…
The southern tour was quickly put on the agenda, and Daikin officials headed by Li Shen immediately drew up travel regulations.
Since the founding of the Jin Dynasty, successive emperors have always regarded the land south of the Yangtze River as a treasure land of outstanding people according to book records. They even spent huge sums of money and spent more than sixty years artificially excavating and imitating various wonders based on the descriptions in the middle books.
The emperor of Daijin was also very keen on traveling to the south of the Yangtze River. As the lord of the prosperous age, Honglin was no exception. Since he ascended the throne, he has visited the south of the Yangtze River five times. He spent a lot of money touring the mountains and rivers under the guise of supervising local river construction. Tens of millions.
Li Shen himself wrote an outline of this trip to the south of the Yangtze River: first, he used a royal boat to go south along the artificially dug Grand Canal. Along the way, he ordered people to plant willow-shade potted plants on both sides of the bank for Honglin to enjoy. When he arrived on land, he used the royal boat to open the road and build The palace and other courtyards are for people to rest.
The initial estimate is that it will cost about five million taels of silver.
Because it was under the guise of a public service, Li Shen naturally couldn't let the Ministry of Internal Affairs come out with this money, so he could only find a way to move some of it in the treasury, and then notify the merchants and gentry along the way to ask them to contribute part of it, so as to make this trip a success. The scenery of the Southern Inspection Office was so beautiful that Honglin was satisfied.
Soon, the preliminary plan for the southern tour was drawn up, and Li Shen entered the palace excitedly to ask Honglin to take a look.
In the end, Honglin didn't even look at it and said directly: "You can do this for me. I'm here for business, not for pleasure."
This was said very naturally, just listen to it. Of course, Li Shen could not "do official business", so he said flatteringly: "Long live the Lord's heart is about the country, the country, and the servants naturally know it, but Long live Lord, while you are working on state affairs, It’s also worth taking a look at the scenery in the south of the Yangtze River.
Since Lord Long Live has trusted me, I will definitely handle this matter in a smooth manner to the satisfaction of both you and the Queen Mother. "
Honglin smiled: "You are the only one who can speak, so I will do as you say."
Just as Li Shen was about to thank him, Yang Chunsheng suddenly came to report: "Long live my lord, Lord Zhang is asking for an audience outside the palace."
Upon hearing this, a hint of undetectable disgust flashed across Honglin's face, but he quickly said: "Let him in."
After Yang Chunsheng left, Li Shen hurriedly said: "Long live my lord, I will retire first."
Honglin didn't want to but stopped him: "No, you stay with me here, there is no need to avoid it."
"This slave obeys your orders."
Li Shen stood aside silently, thinking in his heart what Zhang Gui would say when he entered the palace.
After a long time, Zhang Gui stepped into the inner hall. When he saw Hong Lin, he immediately knelt down and said, "Slave Zhang Gui, pay homage to the emperor."
Honglin said: "Get up and talk. What do you want to say when you come to the palace to see me this time?"
This was said without any emotion. It was obvious that Honglin understood that Zhang Gui had no "good intentions" at all when he came to see him.
Zhang Gui said: "I heard that Your Majesty is planning to tour the south again?"
Honglin nodded: "Yes, I plan to patrol the south and supervise river work in various places. What? You want to stop me?"
Zhang Gui said: "No, since the emperor wants to patrol the south to supervise the river work, how can the servant dare to stop him?
Reports came from all over the country that there was drought in various places in the south of the Yangtze River, people were displaced, and people exchanged their children for food.
The emperor also happened to take advantage of this southern tour to observe the people's sentiments. It is time to catch many unscrupulous officials and restore peace to the people! "
Honglin frowned: "What did you say? There's a drought in the south of the Yangtze River?"
Li Shen, who was on the side, heard something was wrong with Hong Lin's words, and immediately said to Zhang Gui: "Master Zhang, the disasters in various places in the south of the Yangtze River have been solved by the local authorities, so why is there such a thing as drought?"
Zhang Gui glanced at Li Shen with disgust: "Master Li, at this time, do you still plan to hide it from the emperor?
As the left prime minister of the current dynasty, you must know better than the civil and military officials of the dynasty what the public sentiment is in various places! "
Li Shen hurriedly raised his hands to Honglin and said, "Long live my lord, reports from all over the country say that the disaster situation last year has stabilized, and there was no major disaster. I don't know where Mr. Zhang heard it from."
Honglin said: "Yes, I have also read those reports. The disaster situation in various places is stable and the people have resumed farming. How can there be any talk of natural disasters?"
Zhang Gui: "Your Majesty, if it is true as Mr. Li said, there is no major disaster in Dajin at the moment, why would the slaves bother to enter the palace?
It has become a common practice in various places to conceal the disaster situation. If victims from the south of the Yangtze River had not come to Beijing to complain today, I would not believe that the current disaster situation in Daikin has reached such an out-of-control situation! "
"Complaint?"
Honglin was startled when he heard this, and then his eyes turned cold.
"Let's not talk about whether there is a disaster. Even if there is, the people should find their local parents. How can they cross the border and enter the capital? Zhang Gui, this is the law of Dajin, and you want to violate it openly? Why don't you imprison those who have filed a complaint? stand up?"
Zhang Gui said: "This slave knows that this is against the law, but if the people still have a glimmer of hope, why would they take such a big risk and go to Beijing to complain!"
Honglin thought for a moment and then asked, "Where are the victims?"
Zhang Gui: "I have arranged for someone to take them into custody."
Honglin stood up: "Lead the way, I want to see these victims in person."
Li Shen heard this and said hurriedly: "Long live my Lord, how can you stoop down to meet those common people with your body worth thousands of gold?"
Hong Lin: "I just want to see what kind of disaster victims are so bold as to go to Beijing to complain, and Zhang Gui will lead the way!"
…
Half an hour later, Hong Lin and Li Shen arrived at Zhang Gui's residence and entered the main hall accompanied by Zhang Gui.
Zhang Gui was an honest official and had power but never sought personal gain for himself. Therefore, everything in his family was very mediocre. The most valuable thing was probably the white jade horse in the stable, which Honglin had given to him five years ago.
"Where are the people who complained? Let them come out to see me!"
"Slave, please bring someone up right now."
Not long after, Zhang Gui led an old man in his sixties into the main hall.
Also in his early sixties, the old man was as skinny as a stick, wearing coarse linen clothes, his face was covered with wrinkles from years of torture, and his hair had already turned gray.
On the other hand, Honglin, because of proper maintenance, looks like a sixty-year-old man in his forties.
This is a contrasting portrayal of the imperial power and the villagers.
Zhang Gui took the old man to Honglin and said, "Old man, this is the emperor of the dynasty. Please feel free to speak out about your sufferings."
When the old man heard this, he was so frightened that he knelt on the ground and kowtowed: "Old man Hu, a common man, pays homage to the current Long Live Lord. Long Live Lord is auspicious."
Honglin silently looked at Old Man Hu's humble appearance, and then looked at his slovenly appearance, and couldn't help but feel a sense of disgust in his heart.
But on the surface, he remained calm as usual. After he finished his prayers, he did not let him get up. He just asked directly: "Old man Hu, you said you want to sue the unruly figure in Qiantang, Jiangnan? Do you have any evidence?"
Old Man Hu burst into tears, lowered his head and said, "Long live my lord, last year the land south of the Yangtze River was hit by floods, and this year it was hit by drought again. There was no harvest in the fields.
The people in the village ate everything they could eat, even bark, grass and roots, but many people still starved to death. But even so, the governor of the state, Diaomantu, not only refused to reduce taxes,
In the name of the government, they forcibly occupied the land of ordinary people and drove our family out of the village.
The son of Cao Min was so angry that he beat him to death when he tried to argue with him. When my mother-in-law found out, she also went there that night.
The grassroots people were really desperate, so they had no choice but to go to Beijing to file a petition, and asked Long Live Lord to make the decision for the grassroots family. "
Old Man Hu's words were hoarse, and Li Shen beside him was a little moved.
But Honglin was the only one whose expression remained unchanged, and his eyes were just looking at Old Man Hu.
After a long time, he hummed softly, as if he had discovered some great secret. The corners of his mouth raised slightly, and he muttered: "I see."
