If you want to send money, why don't you just give it directly? Why do you have to go there in person?
What is most difficult for Zhang Pei to understand is that Kuai Mingsi is just a craftsman under the Ministry of Works. The county magistrate is not an old acquaintance of him, so why is he willing to help?
Although there was a lot of confusion, Zhang Pei returned to the county government, took some money and left Jurong. It is always good to go home and spend time with his family.
After thanking him profusely, Kuai Ming asked, "Why is Guzhi County willing to help me, a vulgar craftsman?"
Gu Zhengchen looked deeply at Kuai Mingsi and secretly admired him.
Judging from the surname Kuai, Gu Zhengchen didn't expect much, but when Kuai Mingsi mentioned moving to Xiangshan, Jiangsu, Gu Zhengchen felt a little familiar. Until the name Kuai Funeng appeared, everything became clear.
Kuai Mingsi was not famous in the history of the Ming Dynasty, and his son Kuai Funeng (called Kuai Fu in some classics, based on the inscription on the stele) is not famous either, but his grandson is a remarkable being. , the name of the unborn child is:
Kuai Xiang!
Speaking of Kuai Xiang, many people don’t know him well, but any Chinese person will know one of his design achievements, that is:
Tiananmen Gate Tower!
Yes, Kuai Xiang is recognized as the designer of the Tiananmen Gate Tower (Chengtianmen in the Ming Dynasty), one of the directors of major palaces, mausoleums and other major projects in Beijing, and the originator of the Suzhou Xiangshan Gang of craftsmen!
Gu Zhengchen did not expect to meet Kuai Xiang's grandfather here, and said solemnly: "It is because of you craftsmen that we have houses, city defenses, soldiers, and utensils. Your efforts are not without value. What you left behind is Things from Ming Dynasty are great!”
Kuai Mingsi looked at Gu Zhengchen with emotion. No one has ever said that craftsmen are great, never!
Not to mention in the eyes of court officials, even some scholars who have not yet entered officialdom look down upon craftsmen. Among the four people, scholars, farmers, industry and merchants, industry and merchants ranked at the back.
Gu Zhengchen comforted Kuai Mingsi and reassured him.
Because they were ordered by the imperial court, senior officials such as Li Min and Huang Su had not yet left Jurong. As a craftsman, it was not convenient for Kuai Mingsi to leave. After all, it was his son who was ill, not his parents who were gone, so he could not take this personal leave.
The officials from the Ministry of Works have no intention of staying in Jurong anymore. If they need to stay for ten days and a half to study a simple thing, they will probably change people at the Ministry of Works when they return.
Early the next morning, Gu Zhengchen led the county officials to escort Li Min, Huang Su and others out of the county.
Sanliting.
Li Min turned back to look at Gu Zhengchen, said something to Huang Su and others, then walked towards Gu Zhengchen, looked around, Luo Shao, Zhou Mao and others stepped away knowingly.
Gu Zhengchen's heart moved and he looked at Li Min.
Li Min raised his hands, placed them on the gold and silver flower belt around his waist, retracted the thin buttons hanging on both sides, moved his hands slightly, separated the "three platforms" of the belt, and removed the entire belt from his waist.
The belts worn by officials in the Ming Dynasty usually did not tie their waists, but were more of a status symbol and decoration. Therefore, if the belts were untied, there would be no embarrassing scene of falling off the pants.
Even though Rao knew this, Gu Zhengchen still took a step back.
A big man drove away the officials and took off his belt in front of him, with a lewd smile on his face. Could it be that the Minister of the Ministry of Industry has some kind of Longyang talent?
vomit!
Gu Zhengchen wanted to escape.
Li Min straightened his clothes and looked at Gu Zhengchen, who looked not very good-looking. He held the belt in both hands and took a step forward: "You are a real minister who can govern the world. A third-grade belt may not be worthy of you. I just hope that one day you can wear it. When wearing this belt, we must not forget our original intention of making decisions for the people and be worthy of the word 'honest minister'."
Gu Zhengchen took the belt and looked at Li Min solemnly.
This scene seemed familiar.
I remembered that in the history of the Ming Dynasty, Gu Lin once gave Zhang Juzheng a rhinoceros belt, but Zhang Juzheng was already a child prodigy at that time, and he is not a big figure now.
Li Min looked at Gu Zhengchen and said with great meaning: "The situation in the court is bad, so you must be cautious in your actions in the future."
Gu Zhengchen frowned slightly and watched Li Min and others leave.
As the carriage set out on the road, Tang Jun, a doctor from the Ministry of Industry, and Kuai Mingsi, a master craftsman, turned around and waved goodbye to Gu Zhengchen.
Within the carriage.
Huang Su, who was looking through the drawings of the new furnace, saw that Li Min was still deep in thought, coughed, and interrupted his thoughts: "Why, you are so optimistic about this person. In the end, he is just a small county magistrate."
Li Min flicked the lapel of his clothes: "Huang Shangshu, this person is different from ordinary county magistrates. He was able to manage Jurong in an orderly manner in just two or three months. He also set up three courtyards and recruited many craftsmen and women. Thousands! You have also seen the county school, which is being expanded, and Jurong actually plans to recruit school-age children to enter the school, with 500 students at one go."
"All this shows that Gu Zhengchen is by no means some pedantic person in the Yushitai. He only knows how to raise issues and impeach, but never talks about how to correct them. He is a person who knows where the problems are and is willing to take action to solve them. The person with the problem. From the perspective of Neo-Confucianism, he has entered the path of studying things."
Huang Su put away the drawings and asked seriously: "Why don't you talk about Gu Zhengchen's relationship with the East Palace and Huagai Palace?"
Li Min glanced at Huang Su: "When has Huagai Palace ever valued a certain person? Use it if it can be used, and use it if it suits your heart. If there is disobedience or anger, haha, just look at the fate of Mr. Han and Uncle Chengyi. , especially the founding hero, what about him? As for the East Palace, although the prince took over some simple things, the emperor was in his prime in the Spring and Autumn Period, and the prince's words could not decide major matters, let alone protect a person. Even if he was given to that person at this time What can Gu Zhengchen do with some help and a few words?"
Huang Su nodded solemnly and retorted: "Everything else is right, but there seems to be something wrong with the prince. Now the prince seems to be a weak man, but in fact he is strong inside. If he wants to save one person, he will not jump into the lake."
Li Min raised his brows slightly, shook his head, and turned to talk about another matter.
The carriage went further and further away.
Gu Zhengchen looked at the belt in his hand, not knowing what to do with it. He didn't dare to wear it. If he wore it once and was impeached, his official career would basically be over.
There are regulations on which officials should wear which style and material of belts. Transgressing etiquette is a taboo in official circles.
But this thing can't be sold for money, because there is no market demand, businessmen can't buy it, and people don't need it.
This is a useless belt...
Gu Zhengchen sighed and turned back to Jurong.
Housekeeper Jiang Mu walked into the second hall with a stack of account books, put them down, and said to Gu Zhengchen: "Your Majesty, these account books need to be stamped. After stamping, this year's money and grain account books can be reported to the Ministry of Household Affairs."
Gu Zhengchen understood that it was the end of the year and the Accounts Department should check the account books.
But when Gu Zhengchen picked up an account book and opened it, he was suddenly startled. He looked at Jiang Mu and asked with some fear: "This is not a money and food account book!"
Jiang Mu said with a smile: "Your Majesty, of course this is the money and food account book."
Gu Zhengchen pointed to the account book without any text, his eyes became sharp, and he said solemnly: "This is a blank account book!"
