both sides of the gate and the stone steps, and the majesty is seen in the air.

And now Daping, together with the paving stone road leading to the gate, was kneeling in the dark and oppressively full of people who came from Chun'an, all kneeling quietly, only the southeast wind blew the flag on the pole to hunt loudly.

On the two eight-character walls on both sides of the stone lion at the gate, there was a row of soldiers with swords standing in front of each wall.

Tan Lun, who was wearing a military uniform, stood quietly on the stone steps in front of the gate at this time.

The kneeling crowd was still silent, and the soldiers with swords were nervously silent.

In the distance, the sedan horse escorted by the pro-soldier team and Hu Zongxian and his entourage. Across the street was the crowd of black pressure in the Yamen Daping, and the horses and sedan chairs could not enter the Daping, so they stopped there. Hu Zongxian, Yang Jinshui, Zheng Michang and He Maocai all walked out of the sedan door, and all their eyes looked gloomily at the governor's office that could not be entered, looked at the gate, and looked at Tan Lun who was standing there.

Tan Lun's gaze only looked at a pair of eyes - at Hu Zongxian's gaze, and Hu Zongxian's gaze was also looking at him at this time. Both pairs of eyes were melancholy and heavy, but Tan Lun's eyes were obviously full of expectation, while Hu Zongxian's eyes were only melancholy and heavy.

Everyone else followed Tan Lun's gaze and looked at Hu Zongxian. At this time, Hu Zongxian had already moved his gaze to the sky above the eaves of the yamen.

Ma Ningyuan hurriedly came over and stretched out his hand to Tan Lun in front of the door: "The adults have seen it clearly, it is the good thing that this person did with Qi Jiguang!" ”

"They'll settle their accounts later." He Maocai, the procurator who manages the criminal name of a province, immediately said, "Arrest people first." I caught people and checked them one by one. The disposal of the disposal, the court should be played today. ”

Several people were waiting for Hu Zongxian to make a statement.

Hu Zongxian: "With so many people, who are you arrested?" ”

He Maocai: "This is the ...... of the Governor's Yamen"

"I can't dismantle it." Hu Zongxian interrupted him, "If it's really demolished, I will be dismissed and return to my hometown." Let's go in through the back door. After saying this, he stopped getting into the sedan chair, turned around and walked to the other side of the street.

Everyone was stunned at first. Zheng Michang and He Mao saw him leave, so they had to follow.

Yang Jinshui was reluctant to walk, and walked to the car door with a gloomy face. A eunuch hurriedly opened the sedan curtain to let Yang Jinshui get in, and the sedan chair also followed Hu Zongxian's direction.

Only Ma Ningyuan was still frozen there, and it took a while to come to his senses, and when he strode to follow, he turned back and glared at Tan Lun in the distance.

Tan Lun still stood there quietly.

Entering the back hall of the Zhezhi Governor's Office through the back door, all the people were seated, and all the people were silent, waiting, waiting for Hu Zongxian's personal captain to call Tan Lun.

Tan Lun appeared at the gate, was also silent, and walked to the empty seat under the big desk on the right side of the lobby and sat down.

With a "snap", Tan Lun just sat down, and Ma Ningyuan, who was sitting opposite him, threw his gauze hat on the desk in front of him: "We are working hard in the front, and others are demolishing the stage in the back!" To put it simply, does the imperial court's national policy of changing rice fields to mulberry fields still need to be done? We can't do that! ”

All eyes were on Hu Zongxian. Hu Zongxian looked out of the door with his eyes and closed his mouth tightly.

Except for Hu Zongxian, Zheng Michang, the political envoy who actually manages the government affairs of Zhejiang Province, has the highest position, and everyone looks to him again.

"I don't understand how this happened today." Of course, Zheng Michang had to speak, "Four months have passed, and the mulberry fields that the imperial court asked us to replant are less than one percent. A few days after the cabinet asked us urgently, this is why the prefect of Ma asked them to hurry to do it. We are all present to talk about business in the weaving bureau today, and 500,000 pieces of silk will be handed over by the end of the year, but we can't produce so much silk in Zhejiang. If you make such a fuss, I am afraid that it will not only be a matter of reproach by the cabinet at that time. Yang Gonggong can't pay the errand to Grandpa Lu, and Grandpa Lu can't pay the deal to the emperor. The accounts are calculated all the way, and we are afraid that we will be able to do it without withdrawing. ”

Speaking of this, Zheng Michang glanced at Yang Jinshui. Yang Jinshui was like an outsider at this time, with only ears and no mouth, sitting there with his eyes closed to recuperate.

"I think there are some people who are working against the court!" As soon as He Maocai spoke, he simply patted the table and stood up, his eyes slanted at Tan Lun, who was sitting under him, "The province transferred troops to the Ma Governor's Mansion to change the mulberry field, just to prevent the Diao people from making trouble, now it's okay, the Diao people are making trouble to the governor's yamen!" Who ordered Qi Jiguang to take the soldiers away? In front of the minister, and Gonggong Yang is here, make it clear yourself! ”

This is clearly forcing Tan Lun to speak, and several pairs of eyes are looking at Tan Lun.

"I asked Qi Jiguang to take the soldiers away." It was Hu Zongxian who took this sentence.

Hu Zongxian said this sentence so lowly, but in the ears of those people, it was like a thunderbolt, which made Zheng Michang, He Maocai, and Ma Ningyuan's eyes widen. Yang Jinshui's closed eyes also opened suddenly, closed them again, and sat there like an outsider.

The others were only stunned, but He Maocai was already frozen there, unable to sit still.

Tan Lun obviously didn't expect Hu Zongxian to take the burden over so simply at this time. He was excited in his heart, and wanted to take a look at Hu Zongxian, but he still held back and looked at the desktop.

"In the name of the government, I borrowed one million stone grain from the rice bank in the rice market, how much has I borrowed now?" Hu Zongxian's words turned and looked at Zheng Michang.

Zheng Michang was stunned for a moment, and then replied, "Very little." It is said that there is a shortage of food. ”

"What about the grain transferred from other provinces?" Hu Zongxian then asked.

Zheng Michang: "As in previous years, I don't want to give more." ”

"That's clear." After saying this, Hu Zongxian glanced at He Maocai, "You sit down first." ”

He Maocai sat down at this time.

Hu Zongxian raised his voice, but he was a little hoarse, "I am the governor of Zhejiang, and I am also the governor of Zhejiang, and it is my sin that the court wants to condemn the crime." If the people want to scold my mother, they should scold my mother. Changing rice fields into mulberry fields is a national policy and must be done. But mulberry seedlings have to grow at least until after autumn to have some tender leaves, a stubble of Mid-Autumn silkworms, a stubble of late autumn silkworms, and the little silk produced can not be exchanged for rations that year. The government does not lend grain, but only asks the rice farmers to change the rice fields, and there will be no food to eat after the autumn, so they will rebel against the people! An additional 300,000 horses of silk should be produced every year, and no one should be missing. But if in order to produce 300,000 more pieces of silk, there are 300,000 anti-people in Zhejiang, I, Hu Zongxian, am afraid that I will not be able to explain it! ”

At this point, he stopped again. There was silence in the back hall.

Hu Zongxian's eyes looked at Ma Ningyuan: "The arrester will be released immediately." Each weir mouth of the Xin'an River immediately released water to irrigate the seedlings. You take the county magistrates to do it in person. ”

Ma Ningyuan stood up, but still wanted to say something.

Hu Zongxian: "Go." ”

"Yes." Ma Ningyuan's answer was also a little hoarse, and he picked up the gauze hat on the table and walked out.

Yang Jinshui, who had been closing his eyes, finally opened his eyes at this time and looked at Hu Zongxian: "Lord Ministry, I can't ask about your affairs in Zhejiang, but I am the messenger of the Weaving Bureau, and I am doing this business for the imperial court today." At present, the Hangzhou weaving workshop managed by the Jiangnan Weaving Bureau, plus the weaving workshops in Nanjing and Suzhou, has a total of more than 100,000 horses. According to the existing mulberry fields in the two provinces, even if the goods are paid in installments within a year, they will be shorter by more than 200,000 horses. At that time, the cabinet didn't ask you, but the palace wanted to ask me. ”

Hu Zongxian: "I will give the court a lesson for everything today, and ask the court to urge neighboring provinces to transfer grain to us." The political envoy Yamen and the Yamen of the inspection envoy are now immediately going to the rice banks to demand grain loans, worried that the government will not pay it back, and I, Hu Zongxian, can stamp the seal of the governor's yamen on all the IOUs! There are boats carrying grain on the canal every day, and there are borrowed and some returned, so why not borrow? Then there are those who open their eyes and say that they have no food and are unwilling to borrow money, and they are guilty of hoarding! It is better to force them than to force the people to rebel! ”

Yang Jinshui closed his eyes again, and everyone stopped talking.

In a hurry, Hu Zongxian's recital arrived in Beijing seven days later, and against the regulations, he did not send it to the political envoy first, but directly sent it to the cabinet duty room in Xiyuan. Xu Jie, who was on duty in the cabinet that day, only glanced at the cover and immediately saw the weight of this note, and also saw the huge fluctuations that this note might cause. He didn't show his face, but ordered the secretary office to send it to Yan Mansion immediately.

Since the thirty-fifth year of Jiajing, that is, after Yan Song was seventy-five years old, he went directly back to his home except for going to Yuxi Palace to meet Jiajing for about half an hour every day, and almost did not go to the cabinet room, and the official documents of the cabinet were sent to Yan's mansion from then on. Just as there were rumors outside at that time: the cabinet was not in the palace, but in the Yan Mansion.

When he arrived at Yan's Mansion, almost all the official documents were read by Yan Shifan first, and then told Yan Song after reading them. On this day, Hu Zongxian's music was usually seen by Yan Shifan, and after seeing it, he roared like thunder, first immediately sent someone to regard Yan Song as his first confidant, and Luo Longwen, the general political envoy who controlled all kinds of music, and then went to see Yan Song with the song.

Yan Song was also quite surprised when he heard them finish reading Hu Zongxian's recital, lying motionless on the chair, but he could see that he was thinking in a trance.

"What 'if there is no land, the people will be lost, and if the people are lost, the country will be in danger'! High-sounding and alarmist! Yan Shifan couldn't stand his father's silence, and shook it in front of his father with the letter, "I think it's him Hu Zongxian who is afraid of losing his future and wants to leave a way out for himself!" ”

"I think so." Luo Longwen, the elegant-looking general political envoy of the General Political Department, answered, "That Tan Lun went to Zhejiang, and I reminded him of it." Tan Lun has a friendship with Hu Ruzhen, and now he is a confidant of King Yu. He Hu Ruzhen looked at King Yu to take over, the old man was old again, and it was expected that he would leave a way out. This kind of performance was not sent to the political envoy, but directly sent to the cabinet to be on duty, which was clearly a gesture of goodwill to Xu Jie. ”

"Send it directly to the cabinet, and Xu Jiejie didn't dare to dismantle it without permission. Hu Ruzhen just wanted to let you go and give me advice directly to the emperor. Yan Song still didn't move, but his eyes had already moved to look at the two of them from a distance, "I don't dare to say others, Hu Ruzhen is by no means ungrateful, it's just that sometimes she thinks differently from you." When you look at people and things, you have to put yourself in their shoes. What would you do if you were replaced, or you, at the point of Hu Zongxian? ”

The two of them thought that a fire could burn the old man Hu Zongxian, but they didn't expect the old man to see through both sides at a glance, Yan Shifan and Luo Longwen were stunned at the same time, and they were actually stopped by him, and the two pairs of eyes looked at each other, and there was one meaning in their eyes: they are all eighty-one, why are they not confused at all?

Should pretend to be confused, Yan Song didn't seem to see their reaction at this time, and said slowly: "If you are replaced, you can only do this." Tan Lun doesn't go, he's so dry; Tan Lun went, behind him is King Yu, behind King Yu is the emperor, for me to think, he can't be without scruples. ”

"It is the emperor's will to change rice to mulberry in itself!" Yan Shifan really couldn't swallow his father's inseparable anger, so he directly resisted him.

Yan Song: "Hu Zongxian didn't say that he wouldn't change. There is a Tan Lun at the pass, and if he wants to follow your kind of reform, he will give the truth. ”

"Daddy!" Yan Shifan walked to the recliner and placed the letter on the coffee table next to Yan Song, "Hu Zongxian's letter is clearly to please King Yu and them, everything has been placed in front of your old eyes, and you still protect his shortcomings?" He also said that he just couldn't get along with me. Who am I? Am I not your old son? You are eighty-one years old, why don't you want to think about it, one day you are old, or a hundred years old, except for your son, there is no way out, everyone has a way out. ”

"Then I'll ask you." Yan Song looked at him, "Whose son is King Yu?" ”

Yan Shifan was stunned by the question again.

After saying this, Yan Song looked out the door: "Do you know where the emperor is going this afternoon?" ”

Yan Shifan and Luo Longwen both looked solemn and looked at Yan Song together.

Yan Song sat up on the recliner: "Go to Yuwang's Mansion and see your grandson." ”

Yan Shifan and Luo Longwen were both stunned.

"There is no calm in the face of trouble." Yan Song glanced at the two of them, and lay down again: "It's enough to stand in front of me, sit down." ”

Yan Shifan and Luo Longwen had no choice but to sit down on the chairs on either side of him.

Yan Song: "Because Tan Lun is in Zhejiang, he knows everything, this letter is handed to the general political envoy first, and you can't hide it, and in the end you have to send it to the cabinet, send it to the celebrant supervisor, and present it to the emperor." What will the emperor think when he sees it? Just now I was thinking while listening to it, and I felt that Hu Ruzhen's words were still the words of Lao Cheng Mouguo. With so many fields, so many people, and a place where the Japanese invaders are making trouble, if it really provokes a popular uprising, it is not a blessing for the country. If the emperor thinks the same way, the silk will still have to increase by 300,000 horses, and when asked us, how should we reply? Think about Hu Zongxian's words, apart from what you said about the method of letting the big silk farmers buy the farmers' rice fields and change them to mulberry fields, is there any other way to achieve both? ”

"I don't know of any other reform besides ours?" Yan Shifan was anxious when he heard this, "The rice field was changed to a mulberry field in order to produce more silk, and the silk was produced in order to become silver." If silk is not good, the West will not want it. Let those people change it themselves, and the silk produced will be sold to small workshops, and the woven silk will not be sold at a price. Dad, it was because the treasury was empty and the palace was so big that we came up with this method. At this time, if we don't grit our teeth and hold on, the treasury will still be empty, and we won't need people to pour us down, we will already fall ourselves. ”

"What Hu Ruzhen thinks, we don't suspect him." Luo Longwen knew that he had to follow Yan Song's words at this time, and let Hu Zongxian go first, but he had to let Yan Song understand that they were also speaking from his point of view, "But what Xiaoge Lao said is reason and potential." Severe illness with strong medicine. This national policy was originally set to relieve the crisis. Zhejiang's mulberry fields can only be reformed by those big silk households, so that they can have millions of silver in a year, and last year's deficit can only be dealt with this year's expenditure. The people have to sell the fields that have been changed, and if they don't sell them, they have to sell them, otherwise, even the weaving bureau will not be able to do the business of 500,000 horses this year. At that time, Gonggong Lu would not bear the burden, and the responsibility was all in the cabinet and the elders. ”

These words really poked Yan Song's sore spot, and Yan Song was silent again, looking out of the door in a daze. Yan Shifan and Luo Longwen looked at him steadily.

"We can't hold this thunder anymore." Yan Song finally spoke, picked up a few of the letters and shook them, "Shifan, you take this letter to the celebrant and find a way to hand it to Gonggong Lu before the emperor goes to Yuwang's mansion." Ask Gonggong Lu to go to Yuwang's Mansion and then give the song to the emperor in person, so that the emperor will give the will at that time. ”

Yan Shifan took the note, but he still didn't understand the meaning very much, so he still looked at Yan Song.

Luo Longwen: "Elder Ge's idea is high. In front of King Yu, no matter what will the emperor gives, we will have no hidden dangers in the future, one of them. If King Yu had other thoughts and wanted Xu Jie, Gao Gong, and Zhang Juzheng to restrain them, he didn't say anything at this time, and he didn't dare to say it again in the future. Ge Lao, I don't know if my subordinates guessed correctly. ”

Yan Song gave Luo Longwen an appreciative look: "Those who know the subtleties and know the demonstrative, Luo Longwen also." ”

Yan Shifan was not jealous at all about his father's appreciation of Luo Longwen, and immediately responded loudly: "Understood, I'll go to the celebrant supervisor." ”

Of course, the Yuwang Mansion knew the news that Hu Zongxian's song was in a hurry to enter Beijing, and the content of the song was also known, because Tan Lun's letter also arrived at this moment.

"Tan Lun is a national soldier!" After reading the letter written by Tan Lun, Zhang Juzheng unabashedly slapped his excitement on the letter, "I can actually move Hu Zongxian from the monolithic Zhejiang, and the big thing is still okay!" ”

"I don't think so." Gao Gong, who has always been easy to get excited, didn't have his excitement at this time, "Hu Zongxian has several recitals this time. Now only the people of the Yan family know how many they are, if the Yan family only presents a few other irrelevant notes to the emperor, but they drown his songs, and then write to Hu Zongxian to say that there is no such music, and Hu Zongxian will never go to another music to expose his teacher. ”

Gao Gong's words were like a scoop of cold water, which immediately poured down the excitement of several people, and everyone was silent.

Gao Gong's eyes glanced at Xu Jie, and he did not hide the dissatisfaction in his heart: "At that time, the music was sent to the cabinet and sent to Xu Ge Lao's hands, if Xu Ge Lao took it directly to see Yan Song, Yan Song couldn't help but show Xu Ge Lao." They won't be able to do anything. Xu Ge Lao, it's not that he was offended in his later life, 'Zhuge is only cautious in his life', but how many things are bad in the word 'cautious'. ”

Xu Jie's face turned red, and it was not good for King Yu and Zhang Juzheng to visit him at this time. The silence turned into embarrassment for a moment. At this moment, a loud cry of a child came from the inner room, and King Yu said loudly: "What's the matter? So many people can't even coax a child! ”

A palace maid hurriedly came out of the inner door, bowed her head and replied: "The emperor came in the afternoon, and at this time he was trying to wear a ceremonial crown for the prince, and he cried as soon as he put it on." ”

Yuwang: "Don't you wear it when you cry?" There is still an hour before the emperor arrives, and tells Concubine Li to immediately let the prince wear a dress. Why is there no one in the house and outside the house to share my worries! ”

"Yes. The slave and maid went to tell the princess. The maid hurriedly walked in again.

Of course, the three masters sitting here heard the overtones in King Yu's words, especially Xu Jie, and they didn't know if King Yu's words were what Gao Gong said just now, so they had to stand up and blame themselves: "What Su Qing blamed just now is that if the prince thinks the same way, the minister will go to the Yan Mansion and ask Hu Zongxian what he said." ”

"I don't mean to blame the masters." Yuwang also felt that what he had just said was serious, "I'm just upset." It's sad to say. As a prince, I'm not as good as you. I remember that the last time I saw the emperor was two years ago. When the emperor comes up today, I am also the light of the child. Jiangshan Sheji, I can't share the worries for my father, what reason is there to blame you. The holy car is coming, so let's go back, masters. Zhejiang's affairs can be done or not, let's talk about it another day. He stood up.

Gao Gong and Zhang Juzheng also stood up.

The three of them originally wanted to discuss how to speak before the arrival of the emperor's holy car, but now it made King Yu and Xu Ge Lao feel gloomy and broke up unhappily, Gao Gong also regretted it a little, and said: "Don't be upset, don't be upset, don't be surprised, I'm just worried." Yan Song, Yan Shifan, will they drown Hu Zongxian's play, as soon as the emperor comes in the afternoon, the prince may be able to know. ”

Inside, the cry of the prince became louder. King Yu sent the three of them to the door.

Seeing the backs of the three of them go away, King Yu turned around and was just about to walk to the inner room, when Concubine Li had already walked out with the son who was still crying.

A palace maid followed behind with a small beaded crown in her hand, her face covered with sweat. There was also a wet nurse, and several palace maids followed out, and their faces were all sweating.

King Yu glanced at the child in front of him, and then looked at the sky outside the door worriedly: "The emperor is about to speak, and he can't wear a hat well!" What do you all do? ”

The child's cry was quieter under Concubine Li's swaying, but when the palace maid trembled and wanted to put his hat on him, the cry became louder again, and the palace maid was so frightened that she retracted her hand again.

Concubine Li looked at King Yu: "This kid can usually be coaxed by Feng Daban, I think I have to call him here." ”

King Yu was obviously a little disgusted when he heard this name, thought about it, and raised his hand: "Anyway, he has to be there in the afternoon." Call him here. ”

After a while, the palace maid led Feng Bao from the courtyard to hurry. In just a few months, Feng Bao obviously seemed to have changed as a person, wearing a gray coarse cloth gown, with a blue coarse cloth belt tied around his waist, a dusty face, and a respectful face.

Still outside the door, Feng Bao knelt down and kowtowed heavily: "Slave Feng Bao kowtowed to the prince and princess." ”

Yu Wang didn't know when he was already holding a book in his hand, so he sat in front of the bookcase and looked at it, ignoring him.

Concubine Li took over: "Come in, coax the prince, and let him put on the crown." As she spoke, she handed the child to the nurse and motioned for her to carry her.

"Yes." Feng Bao kowtowed again, and then walked in lightly.

The nurse approached Feng Bao with the son of the world, but Feng Bao lowered his head again and said to Concubine Li: "The slave is dirty, I'm afraid of ......."

Concubine Li: "When is it?" Hold it and coax it. ”

"Yes." Feng Bao then stretched out his hand to take the son, held it with both hands, and let the child's face look at his face, "The prince of the world, the prince of the world, it is the slave and maid who are here." ”

Strange to say, when the child saw Feng Bao's smiling face, he immediately stopped crying, and his two little eyes opened wide, looking straight at him.

The nurses and the palace maids immediately breathed a long sigh of relief and showed some tired smiles.

Concubine Li also showed a smile on her face, and looked at King Yu casually. King Yu didn't raise his head, still reading his book.

Concubine Li looked at Feng Bao again: "I want the son to wear a crown." ”

Feng Bao: "Yes. ”

The palace maid immediately held the beaded crown and handed it over.

The child seemed to be frightened, but he was fine just now, and when he saw the crown, he cried loudly.

At this time, Yuwang put the book on the desk and stood up impatiently.

At this moment, a eunuch knelt down at the door: "Lord and Princess, the emperor has left the palace." The guard of honor at the front station has arrived at the gate of the palace. ”

The child was still crying loudly, and everyone was more anxious.

Yuwang flicked his sleeves and strode out.

"Quick! I must have thought of asking the prince to wear a crown. "Concubine Li is really anxious.

"Then the minion is rude." Feng Bao held the child and squatted down slowly, then knelt on the ground with both legs, "meowed" twice, learned to meow, and then bent down and hugged the child with his back to the ground and his face to the sky, while kneeling and walking, while barking.

The child soon stopped crying, and slowly showed a smiling face.

Feng Bao said to the palace maid: "Give me the crown, and put it on my head." ”

The palace maid hesitated a little and looked at Concubine Li.

Concubine Li: "Go, do it." ”

The palace maid then walked over and put the small ceremonial crown on Feng Bao's head.

Of course, the child's ceremonial crown was small, and it took up a small piece on the top of his head, but fortunately, the tie was still long, and the palace maid tied the tie tightly on Feng Bao's chin.

Feng Bao bent down again, still holding the child like that, kneeling and learning to bark cats and dogs, deliberately shaking the crown on his head so loudly.

At this time, the child stopped crying when he saw the crown, and was still laughing when he was amused by Feng Bao.

Feng Bao was looking into the child's eyes and found that the child's eyes were motionless and staring at the ceremonial crown on his head.

Feng Bao bent down and said, "You can wear a gift crown for the little prince." Let the nurse wear it. ”

Concubine Li made a look, and the nurse walked over and took off the crown on Feng Bao's head.

Feng Bao gently shook Shizi while elongating the sound of the cat's meow.

The nurse carefully put the crown on the head of the prince, and a palace maid hurriedly went over and gently tied the tie.

Feng Bao was still learning to meow, and Shizi was still smiling.

"It's terrible." Concubine Li let out a long breath, and then sat down on the chair behind her, "Hurry up and prepare, let's take the ride." ”

From the middle gate to the dormitory, the six entrances and twelve doors are open, and when you look deeply, you can always see that the six entrances and twelve doors are full of honor guards!

Jiajing is still the same Jiajing, who is still wearing a casual dress with wide robes and large sleeves after leaving the palace, and only has a scarf tied to his head, and is already sitting on a chair in the middle of the dormitory, with a rare smile on his face.

Lu Fang also smiled and stood on the left behind Jiajing.

After kneeling three times and bowing nine times, King Yu stood on the left side in front of Jiajing with his head down with a smile, and Concubine Li also stood on the right side in front of Jiajing with his head down with a smile.

In the middle of the dormitory was Feng Bao kneeling, holding the prince in both hands and facing Jiajing.

There may really be a "blessed soul" in this world, and the child who is only a few months old, looking at the strange old man in front of him at this time, not only does not cry or make trouble, but also stares at Jiajing's face and smiles.

It was just such a smile that evoked Jiajing's family affection that had been indifferent to him for many years because of his cultivation, and at this time, he actually clapped his hands and stretched out his arms.

King Yu hurriedly took the prince from Feng Bao and gave it to Jiajing. Feng Bao immediately got up, bowed his waist and looked at the ground and retreated.

Jiajing looked at the child with a smile, and the child was still smiling in his hands.

Concubine Li kept her head down, and she didn't know what the situation was at this time, and beads of sweat seeped out from her forehead.

Jiajing sat down with the child on his lap, and then looked at Concubine Li: "You have meritorious." I want to reward you. ”

Concubine Li didn't know that Jiajing was talking to herself, and still lowered her head. King Yu hurriedly reminded: "Princess, my father is talking to you." ”

Concubine Li hurriedly knelt down: "This is the virtue of the ancestors and the ancestors, and it is the blessing of the father's respect for the heavens and the love of the people. ”

Jiajing's complexion looked better: "Merit is meritorious." I don't reward you for anything else, your mother's family is poor, so I'll give your father a marquis. ”

Concubine Li was stunned.

King Yu also knelt down next to her at this time: "The son of Concubine Li is a thank you father for the emperor's grace!" He bowed his head as he spoke.

Concubine Li only came to her senses at this time and followed her prostrately.

King Yu kowtowed and wanted to stand up, but when he saw that Concubine Li was still kowtowing there, he took her and stood up.

Jiajing realized that Concubine Li was choking, and her face was full of tears.

Jiajing: "It's a good thing, don't cry." ”

Concubine Li strongly wanted to retract her choked up: "Erchen, Erchen and concubine are rude......"

Jiajing was full of compassion at this time, and said to Lu Fang behind him: "There is more silk in Jiangsu and Zhejiang this year, and I will reward 100,000 horses to Concubine Li's family." ”

Lu Fang immediately replied, "Yes." When the slave returned to the palace, she sent a decree to the Jiangnan Weaving Bureau. ”

Concubine Li was about to kneel down again at this time to thank her, and Jiajing hurriedly said: "Don't thank you, take the emperor and grandson with me well." Saying that, he picked up the child on his body, and King Yu hurriedly went over, took the child, and handed it to Concubine Li.

Lu Fang seized the opportunity to say in Jiajing's ear at this time: "On the day of great joy, the slave will report a small joy to the master, and the Jiangnan Weaving Bureau has negotiated a business of 500,000 pieces of silk with Western merchants at one time. ”

Jiajing's expression really perked up after hearing this: "How much is 500,000 horses sold to the West?" ”

Lu Fang: "In my Ming provinces, it is sold for six taels of silver, and it can be sold for fifteen taels of silver when it is shipped to the West." Each horse earns nine taels more, and 500,000 horses earn 4.5 million taels. ”

Jiajing: "Good thing. Can the silk produced in Zhejiang keep up? ”

Lu Fang groaned deliberately.

Jiajing: "Huh? ”

Lu Fang: "Hu Zongxian has a note, what he said is to change rice to mulberry, sent to the cabinet this morning, Yan Song was sent to the slave when he left the palace just now, and he wanted to go back to the palace and show it to his master." ”

What a shrewd person Jiajing was, as soon as he heard it, he knew that there was something in his words: "Did you encounter difficulties in changing rice to mulberry and complain to me?" ”

Lu Fang: "Shengming has no master. ”

Jiajing: "If you complain, I won't read it." complained to the cabinet and Yan Song. ”

"Yes." Lu Fang replied loudly, glancing at King Yu intentionally or unintentionally.

Yuwang's face moved at this time, but he still stood there with his head bowed.

Jiajing stood up: "I won't go back to the palace for dinner today, let's ask for a meal here." ”

King Yu immediately bowed down and replied: "Sons and ministers are waiting for the grace of heaven, and I would like to accompany my father and emperor to fast." ”

Hu Zongxian's recital was left intact and returned to Yan's mansion, the emperor didn't even look at it, Yan Song's attempt to make the emperor express his position in front of King Yu failed, but after all, this recital was presented to the emperor, and since he had a will to do it, he had to hand it over to Yan Shifan and let them do it carefully. With this back and forth, Yan Shifan threw off his arms and did it, where did he care about being cautious or imprudent, and summoned Luo Longwen to the mansion overnight. As soon as they met, they didn't speak, just paced back and forth excitedly, and Luo Longwen couldn't figure out the process of Hu Zongxian's back and forth, so he had to sit in front of the bookcase, looking at Yan Shifan with anticipation.

"You will send a letter to Zheng Michang and He Maocai again." Yan Shifan said as he walked, "Tell them to ignore Hu Zongxian and let go of the plan we originally discussed." Life or death is also an opportunity for the Dragon Boat Festival Flood, break the gates of the Xin'an River, first flood the nine counties, and then let those big silk farmers prepare grain to buy fields. After buying the field, I immediately planted mulberry seedlings, and I will see silk this year. ”

Luo Longwen: "Understood. How did Hu Zongxian reply to the emperor? ”

"Hu Zongxian's recital was not watched by the emperor, this is called the original Shu throws back! It just so happened that the cabinet wrote him an official letter of rejection, and I personally drafted it. Lao Tzu has to let him understand that there is only one cloud on his head, and this cloud is our Yan family! Yan Shifan stopped pacing, and with a "cough" sound, he took out the thick phlegm in his throat, and spit it out, so strongly, that he vomited on the courtyard more than a foot away.