dressed as a scholar

The days went on like this, it was almost June, and Fang Yu had been working in Shangshufang for nearly half a year, and the princes and grandchildren in the classroom were considered to be teachers, and the emperor could improvise sketches when he called him.Although the skills are not as good as Fang Yu's, they can still be seen, and the old emperor is very satisfied.

Fang Yu has already handed in all the knowledge he can teach. The so-called master leads the door, and the practice depends on the individual. If you want to achieve more in the future, you have to stick to your own interests and preferences.

He has nothing to continue to teach right now, if it is for the preferential treatment of Shangshufang, it will not be a problem for him to hang out for another year or so, but these children are at the age of learning, and he does not want them to learn nothing and come to his own. Classroom, so I honestly confessed to the emperor.

These days, he has been called and detained by the emperor every now and then, but he is more daring to say things than before.

"Since you feel that the teaching is almost done, go back to Hanlin to do something. Running around a few times a day is also tiring."

"Your Majesty, you have offended this humble minister, because the little princes and sons are quick to learn, and this humble minister has taught me all of my little kung fu. The so-called is to seek things in his position, if there is nothing to teach Calling the princes and sons to delay, I really feel sorry for this minister."

The emperor looked at the drawings of the little monkeys side by side. Half a year's work is not too much class, and it's good to be a little smaller. He waved his hand: "You should go back early today."

Fang Yu took the order, tried his best to restrain the joy in his heart, and retreated out of the hall.When I went out, I found that the rain outside hadn't stopped, but it was falling harder. Fortunately, a eunuch came forward and held up an umbrella.

As soon as he left, Fei Qingzheng went to Qinzheng Palace on the back. There was more than one way to come, but there was no shelter everywhere, so it was hard not to meet each other. Even with an umbrella, it was impossible to cover both sides' faces. Covering it up, Fang Yu still made a gift with him.That Fei Qing nodded slightly, glanced at him out of the corner of his eye, and strode into the hall with his head held high.

Fang Yu secretly rolled his eyes in his heart, this old thing can hold grudges, ever since he was rejected for sending a beautiful concubine, he didn't say anything on the surface, and when he saw him on weekdays, he had a condescending look, secretly thinking about it It's really small, and it doesn't look like a respected veteran at all.

He talked with his colleagues everywhere, mocking the strange family motto of the Fang family, and a group of people joked behind their backs, saying that Fang Yu's ancestors were farmers, and even his father's generation had never escaped the fate of poor farmers.The so-called not being able to take concubines is just that the family is poor and cannot afford to take concubines. Now that he is an official in the court, he is trembling.

What's more, they even talked about it, saying that they were afraid it would not work, and so on.

Fang Yuyuan didn't know these things either, since he was doing business in the court, no one said that the Lord came to him, but one day when he was eating in a restaurant, he heard people jokingly talking about it.At this point, he knew that there were quite a few people talking about it, and suddenly his reputation fell to the same level as that of the Qionglin Banquet.

The reputation this time is as good as it was before, Fang Yu's mind is calm, there are so many people talking about it, it is nothing more than his favor and jealousy, and he is neutral, there is no mountain behind him, so naturally there is no With the support of the same party, some people slandered everyone and wanted to express all the resentment in their hearts.

However, the external reputation of this court is gone, but it is very effective, and no one will come to fortify concubines and concubines, and he is especially satisfied with this point.

Fei Qing was marching into the main hall, greeted the emperor, and reported the crown prince's studies like a dog's legs offering treasures. Although Emperor Chongming was upset at times, after all, the crown prince was the prince of the country, so he had to care about his words and deeds.

"The prince's performance these days is indeed good. Although the government affairs are handled slowly, but fortunately, he is meticulous and conscientious, and has made progress. Aiqing has contributed a lot."

"Your Majesty entrusted the crown prince to a humble minister, how can you live up to His Majesty's expectations."

The old emperor nodded, put the prince's recent government affairs aside, and suddenly said to Fei Qingzheng: "Fang Yu's class in Shangshufang is over now, and now I'm back to Hanlin to work."

Fei Qingzheng said: "Master Xiao Fang is young and promising, he handles things diligently, and my ministers see that the paintings made by the little prince are getting better and better."

"Yeah, it's a rare talent."

Fei Qingzheng said: "Your Majesty's discerning eyes recognize pearls, this is also Fang Yu's luck."

Seeing that Fei Qingzheng was not on the right track, the old emperor sighed secretly in his heart, and said bluntly: "He may have been working in the Hanlin for a long time, and the work in the Shangshufang is also doing well. I am thinking about promoting him to do something, but I can't Let him be free and sharpen more to grow faster. I am old, and he needs someone to assist the prince in the court."

Fei Qingzheng felt a little complicated when he heard the words, one was the emperor's heart-to-heart consolation with him, and the other wanted to promote Fang Yu, but he didn't agree.

"What does Ai Qing think?"

"Your Majesty is wise and decisive, and there must have been arrangements." Fei Qingzheng said slightly: "I would like to hear the details."

The old emperor said: "It has not been decided yet. I am thinking that if I transfer him to Zhan Shifu, I can work with the prince earlier so that I can better assist him in the future."

Fei Qingzheng secretly thought that it was not good, Zhan Shifu's senior scholar just returned home a while ago, if the emperor transferred Fang Yu here, it is impossible to be downgraded, he must come to take the position of senior scholar, and he can jump from six to six It is too flattering for Fang Yu to be promoted to the fifth rank, two ranks in a row.

In fact, the emperor likes Fang Yu, and promoting a newcomer can also set an example for the newcomer to show the emperor's grace. If Fang Yu was recruited by him before, this time it is great news, but this person is stubborn and not for his own use. Why put it in front of you.

"Your Majesty, it is very good to praise Mr. Fang. In fact, Mr. Fang is also good at understanding people's hearts, and he is upright and upright in dealing with people. However, Mr. Fang is still young, a few years younger than His Highness. If he enters the Zhan Shifu today, I'm afraid it won't help His Highness to develop a calm and down-to-earth disposition. It's better to let Mr. Xiaofang practice in the six parts for another two years, and then he can be reused by His Majesty."

Fei Qing was carefully considering and carefully expressing his opinion with the emperor, seeing that the emperor did not change his expression, he was slightly relieved to see that he only obeyed the suggestion.

"Fang Yu is really young for entering Zhan's mansion this time, well, let me think it over again." The emperor smiled, "It's been rainy and cool recently, Ai Qing should come back earlier."

"Wei Chen retire."

The emperor raised his eyes and watched Fei Qingzheng walking away from the hall, he stretched out his hand to support his head, and stepped forward like a father-in-law with a wink, put down the dust and pressed the emperor's temple lightly: "Your Majesty is really too tired to criticize papers these days, and I can't help you." You should take a good rest."

"Master Xiao Fang's eye-protecting techniques are somewhat useful, why don't you let the old slave press with His Majesty."

The emperor suddenly said: "Do you think he looks like someone under the crown prince?"

"Your Majesty already knew that, knowing that this old slave is stupid, how can you still make fun of this old slave? It's just that Master Xiaofang is really caring for Chicheng, and he will do his best to serve His Majesty. No matter who he is under, he will serve His Majesty after all. .”

"I thought he was serving me, but unfortunately I am old, and he will serve the new emperor after all." The emperor was really tired: "He is a rare person, I hope he is not eager for quick success."

If the father-in-law looked at it, even the expressionless emperor had wrinkles on his eyes, and he felt a burst of pity in his heart. Time is not forgiving, and the emperor is a king who cherishes talents. It is rare for a young man to win the sacred heart. Yu Ke has been serving the imperial court for a long time, so he might stand in line too early and end up in the middle of the road.

Knowing that the sons under him are intriguing and fighting openly and secretly, the emperor pretends to be deaf and dumb at an early age, which is really a bleak endgame.

For example, the father-in-law has served the emperor since he was a child, how could he not know the pain in the emperor's heart.

It was almost June, and it rained for several days in a row. Seeing that summer was coming, the rain was heavy and urgent, which made the officials in the court complain. By the time of the Taihe side hall, half of the court clothes were wet with water.

Qiao Hezhi knew that it would be difficult for him to go to court, so he hurriedly made two pairs of new shoes and asked Fang Yu to take them to the Imperial Academy. day.Seeing that Fang Yu's method worked well, his colleagues followed suit one after another. People in the Hanlin had many pairs of shoes, and they brought back the wet shoes when they came to court, and brought another pair back the next day.

Fang Yu slightly rolled up the curtains of the car, and seeing the slanting rain outside, he also sighed in his heart. The Qin Tianjian is busy now, and he saw the adults on the other side come to report several times when he was at the emperor. Going out of the main hall is also in a state of desperation.

Back in the house, he walked through the corridor to the main room, and from afar, he saw Qiao Hezhi standing holding Xiao Qingyan on the corridor watching the straight water column pulled by the eaves.

Xiao Qingyan was hugging his little daddy's neck, her big eyes flickering, and she was sticking to his little daddy's chin slightly, her appearance was very painful.

"Hey, Mr. Qiao is very elegant, and he is enjoying the rain."

Hearing the familiar voice, Xiao Qingyan immediately raised her head from her father's chin, looked at Fang Yu's direction, stretched out her fat arms, opened and closed her little hands, asking her father to hug her.

Fang Yu hurried forward to hug Xiao Qingyan, and kissed on the soft face that was piled up like dough: "Why are you kissing Daddy like this today?"

Qiao Hezhi said with a smile: "Refused to stay in the house, crying all day long, I took him out and stood under the eaves for a while, at least he didn't continue to make noise, but he still wanted to go out for a walk. "

Fang Yu tapped the tip of Qingyan's nose lightly: "You little brat, you know how to trouble your little daddy. Dad will take you to play in the flower hall."

Xiao Qingyan couldn't understand what the old father was talking about, but seeing her father wearing a hat with wings, reaching out to grab the little wings, made Fang Yu laugh: "How dare you take off your father's black gauze hat, it's so big courage."

Seeing the father and son playing happily, Qiao Hezhi said: "You two go to the flower hall first, and I will go to the kitchen to see if the dishes are ready."

……

After the rest, the weather cleared up a little, followed by the summer heat wave, but after a long rain, the sky cleared up, and people's moods became more open.

Fang Yu got up to go to court in the morning, but after two days of rest, he accumulated many memorials at the court meeting.

The northwest reported that the war was at a stalemate, and it was necessary to hoard food and grass for a long-term war of resistance.

Successive heavy rains washed away the Baishui River, obliterating a large number of crops.

The lychees sent from Sichuan and Sichuan were hit by heavy rain, the official road was destroyed and muddy, the carriage broke down halfway, and most of the fruits were damaged.

It can be said that because of several heavy rains and frequent disasters, one chain after another, the court was heavy, the emperor's complexion was not good, and everyone was frightened.

The people depended on the sky for food, and when the weather was bad, they had to plant rice seedlings. Emperor Chongming had been in power for ten years, and things like bursting dikes and destroying good fields, crops and houses happened every once in a while.

As for the war, there must be food in the war, and this is something that I learned early in the morning.

What crushed the emperor was that the lychees were finally shipped, but many were broken halfway. It can be said that the house leaked and it rained overnight, and even Fei Qingzheng's flattering intentions were ruined by the heavy rain.

"Wars are fought and the people are rescued. The ruined official roads have to be repaired, and the treasury is empty. How can this be done?"

"I'm afraid that the only way to raise taxes in the rich lands is to fill the holes in the disaster-stricken lands."

"It's only summer now, and there is still a long time before the autumn harvest. How can the people pay too much tax? I'm afraid it will arouse public anger."

There were endless debates in the court, no matter who proposed any solution, someone would immediately tell its disadvantages and disadvantages, and after a long debate, there was no reliable solution.Fang Yu had also seen this battle before, but he didn't want to take responsibility, and he couldn't let the emperor feel that he couldn't share the worries for the emperor. That's why he said the enthusiasm cleverly, but in fact there was no way to solve the fundamental problem.

The pain in the brain of the emperor's anger took more than an hour to dissipate in the early morning.

Later, the little eunuch from the imperial study came to call Fang Yu, saying that the emperor had summoned him.

When Fang Yu saw the familiar face from the imperial study, he couldn't help but feel a little bit in his heart. It was nothing more than to accompany the emperor to make jokes and tell some interesting things in the folk market. Now that there are so many major events, why does the emperor want to find him? At that time, if he was charged with charming the monarch, he couldn't bear it.

For example, when the father-in-law is not here, it is often the little eunuch who comes to look for Fang Yu. The two of them can talk a few words in the daytime, and they are usually filial. Mr. Fang need not worry, the lychees from Sichuan and Sichuan have arrived, His Majesty distributed them to the ladies of the Six Palaces, there are still some left, and he said that he would invite your lord to taste them together."

Fang Yu let out a breath, with a smile on his face, and then walked to the imperial study.

Entering the palace, sure enough, a basket of red-skinned lychees was placed in front of the old emperor's table, and there were girls peeling them beside him. The plump jade-like lychees were placed on the jade plate, which was very pleasing.

Lychees are rich in juice and handsome in appearance, so it is not surprising that they are loved by the royal family.

"Come on, let's try it. It was supposed to satisfy my greed this year, but I didn't expect to encounter difficulties along the way."

Fang Yu thanked the reward, and took two with the emperor. This stuff is delicious, but if you eat too much, the emperor will eat some every year.

"What do you think of today's court affairs?"

Fang Yu's heart was full of alarm bells. Sure enough, there is no free lychee in the world: "My humble minister is dull."

The old emperor took the wet handkerchief handed over by his father-in-law and wiped his hands: "The people around have already been dismissed, so let's just chat about ordinary things in the market. I also want to hear more opinions."

Fang Yu breathed a sigh of relief, and said slowly: "Whether it is fighting to store grain, or helping the people, building roads and strengthening dams, money is inseparable. I want to see that the first thing to do is to fill the treasury, so as to solve a series of disasters." .”

The old emperor sighed slightly, and patted his leg: "The national treasury is empty. Over the years, I have been reducing the cost of the harem. I haven't made any major construction projects, but I am worried about the national treasury. I'm afraid the only thing I can do now is to increase taxes."

"The imperial court's income is mainly from land taxes, and it monopolizes industries such as salt and iron. Your Majesty, the people are struggling. If taxation is increased, and the east pays the west, I'm afraid it will arouse people's resentment."

"But what's the solution? The food in the northwest can last for another three months. If the food can't be replenished by then, how can the iron cavalry in the northwest step down all the way to resist it?"

Fang Yu frowned: "Today, taxes are collected according to the amount of land owned. The people only guard one-third of an acre of land that is enough for a year's grain. They know that the more land there is, the higher the tax is, and the people don't dare to diversify. Grain, if we go to open up wasteland, I am afraid that there will be more variety and more disasters. The enthusiasm of the people to cultivate land is not high, and there will be less surplus grain circulating in the market, and the price of rice and grain will rise accordingly. The people cannot afford grain and suffer from poverty. It is a vicious circle, and it is difficult for the imperial court to hoard food and grass to fight the war."

"If we can do the opposite, appropriately reduce land taxes, encourage people to cultivate more land, and the court will provide more safeguards, such as exempting people affected by disasters from paying taxes for a year as appropriate, and farmers increasing their share of farmers. At that time, the people will definitely be greatly encouraged and devote themselves to farming the land. It may be easier for the people to stay on the land by saying something disrespectful than suppressing the merchants."

"The imperial court is currently short of money. If you want to accumulate a lot of funds quickly, you might as well lower the high prices of the salt and iron shops monopolized by the imperial court, etc. on the basis of protecting costs and profits. It is the same as land. Encouragement, the number of buyers increases, small profits but quick turnover, and the imperial court can collect some money as soon as possible to alleviate the urgent need."

The old emperor did not open his mouth all the time, Fang Yu immediately stood up and kowtowed to apologize: "My minister is just talking nonsense, pick up some common words and tell your majesty, your majesty don't take it to heart."

"Get up, I said it at the beginning, just to talk to you."

Fang Yu got up in trepidation, and stood aside stiffly, daring not to speak again.

The old emperor suddenly didn't mention the troubles in the court, and said to Fang Yu: "The scholar of Zhan Shifu has returned to his hometown to retire. He has worked hard all his life, and he is older than me. I can't bear him to worry about the affairs of the court. , and approved his resignation."

"You have done a good job in Hanlin, and you can start to add another person to the position of serving as a bachelor. Where do you want to go?"

Fang Yu was overwhelmed by the flattery, obviously the emperor was not angry at his brashness just now, and was thinking of promoting him, he was moved for a while, the class these few months was really not in vain.

"Your Majesty." Fang Yu suddenly knelt down again: "Your Majesty values ​​me, and I am grateful for the kindness in my heart. Whether it is the Zhan Shifu or the Imperial Academy, this is an excellent job to be with Your Majesty for a long time. Wei Wei This is what I wish for. But now Your Majesty is worrying about state affairs. I have been in the court for a short time, but I have been treated favorably by Your Majesty. This is how cruel my minister is to covet comfort and wealth while seeing His Majesty working hard on state affairs, but unable to solve problems. .”

The emperor's eyebrows moved slightly: "What do you mean?"

"I have the courage to invite you to the Ministry of Industry. Whether it is building dams or roads, I am willing to devote myself to practical things and resolve some worries for His Majesty."

The emperor frowned: "Do you know what you're talking about! The Ministry of Industry is located at the end of the Sixth Ministry. Many officials secretly consider it a cold hearth. There are so many complicated things. How can it compare with Zhan Shifu and Hanlin?"

"Although Weichen is dull and short-sighted, he also knows the goodness of Hanlin and Zhan Shifu. However, Weichen is still young, so he should work harder. If he shrinks back and timidly, it will be difficult to achieve great things in the future and let him down. Your Majesty treats you generously. But if you can achieve something in the future, you can return to Hanlin Zhanshi Mansion if you can get His Majesty's love again."

"If all the officials in the court can ask for hardships and burdens like you, the court will be much more stable." The emperor looked up at the ceiling of the hall, sighed, and then looked at Fang Yu who was kneeling: " You get up first."

When Fang Yu left, Ru Gonggong stuffed a basket of lychees, saying that the emperor had promised to reward him earlier, and brought them back for his family to taste.He thanked his father-in-law with the basket, and wondered if it was the lychees specially stuffed by the emperor as a consolation because he refused to agree to his application.

In fact, what he said in the palace was nice, and his flattery was loud, but speaking of facts, who would not want to be promoted in Hanlin and Zhanshifu, where it is easy to make friends with powerful people, and to see the emperor to please others? It's much more comfortable to suffer.

But the war in the northwest was not good, so he had to work hard for Chu Jingfei if he took things from Chu Jingfei.But if he was in Hanlin and Zhan Shifu, it would be difficult for him to help Chu Jingfei on his own.

Fang Yu also thought it through. Being an official and an actor actually have the same effect. No matter how high your official position is, if you can't do real things and the actors can't produce hard enough works, it will always be empty. Hold on, otherwise, those princely and noble families in the court, who clearly have descendants and grandchildren, can directly become officials, why would they still take the scientific examination and be satisfied with the two ranks of Jinshi as their backgrounds? Isn't it just to let people see Strength, stop Yoyo's mouth?

He is currently liked by the emperor, which can be seen from the promotion that the emperor has arranged for him, but such a fast promotion can easily make people drift away, and it will also attract people's attention.After many considerations, he wants to avoid laziness and spend his days idle. The facts and long-term plans still warn him not to be greedy for momentary enjoyment, and the future will last forever.

Holding the lychee basket, the emperor did not open his mouth to agree to his request, and he would have to come and use his strength in a few days.