The most powerful patriarch in the late Ming Dynasty

Chapter 145 Double Happiness
Chapter 143

Renwu year, March eighteenth,

Suitable for marriage, making an alliance, receiving gifts, meeting relatives and friends, offering sacrifices, planting, traveling,
Do not open the market, make stoves, build ships, and bury.
In the words of a master of Taoism, today is a rare auspicious day for the zodiac,

For the Lu and Yang tribes in Fuzhou, March [-]th is a day worth remembering in the clan register.

Lu Changle, head of the Lu clan in Fuzhou, married Yang Xuan, the only daughter of the head of the Yang clan in Fuzhou.

No one thought that the two big clans who had fought for more than 200 years and suffered countless casualties could still get married.
In any case, this is a great happy event. You must know that the two clans are rich in Fuzhou, with deep roots and luxuriant leaves.

Especially Lu Changle, first served as the head coach of the Fuzhou militia, and then formed a team of more than 6000 people with the children of Lu and Yang as the team. Now the entire Fuzhou and Yanping depend on Lu Changle's face.
Of course, those who are dissatisfied with Lu Changle are mostly corrupt officials, local tyrants and evil gentry,

Lu Changle protects the interests of businessmen and common people, and stands up for the common people when encountering injustice.
After taking over the land stored by the army and the unowned land in various places, many landless people can rent cheap land, and they can also borrow seeds from the rural protection team on credit. They are all very grateful to Lu Changle, the head coach of the militia.

It would be a great thing for someone in the family to join the rural protection team.

Not to mention that those who join the rural protection team have a generous monthly salary, and their families can also rent cheap land.

When farming, you can also borrow cattle from the rural protection team.

It is not an exaggeration to say that if a young man can join the rural protection team, finding a wife becomes easy,
I find someone to inquire and intercede every day, and there are many people who want to join the rural protection team.

On the 38th, the Lu family in Fuzhou was full of guests and overcrowded.

It can be said that all the famous people in Fuzhou Prefecture have come, and the clans that have good relations with the Lu family in Fuzhou have sent representatives to come.
The sun-drying field in Xingping village is full of all kinds of horse-drawn carts and mule-drawn carts.
Cheng Chao, the history of household affairs, Xu Jiaming, the history of workshops, Huang Shiwen, the county school teacher, Liu Fangjin, the squire, Jin Jindou, the representative of the Chamber of Commerce, and others went to Xingping Village early to help, and the county government in Changle County was almost deserted.

Zheng Xingtai, the prefect of Fuzhou, has a very normal relationship with Lu Changle, so he also sent someone to send silk and a pair of jade pendants to show their friendship on this day.
Cheng Liye of Cheng's Commercial Bank is also very face-saving, and will live in Min'an Town on March [-]th.
On the [-]th of March, they rushed there in time, and the long gift list took half a cup of tea to read, which can be said to have given Lu Changle enough face.

Lu Changle has become a tool man. Anyway, he can do whatever others tell him to do.
They saluted and offered tea, but since their parents were away, they offered tea to the second uncle and the second uncle instead,

With a sound of "Ceremony is over, send to the bridal chamber", Yang Xuan, who covered her head with a red scarf, was sent to the bridal chamber.

Yang Xuan is relieved, Lu Changle can't leave yet, and he has to reward the guests,

The original plan was to set up [-] tables, first to entertain relatives and friends who came from afar, and to make up for our own people later.

Unexpectedly, there were more and more people, and some people who were not invited also came to congratulate with gifts.

On a happy day, as long as you are not an enemy, there is no reason to drive people out,
There is not enough space, just add a table, it is rare to be so happy.

Several clan elders and the head of the house kept adding tables, and finally the fat man in charge of the banquet did not know how many tables were placed.

Anyway, I kept urging the back kitchen to prepare and serve the dishes.

Everyone is tired and happy.

In the middle of the banquet, Lu Jinqing, the head of the fifth room, suddenly heard shouting loudly: "Borrow the way, borrow the way, be careful!"

"Sorry sorry, please step aside"

"Hahaha, good thing, good thing, I'll drink with you later"

The voice seemed to be raised deliberately, as if someone else didn't hear it.
Soon, the answer was revealed, and someone shouted loudly: "The imperial decree has arrived, and Fuzhou head coach Lu Changle will receive it."

As soon as the voice fell, everyone present was stunned.
No one thought that a small head coach of the Fuzhou militia could still receive the imperial decree,
For most people, this is something that they can't even think about.
Lu Changle turned to look at Cheng Liye, Cheng Liye smiled slightly at Lu Changle,
It is known that Cheng's Chamber of Commerce is behind the promotion.

It was a long journey from Fujian to the capital, and it took less than two months for Lu Changle to ask Cheng Liye to take care of him.

The imperial decree seemed to be stepped on, and it was delivered on the day of my wedding. Needless to say, it must have been written by Cheng's firm.
It can also be seen how powerful Huizhou merchants are.
Ming Dynasty officials and businessmen had a kind of harmonious relationship, which is inseparable from Zhu Chongba.

The salary of the Ming Dynasty was notoriously low. In Zhu Chongba's words, prestige and wealth can only be chosen.

If you want to be majestic and honor your ancestors, you must be willing to be poor,

If you just want to make money, don't be an official.

Like the upright official Hai Rui, who is clean and honest, not corrupt, and lives a very poor life with only a little salary.
The old mother's birthday, cutting the catty meat to pay filial piety, all became news, and it was also spread to the emperor's ears,

The vast majority of officials are either trying to exploit the people or entangled with businessmen.

To Lu Changle's surprise, a censor surnamed Fang led the team to deliver the imperial decree, and there were no eunuchs in the team.

This is very different from the pictures I watched on TV in my previous life.

Sure enough, a lot of television is deceiving.

Fang Yushi came in a hurry, but there were still necessary ceremonies.

When Lu Changle was cleaning his hands, the second uncle burned incense himself, regardless of his old arms and legs.

I don't know who delivered the news, Yang Zhengbao, Yang Zhengpu and Yang Zhengshu on the other side of the river came quickly on horseback.
It was supposed to be Lu Changle who brought Yang Xuan back to visit him three days later,
Hearing the imperial decree, Yang Zhengbao couldn't sit still, and hurried to witness this historical moment.

Lu Changle is just the head trainer of a small militia. If there is bad news, it is enough to send a few Jinyiwei or a team of soldiers.

Where do you need to use the imperial decree.

Lu Changle suppressed two groups of thieves in a row, and made friends with Cheng's firm with a deep background. Needless to say, there must be good news.

As for the rules, what other rules are there? My daughter has already let that kid take advantage of her.
According to the rules, Lu Changle has to be dragged to soak in the pig cage.

When Lu Changle wiped his hands with a clean towel, he faintly saw a bright red corner behind the window, and faintly saw a pretty face peeking nervously behind the window. Needless to say, Yang Xuan couldn't sit still when he heard the movement, and wanted to witness this holy moment.

Before the imperial edict was read out, a small official from the Ministry of Rites explained to Lu Changle what should be paid attention to in the etiquette of receiving the imperial edict.
Lu Changle also actively cooperated.

After the ceremony, Lu Changle knelt down with the guests present, including Yang Zhengbao, Yang Zhengshu and others who came to watch the excitement, and listened to the order.

The ceremonial official accompanying the team took out the imperial decree from the brocade box and handed it to Fang Yushi.
Fang Yushi opened it solemnly, and read out loud like a bell:

"Fengtian Chengyun Emperor, Zhaori, the head trainer of the Fuzhou militia, Lu Changle, is gentle, honest, sensitive and studious. First, when the plague ravaged Fujian, he offered a strategy to cure the epidemic. Later, he led the village to fight bandits and protect the countryside. He is regarded as a model for the subjects of the world, and he is specially appointed as the general of Fujian to suppress the bandits, commanding the township of a province to bravely defeat the bandits and defeat the bandits, I admire this."

What?Ping thief general?

The content of the imperial decree was difficult to understand, and Fang Yushi spoke a Beijing accent, so it was difficult to understand when he read it out.

However, everyone still heard the four words "General Ping Zei" very clearly.
General, Second Uncle was so excited that he almost couldn't cry out.
After so many years, the Fuzhou Lu family has finally produced a character;

Yang Zhengbao knelt on the ground, the veins in both hands were bulging because of excitement,
He is the father-in-law of a general?

God, I thought my daughter married a scoundrel, and I felt sorry for her,

I didn't expect my daughter's eyesight to be so good.

Yang Xuan, who was hiding behind the window, was so excited that her pretty face was flushed, and her long legs were tightly clamped.
I have always wanted to be a general, but I didn't expect to become the general's wife so soon. For some reason, I felt an inexplicable excitement in my heart.

Wang Taiwen, the head of the Wang clan in Min'an, Zhang Shidong, the head of the Zhang clan in Jiahe Village, Cheng Chao, the history of the household house, Xu Jiaming, the history of the workshop, Huang Shiyan, the county school teacher, and others were all stunned, as if they were dreaming.
You are not surprised when you get promoted, but what is surprising is that the emperor personally issued a decree to reward the promotion,

It means that Lu Changle has already left an impression in the emperor's heart,

It is likely to be valued by the emperor, needless to say, the future is bright,

Before I knew it, I was hugging my thigh?

"Thank you Lord Long En, long live my emperor, long live, long live," Lu Changle quickly responded according to the teaching aid beforehand.

Fang Yushi put together the imperial decree and put it in Lu Changle's hand: "General Lu, take it."

Lu Changle received the imperial decree, said thank you, and then stuffed a big pearl into Fang Yushi who came from afar. The officials of the Ministry of Rites and the guards did not forget, and each presented a large ingot of silver ingots.

This is Xiqian, and the whole group accepted it with a smile, and she looked much better.

It is not easy to run from the capital to Fujian just for this benefit.

Lu Changle asked someone to prepare two tables of banquets for Fang Yushi and the guards to enjoy.

Fang Yushi and his party backed away with a smile on their faces, and said that when they returned to Beijing to return to their orders, they would speak well for Lu Changle.

"Patriarch, is this the imperial decree?" Lu Changsheng's eyes lit up, and he wanted to touch it.

I've only heard of this kind of thing from Mr. Storyteller, and it's the first time I've seen the real thing.
Many people say that things related to the emperor are tinged with nobility, and they don't know whether their luck will improve if they touch the imperial decree.

Before reaching out, there was a crisp "pa", and Lu Changsheng's hand was slapped away mercilessly by the second uncle: "Look at your dog's paw, it's dirty, it's dirty with the imperial decree, it broke your hand, get out of here!" Further."

After reprimanding Lu Changsheng, the second uncle said expectantly: "Patriarch, can the old man see this imperial decree? In this life, I have never seen what the imperial decree looks like."

"Of course, Second Uncle, appreciate it slowly." Lu Changle handed the edict in his hand to Second Uncle.

When the second uncle held the imperial decree in both hands, his hands were trembling, and his old eyes shot out.
First, push away a few house heads and clan elders, so as not to splash all the saliva on the imperial decree, and then a group of people stopped eating and yelled around the imperial decree,

After the second uncle finished watching, he also called Brother Yang Zhengbao, who was standing in the distance with an itchy face, to enjoy it together.
This is a glorious moment for the Lu family in Fuzhou, and my second uncle is happy to share it with the Yang family of Fuzhou.
He also threatened to enshrine it in the Lu family's ancestral hall.

In the past, Yang Zhengbao would definitely not have given the second uncle such a chance to show off, but the protagonist is his son-in-law,
Half of a son-in-law deserves to be happy, so he doesn't care about it.

"President Lu, no, it's right to call him a general." Cheng Liye walked over and said with a smile: "It seems that the general is not satisfied with this imperial decree."

Ordinary people cried bitterly when they saw the imperial decree, and some even fainted from excitement.
Luckily, Lu Changle was a bit surprised and excited at the beginning. Although he always had a smile on his face when he received the imperial decree, he casually handed the imperial decree to the clan elders, as if he didn't take it very seriously.

Are you still not satisfied with what Cheng's Commercial Bank has spent so much effort on?

In other words, the suspect is too small?
Lu Changle bowed to Cheng Liye with a serious face: "To be able to go to Datianting in such a short period of time, to be rewarded smoothly, and to arrive in time for the wedding day, brother Cheng has a heart, I accept Cheng's business. "

"The award is mainly due to the general's outstanding achievements, and Cheng's firm is just pushing the boat along." Cheng Liye hurriedly returned the gift.

Lu Changle sighed, and said to Cheng Liye with a wry smile: "Our emperor wants the horse to run, but he doesn't want the horse to eat more grass, let alone eat grass, but he doesn't even want to draw a big cake."

There are a few words of commendation in the imperial decree, and a general who suppresses bandits of unknown rank is registered. The most important things such as military pay, food, equipment, and military resources are not mentioned at all.
Letting Lu Changle take Xiangyong to suppress the bandits is already chilling,

The axis of the imperial decree is a black ox horn axis, and the silk brocade written on it is still pure white silk, clearly not taking oneself seriously.

By convention, imperial edicts are all in the form of scrolls, and the texture of the shaft handles is strictly different according to the rank of officials: the first-rank is a jade scroll, the second-rank is a black rhinoceros horn scroll, the third-rank is a golden scroll, and the fourth and fifth ranks are black ox horn scrolls.

The materials of the imperial decree seem to be very elegant. They are all silk brocade fabrics made of high-quality silk. Most of the patterns are auspicious clouds and auspicious cranes, which are very magnificent.

There are flying silver dragons at both ends of the imperial decree as an anti-counterfeiting symbol.The color of the imperial decree is also very particular: the richer the color, the higher the official rank of the official receiving the gift.According to the custom of the Ming and Qing Dynasties, the imperial edicts for officials above the fifth rank were relatively rich in colors, including three-color, five-color, and seven-color, and those below the fifth rank were generally a single pure white silk.

Lu Changle organized Xiangyong to suppress two bandits at his own expense, especially leading people to rescue Changle City, killing nearly ten thousand thieves in the two wars,
For such a great achievement, the next imperial decree will still use a single pure white silk,

I don't know if Chongzhen is petty or looks down on himself.

So many township braves went out together, there were so many casualties, and no pensions were allocated, can you not be chilled.

Cheng Liye said calmly: "It's hard for a clever woman to cook without rice. Even the emperor can't get money out of the treasury. I heard that the treasury has long been unable to make ends meet. The expenditure of the palace has been reduced again and again. The emperor's imperial meals are not as good as those in the south of the Yangtze River." What about a solid house?"

There are many natural disasters, rebels are everywhere, and Liaodong is a gold-selling cave that can never be filled. The treasury has long been empty.
In less than a year, Chongzhen changed three household ministers to no avail, he still had no money,
It would be good to get a general to suppress the thieves. As for food and military pay, you don't even have to think about it.

Lu Changle laughed, patted Cheng Liye on the shoulder and said, "Anyway, Brother Cheng, I'll toast you a few more later."

In the early Ming Dynasty, the east wall was torn down to make up for the west wall. Chongzhen, who has always had a good face, will soon reach out to the ministers and nobles for donations.
Now that he has obtained an imperial decree and earned a general to suppress thieves, he can justifiably dispatch and walk in Fujian, which is enough.

Cheng Liye looked around, and said in a low voice: "The general is interested, and Cheng will accompany him as much as he drinks, but a spring night is worth a thousand dollars. I advise the general to drink less."

"The bridal chamber has been advanced, make up a ceremony, Brother Cheng can drink to his heart's content." Lu Changle also lowered his voice and said with some complacency.

Cheng Liye was obviously taken aback, and silently gave Lu Changle a thumbs up.

(End of this chapter)