Chapter 37 Chapter Thirty-Seven

It was noon when Chen Tingjing returned to the capital, he sent Zhen'er and Dashun to go home, and went straight to the palace by himself.He didn't know what was going on with the emperor, so he went to the South Study to inquire about the news.Zhang Ying saw Chen Tingjing, and hurriedly dragged him to another room to talk, but before he could finish speaking, Chen Tingjing became anxious: "What? The emperor didn't take back the method of coordinating the big households?" Zhang Ying said: "The emperor has issued a supplementary decree. The overall planning of the big households is entirely voluntary. It is strictly forbidden for the big households to exploit the villagers with excuses. You should stop talking about this matter."

Chen Tingjing frowned and shook his head: "No, no, no! I haven't seen the evil officials and gentry with my own eyes. It's hard to imagine their ferocity!" Zhang Ying had no choice but to reveal the truth and said: "Master Chen, this matter has made the emperor very angry, you'd better not bring it up again!" Chen Tingjing had expected things to come to this point a long time ago.He was just lucky and hoped that the emperor would understand the common people.But in the emperor's mind, the pacification of Yunnan is more important.Chen Tingjing sat blankly for half a day, and asked, "Master Zhang, when did you receive my two papers? When did you submit them to the emperor?"

Zhang Ying said in a low voice, "Sir Chen, don't ask any more questions." Chen Tingjing wondered, "Is there an article in the middle?" Zhang Ying said: "I didn't see the two papers beforehand! I checked later, and your first paper arrived on the 15th, and the second paper arrived on the 17th. And your previous paper was submitted to the emperor. Nineteenth." Chen Tingjing was shocked, and he understood in his heart: someone must be making a fuss in the middle, first for fear that he would make meritorious service, and then for deliberately punishing him.Chen Tingjing smiled wryly and shook his head.

Zhang Ying understood, but could only listen to him: "Master Chen, rest in peace, don't mention it again!" Zhang Ying said a few words of comfort, then asked Fu Shan if he had come to Beijing.Chen Tingjing shook his head again, and said: "This Fu Shan entered the capital, but he refused to see the emperor even if he died!" Zhang Ying was dumbfounded, wondering why Chen Tingjing was so unlucky?He intentionally comforted him and said: "Master Chen, it is about the construction of the Dragon Pavilion, the emperor has changed his tone." After hearing this, Chen Tingjing didn't feel very happy, and said: "Even if the construction of the Dragon Pavilion is stopped, what I do is still against the scale of the dragon. In addition, the large households are in charge, and Fu Shan refuses to face the saint. The fault is all my fault." where!"

Knowing that the situation was dangerous, Zhang Ying could only comfort him and said, "Your Majesty Chen, don't worry too much, the emperor will make a wise decision. You just need to pass in the booklet of Yangqu Jianlongting first, and don't repeat the matter of big household planning, Fu Shan." You must absolutely persuade him to meet the emperor!" After the emperor listened to the government on the second day, Chen Tingjing was called to Qianqing Palace.The father-in-laws on duty all pouted at him and shook their heads, as if they wanted to tell him something.Chen Tingjing could only guess secretly, and it was inconvenient to ask openly.After entering the hall, Zhang Shande greeted him, and said in a low voice: "The emperor is coming out, Mr. Chen, please wait here first."

From a distance, Chen Tingjing saw the fool standing under the curtain, secretly greeting him.He nodded and followed Zhang Shande to Xinuang Pavilion.Zhang Shande said again in a low voice: "Master Chen, the emperor has been feeling uneasy these few days, please keep your words quiet." Chen Tingjing didn't make a sound, just bowed his hands and thanked him.Only then did he understand why those well-meaning father-in-laws and fools all pouted and shook their heads at him.Zhang Shande said again: "Master Chen, kowtow for a while, you only kowtow on these few gold bricks." Zhang Shande said, raised his foot and tapped those few gold bricks.

At this time, two father-in-laws came out respectfully carrying the toilet, and two more father-in-laws carefully followed behind with copper basins.Zhang Shande knew that the emperor had finished paying respects, so he only greeted Chen Tingjing with winks, and hurried in to wait for the emperor.But the emperor didn't come out for half a day.The chime bell leaning against the wall rang loudly, making Chen Tingjing jump. Chen Tingjing was raising his hand to wipe his sweat, when suddenly he saw the emperor came out, with a pleasant smile on his face, he said, "Tingjing is here?"

Chen Tingjing didn't expect the emperor to greet him with a smile, and he became more nervous, he knelt down and kowtowed at the place Zhang Shande had ordered him to say: "I kowtow to the emperor!" Sure enough, as long as the head lightly knocked on the gold brick, it made a loud bang. The emperor had never heard Chen Tingjing kowtow so loudly before, he sat down on the kang, smiled and said: "Tingjing, sit down and talk." Chen Tingjing thanked him and stood with his hands down.The emperor said: "Ting Jing has worked hard. Now that you have returned to Shanxi, why don't you go home and have a look?"

Chen Tingjing said: "I am on an errand, and I dare not delay. I sent someone to the house to check. My parents are all well. I just ask me to do my errands well and not let me be distracted." The emperor nodded with emotion, and said: "The old man is in good health, which is the blessing of your children. When you left, I forgot to ask you to go back and see the old man." Chen Tingjing quickly cupped his hands to thank him.The emperor's face suddenly darkened, and he said: "Dai Mengxiong's pickled thing, why don't we just kill it in Shanxi, and why bring it back to the capital!"

Chen Tingjing said: "I think Dai Mengxiong's case should be carefully examined and announced to all places, so as to set an example to others!" The emperor shook his head and said: "There is no need to retry the case of Dai Mengxiong, let alone make it known to the whole world, just kill it. You can play it, and the construction of dragon pavilions everywhere will be stopped." Chen Tingjing knew that Dai Mengxiong's case could only be like this, so he said: "I obey the order! I have one more word!" The emperor asked: "Do you want me to take back the method of coordinating the big households?"

Chen Tingjing hurriedly knelt down and said: "Evil officials and evil gentry only hate that there is no excuse to exploit the people. Now that the court has given an excuse, they will plunder wantonly! If the provinces implement the method of coordinating large households, within three to five years, all the land in the world will be returned. Big family. Your Majesty, when that day really comes, the people will be in dire straits, and catastrophe is imminent!" The emperor said coldly: "Didn't you do a good job in Yangqu? The big family dared to exploit the people, confiscated their property and entered the government, and the occupied people's land and products returned to the original owner!" Chen Tingjing said: "The imperial court can certainly collect some money and food by confiscating large households, but it is not a strategy for long-term stability after all." The emperor slammed the dragon case, and said: "Chen Tingjing, the more you talk, the more shameful you are! According to what you said, I deliberately set up a trap to allow the big family to do unrighteous things, and then search for the cause to search for the house and collect money? I am no longer a villain!" Chen Tingjing quickly kowtowed his head: "I definitely don't mean that!" The emperor said: "I plan to implement the method of coordinating large households for one to two years to ensure the imperial court's military pay. After Yunnan is pacified, it will be cancelled, and then I will punish the evil gentry who exploited the villagers!" Chen Tingjing said: "The rule of sages lies in making people dare not be unkind, and dare not do unrighteous things!" The emperor was furious: "Presumptuous! You knocked your head loudly today! Today is not a talk, but you talk to me, and I can listen to it. This is a matter, you have to listen to me! Don't forget, big family! Co-ordinator, you are the instigator! This matter must not be mentioned again!" Chen Tingjing heard that the emperor would say these words, so he had no choice but to bow his head and remain silent.Chen Tingjing was waiting to announce his retirement, but he heard the emperor say: "The examination of a learned man is about to take place, and I will summon Fu Shan as soon as possible." Chen Tingjing had no choice but to tell the truth: "Qi Zuo the emperor, although Fu Shan has already entered Beijing, he refuses to meet the emperor, let alone take the exam to be a learned scholar!" The emperor was stunned for a while when he heard this, and said: "Chen Tingjing! What you have done this time is to make me look ugly!" Chen Tingjing said: "I think that maybe Fu Shan can't be forced anymore. Everyone has his own ambition, let him go." The emperor stood up abruptly, and said, "No! I want to meet this Fu Shan and see if he has three heads or six arms! Go down." Chen Tingjing stood up, Xie En retreated. Fu Shan lives in the Shanxi Guild Hall, and Chen Tingjing has been there several times, but he can't persuade him to meet the emperor.Zhang Ying asked him to persuade Fu Shan Miansheng, which shows that the emperor cares too much about this matter.Maybe the emperor told Zhang Ying about Fu Shan.But Fu Shanshui couldn't get in. He said that he only agreed to go to Beijing, but he didn't agree to see the emperor.Chen Tingjing sighed at home, not knowing what to do.Seeing that the master was so sad, Yueyuan was very angry, and decided to go to Fu Shan to see what kind of god he was! Yueyuan called Shang Zhener and went to the Shanxi Guild Hall without telling Chen Tingjing.The steward of the guild hall saw a carriage stopped in front of the door, and rushed out to welcome it.Cuiping helped Yueyuan down, and Zhen'er got out of the car by herself. The steward hurriedly stepped forward and asked, "Madam, what do you do?" Yueyuan just said: "I'm from Chen Tingjing's family." The steward was very respectful and said, "So it's Mrs. Chen, sorry for your disrespect." Yueyuan said: "I want to see Fu Shan, where does he live?" The steward seemed to be in a difficult situation, and said, "Mr. Fu Shan has told you that anyone who wants to see him must first inform him." Yueyuan said: "There is no need to report, just tell me where he lives." Seeing this, the steward didn't dare to say much, so he hurriedly led Yueyuan and others inside. The steward went to knock on the guest room and said, "Mr. Fu Shan, Mrs. Chen saw you coming." No echo was heard, only a Taoist boy came out of it.Seeing that there were three women coming, Daotong was so frightened that he didn't know how to answer, so he hurriedly retreated into the door.Yueyuan didn't care about being polite, she greeted Zhen'er and Cuiping, followed Daotong in with her head held high.Yueyuan saw an old Taoist sitting on the kang, guessing that this person should be Fu Shan, so she went up to pay her respects: "I am Chen Tingjing's wife, and I came here specially to pay respects to Senior Fu!" Fu Shan hurriedly returned the gift and said, "How dare you trouble Madam! Please sit down." Yueyuan was also polite and sat down.Fu Shan and Zhen'er met each other and said hello to each other.Daotong brought tea and handed it one by one. Yueyuan thanked the tea, and then said: "Mr. Fu Shan, I have done my best, and what I said next will not be pleasant. My master is sincere to the court and to the people. He respects your character and knowledge, and he is the only one who is willing to give you a gift." I recommended you to the imperial court many times. This time, in order to prevent the construction of dragon pavilions everywhere, he has been downgraded from the second rank to the fourth rank. He punished the evil officials and evil gentry in Yangqu, and he was still deeply wronged after returning to Beijing. You came to Beijing with my master but He refused to see the emperor, and the emperor was furious, and he might be punished. I don't understand, why are you so arrogant after reading a few sage books?" Yueyuan's words were so overwhelming that Fu Shan couldn't open his eyes, and hurriedly said: "Madam, don't misunderstand! The poor Taoist also respects Ting Jing very much, so he allowed him to go to Beijing; but the poor Taoist doesn't want to see the emperor, so don't you?" I would like to take the exam to be erudite and Confucian, this is the integrity of the poor way!" Yueyuan became angry when she heard this, and said: "What kind of integrity! Your ancestors were born in the Song and Yuan dynasties, and they would not live in the Ming Dynasty! If your ancestors were as pedantic as you, there would be no Taoist priest like you! God let you be born in the Ming Dynasty, so you will be born as a Ming Dynasty person and die as a Ming Dynasty ghost. What if you were born in the Qing Dynasty? You will hide in your mother’s belly and not come out?" Cuiping couldn't help laughing when she heard this.Yueyuan deliberately scolded Cuiping: "What are you laughing at? There is nothing funny! According to this old gentleman, you shouldn't have children!" Fu Shan secretly sighed that he was full of poems and books, but he couldn't speak in front of this woman. Yueyuan said again: "According to what Mr. Fu Shan said about loyalty, filial piety and righteousness, we are all at odds with the Qing Dynasty. The common people have all gone underground? All moved to Taohuayuan? Besides, the common people have all become monks and Taoist priests. Unfilial to the ancestors! Without filial piety, how can there be loyalty? I don’t understand any major principles, I only know that all nonsense that goes against human nature is hypocrisy and hypocrisy!” Fu Shan was speechless, but kept shaking his head.Yueyuan was very aggressive: "You can talk about your integrity, but you have harmed such a good official as my master and my family. Where is your benevolence and righteousness?" Fu Shan looked up to the sky and sighed, bowed to Yueyuan and said, "Madam, please calm down! The poor man will just follow the court and enter the palace!" When Chen Tingjing came back from the yamen, he heard Dashun say that his wife had found Fu Shan, and Fu Shan agreed to enter the palace.Chen Tingjing was quite surprised, and asked, "Really? Madam, why did she convince Fu Shan?" Dashun said: "I heard from my family that Madam scolded Fu Shan severely, and he gave up." After hearing this, Chen Tingjing hurriedly said, "How can you be rude to Mr. Fu Shan!" Yueyuan came out early, and after hearing what the old man said, she said, "I'm not being rude to him! I'm just making you scholars so mysterious, and explaining it in the words of ordinary people! If you don't believe me, just ask Sister Zhen'er and Cuiping." Zhen'er and Cuiping just smiled. On the second day, the emperor came to the South Study Room, and Chen Tingjing played the story of Fu Shan.The emperor was overjoyed and said, "Good! Subduing one Fu Shan is better than ten champions!" Mingzhu, Zhang Ying, Gao Shiqi and others all congratulated the emperor.The emperor suddenly asked again: "Ting Jing, will Fu Shan be a minister in front of me?" Chen Tingjing replied: "Fu Shan is still a commoner and a Taoist, so you don't need to be too particular about the title." It makes sense for the emperor to think about it, but his heart is not very comfortable.Chen Tingjing saw what the emperor was thinking, and said, "No matter what he calls you, the emperor is the emperor! The etiquette in the palace will be discussed with him." The emperor said: "I think he is old, and he can be exempted from the examination of erudition and Confucianism, and he can be directly awarded the sixth-grade middle school book, but the etiquette of the monarch and his ministers must be particular!" Chen Tingjing said: "I understand!" Gao Shiqi has served the inner court for so many years, but he is only a sixth-grade middle school book. He has a bit of embarrassment on his face, but he can't say anything.Mingzhu cupped her hands and said: "The emperor cherishes talent so much, scholars all over the world will be able to share one heart and one mind with the imperial court." The emperor nodded, and issued an order: "From among the scholars who are erudite and Confucian, select dozens of famous scholars with real talents and real learning, and I will meet them together. This is a great joy, all kings, Baylor, Beizi And all civil and military officials must participate in the court celebration!" Mingzhu and others ordered to express their gratitude, and the emperor got up and drove back to the palace. The end of the year is coming soon, and there are many auspicious events for the imperial court.It was not until March of the following year that the emperor summoned the scholarly Hongru who was taking the exam.The weather was fine that day, the emperor sat high on the dragon chair in the Hall of Supreme Harmony, and the princes, ministers, civil and military officials lined up in front of the hall.Dozens of erudite Confucians including Fu Shan had already been waiting outside the gate of Taihe, and there was no sound.Suddenly listening to the sound of ceremony and music, the praise officer sang loudly: "Xuan Fushan sees you!" But after waiting for half a day, there was no sign of Fu Shan.In front of the emperor's hall, there are two trains of officials standing, with a passage exposed in the middle, facing the gate of the hall.Looking from the gate of the hall, it is empty and far away, reaching the sky above the gate of Taihe.The emperor has never felt so far away from the Hall of Supreme Harmony to the Gate of Supreme Harmony.After a long period of loneliness, I finally saw Fu Shan's head slowly emerging from the stone steps outside the hall.The emperor seemed relieved, with a smile on his face. Fu Shan entered the door slowly and walked in front of the emperor calmly.His eyes were a little indifferent, he stood in front of the hall, and said: "Poverty suffers from foot disease and cannot kneel down, please forgive me, the emperor!" The emperor smiled and said: "The ceremony says that seventy is not the time for the dynasty. Mr. Fu Shan is already an old man in seventy. I am very happy to be able to enter Beijing under the order. If you have a foot disease, you will be exempted from the ceremony. Give me a seat!" The father-in-law moved the chair over, Fu Shan sat down, slightly raised his hand, and said, "Thank you, Your Majesty, poor!" The emperor said: "Mr. Fu Shan has an upright character, a well-known literature, a pot to help the world, and a reputation everywhere. I have heard the emperor talk about you since I was a child!" Fu Shan replied: "Pindao is just a scholar, so he is not worthy of the emperor's concern." The emperor said again: "I think you are over seventy years old, so you don't need to take the exam. You don't need to take the exam. With your knowledge, you don't need to take the exam. I will give you a six-rank middle book, and the local officials will ask questions." Fu Shan hurriedly lowered his head and cupped his hands and said: "The poor are not people in the world of mortals, and the official salary will never be tolerated! Fu Shan just wants to be a wandering Taoist, see the doctor for others, read a few books, and write a few words! Officials are full of people." do it!" Gao Shiqi thought to himself that Fu Shan really didn't know the heights of the sky and the earth, and thought that the sixth-rank middle school official was too small.He knew that speaking at this moment would definitely make Long Yan unhappy, so he had to endure it.Unexpectedly, the reckless Samuha said: "Qizou the emperor, the number one scholar in the country, has to enshrine the Imperial Academy for several years before he can be a seventh-rank magistrate! Fu Shan is arrogant and rude, and he refuses to serve the king. He should be punished! Chen Tingjing Knowing that Fu Shan's nature is difficult to change, but he tried his best to recommend him, with ulterior motives!" The emperor was furious and said: "Samuha, don't talk nonsense! Chen Tingjing is loyal to the country, and he is only talented. His heart is commendable. Mr. Fu Shan is a model scholar, famous all over the world, and I respect him quite a lot. One who is over seventy years old The old man, regardless of the etiquette of the emperor and his ministers, he is still my elder. I said it in front of princes, ministers, civil and military officials today, you are not allowed to say that Mr. Fu Shan is half a word! Let other famous people have an audience!" Not long after, celebrities filed in.They were quite surprised to see all the officials standing on duty while Fu Shan was sitting alone.The famous people knelt down and saluted: "The minister kowtows to the emperor, long live my emperor, long live, long live!" Officials of the Ministry of Rites have taught these etiquette carefully in advance.The emperor asked everyone to invite them without courtesy, and said: "You haven't passed the exam, I want to see you first. I am eager for talents, and I hope you will work hard for the court and the people! Fu Shan is old, I have allowed him not to take the exam, and I have awarded him the sixth-grade middle school. You are all very learned people, and I am looking forward to reading your splendid articles!" After the court meeting, the emperor left the Hall of Supreme Harmony on his shoulders.Princes, ministers, civil and military officials and all the celebrities sent off the holy car respectfully.When the holy car left, all the people came out of the hall one by one.A scholar climbed up to Fu Shan and said: "Mr. Fu Shan, the late student admired Mr. for half his life. Today he saw the beauty, and he died without regret!" But Fu Shan said coldly: "A beautiful face is not as good as a long face!" He left this sentence, ignored everyone, and walked away. When all the officials left the Hall of Supreme Harmony, they all said that the emperor's love for talents was unparalleled in ancient and modern times.Fu Shan is so arrogant, the emperor is kind and lenient.Only Chen Tingjing felt uneasy, he could see that the emperor was trying to suppress his anger.What the emperor said was not for Fu Shan, but for scholars all over the world.Sure enough, when the emperor returned to Qianqing Palace, Thunder was furious: "I'm going to kill Chen Tingjing! He knows that Fu Shan is a stinky and hard stone in a latrine, why should he recommend it? What a shame! A poor Taoist priest, a sour scholar, Put on airs and put it on my golden palace!" The guards and the father-in-law shrank their heads in fright, and only looked at the ground.Zhang Shande looked at the idiot, who shook his head quietly.Both of them knew in their hearts that when the emperor lost his temper, the servants just pretended not to hear and kept everything safe.