After the worship at the Tianzi Temple was over, I left amidst the calls of countless people and went to the Ji Temple to worship at the ancestral temple. The gathered people began to pay homage to the Tianzi Temple in an orderly manner.
After spending another half day offering sacrifices to the Ji Temple, it was already the end of Shenshi, so all the officials were ordered to go back to rest, and the small court meeting was moved to the early morning of the next day.
On the way back, Zhang Liang asked to go back to the Sihai Palace together. Judging from his expression, I guessed that something happened over there in Jiangnan. Now that area was a tax-rich area for the imperial court. It would be strange if nothing happened, so I took him back with him. .
In Sihai Palace, Qiwan had already learned how to make tea, so she left these chores to him.
I smiled and said, "How is it? How is the road construction from Wushang County to Wuguan Road?"
Zhang Liang felt helpless, smiled bitterly, and replied: "Your Majesty, I know now that being an official and being a conspirator are completely different things!"
I noticed that Zhang Liang was already used to calling himself a minister, so I nodded happily and said with a smile: "I don't know the way. Isn't being an official also about conspiracy?"
Zhang Liang sighed and said: "Conspiracy is to make suggestions and suggestions, only to plan for the superior. But what about being an official? They range from thin and small things to huge and unparalleled. There are countless clues in them, which are for the plans of thousands of people. I dare not If you don’t give your best, you won’t dare to slack off for a moment!”
"Okay, tell me, what problem did you encounter?" If it wasn't something particularly important, he probably wouldn't come to me to cry.
Zhang Liangzheng raised his hands and said: "Your Majesty, there will be at least three people impeaching the minister at the court meeting tomorrow. I came to see your Majesty today because I hope your Majesty will be prepared."
I nodded and guessed: "Is it about road construction? Chu Liu, Wang Bo, Ji and the three of them should not be able to escape. Who else is there?"
The three of them were the governors of Nanjun, Hengshan, and Lujiang counties respectively. The road planned by Zhang Liang passed through the three counties. Allowing private handicrafts would inevitably affect the government's trade and tax revenue. It was expected that they would be dissatisfied.
Zhang Liang sighed heavily: "I heard that Gan Daiyi is also a little dissatisfied!"
I frowned slightly and asked curiously: "Only three counties allow Qianshou to sell homemade goods, and the roads are also built in the three counties. What does it have to do with Minzhong County? Gan Daiyi is an honest man, have you offended him?"
Zhang Liang smiled bitterly and said: "So, not really." At the beginning of last month, Gan Daiyi arrested dozens of Guizhou people who crossed the border from Lujiang County. After Jihe learned about it, he went to Minzhong County in person to ask Gan Daiyi to release them, and even beat his ministers. He raised a flag and claimed that if Gan Daiyi did not release him, I would withdraw the subsidy for road construction! Gan Daiyi was furious. It is not easy to mess with an honest man when he is angry. He directly kicked Ji He out and threatened to do it if he had the ability. Let me go and tell him personally that he will not be able to take away any of these arrested people."
After listening to Zhang Liang's narration, I roughly understood. I narrowed my eyes and said, "It seems that there is some discord between Jihe and Gan Daiyi. Otherwise, how could they be so angry over such a trivial matter?"
I glanced at Zhang Liang and said with a smile: "Jihe is using your name, you have suffered an unreasonable disaster."
Zhang Liang was speechless and guessed: "The ministers of the two of them have heard something about it. When Baiyue was pacified, the emperor ordered the four counties of Qianzhong, Changsha, Lujiang, and Minzhong to provide food and grass for Guo Wei Sui's army. Jihe then found Gan Daiyi and said that the border between himself and Baiyue was short and the distance was far, so it was better to give the grain and grass to Minzhong and let Gan Daiyi transport it there together. Gan Daiyi was an honest man, so he agreed after asking the emperor for instructions."
"But Gan Daiyi was shocked when he saw the grain and grass. Jihe transported it to central Fujian by waterway! At that time, central and southern Fujian had not yet been conquered, and there was no waterway to go! So he immediately found Jihe and asked him to provide grain transportation vehicles and horses. . I don’t know what happened between the two of them. In the end, Gan Daiyi pinched his nose and admitted it. He recruited civilians to build grain carts and collect cattle and horses day and night. He hurried and slowed down so that he did not miss the food and grass for the army. As for whether he asked the emperor for comment on this matter, I don’t know, but the two of them haven’t gotten along very well since then.”
I was speechless for a while, held my forehead, and complained: "Both of us are in their forties this year, right? Why do you still hold grudges about Chen Sesame and Rotten Millet?"
Tu Sui was the first general of the Qin army to conquer Baiyue. It was the 26th year of King Qin's reign, which was the year when Ying Zheng became emperor. It has been sixteen years now! I found that the ancients were really able to hold grudges, and there is a reason why feuds can be passed down from generation to generation...
I waved my hand and said, "Okay, I understand. I will deal with him regarding Jihe. As for trade, I have my own ideas."
Zhang Liang stood up and bowed: "Thank you, Your Majesty, I will take my leave!"
————
The next day, there was a court meeting in Xianyang Hall.
Sure enough, as Zhang Liang expected, everyone finished reporting in order, and Ji and the other three immediately stood up.
"Your Majesty, the reason why taxes in our three counties have dropped every five years is precisely because the imperial court allows people to trade goods privately, which has greatly affected tax revenue and business income. I ask your Majesty to take back this order!"
Chu Liu and Wang Bo echoed: "Your Majesty, please take back this life!"
I glanced at the three of them and said calmly: "Get up. Since you said that this policy has affected the government's business, I ask you why the head of Guizhou would rather buy from private individuals whose goods vary in quality than from the government. ?”
The three of them looked at each other and argued: "Because it is made by private individuals at home, there is no transportation fee, and the price is low, so naturally the government is not as good as it!"
I said calmly: "There are three general mansions in the south of the Yangtze River. Which one is far away? I'm afraid you don't have to worry about sales, so you just make shoddy products? This policy is related to the construction of Henglu Road. As a county governor, how can you be so short-sighted? What if I The construction of Henglu Road was forcibly allocated to three counties, what do you think?"
"This..." I'm afraid the people from the three counties will be exhausted and they won't be able to repair it.
"Okay, let's put this matter aside for now." I stopped them from continuing to quibble. I originally wanted to catch Ji and Hu's pretense to disperse the small group. I was worried that it would be detrimental to Zhang Liang, so I better wait for someone who is destined.
Gan Daiyi sent it to me very thoughtfully: "Your Majesty, I want to impeach the Jiangnan Supervisor and the Lujiang County Governor!"
I smiled slightly: "Tell me."
"Jiangnan Supervisory Envoy and Lujiang County Sheriff..., I ask your Majesty to take a closer look!" Gan Daiyi recounted the details of the two people's "complicity", which was almost the same as what Zhang Liang said.
I looked at the two of them with a cold expression and said, "Jihe and Zhang Liang, is this the case?"
Before Zhang Liang could speak, Jihe took the initiative to plead guilty, bowed and said cautiously: "Your Majesty, this was a momentary lapse in speech and has nothing to do with the supervisor. Please forgive me!"
I said calmly: "Jihe, Chu Liu, and Wang Bo, the three of you only know small profits but not big righteousness. How can you make me feel at ease when millions of Guizhou dollars from three counties are handed over to you?"
The three people immediately bowed and apologized: "I know you are guilty!"
"Since you three have been officials for many years and still have a good reputation, I will not pursue it. From now on, you must obey the orders of the supervisor. As for Jihe, since you took the initiative to report it, I will fine you three months of salary." This matter can be It can be big or small, and a fine of three months is considered a relatively light punishment.
Jihe said quickly: "Thank you for your forgiveness, Your Majesty!"
