Red Mansion: Picking up a Lin Daiyu

Chapter 203 The court was shocked
Emperor Longyou knew that the empress loved Lin Ruhai's orphan daughter very much, and they even had private correspondence with each other, so he asked the empress first.

Thinking of the pretty and clever little girl, who looked like a princess in her palace dress, the queen couldn't help but smile, "She is still young. She must be nine and a half years old now, not even ten yet."

"The little girl is precocious. She has experienced the pain of losing her mother, so she doesn't understand friendship and is defensive. However, she gets along very well with Yue Ling."

"Yue Ling is a thoughtful person, unlike the rough generals. This marriage is indeed suitable."

Emperor Longyou pondered again and murmured, "They are less than ten years old, indeed too young. It will probably take another two or three years for them to return from the disaster relief work in Cangzhou. When they return to the capital, I will issue an edict to grant them marriage."

"I don't know what Lin Ruhai is thinking. I seem to be more anxious than he is. It's as if I am marrying off my daughter."

The couple did not have a daughter, but the queen preferred daughters. After meeting Lin Daiyu, she liked her even more.

At this moment, the Queen also said: "He may have had this idea for a long time, but Daiyu is too young to speak up. Where can we find a son-in-law like Yue Ling? Naturally, Censor Lin will laugh so hard that he can't sleep."

Emperor Longyou nodded slightly, "Well, I'll write a letter to ask him what he thinks. I would like to reward Yue Ling with something, but Yue Ling is not back from disaster relief work, so I don't have any excuse to reward him. So I'll just reward Lin Ruhai, since everything will belong to Yue Ling in the future anyway."

Looking at Xia Shouzhong who had returned, Emperor Longyou asked, "What has Lin Ruhai been doing recently?"

Xia Shouzhong responded, "Recently, the Japanese pirates in the southeast have been on the decline, and the local nobles who colluded with the Japanese pirates have also become weak. Lord Lin is taking this opportunity to crack down on illegal salt."

Emperor Longyou nodded again, "Yes, reward him for his meritorious service in suppressing the salt epidemic by granting him farmland and a house, and choose some head ornaments from the Empress for his daughter's wedding. Go and arrange it."

"Slave, I obey..."

……

The morning court session in the Hall of Supreme Harmony was just as Emperor Longyou had expected.

When it comes to state affairs, they are still arguing and there is no result.

It was because of the losses in the two wars that the national treasury revenue was not balanced, and there was no explanation for it.

Is it possible that there is no one among the ministers in the court?

Emperor Longyou was clear-minded and knew that this was not the case at all.

It was just because the national treasury wanted to be filled, so it was inevitable to take advantage of the interests of some people, increase taxes, and put pressure on the people. Emperor Longyou naturally refused to do so. The remaining people who enjoyed the benefits often had some power in the court.

Regardless of whether the quarrel was a show or a result of the circumstances, Emperor Longyou was fully prepared this time.

When the officials started arguing again, Emperor Longyou exchanged glances with Xia Shouzhong, and Xia Shouzhong whipped them three times with a clean whip.

"There is no need to argue today. I hope you will circulate this article and then express your opinions."

Afterwards, two rows of eunuchs entered the hall and handed the transcribed "Ten Essays on State Affairs of This Dynasty" to the ministers in the first row in front.

From royal relatives and nobles to important officials in the two governments and six ministries, everyone was given a copy.

When they received the paper, most of them were confused and had no idea what Emperor Longyou was going to do today.

But when they read the detailed content, their expressions changed.

This memorial not only clearly stated the situation and pointed out the direction, but also painted a bright future for Emperor Longyou. If everything was under ideal conditions, this dream would surely be realized.

They are all old foxes who have experienced ups and downs in officialdom for decades. They can see the pros and cons at a glance, and can also distinguish the impact on themselves or on their families and stakeholders behind them.

The country is in a state of decline, should it change?
This naturally needs to be changed. They are subjects, receiving salary from the emperor, and they have their duties.

But this change would require cutting off one's own flesh and blood, how many people would be willing to do so?

Looking at their wonderful expressions, Emperor Longyou felt very comfortable.

He was not a young emperor, nor was he a political novice. He spent the whole day discussing with ministers in the court. It was not that he really did not understand, but that he had no system in his mind and did not know how to implement a specific step or what the possible consequences of implementing it might be.

That's why I chose to listen quietly.

When the court decrees leave the city, they affect the entire world. As the emperor, he naturally has to be cautious.

But this does not prove that he does not understand what is good and what is bad, what is a treacherous minister and what is a capable minister.

The method proposed by Yue Ling was to train a group of officials who were loyal to the emperor and patriotic, starting with the imperial examination, and then disperse them to various places for important positions to implement the new laws.

This is like uprooting the old ministers in the court.

If there is such a group of people who can listen to the emperor and implement the new laws meticulously, even if it is in a village or a township, and then in a county or a state, they can thoroughly rectify the administration of officials from the bottom up and clean up the bureaucracy.

The signs that they are now forming cliques for personal gain and ganging up on those who are different are extremely ridiculous.

Emperor Longyou omitted this item and only left the previous part about clearing the land registers and collecting silver based on the acreage, which was enough to alert them.

"If you don't come up with a set of rules, I have someone behind me who can see through the chaos."

Today, such a signal is undoubtedly sent to all the officials.

After it was circulated among all the officials, there was booing in the court, and everyone was in shock.

Not only are each of these ten points concise and clear, but even if you take a part of one of them, the opening of the sea alone will affect countless businesses. How did the nobles on the southeast coast make their fortunes? Wasn't it through smuggling at sea?

All the officials in the court looked at each other, waiting for what Emperor Longyou would say.

Emperor Longyou liked the feeling of being in control of the situation. He coughed lightly and said, "Political laws are complicated and people's livelihood is declining. Changes must be made. But reforms are not a one-day job. Even if it is a personal illness, one must observe, listen, ask and feel the symptoms before prescribing the right medicine. The days of maintenance are even longer. What's more, a country is sick?"

Emperor Longyou's words made all the officials breathe a sigh of relief.

At least Emperor Longyou didn't slap his forehead, and he was determined to make drastic changes, just like Wang Anshi's reforms, and the decrees were rolled out to the whole country as soon as they left the city. In just a few years, more than ten new laws were introduced. At that time, the information was very slow to spread. Before the Qingmiao Law was fully understood, the Junshu Law was implemented again. Local officials were exhausted and the new laws could not be implemented at all.

After all, not every local official in the world is like Wang Anshi, who is familiar with the new laws.

This is also a major problem in the reform.

But Emperor Longyou was not Emperor Shenzong of Song. He was at the peak of the Spring and Autumn Period, and there was no external pressure from Liao and Western Xia, so he was not in a hurry for success.

That is why Emperor Longyou attached more importance to the method of selecting talents mentioned by Yue Ling.

After several imperial examinations, he was always able to train a group of disciples who could truly help him reform.

Now these insects need to be used, and they still need to be used for the time being.

"Of course, this is just what a noble scholar said. He has never been in the government, so he doesn't know everything about the situation in the court. How to implement it next will still require you to add some details."

At the right time, the Right Prime Minister Chai Pu stepped forward and said, "I wonder what the name of this noble scholar your majesty is talking about? It's not that I am nosy, but this piece of insightful opinion would be difficult to compile without decades of experience in the officialdom. Even I cannot be so rigorous and meticulous and put it into practice directly."

"A man with such talent and learning must be a famous scholar today, and he must be well-known both inside and outside the court. I wonder if Your Majesty can tell me a thing or two about him?"

Many people below had a desire to study in their eyes and echoed Chai Pu's words.

After all, when seeing a virtuous person, one wants to emulate him. Scholars have an innate admiration for celebrities.

"Is it the Duke of Yansheng, or..."

Emperor Longyou thought to himself, "Famous, maybe he is really famous, but I didn't expect him to be so knowledgeable. It took him decades of hard work? He has only been doing this for dozens of days..."

Recovering his mind, Emperor Longyou replied: "Don't guess, the hermit master does not want to enter the world, he just left this note for me and went south."

"If you see the suffering of the people, you will know the difficulties of state affairs."

Chai Pu sighed with regret, bowed again and said, "We are ashamed."

Emperor Longyou withdrew his gaze, looked around at the ministers below, and saw that each of them looked worried. Then he said, "Since we have the draft today, why don't you go home and study it. When you have a clue, we can discuss this matter again. Reform cannot be sloppy. It is not like fighting a war. We should finish the work in one battle."

"Reform and strengthening the country are closely linked, and only by being cautious at every step can great things be accomplished. I hope you will put state affairs first."

"Retreat."

……

Cangzhou Prefecture Government Office,
Walking in the corridor of the yamen, Yue Ling kept sneezing.

Jia Yun asked doubtfully, "Did the master catch a cold?"

Yue Ling also frowned, very puzzled, "It's almost June, how could I catch a cold? I think someone is scolding me behind my back."

Jia Yun smiled and said, "That's true. Most of the merchants who have escaped from Cangzhou City are cursing you behind your back."

Yue Ling also smiled, "Maybe, I did persecute them severely. However, I have a clear conscience towards the people of Cangzhou Prefecture."

Two thousand shi were distributed to each of the eight surrounding counties, totaling 16,000 shi, and Yue Ling only kept 4,000 shi for himself. If he hadn't set up this game early on and taken the grain from the rich merchants, the current situation in the city would not be much better.

"What is the current situation in Nanpi County?"

Jia Yun replied, "The canals are now flowing, and cotton has begun to be planted in the wasteland. Nanpi County Magistrate Chen Youmin has used the remaining silver to build several water wheels, so the rice yield this year should be guaranteed."

Yue Ling nodded slightly, "Yes, everything is going well."

Yue Ling walked forward with his hands behind his back and said, "Then this case should be resolved."

Jia Yun's expression became more serious, and he continued to follow Yue Ling respectfully.

The government prison is now holding the prefect and the magistrate of Cangzhou.

This scene seems a bit ironic, but the facts are often ironic.

The two of them had been left alone in prison for a long time. There was already a shortage of food in the city. Some time ago, even Yue Ling had only white porridge every day, not to mention these two criminals, who had no food to eat.

Now they have been tortured to the point of being skin and bones, and have long lost their former glory.

"My Lord, I am not guilty of this crime..."

(End of this chapter)