Great Qing Xiangguo

Chapter 97

In a flash of more than ten years, one day the emperor discussed the river construction with his ministers and workers in Yiqing Garden, saying: "The sky is ruthless, and life is easy to grow old. I beat Galdan for eight years, and I was old enough to be eliminated. Now I am most worried about the river engineering. The country has governed the river for many years, and it has achieved a lot. Zhang Penghe, the governor of the river, has a plan, please tell me."

It turned out that since Zhang Penghe went to the prefect of Suzhou to take up his post, he has gone smoothly since then. He first served as a scholar in Jiangnan, then governor of Zhejiang and governor of Liangjiang, and river governor a few years ago.His treatment of the river is very effective, the emperor is very satisfied.One day the emperor talked about the past with him, and Zhang Penghe realized that it was Chen Tingjing who said something that made him not go to Qinzhou to be the magistrate.

Zhang Penghe went forward and knelt down and said: "I follow the strategy given by the emperor, first dredging the mouth of the Yellow River, the water has a return path, and now the Yellow River has no longer flowed out of the embankment. Then open the Mangdao River to bring water from the lake into the river. The rivers in Gaoyou and Baoying have been drained Walking through the ground. Open Qingkou, Peijiachang, etc. to lead the river, and the Huai River has a way out. Add Gaojia Weir, block the six dams, and force the clear water to return to the old course. Now the Yellow River channel has become deeper, and the water in the canal has become clear and there is no water. Pour yellow water in."

The emperor was very happy, and said: "He Governor Zhang Penghe has managed the river for many years, and the results have been remarkable. I plan to tour the south and go and see for myself."

Suo'etu said: "The emperor's southern tour is a very important matter. I think it should be carefully planned and deployed closely."

The emperor said: "I plan to go light and easy, and I can leave in a few days. All the expenses will be paid by the inner government, and the local government will not be allowed to make excuses! The people along the road don't have to avoid it. If you want to see me, you can look at me. I also want to see the people. what!"

After the discussion, the emperor asked Chen Tingjing to stay.At this time, Chen Tingjing had already been promoted to the post of Bachelor of Wenyuan Pavilion and Minister of the Ministry of Officials plus four grades, and was awarded Doctor Guanglu, and he was still a lecturer at Jingyan.

The ministers and workers have all retreated, and the emperor said: "Ting Jing, every time I go on a tour, I instruct all places not to make excuses for sectarian appointments, but every time I go down there, it's a prudent person, and I want you to go ahead and visit secretly."

Chen Tingjing led the decree and said: "I will leave immediately."

The emperor also said: "You only visit in secret, and send secret reports to me about what you see along the way. Don't meet with the governor, Dao County, and don't rush to arrest people in case of trouble. It is not good to let people know that I sent you to investigate them secretly. "

Chen Tingjing said: "I understand."

It happened that I received a letter from Yu Peng today.When Chen Tingjing returned home, he handed the letter to his family members to read it in turn.It turned out that Yupeng had been released to Linxiang County, Hunan Province.

Yueyuan looked at the letter and said, "Yupeng said that he has done a good job as magistrate of Linxiang County. Last year, the flood control was very effective. Yupeng also said that he swam in Dongting Lake, climbed Yueyang Tower, and went to Junshan Island."

Chen Tingjing couldn't help being fascinated, and said: "Dongting Lake is a good place! Dongting is the world's water, and Yueyang is the world's building!"

But Yueyuan said: "Master, you have to tell Yupeng when you reply to the letter, don't care about traveling alone, and be a good parent."

Zhen'er laughed and said, "Yupeng is the county magistrate, sister, don't treat him like a child. He knows how to do it."

The family was talking about Yupeng, and Zhuanglu also came back.

Chen Tingjing said: "Hey, our Imperial Academy is back."

Yueyuan smiled and said: "Look at you two, the old Hanlin made fun of the young Hanlin."

Zhuang Lu greeted his parents and talked about the Hanlin Academy.It turned out that Zhuanglu had been awarded a Jinshi early, and the museum was closed six years ago, and he was enshrined in the Imperial Academy.

During the meal, Chen Tingjing talked about the emperor's southern tour, Zhuang Lu said: "The emperor's southern tour, the scholars are quite critical. The emperor's previous southern tours, a scholar named Zhang Xiangfu in the south of the Yangtze River wrote poems and satirized, saying three times. The emperor's house is built on the branched river, and money is abused more than mud and sand."

Chen Tingjing said: "I know that Zhang Xiangfu is a famous scholar in Hangzhou. He is quite talented, but he has a bad temper. He has been in the competition once, and he failed to take the exam. I will go back to Hangzhou. If I have a chance, I think I will meet him." he."

Chen Zhuanglu asked: "I heard from my mother that my father persuaded Fu Shan to submit to the imperial court with good intentions, but made Longyan furious. You will not persuade Zhang Xiangfu this time, right?"

Chen Tingjing evaded and did not answer, just said: "The emperor's southern tour is not to visit the mountains and rivers, but to inspect the river construction. But the local officials took the opportunity to apportion, and the pick-up was too extravagant, and the emperor did not allow it. This time the emperor asked me to go down first. Just want to stop this wind. Zhuanglu, you enshrine the Hanlin Academy, this is the emperor's great favor to you. You just concentrate on compiling books, don't ask about the affairs of the court, and don't let others talk about it. Father doesn't want you to do it What a big official, you just have to be a good person and study hard."

Chen Zhuanglu knew that what he said just now was inappropriate, so he hurriedly said, "My child, remember what your father said."

Yueyuan said: "The bigger your father becomes, the more worried I am."

Chen Tingjing in turn comforted him: "Yueyuan, please rest assured, it's not that scary."

Yueyuan turned her head and told Zhen'er: "Sister, the master is getting old, you should be more careful when following him outside."

Zhen'er said: "Sister, don't worry, my sister will take care of you."

Before the emperor got up, the governors along the way were already busy.Now the governor of Liangjiang is Ashan who asked Zu Zeshen to hold a pipe to look at him.At that time, both he and Chen Tingjing were servants in the Ministry of Rites.Ashan first released Sichuan to study politics, and after returning to Beijing, he became the servant of the household department. He followed the emperor to fight Galdan for several years.This time, Ah Shan was ordered to take care of the Jiangnan area to pick up the driver, so the management came to the ground in Zhejiang.The governor of Fujian and Zhejiang is a trouble-free person, so he just let Ah Shan decide.

On this day, Ah Shan convened Jiangnan local officials in Hangzhou to discuss the matter of welcoming him.A Shan said: "The emperor is sympathetic and forbids extravagance, but we, as courtiers, should also think of the emperor. Wherever the imperial driver goes, the river must be sparse? The road must be paved? The bridge must be repaired? The palace You have to build it, right?"

All the officials nodded in agreement, only Liu Xiangnian, the prefect of Hangzhou, looked blank.A Shan glanced at him, and said again: "The silver in the treasury is not rich, we still have to ask the people for some. The emperor's blessing is also a blessing for the people!"

Liu Xiangnian, who had been sitting silently all this time, said: "My lord, the Beifu thinks that since the emperor expressly ordered that we should not take advantage of the faction, we should not reach out to the common people."

Ah Shan smiled and said: "The lower officials are not short of money, don't think that I, Ah Shan, are asking you for money. It's fine, you don't want to ask the people to collect money, as the prefect of Hangzhou, just dredge the rivers on the ground of Hangzhou Prefecture, The roads are all repaired. You need yellow sand to pave the roads! The governor wants to build a palace in Hangzhou. Mr. Liu, these errands are all yours!"

Liu Xiangnian categorically refused: "Master Taiwan, talk about building the palace and building bridges and roads. Just the rivers inside and outside the city are like weaves. How much money will it cost to dredge again? Forgive Beifu for not following orders!"

Ah Shan's face immediately darkened, and he said: "Master Liu, you are so brave to say such a thing! This is a pick-up, not a joke!"

The officials all looked at Liu Xiangnian and shook their heads.Ah Shan said: "The local governors and counties in the south of the Yangtze River regard picking up the driver as the top priority right now, and you, Mr. Liu, actually disobeyed orders! There is no need for an official to attend your meeting, can you be disrespectful?"

Liu Xiangnian said: "The Beifu government only knows to act according to the edict!"

Ah Shan was furious that Liu Xiangnian actually contradicted him openly, so he said, "Liu Xiangnian, I will argue with you later." Turning around, he said to his subordinates, "The emperor loves the common people, and the prospective common people don't have to avoid them. I want to see the holy face! I only want to tell you, where there are people blocking the way, where there are lawsuits against the imperial court, I only ask you!"

Li Qilong, the magistrate of Yuhang County, stood up and spoke: "My lord, the prefect of Hangzhou has never had an oracle lecture hall. This time the emperor is lucky to come to Hangzhou. I am afraid that if someone reports it, I will implicate you, my lord!"

Ah Shan then said: "Lord Liu, it's your business again!"

Liu Xiangnian said: "My lord, there are lecture halls in the prefectures and counties of Hangzhou. If the prefectures and counties are in the same city, it would be unnecessary for the magistrate to build another lecture hall!"

Ah Shanna Liu Xiangnian had a headache, but it was hindering the official body, so he had to bear it for the time being, and said: "Master Liu, the matter of the lecture hall, I have urged you so many times. There is no prefect yamen with lecture halls all over the world. I am afraid that you are the only one." Hangzhou. If you want to show off, no one will stop you, but when the time comes, don’t push your sins on the lower officials!"

After the discussion was over, Ah Shan looked at Liu Xiangnian and said, "Lord Liu, I don't want to talk too much with you. What you have to do is four things: one is to build a palace, the other is to dredge rivers, the third is to build roads and bridges, and the fourth is to build lecture hall."

Liu Xiangnian didn't answer, and walked away with his hands clasped.

Ah Shan bid farewell to the officials, but asked Li Qilong to stay.Li Qilong was so flattered that he followed Ah Shan to Yahou Garden.Ah Shan said: "Qilong, Liu Xiangnian is a little unreliable, so I have to leave many things to you, brother."

Li Qilong bowed his head and said, "I will follow the orders of the Taiwan Master."

A Shan said: "Hangzhou is a place that the emperor must pass through. You, the county magistrate of Yuhang, have a lot to do!"

Ah Shan gave instructions on all matters big and small.Li Qilong said: "Our county will do its best and will never embarrass the master of Taiwan!"

Ah Shan was discussing something with Li Qilong, when a yamen servant flew over from the other side.Seeing that the yamen servant was so flustered and out of place, Ah Shan was about to get angry and curse, but the yamen servant waved at him anxiously.Ah Shan didn't know what was going on, so he left Li Qilong and followed the yamen servant to talk to the wall.The yamen servant whispered: "Lord Zhitai, Prince Cheng has arrived in Hangzhou."

After hearing this, Ah Shan couldn't care less about Li Qilong, and hurried out of the garden.When he arrived at the second hall, Ah Shan asked, "Where did you get the news?"

The yamen servant said: "Two people came just now, one with an eagle and the other with a dog. They said they were the guards and eunuchs of the third elder brother of Prince Cheng. I asked them to wait a moment and go in to reply to Mr. Duantai. They got angry and just said Tell you Lord Ah Shan to go to the Shouning Hall to see Prince Cheng."

Ah Shan asked again: "Have they ever left half a piece of paper?"

The yamen servant said: "They spoke in a very harsh tone, and they even told Prince Cheng that this is a private visit in a low-clothes suit, and asked Mr. Ah Shan to go alone and keep quiet."

Ah Shan didn't ask any more questions, and hurriedly prepared to see Prince Cheng.Fearing that there would be too many people, he didn't dare to sit in the sedan chair, so he rode alone to the Shouning Pavilion.From a distance, I saw four people standing in front of the inn, all holding a knife in one hand and akimbo in the other.Ah Shan was used to the posture of the guards in the palace in his early years, and knew that they were not easy to talk to.When he got off his horse, he made a smiling face first, and said, "Governor of Liangjiang, Ah Shan, pays his respects to Prince Cheng."

Sure enough, a guard lowered his voice and said, "Don't shout outside, go in and talk!"

Ah Shan didn't dare to talk too much, so he lowered his head and entered the Shouning Pavilion.Just after entering the door, someone called him and said, "Are you Mr. Ah Shan? Wait here first, and let me go in and report to the prince."

Ah Shan quickly stopped, not daring to take another half step forward.After a while, the man came out and said, "Go in."

A Shan followed the man through a courtyard first, entered the main room, and then came out through the corner door, and there was another courtyard.Looking up, there are dozens of people standing in the courtyard.Four of them had eagles on their wrists, and three had dogs on their hands.The dog kept jumping forward with a hoarse voice, asking the dog handler to pull it back hard.Ah Shan knew how powerful the dog was, and his thighs were numb.He was about to kneel down to meet the prince, but he saw dozens of people surrounded by only an empty chair.Just as he was wondering, a handsome young man in white satin clothes came out of the room and sat on a chair.Ah Shan thought to himself, this must be Prince Cheng, so he quickly knelt down and said: "Ah Shan, the governor of the two rivers, kowtows to the prince!"

The young man was indeed Prince Cheng, and said: "Ah Shan, Huang Ama ordered our elder brother to listen to the affairs from a young age. I saw you when you were walking in Beijing."

Ah Shan lowered his head and said: "I was in the last class of the Qianqing sect back then, and I was terrified every day. I didn't dare to look around. How dare the princes and ministers look around!"

Prince Cheng said: "Huang Ama often talks about you. He only said that Zhejiang is the richest place in the world. I'm afraid that good officials will turn bad when they go there. I have seen with my own eyes that you govern the place well. Since I will talk to Huang Ama. I only called you here to meet you, and I have nothing important to say. You go back."

Ah Shan said: "Ah Shan, I thank the emperor for his kindness, and I wish the emperor peace. The prince will stay in Hangzhou for a few more days, and if you have something to do, please give me instructions."

Prince Cheng smiled and said: "You are trying to trick me. You want to know how long I will stay in Hangzhou and what I will do. Let me tell you, I don't know what to do when I am away. Don't think about it. Go back. Just remember the emperor's words, don't go bad."

Ah Shan kowtowed, and the more he thought about it, the more inexplicably afraid he became.Prince Cheng called him to meet, but sent him back without saying anything important.What on earth is this prince here for?Could it be that the emperor asked him to make a secret visit first?Since it was a secret visit, why should he be called to meet?Why did you dismiss him hastily after meeting?
When Ah Shan returned to the Yamen, his heart was still hanging.Yili wanted to send some money to honor him, but this Prince Cheng was too unpredictable, he didn't know what to do.Prince Cheng only said "don't go bad", does that imply something to him?After thinking about it for a long time, I sealed the 1 taels of silver note and quietly sent it to the Shouning Pavilion.Prince Cheng didn't come out to meet him, but just spread the word that he knew what Ah Shan wanted.Ah Shan thought to himself that since Prince Cheng took his money, he probably wouldn't bother him.

Li Qilong saw that this was a great opportunity to make a fortune, and went back to supervise various affairs very hard.One day, the yamen servants arrested hundreds of people in order to select the common people.Master Liu ordered everyone to stand in line, and Li Qilong came over to meet him in person.

An old man with a hunchback stood there tremblingly. Li Qilong went over and said, "You, go back! I'll take you after you grow up like this!"

The hunchback walked out of the queue, turned around and cursed: "You think I am willing to pick you up? Your government sent someone to arrest me!"

Mr. Liu shouted: "Stop rambling, let's go!"

Li Qilong found another "one-eyed dragon" and asked sharply, "How did you get in here?"

"One-Eyed Dragon" said pitifully: "Master Zhixian, the young one was also sent by your government!"

Li Qilong got angry and said: "Go, go, what are you going to pick up with your appearance? Don't scare the emperor!"

"One-eyed Dragon" said: "The little one has grown up like this since birth, so it doesn't seem to scare anyone. Master Zhixian, please let the little one meet the emperor."

Li Qilong said angrily: "Get out of here quickly, or I'll have someone beat you out!" Immediately, two yamen servants came, pulled the "one-eyed dragon" and went out.

"One-eyed dragon" shouted: "The little one wants to see the emperor, the little one wants to see the emperor!"

At this time, a man who looked like a scholar stood up and said, "I don't want to see the emperor, please let me go back."

Li Qilong looked back and said with a smile: "If you don't want to see him, you have to see him. There aren't many people here who look as handsome as you."

The scholar said: "It's ridiculous!"

Master Liu came forward and whispered something in his ear, Li Qilong was quite surprised and said: "Oh, you are the famous Zhang Xiangfu!"

Not long after Li Qilong took office, he had heard about Zhang Xiangfu, but the two had never met.Zhang Xiangfu ignored him and snorted.

Li Qilong smiled and said: "Xiangfu is very popular among scholars in Hangzhou. If you don't pick him up, who will pick him up?"

Zhang Xiangfu said angrily: "Li Qilong, you are such a joke!"

Li Qilong couldn't tolerate Zhang Xiangfu's arrogance, and shouted: "Shut up! You also got my master's name? Well, it's just you guys. Listen to my password! Kneel!"

Few people knelt down, but Zhang Xiangfu was still standing.Li Qilong came over, tilted his head and asked: "Zhang Xiangfu, do you intend to make trouble with my master? Do you intend to make trouble with the emperor? Kneel down!"

Zhang Xiangfu stood proudly, but two yamen servants had already rushed over, desperately pushing him to the ground.

Seeing that Zhang Xiangfu finally knelt down, Li Qilong turned around and shouted to everyone: "Folks, you are all good citizens of the imperial court. It is the court's kindness to you to choose you to pick you up! Some people want to come and return No way! Picking up the driver is a big deal, you can’t be sloppy, you have to learn from kneeling down and shouting long live. Later I will call my emperor long live long live long live! You all learn to shout in unison! Remember, the voice must be Big, shout neatly!"

(End of this chapter)