On the sixteenth day of the first month, the imperial court opened the pen and resumed the early dynasty.

The day had just dawned, and the palace gate of the imperial city was already full of ministers. It stands to reason that they should come to the court with radiant and energetic spirits just after the New Year and the holidays, but in fact it is the opposite, they are all in low spirits, looking haggard, yawning all day, as if they have not slept well.

From the time the court sealed the pen to the present, the ministers have not been in court for more than 20 days. Just after the Shangyuan Festival, they suddenly went to court, and they were naturally a little uncomfortable and unaccustomed.

Before the court, the ministers quickly yawned, otherwise they would yawn when they went to the court and would be severely punished. On the first day of the new year, the ministers did not want to be punished. If you are punished on the morning morning on the first day of the new year, you will be unlucky for the whole year, and something big may happen. Don't look at the ministers who read poetry and books one by one, but they are all very superstitious.

He Xiang and Xue Taichang stood at the front, they were chatting and laughing, and their mood seemed to be very good. No, they looked very excited, like they were expecting something.

The other ministers kept staring at them, all speculating in their hearts about what they were discussing with the emperor in the days before and the days before.

On the eighth day of the first lunar month, the emperor called He Xiang and several others to the palace to discuss what to do from morning to night. Even on the Shangyuan Festival yesterday, Xue Taichang and a few of them entered the palace in the afternoon and did not leave until the evening.

During the Chinese New Year, no matter how the other ministers inquired, there was still no news at all.

Although I don't know what the hell is going on, judging from the excited looks of He Xiang and the others, it must be a great thing.

"It's going to be early, and my heart is beating so much." Xue Taichang stretched out his hand to cover his chest, his face was full of excitement, "I have lived most of my life, and I have never been so nervous as I am now." ”

He Xiang stroked his beard and said with a smile: "I have never been so excited as now." ”

Xue Taichang said with a smile on his face: "You don't know that I can't even sleep these days when I'm so excited. ”

He Xiang carefully looked at Xue Taichang's face and quipped: "I see that you have a good complexion and a radiant complexion, as if you are a few years younger." ”

"Hahaha......" Xue Taichang couldn't help laughing, "I have looked in the mirror these days, and I also found that I am a lot younger, and there are a few fewer wrinkles on my face." After he finished speaking, he also deliberately looked at He Xiang, "He Xiang, you are radiant and look a lot younger." ”

He Xiang smiled: "People are in good spirits when they are happy." ”

"I'm not afraid of your jokes when I say it, I'm full of energy these days, and my whole body seems to have endless strength." Xue Taichang said with a smile, "My appetite has also improved a lot, and now I can eat three bowls of rice in one meal." ”

He Xiang raised his eyebrows in surprise: "Are you so happy?" ”

"Of course I'm happy, as long as I think about it, I'm as excited as a young man." Xue Taichang sighed, "This matter is really great, and there is no one before." To put it mildly, we've made history. ”

"yes, a very great and amazing thing." Although this period of time has become very hectic because of the imperial examinations, it has been very valuable. "Yes......" He almost said the words "Ten Highnesses", and he quickly changed his words and said, "The emperor has created history, and we are fortunate to witness the occurrence of this historical moment." ”

Xue Taichang nodded approvingly: "You're right. As soon as he finished speaking, he suddenly remembered Taishi Liu in Shudi, and laughed gloatingly, "It's a pity that Taishi Liu missed such an important thing." ”

He Xiang couldn't help but laugh when he thought of Taishi Liu's expression after learning about this: "If Lao Liu knows, he will definitely be very jealous of us." ”

"Hahahaha, I can't wait to see Lao Liu's jealous and envious face."

The other ministers saw He Xiang and Xue Taichang laughing, and they were very curious about what they were laughing at.

At this moment, the palace gate opened, and the ministers entered in order.

It has not yet reached the time of the last dynasty, and the gate of the main hall of the Chengguang Hall has not yet opened. The ministers had to go to the side hall and wait.

As soon as they sat down, the eunuchs brought hot tea.

The capital in the first month was still very cold, and the ministers had just stood at the palace gate for a while, and their hands and feet were already frozen. Drink a cup of hot tea in front of the upper face to warm up.

The emperor was also drinking tea. After drinking tea, he got up and went to the Chengguang Palace.

At this time, Sun Kui kindly reminded the emperor: "Your Majesty, there is still a while before the early dynasty." ”

The emperor stopped, turned his head and glanced at Sun Kui strangely: "Can't I go to court in advance?" ”

Go to court in advance?!

Sun Kui was very shocked in his heart, he unconsciously looked out the window, wanting to see if the sun was rising in the west today.

The emperor saw Sun Kui's look of hell, and angrily raised his foot and kicked him.

"What's that look on your face?"

Sun Kui came back to his senses and looked at the emperor worriedly.

"Your Majesty, are you okay, do you want to find a doctor to show you?" The emperor actually wanted to go to the court in advance, he must be sick, and the illness was not light. The emperor shouldn't have a fever, right?

"Ouch!" Sun Kui was kicked by the emperor again.

"Where do I look sick?"

"Your Majesty, you actually want to go to the court in advance, this is ...... For so many years, you have never gone to the court in advance, especially on the first day of the new year. Sun Kui was very worried, "At this time of year, your spirit is not very good, and you don't want to go to the court, you ...... Something is abnormal. ”

The emperor crossed his waist: "I am in a good mood today, can't I go to court in advance?" After speaking, he kicked Sun Kui again, "Hurry up and stand up for me." ”

Sun Kui hurriedly stood up and followed behind the emperor with an uneasy face: "Your Majesty, if you don't wait for the next court, let's ask the imperial doctor to take your pulse, after all, during the Chinese New Year, the imperial doctor has not asked you for a safe pulse." ”

The emperor turned around and stared at Sun Kui gloomily: "If you say one more word, I will send you to see your grandmother immediately." ”

Sun Kui was so frightened that he immediately closed his mouth and put on a very well-behaved appearance.

The emperor hummed a little song and walked briskly towards the main hall of the Chengguang Hall.

Sun Kui followed behind, feeling more and more that today's emperor was very abnormal, this was not the emperor he knew. Although the emperor has rarely not been to the court in recent years, it does not mean that the emperor likes the court, on the contrary, the emperor hates the court very much. Every day before going to court, the emperor would complain and dislike being the emperor. There has never been such an active pilgrimage as today, and there has never been such a thing as going to the court in advance.

What's wrong with the emperor today?

Sun Kui walked behind the emperor, and did not forget to observe whether the sun was coming from the east today.

Well, there's no sun today, and the sky is overcast.

Sure enough, today's emperor is not normal!

As soon as the ministers entered the Chengguang Palace, before they could stand up, they heard Sun Kui's voice from outside the hall.

The emperor is here!

The ministers were very surprised at first, and then hurriedly stood up. As soon as they stood up, they saw the Emperor striding in. The ministers hurriedly knelt down and saluted: "See the emperor, long live the emperor, long live the emperor!" ”

The emperor sat on the dragon chair in a rare dignified manner today, and he waved his hand gently: "Get up." ”

"Your Majesty."

The emperor looked at the ministers standing below, and said in a joking tone: "It seems that the New Year and Festival of the Aiqing are having a good time, and I see that many people are a lot more mellow." ”

The ministers, who were obviously round, blushed one by one. During the Chinese New Year, I ate too much fish and meat, and I didn't control it deliberately, so I gained weight accidentally.

"The food for the New Year is good, and I am very pleased."

It's not sure if the emperor is really happy, or fake happy. The ministers were so frightened that they knelt down together and pleaded with the emperor: "The minister is guilty, ask the emperor for forgiveness." ”

"I don't blame you, what kind of crime do you ask?" The Emperor raised his hand to the ministers kneeling on the ground, "Get up." ”

"Your Majesty." The ministers stood up tremblingly.

"It's a good thing to get fat, but I don't want the Aiqing to come to court one by one with a round belly." The emperor just imagined the picture, and he felt spicy.

When the ministers heard this, their hearts tightened, and they hurriedly said, "The ministers don't dare." "The ministers, who have gained a lot of weight in the New Year, are already scared and covered with cold sweat at this time. From today onwards, they will eat less and must lose weight as soon as possible.

"Today is the first day of the new year, and I have two things to announce."

Hearing the emperor say this, the hearts of the crown prince and the acting king immediately rose.

Father, shouldn't he really want the fourth child to be examined?

Although the King of Chu was calm on his face, he was unconsciously nervous in his heart.

The Emperor stood up and walked to the front.

"First of all, I announced the cancellation of the expedition and inspection."

What?

The ministers of the Manchu Dynasty thought they had misheard, and they all had expressions of disbelief on their faces.

What did the emperor just say?

Naturally, the emperor noticed the expressions of the ministers, and said to them again: "You heard me right, I announce the cancellation of the expedition and the inspection. ”

Cancel the expropriation and probation?!

Does the emperor know what he is talking about?

The ministers looked horrified.

Zhenguo Gongma looked at He Xiang and Xue Taichang and them, and saw that their expressions were as usual, without the slightest surprise, he knew that they had already known about it.

Could it be that during this period of time, the emperor and He Xiang were discussing the cancellation of the expedition and inspection?

The ministers whispered something. On the first day of the new year, the emperor announced the cancellation of the expedition and inspection, did they become fierce?

In the imperial history, when he was about to say something, he was stopped by the emperor with his hand.

"The second thing is that I announced that we will hold the imperial examination from this year onwards, and officials will be selected from the imperial examination." The emperor's voice was very loud, "In the future, whether it is an official of the imperial court or an official of the local yamen, it must be selected from the imperial examination." ”

Imperial examinations?

What is this?

The ministers heard about it for the first time and didn't understand what it meant at all.

"He Xiang, Xue Taichang, you tell you in detail what the imperial examination is all about."

"Yes, Your Majesty."

He Xiang and Xue Taichang often came out of the queue and faced hundreds of officials.

"The imperial examination is ......" He Xiang first told the hundred officials what the imperial examination was, and then said what the imperial examination was.

At present, the Great Zhou has not specified which books the Four Books and Five Classics are. Before, when Zhao Yao proposed the imperial examination to the emperor, he said by the way what the Four Books and Five Classics were. At that time, he felt that the Four Books and Five Classics were a bit less, and he said the other nine classics, that is, the Four Books and Thirteen Classics.

He Xiang told the hundred officials in detail which books the Four Books and Thirteen Classics were, and then they were tested in the imperial examination.

Next is Xue Taichang, who explained to the officials in detail how to hold the imperial examination.

The more the ministers listened, the more frightened they became, and their expressions became more and more shocked.

The officials on the eighth floor of the imperial court were all from families, and only the officials on the second floor were from poor families. When they heard that officials would be selected by imperial examinations in the future, they were not only shocked, but also frightened. They knew in their hearts that once the imperial examination was implemented, they would be finished.

After spending a morning, He Xiang and Xue Taichang finally finished talking about the imperial examination, and there was an uproar.

Before the next court, the emperor announced with a serious face that the imperial examination was imperative and would not accept anyone's opposition. If anyone objects, it will be punished as treason.

Conspiracy to deal with rebellion?!

The ministers gasped in fright.

Knowing that the families would unite against the imperial examinations, the emperor warned all his ministers that he would not mind purging the court as he had done more than a decade earlier. Also, no matter who opposes it, he will definitely punish him severely. And the consequences of his severe punishment are not something they can bear.

Before the next court, the emperor called some ministers to go to the East Warm Pavilion. Next, they will discuss the questions for the three exams of this year's children's exam.

Before the next dynasty, the imperial examination had already been announced in the capital.

When the literati students in the capital learned of this, they were naturally very excited and happy. The vast majority of the students supported the imperial examinations, but a small number of literati certainly opposed them because they came from families.

The families could not accept the imperial examination, they felt that the imperial examination was a conspiracy of the emperor in order to exploit and weaken them.

It was only half a day's work, and the sensation caused by the imperial examination in the capital was like a tsunami. Everyone was discussing the imperial examination, and only Zhao Yao was busy packing his things.

Early tomorrow morning, he will take a boat to Jinling to visit Mr. Meng. All of his thoughts were on this, and he didn't care about the imperial examination at all.

At this moment, he was having lunch with Concubine Liang and the others in the Kunde Palace.

During the meal, Yu Mei and Pan Cairen kept telling Zhao Yao to pay attention to safety, let him take care of himself, and let him eat well......

Zhao Yao didn't bother them, listened very carefully, and assured them that he would write back every few days to reassure them.

After lunch, Yu Mei and Pan Cairen called Tongxi to the front again, and repeatedly asked him what he had brought. They were relieved to make sure he hadn't forgotten anything.

They knew that Concubine Liang had something to say to Zhao Yao, so they didn't stay long and left soon.

Concubine Liang also said everything that should be said. She was reluctant and worried about her son going to Jiangnan, but she couldn't stop her son from going.

"Go to Jiangnan and be honest, don't do things." Concubine Liang was not worried about her son's safety, she believed that the secret guards sent by the emperor could protect her son. However, she knows her son's temperament very well, and knows that it is impossible for him not to cause trouble when he goes to Jiangnan. Even if he doesn't take the initiative to cause trouble, he will draw his sword and do something to help.

"Mother, what you say is like I often do things." Zhao Yao said a little unconvinced, "Also, when will I do something." "He's always been very well-behaved and never takes the initiative to get into trouble.

"I'm afraid that you will be a hero, and then you will fight everywhere." Concubine Liang advised, "When you go out, you must be cautious and don't easily expose your identity......"

Zhao Yao patiently listened to Concubine Liang's instructions. Although the mother concubine looked calm on the surface, her worry could be heard from her tone.

"Mother, I'm so smart, it's impossible to put myself in danger, you can rest assured."

Concubine Liang didn't say anything more. She was afraid that if she continued to talk about it, she would not be able to help it......

"Aren't you still going to find your second uncle, go ahead."

"Mother, then I'm leaving." Zhao Yao pretended not to see Concubine Liang's red eyes, and left the Kunde Hall with a happy face.

After her son left, Concubine Liang couldn't help but wet her eyes anymore.

Gui Xing brought a cup of tea: "Niangniang, if you are reluctant to let Your Highness stay." ”

"No matter how reluctant I am, I can't leave him behind." Concubine Liang wiped the corners of her eyes with a handkerchief, "Don't let him go now, he will still leave in a few years, and he will go farther away when the time comes." ”

"Mother's ......"

"The emperor proposed the imperial examination in the morning, and then the capital will become very lively, it is not a good thing for Yao Yao to stay in the capital, it is better to let him go to Jiangnan." Concubine Liang was reluctant on her face, but her eyes were very firm, "Besides, he has never seen his father and mother, this time he went to Jiangnan to go to Yangzhou by the way, meet his father and mother, and help me be filial to my father and mother." ”

"The lord and the lady will be very happy to see His Royal Highness."

"Daddy, I'm afraid they're already looking forward to it."

was said by Concubine Liang, Liang Shuren and they have been looking forward to Zhao Yao's arrival since the beginning of the year.

Mrs. Liang would ask Liang Shuren every day where Zhao Yao had gone and when he would arrive in Yangzhou.

"Has Your Highness set off? When will you arrive in Yangzhou? When Mrs. Liang saw her husband coming back, she hurriedly asked.

Liang Shuren understood his wife's anxious mood and smiled softly at her: "Your Highness will leave tomorrow, and it is estimated that it will take more than a month to arrive in Yangzhou." ”

"It's going to take so long." Mrs. Liang really couldn't wait for a moment, "Yangzhou is close to Jinling, let's go to Jinling to see His Highness first." ”

"How do you get seasick?"

"I take medicine." In order to meet her precious grandson, Mrs. Liang is willing to do anything.

"His Royal Highness went to Jinling to visit Mr. Meng, and when he finishes reading, he will come to Yangzhou to find us, what do you say are you anxious about."

Mrs. Liang glared at Liang Shuren: "You're not in a hurry?" ”

"I'm not in a hurry with you." Liang Shuren said, "Besides, no matter how anxious we are, it is useless. ”

Mrs. Liang said with self-reproach: "It's all my fault that my body is useless, otherwise I would have been able to see His Highness and Niangniang a long time ago." ”

"You also know that you are not in good health, so don't think about going to Jinling to see Your Highness, let's wait for Your Highness obediently in Yangzhou."

"Is it safe for Your Highness to take the boat?" Mrs. Liang said, "Otherwise, send someone to pick up His Highness, and then accompany His Highness to Jinling." ”

"You don't have to worry about it, Your Highness wrote to him, and the emperor will send someone to escort him down to Jiangnan."

Zhao Yao, who was far away in the capital, sneezed several times on his face, causing He Lianfang to look at him with some concern.

Zhao Yao smiled at He Lianfang: "Someone must be talking about me." ”

"When you go to Jiangnan this time, don't forget to go to Suzhou."

"Second uncle, don't worry, I will go to several state capitals in Jiangnan." It is rare for him to go to Jiangnan, and he must go to every place in Jiangnan, otherwise he will go in vain. Besides, after going to Jiangnan this time, I don't know if there will be a chance to go again. "By the way, I'm also going to go to Qiantang."

He Lianfang asked suspiciously, "What are you doing in Qiantang?" ”

"To be precise, I want to go to a few places by the sea, and then recruit some powerful boatmen and let them go to Lingnan."

When He Lianfang heard this, she immediately understood what Zhao Yao meant.

"You want to turn Lingnan into a dock?"

Zhao Yao nodded: "That's right, Lingnan is also close to the sea, and it is close to several countries in Annan, so it has advantages over several places in Qiantang." ”

He Lianfang bowed slightly: "That's right." ”

"Since the opening of the sea ban, several places along the sea have undergone drastic changes." Zhao Yao sighed, "The money brought by maritime transactions should not be underestimated, Lingnan is strategically located, why can't we do maritime transactions?" ”

"What do you want to do?"

"Second uncle, do you know what is the most popular in the Central Plains?"

He Lianfang blurted out: "Tea." "Tea has always been the most important, popular and lucrative thing in maritime trade.

"Yes, it's tea." Zhao Yao said with a serious face, "In addition to tea, our porcelain, silk, and embroidery are also very popular. In the past few years, as soon as those envoys from the Gentiles came to Da Zhou, they went crazy to buy these things. ”

"You also want to sell these things in Lingnan?"

"It's nature. The most important thing is that we have to transport the things of those countries in Annam to Dazhou and sell them. ”

"Aren't the good things of those countries in Annan just gold?"

"Of course, it's not just gold, it's also jade." Zhao Yao said, "Second uncle, you forgot that there is a lot of jade over there. ”

"There is a lot of jade over there, but the skills are poor, and the carved jade is not good."

"We can buy their jade, and then we can sell them the carved jade." Zhao Yao said with a glen face, "Second uncle, in fact, gold and jade are not the most valuable, the most valuable things are the spices over there. ”

He Lianfang looked surprised: "Spices? ”

"Yes, there are not only abundant spices over there, but there are also a lot of varieties, but people over there don't use them." Zhao Yao also remembered the spice thing recently, "Second uncle, didn't you find that the spices over there in the Western Regions are very popular in the Great Zhou." The spices of those countries in Annan are better than those in the Western Regions, do you think this business can be done? ”

"I can do it." Although He Lianfang doesn't like incense, the family likes incense and is willing to spend money on spices.

"Spices are going to be very profitable, and we have to get the spice business up and running before anyone else finds out." In the history of Zhao Yao's world in the dream, spices were very valuable, and many people made a fortune by selling spices. "So, I'm going to build a few fleets in Lingnan in advance. When I go to Lingnan as an adult, I must build Lingnan into the largest Jinkou in the Great Zhou. ”

Today's chapter update is not very well written, and after thinking about it, I decided not to change it. I'll delete it anyway and rewrite it tomorrow. Irons, don't wait for an update tonight.

Historically, spices from Southeast Asian countries have been really valuable. In the Tang Dynasty, spices were very popular. At that time, people were still fighting incense. The heyday of spices was in the Song Dynasty, when more than 100 kinds of spices were imported.

By the way, the pepper we are familiar with was originally a spice, not a condiment. The status of pepper in the Tang Dynasty was very high, when a huge greed, when he raided his house, he found 88 stone pepper, which is equivalent to 64 tons now. At the time, this was a symbol of great wealth.

It's the last day, and I'm still humbly asking the old iron for a monthly pass! Ask for a tip! Leave a message!