Chapter 178 177 Finished

Emperor Jiajing couldn't help laughing when he saw Huang Jin's old face twitching after reading the information in his hand.

His laughter directly made Lu Bing and Huang Jin below feel a sudden rush in their hearts, knowing that their master was probably very angry.

Huang Jin was feeling better at the moment. After all, he had read the intelligence and told Emperor Jiajing what was mentioned above, which might calm his anger.

However, this is hard to say.

Huang Jin knew very well that the emperor he was serving was very suspicious, and this information from Dongchang might not be able to dispel his doubts.

"Your Majesty, Dongchang fanzi has found out the cause of the incident. It was Wei Guangde and the other Jinshi who had dinner in a nearby restaurant after boasting about their official positions in Yujie because they heard Shanxi Jinshi Guo Dong and others talking about the Shanxi-Shaanxi earthquake that killed more than 800,000 people. , they didn’t believe it, and even disputed whether the number of lives lost or suffered disasters was with them.

Only He Bangli, a Jinshi from Fujian Province, said that he heard that his fellow ministers from the General Affairs Department had actually mentioned this matter, which caused the imperial court to have insufficient money for disaster relief. The Jinshi went to the Ministry of Rites to ask Jian to hold an honor banquet to save money and send it to the disaster relief areas in Shanxi and Shaanxi. "

Huang Jin handed the letter with the cause and information to Jiajing with both hands. He couldn't control the emperor's attitude, but he couldn't make mistakes in his own affairs.

"is that so?"

After hearing Huang Jin report the information found by Fanzi, his brows relaxed.

"Fanzi has asked the shopkeeper and waiter of the restaurant and can confirm that this happened. At that time, the Jiangxi Jinshi upstairs had a dispute with the Shanxi Jinshi."

Huang Jin hurriedly added, "It's written in the paperwork."

Emperor Jiajing then reached out to take the document and took a look at it. It was exactly as Huang Jin said, and handed the document back again.

"Do you think the court should approve their request?"

Jiajing seemed less angry now than when he first heard the news, and began to ask the two close people in front of him for their opinions.

After a while, Emperor Jiajing frowned again. Seeing that neither of them spoke, he simply named them.

"Huang Jin, you speak first."

When Huang Jin saw that his name was called, he hurriedly lowered his head and said, "Yes, Your Majesty."

At this time, he thought about it seriously, but he still couldn't guess what his master's attitude was.

"My slave thinks that the new scholars are still good-hearted and know that the imperial court has insufficient resources.

In recent years, the imperial court has used troops from the north and the south, and natural disasters have occurred frequently. The imperial court must provide tax exemptions and relief, otherwise the common people would have long been dead. "

At this point, Huang Jin secretly raised his head and glanced at Emperor Jiajing. Unable to see his happiness or anger, he could only continue: "It's just that the ceremony for the new Jinshi has been customized for a long time. I don't know what to do at the moment." How to choose."

Well, after talking for a long time, I actually didn’t say anything.

Seeing the emperor's eyes looking at him, Lu Bing cursed Huang Jin in his heart, but now he didn't dare to make a choice.

To be honest, Emperor Jiajing was actually quite narrow-minded.

Although it seems now that the Jinshi are requesting to lower the level of the Rongan Banquet and subsequent ceremonies and reduce expenditures to relieve the victims of Shanxi and Shaanxi disasters, Emperor Jiajing may not have thought so. Who doesn't know that every year he has to withdraw money from the treasury? He took hundreds of thousands of taels of silver and used them for fasting and building palaces and temples.

Now Lu Bing is also thinking about what words he should use to deal with the person above him, but copying Huang Jin will definitely not work. This is something Emperor Jiajing doesn't like.

"Your Majesty, I think that the idea of ​​​​Xinke Jinshi is right to increase relief for the victims of Shanxi and Shaanxi. This is what the Emperor has always wanted to do, but the cabinet and the Ministry of Household Affairs have always used the lack of money to prevaricate. I don't believe that the imperial court has even I can’t even get out a thousand taels of silver.”

Having said this, Lu Bing also glanced at Emperor Jiajing secretly, and saw that his eyes were slightly narrowed again, as if he was thinking about his words, so he had to continue: "The Rongyen Banquet cannot be downgraded. It should be conducted according to the rules. The Emperor should issue an order Let the cabinet and the Ministry of Household Affairs raise the second batch of relief money and grain as soon as possible, and also remind them to make early plans for the next third batch of money and grain.

I heard that due to the earthquake, the Yellow River was congested, and farming there will not be resumed in the short term. The disaster may not be alleviated until next year.

The emperor is willing to cooperate with the heavens and the common people, and can increase the tax exemption in the disaster area for one year to show the emperor's benevolent heart. "

Lu Bing had no choice, so he simply left the problem to the cabinet and asked them to raise money and food for disaster relief.

The Rong'en Banquet should still be held according to the rules, and the relief for the victims should also be strengthened. It is nothing more than saying that the 150,000 taels of silver are the first batch of disaster relief money and food. The court will continue to supply it later, and the taxes and services will be waived. In short, the benevolent emperor is He will not let the people under his rule go hungry.

This kind of wording can also reassure the ministers and officials.

You know, Lu Bing knew that many people, especially officials from Shanshan and Shaanxi, were quite complaining about the serious disaster in Shanxi and the fact that the court only allocated so little money and food for relief.

After Lu Bing finished speaking, Emperor Jiajing opened his eyes and looked at him again, and then nodded, "But, go and bring the message to Mr. Yan Ge, and ask the cabinet and the six ministries to come up with the charter as soon as possible."

After seeing Lu Bing bowing and exiting Yongshou Palace, Emperor Jiajing turned to Huang Jin and said, "Huang Jin, do you think Wei Guangde has any selfish motives?"

"this"

Huang Jin didn't expect that Emperor Jiajing still had such a thorn in his heart. He didn't seem to be fooled by the intelligence and their rhetoric just now, so he had to say honestly: "I thought there shouldn't be. After all, judging from the situation at the time of the incident, it was Quite by chance, I think the difference between the two figures of 800,000 and 150,000 is too big for the Jinshi."

After saying this, Huang Jin suddenly knelt down and kowtowed: "Your Majesty, please forgive me for being bold. The amount of money allocated by the cabinet and the Ministry of Household for disaster relief was really too little. It was a drop in the bucket. I heard that local officials were lining their own pockets, and even more so in disaster relief measures." The poor implementation of the earthquake allowed the disaster area to continue to worsen. Originally, the earthquake only killed more than 500,000 people, but subsequent floods and plagues killed another 300,000 people."

Speaking of this, Huang Jin's tone of voice couldn't help but whimper.

"Is Zou Shouyu back?"

Emperor Jiajing's expression did not change and he just asked casually.

"It is said that not yet. After being ordered to go to Shaanxi to worship the gods of Heyue and Huoshan, he is now patrolling the disaster-stricken areas in Shanxi and Shaanxi. It is said that he plans to visit the disaster-stricken areas in Shanxi and then go to Henan. After all, there was also a disaster there. "

Huang Jin wiped the corners of his eyes with his sleeve and replied respectfully.

"Go to the cabinet and ask them to draw up an edict to appoint Zou Shouyu, the left minister of the household department of the Imperial Envoy, as the censor of the right capital of the Metropolitan Procuratorate. He will monitor the disaster situation in Shanxi and Shaanxi. Officials who are not good for disaster relief and enrich themselves can be directly taken down by those officials below the fifth rank. Those who are above the fifth grade can be sent to the memorial hall."

Emperor Jiajing said.

"This slave obeys your orders."

After hearing this, Huang Jin hurriedly bowed again, then got up and left Yongshou Palace to go to Xiyuan to check in.

After Emperor Jiajing watched him leave, he just nodded slightly, and then shouted out the door: "Who is outside."

As soon as he finished speaking, two young eunuchs trotted in from outside the door and knelt down in front of him, "Your Majesty, I'm here."

"Send someone to go to the Hanlin Academy and bring over the papers for the Wei Guangde Provincial Examination and the General Examination."

Emperor Jiajing didn't even look at them, he just gave instructions lightly.

Three hundred Jinshi from Xinke gathered at the Ministry of Rites, but they were all waiting in the lobby. At this time, the official of the Ministry of Rites had been summoned away by a note from the cabinet, saying that the discussion on disaster relief in Shanxi and Shaanxi could not be delayed.

But without getting the letter, all the Jinshi were unwilling to leave, so they simply waited in the lobby of the Ministry of Rites.

In the cabinet, the Ministry of Rites and the Ministry of Household Affairs began to quarrel over the money for Shanshan disaster relief.

Originally, when the disaster relief was concerned, they could just allocate money to the affairs of the Ministry of Household Affairs, and had little to do with the Ministry of Rites, but now it can no longer be done. The Jinshi started making trouble, and the Ministry of Rites was involved.

Before, Wang Yongbin discussed the issue of disaster relief in the cabinet. As a Shaanxi official, he had naturally argued over it. However, he was also aware of the fact that the state was short of funds, and he only managed to get 150,000 taels of silver.

I spent a long time arguing with the Jinshi in the main hall of the Ministry of Rites today. I felt extremely sad and angry, and I vented all my accumulated anger on the Ministry of Husbandry here.

The Hubu is the yamen in charge of household registration and finance. In the prosperous times, it was naturally the best place to live, but in the Jiajing Dynasty, this Hubu was a bit frustrated.

Natural disasters continued in various places, and the Ministry of Revenue had to allocate money for relief. Military expenditures in the north and south also increased significantly. The little money collected by the Ministry of Revenue every year was taken away by officials from other ministries who heard the news and could not even enter the warehouse when they arrived in the capital. He snatched it away with a note.

"Okay, okay, Uncle Zong, sit down and calm down. What did the Great Situ say? Now the Ministry of Revenue must squeeze out some money."

Yan Song sat at the top and looked at them. At this moment, he kicked the ball to Fang Chun, the current Minister of Household Affairs.

"The warehouse is really out of money."

Fang Chun simply spread his hands and said.

"Fifty thousand taels. I don't believe that the Ministry of Accounts can't even come up with this little money. You go back and find someone to check and see if there is still money that hasn't been settled and shipped away. Just deduct 50,000 taels for the victims of the Shanxi disaster."

After sitting here for a long time, Yan Song was tired. He didn't want to continue watching them argue, so he had to make a decisive decision and persuade the Ministry of Finance to take out the money.

Before, he could stand aloof and watch the six ministries blame each other for disaster relief, but just now the emperor sent Lu Bing and Huang Jin to pass two orders in succession, and he knew that he could not drag it out any longer and had to really spend money. Account.

"Mr. Ge, the Ministry of Finance is really out of money."

When Fang Chun was about to say more, he was interrupted by Yan Song with a wave of his hand, "No matter whose money it is, you will keep it. I don't have time to chat with them at this time. If you don't accept it, you can come to the cabinet to see me."

Seeing that Fang Chun wanted to speak, Xu Jie, the second assistant next to him, said: "Da Situ, disaster relief is like putting out fires. We can afford it. Millions of victims in Shanxi and Shaanxi cannot afford to wait. Just squeeze in. We can always think of a way." of."

After a moment of silence, Fang Chuncai said helplessly: "Some money has recently arrived in Beijing from Tongzhou, from which 50,000 taels can be withdrawn for disaster relief. However, this money is prepared for the salaries of officials in Beijing this year. This"

"Dial first and then talk."

Xu Jie was the first to interrupt. As he spoke, he turned to look at Yan Song on his left. Seeing him nodding slightly, he continued: "Let the officials' salaries go first. We must first resolve the money matter." , I will send out whatever is left at that time, and I will find a way to make up for the rest in the second half of the year.”

When it was getting late, Wei Guangde and the others, who were still waiting for news at the Yamen of the Ministry of Rites, finally received the latest decision from the court. The 150,000 taels of silver were only the first batch of disaster relief money, not all of it. Now the Ministry of Household Affairs will soon allocate the second batch. The disaster relief money is 50,000 taels, and more disaster relief money will be distributed to the disaster-stricken areas in Shanxi and Shaanxi in the future. The imperial court will not care whether the victims live or die.

After hearing the news, all the Jinshi were relieved.

Having just entered the officialdom, it actually can't be considered as entering the officialdom. They all made such a big fuss in the same year, and everyone thought it was very meaningful.

It is a good thing to have the imperial court allocate the second batch of disaster relief money in advance. It can at least save countless Li people.

Zhu Dashou and the other three first-class Jinshi were one step behind from the beginning, so they would not give up the opportunity to win over their peers. It was not easy for three hundred Jinshi to gather here, so they found a big restaurant to celebrate and enhance their relationship.

But there were three hundred of them this time, and it was not easy to find such a big restaurant.

Zhu Dashou asked his followers to inquire about the information of the restaurant, and called Tao Dalin, Jin Da and Wei Guangde to discuss.

In any case, the four of them were candidates with titles in the palace examination, and the top three, the top three and the top three were enough to represent the Jinshi of this year.

Although he was very curious about how Wei Guangde jumped from the bottom of the third class to the first of the second class, there was no need to inquire about it.

He already knew the cause of this incident. When he heard that more than 800,000 people died in the Shanxi and Shaanxi earthquake, and the court only allocated 150,000 taels of silver for disaster relief, he was also very surprised and felt it was ridiculous.

Well, anyway, this time Wei Guangde's opportunity to show his face did not cause Zhu Dashou, Tao Dalin and others to be disgusted and defensive, and everyone still thought that Wei Guangde did the right thing.

In fact, what they didn't know was that Wei Guangde had already regretted it.

When the cabinet sent someone to send a message to recruit Wang Yongbin and others, Wei Guangde thought of bad things.

This was in the capital, the cabinet knew about it, and the immortal cultivator in Xiyuan was probably also aware of it.

Money matters were not a trivial matter in the Jiajing Dynasty.

Everyone knew that the immortal cultivator's silver was taken from the national treasury. Although even if he didn't cultivate immortals, the remaining silver was not enough for the court to spend, it was hard to guarantee what he was thinking in his heart.

He had finally passed the palace examination and got a good ranking unexpectedly, but it seemed that he might have offended that person.

However, at this time, Wei Guangde was still talking to Zhu Dashou and others with a smile on his face, planning to get together with his peers after finding a restaurant.

The news has spread, and everyone agreed happily.

In the future, their classmates in this subject will be a small group. They will be in the officialdom in the future, so it is a good thing to have the opportunity to drink together to enhance their relationship.

For the new Jinshi, most of them will go to the local areas in the end, those in the second class may stay in the capital as officials, and those at the top of the list will have the opportunity to impact the cabinet position and leave a good impression. Although the role played now is limited, what about the future?

Who knows if someone in their class will rush into the cabinet and become a cabinet minister in the future, and become the person in power who dominates this country.

With the confirmation of the restaurant, the champion Zhu Dashou took his classmates to leave the Ministry of Rites together