Aspirations

Chapter 190

Xing Wang secretly scolded Xia Xiang for his cunning. He knew exactly what the purpose of Xia Xiang's move was, and he stepped forward and said, "Your Majesty..."

Before the Star King could finish speaking, the emperor waved his hand lightly: "No need to say more, if I can't be happy with the people, what's the use of being the emperor? Get off the boat!"

With the help of Changguan, the emperor got off the dragon boat, and after a short walk, he came to the field.The farmers in the fields were still busy, and no one cared about the arrival of the emperor.

Chang Guan cleared his throat and wanted to shout loudly that the emperor was coming, but was stopped by the emperor.The emperor turned around and said to the crowd, "Don't disturb the people, and don't step on the fields. Remember, remember."

Coming to a child about seven or eight years old in tattered clothes and running nose, the emperor bent over and asked, "How old are you? What's your name?"

"I am eight years old, and my name is Yang Guanren." The child looked at the emperor a few times, "Who are you? Why did you come to my field? Oh, don't trample on my land. If the land is damaged, I will have nothing to eat next year." I haven't learned how to wear clothes."

The emperor hurriedly took a step back and smiled: "Yang Guanren? Good name, do you want to be an official in the future? Why do you live outside the city? How nice it is to be in the city."

"Are you a foreigner? You're so stupid, you don't know anything." Yang Guanren looked up at the emperor innocently, scratched his nose with his right index finger, wiped the snot on his body, and said, "I want to be an official, and I want to be a summer. An official like the county magistrate. Why do you live outside the city? Because the house was taken away. Originally, my family was not short of food, but since the government forced me to borrow money to grow food, I repaid the debt every year. No more, I can only live outside the city. If it weren't for Xia Xian Zun and Lady Lian, my parents said, this winter, we will either freeze to death and starve to death outside the city, or we will die outside the city."

The emperor's face turned red. Although he had already heard about the disaster of the new law, he was still ashamed after hearing the truth from the innocent children.Hou Pingpan was not alone in the troubles of the new law. He also believed that the new law would benefit the country and the people.Later, he realized the problem with the new law. When he wanted to stop it, Xingwang and Hou Pingpan were already sitting on the throne. He wanted to abolish it, but he was already powerless.

Hou Pingpan's face was ashen, and he said to Xia Xiang: "Xia Zhixian is a clever way, hum, it's a pity that it was a waste of time."

Xia Xiang smiled indifferently: "Hou Xianggong has won the award. Compared with Hou Xianggong, the lower official is too far behind. The lower official does not have any clever methods, but only knows that the people's heart is like the iron and the people's heart is like the sky. It's not in vain, just let the people have enough to eat and wear warm clothes, so they won't die of starvation. The so-called love of the people is not about talking and writing in books, not standing in the hall and singing carols, but bending over Bend over, really mingle with the people, truly know the suffering of the people, truly think about the people, and live up to the aspirations of our generation of scholars - I hope that everyone will be full and warm, and they will spare no effort to go out of the mountains and forests!"

Hou Pingpan's face sank, and he wanted to refute a few more words, but Ye Muping robbed him and said: "Hou Xianggong, the market is no better than the court, and the people are no better than officials. For the sake of livelihood. Seeing is better than hearing a hundred things, saying a thousand things and ten thousand, and the people’s word of mouth is the official voice.”

The emperor said with emotion: "Do you know who these people are standing in front of you?"

Yang Guanren glanced at everyone and shook his head: "I don't know."

"Cough, little baby, he is the emperor today." Chang Guan hurriedly stepped forward and said to Yang Guanren seriously, "If you have any needs, even if you speak to the emperor, the emperor's golden mouth will definitely protect your glory and wealth. ."

"Emperor?" Yang Guanren looked up and down at the emperor in disbelief. "It's the emperor who sat on the hall in the palace and asked the minister why he didn't eat minced meat?"

"Don't be rude!" Chang Guan shouted angrily.

"Haha, it doesn't matter, it doesn't matter." The emperor laughed, "I am not Emperor Hui of Jin who doesn't know people's livelihood is difficult, I also know that it is not easy for people to cultivate their fields."

"Is the emperor a golden mouth?" Yang Guanren was not afraid of the emperor at all, tilted his head and looked expectant.

"Exactly."

"Xiaomin implore the emperor to abolish the new law!" Yang Guanren suddenly fell to his knees with a plop, and kowtowed again and again, "I used to grow up in the city, and I needed clothes and clothes to eat and eat, but because of the new law, Dad borrowed from the government. If you grow food, you have no clothes, no food, no room to live in..."

The emperor sighed and stretched out his hand to support Yang Guanren: "The suffering of the people is my fault. Xia Zhixian, what do you have to say?"

Xia Xiang took a step forward, bowed and said, "Your Majesty, what Officer Yang said is true. I implore the Emperor to abolish the new law!"

Zheng Shan and Zheng Hao also came out at the same time, and said in unison, "The ministers also implore the emperor to repeal the new law!"

Ye Muping also took the opportunity to say: "Your Majesty, there are many refugees along the way to go out of Beijing on a poor road. They left their homes because of the new law. I implore the emperor to abolish the new law."

Jin Jiayi pulled to see the king, and when he saw the king, he also said very intelligently: "I also urge the emperor to abolish the new law."

Seeing that the king was in his early stage, King Jing and King Qing said in unison: "The ministers also implore the emperor to repeal the new law!"

"Your Majesty, the new law concerns the national system and cannot be easily abolished." Hou Pingpan hurriedly stepped forward, worried that the situation would get out of control.

"Your Majesty, the new law cannot be abolished." Xingwang and Yunwang also joined the ranks of opposing the abolition.

"Your Majesty, the new law must never be repealed. Once repealed, not only will the previous achievements be forfeited, but it will also be infamous for the ages." Seeing the sudden change in the situation, Cui Xiang couldn't care less.

The emperor was silent, and after a long time he said: "Xiazhi County, the abolition of the new law is the voice of the people, or is it just a dispute between the court and the court?"

Xia Xiang took out an object from his sleeve and put his hands in front of him: "Your Majesty, the public opinion is like the heart of the people, please let the Emperor know."

"Bring it up."

"Yes."

Chang Guan took a thin piece of paper from Xia Xiang's hand. He didn't know what it was, and everyone around looked at each other, guessing what Xia Xiang had submitted to the emperor.

"What is this?" The emperor took a piece of paper the size of a handkerchief, with words printed all over it, and said in surprise, ""Yuanxuanchaobao"? I have long heard that there are tabloids circulating in the market, But it turned out to be like this. It's interesting, it's the first time I've seen..."

The emperor's face became solemn, and after watching it for a while, his face was already full of anger, and he suddenly threw the newspaper to Hou Pingpan: "Hou Xianggong, you keep saying that the new law has won the hearts of the people, and wherever the new law goes, the people are all We greet each other in the middle of the road. Take a good look at what the people say about the new law..."

Hou Pingpan bent over to pick up the newspaper, and after only a few glances, he hurriedly defended: "Your Majesty, the folk tabloids are nothing more than false statements made by the market and cannot be taken seriously. The people who claim to have been harmed by the new law are all fabricated out of nothing. In other words, Xia Zhixian County is based on the folk tabloids, and it is deceiving the king."

The emperor glanced at Xia Xiang indifferently: "Xiazhi County, the person mentioned in the newspaper, is there really such a person?"

Xiao Jia specially produced an issue of "Yuan Xuan Chao Bao", which published the different tragic experiences of refugees in Zhending City who sold their houses and land because of the new law, and put the experiences of some refugees into writing with vivid and detailed brushwork.Xia Xiang asked people to deliberately select the most representative and most tragic people, including those who sold their children and daughters, those who separated from their wives and children, and those who committed suicide and disabled because of the new law, and so on.

Xia Xiang was well prepared and replied: "Go back to the emperor, the people in the newspaper are all true. They are all among the refugees. The emperor wants to ask clearly in person and can call at any time."

The emperor turned to look at Hou Pingpan: "Hou Xianggong, since you said that the tabloids are nothing more than false words in the market, well, you can choose one of them at will, and Xia Zhixian will ask him to confront you."

Hou Pingpan was unable to ride a tiger, and he took the newspaper and glanced at it: "Where are Kang He and Sun Yang?"

Xia Xiang beckoned Xiao Wu to come over, Xiao Wu ran a few steps to the middle of the refugees, and shouted: "Kang He, Sun Yang, Xia County respects you for something."

As soon as the words were finished, two people came out of the crowd and ran all the way to Xia Xiang. Both of them were in their forties, with simple and honest faces and old clothes.

Xia Xiang waved his hand: "The emperor is here, so hurry up and meet the emperor."

When the two heard the emperor, they were so frightened that they fell to their knees, kowtowed, and dared not look up.The emperor personally helped the two: "You two don't need to be polite, get up and talk. The newspaper said that because of the new law, one of your wives and estranged, and the other sold children and daughters, is there such a thing?"

As soon as the two heard the emperor asked about this, they immediately started talking.After all, the two of them experienced this incident personally, and they felt pain in their skin. They said it with tears in their eyes. All the listeners felt the same way, and sipped a handful of tears of sympathy. Even the emperor's eyes were wet.

Hou Pingpan was not reconciled and ordered two more people.Unexpectedly, the experience of these two people was more tragic than that of Kang He and Sun Yang. Not to mention that everyone couldn't bear to hear it, even the emperor couldn't bear to listen any more, and waved his hand to stop the two of them.The emperor's love for the people was so great that he not only rewarded the four of them with a large sum of silver, but also exempted Xiajiazhuang from paying taxes for three years.

The four of them turned around and spread the news about the arrival of the emperor. Immediately, thousands of refugees put down their work and fell to their knees. Long live the mountain.Sun Yang took the lead in begging the emperor to repeal the new law, and the refugees called out in unison.

The emperor originally had the intention to abolish the new law, and he was very satisfied that Xia Xiang had done so well in the battle. He glanced at Xia Xiang with admiration and said: "The new law was originally intended to enrich the people and strengthen the country, but now it has become a law that harms the country and the people. If it is not abolished again, wouldn’t it be against the will of God and against the will of the people? People are not sages, how can they be right? Knowing mistakes can be corrected, and doing great things is great. From now on, the new law will be abolished!”

"Long live my emperor!" Xia Xiang was extremely relieved for a while. After all the hardships and painstaking efforts, he finally got the emperor to order the repeal of the new law that displaced countless people. Why not make people excited?Thinking about how many people in Daxia will benefit from this, he will no longer leave his hometown, and his wife and children will no longer be separated. For the first time, he has the honor of being a parent official.

The faces of Xingwang and Hou Pingpan changed, and their eyes fell on Xia Xiang, like a sharp arrow trying to penetrate Xia Xiang's body.Xia Xiang suddenly did not realize it, and did not take the hostile eyes of several people to heart.

After noon, the emperor set off for Xingzhou.Most of the officials from Zhending Prefecture and Zhending County accompanied them.A group of people marched out of the south gate of Zhending City and went south along the official road.

Xia Xiang wanted to ride a horse, but because the emperor's entourage was too many and there were not enough horses, he had to take a carriage with Lian Ruohan and Cao Shuli.Originally, he was riding in the same car with the two beautiful ladies, so he could be more charming and less tired on the way, but Cao Shujun was ignorant.

Fortunately, the car was spacious enough to accommodate six people, so Xia Xiang let Mantuo and Xiao Jia also get on the car.Xiao Wu rode on a horse and walked with Ye Muping and Jin Jia.

"The new law is finally abolished, and it will be a big white." Cao Shujun was lying comfortably reclining in the car, leaning on the soft pillow, sitting next to Xiao Jia, he said lazily, "Xia Langjun, Today's event, done beautifully, not only won the emperor's heart, but also destroyed the prestige of Xingwang and Hou Pingpan, so happy, really happy."

"Can you be a little more ambitious and take a longer view?" Xiao Jia gave Cao Shujun a blank look, "It is a good thing to repeal the new law, but the most important thing right now is for the emperor to go to Xingzhou, what if he falls into the star king's plan Is it okay to do it?"

"The emperor has to worry about his own affairs. Isn't he also surrounded by King Xing, King Qing, Ye Zhenren and Mr. Jin Jia? By the way, Song Shilang and Mr. Li also went to Xingzhou first, I'm just a guide Commoner, little grass people." Cao Shujuan smiled, but then asked Xia Xiang, "Xia Langjun, you said that since the emperor knew that Xingwang had evil intentions, why did he still go to Xingzhou?"

Xia Xiang has been silent for a while since he got into the car. Suddenly, he thought of something and lifted the curtain and said, "Xiao Wu."

"Sir, Xiao Wu is here." Xiao Wu leaned forward and appeared immediately.

"You and Ding Zhaotou immediately return to Zhending City and go to Xiajiazhuang." Xia Xiang whispered, "Take Shen Liangren to the county office and wait for the official to return."

"Yes." Xiao Wu turned around to find Ding Ke, Ding Ke walked away with Xiao Wu without saying a word.

"Why do you want to keep Shen Liangren in the county office?" Although Lian Ruohan can guess one or two, he doesn't know what Xia Xiang intends.

Xia Xiang smiled slightly: "To tell you the truth, Mrs. Shen is a key witness, protect him in case of emergencies." Thinking of something again, he asked with a smile, "Does my lady have the emperor's will to convey?"

"The angel who passed the decree is Shi'er, not me." Lian Ruohan smiled mischievously, "Why is Shi'er gone?"

"Shi'er and Zhang Hou share a car." Cao Shujun shook his head and sighed, "It's frustrating that Zhang Hou doesn't let Shi'er go with us. But that's okay, Shi'er said he can help us hear what Zhang Hou has to say. , it is also good to know ourselves and others.”

"Don't worry about what Zhang Hou will do to us, I'm just worried about him..." Xia Xiang didn't want to say what he was thinking, but he still said, "I hope Zhang Hou has self-knowledge and won't become the pawn of the star king."

(End of this chapter)