Chapter 29 fourth quarter

After Emperor Daoguang came to the throne, he really wanted to make a difference, so he issued an edict, warning the people all over the world: It is not easy to start a business, and it is difficult to keep a business.Daoguang advocated frugality, starting with himself and cutting the guard of honor.Save cars and reduce dietary standards.Xueshi Cao, who has always been good at guessing the emperor's mind, immediately replaced the eight-person sedan he was riding in with an old donkey cart, and asked his close family members to serve as cooks and coachmen.One morning at the court, he saw that the dragon robe worn by Emperor Daoguang was worn out and old. When he returned home from the court, he took the brand new official robe to a second-hand clothes shop to replace it with an old one.After going to court the next day, the emperor praised Cao Xuetu in front of all the ministers.That group of courtiers are all good at flattering, how could they be willing to let Xueshi Cao take the lead this time, after returning home, they all took new robes to the old clothes shop to change the old ones, it made the old robes look better than the new ones Several times more expensive.In the early morning of the next day, Emperor Daoguang looked from the hall, and he seemed to be standing in two rows of beggars, and he himself was the head of a beggar. Clothes. As an official, you must refrain from being pompous and not seeking fame. Being pragmatic and serving the public is the way to revitalize our court and change the decadent style of government." After some admonitions, the courtiers felt ashamed.

From the emperor's point of view, only this scholar Cao was honest and thrifty, so he got along very well with him. After the imperial court was over, he called Bachelor Cao into the palace for a long talk.Cao Xueshi went into the palace wearing a pair of ragged trousers, with two brand new patches on his knees, which were actually patched by Cao Xueshi's maid Qiuping on purpose.When Emperor Daoguang saw it, he asked, "How much will it cost you to make up two patches?" Cao Xueshi didn't know, so he had to talk nonsense, and said: "If you go back to the emperor, I spent three silver coins." Daoguang listened , very surprised: "I also made two patches, why the Ministry of Internal Affairs reimbursed five taels of silver?" Cao Xueshi had no choice but to shirk and said: "The patches made by the emperor are more refined than those made by the ministers, so they are very expensive."

Hearing this, the emperor sighed, and from now on ordered the concubines in the palace to learn how to make needle money, and hand over the clothes with any flaws to the concubines to mend, and the Ministry of Internal Affairs will not be able to touch any money. After listening to her godfather, Sujuan couldn't help admiring: "This emperor is really a good emperor." "The Holy Majesty has always loved the people like a son, and sympathized with the lives of the people." Xueshi Cao said reverently. Sujuan asked suddenly: "If the common people have grievances and complain to the emperor, will the emperor decide for the people?"

"Of course the Holy Majesty will avenge the people." Cao Xueshi said without doubt, "But godfather, what is it?" Sujuan asked. "However, how would the emperor know about the grievances of ordinary common people? Now these officials are all corrupt officials and cruel officials. Very little." Sujuan listened, and suddenly fell to her knees in front of Xueshi Cao and his wife with a "plop", crying, "Father, mother, my daughter is wronged!" Madam Cao was so panicked that she went to help her with both hands: "My dear daughter, if you have wronged me, just tell me."

"Don't worry, speak slowly." Cao Xueshi reassured. "Did dad ever know that my daughter sells herself in the vegetable market, why?" "Didn't you say that you and your father-in-law went to Beijing to look for a husband, but you didn't find your husband, and your father-in-law was killed again, and you were penniless, so you were forced to sell yourself to bury your father?" "But does dad know why my husband disappeared and who killed my father-in-law?" "Why did your husband disappear, and who killed your father-in-law?" "My husband was killed by Rong An, Minister of the Ministry of War, and my father-in-law was killed by him instructing the general manager Gou Ken to shoot him to death with a musket." Sujuan then explained in detail how she went to Beijing to find her husband, her father-in-law died tragically, and there was no way to file a complaint.

"What, your enemy is Rong An, Minister of the Ministry of War!" Cao Xueshi changed his voice and trembled all over. Sujuan couldn't kneel down, and cried and begged: "Father Wanwang will tell the emperor about his daughter's grievances, and avenge my husband and father-in-law's grievances." "No, no." Cao Xueshi shook his trembling hands and said. Sujuan didn't understand what he meant, and said in amazement, "Could it be that Daddy, the Minister of Military Aircraft, the Grand Master of the Wuying Hall, is afraid that he will not be able to succeed as a minister of the Ministry of War!"

"Master, my daughter has such a big grievance, just help her this time!" "You...what do you know!" Xueshi Cao became annoyed, "You don't know the difficulties of being an official. I have been an official for more than forty years since I was a Jinshi in the forty-six years of Qianlong, and I am today the Minister of Military Aircraft and the University of Martial Arts. After three dynasties, I have learned the way of being an official. As an official, you should kowtow more and talk less to the superiors. To the subordinates, you should use both kindness and power. As long as the matter is not your own, don't meddle in it, so as not to offend others. Think about it, if this old man overthrows Rong An, Minister of the Ministry of War, he will implicate a large number of court officials, offend so many officials at once, can this old man still be the Minister of Military Aircraft and the University of Martial Arts Hall!"

"Since that's the case, don't bother Mr. Cao." Sujuan cried and ran out of the room. Cao Xueshi and his wife heard her change of address, hurriedly chased out of the room and called, "Child." "daughter." After Cao Xueshi and his wife's consolation, Sujuan's mood gradually calmed down. The ending of the two complaints and her godfather's way of being an official made her temperament darker.Now that I leave the Cao Mansion, I don't even have a place to live. How can I avenge my husband and father-in-law?Thinking of this, he said: "Well, my daughter understands the difficulties of godfather, and I won't bring up the matter of revenge. From now on, your two elders will be my real parents." After speaking, she hugged Mrs. Cao and cried bitterly.

"Okay, we will treat you as our own daughter in the future." Xueshi Cao and Mrs. Cao also said with tears in their eyes. From winter to spring, it has been a year since Sujuan came to Cao's house.Sujuan is smart, virtuous, filial, and considerate, and Cao Xueshi and his wife are so happy that they can't stop praising them all day long as if they had a baby. On this day, Xueshi Cao came home very late. Sujuan hurriedly waited for her godfather to take off the old official robe and put on new clothes, then held a cup of tea in both hands and said, "Father, do you want my daughter to sing a song for you today?" You relieve boredom."

"No need," Xueshi Cao went against the usual rules, "Dad heard about it in the palace." "There are also opera singers in the palace?" Sujuan asked in surprise. "Today is the Empress Dowager Lafayette's birthday. Lafayette likes to listen to Beijing opera, so he asked someone to invite the nine-year-old Hong to perform in the palace. Lafayette knew that Dad also loves to listen to Beijing opera, so he asked someone to invite Dad." "Well," Sujuan came up with an idea, and asked intentionally, "How well does Nine-year-old Hong sing?"

"Yes, but compared to my daughter, it's still a bit inferior." "Father, is it fun in the palace?" "Of course, there is nothing richer than the emperor's family!" "Father, can you take your daughter to the palace to see?" Cao Xueshi hurriedly said: "No, no, this palace is not fun, if you say one more word, you will lose your head if you take one more step." "No," Sujuan began to act coquettishly, "Father taught me, my daughter doesn't say a word, and doesn't take a step. My daughter sings Beijing opera for the Queen Mother, and the Queen Mother will definitely like it." When Cao Zhenyong thought about it, he was right, maybe he could still please the Queen Mother, he believed that this well-behaved goddaughter would make the Queen Mother like her. The next day, Xueshi Cao brought Sujuan into the palace to meet the Queen Mother.After listening to Sujuan's passage, the queen mother repeatedly applauded.Sujuan took the opportunity to say: "If the queen mother likes it, Sujuan is willing to stay in the palace and sing Beijing opera for the queen mother every day." "I like it, of course I like it." The Queen Mother said happily. "I don't know if your father is willing to do so?" After finishing speaking, the queen mother looked at Xueshi Cao. "I'm willing," Sujuan hurriedly replied without waiting for Cao Xueshi's answer, "My father already had this intention, so he brought Sujuan into the official position." This time, Cao Xueshi's nose was twisted, and he secretly scolded Sujuan for having no conscience, and only picked Gao Zhier to climb, but he still had to put on a smile and replied to the Queen Mother: "The old minister is willing." After Sujuan entered the palace, she was always waiting for the opportunity to meet the emperor.Unexpectedly, sitting in front of me today, the man in shabby clothes is the emperor respected by all people.All of a sudden, Sujuan's tears gushed out like a bursting flood.He poured out his deep hatred with every word and tear. Empress Xiaoshen, Concubine Quan and Qi'er were in tears when they heard this. "Isn't Rong An afraid of Wang Fa?" The Queen Mother trembled with anger. Emperor Daoguang's face was ashen, and he said nothing. In the early morning of the next day, Emperor Daoguang finished handling political affairs.He glanced at the ministers on both sides and said: "Since the rebellion in Huijiang subsided, all the ministers have told me that the Qing Dynasty is prosperous and the people are safe, and the world is peaceful. Is this true? Since I became the throne, although I have been working hard every day, I dare not be confident that nothing will be missed. However, I have never heard any Ai Qing bluntly remonstrate. Maybe it is my fault that I was not sincere in asking for words. I will clearly tell all Ai Qing today that I am sincerely asking for words and accepting advice sincerely. Everyone You don't have to look forward and backward, have a lot of doubts, just speak out, even if the words are not true, I will not add any crime." The words touched the ministers so much that they all knelt down and said: "Your Majesty is really a Dao Mingjun!" Emperor Daoguang waved his hand and said: "Get up, I don't want to hear this, I just want to hear people's sufferings, political abuses, and even my faults." All the ministers looked at me and I looked at you, but no one spoke for a long time.Daoguang was a little angry, and was about to get angry when he heard someone shouting: "Long live, I have a word." Emperor Daoguang looked at His Highness, it was Wang Ding, Minister of Military Aircraft.He exclaimed, "It's still Wang Aiqing after all." This Wang Ding was a Jinshi in the last years of Qianlong.He has served as the minister of the Ministry of Industry, the Ministry of Officials, and the Ministry of Punishment. Now he is the Minister of Military Affairs. He has always been upright and honest.Appreciation of Emperor Daoguang. At that moment, Wang Ding came out of the class and said: "The emperor sincerely asks for words and accepts advice, which is really a blessing for the country and the people. If you want to revive the power of the Qing Dynasty, I think there are three things: one is to accept advice by speaking bluntly; the other is to say, Seek talents to govern; on the third day, formulate laws and regulations to eliminate disadvantages. I am in a hurry today, and it is difficult to think carefully, so I must write a memorial on specific matters when I return to the government." Daoguang happily said: "Okay, I will wait to see your memorial tomorrow." Wang Ding returned to his original position. Then, several officials came in to advise.But it's all empty talk.Daoguang still gave encouragement in order to encourage his ministers to give advice. "Is there anyone else to speak?" Daoguang asked the ministers. No one answered. Daoguang smiled slightly and said, "I'll just remind you. Among you, someone has done something that harmed the country and the people. Does anyone of you know that? Don't you dare to read a book?" In a word, all the ministers broke out in cold sweat from fright, and trembled silently. Daoguang sneered and said: "Since no one dares to participate, I will order generals. Cao Zhenyong!" "Ah!" Cao Zhenyong was so frightened that he almost collapsed on the ground, tremblingly walked to the imperial case and lay down on the ground, and said in a trembling voice: "Your Majesty, I have never done anything that harms the country or the people." "I didn't say it was you either. I asked you, do you know who this person who harmed the country and the people is?" "Go back to the emperor, the old minister doesn't know." "I don't know? Okay, you kneel aside first, if I find out that you have lied to Shengjia, I won't let you go." Xueshi Cao immediately collapsed to the ground. Emperor Daoguang suddenly shouted: "Rongan!" Minister of the Ministry of War, Rong An's face turned pale with fright, and he hurried out of the shift and knelt down. "The minister is here!" "Are you convicted?" "I...what's your crime?" Daoguang Longyan was furious, and shouted: "Boldly Rongan, committed a serious crime, and dare to deny it!" "Long live, please forgive me. I'm guilty of this minister." Rong An kowtowed like garlic. "speak!" "I shouldn't bribe other officials to recruit Qinglian, a disabled dog, as the number one scholar in the military." "Who did you bribe?" "There are Fei Azhang, the Minister of the Cavalry Supervisory Department, Shu Qishanming, the Foreign Minister of the Supervisory Officers and Soldiers Department, and Wang Qingsheng, the Minister of Civil and Military Officials..." The official whose name was called by Rong An collapsed on the ground trembling. Emperor Daoguang saw that Rong An stopped talking, and said again: "This is just a matter of harming the country, what about harming the people?" "I said, I said." Rong An didn't expect the emperor to know everything, and immediately collapsed on the ground. "I was afraid that Zhao Mingfei, the best Anhui martial arts student, would not accept the appeal, so he ordered someone to deceive him into the mansion, get drunk with wine, and burn him to death under the pretext of a fire. A year later, Zhao Mingfei's father and wife found the minister's In the mansion. I ordered the manager Gou Ken to set fire to the Yuelai Inn where they were staying at night, and Zhao’s father-in-law and daughter-in-law jumped off the building to escape. Zhao Mingfei’s father was shot to death by Gou Ken on the spot, and his wife escaped by luck..." Emperor Daoguang immediately ordered Rong An to be imprisoned. "Cao Zhenyong." Emperor Daoguang suddenly shouted. "I am guilty." Cao Xueshi, who had been kneeling in front of the court case, hurriedly said, "I will let the emperor deal with it!" "Cao Zhenyong, you know that Rong'an is harming the country and harming the people, but you didn't report to me. I should have severely punished you. I think you have done a good job in taking in the daughter of the people, Lin Sujuan, so I will send you off lightly. I will take away the purple rein and the title of Tai Tuo, and stay in front of the imperial court for a while. To see the aftermath." "Thank you, Your Majesty, for your kindness." Cao Xueshi thanked Shengen and was about to step down. "Wait," Emperor Daoguang said again, "Aren't you afraid of offending others? I will let you try the case of Rong An today. Then how did Qing Lian become the champion of martial arts? Why did Lin Sujuan sue repeatedly? Win? You have to find out the truth for me, no matter who is involved, you are not allowed to let it go. If you lie to me again, I will never forgive you." "I obey the order." Cao Zhenyong withdrew and withdrew. Emperor Daoguang shouted again: "Yinghe!" "The minister is here." The Minister of Military Aircraft and the co-organizer Shi Yinghe immediately left the class. "I order you to try the case of Rong An with Cao Aiqing, and there will be no mistakes." "The minister obeys the order." The next day, Wang Ding really presented the memorial. Emperor Daoguang was very impressed after reading it, and ordered the ministers to circulate it and discuss it.Subsequently, the Ministry of Rites formulated a set of regulations based on the discussion results. After the imperial court was over, Emperor Daoguang left Wang Ding to the Hall of Mental Cultivation for a long talk.The monarchs and ministers discussed matters such as inspecting officials and calming the people, punishing traitors, dealing with floods, and reclaiming wasteland and farming. While the conversation was in full swing, Chang Yonggui, the former imperial eunuch, came to report: "Your Majesty, Minister of Military Aircraft and a scholar of Wuyingdian, Cao Zhenyong, is asking to see you." "What is he doing here at this time?" Emperor Daoguang raised his head and shouted. "Show him in." After Cao Zhenyong finished his ceremony, he said: "Your Majesty, I have finished the trial of Rong An's case, and I am here to report to Ming Sheng." "This morning, why didn't you play, why did you come at this time?" Emperor Daoguang was a little annoyed when he disturbed his conversation. Seeing that Wang Ding was there, Cao Zhenyong knew that he had come at the wrong time, so he hurriedly explained: "I originally wanted to make a report in the early court, but the case of Rong An involved too many ministers, so it is inconvenient to make a report." "It's just that you are timid and afraid of getting into trouble. Who are you involved with? Tell me quickly." "Minister Zunzhi," Cao Zhenyong said, "There are too many officials involved in this case, including Fei Azhang, Minister of the Ministry of War, Shu Qimingshan, Minister of the Ministry of War, Wang Qingsheng, Minister of the Ministry of Officials, Pan Fugui, Yin Pan of Shuntian Prefecture, and Jitai, member of the Ministry of Punishment. A number of court officials. In addition, Rong An is also guilty of other crimes, implicating the Minister of Military Aircraft, the co-organizer of the university, Shiying, the minister of the Ministry of Industry, Mu Zhang'a, and..." "What, Yinghe is also involved," Daoguang became annoyed, "I even ordered him to try the case of Rong An. How did he get involved?" Cao Zhenyong hurriedly said: "Two years ago, Rong An's son, Qing Lian, raped the commoner Queen Erhong, causing Wang Erhong to die in humiliation. The family of the Wang family filed a complaint in the lobby of the Ministry of Criminal Justice. Yinghe, who was then Minister of the Ministry of Criminal Justice, received a bribe of 50,000 taels of silver from Rong An. Let's settle it with the traitor." After finishing speaking, Cao Zhenyong took out a piece of paper from his robe sleeve and said, "Here is the list of the officials involved, please look it over, Your Majesty." Emperor Daoguang took it and saw that a piece of paper was densely filled with names of more than forty people.Unconsciously, Longyan was furious: "It's really conscience-stricken. They live on the state's salary and behave like this. I will definitely punish them severely." "The emperor is right. These corrupt officials should be severely punished." Wang Ding also said angrily. Daoguang bitterly said: "Tomorrow morning, I will order the Ministry of Punishment to execute Rong An's son, and all ministers involved in this case will be dismissed and interrogated." "Your Majesty, I think this is not appropriate." Cao Zhenyong objected. "What's wrong?" Emperor Daoguang asked puzzled. "These ministers are all members of the imperial court. The ministries, government offices, and halls of the imperial court are all supported by them. If they are all dismissed, they will be questioned. There will not even be a person working in the offices of the ministries, government offices, and halls." "Even if I vacate all the yamen, I will punish them." Wang Ding, who had been meditating, also changed his attitude: "Your Majesty, Mr. Cao is right. The corruption of officials has been around for a long time. If you want to rectify it, it will not be effective in a day. More than a dozen ministers have been dismissed and questioned, not only are there no offices in the yamen, it may also cause accidents." "You all go back to the mansion!" Emperor Daoguang waved his hand, got up and left. It was very late at night, and Emperor Daoguang was still sitting blankly on the imperial couch in the Hall of Mental Cultivation.He did not expect that the officials of the Qing Dynasty were corrupt beyond control.After the Zhang Geer rebellion was put down, I thought the world was peaceful and I could enjoy myself for a few days.Who would have thought that the case of Rong An would uncover the tails of so many court officials.If this is the case for the court officials, what about those local officials?The sky is high and the emperor is far away. I don't know how many unreasonable things he will do.If things go on like this, the foundation of the Qing Dynasty for nearly two hundred years will be destroyed alive in the hands of these corrupt officials, and he will become a sinner of the Qing Dynasty.Thinking of this, Emperor Daoguang shuddered. "Your Majesty, smoke a bag of cigarettes to relieve your boredom." Chang Yonggui, the former imperial eunuch, got a pipe from nowhere and presented it to Emperor Daoguang. Daoguang looked up and saw that it was a brass bong, which was very exquisitely made. It was simply a handicraft. Emperor Daoguang held it in his hand and couldn't put it down. "Chang Yonggui, how did this pipe look like this?" "Back to the emperor, this is called a smoking gun, and it is specially made for smoking drugs." "What is Fushou Ointment?" "It's this kind of thing." Chang Yonggui took out a paper bag from his body and opened it, and there were several gray-white pills like Dali pills.Introduced: "This kind of fushou cream is very effective when smoked. Many rich people in the south smoke it." Emperor Daoguang came and said with interest: "I will try it once too." Chang Yonggui deftly put a piece of fushou cream into the bong, and then lit the cigarette lamp.Emperor Daoguang took a deep breath on the cigarette lamp.Suddenly feel its fragrance is incomparable. "How is it, Your Majesty?" "Not bad." Emperor Daoguang slowly exhaled smoke rings. Gradually, Emperor Daoguang was like a fantasy, his body walking through the cloud-shrouded space. In the early morning of the next day, Cao Zhenyong submitted a memorial for the trial of Rong An's case, and Emperor Daoguang immediately issued an order announcing the result: Rong An and Qing Lian were handed over to the Ministry of Criminal Justice for execution. With Yinghe, he went to co-organize the bachelor's degree, and stayed in the military plane to walk and see the aftermath. Mu Zhang'a was demoted to one level, and his salary was fined for one year.