The Ring of the Red Chamber and the Nine Heavens

When the prefect of Wu rushed to the government office with all the officials, he saw that outside the lobby there were many guards of honor with flags and banners, and the guards lined up with knives in a solemn and respectful manner.

Everyone looked at each other, secretly said, "What a majesty!", then one by one lightened their steps and filed in in order.Seeing that there was already sitting on the main seat in the middle of the hall a young prince dressed in a four-clawed royal costume and wearing a hairpin and silver-winged crown, he should be the King of Qin, and all the officials were surprised again.

All the officials have heard that the King of Qin is very good-looking, let alone one in a million, it is difficult to pick one even in millions of miles. It is comparable to the famous beautiful men Song Yu and Pan An in history. At the time of the big wedding before, thousands of people in the capital were watching the demeanor of the King of Qin riding a horse across the street to marry his new bride. The women of the ordinary people's families were all admiring, saying that even if they knew that the King of Qin was accompanied by a beautiful princess, but Being able to marry the King of Qin as a concubine, with such a handsome appearance every day, I would be happy to be a servant girl who serves closely.The officials only thought that King Qin had a high position, so there would be such exaggerated flattery and boastful words. When they saw real people at this time, they realized that rumors may not always be all falsehoods. Dust is indeed a rare beauty in the world.

However, King Qin's complexion was too cold, not much better than the gloomy weather outside. All the officials did not dare to be careless. They all knelt down, paid homage to Ruyi, and said in unison: "See His Royal Highness King Qin, the prince is a thousand years old and a thousand years old." age."

The king of Qin ordered all the officials to be exempted from the ceremony. After getting up, all the officials bowed up one by one, and handed the notebooks recording their personal history to a personal guard with a knife next to the king of Qin.

The king of Qin took the manuscript from the guard, then glanced at the manuscript and the officials passing in front of him with indifferent eyes, and asked the other party's name and official position as if confirming.Swept by his cold gaze full of majesty, all the officials lost their mood of admiring the handsome man, they shrank their necks and answered humbly, and then walked over on tiptoe one by one. Stand aside.

After reading the manuscripts of all the officials one by one, the King of Qin recognized all the officials, big and small, in Yangzhou, sat upright again, scanned the audience majestically, opened his thin lips slightly, and said, "Everyone, Xiao Wang came here this time not for other reasons, but because of the flood in the Cheng'an River a few days ago, the affected area covered more than a thousand hectares. Raise funds to buy food and relieve victims. Xiao Wang just read your manuscripts. There were 83 officials present, 45 of whom were Jinshi. That being the case, this is the first time for Xiao Wang to go to Beijing to run a business, and he will rely on your help, above all with a sacred heart, below to relieve the people's difficulties, with one heart and one mind, united as one."

All the officials said together: "I would like to serve His Royal Highness King Qin."

Jia Huan was in the ancient officialdom, experienced this big scene firsthand, and it was very interesting to listen to it from the sidelines. He judged in his heart, Qin Wang's words are quite smooth, I will give him [-] points.However, these are a bunch of bureaucrats who talk about one thing but actually do another thing. Just talking like this is not enough.

Qin Wang seemed to have guessed Jia Huan's thoughts, and faced the flattery of the officials coldly, he said: "What you said is not right, why are you working for me? You are all officials ordered by the court, and at the same time they are the people's servants. Parents and officials should serve the court and care about the lives of the common people in the world, instead of climbing for private sects! Wu Zhizhou, Xiao Wang, is this correct?"

Is there anything wrong with what you King Qin said?Even if it is wrong, I dare not say it, let alone such a high-sounding statement?The prefect of Wu immediately replied: "Yes, yes, what His Royal Highness Qin Wang said is the principle of fairness and righteousness, and the humble officials deeply agree."

Qin Wangxiu's long and beautiful knuckles lightly clasped a small mahogany table with a tea bowl at hand, and said solemnly: "If this is the case! The king has been entrusted with the sacred order that he has the right to rule first and then to act, and he will do his best to investigate and deal with all those who work for the court, so don't blame this king for turning his face and being ruthless!"

All the officials are Nuonuo and dare not say anything else.

This time, Jia Huan gave a thumbs up in his heart: such righteous and domineering words should come from the mouths of people like Lin Zexu and Hai Rui in the history books, but this guy It's very touching to say it without a tongue knot, and it's smooth and smooth, ho ho ho ho, don't you want to be so handsome!

The King of Qin said: "Since you have no objection, then I will assign this task. County magistrates, within ten days, raise two thousand shi of grain and hand it over to the treasury Dacang, and 5000 taels of silver for disaster relief. I can't pay it at that time Those who are involved will be jointly and severally liable at the peak, and will be dismissed by this king on the spot, and will then be reported to the court."

The officials looked at each other in blank dismay, two thousand shi of grain for a county and 5000 taels of silver, the king of Qin might as well ask us to grab it!

King Qin said again: "Except for the county magistrate, the rest of the officials don't need to raise food, they only need to pay 5000 taels of silver. The prefects and the salt department should take more responsibility, 1 taels of silver per person."

Uh, why was King Qin so handsome and upright just now, how did this matter not be proper?What about killing the rich and helping the poor in my imagination?How did it become apportionment?Jia Huan was very dissatisfied, this big reversal was too unpleasant.

They dispersed for a while, and the officials resigned, but King Qin only left Lin Ruhai behind, and said, "Lord Lin, I have something to discuss with you."

After Lin Ruhai and Jia Huan were left behind, the King of Qin leaned over slightly, looked at Lin Ruhai with an open mind, and said in a much more humble tone than the previous lecture in the lobby, "Master Lin, you are an ex-convict, even the emperor is very serious. I admire your insight and talent, so Xiao Wang wants to ask you for advice. Although Xiao Wang has assigned a general task just now, everyone has no objection, but Xiao Wang is still worried, wondering how much money and food can actually be raised? "

Lin Ruhai hastily declined, and said: "The lower officials have little talent and learning, how can they be praised by His Highness King Qin? The lower officials are terrified."

Qin Wang said: "Xiao Wang is really asking for advice. There are no outsiders at this time, so Mr. Lin should not be polite."

Only then did Lin Ruhai slowly say: "His Royal Highness the King of Qin raises funds and food for disaster relief. It is of course the method that takes the shortest time and has the fastest results. However, according to the officials, even if the money and food are raised, it will definitely be difficult in Yangzhou." If there is any dispute, it may damage His Highness's reputation. Because——Your Highness has given an order, everyone dare not disobey and will definitely try to do something, but they need to raise food and money in a hurry, and the amount is still the same. If it is huge, then they can only force the people. The victims are sympathetic, but the people in Yangzhou Mansion have always paid their taxes on time, so..."

Lin Ruhai didn't continue, but the King of Qin almost understood the meaning: Officials are eating their official salaries, so they naturally have to do things for the court. If you, King Qin, apportion it like this, they will continue to apportion it. Anyway, it's the people of Yangzhou who are unlucky. Asking them to charge three or five dollars more than other places, can they afford a little food? You, the King of Qin, have turned the good disaster relief into a forced apportionment, and you will definitely make a fuss on the boundary of Yangzhou. However, there is a good saying that the wise and the stupid are inseparable, and the common people accept death Woolen cloth.If you, King Qin, do that, even if you raise money and food, and make complaints, you will end up with a bad reputation! Of course, if you insist on going your own way, there is nothing we can do about it, right?

Jia Huan's eyes were flickering beside Lin Ruhai, and he finally couldn't help but said, "Caomin would like to ask His Highness King Qin, are you here just to raise money?"

King Qin heard that there was an article in the speech, so he said, "How do you say this?"

Lin Ruhai turned pale in shock, and quickly pulled Jia Huan, saying: "Is there any room for you, a commoner, to speak in front of the prince? Don't be reckless!"

The King of Qin said, "It might as well, let him speak."

Jia Huan said with a smile: "His Royal Highness King Qin asked me to tell, but I'll just say it straight. If there is any offence, I ask you to bear with me."

Qin Wang said: "You just say it's okay."

Jia Huan said: "If His Royal Highness the King of Qin is just to raise money, he can get it even in the capital. Anyway, a county magistrate pays 5000 shi for grain and [-] taels of silver. In order to save life and black hats, of course, we must do everything possible to collect money and food. Why bother His Highness King Qin to come here for thousands of miles? After all, His Highness King Qin also knows that such apportionment is actually to trigger The people are dissatisfied, even rioting. But they came to Yangzhou to do this again. Could it be that the people in Yangzhou are soft eggs? It’s easy to pinch? The annual taxes, money and food have been paid, and when there is a disaster in other places, the surplus food and grain at home must be thrown away. Bank transfer? Fortunately, I’m from the capital city, and I’m just here to visit relatives. If I were a citizen of Yangzhou, I’d just be a lazy guy. Scrape away, boys!"

Lin Ruhai hurriedly scolded Jia Huan, "Huaner, don't talk nonsense!" In fact, he knew very well in his heart that although Jia Huan's words were vulgar, they hit the point.

Jia Huan shut up in time, then peeked at Lin Ruhai, and fell silent.When the king of Qin urged him to continue, Jia Huan said: "The grass people's words are meaningless, and they offended the prince without knowing it. Fortunately, the elders reminded him here, and the grass people dare not talk nonsense anymore."

The King of Qin hurriedly said to Lin Ruhai: "Let him speak! Since this king is working for the country, I want to brainstorm."

King Qin encouraged Jia Huan again with a smile and said, "Okay, I won't allow your uncle to control you, just speak freely."

Lin Ruhai was very helpless, so he had no choice but to give Jia Huan a sharp look, to the effect that: You kid, take it easy, if you offend the prince, I can't even protect you!

King Qin said with an uncharacteristically pleasant face: "Huan'er—can I call you Huan'er? Huan'er, what you said is not right. Disasters don't happen every year. Besides, Yangzhou is rich, and the people occasionally take some surplus food and silver. If you help the victims in other places, you shouldn't have such a big complaint, right?"

You also call me Huan'er?Hehehe, call me a younger generation, okay?But, this guy is a prince, even if he calls his uncle Uncle Hai'er, it doesn't matter, let alone me!Beep, call it whatever you want.Jia Huan pouted slightly, suppressed the slander in his stomach, and continued to speak seriously: "My lord, that's not necessarily true. Our Dajin has a vast land and a lot of people. When it comes to disasters, every year it's either here or somewhere. If the prince raises money in Yangzhou by taking advantage of the Cheng'an River flood, everyone will think of Yangzhou's prosperity, and if there is a natural disaster, they will go to Yangzhou. It is estimated that in a few years, only one person in Yangzhou will take a broken bowl , and went out to be a refugee, it's better than exhausting yourself and being empty-handed in the end."

King Qin frowned and fell into deep thought. After a long time, he said: "It's reasonable for you to say that, but my king has obeyed the holy order and must raise money and food for disaster relief. Otherwise, how can it be done in a short time?"

Jia Huan said with a smile: "The grassroots think that Yangzhou is rich, and it is not the people of Yangzhou who are rich, but the salt dealers in Yangzhou and the officials at all levels who are fattened by the salt dealers. If the prince wants to raise funds, he still has to use them. As for the people of Yangzhou, we can teach them to donate voluntarily, and it is better not to force apportionment as much as possible. Even apportionment, the previous amount of the prince is too big, and it is better to be less."

The King of Qin said to himself: "Take the corrupt officials and the salt dealers under the knife? How do you do it? Those people are indeed rich, and it is better to catch one than to ask a thousand people to donate money. It is a pity that the king came in a hurry, and he did not catch them doing evil. If not, just copy the homes of dozens of people, and the family property without registration is enough. Well, I have an idea, there is nothing to be afraid of the evidence, it can be produced."

Jia Huan yelled repeatedly: "That was definitely not my idea! My lord, you are thinking about it! Caomin didn't ask the prince to frame them with false accusations, and then ransacked their homes. That would be too wicked! Caomin has a way, you can Tell them to willingly dedicate a large sum of money to the prince!"

Qin Wang and Lin Ruhai stared wide-eyed: Is there such a good thing?