"The weather this year looks bad!" Zhong Jinwei suddenly said this while riding on his horse, looking up at the sky on the way to the Forbidden City.
Li Laosi also looked at the sky and found nothing. He scratched his head and said nothing.
However, Gu Baichuan noticed something different and asked Zhong Jinwei: "Master Hou pointed out that the temperature seems to be much colder than in previous years."
Zhong Jinwei withdrew his gaze, turned to look at Gu Baichuan beside him and said, "Yes, the weather is getting colder. But I mainly lament that it hasn't snowed yet this year. By this time last year, it had almost already snowed."
When Gu Baichuan heard this, he felt a little embarrassed. But then he thought about it. Since Zhongxing Hou was in a high position, he had more to consider. He was just a subordinate, and his main duty was to protect Zhongxing Hou. It was normal to not expect this.
So, he followed Zhong Jinwei's thinking and said calmly: "The snow heralds a good harvest, but it seems that this year's harvest is not very good. If it doesn't snow this winter, next year's harvest will be even more uncertain!"
Zhong Jinwei nodded, with a worried look on his face, and said in a low voice: "The Little Ice Age is indeed well-deserved, the Ming Dynasty still has to fight hard to survive!"
I originally thought that it would be easier once the Jianlu were killed. However, it seems that the weather is becoming more and more difficult for the Ming Dynasty, and the disaster is likely to be more serious next year.
Zhong Jinwei couldn't help but think that the focus of the Ming Dynasty's future work might not be to open up frontiers and expand the territory, but to open up wasteland and cultivate fields to find food.
Gu Baichuan and others had heard the term Xiao Glacier from Zhong Jinwei's mouth several times. They were accustomed to it and no one asked him.
Zhong Jinwei thought about things along the way and soon arrived at the Forbidden City.
Still at the same place, Zhong Jinwei met Emperor Chongzhen in the Wenhua Palace and greeted Wen Tiren on the side.
Or perhaps it was a coincidence that the theme of today's meeting was also related to the disaster.
I saw Emperor Chongzhen picking up a large pile of memorials on the imperial table, shaking them towards Zhong Jinwei, and then throwing them on the imperial table and saying: "Many officials in Guangdong and Hainan provinces have written letters to impeach Zhang Tongchang for being cold-blooded and ruthless and unfit for inspection."
Disaster relief.”
These memorials first arrived at the cabinet and then were delivered to the imperial court by Wen Tiren. Therefore, Wen Tiren knew what was inside and did not show any special expression.
But Zhong Jinwei didn't know that his impression of Zhang Tongchang was pretty good. Now I heard that many officials had petitioned for impeachment. Maybe it was because he had watched too many TV dramas in the past, and his mind immediately reflected that Zhang Tongchang performed well in the disaster area.
If you offend someone, let's file a letter together to get rid of him.
But now that he is in a high position, his words have a lot of weight and influence. Therefore, he does not dare to be like the old lady, regardless of the truth, just his own understanding, and just say a few words.
Zhong Jinwei thought carefully for a moment, suddenly remembered something, and asked: "Your Majesty, is there any news about this in Dongchang?"
When Zhong Jinwei heard this, he nodded with a smile and said: "I have verified that most of the memorials given by these officials are exaggerated, or they avoid the important and ignore the important, in an attempt to misunderstand the court and remove Zhang Tongchang."
Jinshi gentlemen who were born in the imperial examination, play with the pen, that is their specialty. It does not have to be false accusations, frame-ups, etc. When using words, you only need to turn the pen slightly when using words, and you can understand the meaning.
Thousands of miles away. But often in this case, they cannot be convicted of false accusations.
Zhong Jinwei couldn't help but feel speechless when he heard that Emperor Chongzhen had already concluded the matter, but still told him about it. However, he was also a little curious and asked Emperor Chongzhen: "Your Majesty, how should we deal with this matter?"
After hearing this, Emperor Chongzhen glanced at Wen Tiren first, and then replied with a smile: "I have agreed with Wen Qing's intention, and plan to transfer all the memorials to Zhang Tongchang, and at the same time promote him to Zuo Qiandu Yushi."
When Zhong Jinwei heard this, he said repeatedly: "Wonderful, in this way, the local officials will know the court's intention. If they want to make any small moves, they must carefully consider it."
As soon as he finished speaking, Zhong Jinwei suddenly thought of an idea and added: "Among the many officials who submitted memorials, it would be better to select a few and then kill the chickens and scare the monkeys. The effect would be even better."
After hearing this, Wen Tiren couldn't help but curl up the beard at the corner of his mouth, and laughed silently.
Emperor Chongzhen looked at Zhong Jinwei and said with a smile: "Master Zhong, you and Wen Qing have the same idea. I just didn't finish speaking, and I was planning to say this again, but you said it."
When Zhong Jinwei heard this, he was a little embarrassed, as if he was showing off a bit. He looked at Wen Tiren and admired him in his heart. Regarding this kind of thing, in fact, Wen Tiren's political experience and grasp of people's hearts should be very proficient.
Wen Tiren saw Zhong Jinwei's expression in his eyes, but he did not laugh at Zhong Jinwei for wielding a sword in front of Guan Gong. Instead, he praised Zhong Xinghou and said: "Zhongxing Hou has made more and more progress, and he is now a completely different person than when we first met. Congratulations."
His Majesty!"
When Emperor Chongzhen heard this, he also smiled and said: "Master Zhong has been in Ming Dynasty for more than two years, and he has indeed changed a lot. However, Master Zhong's heart of rejoicing in Ming Dynasty has not changed."
Zhong Jinwei didn't expect that his words would get so many compliments, and he was a little embarrassed. He didn't feel comfortable taking up the topic, so he laughed and said: "I also feel that there has been progress. I used to be a little fat guy, but now I am in shape."
This handsome young man can make you laugh out loud in your dreams!"
As soon as he said these words, Emperor Chongzhen and Wen Tiren both laughed. Marquis Zhongxing was quite humorous sometimes.
Several palace maids standing on one side like wooden figures heard Zhong Jinwei's words and couldn't help but take a look at him secretly.
The atmosphere in the Wenhua Palace suddenly seemed relaxed and happy, which made the palace maids feel very happy. Because of this, their lives were the best.
After a while, Emperor Chongzhen picked up another memorial on the imperial table and said to Zhong Jinwei: "Master Zhong, this is the memorial written by Zhang Tongchang, saying that after every typhoon along the coast of the Ming Dynasty, the roads were muddy and the river embankments
It is easy to break up. It is recommended to increase the output of cement. It is best to have a cement factory in every county."
"This is very good. There is a lot of rain in the south, and cement needs to be popularized." Zhong Jinwei nodded after hearing this.
Emperor Chongzhen immediately revealed the real reason for recruiting Zhong Jinwei: "But I have asked the state-owned enterprises, they cannot spread it on such a large scale at once, and the output cannot meet the requirements of the affected provinces in the south. Master Zhong, what can you do?
"
When Emperor Chongzhen asked this question, he definitely did not mean to increase the manpower of state-owned enterprises and open more factories. Otherwise, there would be no need to call in the imperial guards.
Zhong Jinwei listened and thought about it, and three words immediately appeared in his mind, but after thinking about it carefully, he felt that there seemed to be a problem. For a moment, Zhong Jinwei was silent.
Emperor Chongzhen and Wen Tiren saw Zhong Jinwei's look and knew that he was thinking, so they did not disturb him. They waited for Zhong Jinwei to think about it before speaking themselves, so as not to interrupt his train of thought.