"Master Qi, the medicinal materials are all packed!"
In front of the old warehouse of the Chen family in Baicao Hall in the capital, horse-drawn carriages loaded with medicinal materials were ready to go.
Chen Jingqi, who has changed from the eldest young master in the past to the current head of the family, checked the list of medicinal materials again, nodded, and told the shopkeeper: "Be careful on the road!"
The shopkeeper nodded, and the strong man on the other side smiled and said: "Please don't worry, Master Qi. I, a disciple of Luo Jiao, have traveled all over the country and experienced many things. I will protect you this time, and I guarantee that there will be no harm!"
This person is indeed a disciple of Luo Jiao, who believes in Wusheng Laomu. In his early years, he was a southern water transporter. In recent years, his power has expanded and he has a certain influence in the capital. He even started a bodyguard business.
Chen Jingqi has a bold personality and usually likes to make friends with various religions. This time, he asked Luo Jiao to come forward to help escort. He was assured of their ability, but he still couldn't help but worry: "When I go to Guanzhong, I am afraid that there will be many refugees. In order to survive, I will become a thief."
Damn, these medicinal materials are specially designed to treat epidemic diseases, and there are countless people alive, so we must not miss them!"
The Luo Jiao man's smile disappeared and he solemnly saluted: "Seventh Lord is very righteous!"
"Just trying my best..."
Chen Jingqi knew that unless the imperial court went all out to provide disaster relief, the medical center would be of no avail.
Of course, no matter how little we do, it is better than doing nothing at all. What’s more, the medical book "Compendium of Materia Medica" came out, which specifically describes the pathology, prevention and cure of epidemic diseases. In any major disaster, the most terrifying thing is the spread of epidemics. With these
Decoctions made from medicinal materials can isolate and exorcise poisons, which may save countless lives.
“Hope to catch up soon!”
Watching the motorcade leave, Chen Jingqi stood silent for a moment, then turned around to return to the hospital.
At this moment, he suddenly noticed a kind-faced woman looking at him from across the street.
As soon as the eyes of the two parties came into contact, a sedan passed by, and in the blink of an eye, the woman disappeared without a trace.
If someone else told this kind of thing, it would send chills down his spine, but maybe it was because of the saintly temperament of that woman. Chen Jingqi was not afraid, but felt a little weird: "Who is the master?"
Before he could figure out what was going on, the sound of gongs and drums not far away attracted his attention again.
The people gathered one after another and saw the imperial list posted. The officials next to them began to read it and explain it in easy-to-understand terms.
Chen Jingqi was also among them. He frowned after listening to a few words: "Looking for extraordinary people and strangers who have transcended their sins and endured suffering and ascended to heaven?"
Not only him, but other onlookers were either at a loss or secretly cursing: "You are a traitor who harms the country and deceives the Holy Spirit!"
Now the north wants to attack Mongolia, and the south wants to relieve disasters. Even the people in the capital are having a hard time. At this juncture, your majesty actually wants to recruit some strange people to make the suffering rise to heaven?
Therefore, the dissatisfied people began to curse treacherous ministers and corrupt officials in their hearts.
But Chen Jingqi has gradually seen it clearly.
In the past, when people's livelihood was in decline and life became increasingly difficult, they could criticize the strict Party.
Now that the Yan Party has collapsed, the government has not improved at all. In the two capitals and thirteen provinces of the Ming Dynasty, there is barely a foot of pure land within thousands of miles. The root cause obviously does not lie in the cabinet.
"To heal a country is like to heal a person. Either you don't heal, or if you want to heal, you must heal!"
This sentence emerged from Chen Jingqi's mind, as if someone had said it, and it seemed that it was just a thought, but after all, he secretly shook his head and left the crowd.
I believe Lord Gongun cannot clearly see where the root of the disease of the Ming Dynasty is. It’s a pity that you know it, I know it, and everyone knows it, but no one dares to touch it...
Chen Jingqi runs a medical clinic, so he certainly can't risk his whole family's lives by telling the truth. Maybe Jin Yiwei is hiding around him, monitoring every move around Zhang Bang.
Just out of sight and out of mind!
However, he didn't need to look at the imperial list. His head quickly felt cold. He raised his head and saw snowflakes fluttering and falling.
"This snow came at the wrong time!"
…
"This snow came at a really bad time!"
Snowflakes were all over the sky, and outside the Guangying Treasury of the Ministry of Revenue, many officials gathered, lining up densely in the heavy snow.
Even though he was shivering with cold, his longing eyes looked at the unopened door of the warehouse, imagining that it was filled with money and rice.
Guangying warehouse is a warehouse where the Ministry of Households stores money and grain. There are three warehouse doors, each two feet high and three feet wide, which means to store the property of two capitals and thirteen provinces.
The meaning is quite good, but at this time, Guangyingku is as wide as Guangying, but it can't compete with Yingze at all.
Even because of its width, the huge warehouse becomes more and more prominent, and at a glance, the desolate scene of empty walls.
It's not completely empty. If you look carefully, you can see that there is still a thin layer of cloth bags on the ground.
Each pile of these bags comes in two sizes: the big bag holds two buckets of rice, and the small bag holds ten ounces of money.
This is the idea of the Ministry of Household Affairs, so as not to worry about the imbalance of resources, no matter whether they are officials of the Sixth Department of Jiuqing Hall or seven-rank officials of each department, those who come at the end of the year will receive two bags each.
That’s fair!
But at this time, the lights were on, the lanterns were lit, the officials of the Ministry of Household Affairs were assigned to sit in front of the big eucalyptus, the rosters of various departments in the capital were spread out, and the warehouse workers were standing in front of the piles of bags, waiting, but they felt like they were facing a formidable enemy.
.
At this time, it is inevitable to get angry and confused. Last time I almost got beaten. It is really hard to predict how serious an accident will happen this time...
In the depressing atmosphere, some officials couldn't help it anymore and said bitterly: "The Ministry of Revenue is just ordered to pay salaries. How can it take us to vent our anger?"
This statement broke the silence. With a glance and a word from the household department, everyone began to complain about those people outside. Why can't they understand the difficulties of the court, live in poverty and abide by the law, and live a peaceful year in which they worry about the world and do not change their happiness...
Until a skinny official who was looking down at the account books suddenly said: "New Year is sad, this year is the saddest, just muddle along; all debts have to be paid, all debts have to be paid, and if there are any, pay them back..."
The surroundings suddenly became quiet, and the sights fell one after another, and it was complicated and difficult to describe.
The thin official slowly raised his head, revealing a pair of eyes that were not very bright, but extremely determined, and looked around calmly: "Do you know the meaning of 'New Year's Eve'?"
"The poor people are hungry and cold all year round, and the whole family sees it through. All they are waiting for is for the family to eat meat and buy some clothes during the Chinese New Year..."
This chapter is not over yet, please click on the next page to continue reading! "And the head of the family, for the sake of these eager eyes, begging for help, looking at people's looks, and listening to people's cold remarks, this is called the end of the year.
, it’s a difficult situation!”
At this point, his tone became deeper and deeper: "As for the extremely poor people at the end of the year, they are even more panicked. After one year, they are already full of debts. What they are afraid of is that the creditors will come to their door at this time and press them like thunder."
"Such a family member has to hide out long before the New Year's Eve, leaving the old, young, women and children in a dilapidated house with ventilation from all sides, listening to the creditors scolding them. They have to scold them until they leave at midnight on New Year's Eve.
It’s the end of the year…”
In the past, the high-ranking household officials would not have cared about the age of these untouchables, but now they actually felt sorry for them.
Because the couplets that were so sad during the New Year were hung on the doorsteps of many imperial officials in the Ming Dynasty from the homes of poor people!
The salary arrears of many officials in Beijing has reached an average of more than half of the annual salary. Some departments that are not taken seriously have not even paid their salaries for more than a year.
This is no longer the Tang Dynasty, where most officials came from wealthy families, nor is it the Song Dynasty, where Jinshi officials were selected to catch their sons-in-law. Many officials in the Ming Dynasty came from poor backgrounds. The treatment of officials in the capital is not more valuable than that of local officials, and there are also many officials who rely on their salaries to survive.
I couldn't get through this new year, so I pointed at the door of Guangying Library and opened it.
As a result, I could only receive two buckets of rice and ten copper coins. Who can accept this?
The officials from the Ministry of Revenue who were making sarcastic remarks just now all shut their mouths, but some people still stared at the thin official: "Hai Bijie, everyone is well-known for your abilities, otherwise you wouldn't be valued by Hu Butang. Now this matter
What to do, come up with an idea!"
The thin official didn't seem to hear the strangeness in the words. He finished sorting out the account books in his hands and looked straight ahead: "Open a position!"
The warehouse door slowly opened, and the warehouse workers hurriedly carried the heavy eucalyptus table and placed it close to the door from the inside to prevent anyone from outside from rushing in.
However, although there were crowds of people outside, they were still high-ranking officials. At most, they stood on tiptoes and stretched out their heads, but they still maintained the last bit of dignity.
Those blazing eyes made the officials from the Ministry of Revenue shrink back one after another, pushing the thin officials to the front.
The thin official was not afraid and looked at the salary recipient who was ranked first: "Which yamen do you serve in? What is your surname?"
The visitor said excitedly: "Zheng Michang, the censor of the Metropolitan Procuratorate, please look for me, please look for me!"
The skinny official didn't need a scribe around him. He directly took out a book from the roster. After flipping through it a few times, he saw Zheng Michang's name and placed it in front of the other party: "Sign!"
Zheng Michang quickly took over the pen and wrote the three words "Zheng Michang" with excitement.
He and He Maocai were once used by Zhao Wenhua to impeach Yan Maoqing and Luo Longwen for colluding with Japanese pirates. However, Zhao Wenhua soon died tragically, triggering the downfall of the Yan Party. On the contrary, no one cared about these two small characters, so they spent all their money to retain their official positions.
, but his future is basically cut off.
Therefore, Zheng Michang is now a low-key official because he really needs the salary from the imperial court. He knows that the treasury is empty, and His Majesty has also recruited grain and grass to prepare for war with Mongolia, so he is the first in line early, fearing that the salary will be gone later.
.
Now I finally got what I wanted...
This excitement lasted until the warehouse worker came over and placed two bags, one large and one small, on the table in front of him.
Zheng Michang was suddenly startled. He opened his eyes wide and looked at it for a long time before he asked: "What...what is in here? How much is it in total?"
A deep voice reached my ears, turning into a nightmare: "Two buckets of rice, ten ounces of copper coins."
"That's all? Are they all here?"
"That's all...all here..."
Zheng Michang was trembling all over, his teeth were chattering, and he finally shouted: "Aren't you bullying honest people? My salary is already a hundred taels, and this is less than five taels. I have a family of nine, and there are
Two servants, let alone the New Year, are not enough to pay off the debt!"
The official standing closely behind him also shouted: "Are these our low-level things?"
The thin official looked at them: "No, all the officials in the ministries and halls will not send anything this year..."
"Don't talk to us about the ministry officials!"
Zheng Michang exploded completely: "Do the officials still need these things to celebrate the New Year? They have both the New Year's respect from the provinces and the rewards from His Majesty. They have come up with this excuse to deal with us petty officials! Your household department relies on these things.
Chinese New Year, can you pass the new year?
"
"what happened?"
"How much are you going to pay?"
With this roar, the officials behind became anxious and asked questions one after another. Then someone turned around and muttered excitedly: "This year, only two buckets of rice and ten coins!"
Soon, all the officials in line were furious. Countless heads crowded over, and countless pairs of angry eyes pierced in from outside the door: "The Ministry of Revenue is too dark!" "Where did all the money of the Ming Dynasty go?"
Come on!" "Let Mr. Ge come out! Let the official of Liubu Hall come out and give us an explanation!
"
The scene became chaotic.
Officials from the Ministry of Revenue kept retreating, and some already wanted to escape.
Zheng Michang knew that apart from venting his anger, he would not be able to get his salary. Thinking of the creditor who had come to his door many times and spoke increasingly rudely, he felt heartbroken, turned around, raised his arms and shouted: "Everyone, listen to me.
Say! Listen to my words!"
"In the early years, the Yan family and his son controlled the government and were greedy and unscrupulous. Now the homes of those traitorous ministers have been confiscated, which is equivalent to tens of millions of dollars in silver. However, there are still so many victims in the world who have no money to comfort them. We officials
The arrears of salary still cannot be repaid, why is this? Why is this?"
"We won't fight for the salary we owe, and we won't die before the New Year, but we will fight for the state affairs of the Ming Dynasty and for the people of the world! It's useless here. Go to the cabinet and ask the cabinet elders. Do you care about the Ming Dynasty?
I don’t care about the people of the two capitals and thirteen provinces!”
These words are reasonable and well-founded. The key is to raise the issue of salary arrears above the interests of the country. Most of the officials present are poor and miserable officials. Many of them still have a passion in their bones. They were inspired by this.
Immediately he shouted: "Brother, you are right! If there is no country but a general, what is your home?"
"Everyone went to write the memorial. After finishing it, they all submitted it together and sat in the cabinet for a vegetarian meal!"
"Shangshu! Shangshu!"
In response to the call, most of the officials swarmed towards the door of the warehouse. The remaining few who were relatively gentle and fearful hesitated for a while, but finally couldn't bear the delay in arrears of salary, so they walked out of the door.
Even the officials from the Ministry of Household Affairs saw it and were ready to take action. Aren't they in debt for a long time?
"Let's go! Let's go too!"
Finally, most of the officials left together, but there were still a few who remained, but they looked at the thin official who had been sitting quietly at the eucalyptus table: "Hai Gangfeng, don't you go and read a book?
"
The thin official said coldly: "It's useless if you take it."
The Ministry of Household official laughed and said, "The famous Haibijie sometimes shrinks, I'll wait for it!"
The thin official didn't even look at the majestic backs of this group of people. He sat in the empty Guangying library, remained silent for a long time, and then stood up.
He is ready to go home.
No matter how difficult the new year is, you must honor your mother and take care of your pregnant wife.
As for some things, you might as well wait until your wife gives birth and send your mother out of Beijing, and then you can take care of it...
But at this moment, his feet suddenly stopped and he looked not far away.
There was a woman with a holy face standing quietly, looking at him, and then nodded and smiled.
The thin official was stunned for a moment, and looked again with wide eyes. The figure had disappeared into the snow and wind in the sky, and there was no trace.