Chapter 97 Section 97 Shanxi Nuclear Donation

Qi Shan was imprisoned in the prison of the Ministry of Criminal Justice, and as soon as the jury officials dispersed one after another, the presiding judge, deputy presiding judge, supervisory judge and other officials came to the signing of the Ministry of Criminal Justice, that is, the small official hall, to discuss with the emperor. Zhezi thing. Hengchun, Shangshu of the Ministry of Criminal Justice, was the first to express his position: "According to the old practice, the sentencing of those who have military merits in sealing up borders will be halved. Therefore, in the case of Qishan, the Ministry believes that it is better to follow the emperor's will. Dismiss him and punish him for a lifetime." A year or half a year's salary. The head of the Ministry has figured it out, and the higher-ups seem to have the same meaning. Mr. Hua, what do you think, Mr. Hua?"

Huashana said: "According to the intention of the Ministry, Qishan has been dismissed, so there is no need for another trial by the judicial department. After all, the country of the Qing Dynasty was created by our ancestors with one sword and one gun! how is it?" Wen Qing interjected: "Mr. Hua, according to what you said, it's the same whether the laws and regulations of the Qing Dynasty are enacted or not?" Hua Shana said: "Master Wen, don't say that, our family doesn't mean that. Our family is saying that for a person with such high morals and prestige as Qi Shan Juexiang, dismissal will reach the limit of punishment."

Wen Qing said coldly: "Mr. Hua, the Ministry of Internal Affairs received a number of complaints yesterday, and it seems that you are being accused of abusing a domestic slave." Upon hearing this, Huashana jumped up suddenly: "Who eats a bear's heart and leopard dares to make trouble with our family!" Wen Qing said: "I remember the person who handed over the certificate. He is the second housekeeper of Prince Gong's residence." Huashana was like a deflated ball all of a sudden, and he didn't say a word again. Wen Qing raised his head and said: "Who made the country that our ancestors bled and sweated to make it like this? It's those people who are not up to date! According to the old man, Qi Shan, a bastard, must be severely punished." !"

Su Shun said: "The lower officials quite agree with Mr. Wen's opinion. Our Qing Dynasty was ruined by our own people! If Zheng Zuchen was not in Guangxi, how could Guangxi become like this! The governor of Shaanxi and Gansu was replaced by someone else, Sara Why rebel?!" Qi Shizao stroked his beard at this moment and said, "Okay, okay, Zeng Youtang is the presiding judge, let's say something to the presiding judge. Mr. Zeng, if the old man's guess is correct, you've already written the manuscript. Yes Isn't it right?" Zeng Guofan smiled and said: "The emperor asked the lower officials to be the presiding judges. Although you can let go of your hands and not look back, but the opinions still need to be taken by the middle hall adults." ——The lower officials thought that Ding Qishan would ask questions after autumn. Cutting is not an exaggeration, what do you adults think?"

Huashana jumped up again, pointed at Zeng Guofan's nose and said: "Zeng Disheng, why do you attack our people in the banner so hard every time? Don't think that you can make up a few bad poems! You have to know , this Great Qing Dynasty was created by our ancestors in the Bannermen with one knife and one gun!" Seeing that Huashana's words became more and more outrageous, Qi Yuzao's face sank, and he said: "Mr. Hua, please keep your voice down. Don't you understand the rules? We don't want to make Qi Shan's crime more serious, you let the emperor What should we do? Release Qi Shan without charge?"

Huashana said: "This department is afraid... What if the emperor agrees? The prince is not a loser!" Wen Qing said: "I think, let's write the book according to Zeng Youtang's intention. We all have titles, how about it?" Huashana said: "This department is not named, and this department thinks that the sentence given to the nobleman is too severe." Qi Yuzao said: "Volunteer, let Zeng Youtang lead." Zeng Guofan said: "I dare not do this, Qi Zhongtang and Wen Zhongtang must lead." Su Shun said: "Master Zeng, you are quick, you can write it now and submit it in the afternoon."

According to the usual practice, the emperor will give a certain degree of relief to the crimes and punishments formulated by the Ministry of Criminal Justice for the criminal ministers to show the mighty grace of the emperor, and this time is no exception. In the early morning of the second day, the decree was issued: Qi Shan was fined with a salary of one year, and he was exiled to serve in the Ningguta military camp in Heilongjiang.Qi Shan, who repeatedly missed the country and was favored repeatedly, deserved what he deserved. But the resentment between some Manchu officials and Zeng Guofan has grown deeper.

Zeng Guofan returned to the Ministry of Rites, but before he was seated, the decree issued again: "Zeng Guofan, the minister of the Ministry of Rites, will go to the Shanxi Disaster Relief Bureau to check donations from now on; Su Shun, a cabinet scholar, will go to the Huguang Disaster Relief Bureau to check donations; The Disaster Relief Bureau is responsible for checking donations. This is it." What's going on here? It turned out that in order to relieve the victims of disasters in Shandong and Henan provinces, Emperor Xianfeng had to set up disaster relief bureaus in Shanxi, Huguang, and Zhili when the treasury could not provide money.

It was Sushun's idea to set up a non-governmental disaster relief bureau, but it was not Sushun's first initiative. This was also done during the Kang and Yong periods, and there are examples to follow. The imperial court can't provide money, and the disaster victims in several provinces have to eat. This is not a solution, but a solution.For this reason, Emperor Xianfeng sought Mu Zhang'a's opinion. Mu Zhang'a believes that fundraising is a righteous act, and since it is a righteous act, it should not interfere too much, and the governors' offices in various places can handle it at their discretion.

Emperor Xianfeng consulted Du Shoutian for his opinion. Du Shoutian believed that although it was a righteous act, it was a public act with official certificates or counseling letters. While the governor managed it himself, the imperial court should also supervise it to prevent the loss of donated money and hurt the donators. , Fat black-hearted people. Another point that worried Emperor Xianfeng the most was that the people who undertook the donation bureau all went to the governor to show their merits and asked for rewards, and those who donated money also offered to give it to a top son.Emperor Xianfeng worried that the donation would disrupt the official system, so he ordered Zeng Guofan and three others to go to various places to verify the donation.

Zeng Guofan went to the Ministry of Households to receive the certificate of donation, took Liu Heng, Li Bao and ten guards, put on civilian clothes, hired two horse-drawn sedan chairs, and left the capital to go straight to the governor's office in Shanxi. Zeng Guofan and his party had just arrived in Datong, but they received a letter from the court: Lin Zexu, the former governor of Yunnan and Guizhou and imperial envoy, died of illness in Chaozhou Prefecture in Guangdong on the way to Guangxi. .Li Xingyuan has been ordered to be the imperial envoy, Zou Minghe is actually the governor of Guangxi, and Ulan Taichi, the deputy capital of Guangzhou, is sent to Guangxi to assist in military affairs. Looking at Tingji, Zeng Guofan burst into tears. The Qing Dynasty lost another pillar! The governor of Shanxi at that time was Zeng Wangyan, who was also a man of two backgrounds.In the 20th year of Emperor Daoguang, Lin Zexu refuted him because he asked to seal off the forbidden sea. Shanxi has set up two large disaster relief bureaus, one in Datong Prefecture and the other in Taiyuan Prefecture. Zeng Guofan and his party went straight to the Datong Disaster Relief Bureau. The Datong Disaster Relief Bureau is located on the left side of the magistrate’s yamen in Datong Prefecture. Five bright black paint characters of "Xianming Disaster Relief Bureau" are hung on the lintel, making it easy to find. Zeng Guofan's sedan chair landed in front of the Disaster Relief Bureau. Zeng Guofan did not enter the prefect's office, but went straight to the Disaster Relief Bureau alone. As soon as he entered the Disaster Relief Bureau, Zeng Guofan was really startled: the decoration of this Disaster Relief Bureau was more luxurious than his ceremonial office!A large copper plaque was nailed to the wall in front of it, with the words "Parents of Disaster Victims" shining brightly, and there were pairs on both sides.There is a small corner door on the right side next to it, which is supposed to be used for coming and going. Zeng Guofan pushed open the small corner door and walked in. The first thing that caught his eye was a large square table, sitting on both ends of the table were two fat and smiling people, talking about something ridiculous; He stood up, held his fists together and said, "You've been invited!" Then he sat down again. Zeng Guofan asked: "Who is the member of the Disaster Relief Bureau?" The two said together: "Master Zhao has gone to collect donations. We are the gatekeepers. If you always want to donate silver, you can register it." As they said, they handed over a thick merit book. Zeng Guofan glanced around and saw that there was a free stool against the wall, so he sat down and flipped through the "merit book". The two of them seemed not to be surprised, and ignored him, just chatting about what they had just said. Zeng Guofan checked the amount recorded in the book, and there were more than 700,000 taels, which were donated by big merchants in Datong and other provinces. Zeng Guofan closed the "merit book" and couldn't help blurting out: "This Mr. Zhao is so capable! He persuaded so much to donate!" One person gave Zeng Guofan a blank look and said, "This is one-third, and the big ones are all on Mr. Zhao! Mr. Li also has a copy on him. Do you always donate money or find someone?" The other said: "If you always want to donate money, just make a note on it, write down the house number, and go to your old mansion in person when you come back. If you always want to find Mr. Zhao, just leave the film and we will present it to Zhao." Sir, you can go back now. Master Zhao will let you know when we meet you." Zeng Guofan thought for a while, had no choice but to stand up, put the "merit book" on the table and said: "Let's talk about it when your Master Zhao comes back." Then he opened the door and went out. The two were taken aback for a moment, and then one of them muttered: "This is not full!" Then they said that Zeng Guofan didn't hear it. Zeng Guofan walked out of the disaster relief station, said to Li Bao, "Let's find an inn to rest for a while", and got into the sedan chair.Li Bao asked in a low voice: "Not to the magistrate's yamen?" Zeng Guofan hesitated and said, "Let's not go first." Li Bao just said: "Get up the sedan chair."