Chapter 757 856 The Dust Has Settled
“The state’s annual income is not enough to meet its expenditures, and those who beg for payment always come out of extra money, and the people are poor and their money is exhausted. It is up to the ministers to do this. Waiting for it to be released this year The number of people entering the country has been calculated with the husband in the past, but now the expenses such as soldiers and horses from each border, millet, and salary and grain items for each clan are presented to the emperor. The ministers and others are still allowed to save all the money and grain for internal and external expenses. The memorial is proposed and published. The books are issued to Chinese and foreign countries, and are made by common people The national economy can be relieved and the people's livelihood can be protected"
Wei Guangde was sitting in the cabinet duty room, reading the accounting book sent by the Ministry of Household Affairs, which detailed the income and expenditure from the beginning of the year to the present, and he also estimated in his mind After a while, there should still be more than 300,000 taels of silver in the Treasury of the Ministry of Accounts, but the amount of money that needs to be paid out before the end of the year is even more, more than 500,000 taels. It is not sure whether there will be new ones in the last month. coming expenses.
Thinking that this memorial must have been prepared by Emperor Longqing, Wei Guangde suddenly felt something in his heart, and then he looked through it again, and soon found the project of purchasing jewelry for the inner court, which cost 210,000 yuan. Expenses of two denarii.
Thinking of Liu Tiqian's rejection of Emperor Longqing's order to purchase jewelry again two months ago, he sighed, "It's not easy to run a household in this household."
Turning to the next memorial, it is still a memorial from the Ministry of Household Affairs, but this time it is jointly submitted with the Ministry of Works. The two ministries have already agreed to start the construction of two embankments at Qingjiang and Gaojiajian after the year. A dam was built for more than fifty miles in one place; The dam is more than 70 miles long, with a total of 120 miles. It is planned to recruit the surrounding people and complete it within three months. It should be completed before June
These data are calculated by the Ministry of Industry and the Ministry of Household Statistics based on the people on both sides of the Taiwan Strait. , Wei Guangde knew that there would be nothing wrong.
Maybe it will be very difficult for ordinary people, but there is no way, this is how we have practiced in the past.
Following the next page and taking a quick look, Wei Guangde suddenly lost interest in reading any more. Especially the memorials from the Ministry of Finance were all concentrated on him.
“Good loans.”
At this moment, a figure flashed at the door, and Chen Yiqin walked in.
"Brother Yifu, come, please sit down."
Wei Guangde stood up quickly, let Chen Yiqin in and sat down, and asked Lu Bu to bring tea.
"Handling official business."
Chen Yiqin glanced at the memorial open on Wei Guangde's desk and asked with a smile.
"Today I have all the memorials from the Ministry of Household Affairs. One is the accounting book from this year to the present. The other is the memorial from the river workers. This one is the petition for payment of wages. I don't know what is behind it. I haven't read it yet. , haha"
Wei Guangde curled his lips and said He said, "By the way, Brother Yifu, why are you looking for me today?"
"Your Majesty, Gao Shangshu's petition for mercy has been approved by the Minister of Rites."
Chen Yiqin said this. There was a pause, seemingly a little embarrassed.
But when the words fell into Wei Guangde’s ears, he certainly knew what was going on and wanted to recommend someone.
However, he did not answer the call, but planned to hear who Chen Yiqin could recommend.
“I have checked the position of Minister of Rites before. The positions of Minister of Rites are vacant in both the northern and southern capitals, so it is impossible to transfer people from Nanjing. I can only choose from the Minister of Rites.
I plan to support Zuo Shilang Zhao Zhenji as the Minister of Rites, what do you think?”
Sure enough, after Chen Yiqin finished speaking, Wei Guangde understood his purpose and wanted the position of Minister of Rites.
Zhao Zhenji, a native of Tongziba, Neijiang, Sichuan, is a fellow villager of Chen Yiqin. It is said that the ancestors of the Zhao family are the descendants of Zhao Xiong, the right prime minister of the Southern Song Dynasty.
Wei Guangde had no intention of objecting to this matter, and just nodded slightly. However, thinking of Chen Yiqin's statement that there was a vacancy in Nanjing's Ministry of Rites, he couldn't help but regret not pushing Lin Fiao to that position earlier.
It's not that Wei Guangde doesn't want to, but because Lin Fu has just been transferred to the Nanjing Ministry of Civil Affairs as a minister, it is really difficult to be promoted to another level in a short period of time. No matter what, he has to pass the exam in three years before talking about the upgrade, or What a great contribution.
But what great achievements can be made in Nanjing?
So, there are only mixed qualifications.
The ministers of the six departments in Nanjing will generally not arrange for someone to take over. Unless there is an official from Beijing who has lost power, he will go to Nanjing when he reaches the highest level.
But at that moment, Wei Guangde wanted two official positions, one was the Minister of the Ministry of Rites in Nanjing, and the other was the Minister of the Ministry of Personnel in Nanjing.
Lin Fiao is now the Minister of the Ministry of Civil Affairs in Nanjing. He might as well find an opportunity to be promoted to the position of Minister of the Ministry of Civil Affairs later in the year. As for the Ministry of Rites, Wei Guangde has already thought of an official who became an official in the Jiajing Dynasty, that is, the former Minister of the Ministry of Rites Wushan.
Wu Shan was initially suppressed because he offended Yan Song, and because of his remarks about the solar eclipse incident, he disobeyed Emperor Shizong and was dismissed from his official position.
When the chaos was brought to order in the first year of Longqing, there was no vacancy in the court and Xu Jie did not want to bring in a prestigious veteran like Wu Shan, so he refrained from issuing an order to recall him.
Official positions here in Beijing are like carrots and holes. It is difficult to arrange them directly for Wu Shan, but there are many ministers in Nanjing.
Although Wu Shan is a relatively upright person, there are not many Jiangxi fellows who are qualified to become ministers.
Although he is the Minister of Rites in Nanjing and is mainly responsible for the Jiangnan imperial examination, he still seems to be very powerful.
“When it comes to the vacancy of the Minister of Rites in Nanjing, I suddenly thought of one person.”
Wei Guangde followed Chen Yiqin’s words and said that he did not mention Zhao Zhenji, which actually means that Wei Guangde agreed. this matter.
Chen Yiqin could not recommend Zhao Zhenji directly. In fact, he asked Wei Guangde just to make a recommendation. In exchange, it seemed good to let Chen Yiqin recommend Wu Shan to head the Nanjing Ministry of Rites.
Nanjing Ministry of Rites?
Chen Yiqin was stunned at first, then understood what Wei Guangde meant, so he asked with a smile: "I wonder who Shandai is optimistic about taking this position?"
"Wu Shan, the former Minister of Rites, wanted to come to Yiyi" Brother Fu is no stranger. He also hated the late emperor because of his integrity, but there is no doubt about his character. "
Wei Guangde replied.
“Wu Shangshu, I think it’s okay. Jiangxi is not far from Nanjing. Wu Shangshu is also old, so he is suitable for this position.”
It was just the Nanjing Ministry of Rites, and Chen Yiqin didn't pay much attention to it.
In fact, the officials in Beijing didn't like the officials in Nanjing very much. After all, they were all squeezed out, but their grades were high enough, and they might steal their way at any time.
Of course, there is no threat to the cabinet ministers, that's all.
Next, Chen Yiqin and Wei Guangde chatted for a while before saying goodbye and leaving.
The matter of coming here today has been settled, and Wei Guangde will make a recommendation during the cabinet meeting later. When the time comes, he will also push Wu Shan up.
This was just a small transaction between Wei Guangde and Chen Yiqin, so neither of them planned to talk to Yin Shizhen.
However, when Chen Yiqin was about to leave Wei Guangde to check his room, he suddenly turned around and whispered to Wei Guangde who was escorting him out: "In the past few days, several officials have impeached Hai Rui. I heard that Gao Xinzheng was a helper. Hai Rui said good things about him and said he was diligent in political affairs. "What's the news from Mr. Wang?" Wei Guangde asked in a low voice at the door.
“There are people in the imperial history who have connected this matter, mostly from Jiangnan.”
Chen Yiqin said.
"We can just sit back and watch this matter. Now that he has ended, it is none of our business."
Wei Guangde said with a smile. Chen Yiqin nodded, then turned and left.
At this time, Lin Fiao, whom Wei Guangde had just thought of, had already received an order from the capital.
"Send someone to inform the Duke of Wei that an imperial edict has arrived."
Lin Fiao ordered the people around him. This is also the rule. The imperial edict will not come suddenly, but will give the party receiving the edict a certain amount of time to prepare. This includes recalling family members who need to participate in the ceremony and preparing items to receive the order.
"Eunuch Li has worked hard all the way, please take a rest here, and we will set off to the Duke of Wei's mansion to deliver the decree."
After Lin Fiao made arrangements, he said to the eunuch who delivered the decree.
Being blocked on the edge of the Yellow River for two or three days, after the flood receded a little, the traffic between the north and the south gradually resumed. As a messenger angel, he was naturally the first to obtain the right of passage. Others, even All the watercrafts had to stay away.
After Wei Guogong Xu Pengju learned the decree from the capital on his bed, although he didn't know the content, his heart trembled.
He already knew that the Ministry of Rites and the Ministry of Punishment had arrested people and recorded confessions and sent them directly to the capital. Even if his immediate contacts wanted to tamper with it, it would be too late.
These days, his condition has worsened again.
Despite this, he still dragged his sick body to arrange matters for receiving the order.
This matter is related to the attitude of the minister towards the royal family, which cannot be careless.
If there is any negligence in receiving the order and the news is passed back to the capital by the eunuch who passed the order, the consequences will be unpredictable.
"Hurry and come back to Bang Ning, change your clothes, and ask Bang Rui to do the same. Come to my place right away. There is also the incense table and the incense burner at Madam's side."
Strongly holding on for a breath. , Xu Pengju kept giving orders. As the Duke of the current dynasty, he had received countless orders, but never once did he feel as unsure as he did today.
Fortunately, he had seen a copy of the confession from the Ministry of Punishment before and knew that only Xu Bangning was involved. Perhaps the court would issue an order to reprimand the brothers for their disharmony. After all, the Xu family is the Duke's family, and such a thing would be real. It shouldn't be.
He was also mentally prepared to be scolded by the emperor. As a father, he failed to educate his children well.
However, when Wei Guogong Xu Pengju, supported by his two sons, took Zheng to receive the decree, he already felt his hands and feet were cold while the eunuch was still reading out the decree, and he almost fainted. Fortunately, the two sons beside him saw the opportunity and supported him. He didn't lose his composure at this time.
After the edict was read out, while Mrs. Zheng was in a state of despair, two chamberlains had already stepped forward and took away the phoenix crown and harem from her head.
After taking away the "Wuzhai Crown" worn by Zheng, the Xiapei coat was also taken away and placed on a tray.
At this time, Mrs. Zheng could only look at the headdress inlaid with gold and jade on the tray in despair. It was composed of beads, peonies, green clouds, flowers with gold treasures, gold seals, etc. It was The symbol of her Duke's wife has always been regarded as a treasure by her, and it is the talisman that allows her to settle down and live in the Wei Palace.
Now that she has seen it taken away, she no longer knows what will happen to her in the rest of her life.
Suddenly, Mrs. Zheng felt a sweetness in her throat, a tightness in her chest, and her intuition fell into a trance for a while before she fell unconscious.
Zheng, who had fainted, was supported by the maid. Xu Bangning hurried over and called his mother softly, but there was no response.
"Oh, send the lady back to the backyard."
Xu Pengju just sighed and ordered around.
When he looked at Zheng, Lin Fiao and Xu Bangrui just looked at each other covertly and nodded slightly.
Seeing the embarrassment in Duke Wei's palace, Lin Fiao turned around and whispered to the messenger angel: "Eunuch Li, Duke Wei has been ill for a long time. The reprimand your Majesty wants should be done by me later, and then reported to your Majesty."
After saying that, Lin Liao licked her lips in the direction of Xu Pengju, meaning that he wanted to see for himself. With the state of Wei Guogong, he was afraid that another one would faint if he knelt down again.
"That's fine. After I return to Beijing, I will report this matter to Your Majesty truthfully and will not make things difficult for you."
Eunuch Li also saw that Wei Guogong Xu Pengju's face was not good now, not because of it. Angry, but the cause of physical illness, the illness on his face is clearly visible.
He was also worried about getting involved because of this. After all, if someone was killed by delivering a message, he would not feel better when he returned to the capital. At least he would not have to think about such errands out of the capital in the future.
Little eunuchs like them are like grandsons in the palace, being ordered around by the big eunuch, but it is different when they go out of the capital to deliver orders. Their rank is not high, but they are one level higher than the official. It is a beautiful life. It doesn’t work.
If you encounter an official who wants to curry favor with someone in the palace, he will be lenient in receiving red envelopes and gifts.
He had finally gotten into this job, and he didn’t want to screw it up.
They were sent out by Xu Bangrui from the Duke of Wei's mansion. Xu Pengju was very tired at the moment and couldn't entertain them anymore, so he entrusted Xu Bangrui with everything.
In fact, by this time Xu Pengju also came to his senses. His title could only be passed on to Xu Bangrui. It was no longer possible to give it to Xu Bangning. It was better to delegate power directly.
If you don't have to worry about the affairs of the house anymore, you might be able to live a little longer so that you can make some arrangements.
He has now remembered what Liu Cai, the Minister of War, said. He had a good relationship with Liu Cai, so he approached him and asked him to help facilitate this matter, but he was rejected.
Afterwards, Liu Cai even advised him that if it was really for Xu Bangning's good, he should arrange a stable position for him as soon as possible to prevent his brothers from falling out.
Now it seems that Liu Cai’s original advice was right.
After Xu Bangrui sent them out of the house, he naturally gave a big red envelope to Eunuch Li and Lin Fiao.
In fact, the red envelope is very thin. There is only one piece of paper inside, which is a gift list.
Things will not be delivered to them now, but at night, in the dead of night, someone will deliver them directly to where they live.
"Don't worry, the eldest son, no one can change your identity. Before I left the capital, His Majesty once called me to speak alone. He only said that the Young Master should guard Nanjing and Jiangnan well. Your Majesty will not treat the heroes of the Ming Dynasty badly. "
Eunuch Li was also making nice remarks at this moment. He might not have known about the dirty tricks of the Duke of Wei before, but after a thorough investigation in the capital, he already knew about the overt and secret fights for the Duke of Wei.
“Please Eunuch Li return to Beijing and report to Your Majesty that your Majesty, Xu Bangrui, will live up to His Majesty’s instructions and will do his best to serve Your Majesty.”
Xu Bangrui said to Eunuch Li very seriously.
Lin Fiao and Eunuch Li got on the sedan each other. They had already taken out the red envelope and looked through the gift list inside, while Xu Bangrui had been standing outside the house, watching the honor guard go away.
When he turned back, he saw the people in the mansion. At this moment, he could see the sincere respect in their eyes.
After this incident, his authority in the Duke of Wei's palace will surely increase several times, and his right to speak is only second to Duke Xu Pengju of Wei.
(End of this chapter)