I studied in modern times

Chapter 886 Resignation and Retention

July 25th, the second year of Yuanyou ().

In the Chongzheng Hall, the Xihe civil and military ministers led by Zhao Xie, under the guidance of the ceremonial officers, followed closely and were divided into two groups, civil and military, and entered one after another.

"Your Majesty, I respectfully wish you the best of health, and I wish the Empress Dowager a long life..."

Dozens of civil and military officials, both Han and foreign, bowed their heads in unison, and under the sidelong glances of the prime ministers, they saluted to Zhao Xu in the hall and the two palaces behind the curtain.

This is the ceremony of paying homage to the monarch.

Zhao Xu sat upright on the throne, overlooking the civil and military officials in the hall.

These ministers have gradually formed a bond of interests.

The corners of his mouth curled up slightly: "I'm so happy!"

The two palaces behind the curtain also said: "Good morning, old man!"

"No need to be polite!"

The ministers bowed again and stood up.

Zhao Xie stepped forward holding a cymbal and said, "Your Majesty, the two palaces are kind and holy. We are honored to be here today. It happens to be the Grand Empress Dowager's festival. We are so overwhelmed that we have combined the gold from the six states of Xihe to cast a sacred vessel. We would like to present it to you and respectfully ask for the Grand Empress Dowager's appreciation!"

According to the story, on the emperor, empress dowager and grand empress dowager's birthdays, all the provinces and counties in the country had to offer tribute to celebrate.

The prime minister and the ministers of the six ministries are required to present gold and silver wine vessels as congratulations!
This is actually the royal family demanding bribes from their subjects.

It sounds a bit ridiculous.

But in the Middle Ages, it was a tradition!
Before the Xining Reforms, new scholars had to pay silver to the emperor as a token of their gratitude when their names were announced.

In order to raise money to express their gratitude, many poor scholars had to borrow money from the pawnshops in Bianjing City - naturally, the loans were all high-interest.

Many honest and upright scholars spent their entire lives paying back the silver they borrowed as a token of gratitude when they passed the imperial examination.

At the same time, whether it was the external Zhongshu Sheren or the internal Hanlin Bachelor, they had to ask for a fee when writing documents for officials.

Not giving?

Then wait, you will receive a dismissal letter filled with derogatory words!

This is a file that will follow the official throughout his life!

Therefore, the pawnshop at that time was also engaged in the business of lending money to officials as writing fees.

The great monks made a lot of money from these two businesses.

I don’t know how much the interest alone is every year!

After the Xining Reforms, the silver for thanking others and the fee for writing were abolished.

However, no one dared to change the custom of offering gifts on the emperor, empress dowager and grand empress dowager’s holy days.

Even Zhao Xu had recently issued an edict to abolish local tribute from all over the country.

But there was a tail in the imperial edict - to take out the money from the treasury and give it to the local governors, and to collect local products from the county as tribute every year.

This is not just a need for greater unification.

At the same time, it was also necessary to feed the empress dowager, the grand empress dowager, concubines, and eunuchs in the palace.

Otherwise, they might gossip or even cause trouble for you.

Accepting gifts is something that is rooted in women's genes.

really!

Hearing Zhao Xie's words, the Empress Dowager behind the curtain immediately showed a look of joy: "You are so thoughtful!"

Seeing this, Zhao Xu said, "Sir, please present the ritual vessels to the hall!"

"promise!"

Zhao Xie bowed again.

Then, the guards brought various gold and silver objects made by the states, armies, and prisons in Xihe into the palace.

There were dozens of items in total, and for a moment, the Chongzheng Hall was filled with dazzling silver and golden gold!
These utensils are finely crafted, made of high-quality materials and come in a variety of shapes, including wine vessels, incense burners, tea sets, incense burners and various jewelry.

Some are engraved with dragon and phoenix patterns, some are carved with turtles and cranes offering longevity, and some are carved with immortals bestowing blessings...

The Empress Dowager behind the curtain had her eyes shining with joy!

Zhao Xie took the opportunity to present a booklet entitled "A List of Ritual Objects Cast by Xihe Lanhuilu for the Empress Dowager's Kuncheng Festival."

The booklet clearly states which state/military/prison under the jurisdiction of Xihe donated these ritual objects.

When the Empress Dowager received the booklet and looked at the ritual objects clearly marked on it, she felt extremely happy.

In particular, when she saw the detailed description on the set of ritual vessels presented to her by her good nephews Gao Gongji and Xiang Zonghui, who represented the Xihe Lanhui Road Border Defense Finance Office, her joy reached its peak!

Because, according to the instructions in the book.

The Xihe Lanhui Road Border Defense Finance Office made four wine vessels for her.

A passage from the Book of Songs "Si Qi" is engraved on each of these four wine vessels.

What’s even more interesting is that there is a small inscription on the bottom of each wine vessel.

Put together, it can be described in four words: [Yao and Shun among women].

This totally scratched her itch.

Of course, I still have to be humble in words.

"You are so thoughtful!" The Empress Dowager inside the curtain suppressed her joy and said as calmly as possible: "It's just that I am a person in the deep palace. What I eat every day are the fruits and vegetables grown by the Empress Dowager. What I wear every day is just simple tea and plain rice. What I use is just porcelain and pottery!"

"Gold and silver are luxurious things!"

"Today, the country is poor, the world is not stable, and the government has not yet taken power... How can I afford such extravagant things?"

"You should send these objects to the Ministry of Revenue and put them in the Zuozang for state use!"

Having said that, Empress Dowager Xiang behind the curtain could tell at a glance that the empress was extremely pleased with the birthday gift presented by Xihe Road!
He advised: "Your Majesty, you have supported the emperor and made great contributions to the country. Today is the Holy Day, and Xihe is offering gifts. Your Majesty should accept them!"

"After all, it's all the filial piety of the people of Xihe!" Zhao Xu also said: "What the Queen Mother said is very true!"

"What's more, the Grand Mother has shown favor to the people of Xihe many times. Now that it is the Grand Mother's Saint Day, the people of Xihe are offering gifts to celebrate. This is a good story!"

The ministers in the palace also began to persuade him.

Zhao Xie, Xiang Zonghui and Gao Gongji even performed in the hall.

Each of them, with tears in their eyes, begged the Holy Saint to accept these birthday gifts which represented the Xihe people's admiration for the contemporary Tai Ren, the female Yao and Shun, and the Empress Dowager of the Song Dynasty.

Listening to the words of Empress Dowager Xiang and Zhao Xu, and then listening to the "heartfelt words" of the ministers who repeatedly pleaded.

The Empress Dowager inside the curtain said shyly, "I am unworthy of this position!"

"But, considering your sincerity and the country, I will accept it with reluctance!"

"But, this is just the first time, it won't happen again!"

Well, she also said the same thing to the civil and military officials who came to offer tributes during the Kuncheng Festival last year.

This is just the first time, it won’t happen again!
Zhao Xu listened and looked at the ritual vessels in the hall, and couldn't help swallowing.

The Empress Dowager and Grand Empress Dowager of the Song Dynasty.

I receive more than one gift every year!

Every New Year, they could also receive gifts from their ministers.

In addition, according to the system, the income of many officials directly under the palace, including those in charge of shops and houses, also belongs to them.

Of course, they earn a lot, but their expenses are also high.

They would all be rewarded on the birthdays of prime ministers, elders, and ladies from the royal family and relatives.

In addition, when these families had children born or got married, they would send envoys to express congratulations and bestow various imperial gifts.

Especially when a princess from a close royal family gets married, at least half of the dowry is paid by the royal family. My dear official, you don’t want your cousin to have to marry his daughter to a merchant because he has no dowry, right?
Do not laugh!

The close relatives of Emperor Zhao are really capable of doing such a thing!
In addition, the concubines and imperial concubines in the palace also relied on the rewards from the Empress Dowager and the Grand Empress Dowager as well as the distribution of income from the officials to survive.

But in general, income is far greater than expenditure.

Therefore, Zhao Xu guessed that the Qingshou Palace had at least several million strings of cash donated to it, which was not an exaggeration.

Not to mention anything else, even now, the value of these birthday gifts presented by the civil and military officials of Xihe Road is at least over 50,000 strings of cash!
Although, Xihe is a special case.

As for other places, the value of gifts for each Christmas is no more than ten thousand strings of cash.

But, we can harvest it twice a year!

Together with the income from shops and other businesses, the Qingshou Palace easily earned one million strings of cash every year.

The Empress Dowager and the late Empress Cisi Guangxian saved millions of strings of cash for their own use over the past few decades, wasn't it easy for her?

Thinking of this, Zhao Xu turned around and glanced at Empress Dowager Xiang behind the curtain.

According to the trajectory of his previous life, the Empress Dowager only had six more years to live.

During these six years, he had to find a way to make Qingshou Palace hand over his inheritance to Empress Dowager Xiang.

Thinking of this, Zhao Xu looked at Liang Weijian who was standing on the side of the palace and ordered, "Liang Weijian, take the tribute presented by the Xihe officials to the Qingshou Palace!"

"Yes!" Liang Weijian bowed and accepted the order. He then took the female officials and carefully collected the ceremonial vessels in the hall, put them into boxes that had been prepared long ago, and then sent them all to the Qingshou Palace.

When Liang Weijian was done, Zhao Xu looked at Zhao Xie and said, "Prince Zhao, thank you for your hard work in Xihe over the past two years!"

"I dare not!" Zhao Xie bowed and said, "I am in Xihe, just following your orders!"

Zhao Xu smiled and said, "My lord, you are too modest!"

"When you were in Xihe, you educated the people and changed their customs, making Xihe people of the same mind and heart. As a result, you defeated the Western bandits and conquered Tubo. The whole world was shocked and admired by the whole country!"

"I have long admired your virtue. Now that you have returned to the court, I will keep you in the court so that you can be my advisor all year round..."

Zhao Xie bowed hastily: "Your Majesty, I am deeply grateful for your kindness and virtue. I will serve you till my death!"

"Good!" Zhao Xu nodded.

He had his own arrangements for Zhao Xie.

But, now is not the time to announce it, let’s wait until after the Kuncheng Festival!
Putting Zhao Xie's matter aside for the moment, Zhao Xu looked at Xiang Zonghui and Gao Gongji in the hall.

After not seeing each other for two years, these two royal relatives have become completely different in appearance, physique, and temperament.

It is obvious that both of them have gained weight.

With a fat belly, my face has become much rounder.

The skin is just a lot rougher and looks a little dark.

And their temperaments are completely different from before.

There is already some power and authority of a superior.

Seeing this, Zhao Xu called out softly, "Mr. Xiang, Mr. Gao..."

"Chen is here!"

Xiang Zonghui and Gao Gongji immediately stepped out and bowed.

"My two relatives, you have worked so hard guarding the border in Xihe!" Zhao Xu said with emotion.

"I dare not!" The two men bowed together and said, "It is my duty to serve my country and die for your majesty!"

"According to the system, I should have allowed the two royal relatives to return to the court to enjoy their lives..." Zhao Xu said softly, "However, Xihe is troubled by various issues both inside and outside..."

"I'm afraid I'll have to ask the two of you to look after me in Xihe for a year or two..."

Xiang Zonghui and Gao Gongji immediately bowed their heads and said, "We are willing to serve Your Majesty at the cost of our lives!"

Stay another year or two?
That's great!
If they were given another two years, they swore that they could expand the cotton fields all the way to Qingtang City or even Lingzhou City!

(End of this chapter)