.Ten loads of Baiyun tea from Zhejiang Province, a hundred jars of fine wine, and fifty jars of seafood; five hundred catties each of lactose and white sugar from Hunan; ten bear gall bladders and otter livers each from Guan Nei; five carts of new bamboo shoots from Hubei; and twenty assorted fruits from Hedong. Car; "Ten Ships of White Fish Along the Huaihe River" In the Chui Gong Hall, a chamberlain held a gift list and reported to Emperor Liu.
This is what Xuanhui Yuan prepared for the upcoming Jiaqing Festival. However, before the long list of tributes was finished, Emperor Liu interrupted: "That's enough!"
The cadence was so high and low that the chamberlain who was immersed in the reading was startled and fell to his knees quickly. Emperor Liu put away his bored state, glanced at it, and said in a calm tone: "Are these things prepared by Xuanhui Academy?"
"Go back to the official house!" Yantuo felt the change in Emperor Liu's tone and immediately explained: "That's right! The Jiaqing Festival is approaching, and various places present gifts to show their filial piety, and the Xuanhui Courtyard will collect them and organize them to celebrate the festival! "
Hearing this, Emperor Liu sneered twice and said: "Is it the Xuanhui Academy that comes forward to promote it, or is it the initiative from various places to offer gifts?"
"This" Yan Tuo's eyes flashed slightly, he lowered his head and responded: "I don't know!"
He could also tell that Emperor Liu had another opinion on this matter. Xuanhui envoy Zhao Changyan might have flattered him this time. As the chief steward of the palace, Yantuo didn't know what was going on.
This was led by the Xuanhui Academy, which secretly sent various prefectures to present gifts to celebrate the Jiaqing Festival, and at the same time intended to please Emperor Liu. In fact, Yan Tuo also knew that Zhao Changyan, the envoy of Xuanhui, personally wrote letters to the chief executives of various places to hint. How could the state officials dare to question it? If the emperor wanted these things, they would naturally prepare carefully.
Even when the things were sent to Xijing, they were inspected by the Xuanhui Academy and even aroused Emperor Liu's curiosity. But at this last step, something seemed to go wrong.
In the early days of the People's Republic of China, Xuanhuiyuan was still a high-ranking member of the imperial court. It had great power and was responsible for a wide range of affairs. One of its functions was to inspect domestic and foreign famous objects.
However, as the official system of the Han Dynasty was improved and reorganized, many powers that originally belonged to the Xuanhui Yuan were split and transferred to bureaus inside and outside the palace. The status of the Xuanhui Yuan gradually became embarrassing, and even the Xuanhui envoys In the end, the grade was only determined to be the fourth grade, and only the power to inspect square objects and famous objects was left.
Under normal circumstances, this is considered a good job, and those who get it are not ordinary things. However, the situation in the Han Dynasty was different. In addition to paying tribute to foreign countries, Emperor Liu did not want any gifts. He even issued edicts several times to prohibit contributions from various places to avoid disturbing the people.
This greatly reduced the importance of Xuanhui Yuan, and it was even less busy than the palace supervisor. Although the Han Dynasty claimed that all nations would come to the court, only a few countries that actually paid tribute to the court on a long-term basis had the strength to pay tribute only once a year.
There is a saying that if the Xuanhui Academy wants to play its special role, it really needs to rely on contributions from domestic and local areas. That is the big head and the embodiment of value. This has been the case in all dynasties with similar powers.
But I happened to meet Emperor Liu who acted unconventionally. He actually had to purchase items for the palace from outside the palace. Is there such a truth in the world?
In this context, the Xuanhui Academy gradually became unknown and was not taken seriously by people. The Xuanhui Envoy also became a idle job or even a pension position. He could only become more active when foreign envoys paid tribute.
However, the newly appointed Xuanhui envoy Zhao Changyan obviously did not intend to sink like this and intended to make some changes. Taking advantage of this Jiaqing Festival to test Emperor Liu's thoughts, the most important purpose is to please Emperor Liu. Taking the opportunity to regain the power of the Xuanhui Envoy and rectify the reputation of the Xuanhui Courtyard will be the accompanying benefits.
Obviously, this is a courageous person who also has certain political ambitions and is unwilling to be mediocre. Zhao Changyan was a Jinshi in the 13th year of Kaibao. He was ranked among the top three. He was the most popular scholar that year. He was famous for his quick thinking. He was famous in the capital that year.
In the years since he joined the officialdom, although he has not accomplished any major events or achieved any notable achievements, he has shown a strong ability to work hard, especially likes to figure out his ideas, and his ability is still up to standard. In just ten years, he was able to To be a fourth-rank official in the imperial court is already extraordinary.
This time, for Zhao Changyan, it was a gamble, and although he did something unusual, it was relatively obscure. At the same time, the tribute paid was mostly ordinary objects and local specialties, not rare treasures.
However, Zhao Changyan, who was good at figuring out what was going on, could not figure out Emperor Liu's thoughts after all. At this time, noticing the flicker in Yantuo's words, Emperor Liu said coldly: "Except for the gifts presented by envoys from various countries, these things seem to be just food and delicacies. Am I someone who cares about the desires of the tongue? Even if it is , I want to enjoy some sugar, rice and wine, do I need special tribute from various places?"
Emperor Liu's voice became louder and louder, and his tone became more and more angry: "I have repeatedly issued orders in the past to severely ban contributions from various places. It is precisely because, although these things are from local products, they are mostly taken from people's homes and local contributions are wasteful. Needless to say, it must be forbidden to trouble the people. After so many years, there are still people who dare to violate my prohibition. Who gives them the courage?"
"Calm down the official's anger!" Seeing that Emperor Liu had taken the initiative seriously, Yantuo mourned for Zhao Changyan and at the same time comforted him: "Perhaps there is some misunderstanding?"
"Misunderstanding?" Emperor Liu stood up, took the gift list from the hand of the chamberlain, threw it on the ground, stepped on it under his feet, and angrily shouted: "Do you really think that I can be bullied? So many states have agreed to make this contribution! How can this trip be possible if there is no one to contact us? Do you think I am an old fool?"
"Don't you dare?" Yan Tuo trembled, and no longer dared to be careless.
"Here is the gift list, where is Zhao Changyan?" Emperor Liu said coldly.
Yantuo responded quickly: "We are waiting for the edict outside the palace!"
"Waiting for the imperial edict!" Emperor Liu said contemptuously: "Are you waiting for my reward?"
Emperor Liu's eyes were cold, almost without thinking. He stared at Yantuo with oppressive eyes and ordered: "I will not use the Imperial City Department for this matter. You go and find out the contribution to me and give me an explanation!"
"Yes!" Yantuo didn't dare to have any other reaction.
This matter was not complicated at all, and Yantuo probably knew the tricks involved. He went out of the palace to pretend to investigate, and then came back to resume his duties. And Yantuo's report basically sold Zhao Changyan completely.
However, when Yan Tuo finished playing, Emperor Liu's reaction was very calm, and he just said coldly: "What's the use of keeping such a bold and lucky minister?"
The word "kill" came out of Emperor Liu's mouth with almost no obstruction, which shocked Yan Tuo. He knew that Emperor Liu would deal with it very harshly, but he never expected that as the Jiaqing Festival was approaching, another minister would be killed.
After hesitating for a while, Yantuo asked for a favor, not for Zhao Changyan, but because he was afraid of bad luck. However, Emperor Liu's temperament was so ruthless and cold, how could he take this into consideration, he just said with murderous intent: "It is no shame to kill such traitorous ministers who have ruined my reputation, his blood will only add to the joy of Jiaqing Festival! "
Emperor Liu had said so, but Yan Tuo still dared to say more. So, after Zheng Xu, the judge of Luoyang Prefecture, another fourth-rank official of the imperial court lost his head. This time he was also a traditional scholar-bureaucrat.
"Zhao Changyan was killed?" The news quickly spread inside and outside the palace. Zhao Kuangyi, who was on duty at Guangzheng Hall, was shocked when he heard it, with a look of disbelief on his face: "What did he commit?"
Zhao Changyan had a smooth career in the past, so he naturally had a certain background. His backstage was Zhao Kuangyi. Zhao Kuangyi has always admired this person and felt that he had outstanding literary ideas, acted vigorously and resolutely, and was very courageous. Zhao Changyan's job as the envoy of Hui was recommended by Zhao Kuangyi before. He never thought that instead of sending him to the sky, he would fall into hell.
However, when he learned the reason, even Zhao Kuangyi could not help but be stunned for a moment. After a long time, he said angrily: "Why is he so confused! What is his intention in openly violating His Majesty's prohibition? There is a right way to die! Death is not a pity!"
At the same time, Zhao Kuangyi quickly picked up the pen and wrote a letter of apology himself to identify the unknown and to praise the virtuous.
(End of chapter)
