127, Chapter 127

When the emperor saw Du Ke coming, he asked the princes to withdraw. Three princes were tested today, and the princes performed well, so the emperor was in a good mood: "Look at your expression, is there something good?"

Du Ke did not hide it: "It is indeed good news, for the emperor, the court, and the country of Qi, it is all good news."

The emperor was curious to hear Du Ke's big tone: "Don't let me guess, I'm afraid I can't guess your good news."

Du Ke smiled and said: "Although this is good news, the emperor really can't guess it. It's news from Yunxiang County."

Speaking of Yunxiang County, the emperor now has a very deep impression of Qin Fang. The silver that the county magistrate of Yunxiang County found was used to fill the national treasury.

The emperor smiled and said, "You look so happy. It seems that this good news is indeed very big. Well, don't keep us in suspense. Just tell us directly."

Du Ke said, "Qin Fang discovered two mines in Yunxiang County. Your Majesty, why don't you guess what mines they are?"

The emperor: "..." I told you not to keep us in suspense. You're still keeping us in suspense.

Du Ke didn't speak directly, but took out Qin Fang's memorial: "Qin Fang was afraid that this memorial would be seen by others, so he sent someone to send it to the capital. Your Majesty, please take a look."

Oh?

The emperor took the memorial, but did not rush to read it. Instead, he said, "Why is this memorial so thick? Not to mention that I have never seen such a thick memorial since I ascended the throne, even when I was a prince, I have never seen such a thick memorial on my father's desk. Did Qin Fang write all the trivial things on it?"

Du Ke hurriedly said, "I am afraid, and I don't know what he wrote on the memorial." He really didn't read the memorial, but he did read the letter. His letter was so thick, and the memorial was so thick, so it can be imagined that the content was the same. However, he didn't know if the emperor's words were a test.

The emperor said again, "You must teach him well next time you have a chance, don't let him become a general of the fifth rank and not even know how to write a memorial. If everyone's memorial is like this, how many memorials can I read in a day?"

Du Ke said, "Yes."

The imperial study was quiet, and the emperor began to read the memorial. Indeed, the contents of the memorial were the same as the letter to Du Ke. Although the emperor disliked Qin Fang's memorial because it was too thick, he liked the detailed contents. As an emperor, of course he hoped that his subjects would tell him everything. Moreover, Qin Fang's memorial overturned the emperor's perception of other memorials. Because... Qin Fang wrote in vernacular, which was completely different from the memorials written by those circuitous officials. Vernacular is easy to understand.

When the emperor saw the time of the military camp manor mentioned by Qin Fang, he raised his eyebrows, but did not speak. When he saw the sulfur mine and saltpeter mine, he stood up suddenly, and then he met Du Ke's eyes: "This is indeed good news. If, as Qin Fang said, with sulfur mines and saltpeter mines, our country can make big firecrackers, then God bless my country, God bless me." As an emperor, no matter how he got the throne, he really wanted to be remembered for generations. Moreover, the emperor himself is a wise ruler, and he is naturally happy about things that are good for the country.

Du Ke immediately knelt down: "Your Majesty is a true dragon emperor. With this big firecracker, why worry about not being able to rule the world?"

The emperor was a little flattered by this sentence, but he still had some wisdom: "The name of this big firecracker is a bit ugly. If we can make something that is 100 times or 100 times more powerful than firecrackers, what should we call it?" The emperor thought of the power of firecrackers bursting in the air. If it is 100 times or 100 times this power... then the small flame of the firecracker will become a big flame. The flame and flame look so powerful and terrifying.

Du Ke: "I am not talented, I can't think of that name."

The emperor: "Sulfur and saltpeter are also medicines. The sulfur and saltpeter mines discovered by King Liang are also medicine mines. Firecrackers made of medicine can produce such a large flame power. How about calling it Huoyao?"

Huoyao? Du Ke thought for a moment: "Your Majesty, this title is really good. A medicine with strong firepower, Huo Yao, is very consistent with the medicinal properties and power of this medicine."

The emperor himself also felt that it was appropriate: "Qin Fang first suppressed bandits and arrested corrupt officials, and now he has found sulfur mines and saltpeter mines. Moreover, as for his policy on military camp land, I also think it is very beneficial to the court and the military camp. If each military camp can buy land locally, then the soldiers will not have a shortage of food, and food will no longer be a problem during the war."

Du Ke said: "I also think so. The issue of military camp land can be discussed as appropriate. However, this military camp land was thought up by Mrs. Qin. Although she is a woman, she can serve her husband while taking care of her husband and children at home. Considering these things, it can be seen that Mrs. Qin is also a virtuous woman. According to Qin Fang, when he went to suppress the bandits, many of the more than 3,000 people were infected with the disease, but everyone refused to move out of the tent and refused to be isolated. It was Mrs. Qin who convinced them by personally delivering food to them.

Those people were afraid that they would die after being isolated, but Mrs. Qin told them that this disease would not be fatal as long as they were treated well and took medicine with the doctor. She personally delivered three meals a day to the door of the isolated tent, and those people believed her. Such a woman is very courageous. "

The emperor was also a little surprised: "Oh? Whose daughter is this Mrs. Qin? According to Qin Fang's identity, he was not a general at the time, so his wife should be the daughter of an ordinary citizen, right? "

This... Du Ke said: "The fate between Mrs. Qin and Qin Fang was tied by Your Majesty. His Majesty tied the thread of marriage, so it is perfect."

The emperor felt a little interested when he heard this: "How do you say this? Why don't I know?"

Du Ke explained: "Mrs. Qin was originally a maid of the Yang family. When you came to the throne in August last year, you freed all the maids of the criminal family who were not involved in the relevant incidents and gave them to the soldiers at the border. Do you remember this? ‌? "They all knew what the relevant incident was, but they didn't say it.

The crime is not as bad as that of a slave. This is the most humane law of Qi State. As long as the slave does not participate in the master's crime, the master can release the slave after committing a crime.

The emperor did not hate Taifu Yang's family, but his stance was different. Therefore, when he heard that Yang Haiyan was originally a maid of the Yang family, he had no other ideas. "I do remember." After he ascended the throne, the first batch of criminals he dealt with were Taifu Yang and his related people, so Yang Haiyan and other maids were the first batch of slaves he released and the first batch of people granted marriage.

Du Ke said: "Mrs. Qin was originally the eldest maid next to the eldest daughter of the Yang family."

The emperor was very impressed by the eldest lady of the Yang family: "One of the two jewels in the capital at that time was Miss Yang. It's a pity..." What's a pity? They all know it. "The people around Shuangzhu in the capital are naturally different from ordinary maids. They are virtuous and virtuous. Our young ladies are nothing more than that."

Du Ke thought to himself, with the emperor's compliment, who can say that Mrs. Qin was once a maid?

The emperor then said: "This Mrs. Qin's military camp land has contributed to the imperial court. Can you tell me what should be rewarded?" Speaking of which, he was more willing to reward Mrs. Qin than to reward Qin Fang. After rewarding Mrs. Qin, Qin Fang's credit can be given away. After all, Qin Fang was promoted to the fifth rank of General of Military Virtue just this year. Although the sulfur mine and saltpeter mine are a big credit, but now Qin Fang is promoted to an official, this promotion The speed is too fast, ‌press‌press.

Du Ke said: "This is embarrassing for Wei Chen, but Wei Chen has some ideas. Qin Fang's mother and grandmother have not yet been sentenced to death. He joined the army on behalf of his father at that time, which shows his filial piety. If he can plead for Qin Fang's grandmother and mother, I think Qin Fang will be very happy. "As the emperor's confidant, how could Du Ke not know the emperor's thoughts. Moreover, Qin Fang could indeed be promoted because of his contribution to the sulfur and saltpeter mines, but he had just been promoted in March this year, so it was not appropriate for him to be promoted again at this time. In this way, it is appropriate to allocate this credit to his mother and grandmother.

The emperor was very satisfied with Du Ke's words: "Du Aiqing's words are true, and filial piety comes first. I will grant this title to Qin Fang's mother and grandmother. As for Qin Fang's wife, if she contributes a plan to solve the problem of food for the soldiers, I will give her two hundred gold. Two, jade is as desired..."

Du Ke: "The humble minister will thank the Lord for his kindness on behalf of Qin Fang."

The Emperor: "That's it for now. Let's talk about the business. Regarding the sulfur mine and the saltpeter mine, who do you think is more appropriate to send?" The emperor looked at Du Ke, and he was very likely to let Du Ke go. mean.

If it were normal times, it would be okay for Du Ke to go there. After all, after going here, it would still be related to the fire medicine matter, but he has been busy recently. However: "Your Majesty, if you send someone to Yunxiang County, it will be impossible to transport sulfur and saltpeter. Therefore, the gunpowder is still made in Yunxiang County. In this case, it is better not to bother the two masters. Let Qin Fang take full responsibility for this matter, and the imperial court will send people from the Ministry of Works there. "

The emperor heard: "I really want to think about this again."

Du Ke saluted: "That humble minister will leave first."

The emperor waved.

Du Ke came out of the imperial study and took a deep breath. Although Qin Fang's contribution was suppressed, he still left his name in front of the emperor. Sometimes, it is useless to have too much credit. It is better to impress the emperor and have some cards.

When Du Ke left the palace, he saw his guards from Du Mansion waiting at the entrance of the palace. This guard... Du Ke's eyelids twitched. The guard also saw Du Ke: "My lord. My lord, General Qin sent someone to deliver a second letter."

Du Ke: "..." Doesn't this allow people to rest? After only half a day's work, the second letter arrived. However, the fact that there are two consecutive letters shows that the things in the second letter are also very important. Duko got on the carriage: "Go back home."

Du Ke could only hold a cup of tea in the palace, but he entered the palace again in the blink of an eye. Du Ke entered the palace twice in a row, which attracted the attention of some people. Everyone asked if something had happened. Otherwise, why did Du Ke enter the palace twice in a row?