Emperor Kangxi sent me to marry

In April, the weather warms up completely.

After that crazy rain passed, the wind and sunshine in Beijing became beautiful, and the sky was clear every day.

Although the emperor is not in the palace, the court meeting is gone, and the daily meetings in the south study room all depend on the prince's wishes, the time when the left-behind ministers go out every day still cannot be delayed slightly, even for a quarter of an hour.

That is, we have to set off before dawn.

Under the test of extremely low visibility, traffic accidents are inevitable.

On the only way to the Forbidden City, two carriages accidentally bumped into each other at the corner.

"Ouch, I'm so sorry! Zhang Yushi!"

Malhan, the Minister of War, got out of the car immediately, ran around and looked around, and apologized to Zhang Penghie, the censor of Zuodu.

"I think this wheel is okay. It won't need major repairs. It's just that this delay means I can't get into the palace. If you don't mind, how about taking my car?"

"Respect is worse than obedience."

The Zhang family's carriage driver had two bruises on his face. Zhang Penghie found some scraps of money from his body and asked him to go to the hospital to see a doctor. Then he and Malhan got into his carriage.

Malhan gave up his seat to the guests and squeezed himself into the corner, curling up his strong body and sitting awkwardly.

"Brother Zhang, it's been eight years so fast? Why have you ignored me since I came back from Nerchinsk? We were in the territory of the Rakshasa people, and we were always ready to die for our country. Back then, you were willing to let me have nothing to do with you. Han eldest son and young man slept in the same tent and ate the same leg of lamb, but when they returned to the capital, they became very different!"

Zhang Penghie recalled the wild days he lived on the border grasslands with the same tone of nostalgia.

"The eldest brother is a popular person around the prince. The younger brother has always been afraid of being suspected of being attached to the party. Now that he has become a public official, he needs to be more careful about himself."

"Humph."

Malhan couldn't help but want to defend himself. After thinking for a while, the words came to his lips and he swallowed them.

Forget it, let's wait for Her Royal Highness to explain to him.

He just needs to bring people there.

Although the carriage was still traveling around the inner city of the capital, it was no longer heading towards the imperial palace.

After twists and turns, we entered a small alley.

Finally, we stopped in front of Axiang’s old house.

This strange pause immediately aroused Zhang Penghie's vigilance.

He looked outside and found that it was a very ordinary small private house, and his face suddenly turned cold.

"Lord Malhan, what does this mean?"

"Hey, look at you, you're still in a hurry. Don't worry, I've already finished my report in front of the prince. He said that you hit your head just now and fainted, so you went home to rest. When we talk about it tomorrow, we can't be cheating! "

"What are you going to do to me for such a big battle?"

"Don't get me wrong. This is not a private brothel, or a brothel. A few steps further, you will find Ruixiangfang. Do you understand?"

"got it."

After Zhang Penghie squeezed out three words through his teeth, he quickly got out of the car.

With the income status of Ruixiangfang today, the Axiang family can buy another luxurious residence, at least three times.But the sisters in their family all remembered the hard times they had lived in the past and refrained from arrogance and extravagance. They only renovated a few damaged houses.Zhang Penghie was welcomed in by Xiao Fang, a clerk from Wufanglou. When he saw the interior, which was simple and full of fireworks, he was astonished but also felt a hint of admiration.

Wealth is like floating clouds.

Gold and jade are not treasures.

The fourth princess's skills seemed to be extremely clever.

Haifeng rested at Axiang's house last night. Because of the change of environment, his sleep quality declined.

She was really sleepy, and when she saw Zhang Penghie coming in, she smiled from the bottom of her heart.

She quickly finished talking about the matter, and when she got back to her home, she would sleep until night, and then eat the anti-fetal medicine her mother had cooked for her.

"Master Zhang, I'm sorry, I scared you. Please sit down."

"I don't dare. I still stand and reply. What's wrong with the fourth princess? If something happens, it's the same thing to speak openly and openly in the south study room?"

"I thought that Zhang Yushi didn't want the prince's brother to get angry before he knew that you and I were involved in the Shaanxi Zizhong case."

After Zhang Penghie was briefly surprised, he regained his composure.

"The news about the princess comes very quickly. The emperor's secret decree came to Yuqing Palace yesterday evening. Your Highness knew about it this morning."

"As soon as this decree entered Zhili territory, I knew about it."

"Then, who is your Highness here to protect? When you go to Shaanxi to investigate the case, I am just a deputy. The main thing is that the Minister of Punishment, Fu Lata, makes the decision."

"I don't want to protect anyone. Not only do I not protect you, I want you to find them all. It's best not to let anyone go." As the censor of Zuodu, Zhang Penghie knew very well what he wanted to investigate. He is definitely not just a small magistrate of Liquan County.

After urgently getting the order from Nan Study Room to go to Shaanxi to investigate the case, Zhang Penghie had been making mental preparations last night.

What if an important official from the clan came to ask him to bribe him? How should he deal with it?
So after Malhan did this, Zhang Penghie completely thought that his imagination had come true.

"I, the heart of a villain is the heart of a gentleman. Yes, since I have joined the Metropolitan Procuratorate, I should fulfill my duties loyally."

"But didn't you say so yourself? You are the deputy. If Fu Lata, the Minister of Punishment, gets in the way and covers up violations of the law, what will you do?"

"This"

Just as Zhang Penghie was about to make an impassioned speech, Haifeng gradually became unable to sit still due to the pain in his back, so he had no choice but to interrupt him rudely.

Leaning on the three large pillows that Axiang had prepared for her in advance, Haifeng quickly analyzed the situation for Zhang Pengye.

"If I am not mistaken, you and the former Zuodu censor Guo Xiu were both Jinshi in the ninth year of Kangxi's reign?"

"That's right. Brother Guo and I were in the Hanlin Academy together and lived in poverty for several years. It's not easy to live on salary alone in the capital."

"Okay. If you don't want to believe what I say next, just send someone to ask Guo Xiu. Can you believe him?"

"That's natural."

"Yes. The plan I have set for you is to obey. You should pretend that you don't know who Fu Lata wants to let go, and you can even agree with it. Just think of it and leave evidence. Leave the rest to me. The palace will handle it."

Zhang Penghie didn't understand the meaning and thought that the fourth princess was going back on her word, so her words inevitably became heated.

"I am still a princess, upright and fair. If I turn a blind eye to these dirty tricks, how can I dare to step through the gate of the Metropolitan Procuratorate again?"

"Then, compared with thousands of innocent lives, which one is more important or less important is your reputation as an official?"

"What, thousands of lives"

"Here is General Fei Yanggu, who has given me a long letter. Originally, he did not allow anyone except me to read it. But just as you trust Guo Xiu, I also trust him. Guo Xiu has sacrificed his wealth and life for Your character is my guarantee. Take this letter and read it."

Zhang Penghie hesitantly took the letter in his hand, read it over and over again two or three times, and then handed it back to Haifeng with both hands.

"The princess is righteous and donated generously to shelter the victims of Shandong and Shaanxi in Guihua City. I am ashamed of myself. Could it be that this seed planting case is the source of the famine?"

"Yeah, it's not."

Thinking of the bottomless darkness in Shaanxi's officialdom, Haifeng was angry and felt doubly heavy.

Can she and the few people at her hand really do it to wipe out all these moths?
"It's not just that the money from seeds has never been distributed to the people who are reclaiming the wasteland. I just use it as a primer because it is easy to investigate. Shaanxi is poor and not as rich as the south. Even if it is exploited, it is not I can't squeeze out a few cents. However, the price of grain has soared this year. Almost all the granaries in various counties have been managed by the county government, and they have stolen some of them and sold them."

"It makes no sense."

"Zhang Yushi, I know that they should be punished, but we can't act too hastily. The most important thing right now is to find the food they stole! I only have one piece of Rouge land, and it is already full of victims. Fei Yanggu The general has such a big relationship that he borrowed part of the military department to store food. In case Khan Ama finds out about this."

"Your Highness, there is no need to say any more, I understand."

Zhang Penghie thought for a while and quickly came up with an idea.

"When I go to Shaanxi, I will first use the matter of counting the money for seed planting. I will go to the granaries of each county to check the quantity thoroughly and hold this in my hand. As long as the grain can be replenished, I will discuss with Mr. Fu Lata to discuss the matter involved. The official was given a lighter sentence, Your Highness, what do you think?"

"Zhang Yushi doesn't have to be like this. Fu Lata will take the initiative to discuss it with you. The people behind him, like me, knew a few days ago that you were going to Shaanxi to handle the case. All arrangements have been laid out. You We must use silence to stop and strike later.”

"Thank you for your advice, Your Highness."

Both parties are very satisfied with the outcome of this communication.Haifeng personally saw Zhang Penghie out, and gave him a final warning before parting.

"Before Guo Xiu returned to his hometown, he once told me that his word 'Xiu' was a tree that stood tall in the forest, and the wind would destroy it. In his early years, the three great ministers defeated three famous ministers. When he became famous all over the world, he also let him He stood above the jealousy and hatred of his colleagues. When they attacked him in groups, it was difficult to defend him. Although Khan Ama knew that he was unjust, but there were so many yamen, Guo Xiu was ostracized everywhere, so he could only let him go back to his hometown for a while. Avoid the limelight. Mr. Zhang, I hope you can lead your close friends as a warning and cherish yourself."

Zhang Penghie was so flattered that he couldn't help but ask the question in his heart:

"Your Highness, I have never had any friendship with you, so why do you give me this kind words as a gift?"

"Because I don't want the court to lose another Guo Xiu. If you have any difficulties in Shaanxi, you can ask General Sun Sike for help. Life is the most important thing. As long as this tone remains, you can start over."

Zhang Penghie thanked him again. He was about to leave when he suddenly remembered how he got here and asked out of curiosity:
"Brother Malhan, is he also a member of the princess? I always thought that he was a subordinate of the prince."

"All the ministers in the world belong to only one person, and that is Khan Amma. I am a princess and a minister. When Malhan works for me, he is doing things for Khan Amma. It doesn't matter who you follow on the surface, Khan Amma Just know in your heart that he is a loyal minister. Zhang Yushi, do you want to be mine?"

A few words about Zhang Penghe.

He is an official who is highlighted as a model of "corruption" in the Qing History Draft. Judging from the various information I can see so far, although he was reprimanded several times by Kangxi, it was all related to his work ability, and his character is undoubtedly very good.

There was only one person who said bad things about him, and that was Wang Jingqi.

In his "Essays on the Western Expedition in the Reading Hall", he said that Zhang Penghie accepted bribes when he came to Shaanxi to handle a case.

But how to put it, Wang Jingqi probably wrote this book mainly to praise Nian Gengyao, so it is normal for him to improve Nian Gengyao's image by belittling Zhang Penghie (the ancient and early editions criticized him), because Zhang was written by Kangxi himself Honest officials who have been praised.Personally, I don't quite believe this description.

Also during the Kangxi period, there were several officials named Fu Lata, the most famous of whom was Irgenjueluo. He died in office in the 33rd year of Kangxi and was also a famous upright official.The Minister of Punishment mentioned in the article is not him, but another Fu Lata.