"By the way, I remember, didn't an official named Tang Shunzhi give me a memorial before?"
Jiajing put down the formation secret book in his hand, then turned his gaze to Lu Fang and asked softly.
"Your Majesty... Your Majesty, Tang Shunzhi, together with court official Luo Hongxian and Hanlin editor Zhao Shi, submitted to you a memorial called "Congratulations from the East Palace". Later..."
Lu Fang saw Jiajing suddenly mentioning this person. After recalling it for a moment, Lu Fang said tremblingly.
"I remember he was born in Wujin County, Changzhou Prefecture, right?"
Jiajing took in the expression on Lu Fang's face, chuckled lightly, and continued.
"Yes, Your Majesty!"
At this moment, Lu Fang was completely confused about Jiajing's performance, and then she mustered up the courage to say.
"Your Majesty, do you want to..."
"Well, that's right, I just suddenly remembered this person. He is full of knowledge and cannot just let it go to waste!"
"Let him come back sometime."
After Jiajing finished speaking, he stood up from the dragon chair and poured himself a cup of hot tea.
"Yes, Your Majesty, I obey."
Seeing that the emperor had spoken, Lu Fang quickly agreed.
"Your Majesty, please forgive me for talking too much. What position do you intend to grant to Tang Shunzhi?"
After Lu Fang finished speaking, her expression became more respectful, waiting for Jiajing's instructions.
"Well, I have heard about this Tang Shunzhi. He is an upright and honest man who does not follow the world."
"At that time, let him serve in Zhao Zhenji's Inspectorate!"
"It just so happens that we can take this opportunity to straighten out the administration."
Jiajing glanced at Lu Fang and ordered.
"Yes, Your Majesty, I will send someone here right now!"
After Lu Fang responded, she walked away from the Yangxin Hall.
…
Capital City, Yan Mansion.
At this moment, Yan Song was wearing reading glasses and handling official duties in the study.
'Dong dong dong'
Just heard a knock on the door.
"Come in!"
Yan Song took off his reading glasses, then turned his gaze to the place where the sound came from, and said.
With a "squeak" sound, the door to the room was pushed open, and Yan Shifan entered the study, his face full of joy.
Then he quickly came to Yan Song and said, "Father, what a great thing!"
"Oh, what's the big deal?"
When Yan Song heard this, his face was full of doubts, and he asked immediately.
"Father, Yan Maoqing, whom you recommended to Your Majesty earlier, has received news that he has completed the task of collecting salt tax!"
"It is said that he collected a total of fifteen million taels of salt tax this time."
Yan Shifan showed emotion when he saw that his father Yan Song didn't know about it yet, and then explained to him.
"Well, I understand."
After Yan Song learned the news from Yan Shifan, he didn't have much trouble in his heart. He just nodded and said slowly.
"In this way, Yan Maoqing's life is saved!"
"If my guess is correct, Yan Maoqing will also collect the salt tax in the future."
After hearing Yan Song's words, Yan Shifan's face was filled with fear and he hesitated.
"Father, what do you mean..."
"Well, that's right. If Yan Maoqing cannot collect enough salt tax this time, His Majesty's butcher's knife will be waiting for him!"
"By then, not to mention Yan Maoqing's property will be confiscated, even we will be implicated."
After Yan Song finished speaking, he put his reading glasses back on and explained to Yan Shifan.
"Father, you mean to say that His Majesty has already made two preparations before this!"
"Once Yan Maoqing fails to collect enough salt tax, then all his property will be confiscated! While filling the national treasury, by the way, use Yan Maoqing's head to calm the grievances of the people?"
At this moment, after Yan Song's explanation, Yan Shifan finally understood everything behind it!
At the same time, there was still a chill running down his spine, and he was filled with fear.
"Now that you know it, you should know what to do next, right?"
Yan Shifan's figure was reflected in Yan Song's cloudy eyes, and he said slowly.
"Well, father, the child knows what to do!"
After Yan Shifan heard Yan Song's explanation, he suddenly became enlightened and made plans for his next actions.
"Previously, Xu Jie proposed to His Majesty that he would launch a campaign to rectify the administration of officials. After Zhao Zhenji returns from Zhejiang, it should be officially implemented."
"Don't forget to remind those guys to clean their butts! Otherwise, their end will be death. Do you understand?"
Just when Yan Shifan was about to step out of the study, Yan Song's instructions came from behind.
Yan Shifan paused as he left, then turned around and responded respectfully.
"Yes, father, the child knows."
…
Hangzhou, Zhejiang.
At this moment, Hu Zongxian was leading local officials in Zhejiang to rush to the dock to see off Zhao Zhenji, the imperial envoy.
Just like when they arrived, the team that came to see off Zhao Zhenji was quite large! There are soldiers responsible for protecting their safety everywhere along the way.
All officials who were qualified to see him off rushed to the scene, and when Zheng Michang turned his eyes to the figure behind Zhao Zhenji, he couldn't help but exclaimed.
"Hai Rui!"
"Shh, keep your voice down!"
He Maocai on the side saw this and quickly lowered his voice and reminded.
"oh oh."
Zheng Michang looked around nervously and breathed a sigh of relief when he saw that no one cared.
"Why is Hai Rui following the Imperial Envoy? Could it be that he is going to take a boat with the Imperial Envoy to take up a post in the capital!"
When Zheng Michang said this, his face was full of envy.
"It looks like it's probably true, but don't be discouraged."
"Sooner or later you will have this opportunity too!"
Upon seeing this, He Maocai patted Zheng Midhang's shoulder gently and comforted him.
"Oh, I wish it were so!"
After Zheng Michang sighed with emotion, he immediately looked away.
Hu Zongxian and Zhao Zhenji walked at the front of the crowd and exchanged greetings from time to time.
"This time His Majesty has sent you to investigate the situation in Zhejiang. I also hope that the Imperial Envoy will be able to say a few nice words in front of His Majesty."
Hu Zongxian stopped, looked away from Zhao Zhenji, and said slowly.
"Don't worry, I will tell His Majesty everything I saw and heard in Zhejiang!"
Hearing Hu Zongxian's words, Zhao Zhenji's expression froze, and then responded.
"Well, I'm here, thank you very much, Your Majesty the Imperial Envoy!"
After Hu Zongxian finished speaking, he immediately saluted Zhao Zhenji respectfully.
Many officials behind Hu Zongxian also followed Hu Zongxian to salute Zhao Zhenji.
Hai Rui, who was on the side, felt a little at a loss.
It stands to reason that Hai Rui has not formally reported on his duties, and since he has been a county magistrate in Zhejiang for so long, he should follow Hu Zongxian to salute Zhao Zhenji.
However, Zhao Zhenji is Hai Rui’s immediate boss! If Hai Rui followed Hu Zongxian to salute, wouldn't Zhao Zhenji be offended?
In this way, among all the people who bowed respectfully to Zhao Zhenji, Hai Rui seemed quite awkward.
On the side, Zhao Zhenji seemed to see what Hai Rui was thinking, and then whispered.
"It doesn't matter, I don't value these things."
After receiving these words from Zhao Zhenji, Hai Rui breathed a sigh of relief.
Afterwards, his expression was solemn, and he saluted Zhao Zhenji respectfully like his previous colleagues.
(End of chapter)
