At the beginning of the civil castle, the Ming God of War was a little panicked

Chapter 161 He Raised Me!

Zhu Qizhen did not go to Mobei, but with Zhang Fu's cover, he went all the way south through the Grand Canal towards Huai'an Mansion.

The king of Jing'an County sent an envoy to Annan, accompanied by many guards and officials from the Ministry of Rites. The goal was too big, so Zhu Qizhen brought Fan Zhong, Yuan Bin and Bei Lin, changed into casual clothes, and hired a small boat alone.

Behind the boat, there were Jin Yiwei in disguise, who also hired a boat to follow secretly.

Seeing that it was getting late, the boatman dared not sail at night, so he leaned towards the shore.

Zhu Qizhen stood at the bow of the boat and asked, "Boatman, where is this? How far is it from Huai'an Mansion?"

The old boatman who punted the boat said: "If you go back to my son, you will be in Suqian County in front of you, and you will be in Huai'an in three days."

Zhu Qizhen asked again: "I heard that the Yellow River broke its embankment. I wonder if the disaster in Suqian is serious?"

"Suqian is not too serious. From the east of Huai'an Mansion, it's miserable!"

"People... suffering!"

Zhu Qizhen couldn't help shaking his head and sighing. The war in the north had just subsided, and there was another flood in the Central Plains. There was also the White Lotus Sect who plotted against the law, and the Japanese pirates who engaged in sneak attacks from time to time. Natural disasters and man-made disasters, bad luck!
At this moment, he deeply felt that the burden on himself was getting heavier. If the people were not safe, the emperor would be a fart.

Standing behind Zhu Qizhen, Bei Lin said, "Emperor... What Brother Huang said is that the people suffer in prosperity, and in death, the people suffer. Since ancient times, the people in the world are the most difficult."

The old boatman said cheerfully: "I think they are all scholars. These people must be suffering, but this year is very different."

"Oh?" Zhu Qizhen couldn't help asking, "What's the difference?"

"The construction of the river embankment this year is not a collection of corvees, but work."

Bellin questioned: "Aren't work and corvee the same thing?"

"The difference is huge!"

The old boatman shook his head, and said: "Working is paid for, ten dollars a day, and two meals!"

Since ancient times, in addition to paying taxes, the common people have to perform hard labor. To put it bluntly, they are working for the court without pay.

Before Yu Qian left Beijing, Zhu Qizhen made a special statement that the common people should not be allowed to work for nothing, and then with a wave of his hand, he allocated an additional 100 million taels of silver as the cost of repairing the river.

He didn't expect that his actions, which seemed ordinary, caused an uproar.

When Yu Qian arrived in Huai'an Mansion, the first thing he did was to issue a new recruitment notice and reissue the wages of the previous [-] people.

The local people went crazy, and it was the first time in their life that they saw the imperial court pay themselves wages, so they immediately signed up enthusiastically, and the river repair team expanded to [-] at once.

Belin also just learned about this, so she asked jokingly: "Old man, why don't you go to such a good thing?"

The old boatman still said with a smile: "No, I'm old, I can't work anymore!"

After docking, Yuan Bin took out a piece of silver and said to the old boatman, "Let's go at Chenshi tomorrow."

"Don't worry, the little old man is waiting on the boat, you guys go slowly!"

The four of them went ashore, and Zhu Qizhen was thinking about the river regulation, so he was not in the mood to hang out.

"Yuan Bin, where is the nearest station?"

Yuan Bin had already inquired about it, and immediately said, "It's less than two miles ahead."

The post station is built next to the Grand Canal here, mainly for officials sailing on the canal.

Zhu Qizhen nodded and said: "Then let's not go into the city, let's go to the post station for a night."

Belin said, "Going to the post station...doesn't it reveal your identity?"

Zhu Qizhen looked him up and down, and said: "Don't you have seals and documents with you, just use yours, and then say that we are your servants."

When she left Beijing, Beilin brought the documents with her, and Qin Tianjian was in charge of astronomy and geography, so it was reasonable to come to Huai'an Mansion to help manage the river.

After making up their minds, a group of people came to the post station, and the post Cheng had seen Beilin's documents and seals, and hurriedly let them in.

The process went smoothly, except that Belin wasn't used to it.

This was the first time that the emperor served as his follower. When he walked in front, he always felt that his back was chilly.

Yicheng arranged guest rooms for several people and prepared a dinner table.

This meal is not considered rich, there are only four dishes, two meat and two vegetables, ordinary.

Zhu Qizhen didn't care, he was away from home, as long as he could fill his stomach, he was already hungry after a day's journey on the boat, so he picked up the bowl and started making.

Bei Lin waited carefully, and Zhu Qizhen said while picking rice into his mouth, "You guys eat too, why are you being polite?"

"Eat first, Weichen... I'm not hungry..."

Zhu Qizhen said impatiently: "You are the officer now, and I am the follower. What do you look like if you let others see you like this?"

Belin had no choice but to pick up the bowl and took a small bite of the rice.

"Hey, that's right, come, eat vegetables!"

Zhu Qizhen simply took a bite of food for him. At this moment, the door curtain was lifted, and Yicheng came in with a pot of soup in his own hands.

Beilin was at a loss with the bowl, Zhu Qizhen had an idea and said, "My lord, you should eat more vegetables!"

"Oh, good, good!"

Beilin had no choice but to agree indiscriminately, and Yicheng put the soup on the table without thinking too much.

Maybe it was because he saw that these people didn't have such a big air and were more approachable, so he said: "It's really rare for a high-ranking official like you to go out with only three people!"

Beilen replied with a smile: "Qin Tianjian's grade is not high, and he can't be regarded as a high-ranking official."

"You are from the capital, you are a senior official, it's alright, the dishes are ready, you guys eat slowly, and later I will bring hot water to your house for you guys!"

At this time, Zhu Qizhen had already finished his meal, so he went to serve the soup, but found that there was a lot of meat in the soup, as well as meatballs, several seasonal vegetables and vermicelli, which looked very high-grade.

"Your soup is good!"

He just said casually, but he didn't expect that Yicheng turned around and answered: "You're done talking, this soup was originally prepared for the guest in front, but he didn't eat coriander, so he returned it. Here it is for you."

Zhu Qizhen was taken aback for a moment, and then asked again: "So, there is still a senior official in front?"

The post station is the official guest house of the imperial court. Food and lodging are provided for the passing officials along the way for free, but there is one thing, the grade of hospitality is required by the level.

What kind of officials and what kind of meals to prepare are clearly stipulated.

And the soup in front of Zhu Qizhen was obviously more than one notch higher than those four dishes.

"Look at what you said, he's the nephew of a senior cabinet scholar, and he won the Juren again this year. His future is limitless!"

Zhu Qizhen asked suspiciously: "You mean, this person is not a court official?"

"If someone wants to be an official, isn't that a matter of time? Okay, you guys eat first, and the younger ones go to the front to entertain."

"Wait a moment!"

But Zhu Qizhen slowly put down the spoon in his hand, and said: "There are four cabinet scholars in the dynasty. I don't know whose nephew is the Juren you mentioned?"

Yi Cheng chuckled and said, "His surname is Gao!"

After finishing speaking, he turned around and went out, but the room became deserted.

Zhu Qizhen's face was livid, Beilin and the others looked at each other, not knowing what to say.

In fact, this kind of thing is also common. Although the post station only receives officials who come and go, he is Gao Zhu's nephew after all, and he is also a juren. If he becomes a Jinshi in the next year, he will soon be a Hanlin.

Even if he failed the exam, it would not be a big problem to become a county magistrate based on Gao Zhu's relationship. After a few years of training outside, he would find a reason to be promoted back to Beijing, and his career in the future would be smooth sailing.

Such a character, why not eat you for two meals?
Zhu Qizhen doesn't think so, the rules are the rules, if someone takes the lead and breaks the rules, there will be a second, a third...

At that time, the documents of the imperial court will become a piece of waste paper, which can be discarded at will.

"Belin, go and see what's going on?"

Bellin's face was tangled, and she said: "It's just an autumn wind. Your Majesty, don't want to be as knowledgeable as such a person. You have to hurry tomorrow!"

He was not afraid, back then in the Fengtian Palace, facing the veterans of the five dynasties, he dared to ride on others and beat him up, what is there to be afraid of for a small person?

I'm just worried that my whereabouts will be exposed. The emperor does not have soldiers and horses to accompany him. If he is targeted by unruly people, the consequences will be disastrous.

Yuan Bin also persuaded: "Master Bei is right, Your Majesty, let's leave it alone, the business is important!"

"No, I can't swallow this breath. How can a small person with no achievements and no rewards eat better than me?"

Pointing to the pot of soup, Zhu Qizhen said with grief and indignation on his face: "Look, there is so much meat in this pot of soup, which is more than our four dishes. It's really unreasonable!"

Bellin scratched her head and said, "If your majesty is not used to it, I'll go out and buy some wine and meat now..."

"No need!"

Zhu Qizhen waved his hand and said: "You go to the front now, since you've already eaten, it's not worthwhile to drive people away now, ask Yicheng how much the food and drink cost, and ask him to pay the bill!"

Bellin had no choice but to go to the front room as instructed.

Zhu Qizhen was still sulking, looking at the delicious soup, he couldn't help filling a bowl for himself.

"It's a pity not to drink such a good soup..."

However, before he finished drinking, he heard ping-pong in front of him, and immediately after that, Yicheng hurried in.

"Three, go ahead and have a look, your lord is fighting with Gao Ge's nephew!"

Zhu Qizhen was drinking soup, he couldn't help being stunned, and asked you to collect the bill, why are you still fighting?
Don't look at Beilene's usual weak writing, but when she loses her temper, she really dares to do it!
He hurriedly got up, took Fan Zhong and Yuan Bin to the private room in front, and saw Belin wrestling with a young man, the food on the table was spilled everywhere, and two women were still curled up in the corner. It turned out to be a wine companion!
Zhu Qizhen couldn't help being stunned. In my Daming's official guest house... there is also a wine escort service?
Mr. Gao brought a lot of servants with him. These people didn't seem to want to talk about martial arts. When they saw their master being beaten, they all stepped forward to help. Fan Zhong and Yuan Bin stepped forward, raised their fists and punched each other, just to face each other , all lay down.

The two of them got rid of the servant, and went to grab Mr. Gao on the ground, but were stopped by Zhu Qizhen.

"They will fight one-on-one, let's not do it yet."

That Mr. Gao was drunk and looked a little drunk. As soon as Belin turned over and rode on him, he punched him with fists, and shouted: "Let you lick me, let you lick me!"

Behind him, Yi Cheng was sweating profusely, and said: "Three, hurry up and pull your lord away, if you continue to fight, you will die!"

Zhu Qizhen was not in a hurry, but asked: "Beating an official ordered by the court, according to the law of the Ming Dynasty, how should we deal with it?"

Yi Cheng was stunned for a moment, and said: "Master Gao is just a juror, not an official of the imperial court."

"I'm talking about this guy beating my lord!"

Zhu Qizhen said angrily: "You only have Mr. Gao in your eyes, is he your father?"

Yi Cheng was speechless for a moment, his face full of helplessness.

Of course he knew that Mr. Gao had no official position, but the other party was the deputy supervisor of Qin Tianjian. Although the grade was not high, he was also a Beijing official.

But the problem is, the backstage of the Gao family is a majestic cabinet scholar, can this be compared?

I am just a little postman, I can't afford to offend both sides, what can I do...

"I can't control this matter, I'll ask the magistrate to go!"

Now, he has no choice but to go to the city overnight to report to the county magistrate.

The postmen all ran away, and the remaining postmen did not dare to act rashly, so they had to wait and see from afar.

Finally, Mr. Gao on the ground passed out from the beating, and Belin got off him panting, still yelling: "Which onion are you, how dare you pull me?"

Zhu Qizhen smiled, and asked: "You were asked to collect the bill, how did you beat him up like this?"

"The emperor... in broad daylight, dares to pick up the imperial court official, such a dog who is arrogant, I am afraid!"

Zhu Qizhen looked at Mr. Gao who was on the ground with a bruised nose and a swollen face, bleeding from the corner of his mouth, and was very satisfied.

Hit and hit, smashed and smashed, the anger that was blocked in my heart just now seemed to be unblocked all of a sudden.

He squatted down, and said to a servant on the ground: "Send a message to your son, tomorrow we will pay for the food and drink money, the house money, and the broken tables, chairs, benches, dishes and bowls according to the order!"

After finishing speaking, he was about to leave, but he heard the famous servant Ding struggling to say: "Don't leave, my son is the nephew of Mr. Gao in the cabinet, you... just wait, this matter is not over!"

Belin couldn't get angry, stepped forward and gave him a kick, and said angrily: "Beating him today is considered light. Later, I will tell the Holy Majesty that I will punish his uncle for his lax discipline!"

The servant immediately curled up covering his stomach, his face full of pain, and he was speechless.

The others were even more afraid to say anything, Zhu Qizhen stood up and called Belin and others back to the guest room.

"What's going on, why did they suddenly start fighting?"

Beilin said: "I followed the emperor's instructions and went to reason with them, saying that this is the steward's station. For Mr. Gao's sake, I will make an exception to entertain you tonight, but you have to settle the bill. In the end, This person got up and pulled me, and asked me which onion I was?"

"And then you got into a fight with him?"

"That's for sure..."

Seemingly aware of her problem, Belin lowered her head and said, "My minister is wrong, please punish me!"

Zhu Qizhen was happy instead: "What's wrong with the Qing family?"

(End of this chapter)