Seiwa

Meng Qing and his group left Pingxiang, passing through Taiping Mansion, Nanning Mansion, Sien Mansion, Liuzhou Mansion, and Guilin Mansion, all the way north.

When passing through Guilin Mansion, the group changed to an official boat and drove along the river, encountering several large flat-topped boats one after another.Without the flags of the government and the flag army on the ship's side, it is known that it is a merchant's ship.

The official boat that Meng Qinghe and Zhu Neng were on passed by. The boatman on the big boat saw him and immediately gave way.

The river is wide, so it doesn't have to be like this, but with the official flag and the frontier army standing on the bow, even if it is just a show, it has to give way.

Looking at the flags waving in the wind, the merchants were guessing that the people on the official ship must have a lot of background.

"In my opinion, there is a high probability that some general who conquered Annan's army was ordered to return to Beijing. Officials in Guilin Mansion are not allowed to take this kind of official ship."

"Look at the flag on the ship, at least it's an uncle."

"A few days ago, the official army captured the leader of the Li family's bandit, and Liu Dudu of the boat division went to Beijing to offer prisoners. I saw it. The building and boat were ten battles high, and there were a thousand officers and soldiers on it, with cannons on them. , that's a prestige!"

"What's a building ship? Brother, I haven't seen the treasure ship ordered by the emperor to go to the west. Two years ago, I was in Taicang. I just saw it, and my heart trembled..."

Merchants, you said everything you said.

The official ship, which was one size smaller than the merchant ship, passed slowly up the river until the stern disappeared, and the merchant ship continued on its way.

Most of the destinations of the merchants were Pingxiang. Since the news of the conquest of the army came back one after another, a large amount of timber and grain were shipped out from the southwest. It was heard that the whole territory of Annan had been leveled, and many merchants and local natives had made a fortune. More and more people start to feel excited.

The news of the large amount of land purchased by the southern army in the conquest of Da'an has not yet spread, but the news of the vassal king and the clan cannot be hidden from others.

The people are the foundation of the country, and the people regard food as their heaven.

Annan's land climate is very suitable for growing rice. Compared with the Central Plains where floods, droughts, locusts, and earthquakes take turns, the environment here is unique.The rice planted can be harvested twice and three times a year, and even those who do not use farming as a career will be jealous.

The action of the Ministry of Households exchanging copper coins for grain was not secretive. Xia Yuanji's original intention was that he had no intention of keeping this matter secret at all.

Xia Shangshu thought very clearly, according to the meaning of the emperor, he must hope to classify Annan and other places as long-term grain production areas.He sets the rules and practices, and when he leaves the household department, his successor will follow the rules.If you want to do something, you can't go too far.

There was Jin Yiweizi staring at him covetously from the side, his movements were too big, did he want to pick up the skin and pretend to be grass?

Businessmen have the most sensitive sense of interests, and the policies of the imperial court have given them greater confidence.It is conceivable how Annan's land will be swallowed up by whales after more businessmen flood into Guangxi.

Whether it is the clan, scholar-bureaucrats, or commoners in the army, the Chinese people's obsession with the land has been engraved in their bones for generations.

On the way back to Beijing, half of Annan was stamped with the stamp of the Ming Dynasty.

The king of Shu was rich and powerful, bought a large number of fields and forests, and directly sent school lieutenants to guard the fields with armed forces.

King Zhou and King Gu followed closely behind, and even King Ning of Jiangxi was not idle, and his tentacles still extended into Champa and Laos, and Siam was not spared.When the Fanbang king and ministers calmed down from the excitement of making money, they realized that something was wrong and it was extremely difficult to get the land back.

If the person buying the land is a businessman, he can still work hard.

I'm sorry to switch to the clan vassal, but I can't handle Zhu Laosi, and I can't deal with Fanbang Xiaoguo?Dad will be angry.

Compared with these clan tyrants, the more than 200 mu of paddy fields bought by Meng Qinghe is not enough.

It is very difficult not to hate the rich.

In the afternoon when the boat was sailing, there was a wind blowing on the river. The boatman looked up at the sky and saw that it was still sunny, but he told Liu Baihu who was standing at the bow of the boat, "Baihu, I'm afraid it's going to rain, so it's best to go ashore temporarily and wait until the rain stops. Walk."

In the cabin, Meng Qinghe and Zhu Neng are fighting on the chessboard.

Go is a beginner, but chess is no problem.

Zhu Neng is a first-class fighter, and he plays chess with a murderous look.Meng Qinghe was not to be outdone, he couldn't win on the battlefield, and he couldn't win on the chessboard, it was too unreasonable.

When Liu Baihu entered the cabin to report, Uncle Meng yelled loudly, the chessboard was smashed by chess pieces, and Cheng Guogong's bishop was eaten.

Chess, is to have this momentum.

"I'm humbled to see the Duke, Uncle."

"What's the matter?"

"The boatman said that there might be rain on the river, so he should stop temporarily."

Neither Zhu Neng nor Meng Qinghe raised any objections.

The boatmen are all experienced in the river, if it rains lightly, they will not deliberately remind them.Finding Liu Baihu proves that the rain is absolutely serious, and it is also necessary to go to the shore to take shelter.

This has happened more than once since boarding the ship.

Meng Qinghe was very curious about the boatman's ability to detect wind and rain in advance, so he asked the oldest boatman for advice.

The old boatman didn't even dare to say, "Don't dare to lie to my uncle. All the old farmers know how to read the sky. The little old man was a boatman in his ancestors. He spent most of his life on the river. He didn't have the ability to read the sky. Running a boat on the river."

Meng Qinghe is still amazed that, compared with the industrious and simple working people, some brick houses in later generations should really buy a piece of tofu.

Not long after the ship docked, the rain poured down.

After the chess game was over, Meng Qinghe took a deep breath as he looked at the continuous rain curtain before walking into the cabin.

The rain fell into the river, causing ripples.

Close your eyes, the sound of the rain keeps amplifying in your ears, and the refreshing breath flows from your throat to your lungs, it feels very strange.

Seeing that Meng Qinghe seemed to be in a state of concentration, Zhu Neng couldn't help but ask, "Your brother, have you learned something?"

Meng Qinghe smiled, and stretched his waist out of displeasure, "I'm an ordinary person, how can I get enlightened?"

Having a master monk doesn't mean you have to be a master.With what Monk Daoyan did, there was no possibility of jumping out of the six realms of the world of mortals.

What's more, what the great monk taught him was not Buddhism, but the Book of Changes.

It would be more wonderful to spend the rest of my life with Hou Erdai than to become a monk.

It rained heavily, but did not last long.

After the sky cleared, the official ship set off again.

Sunshine shines through the window and sprinkles in the room, accompanied by the refreshment after the rain, even the mood seems to soar.

Out of Guangxi, into Huguang.

A group of people changed to horses, and did not enter Fucheng unless necessary, and only rested at the post station.

After several days of rushing, they finally arrived at Yingtian Mansion at the end of August.

It was early autumn when the team arrived in Nanjing.

Outside the city gate of Nanjing, there were two long queues. Judging from their attire, they should be the leaders of the Tatar Jurchen tribe from the north who came to Beijing to pay tribute.

When observing others, Meng Qinghe also became the object of observation.

The tribute team in front of the city gate suddenly made a noise, and three strong men in leather robes turned their horses and galloped towards Meng Qinghe and his party.

Ten steps away, the brawny men got off their horses and saluted. The leader of the brawny man said: "Taining Wei Qianhu Qilie should have seen Uncle!"

Meng Qinghe was stunned for a moment, looking at the man who was as strong as a hill, he couldn't remember who he was for a while.

He just heard Taining Wei, but he couldn't keep silent.

As the guard of Daning, Duoyan's three guards are under his control.Although the three guards are one, collectively known as Wuliangha, they are divided into different tribes, and it is not uncommon for them to be different from each other.If it weren't for the imperial court's pressure, it would not be impossible to slash each other with knives someday.

"Get up first." Looking carefully at Qi Liegai and the two strong men behind him, Meng Qinghe frowned, not having the slightest impression, he had never seen them before, "Why did you come to Beijing?"

"Uncle Hui, last month, I took over from my father as the leader of the tribe. This time I came to Beijing to pay tribute to the emperor. I have other important matters to report to the court."

"Is it important?"

"Yes. News from the grassland."

Qi Liegai didn't say much, Meng Qinghe nodded, knowing that this is not the time to speak, and the place is not right.

"Advanced into the city." Meng Qing said condescendingly, "After entering the city, you first take someone to meet the Minister of Honglu Temple, stay in Huitong Hall, and then come to Xingningbo Mansion to see me."

"As ordered!"

Qilegai led the order and returned to the team.

Meng Qinghe turned back to the carriage and told Zhu Neng about the situation.

"Since it is Taining Wei Qianhu, there is nothing wrong with my brother's move."

As the guard of Daning and the important matters of Taining Guard, Meng Qinghe has the right and should know.Otherwise, if the Son of Heaven asks about it and shakes his head, it will be a lot of fun.

Before long, Meng Qinghe and Zhu Neng's team arrived in front of the city gate, and the guards at the city gate who inspected the badges and guides quickly handed back the badges and saluted, "I've seen the Duke, Uncle! "

Passing through the city gate, Meng Qinghe accidentally discovered that the soldiers were doing their duty conscientiously and did not dare to be sloppy at all, but the small flag with the wooden sign was standing aside, muttering words, not paying attention to their work at all.

Meng Qinghe frowned, he didn't want to meddle in other people's business at first, but according to the military order, this Xiaoqi should be beaten with twenty army sticks.

"Liu Baihu, go and see what's going on." Maybe there's a reason, and good people can't be wronged.

Liu Baihu took the order, stepped forward to inquire, and after knowing the truth, his face was in disbelief.

"Go back to Uncle, this man is reciting scriptures."

"Say it again?"

"He is reciting Buddhist scriptures. I heard from people around him that he has been like this since he was sent to guard the city gate. He reads scriptures all day long and never asks about foreign affairs." Liu Baihu is also puzzled. Such a person would be Xiaoqi ?It is simply discrediting the military man!

Meng Qinghe was speechless.

It’s okay to miss sutras, take turns to go home, and recite whatever you want.But doing this while on duty is dereliction of duty.To put it bluntly, if you don't do anything with money, you will be sorry for the military salary issued by the court!It would be unreasonable to change to future generations.

Besides, the city gate is the face of the capital. When you come to Nanjing, the first thing you see is not the palace, nor the inner city, but the city gate!

Such a person appeared here, let the domestic people and foreign envoys see it, what would they think?

Meng Qinghe frowned. He didn't believe that the officials in Nanjing didn't know about this matter. The censor had been staring at his colleagues in the court and China all day long, but he didn't find the three-acre land under the city gate?

Or do you have scruples?

Meng Qinghe frowned even tighter, and put his mind down first, to find out the background of this person, but seeing that he was wearing a looped jacket but looked like an old monk in meditation, he was really breathless.

Think about the frontier soldiers who were born and died, the guards who wiped out the Japanese pirates, and the Annan army who fought desperately in the jungle and water nets.

Which Ming army's looped jacket was not dyed red by the blood of the enemy?

This person is in the land of Jinling and doesn't need to go to battle to kill the enemy, but he can't even do the job of guarding the city gate?

It doesn't matter whether he is meddling in other people's business or not, in short, this Xiaoqi must be dealt with!

"My dear brother." Zhu Neng called to stop Meng Qinghe, and said, "I just returned to Beijing, so I'd better be more cautious."

Meng Qinghe shook his head, and said, "Thank you for the reminder, Lord Guo, this person must be dealt with."

Since the founding of the Kingdom, frontier guards from various places have been transferred in rotation to guard the capital together with the Yingtian Guards.

In the fifth year of Yongle, the official army of Shuntian Prefecture entered Beijing to defend.Now it is Wei Guogong who is training troops in Shuntian, but Shen Xuan is still guarding Beijing.

The guards of Shuntian Mansion made a mistake, how could Shen Xuan be alone.

The more I think about it, the more I feel that this is wrong.

Seeing Xiaoqi, who was still reciting sutras and seemed confident, Meng Qinghe's gaze became gloomy.He will not take the initiative to find trouble for others, but if someone comes to his door, he is not afraid!

If the target is Duke Ding, he must be slapped to death!

Shen Xuan led the conquest army to pacify Annan and made great achievements.It's hard to guarantee that no one will want to take the opportunity to make trouble.

Emperor Yong Le believed in Shen Xuan, the words of several people would definitely not sway him.But what if there are too many people talking?

Meng Qinghe didn't dare to take risks.

Perhaps he was thinking too much, but he would rather think too much than let go of any person or thing that might affect Shen Xuan.

It is far safer to prevent the passing of time than to mend the dead.

Therefore, this small flag cannot be left alone.

"Liu Baihu, go and tell him that as a guard, you don't care and don't deserve the responsibility. If you concentrate on chanting scriptures, you should be accused of dereliction of duty! If you devote yourself to cultivating goodness, I will write to Emperor Taizu Gao the Great Edict of Civil and Military Affairs, etc. What is recorded in it is the way to seek good fortune and avoid evil, protect one's life and wealth, and it is beneficial to read. If you are not an outsider, if you read the imperial edict, you will be more loyal and filial, and you will not violate the law, so you will be blessed."

Liu Baihu went to spread the word, and Meng Qinghe didn't expect this person to change his ways with a few words. The reason why he did this was just to show his attitude.

As a soldier, instead of reciting Buddhist scriptures all day long, it is better to cultivate one's sentiments by reciting the imperial edict.

He really wanted to pull people down and knock on the stick, but he knew it was wrong.It's very easy to leave people with something to talk about, and to give the name of arrogance.

Simply move out the Taizu's great edict, whether you are over-intentional or really conspiratorial, the Emperor Gao's imperial edict will be suppressed, and all the ghosts and ghosts will be dispersed.

Emperor Yongle carried the great banner of restoring the Taizu's law, and waved it vigorously. The imperial imperial edict is even more tome in gold characters, so it is naturally beneficial to read it.

Who dares to criticize what Meng Qinghe said is wrong, Zhu Di is the first to refuse.

"My virtuous brother is a great talent." Zhu Neng swept away his worry and smiled, "So, even if Du Yushi is in front of him, he can't find the reason for virtuous brother."

Meng Qinghe smiled, this is just the beginning.After returning to the mansion, he must send a post to Yang Duo immediately. If the post is inappropriate, he must send someone to inform him.Anyway, he is already a "Friend of Jinyiwei", so he can't bear this reputation in vain.

In the palace, Emperor Yong Le was losing his temper.

Yu Shiji, the imperial censor of the Metropolitan Procuratorate, who had just returned from his inspection tour in Zhejiang Province, knelt on the ground, his face pale.

"I ordered you to look at the sufferings of the people. When you come back, what are the people's feelings, what is the year, what is the flood, nothing is clear, and I ask you, let alone a word! Only flattery words, words have auspiciousness, people don't know the suffering, how can there be auspiciousness? !"

After finishing speaking, he threw Yu Shiji's memorial to the ground, and grabbed another memorial from the Metropolitan Procuratorate impeaching Annan's army, plundering people's property, conscripting conscripts, and making people work hard, and threw it directly in Yu Shiji's face.

"Cheng Guogong is corrupt and perverts the law, Ding Guogong is greedy and cruel, Xincheng Hou Zong's subordinates plunder, Xingningbo is a treacherous generation, a villain and a courtier?"

Emperor Yong Le's words were almost squeezed out word by word from between his teeth.

"Okay, it's really good! The ministers of the Metropolitan Procuratorate are really dedicated to the country, the pillars of the country! It's really good, damn it!"

Every time Emperor Yongle said a word, Yu Shiji's face turned paler, his official uniform was drenched in cold sweat, and he kowtowed tremblingly to apologize.

"Your Majesty calm down, Your Majesty calm down!"

"Say, you come and tell me, how can I not be angry?"

"His Majesty……"

"Hou Xian."

"The servant is here."

"Call the Jin Yiwei outside the hall to come in."

"The slaves obey."

Hearing this, Yu Shiji's face showed no expression, "Your Majesty, Your Majesty, please forgive me!"

"Excuse me?" Zhu Di sneered, "Tell me the source of the thousand taels of gold and silver in your mansion, and I may let you leave your whole body."

Jin Yiwei entered the hall, without saying a word, he pulled the limp Yu Shiji down.

There is no medicine for regret in the world, if Yu Shiji can restrain his greed, if he is not persuaded, if... Now, it is too late.

After Yu Shiji was dealt with, Zhu Di sent people outside the palace to order Yang Duo, the commander of Jinyiwei, to secretly investigate the people who impeached Annan's army in Shangshu.

"Let Yang Duo transfer some new faces to Guangxi."

For the sake of safety and to stop the mouths of the world, this must be done.

Hou Xian led the order, and as soon as he left the palace gate, a middle-ranking official rushed to report, "Eunuch Hou, the Kunning Palace sent someone to report, I'm afraid His Royal Highness is not good."

When the autumn wind blew up suddenly, Hou Xian's expression changed immediately, and he returned to the hall immediately.

In less than a moment, Zhu Di, who was dressed in a Ming-Huang Panlong uniform, walked out of the hall, followed by the inner officials and palace officials, who could hardly catch up with the emperor's footsteps.

In the main bedroom of Kunning Palace, Empress Xu was lying on the couch with a face like gold paper.

Zhao Yuanpan and several imperial physicians from the imperial hospital took turns to diagnose the queen's pulse, all of them looked dignified.

King Ping and Princess Ping were guarding outside the palace, as were Prince Ping's sons, but the eldest sons of King Han and King Zhao who stayed in the capital were not there.

Zhu Di strode into the hall without looking at Prince Ping's family. Zhu Gaochi, who was bowing and saluting, stood up with red eyes.Concubine Ping wiped her tears non-stop, and pushed Zhu Zhanji unobtrusively, as if implying that he followed Emperor Yongle into the inner hall.

Zhu Zhanji didn't follow Princess Ping's wishes, but stood there without moving.

Concubine Ping was a little anxious, but Zhu Zhanji raised his head and looked at Concubine Ping's gaze, which made the back of the neck shiver.