Chapter 379
Nan Zhijin, a well-known Chinese scholar who is known for his rigorousness in the officialdom, actually "accidentally" broke a priceless crystal bottle.
The Shusheren in Nan Zhijin has a longer life, but after all, his position is not high, and his experience has not caused a particularly big repercussion. Even if there are discussions, everyone is more interested in crystal bottles than people.
It is said that the crystal bottle was a trophy seized from Chen Qi when the founding father of the country fought in the southern and northern wars. He loved it very much during his lifetime and was often used for appreciation. Leaving a decree, asking future generations to keep it well, and not let it be tarnished...
This kind of story cannot be recorded in the history of the country. No one can tell whether it is true or not, but the narrator swears it, and the listeners are itching and sighing again and again. I regret that I have lost the opportunity to appreciate the treasure since then. It seems that he has never been to appreciate the crystal. Bottle just because there is no time.
At the end of the discussion, everyone brought up the unfortunate Zhongshu Sheren, unanimously that he deserved what he deserved and would never come out again.
The Zhongshu Province was in a panic because of this. More than a dozen officials, including Zhongshujian and Zhongshuling, rushed to the Huanhou Mansion at noon the next day to plead guilty. They finally got the emperor's forgiveness and saved them from the crime of oversight, Zhongshujian. In the end, he euphemistically asked whether Nan Zhijin could be handed over to the judicial office.
Han Ruzi didn't say a few words from the beginning to the end, and he didn't hear the request to the Zhongsi Supervisor. He waved his hand and asked the eunuchs to kick the Zhongshu Provincial officials out.
Zhongshu Province still had normal duties to perform, other officials had left, Zhongshuling stayed at the gate, tried every means, and finally invited someone closer to the emperor.
Chao Jing is no longer the youth of the fishing village he used to be. He is very familiar with how to deal with officials, especially high-ranking officials. He walked out with his hands behind his back, stood on the steps, looked left and right, and said in a long voice, "Who is looking for me? Why are you even a ghost? No shadow at all?"
Zhongshuling was standing at the foot of the steps. He was also a fourth-rank official. He was qualified to enter the Tongxuan Hall to participate in large-scale court meetings. Nodding again, smirking again.
"Here, General Chao, I am here."
In contrast, Chao Jing's position was much lower. He was just an ordinary soldier in the guard camp, who didn't even have a rank, but was called a "general".
"Oh, so it's you." Chao Jing greeted him with a smile, and bowed his hands a little to be polite.
Zhongshuling wanted to invite General Chao to dinner, but was rejected. He wanted to find another secluded place to talk, but was also rejected. In the end, he had to pull General Chao aside and stay away from the gate. First, he praised him and read it for decades. The book came in handy at this time. Although Chao Jing couldn't understand more than half of it, he grinned and was extremely useful.
Zhongshuling finally asked why the emperor cared so much about the crystal bottle that he detained a Zhongshushe person, and was not allowed to participate in it?
"You haven't heard of the origin of that crystal bottle?" Chao Jing asked in surprise.
Zhongshuling heard about it, but didn't believe a word, "I heard it, but I think it's just a plaything after all..."
"Plaything? Ha, no wonder you Zhongshu can't save high officials and are not welcome." Chao Jing shook his head.
Zhong Shuling was taken aback and hurriedly said, "Is there another statement in the crystal bottle?"
This time, Chao Jing took Zhong Shuling and walked a dozen steps to the side, far enough away from the gate, there was no one around, and he didn't know what he was hiding, and then whispered: "There are rumors - I said yes' Where does the 'in the market' mean, you understand?"
"In the palace?"
"Shh, you don't want me to kill me."
Zhong Shuling's face changed slightly, "Yes, there are rumors, General Chao continued."
"It is rumored that there is an edict from Taizu hidden in the crystal bottle. At that time, when the Great Chu was first built, it was not stable enough. Taizu worried that his descendants would have no money to use, so he hollowed out a mountain and stuffed it with gold and silver treasures. The will is related to this. Your Majesty is in short of money right now. The bandits want money. When the autumn comes, many merchants come to ask for debts, and they need money even more. Therefore, His Majesty is interested in the will, and specially invited a crystal bottle from the palace. , As a result, it was broken by your people."
Zhongshuling had a wry smile on his face, the emperor is rich in the world, and where he is must be the safest place, there is no need to find another place to hide the treasure, digging a mountain requires at least ten years of work of tens of thousands of people, and it is fundamental to hide people's eyes and ears. Impossible, as for the so-called edict, it is nonsense. Without the custody and verification of the relevant ministries and departments, even if it is really Taizu's handwritten letter, it cannot become an edict.
Ordinary people may believe this kind of thing. Zhongshu Department deals with memorials, imperial decrees, and edicts every day. How can they be deceived? But he couldn't say whether he believed it or not, so he could only say: "The bottle was broken, have you found the edict?"
"Did I say the will is in the bottle?"
Zhong Shuling nodded.
"No no, you must have heard it wrong. I said that the clue of the will is in the bottle, painted on the inside of the bottle, and now it's broken and can't be put together. The clue is broken, and the countless treasures will never be seen again. ."
Chao Jing spread his hands together, expressing regret.
"So that's the case." Zhong Shuling could only express his sudden realization. He glanced at the gate in the distance, and whispered, "What the edict said is false, it may not be true, General Chao is a close person by His Majesty's side. Your words are the most important, can you beg for mercy for Nan Zhi?"
Chao Jing followed the Zhongshuling and walked for a while, "A small Zhongshusheren, does it deserve the attention of adults?"
"Nan Zhijin has been in the Zhongshu Province for the longest time. He is familiar with all kinds of rules, and is highly valued by the Zhongshu Supervisor. He often asks him for advice, so..."
Chao Jing thought for a while, "It's not impossible to help, but I don't know you very well..."
Zhongshuling was well prepared and said with a smile, "Master Zong Zhengqing, who was transferred from Luoyang, is very familiar with me."
"Han Chou?"
"Yes, yes, I heard from Lord Han that General Chao suffers from insomnia and needs to be decocted in a golden kettle. I wonder if I have collected enough recently?"
This time, it was Chao Jing's turn to be stunned, "Ah? Ah, the golden cauldron...is the golden cauldron? Yes, I really need it. That thing is for insomnia - it's lacking, it's lacking."
Zhong Shuling smiled tacitly, "Tonight, please take a gift from General Chao."
"Why give gifts? It's my blessing that the adults are willing to make friends with me. It's enough to invite me to drink. Let's use ordinary cups and bowls instead of gold ones. That thing is too small, but it is too heavy to hold and doesn't fit well. Ha ha."
Zhongshuling laughed in return, and said goodbye, feeling a lot more relaxed.
Chao Jing walked towards the mansion, opened his arms, and gestured the size of the golden cauldron. At first, it was just a small medicine jar, which kept expanding, and finally became as big as the cauldron. Not moving, suddenly opened his mouth and took a bite, smirking all the way into the house.
The soldiers guarding the gate looked at each other and didn't dare to laugh.
"I've come up with a clever plan!" Chao Jing burst into the study and exclaimed excitedly.
The emperor was discussing with several noble servants about the suppression of bandits, and when they heard the sound, they all looked towards the door. Chao Jing stuck out his tongue and hurriedly bowed to retreat, but he kept guarding the door, eager to see the emperor.
Finally, the noble servants all left, nodding to him whether they recognized Chao Jing or not.
This time, Chao Jing asked the eunuch to report on his behalf, and only entered the study after obtaining permission, "Your Majesty, I have come up with a clever plan that can be used to pay off your debts for Your Majesty!"
Han Ruzi smiled and said, "It's really rare, let's hear it."
"Your Majesty doesn't owe a debt. I heard that a businessman came to Beijing to ask for a debt recently, didn't he?"
"Well, there are some."
The emperor took all the IOUs for the refugees in the world, and also had evidence of many businessmen bribing officials. He planned to kill chickens and monkeys when necessary, but many of the IOUs were normal loans, and the Shaofu had to pay them back. Most of them are these businessmen.
Qiao Wanfu, an official of the Shaofu, reminded the emperor that businessmen are only profit-seeking, and it is precisely those illegal businessmen who hold the most IOUs. To the public, the emperor must prepare early.
In any case, the emperor needed a lot of gold and silver to make up for the shortfall.
Chao Jing stepped forward and said: "The people are poor, even the emperor is poor, and the money is in the hands of the officials. Just now, what is the Chinese book order, which promised to give me a golden pot for boiling medicine. It will be delivered later. Then he must have a bigger golden pot in his hand. As for officials with higher status, he must have a golden boat, a golden house, and a golden palace, right? Your Majesty will be miserable, there is only one golden concubine, I haven't brought it back yet."
"Nonsense." Han Ruzi scolded, couldn't help laughing, "Your plan is to ask the minister to pay the debt for me?"
"Yeah, anyway, if they have money, if they catch one Zhongshusheren, they will give them a golden pot, and if they catch another hundred or so, they will have all the money to pay off their debts?"
Han Ruzi shook his head with a smile, and asked, "Zhongshuling bribed you to ask you to plead for Nan Zhijin, right?"
"Yes, I accepted a bribe by order. When I went out, Your Majesty was busy, so I didn't have time to tell His Majesty. I can explain it clearly afterwards."
"Well, you've done a good job."
"What about my trick?"
"Your trick..." Han Ruzi just wanted to laugh, but suddenly changed his mind and thought about it for a while. Of course, "kidnapping" the minister for ransom cannot be done, and it is impossible for the minister to help repay the debt. Yu broke with the imperial court, and the emperor will not be able to enjoy the benefits of rules and conventions in the future, and the gains outweigh the losses.
But Chao Whale's idea was not entirely without merit.
"Let me think about it." Repaying the debt is not a top priority. The purpose of Han Ruzi detaining Nan Zhijin is to find Zhao Ruosu.
Han Ruzi didn't specifically choose Nan Zhijin. In fact, he had no impression of this person or the name. It was just this person who came to send the memorial, so even if he was unlucky.
The nervousness and generosity of Zhongshuling made Han Ruzi's heart move, and he began to think that this Nan Zhijin might not be so simple.
"After getting the 'Golden Pot', send it here, so that I can also gain insight."
Chao Jing said helplessly: "Without outsiders, Your Majesty, don't play tricks on me: Which bribes I received by order did not end up in His Majesty's hands?"
Han Ruzi laughed, "This time is different, maybe I can leave this 'golden pot' to you."
"Really?" Chao Jing jumped up with joy.
(It seems that the two chapters will not be made up tomorrow, and I need to take a break. There will be one chapter tomorrow. Many readers should still be working, and the QQ chat will be changed to next Sunday, so I hope you know.)