Yongqinghou Mansion, front lobby.
A group of ministers, ministers, and academicians... gathered here, all looking anxious and scratching their heads and ears.
The housekeeper of the Marquis Mansion received the instructions in advance, so why not: "My lords, my Marquis is in a hurry for official business and has no time to see guests."
"What are you busy with?" Jian Yi grabbed his arm and said impatiently, "Go and report it quickly, we are even more anxious, we are almost going to die."
Others echoed, please don't worry, they are scratching their bald skin.
When the housekeeper saw these people furious and almost going crazy, he couldn't help but beat his drum in his heart: "Adults, wait a moment. I will ask the maid to go to the backyard to urge them."
"Go quickly." Xia Yuanji, who had always been gentle, also got angry.
The itching that goes deep into the bone marrow is far more terrifying and unbearable than the pain.
The housekeeper shivered and hurriedly made arrangements.
A group of people were itching unbearably and wanted to see more.
A quarter of an hour later, the housekeeper hurried over and said, "My Marquis has said that he will officially see the guests at Shen Shi in the afternoon."
Under Li Qing's instructions, the steward emphasized the word 'formal', although he didn't understand why he said it.
He didn't understand, but the big shots in the court did.
How can I be empty-handed when visiting someone at home?
Besides, Li Qing is so famous, how could they not understand - prepare gifts!
A group of people cursed in their hearts, but they could only grit their teeth, endure the itching and go back to prepare generous gifts.
——Ma Dan, Li Qing, you better be able to cure it!
…
Shen Shi.
The ministers once again gathered in the Hou Mansion. They had endured it for a long time and almost collapsed. They didn't want to experience the feeling of scratching their own skin to pieces.
Seeing Li Qing's arrival, he immediately stood up impatiently, cupped his hands and said, "I hope Marquis Yongqing (Li Shangshu) will show his skill."
Li Qing bowed his head: "I have heard about your affairs, but..."
Everyone's hearts trembled, Jian Yi lost his voice and said: "Li Shangshu can't do anything?"
"That's not true."
"oh."
"But I don't have time."
"ah?"
"Of course, if you are willing to help, it is not impossible to help me complete the emperor's instructions as soon as possible."
"oh."
"But... I'm afraid you won't agree."
"ah?"
Continuous ups and downs, big ups and downs, made everyone forget about cultivation and other things, and shouted: "What on earth is going on!?"
"It's a long story." Li Qing walked to the main seat and sat down, and said in a loud voice: "The butler will serve tea."
"Yes, sir." The butler responded and quickly went to prepare.
After a while, the butler served tea and then called on the servants to take the gifts brought by everyone out of the living room.
No matter whether it is cured or not, you must accept the gift first and don't suffer any loss.
Li Qing accepted the gift, but everyone did not relax. They had already learned this man's virtue of taking money and doing nothing.
It’s just that people under the eaves have to bow their heads.
Jian Yi said: "What exactly is it? Li Shangshu might as well say it straight. They are all ministers of the emperor and officials of the Ming Dynasty..."
He couldn't help but scratch his back, but the itching feeling did not lessen. Then he added painfully: "Eating the emperor's salary will help you share your worries, so we should contribute."
"Yes, Li Shangshu, please tell me quickly." Xia Yuanji couldn't bear it anymore, gritted his teeth and said, "Please tell me what's going on."
"Hey~ what else can it be? Just that." Li Qing sighed, "The emperor wants to send troops to the Northern Expedition to attack the Tatars."
Everyone's expressions changed slightly. They entered Zhao Prison just for this reason, so naturally they were not willing to agree easily.
Xia Yuanji endured the itching, cupped his hands and said: "Internal fighting in the grassland is a rare good thing for our Ming Dynasty. It is not appropriate for the court to send troops. Besides, the migration of people from south to north is still going on, and the court's expenses are huge... Hiss~"
He quickly scratched his neck, but the itching feeling was still strong. "As a minister, Li Shangshu should advise the emperor."
Li Qing sighed: "Xia Shangshu's words are not unreasonable, but the emperor's vision is more long-term;
Hmm... On the surface, infighting on the grassland is indeed good for Ming Dynasty, but isn't it also about scoring?
Now that Oara is weak, the Tatars are in a mess. If we keep sitting on the mountain and watching the tigers fight, once Oara is destroyed, Mongolia will be unified by the Tatars! "
Li Qing said seriously: "Once the grasslands are unified, they will definitely take a look at the Central Plains."
"My Ming Dynasty has strong city walls and powerful artillery. Even if they get to that point, they will definitely hit their heads and bleed." Xia Yuanji insisted.
I'll go, Lao Xia, you can do it, you're tough enough... Jian Yi cast an admiring look at Xia Yuanji, and then said: "Li Shangshu, Xia Shangshu, dispatching troops and food, are all matters of your Ministry of War and Ministry of Household Affairs Son, we can’t control it!”
Lao Youzi is Lao Youzi, and Jian Yi's words are quite high.
First of all, I didn’t agree; secondly, I didn’t refuse; I not only saved my reputation, but also curried favor with Li Qing.
As soon as he took the lead, others immediately followed, saying that these were not matters within their responsibilities and that they could do nothing to help.
Of course, most of these people still disapprove of sending troops.
For no other reason than they wanted to weaken the emperor's influence on the army, thus weakening the imperial power in disguise and thereby increasing their own influence.
But, it was so itchy that they were in pain!
I had to say a few ambiguous words first, so that if the old matter was brought up again in the court in the future, there would still be a way to reverse it.
Li Qing had been in the officialdom for so many years, so he didn't understand what these people were thinking. However, he did not expose it immediately. Instead, he looked at Xia Yuanji: "What do you think, Xia Shangshu?"
Let’s deal with the household department first!
"I..." It was so itchy that Old Xia wanted to curse, "I thought... Li Shangshu, you should check on me first!"
His face was full of pain: "I feel itchy all over my body now, and my thoughts are confused."
"Alas..." Li Qing sighed, stood up and said, "Everyone, please go slowly, I am busy with official duties."
Oh, there's no sincerity at all, so don't talk about it.
Officials: (╯‵□′)╯︵┻━┻
"Yongqing Hou, can you...can you cure it?" Everyone was angry: You're just taking money to do nothing, right?
Li Qing was not angry and said calmly: "The emperor's destiny is greater than the heaven, and as a minister, it is natural to put solving problems for the emperor first."
A group of people were so angry that their livers ached, but they could not speak to refute.
But the extreme itching continued and got worse. Under this torture, someone finally took a side.
"Master Shangshu, we agree to send troops." The two ministers of the Ministry of War were the first to speak.
They were originally Li Qing's subordinates, so there was no psychological burden for them to rebel now.
"That's great." Li Qing looked pleasantly surprised, "Let's discuss the details and help you take a look."
With that said, Li Qing asked the two of them to move away, ignoring the others: Damn it, who are you?
"Marquis Yongqing will stay." Someone started, and the people behind him became more relaxed. Yang Shiqi, the cabinet minister, said to persuade him to stay: "I think that the emperor is considering that the unification of Mongolia will be very detrimental to the Ming Dynasty."
"That's right." Huang Huai, the cabinet minister, followed closely, "In Yongle's 19th year, the Tatars were still invading the border. They really should be attacked!"
Li Qing turned around and said with a smile: "You two come together."
"Hou Yongqing, wait a moment." The Minister of Rites said sarcastically, "I also think that... it is necessary to send troops."
"Okay, let's go together."
"The Marquis of Yongqing will stay..."
Li Qing stopped and said angrily, "I want to keep it for one time, why is it still itchy if I don't look at it?"
"Your Majesty agrees to send troops."
"The lower officials also feel the need to send troops."
"The Tatar clown dares to do tricks and try to peek into the Central Plains. He should be taught a lesson."
"We must send troops, we must!"
…
When someone covers up their shame, the people behind them will have no scruples. No matter how shameful something is, once more people do it, those who do it later will lose any sense of shame.
After much back and forth, almost everyone except Xia Yuanji agreed to send troops.
Xia Yuanji really couldn't bear it any longer. The itching that was comparable to torture tormented him all the time, making him angry and almost going crazy.
What he didn't know was that Li Qing had hit him hardest, so his itch was stronger than the others.
There is no other way. The Ministry of Revenue has a great say in sending troops.
"Xia Shangshu...?" Li Qing cast a questioning look.
"I agree to send troops." Xia Yuanji finally gave up the struggle.
Firstly, he couldn't stand it anymore, and secondly, everyone agreed, even if he insisted, it would be meaningless.
Li Qing smiled and simply sat back down: "Looking at your situation, you must be suffering from the same disease. Lord Jian, please sit over here and I will give you a good look."
"Hey." Jian Yi Dian Dian'er stepped forward.
Although everyone was anxious, no one dared to snatch it.
Li Qing put his hand on Jian Yi's wrist and revealed the cause of the disease in just a moment: "It was due to staying in a dark and humid environment for too long, which caused excessive moisture in the body. After being released from prison, I took a hot bath.
Before the moisture is discharged, it is stimulated by hot air and attacked by cold and hot air. The moisture turns into cold air, which causes itching all over the body. "
"Yongqinghou is really amazing!" Jian Yi was amazed: He even knew that I was taking a hot bath.
Nonsense, even though it's summer now, with your physique, how can you bear the cold water? You... Li Qing was secretly amused.
Not only Jian Yi, but everyone else also took hot baths. Firstly, the hot baths were comfortable to soak in. Secondly, after being in the humid Zhaoyu Pass for a long time, they felt chilly when they came out.
Li Qing's face was serious: "There is some trouble now. The cold has penetrated deeply. If it is not eliminated in time, once it invades the bone marrow, there is nothing I can do."
He asked: "Jian Shangshu, does it hurt that you feel itchy even if you scratch it?"
"Yes, yes!" Jian Yi's lips trembled and his voice trembled.
"That's right." Li Qing sighed: "It's caused by the inside of your body. Of course scratching can't solve the problem."
"Then...is there any hope?" Jian Yi's face turned pale, and he almost said: "Help me, I don't want to die."
Li Qing nodded: "Fortunately, I found it in time and there is no danger to my life for the time being, but..."
Jian Yi's heart that had just been put down suddenly picked up again, and so did everyone else.
"But what?" Jian Yi asked.
Li Qing said helplessly: "The Emperor ordered me to write a memorial. Starting tomorrow, I will debate with you... ahem, and all the officials in the court to prove the feasibility and necessity of sending troops!
Two chapters a day, one for the morning and one for the afternoon. If the officials disagree on one day, I will write on one day; if they disagree on ten days, I will write on ten days;
Sigh... How can it be so easy to write a debate memorial? Li Qing smiled bitterly, "To be honest, I haven't written a single word yet." "
"We have agreed to send troops."
"I know, but I know it's useless!" Li Qing spread his hands, "You have to go to the emperor to know, so that I don't have to write a debate memorial, so I can focus on treating you, right?"
"Sure, you take a look first." Jian Yi urged, "I'll tell the emperor tomorrow."
"Oh, it's a bit late today, and I'm not prepared here, um..." Li Qing pondered for a moment, and then said: "Look at this, everyone, I will use acupuncture to help you suppress the cold. What about you, go back and write The memorial will be handed over to the emperor tomorrow morning."
He patted his chest and promised, "I'll also make preparations here. We'll start treatment in the morning tomorrow!"
