At this moment, the air in the court room seemed to be still, until the drums on the Meridian Gate sounded, indicating that it was time to go to court.
Liu Ji was the first to walk out of the court room without hesitation, Xu Pu and Liu Jian also walked out of the room one after another, and the rest of the Imperial Academy went out in order according to their rank.
The civil and military officials at the Meridian Gate were divided into two groups, the east and the west. The imperial censor checked whether any officials were absent. Among them, the Xinke Jinshi who were dispersed to various ministries to observe the administration were also present. The Xinke Jinshi had already been trained when they went to express gratitude, so there was no one there. Something went wrong.
In the crowd, Liu Yu saw the first and third people standing in the queue of the Hanlin Academy. He was jealous and envious. This time he was assigned to the Pi Zuo Bureau under the Yu Heng Division of the Ministry of Works to observe politics. Basically, all the Jinshi who were assigned to the Pi Zuo Bureau in the past were It's not taken seriously, and I'm not a craftsman. I know nine things out of ten about leather products, but I don't know anything about them. What can I learn here.
It is estimated that after the end of Guanzheng, he will be assigned to a remote area as a county magistrate. Liu Yu felt extremely regretful after his last setback in a restaurant. He heard from his friend Hu Ping that the reason why he was assigned to the Pizuo Bureau this time was mainly because of his original The farce reached the ears of the commander, who clearly expressed his displeasure with him.
The drums of Wufeng Tower on the Meridian Gate rang three times, and the third drum sounded. The left and right gates on the left and right sides of the Meridian Gate were opened wide. The Imperial Guard Flag School went ahead and stood in line inside the gate. All civil and military officials went to queue up at the gate. Wait for the bell to ring before entering.
The civil and military officials entered the court in two groups. Civil servants entered through the left Ye gate, while military officers entered through the right Ye gate. After entering, the civil and military officials were arranged in an orderly manner on the south side of Jinshui Bridge.
After blowing the whip, everyone walked across the bridge in sequence until they reached Danchi of Fengtianmen. There was a royal seat in the middle of the upper corridor of Fengtianmen, which was called the Golden Platform. In the Ming Dynasty, the emperor basically listened to the government at the imperial gate.
The only royal court ceremonies that are actually held in Fengtian Hall are the Dachaohui, Shuowangchao and Jindianzhuanlu, which are of a ceremonial nature.
Officials below the fourth rank like Li Jie are generally not allowed to enter the Meridian Gate unless summoned. They can only wait quietly outside the Meridian Gate to pay their salary. It can only be said that officials below the fourth rank do not have human rights. The weather is good It was okay at that time, but if it was the cold wind in winter, it would be a terrible feeling.
Generally speaking, the morning court lasts about an hour. Most of the time is spent on etiquette. The time actually used to perform affairs is very short. It is just to respond to the decree as usual with the previously prepared memorials. If there are special circumstances It will be extended for an appropriate period of time.
After the morning court ended, all the civil and military officials retired one after another. The cabinet ministers, the Nine Ministers, and the Sixth Section were all left behind, presumably to hold court discussions on some unresolved matters.
Li Jie returned to the yamen and was preparing to work, checking the chapters of the records assigned to him. At this time, an official came in and reported: "Editor Lin, there is news from the palace asking you to come in to see me."
Li Jie was very surprised when he heard that he was going to enter the palace. He couldn't reach it at his own level. After thinking about it, it might have something to do with the salt policy, because he just talked about it with Xu Pu yesterday. After today's morning meeting, He was summoned.
"Okay, I'll go right away."
The Hanlin officials in the Editorial and Inspection Office all looked at each other in disbelief after Li Jie left. The court meetings were always only attended by cabinet ministers, Jiuqing, the Six Ministries, Shizhong, the Imperial Envoy of the Imperial Procuratorate, or high-ranking officials such as Dukes, Marquises, and Bos. , let alone Li Jie, even Li Dongyang, the bachelor of the Hanlin Academy, has not participated in the court meeting so far.
Zhang Rui said with an envious look on his face: "The court meeting, I wonder when we can participate in the meeting!"
Wu Wei also echoed: "The Holy Emperor is too kind to Editor Lin and actually summoned him to participate in the court meeting."
…………
Li Jie also knew that what happened today would definitely cause an uproar in the court. With his seventh-rank official position, he was far away from participating in the court meeting. After today, he might be the focus of the court.
You have to pay more attention to everything you say and do in the future. It is inevitable that there will be people who are secretly jealous. There are no quotas for official positions such as compilation, editing, and review in the Hanlin Academy. But when it comes to Japanese lecturers and bachelors, they are just a carrot and a pit. There are only two places for the sixth-grade attendants and lecturers, and for the fifth-grade bachelors and lecturers. If you occupy this position, others will have to wait.
After entering the palace, Li Jie followed the young eunuch all the way to the Wenhua Palace. When he arrived outside the palace, the young eunuch went inside to report until he heard a voice coming from the door.
"The editor of Xuanhanlin Academy, Lin Pingzhi, paid an audience."
Li Jie straightened his clothes and stepped inside. The cabinet ministers and the important ministers of the Nine Qing Dynasty were all there. He was stared at by a group of high-ranking officials. Even though Li Jie had a rich resume, he couldn't help but feel a little nervous. Any one of these people stamping their feet would make the officialdom tremble. Three shakes.
"I respectfully send you your holy greetings!"
The emperor said with a smile: "I love you."
Li Jie glanced at the surroundings with the corner of his eye. In addition to the cabinet ministers, the six ministers, the imperial envoy of the Metropolitan Procuratorate, the minister of Dali Temple, and the general affairs envoy, Zheng Ying, the Marquis of Wu'an, was also among them. The British public are very close, and they are all full-blooded militants.
Before coming, Li Jie thought that this meeting was just about the salt policy. But after seeing Marquis Wu An, he changed his mind and thought that the issue of tribute would also be discussed. Marquis Wu An looked calm, thinking that he would get what he wanted in this court meeting. , the Tatar Kou Bian indeed inspired the enthusiasm of the main war faction.
"Lin Aiqing, please explain in detail the method of drying salt."
Hearing this, Li Jie stepped forward and replied: "Reporting to your majesty, the method of drying salt does not require the cost of firewood from the mountains. The waste of firewood is for the sake of the province of industry and profits. If people meet the need for salt, the country will increase the salt tax." Use. Where the tide level is close to the seashore, choose a high-exposure place. Use greasy mud to build a circle around it and make it empty. It is called a drain. Throw the soil into the drain and fill it with tide water. Drill a hole next to the drain. Let the water come out from here to be brine, and build a high hill and plate, introduce the brine into it, wait for the sun to expose it and turn it into grains, and then salt will be formed."
After listening to this, Zhu Youtang was thoughtful, and after a while he said, "What do you think, dear friends?"
Liu Ji coughed lightly and said: "To please the public, salt profits account for the majority of the imperial tax, how can it be easily changed! What's more, this is just his one-sided statement, which is not trustworthy!"
Xu Pu came out and retorted: "I have a report from the Salt Transport Department of Fujian Capital as proof. What Editor Lin said is true and has not been exaggerated."
Liu Ji was angry. Xu Pu had evidence in his hand. Why didn't he come out early or late? He had to wait until he expressed his opinion before taking it out. Isn't this a slap in his face? He turned around and said.
"Your Majesty, the dough frying method is helpful to control illegal salt. The method of drying salt is so convenient, I am afraid that illegal salt will flood and get out of control. We must guard against it!"
The court has always been on guard against illicit salt, but the importance of salt interests has led many people to take risks and try the law. They have been repeatedly banned. The reason why Zhu Youtang held a court meeting was because he was worried about illicit salt, and he still had doubts about this.
