The official document Qi Jing sent to Qi Yu was written on the first day of the new year, but it was not officially delivered until the beginning of March.
From a practical point of view, this is already very fast. If it were a private letter, it might take half a year to arrive.
Yes, the transmission efficiency of public messages and private messages is different.
It was precisely based on this consideration that Qi Jing deliberately did not write a private letter but changed it to an official document. The purpose was to speed up the transmission.
There is nothing trivial in the army, and the sooner you can do it, the better.
Peng Wenchang can be regarded as an old man in the officialdom. He analyzed the reasons why public trust was used in just a few words.
After hearing this, Liu Quan suddenly smiled and said, "I didn't expect that Fatty Qi would learn how to use public documents for private purposes. It was obviously a private letter to a friend, but he insisted on using it as a public document..."
Private use of public weapons means that officials use their power for personal gain, which is a very disgraceful thing.
However, Liu Quan's words were just a joke, not a real sarcasm.
"Haha, madam, please don't rush to conclusions. Let me finish what I have to say." Peng Wenchang laughed at first, and then said: "Actually, the things requested in the official document are indeed official matters, but General Qi is a personal friend. The tone of your request is so obvious that there is some confusion between public and private matters. Since I don’t know much about the true relationship between your two families, I dare not make a rash decision, so I invited you over for consultation.”
Oh, so that’s it!
Forget it, let’s take a look at what’s written in the letter first.
Liu Quan took the letter, spread it out and began to read silently.
The description in this letter was very straightforward and clear. It was asking Qi Yu to help make horseshoes for livestock. However, he used it as a military gimmick. At the end of the letter, he also asked about his views on treating Donglu. This was a political opinion, not a practical matter that needed to be done, so he ignored it.
Let’s talk about horseshoes first.
What kind of thing is this?
In response to this question, Peng Wenchang spread his hands and expressed ignorance.
This is not to say that the old master is not knowledgeable enough or ignorant, but that this object is not yet popular at present, and few people know about it. Qi Jing also began to pay attention to this thing after Zhao Mingyu's repeated recommendation.
What people didn't expect was that Liu Quan actually showed a look of astonishment under careful consideration.
She still remembered that when her husband was still a deacon at Xingtaipu Temple, he often explained to her some knowledge about war horses, and this horseshoe was one of them. Therefore, for this thing, since
I still have some knowledge and understanding of myself.
So, she expressed the important role of this thing according to her own understanding.
"Oh, so that's it..."
"Yes, these horseshoes are like shoes for horses, and they are very effective."
When Peng Wenchang saw that his wife's knowledge was even more extensive than his own, he couldn't help but blush, and suddenly felt that he had spent a lot of his life living like a dog.
Dog: Woah, you old man, don't make excuses for your ignorance.
The book returns to its true story.
Let’s continue talking about Qi Jing’s letter.
In the letter, General Qi's attitude was very sincere, without any airs of a general. On the contrary, there is also a sincere feeling of missing a friend between the lines. He hoped that Qi Yu would help him for the sake of past friendship.
Specifically: create 40,000 top-grade horseshoes.
Forty thousand?
This is not a decimal!
Even if divided by four, it would still be enough for 10,000 war horses.
From an objective point of view, these iron materials are not worth much money at all, but they are very labor-intensive. It was precisely for this reason that the Ministry of Industry of the imperial court refused with excuses.
So here comes the question, will the Qi family help with this troublesome task that takes up a lot of effort or time, or will they not?
"We must help!" Liu Quan said decisively without thinking.
"Madam, this kind of small objects are indeed very labor-intensive. Even if forging is changed to casting, it will still take more than a month." Peng Wenchang reminded again.
But Liu Quan shook her head and said: "Let alone a month, even if it takes a year, we can't refuse this matter!" After sighing, she explained: "To be honest with you, Master, Qi Jing is the same as me." The family has a great kindness, and this great kindness is beyond comparison with ordinary human kindness. Although I am a woman, I also understand the principle of repaying the kindness of others with a spring of water. Therefore, he must be busy with this job. . What’s more, he is a close friend of my husband who I have known since childhood, so I can’t refuse him.”
ah……
Peng Wenchang was in awe when he heard the words, and he praised secretly in his heart: Madam is understanding of people, sensible, and righteous. She is really a outstanding woman among women!
After settling the matter, Liu Quan thought about saying goodbye and going home.
at this time!
Suddenly, a yamen servant ran over panting and reported: "Mrs. Qizhen, Mr. Peng, something serious has happened!"
Something big happened?
Then why don't you tell me quickly!
Under Liu Quan's supervision, the yamen servant acted like
He was like a revelation, pouring out everything in one fell swoop.
According to him, the emperor's favor is so great that His Majesty bestowed it generously on Master Qi Yuqi to show the emperor's caring and encouraging heart. This was originally a great thing, but who would have thought that something unexpected happened.
What?
It is said that when these treasures were transported to the waters around Fujian and Guangdong, they were plundered by foreign forces entrenched in Dawan.
To put it simply, it means being robbed!
After the incident, the deacon's young eunuch hurriedly sent people to deliver messages to the Guangdong Provincial Government and the Qiongzhou Government Office, while he himself took his subordinates directly back to the capital to plead guilty.
That's the whole story.
drink!
How audacious!
He even dared to openly rob the emperor's royal treasures. Is there any royal law?
After hearing this, Liu Quan felt so angry!
It's not good to rob someone's things, why do you have to rob our Qi family?
You know, receiving the imperial gift is the highest favor, and it is also the honor of the entire Qi family. Now, it has been taken away by this unscrupulous thief for no reason. Are you angry?
Damn thieves!
It is true that even death is not enough to cover up his guilt!
Liu Quan was so angry that she couldn't bear to eat, and sighed repeatedly, but she didn't know that there was someone more angry and resentful than her.
who?
Who else could be there, naturally the old lady Zhou.
"Hmph, when Ah Hao comes back from south, I must tell him about this matter, otherwise, I will feel uncomfortable in my heart."
"Oh, the duck you got just flew away like this?"
"..."
According to Zhou's understanding, the imperial gift from the emperor was the blessing she received in exchange for many years of worshiping the Buddha. However, she did not expect that she would be disturbed by a small group of unscrupulous thieves.
Whether the treasure is valuable or not is secondary, the key is that it has lost its sense of honor!
She still remembered that the Jinshi and Di memorial archway had greatly enhanced the Qi family's reputation, and even made it a prominent local family in one fell swoop. And the treasure given by the emperor will definitely be a hundred times or a thousand times better than that archway!
Oops, what a big loss!
"I'm furious……"
"Grandma is not angry. As the saying goes, a thousand pieces of gold will come back again after all. Sooner or later, this lost treasure will return to the hands of our Qi family. This is the destiny mentioned in the Buddhist saying." Xiaotong saw her grandma's excitement. He rushed over to give her some relief.
However, in the corner of her eyes, there was a hint of revenge that was not easy to detect.
