Go back to the Ming Dynasty to be a thousand households

Chapter 204
As the carriage drove, Huang Laifu kept looking at the situation outside the street through the thick cotton curtains.Counting it, this is Huang Laifu's second visit to Beijing after coming to Daming.Compared with the first time a few years ago, both mentality and identity are quite different.

Counting, there are less than 20 days before the Chinese New Year, and the weather is very cold.What I saw on the street were all pedestrians wearing thick padded jackets, all of whom were so cold that their necks were shrinking and their noses were running.

Although there is a fine stove in the carriage, which makes the interior quite warm, but when the curtain is lifted, a gust of wind comes in from time to time, and the stuff that penetrates into the bone marrow is dry and cold.Although it is winter, there is still no snow inside and outside Beijing. People say that the auspicious snow is a sign of a good year. After the winter in Shanxi this year, there have been a few heavy snowfalls at least.It seems that next spring and summer in the Gyeonggi area will be even worse.

But the emperor's feet are the emperor's feet, and what happens next year will not affect the excitement of Beijing at this time.The sound of shouting on the street, the sound of avoiding sedan chairs, the sound of horseshoes, and the sound of singing are always noisy.On the various streets leading to the imperial city, official sedan chairs of various sizes and colors were hurriedly carried by one after another.Next to the market lined with shops, there are festoons everywhere, and the servants of the citizens are busy shopping and buying new year's goods. The atmosphere before the New Year is very strong.Ordinary people always pay attention to the life in front of them. What will happen in the future is not in their consideration.

Finally, Huang Laifu put down the thick car curtain, and while listening to the rustling of the iron rings on the wheels, he closed his eyes and regained his composure. The eunuch Yang next to him had been sitting upright with his eyes closed since he went to the street. Eyes repose.He and Eunuch Yang were the only ones in the carriage, even Yang Xiaolu couldn't take him with him when they entered the palace to face the saint. As for the royal guards, they rode their horses and followed the carriage.

Huang Laifu closed his eyes and rested his mind, thinking wildly that he was about to meet the emperor. It was impossible to say that he was not nervous. Even in later generations, if some officials and people had to meet the supreme leader, there might not be a few people who would not be nervous.It's just that compared to the common people at this time, Huang Laifu lacked the apotheosis of the emperor.Huang Laifu is also very proud of being able to meet the country's top leaders in his current position as a businessman in the future.

"What do I want to say at that time? The Wanli Emperor in history has read the relevant materials himself. What is the real situation?" Huang Laifu was also conflicting in his heart as the carriage drove away.

After an unknown amount of time, the carriage stopped suddenly. There were many high walls and blue tiles in front of it. It turned out that he had arrived at the gate of the Huangji Gate of the Imperial City.

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I don't know how many rigorous searches, how many eunuchs' detailed instructions, and etiquette instruction.In the end, Huang Laifu stood in a place called Gongmo Room in the palace, which used to be a place where ministers and officials waited for the emperor to summon them.

There is an earth dragon inside the house, the wind is biting outside, but the inside is warm like spring, and the decorations are elegant, antique calligraphy and paintings, all of which are top-grade, and there is a peony garden outside, the flowers are in full bloom.The attendant Huo in the room was also peeking at Huang Laifu. It has been so many years that it is rare for someone in this room to be summoned by the emperor. Who is this heroic young man who can be summoned by the emperor?Everyone made eye contact.

Huang Laifu didn't pay attention to all this, he just kept remembering where this place is in the palace.He also visited the Forbidden City in later generations, but he couldn't remember where it was in the Forbidden City.

While he was still thinking about it, a eunuch came in a hurry, brushed the dust, and said to him: "Are you Huang Laifu, the deputy commander-in-chief of Shanxi Town?"

Huang Laifu hurriedly saluted and said: "You are the next official, dare to ask your father-in-law's name?"

The eunuch who delivered the decree said: "Our family name is Qian, well, the emperor wants to summon you, so come with our family."

Huang Laifu hurriedly said, "It's time for you to work hard, father-in-law."

He conveniently gave him a big silver coin.

Eunuch Qian slipped the silver into his sleeve unknowingly, his expression became even better, and he said with a smile: "Master Huang, come with us, how many times has the Holy Majesty asked?"

Huang Laifu was startled, and hurriedly followed him.

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Not to mention that Huang Laifu is full of expectations for the upcoming face saint.At this time, in the Dongnuan Pavilion of Qianqing Palace, Emperor Wanli, who had just turned 30 years old this year, unexpectedly had the same mentality.This made him very surprised in his heart. As the emperor with ten million subjects, he would be full of such expectations for meeting a subject.

It's not surprising to think about it. In the past few years, Emperor Wanli has been paying attention to Huang Laifu, and Huang Laifu did not let him down. All the things he did were very in line with Emperor Wanli's wishes. When he solved various national problems for him, he found another A way of thinking.Counting the past few years, he has gained a lot of benefits from Huang Laifu, which made Emperor Wanli feel emotional.

Emperor Wanli faintly felt that Huang Laifu might be able to provide some insight into the many difficulties he was facing.

The typical example is finances. The Ming Dynasty’s finances were already tight, and the Ningxia War cost more than two million taels of money, which quickly emptied the treasury.Now that the Korean War is going on again, and he doesn't know how much silver taels will be spent, and how to get the money, this is a matter of great concern to Emperor Wanli.

Facts have proved that his ministers are helpless in making money, and Huang Laifu is known as the God of Wealth in the local area. It is unimaginable that he can get 10 taels of silver every year in a mere fortress. Sometimes I wonder if Huang Laifu has a cornucopia.He would be happy to communicate with Huang Laifu and see how he made so much money.

In this anxious waiting, an eunuch hurried in and reported to Emperor Wanli: "Your Majesty, Huang Laifu, the deputy commander-in-chief of Shanxi Town, is listening to the announcement outside the door!"

Emperor Wanli was overjoyed and hurriedly said, "Quickly declare him to come in to see me!"

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Huang Laifu followed Eunuch Qian through the halls with double eaves all the way to the location of Emperor Wanli.To be honest, Huang Laifu has a familiar feeling for many of the palace walls here, which are not much different from the Forbidden City of later generations.

Perhaps the biggest difference between the Imperial City of the Ming Dynasty and the Forbidden City in later generations is the color of the outer walls of the buildings. They have poor taste.

They went all the way, and finally arrived outside a court, where Eunuch Qian went in to report.Huang Laifu waited outside, and when he was bored, he looked at the guards and maids outside. They also looked at Huang Laifu curiously, and everyone stared wide-eyed.

Soon, Eunuch Qian came out, and said to Huang Laifu with a smile all over his face: "Master Huang, go in quickly, the emperor is anxious to see you."

Huang Laifu followed him in hastily. Following the instructions of the previous eunuchs, he bowed his head and counted a few steps. When he saw a table of big cases in front of him, he knelt down and kowtowed, and shouted: "Your Excellency, Huang Laifu, the deputy commander-in-chief of Shanxi Town, kowtow to you." My Majesty, long live my emperor, long live, long live!"

After a while, a gentle voice sounded: "Huang Aiqing don't need to be polite, get up."

The voice is a bit similar to the announcers of later generations, thick and deep, as if it came from the dantian, and the lingering sound is lingering.

Huang Laifu shouted: "Thank you, Your Majesty."

Taking advantage of the situation, he stood up, but without the emperor's consent, he still couldn't look up at Emperor Wanli.

Emperor Wanli looked at the man in front of him curiously. The first impression Huang Laifu gave him was that he was young. He was probably only in his 20s this year. Among the military officers, there were very few people in his position in the current Ming Dynasty.

The whole person is tall, burly, heroic, full of vitality, and his eyes are calm, which seems a little out of line with his age. This kind of eyes should only be possessed by those in their 30s.A little beard grew on his lips, which gave him a more stable feeling.Such a person is a typical general, why is he making so much money?This made Emperor Wanli strange.

After watching for a while, Emperor Wanli smiled and said: "Huang Aiqing is indeed young and promising, the pillar of the country." He ordered the eunuch beside him: "Come here, bring a chair for General Huang."

Several eunuchs looked at each other, each secretly thought that Huang Laifu was favored by the emperor, one of the eunuchs on duty brought a brocade couch over, smiled at Huang Laifu, "General Huang, please sit down."

Huang Laifu thanked Emperor Wanli, and sat down firmly. He was impatient to see whether the appearance of Emperor Wanli was the same as the portrait of Emperor Ming of later generations.What came into my eyes was a slightly rich middle-aged man with a noble appearance, he could be regarded as a handsome man, wearing a red gold silk "leather uniform", looking at him with a smile, his expression was a little tired.

It turned out that Emperor Wanli looked like this, Huang Laifu smiled slightly.

Emperor Wanli looked at him amusedly, and asked him, "What is Huang Aiqing laughing at?"

Huang Laifu said: "I have always imagined the appearance of the emperor. It turns out that he is such a noble, young and handsome man."

Emperor Wanli was taken aback for a moment, then he laughed loudly, pointing at Huang Laifu and said, "What a Huang Laifu, I really laughed to death."

Huang Laifu also laughed, even the eunuchs and maids beside him secretly covered their mouths and laughed. At the same time, everyone was deeply impressed by Huang Laifu's idea of ​​such a flattering method.

Emperor Wanli laughed out of breath for a while, then he covered his stomach and said, "I can't love you, I'm dying of laughter."

No wonder Emperor Wanli smiled like this. It's not that he has never received courtiers and generals. He is either sitting upright, trembling, or flattering.

It was very difficult for Emperor Wanli to stop smiling, and asked Huang Laifu, "Does Huang Aiqing have a name?"

Huang Laifu said: "Your Majesty is here to inquire, and my minister is Zhongming with cursive characters."

"Okay, Zhongming."

Emperor Wanli read a few words and nodded.He said gently: "Zhongming, I heard that you are from a family of military generals, and you were replaced by Qianhu?"

Hearing his affectionate tone, Huang Laifu was even more delighted, and said: "Exactly, my father is a hereditary family of one thousand in Wuzhaibao, Shanxi Town, and the minister replaced his post with others. Lai Sheng received great blessings, and accumulated meritorious service to become the deputy commander-in-chief."

Emperor Wanli nodded: "The tiger father has no dogs. Your father has made great contributions to cultivating a pillar of the country like Huang Aiqing. I would like to meet him in the future."

Huang Laifu hurriedly knelt down and kowtowed: "On behalf of my father, I thank the Holy Spirit for his kindness."

When he received the news of Emperor Wanli's summoning, Huang Laifu was mentally prepared, and the emperor might be planning to reuse him in the future.According to Daming's unspoken rules, for example, if a general holds the positions of deputy commander in chief and commander in chief, his parents, wife and children are very likely to enter Beijing as hostages.

Huang Laifu had long been mentally prepared for this, and for his father Huang Sihao, it was a rare honor to be able to go to Beijing to face the saint.The whole family will have the capital of glory in the future.

(End of this chapter)