Minister

78【Six Years of Jiankang】

The name of Xuan Yilang from the Yamen of the capital was Niu Gan, and he packed up and was ready to go out in the middle of the night.His wife handed the burden to the boy: "Remember to ask the master to add clothes." Niu Gan said with a smile: "Today I have to go to the yamen to do business. There is a stove, so don't worry, lady."

Xuan Yilang was in charge of the selection of honor guards in the capital. In previous years, the king of Qin would also return to Beijing at this time, but this year was different. There was a war in the north. A few days ago, the soldiers said that the king of Qin had the merit of breaking the seal of righteousness. This time the ceremony of honor should be done better.Niu Gan looked at this posture and thought about it—how long ago did King Qin report to the capital for reinforcements and Feng Yi!Even the news of the great victory has arrived for a long time... Why did the Ministry of War and the Ministry of Rites only speak now?And didn't mention anything about Wang Yunyi's side?It seems that it is still unclear who is at fault in this battle.He sighed again, counted with his fingers, and the twelfth lunar month was getting closer and closer. I heard that King Qin and his party had already passed the Yazui Pass, and they arrived in Beijing in two or three days.In the imperial city, it is the entertainment of the imperial family, and the specifications are fixed, but outside the imperial city, it is more complicated. The common people all over the world are watching, and if there is any discrepancy, it will be a big basket.

Lanterns, flags, etc. are all ready, and the bead cannons and fireworks are also rushing to replenish the stock, but the silk lanterns are not enough.Niu Gan has been worrying about this for the past few days. The Chinese New Year is coming, and many merchants have finished their business before closing their accounts. How can they make up for it?Arriving at the yamen of the prefectural capital of Kyoto, Mr. Niu wrapped himself in a bloated cotton robe and was about to rush out. One of the governors smiled and said, "Mr. Niu, are you still busy with the lantern?"

Niu Gan smiled: "Isn't it? How can there be so many finished products at the end of the year?"

Silk cloth is only available during the silk season. It's winter, it's too late, where can I find it?Even if there is a workshop to take over this way of life, what to do with it?

Du Si showed a distressed expression: "What's more, this year is at war again, and all the ministries are busy counting the year-end. Isn't it a deficit? Is it difficult to approve the money?"

Niu Gan was an old friend of this Dusi, so he told him the truth in a low voice: "How can the emperor lose money to his younger brother? You won't worry about taking money from the King of Qin."

After Niu Gan said this, he didn't dare to delay any longer, and stepped on the snow to the west of the city.Most of the shops in the west of the city are still busy, and those few official squares have not been busy yet. Niu Gan turned into Lao Xu's shop: "Man! Where's your boss?"

The last few times I came here, Boss Xu was very worried!Not to mention that money can't be earned, but the official errands are really urgent. Seeing that the new year is going to be difficult, the brothers who are the head of the Xu family are so anxious that they can't sleep.Later, I started to hide, can I hide?This is not it, Mr. Niu is blocking again.

"Hi! My lord! The boss has been waiting for you for a long time!" Changing his normal routine, the boy ran over and curtseyed: "I wanted to invite my lord, but it was too early. No, I'm about to prepare The horses and chariots are going to the adults' house!"

Niu Gan was surprised and didn't ask any further questions. He took the hand-warming stove and was led into the inner hall by the boy.

"Master Niu!" Boss Xu ran out wearing only a jacket: "I'm sorry, I'm sorry, sir, please come in." He let Niu Gan into the middle hall all the way.

"What? Did you find the silk cloth?" Niu Gan calmly took a sip of tea and asked with a smile.

"Master Niu! It's not just silk cloth? A ready-made lantern!" Boss Xu beamed with joy.

"Yo?" Niu Gan was quite surprised at this moment, thinking where did this man come from, not only did you have the goods that the weaving bureau couldn't supply, but they were still finished products: "Don't be second-hand goods from previous years! You can't make it!"

Saying this, Niu Gan heaved a sigh of relief, don't care what year the product is, it's better to have it than nothing, the prince and his party just lived like this, who cares what year the silk lantern is?

"New product! Good product!" Boss Xu patted his chest, turned around and told the clever boy: "Hurry up, let Curry get ready, I will accompany Mr. Xu to see the product in a while!"

There is indeed a good batch of goods piled up in the warehouse of the Xu family. After checking: [-] large lanterns, [-] small lanterns, [-] peace lanterns, [-] Ciyong lanterns, and [-] lanterns of various colors. One thousand lamps, one thousand lanterns with handles, and two hundred lampshades.Except for the yellow silk ones, it can almost fill the vacancy.

Niu Gan was overjoyed: "Where did Boss Xu come from?"

"This is also a blessing for the adults. A man from Fujian and Zhejiang came the night before yesterday. He didn't look like a rich man. He said that he had shipped the car lights and was going to Beichahe to unload the goods. The light shop over there ordered these and waited. I want goods. Who knows that the Beicha River has been dry for two months this year, and the riverbed can run donkeys. I am worried that this thing cannot be transported! I made a deal with him and asked him to give it to me first! After all, this is What the emperor wants! But he is still unwilling, saying that it is okay to be late, but if you don’t send the deposit gold and silver, it will be gone. I am determined to increase the price! The old man is so cruel that I admit it! Who said this is the emperor’s business What about it? Your Excellency said, right?"

Niu Gan smiled: "Show me the account book."

The account book that was handed over was still wet, and after a closer look, it was a little expensive, but it was not heartless.Niu Gan secretly sighed: "It's expensive, you know this year, when all the departments are settling accounts, I was already nervous. I can't afford such a large amount of money."

Boss Xu bowed and smiled, and let the dried beef into the small tea pavilion next to the warehouse: "You all go down and wait, the weather is so cold, my lord and I will drink some hot tea to keep warm."

In the small tea pavilion, there were all kinds of snacks arranged, and the servants and tents closed the door and retreated.

Boss Xu brought a cup of hot tea to Niu Gan's hand, and lightly tapped on a red leather post on the table: "Honoring an adult is not a respect."

Niu Gan laughed loudly, and pointed at Boss Xu with his index finger: "You old man, you just like playing tricks! Do business honestly for me."

Boss Xu smiled naively: "My lord taught me that."

Niu Gan took the post, looked at it briefly, and said, "The price must be reduced, or it won't make sense."

"Your Excellency said so." Boss Xu took out another small notebook and showed it to Niu Gan.

Niu Gan took a closer look, and it was still fair. He thought that not only he had to go back to report as soon as possible, but he also had to arrange to transport it back to the official treasury. The time was very tight, so he stopped entangled with the boss and took a sip of tea. and left.

The six yamen in the imperial city are quiet and bustling, and now no one responds to the posts of the officials, and they are all busy with the year-end calculations.The cabinet approved some, withdrew some, suppressed some.The Ministry of Rituals is somewhat short-lived, but it makes sense.Naturally, the Ministry of War suffered a lot... But the emperor didn't say anything, and Wang Yunyi hasn't come back yet, so it's hard to say how to approve it, so I pressed it first.The Ministry of Industry has some surplus, the Ministry of Officials is fine, the Ministry of Punishment is still the same, and the Ministry of Households has made money, but some of the accounts are not correct, so it will be temporarily returned to change.

"Old bones!" There were no empty chairs and tables in Xiyuan, Wang Xiang put down his pen and stood up from the pile of manuscripts: "It's another year."

"Master Wang, what are you talking about, old bones?" Yang Shenyun said with a smile.

Of the four members of the cabinet, Wang Xiang was the last one to fill in. Although he is nearly seventy years old, he is not particularly old compared to the other old bones.

Seeing that the two were joking, Song Chuiping also raised his head: "Hehe, I won't be busy for a few days. Mr. Zhou Ge finished seeing the emperor, and we are drafting what should be re-drawn and handing it over to the Supervisor of Ceremonies for approval." Hong, it’s time to go back to celebrate the New Year. This year when King Qin comes back, there will be lantern festivals along the way in the capital. Although we can’t walk anymore, it’s good to listen to the excitement through the wall.”

In Wenxuan Hall, Zhou Wenyuan was sitting outside drinking tea. After drinking for a long time, an eunuch came out: "Mr. Ge, the emperor said, I am sorry that Mr. Ge will be running later. The empress is in a bad condition. The emperor can't leave right now." open."

Zhou Wenyuan got up and said with a smile: "What's the matter, this is our duty as a courtier. I will come later, and please pay attention to your body."

The two exchanged pleasantries for a while, Master Zhou got up and went back to Xiyuan.

When Zhou Wenyuan was far away, the little eunuch went back and reported to the Prime Minister Zhuo Zhao. Zhuo Zhao nodded calmly, got up and went to the East Forbidden Gate to find the eunuch Liu Chang'en.After waiting at the East Forbidden Gate for a while, Liu Changen came in wrapped in a black robe. Seeing that he had changed the fish card, Zhuo Zhao stepped forward: "Where is the emperor?"

"Go back to Wenxuan Hall." Liu Changen patted the snow on his shoulder: "See, the prince brought 1 people back to the capital, plus some remnant soldiers who were entrusted with righteousness. I haven't heard anything about the rest, Wang Yunyi It might be a year later."

Years later?Zhuo Zhao thought for a while: "Ten thousand...what does the emperor say?"

"The emperor didn't say anything, but judging by the expression, he doesn't particularly care about it. The emperor seems to believe in the Qin King's aid to Feng Yi."

Zhuo Zhao smiled: "Do you believe it?"

Liu Changen raised his eyebrows indifferently: "Why doesn't our family believe it? What's more, doesn't this old man Huang Gui tell the emperor good things? Does our family believe it or not?"

Seeing his rebellious appearance, Zhuo Zhao didn't say much, but walked side by side to the inner palace. The snow was heavy, and the pipe was covered with another layer of ice just after sweeping it.

"Go, let someone sweep the snow again." Zhuo Zhao told the little eunuch when he passed by Xinghua Gate.

The little eunuch responded, and ran down to explain. Zhuo Zhao saw the young man running with his waist bent and walking in small steps, and there were shallow footprints on the road. He thought that he had just entered the palace decades ago, and he looked like that for the first time. King Qin seems to be like that too, right?

On December 22, the heavy snow stopped, and it was a rare sunny day. Today is the day when King Qin returned to Beijing. The officials made preparations and arranged the guard of honor. When it was time to blow the horn, Open the Dongchun Ming Gate to welcome the King of Qin.The common people also came to watch the excitement. This year is different from the past. There are more than 800 soldiers who entered the capital, and more than [-] soldiers entered the inner capital with the King of Qin. In addition, some soldiers from Fengyi may have more than a thousand. If you miss this excitement, you may be afraid. He wanted to be ridiculed by the neighbors, and for a while, even the children in the school threw away their books and parcels and turned to the street to wait.

There was still an hour before Mao, and it was still very dark, but the street was already noisy like a festival.King Yan let out a breath, loosened his collar lazily: "The court clothes are really heavy."

Wrapped in a cotton robe, Dai Tonglin warmed his hands in front of a brazier: "Your Highness, it's so early in the morning, why do you think the clothes are heavy at this moment?"

In a while, it's time to go to the palace. Today is bound to be a whole day of turmoil. The news came from the palace yesterday, saying that the princes and nobles must arrive earlier than usual, because there are so many people this year, and we can't arrange it later.King Yan's group is at the back, and it's better. Those officials and wives have been waiting in the hall of Chengtianmen in the middle of the night. I'm afraid this night will be very uncomfortable.

Knowing that there was something in Dai Tongjin's words, King Yan smiled and said, "It's better if you don't go, aren't you forced to wake up early?"

Dai Tongjin took a look at King Yan, smiled and said, "Yeah? Isn't your Highness's Baergou coming back today? Your Highness is panicking, so don't rely on others to force you."

King Yan sighed: "Why can't you give him a good face?"

After King Yan finished speaking, seeing that this person didn't talk to him, he had no choice but to say: "He came back this time, and he was close to death. Don't show him face? Just take it as a way to save face."

Dai Tongjin pretended not to hear, and just asked: "By the way, where did so many silk lanterns in the capital come from?"

Yan Wang suddenly said: "I have to go, I can't catch up..."

Dai Tongjin glanced at her mouth viciously: "What business can't be done? Your Highness will take the money anyway? If the emperor knows, hum! He will definitely suspect that King Qin wrote a letter to His Highness in private! At that time, it will be up to His Highness to smooth things over."

King Yan took out the hand warmer from under Dai Tongjin's palm, and patted the folds that he had pushed out: "Oh... ah, I see, this time... don't worry, it's very safe... let's go, Too late, too late."

It disappeared in a blink of an eye, and the personal servant girl outside the yard saw King Yan running out quickly and quickly tied the big tie on him.

Today, people are not allowed to sit in sedan chairs when entering the palace. The reason is still that there are too many people. King Yan got on his horse cursingly. Only after the large group of people left the alley of the palace, the guard of honor of King Yan was blocked by the people of the capital.King Yan leaned forward slightly to look around, and saw that there were people in the dark, and seeing the lovely silk lanterns on the street in the distance, his mood improved, he grinned and said, "There are so many people." He sat back , honestly waiting for the guard of honor ahead to open the way.

Since the middle of the night, the entire capital city has been busy. The emperor swept away the haze of the previous few days, and his attitude towards people has improved a bit.The ministers breathed a sigh of relief, it seems that this year should be a good one.The people in the imperial city finally became friendly.

Finally at Maoshi, firecrackers ignited on the tower of Dongchun Mingmen Gate, the heavy vermilion gate was pushed open, and King Qin's team was already organized outside the gate, the officials of Fuling read out the decree, and the soldiers put down their weapons and started to fight. into the city.

Another year!The familiar capital!Qin Wang smiled slightly at the brightly lit street, and then drove the horse under him - I am back again.

The people around cheered, the bluestone road was rattled by the knocking of horseshoes, and the naughty boy poked his head out of the crowd to look at these mighty soldiers curiously, and let out a cry of amazement.

All the way to the imperial city - Dachen Palace, the team stopped at the Xing'an Gate directly in front of Dachen Palace.A group of more than a thousand soldiers got off their horses one after another, and the hundreds of officials who came to greet them gave way, and diverted into the left and right golden halls—they were not allowed to enter the Forbidden City, and today they will stay in these two palaces to hold banquets and ceremonies.Although there were many people this time, very few people could really enter the Forbidden City, because the war had not eased, and no one from the Hu family could return to the capital. This time it was Wei Chi who was walking on King Qin's right hand.

Wei Chi stood behind King Qin's right and accepted the salutes from all the officials, and got on his horse again after the salutes.After passing Zhaoxun Gate, Yanzheng Gate, and Tai'an Gate, we finally arrived at the center of the empire—the Xuanzheng Hall of Dachen Palace.

Since the palace examination, this is the second time Wei Chi has seen this magnificent palace.The rising sun outlined her silhouette, and the figure of the courtiers, military officers, and officials of various ministries in the corridor, and the most noble person of the empire sat on the high chair in the hall.

Wei Chi suddenly laughed. The Hanlin Academy is only one street away from the Dachen Palace, but he is so far away from her. The place he once thought he would never be able to reach has finally come today.Wei Chi got off his horse - he was no longer a civil servant, and his posture was no worse than that of any general around him.Wei Chi straightened his official robes and followed the ceremony officer to the main hall.

"Xuan! His Royal Highness the King of Qin will see you!