The most arrogant in history

In the past in Yizhou, people mined salt privately.

Ordinary people would dig a well in their own yard, and if they were lucky, they could get brine.

They hid in their own yard or kitchen and cooked salt quietly without anyone noticing.

Shuozhou's coal resources, like Yizhou's salt wells, are everywhere, so the people's illegal mining is very secretive.

Moreover, the law does not hold everyone responsible. There are hundreds of thousands of people, and every household is engaged in illegal mining. You can't arrest them all, right?

Ye Kun was confident and said with a smile:

"The people who illegally mine coal cannot transport it out. Even if they do, it is too far away to be cost-effective. So I conclude that if the people want to make money by illegally mining coal, there must be a complete chain of interests, and they must be in collusion with officials."

Huang Jian asked: "Governments and businessmen colluded, so who did they sell the dumped coal to?"

"Then there will be many buyers." Ye Kun said with a smile:

"There are also many blacksmith shops, tofu shops, and restaurants in the private sector, all of which need large amounts of coal. In areas where coal is not produced, ordinary people also need coal to keep warm in winter. In short, as long as we pour it out, we can sell it."

Huang Jian nodded: "Tang Xing's comprehensive management of the coal mine this time may be able to put an end to these petty thefts."

Ye Kun thought about it and nodded, "After I go back, I will send people to conduct secret investigations and arrest a few typical corrupt officials and profiteers to serve as a warning to others!"

As they were talking, Sang Buyi's convoy also arrived.

Ye Kun mounted the horse and continued to gallop.

After several days of rapid march, Ye Kun finally returned to Xindu, Zhuo County on the 29th day of the twelfth lunar month.

According to Ye Kun, Zhuo County has been decorated festively, with lights and decorations everywhere.

The common people have almost prepared everything for the New Year, and they are all smiling.

Guan Bao came to report that all the sacrificial activities had ended and they were just waiting for the emperor to come back to celebrate the New Year.

Ye Kun was in a good mood and said with a smile:

"This year, we celebrate the Spring Festival together with the people. On New Year's Eve, we have arranged a large-scale fireworks show. From the first to the fifth day of the New Year, the Grand Theater will broadcast the Spring Festival art performance every day. No matter whether you are an official, a businessman, a worker or a farmer, you can come and buy tickets to watch."

Bingbing said, "Your Majesty, we have prepared the programs for the cultural performance. There are 24 programs in total, which will take two hours in total."

Ye Kun looked at the performance program and nodded, "The program is well arranged. On the evening of the first day of the new year, I will accompany the Queen and other ladies to watch it."

The palace was also busy.

Busy with New Year’s delicacies, new clothes, and gifts.

Ye Kun inspected the palace and said to Wen Axiu, "Teacher Wen, have you arranged the matter of posting Spring Festival couplets during the New Year that I proposed last time?"

Wen Axiu smiled and said, "We prepared a lot of red paper, but He Kangju said that the Chinese people didn't have such a custom before."

Indeed, the custom of posting Spring Festival couplets seems to have started in the Ming Dynasty.

Before the Ming Dynasty, there seemed to be no such custom, only the custom of hanging peach charms on the door to ward off evil spirits and pray for blessings.

Ye Kun smiled and said, "If there are no customs, we will create them and form a fixed culture, which will become one of the labels of our Chinese people."

Hongyu said, "In that case, Your Majesty, please write a couplet first."

Ye Kun nodded, took the brush and wrote: "The dragons and tigers are more powerful now than before, and the world has been turned upside down!"

Everyone applauded and praised Ye Kun for his good writing.

Ye Kun was still not satisfied, so he personally wrote Spring Festival couplets on the gates of the six palaces.

He also wrote Spring Festival couplets for the main gates of the capital and arranged for Huang Ye to take people to post them.

As the saying goes, "leaders lead followers". The imperial palace set an example, and government offices at all levels followed suit, writing and posting Spring Festival couplets.

Ye Kun also arranged a group of calligraphy masters to write Spring Festival couplets on the streets and give them to the people to add to the festive atmosphere.

In the blink of an eye, it is New Year's Eve.

Eating and drinking are no longer a big deal to the people in the capital.

But tonight's fireworks show opened the eyes of people all over the city!

Over the years, craftsmen have mastered the art of fireworks production and have developed many fancy products.

Ye Kun was willing to spend money and made adequate preparations, so the New Year's Eve fireworks show lasted for two hours.

Colorful fireworks bloomed in the sky, decorating the beautiful scenery and illuminating the faces of every citizen.

The favorite of naughty kids are, of course, fireworks sticks and small firecrackers.

The smoke of gunpowder and the sounds of laughter filled the night breeze on New Year's Eve.

"Your Majesty, it's New Year's Eve tonight, shall we play mahjong?" Madam Hongyun was already impatient.

Ye Kun smiled and said, "Okay, but I can only play with you for one round, because I have something else to do tomorrow."

Mrs. Hongyun laughed and pulled Ye Kun to the gambling table.

But just as Ye Kun sat down, He Tiantian and others came to pay New Year's greetings.

Ye Kun had no choice but to stand up and entertain the guests, saying with a smile: "Tiantian, the first day of the new year is the day for New Year's greetings, why are you here on New Year's Eve?"

"The Emperor said that there will be red envelopes for New Year's greetings. I'm worried that if I come too late, the red envelopes will be gone!"

"Tsk, your red envelope is prepared separately, it is a must."

Ye Kun laughed and asked Huang Ye to bring the red envelope.

The red envelope culture was also initiated by Ye Kun.

Moreover, Ye Kun specially asked the mint to mint a batch of New Year commemorative coins with different denominations to be used for red envelopes.

Of course, New Year commemorative coins can also be used for market circulation.

In order to highlight the value of the commemorative coins, Ye Kun asked the mint to add a little weight to them. That is, commemorative coins of the same denomination are slightly heavier than other gold and silver coins.

He Tiantian, Pang Jia, Sun Yi and others all received red envelopes, which were gold commemorative coins with a face value of 10,000 yuan.

Wen Axiu and others certainly cannot let Ye Kun go.

Ye Kun was well prepared and acted like the boy Shancai. Everyone had a share and everyone got a big red envelope!

Weiwei, Jiang Yourong's adopted daughter, was the most beloved by everyone. She actually received dozens of big red envelopes and earned dozens of taels of gold!

"Father, I'll give you all my money."

Weiwei ran over and handed the red envelope to Ye Kun: "I have food and drinks, no money required."

Ye Kun picked up Wei Wei and said with a smile: "But father also has food and drink, and doesn't need money, why are you giving it to me?"

Weiwei thought for a moment, tilted her head and asked, "Father, can I use this money to buy some delicious food from the palace and send it to the nursery school for my good friends to eat?"

Ye Kun felt warm in his heart and scratched Weiwei's nose:

"Tomorrow morning, your mother will accompany you to the nursery school to see your good friend, okay? You don't have to buy anything. When the time comes, your mother will bring a lot of delicious food!"

An infant school is an orphanage.

According to custom, on the first day of each year, the Queen Mother would visit nursing homes and orphanages to express her condolences and send a batch of supplies to show her motherly role as the queen.

Weiwei was very happy and asked, "Father, won't you go with us?"

"Father doesn't have time, so let your mother take you there."

Ye Kun put Weiwei down and said to Jiang Yourong, "Tomorrow I will go to visit Gongsun Zhang and other elders, and also go to the school to wish the teachers who stayed behind a happy new year. Therefore, the nursing home and the orphanage will have to be taken care of by the queen and the ladies."