Youth asks questions, and time makes its own youth. Don’t be afraid, you can travel all over the world with reason.
As the capital of the Ming Dynasty, Yingtian Mansion is full of yamen. People who work in or are related to yamen can account for one percent of the permanent population of Yingtian Mansion. It seems that a hundred people can support one servant, but it is just that after removing For those who do not have to pay taxes, the pressure to support a court is also very high. Therefore, Zhu Xiluo, who has been frugal all his life, once again ordered to streamline the number of court government staff, including those temporary workers and handymen, who can save some money. Just save money, one person can do the work of three people, so you can't hire one more person. I have to say that this is what many countries need to learn. Look at how many people in those units are fishing every day, playing games, reading newspapers and scrolling through the screen. There are too many people who are getting paid and doing nothing.
For example, Erniu. The man who was looking at the city gate a few days ago was like a brick, filling in wherever needed. At this moment Er Niu was standing in front of the door of the Ministry of Rites.
As one of the six ministries of the Ming Empire, the Ministry of Rites had an extremely important status. Basically all diplomatic and sacrificial activities were managed by the Ministry of Rites. Therefore, the work of the Ministry of Rites is actually cumbersome and extremely onerous.
The offices of the Ministry of Rites and the other five ministries are all in the same area. The palace is divided into inner and outer cities. The inner city is where the emperor lives, and the offices of the ministers are in the outer city.
It was already bright, and Xie Xiaodong and others carried Kameda Shiba Taro to the front of the etiquette department.
Although it is an important department of the Ming Empire, it is a place where feudal superstition is practiced after all. In addition to receptions and sacrifices, the activities are single. Therefore, the working environment of the Ministry of Rites is not very good. The walls of the courtyard are peeling off like vitiligo, and the walls are very It's so low that anyone with arms and legs can climb over it easily. If you look carefully, you will find that the door on one side of the Ministry of Ceremonies has drooped down, and the fixed iron hook has long been rusted.
Since ancient times, the various yamen of the imperial court have been either magnificent or grand, with vermilion lacquer doors and tin pull rings. However, in the Ming Empire, they were different. All existing yamen were left over from the previous dynasty, including office equipment. Zhu Xiluo felt that as long as If you are intentional, no external reasons can affect the working status and performance of civil servants in the Ming Empire. Gorgeous appearance will only make people make mistakes.
Probably because he didn't have a good rest last night, Erniu was very lackluster today. When he came to his post, he wrapped himself up in his cotton-padded jacket and fell asleep against the door frame.
Although he was the local emperor of Songjiang Prefecture, Xie Xiaodong knew that his status as a playboy would not be tolerated here when he came to the capital, so Xie Xiaodong was careful not to be too arrogant. When he came to the door and put down Kameda Jutaro on the stretcher, Xie Xiaodong was not rude because Erniu was a small government servant. He took a step forward, bowed his hands, and asked in a low voice, "Brother, excuse me."
Well, Erniu has the kind of sleep that many middle-aged and elderly people envy. Xie Xiaodong's shouting did not affect the beautiful picture of Erniu having many children and grandchildren with the woman he likes in his dream.
Seeing this, Xie Xiaodong was a little embarrassed, so he gently patted Er Niu on the shoulder and continued to shout, "Brother, excuse me."
Finally, Erniu was woken up. His low status did not mean he was not angry to get up. It was obvious that he was disturbed. Erniu was a little unhappy. He opened his sleepy eyes and asked, "What are you doing" without even looking at Xie Xiaodong?
"I'm sorry to bother you, brother." Xie Xiaodong also had deep experience in officialdom, and carefully stuffed a tael of silver into Er Niu's hand, "Well, brother, that's it, we're here to complain."
Feeling the hardness in his hand, Erniu was very satisfied, and a welcoming smile appeared on his face, "I'll sue you to the Ministry of Punishment, this is the Ministry of Etiquette."
As a useful brick in the Ming Empire, Erniu has basically served as a janitor in every government office in the Ming Dynasty. Therefore, he also knows the responsibilities of each government office very well. For the sake of one tael of silver, Erniu does not recommend it. Waste some saliva.
"Well, we went to the wrong place, right?" Xie Xiaodong had no experience in filing a complaint for the first time and didn't know much about where to file a complaint. "Someone asked us to go to the Ministry of Etiquette."
"The Ministry of Rites only receives diplomatic events." Erniu explained.
"Oh, what we are reporting is a diplomatic incident."
"So that's it." Erniu nodded, "But you guys are early."
"Master Shangshu hasn't gone to work yet"?
"No, Master Shangshu should still be sleeping at this point."
Um, okay, Xie Xiaodong has no doubts, after all, he also has this habit.
It was nothing more than handing over a petition, and it should be the same for other officials, so Xie Xiaodong asked, "Is Mr. Zuo Shilang of the Ministry of Rites here?"
Erniu shook his head.
"Where is the right minister of the Ministry of Rites?"
Erniu shook his head again,
"Then, besides Lord Shangshu, who else is here?"
"He's from the countryside," Erniu stared at Xie Xiaodong as if he was looking at a fool.
Songjiang Prefecture is in the countryside. Well, in the eyes of people in the capital, people in other places except Yingtian Prefecture are just old haters. If your poor relatives come to the city, you will not despise whoever you despise.
"To be honest, brother, we come from a small place, so please give us your advice." Xie Xiaodong humbly asked for advice.
The most dignified dude in Songjiang Prefecture, today he was groveling and asking for advice from a lowly government official. Thinking about it, Xie Xiaodong felt that he had disgraced his ancestors. However, in order to successfully attract money from the king, his father's career took a higher level. , let Wang Bushi, the evil man with a bad conscience, receive the punishment he deserves. Xie Xiaodong can accept a little grievance.
Er Niu's eyes couldn't help but light up, looking at Xie Xiaodong as if he saw the boy giving money, he stretched out his hand, rubbed his thumb and index finger a few times, "Little brother, give me some money for a cup of tea."
"Well, everything that can be solved with money is not a problem. Anyway, Kameda Shiba Taro will reimburse it." Xie Xiaodong didn't feel bad and happily took out another tael of silver from his arms.
Er Niu happily put the money into his pocket. Then he extended his hand again.
"Forehead,"
"The things I'm talking about are very important and belong to inside information, and the price is a little higher." Recently, the two beggars, Grandpa, have a big appetite, and Er Niu is a little short on money.
"Okay," Xie Xiaodong took out six or seven taels of broken silver from his arms. "That's enough this time."
Pointing carefully, Erniu showed a chrysanthemum-like smile and said, "Thank you for this handsome young man."
"Haha, brother, your eyes are so beautiful." It had been a long time since he heard such a compliment that was so pleasing to the eye and penetrated into the soul. Xie Xiaodong was very happy. He was happier than getting promoted, getting rich and killing his wife. "Brother, give me a few more taels to make up for it."
"Haha, thank you for your generosity, sir." Erniu thanked him with both hands, put the money away, and began to say, "To be honest with this brother, there is only one person in charge of the Ministry of Rites now, and that is Mr. Zhang Songhe, and the others are a few chief clerks."
"Well, there are only a few office workers in such a big yamen." Xie Xiaodong was a little unbelievable. The small Songjiang Mansion Yamen had more than this number of staff.
"Yes,"
"The assistants on the left and right, where is the doctor?" I remember my father said that there is a minister in the Ministry of Etiquette, and my father also gave him a red envelope.
"Cut it down."
"What, cut it?"
After looking around and seeing no one, Erniu whispered, "It's like this. Years ago, the national treasury was in short supply. The Holy One ordered the Jin Yiwei to find ways to make money. As a result, all of you adults suffered."
"Beheaded by Jinyiwei", Jinyiwei's reputation can stop children from crying at night, and Xie Xiaodong, the number one dude in Songjiang Prefecture, is also very afraid.
"About that, Jin Yiwei copied more than 300,000 taels of silver from several adults' homes." Probably imagining the spectacular scene of more than 300,000 taels of silver emitting silver light, Niu Er couldn't help but be speechless.
"Obtained by corruption"?
"It must be, otherwise why would he be beheaded?"
Hearing this, Xie Xiaodong felt his anus tighten, and three hundred thousand taels had been chopped off. His father, who had been the prefect of Songjiang for so many years, had stolen more than three hundred thousand, so wouldn't that mean he had to beheaded ten times?
"Well, brother, please tell me in detail, how many people have been killed?"
Seeing Xie Xiaodong's horrified look, Er Niu's humble vanity was also satisfied: "The Holy One was kind and only beheaded the main criminal."
"It seems that I don't have to break away from the father-son relationship." Xie Xiaodong felt relieved.
Well, the Rites Department can be considered a Qingshui Yamen compared to the other five departments. A few officials have committed so much corruption, which shows that everyone is still very flexible in how they make money.
After chatting about the gossip of the Ministry of Rites, Xie Xiaodong also had a general understanding of the situation in the Ministry of Rites. If he wanted to get money from the king, it would go smoothly. It was obvious that his father asked him to find the Minister of Rites. He would wait for him while he was sleeping.
After chatting with Er Niu for a while, Xie Xiaodong asked Er Niu to go and report until the sun was almost three o'clock in the morning and there was not much time left before getting off work.
After collecting a few more taels of silver, Erniu went to report happily.
As he gets older, he doesn't sleep very well, so Zhang Songhe also developed the habit of sleeping during the day. Stretching, Zhang Songhe rubbed his eyes. Based on his own experience, he could get off work in just one stick of incense.
Although the Ministry of Rites is not fully staffed, and the vacancies of the officials whose heads were beheaded by the Holy Emperor have not been filled, the work of the Ministry of Rites is not very large and can be easily completed by just a few chief clerks. Therefore, Zhang Songhe's daily job is to drink tea, sleep and read newspapers. , similar to the civil servants of later generations.
There is a small stove on Zhang Songhe's desk, which is warming the woman's tea he got from Li Yutang. At hand are some pastries from Songjiang Prefecture that he bought himself. He lives a very leisurely life.
After taking a sip of tea, a government servant knocked on the door and came in, "Sir, there is someone outside asking to see you."
Not many people come to his yamen all year round. Zhang Songhe is very satisfied that he can still receive wages without working. When he heard that someone was looking for him, Mr. Zhang felt a little bad. "Who is it?"
"I don't know. The person who heard the report said there was a foreign friend."
After patting his head, Zhang Songhe finally remembered, "Oh, it turns out it's them, let them in."
Zhang Songhe also actively participated in the money-making campaign.
Soon Xie Xiaodong and Li Jinzhong carried Kameda Shiba Taro to Zhang Songhe's office. Seeing this scene, the staff of the Rites Department were all very confused. Could it be that they came to the Rites Department to extort money? I heard that there was an incident a few days ago. A foreign friend drank too much and went to the toilet. His foot slipped and fell into a manure pit. As a result, the government was extorted five thousand taels by the foreign friend. The crime was that he did not go to the toilet on behalf of the foreign friend who drank too much.
He had known for a long time that his foreign friend was injured, so Zhang Songhe had no fear of being blackmailed. He looked at the Kameda Eighteen Taro on the ground and said, "You are the Kameda Eighteen Taro."
"Uh, sir, my surname is Kameda." Kameda Shiba Taro reluctantly sat up and replied tremblingly. Although he was the son-in-law of Emperor Soy Sauce, he still had to give him the face of the Great Kingdom.
"It's all the same," Zhang Songhe didn't take it seriously. "I already know about you, and I sympathize with your experience. I remember that I was a passionate young man back then. I would roar when I saw injustice on the road, and I would never hesitate to take action. You Don’t worry, I will make the decision for you.”
"Thank you, sir. Your great kindness and great virtue, Kameda Shiba Taro, will never be forgotten." Due to his physical condition, Kameda Jutaro was unable to perform three bows and nine kowtows. He simply cupped his fists and bowed with his body.
"Haha, I should, I should," stroking his beard, Zhang Songhe suddenly changed the subject, "I heard that silver is your Japanese pirates' specialty, haha, I like your Japanese pirates' specialty the most."
"Well" everyone turned to stone.
Zhang Songhe is still alive for such a blatant request for bribes. Zhu Xiluo's butcher's knife didn't hit his head years ago, and the simple ancestral grave is not good enough. Could it be that he saved the galaxy in his previous life, and Jin Yiwei was blinded.
Seeing that he didn't receive the reaction he wanted, Zhang Songhe's expression suddenly changed, and his expression dropped, "What's the matter? It's just some worthless specialties, I don't want to part with them."
When you ask someone to do something for you, how can your conscience be dissatisfied if you ask for a small request from someone to do something for you?
"No, no, my lord misunderstood me. How can I not be willing to give up? It's appropriate for you to help me like this, so I should give you some specialties." Kameda Shiba Taro hurriedly promised. Originally, he wanted to take a break before the year, but it seems that I don't have annual leave anymore, so I should put the robbery of the coastal areas of the Ming Empire on my agenda when I get back.
"Haha, that's good. Just pull three or two cars." Zhang Songhe's tone was light. Not taking it seriously, Zhang Songhe, the dignified Minister of Rites, felt that he was worth the price.
"Three or two cars". Well, Kameda Jutaro said he had no objection, it was just a matter of grabbing a few more times.
The reason why I came to the Ministry of Rites was about the status of Kameda Jutaro. People are divided into three, six, and nine grades. An ordinary foreigner and a foreign envoy are treated differently. Zhang Songhe took out a clear book with the official seal of the Ministry of Rites and handed it to him. Kameda Jutaro, "If you sign your name and press your fingerprints on it, your identity will be determined."
As a pirate who traveled between the Ming Empire and Japanese pirates, he could also learn the writing of the Ming Empire. This is an essential skill for human beings. Taking the Mingjian, Kameda Shiba Taro was ready to sign.
"Wait a minute, we need to use the pavilion style" Zhang Songhe emphasized.
"Well, I don't know how." I can write, but the designated font Kameda Jutaro is blind.
"You Japanese pirates are really uneducated." Zhang Songhe's eyes were full of contempt. I asked a bookkeeper to help Kameda Jutaro sign his name and press his fingerprints. The identity of Kameda Shiba Taro's foreign envoy has also been determined.
"Okay, it's settled here. You can hand the complaint to the Criminal Department."
"Well, I still have to go to the Ministry of Punishment."
"That's natural. All criminal matters fall under the Ministry of Punishment." Zhang Songhe explained,
Everyone should perform their own duties. What does a dog do to a cat when it catches a mouse? Zhang Songhe didn't want to worry about this matter.
If you want to get things done, you have to go to more yamen. Kameda Shiba Taro didn't understand it, but Xie Xiaodong understood it and didn't stop. He said thank you and prepared to leave.
"Wait a minute, what, those two or three carts of souvenirs will be delivered in a moment. I am quite impatient." Zhang Songhe emphasized again and again.
