Chapter 832 Thunderbolt, Prayer
Jiang Qingzhi walked out of the West Garden with his hands full of black mud. Lü Ping came over just in time and said, "Greetings, Chief Wei Bo."
"What does Old Lu ask you to do here?" Jiang Qingzhi rubbed the mud on his hands.
"My uncle asked me to invite Chang Wei Bo to have a drink." Lu Ping's attitude became much more respectful.
If it weren't for the person in front of him, Lu Song would have submitted his apology letter by now.
If Lu Song was dismissed or demoted, his aide would also become a fallen dog.
"Let's go after we get off the government office!" Jiang Qingzhi said.
"After leaving the government office?" Although the army did not mutiniate, Lu Song and Lu Ping both felt that the Taoist priest would take advantage of the situation and replace the Minister of Revenue to keep the purse strings firmly in his own hands and safeguard the new policy.
"Why, Old Lu feels that he is going to be unlucky?" Jiang Qingzhi laughed and patted Lu Ping on the shoulder. "Go back and tell Old Lu that His Majesty said that the new is not as good as the old. The Ministry of Revenue must be managed by Lu Song to make him feel at ease."
Lu Ping: “…”
Later, Lu Ping returned to the Ministry of Revenue.
Lu Song had already changed into cloth clothes and looked in good spirits. "Would Jiang Qingzhi like to come?"
"He said after he left the government office."
"I know my own limitations and have just handed over all the tasks to Lan Qingtian. I have nothing to worry about now! Why wait until I leave the government office?"
He had been an official for decades, trembling with fear. After experiencing great sorrow and joy today, he became much more free and easy and even prepared to resign.
"Uncle." Lu Ping still couldn't believe the result. "Jiang Qingzhi said that His Majesty said that the new is not as good as the old. The Ministry of Revenue needs you to be in charge before we can rest assured."
Lu Song: “…”
Later, a roar came from the duty room, "Who reviewed this money and grain? How can this be approved? This is dereliction of duty, send it back and redo it."
The officials looked at each other, wondering if the Shangshu had smoked.
Everyone knows that your good days are numbered, so why are you still pretending?
Should someone come to the palace later?
With the decree of demotion, Lu Song then left with his belongings in disgrace. Next, it was time for the newcomer to ascend the throne... no, it was time for the newcomer to perform on stage.
Everyone is waiting for news about the new minister, to try to build relationships, to show their support...
I have only heard the laughter of newlyweds.
It is common in official circles that the tea has gone cold before the guests leave.
It is an essential skill for officials to follow the red and cover up the white.
If you feel you can't lose face, it proves that you are not suitable for officialdom and you will be trapped and buried sooner or later.
Some people in later generations said that the best place to practice is not in the secluded place or in a busy city, but in the officialdom.
"Go see what Lu Ping looks like." Someone ordered, and the clerk beside him quietly went out and stared at Lu Song's duty room.
Not long after, Lu Ping came out with some documents. He was still calm and dignified, and conveyed Lu Song's words to the officials outside the door.
"The Shangshu ordered this document to be sent back for redoing, and at least 30% of it should be suppressed."
The official was stunned. "Reducing 30%? I'm afraid those people in the Ministry of Rites will be very upset."
"The Shangshu said, either the Ministry of Rites will jump up and down, or you will jump off a cliff. It's your choice."
Uh!
The official took a closer look at Lu Ping and found that he was no different from usual.
The clerk entered the duty room. "Lü Ping is no different from before."
A surprised voice came from the duty room. "Even if you are pretending to be calm, you don't have to do this, right?"
Almost no one in the Ministry of Revenue was in the mood to manage their affairs today, so many mistakes were made. The roars in the duty room never stopped until the end of the day.
The officials from the Ministry of Revenue still hadn't waited for anyone from the palace to arrive.
Lu Song changed his clothes and walked out of the duty room.
"This matter must be completed tomorrow." He instructed.
"Yes." Lu Ping nodded in response.
Lu Song immediately left the Ministry of Revenue.
It's his treat today, and it would be rude if the host didn't arrive early.
That young man is not a pushover. Once he catches us with something, he will definitely mock us.
Never mind. At worst, I can just risk my life to accompany you and get drunk.
what!
How could I equate Jiang Qingzhi with a gentleman?
In the Ministry of Revenue behind him, the officials looked at each other in bewilderment.
"Is the Shangshu not leaving?"
"Only in this way can we explain Shangshu's words and actions today."
Lu Song is not that shameless. If he knew that he was about to leave, he would not linger.
In other words, he learned in advance that he was safe.
So……
"Minister! Minister! I have something to report."
An official rushed away.
"Sir, there is something I don't understand, Sir..."
Everyone chased out of the Ministry of Revenue, but they only saw the figure riding a horse at full speed.
Especially happy in the cold wind.
Even humming a little tune.
……
When Yan Shifan learned that the army might be out of food, he was furious and worried about his father's safety. But he pretended to be sick at home and had been sick for five days, so it was not time yet.
If I go there early, the Taoist priest will inevitably become suspicious of me.
So your fall from the horse and injury was just an act?
What is the purpose?
This was to avoid attending the full moon banquet in Xin'an Lane, which was also a big gathering of the new policy.
Do you want to learn from Lu Bing?
Don’t you see that your mother is the Taoist’s wet nurse?
If you don't cancel your leave, you won't be able to get the latest information.
At the moment, Zhilu was headed by Zhu Xizhong. This Duke Chengguo had changed his past carefree personality and many news were stuck there. Even though Yan Song and his sons had many confidants in Zhilu, they could not get the news faster than the guards in Xiyuan.
"Zhu Xizhong, that old dog!" Yan Shifan cursed. A fierce look flashed in his one eye, and Yan Shifan ordered: "Find a way to find the eunuchs we are familiar with to get information."
"Yes." The staff went.
But Yan Shifan knew that this approach might not work... The army might mutiny, and who would dare to provoke the Taoist's anger at this juncture?
"Jiang Qingzhi, ah Jiang Qingzhi!" At this moment, Yan Shifan only hoped that Jiang Qingzhi could suppress the troops.
"Young Lord." A maid came in. "Madam, is there anything the Prime Minister needs?"
Yan Song and his son followed the Taoist priest all day and had a reversed schedule, and Ouyang was in charge of all the household affairs. She keenly noticed that the atmosphere was not right, and after some inquiries, she learned that Yan Song might have had an accident.
"Tell mother that nothing happened. Wait..." Yan Shifan stamped his feet, "Forget it, I'll go and tell her myself."
Yan Shifan hurried to the backyard.
Ouyang was talking to a few female stewards. When she saw him come in, she asked, "The steward said that the staff in the front yard are in a state of panic. What happened?"
Yan Shifan smiled and said, "Isn't this your Majesty planning to launch a new policy? Something happened at the Ministry of Revenue. Dad is away, and I'm worried that some villains will frame them, so I sent someone to negotiate."
"frame?"
"Yes!"
"But why did I hear that your father was in trouble in the army?" Ouyang stared at her son. "Don't fool me, Donglou."
"How dare I!" Yan Shifan raised his hand and swore, "If I fool my mother, I will be struck to death by lightning."
Boom!
There was a loud noise outside, and a maid exclaimed, "Why is the thunder in early winter so scary?"
Yan Shifan's expression was stiff, "This..."
Ouyang looked at her son with anger in her eyes, and then she clasped her hands together and said, "Gods passing by, please don't blame me. I will go to the temple to burn incense and apologize later..."
Ouyang's voice gradually became inaudible, "If they have committed any sins, I pray that all their spirits will return to me..."
"Young Lord, great joy, great joy..."
A maid ran in hurriedly, her face full of joy. Yan Shifan turned around and asked, "What's the matter?"
The maid said, "The front courtyard reports that the army is safe and sound, and is on its way back in triumph, and will soon reach the capital."
Yan Shifan was shocked. "How could it be... who? Who is it?"
Ouyang looked up suddenly, "Something happened to the army?"
Yan Shifan knelt down and said, "Mom, I didn't hide it on purpose. I was just worried..."
"Speak!" Ouyang gritted her teeth and said, "You and your son both thought you could hide it from me, but you didn't realize that what you did is known to everyone. Hurry up and tell me!"
"The army returned victoriously, but there was a madman in the Ministry of Revenue. He was caught with corruption and intercepted the food and fodder sent to the army. Some people said that the army might run into trouble due to lack of food. I am worried about my father... and also about you."
Yan Shifan raised his head, his eyes reddened, "If anything happens to Dad, I don't want you to..."
Ouyang covered her chest with her hands, still in fear, "Is it really so dangerous? Why is the army safe?"
Yan Shifan said: "It must be Dad who turned the tide."
Ouyang clapped her hands happily and said, "Let someone from the front yard come and ask."
The maid glanced at Yan Shifan. The staff and think tanks in the front yard had always been managed by this young cabinet minister.
"Let them find someone who knows the situation." Yan Shifan said.
Ouyang stood up and came over. "The ground is cold, hurry up and get up."
Yan Shifan was wondering how the matter was resolved. After much thought, he thought that it was most likely that his father showed his great power and used his status as the Prime Minister to intimidate the army.
He had never been to the army. Yesterday, an aide said that once the army mutinied, the emperor would be unable to stop it. For example, the Mawei Slope Incident was an example.
But Yan Shifan was still optimistic, thinking that it was the former Tang Dynasty after all, when the status of warriors was not weak. But now it is the Ming Dynasty, and warriors are like slaves.
Now that the Prime Minister has stepped forward, do those slaves still dare to rebel?
Not long after, a staff member came to the front yard.
"Greetings, Madam. Greetings, Young Minister." The aide saluted.
Although Yan's father and son were powerful, they had to listen to Ouyang when they returned home. The staff in the front yard were all smart and shrewd, and they saluted Ouyang as soon as they arrived.
If Ouyang could say a few good words for her family to Yan Song and his son, perhaps she could be appointed as an official.
"Speak." Ouyang's expression was calm. She was old, what kind of people had she not seen? Seeing this man's expression, she knew that he was good at speculation.
How many people like this are around Yan Song and his son?
Ouyang felt a little uneasy.
"Chen Yao, the Left Vice Minister of the Ministry of Revenue, was involved in a corruption case. This man was so mad that he rushed to intercept the grain carts transporting grain to the army overnight. The army only had one day's worth of grain. In the early morning of the next day, the army ran out of food, and the soldiers were in an uproar..."
Even though he knew the result, Ouyang still clasped his hands together and prayed continuously.
"But dad showed up?" Yan Shifan asked.
"Yes." The staff member whispered, "The Prime Minister's efforts to appease and suppress the rebellion were fruitless..."
Yan Shifan was startled, "Who is that?"
"Just at this moment, Jiang Qingzhi arrived and... suppressed all the troops with one horse." The aide's voice was low, as if he was telling bad news.
Ouyang looked up, "It was him?"
"Yes." The staff smiled flatteringly at the old lady, "Jiang Qingzhi suppressed the troops, and then food and grass were continuously delivered. The army is safe. The prime minister sent a message saying that he will arrive in Beijing soon."
Yan Shifan felt something was wrong, "Where did Jiang Qingzhi get the food and grass?"
"He said he was a businessman."
"merchant?"
"Why are you asking these questions?" Ouyang stood up, looking a little shaky. Yan Shifan quickly helped her up and asked, "Where are you going, mother?"
"Go worship God and pray."
"Didn't Dad return safely?"
"As a human being, you should know how to be grateful." Ouyang looked at her son and said seriously, "You should go too."
“Pray for whom?”
"That long Wilbur."
(End of this chapter)
