When Liu Che first heard that the Empress Dowager was going to mobilize the Northern Army into Chang'an, he immediately thought that he might have been deceived by his aunt and mother-in-law. After hearing the second half of the eunuch's words, he felt happy again. It was clear from this incident that
If someone said something nice in Changle Palace, the Empress Dowager would hand over military power to him. Military power was something an emperor could only dream of.
After the chamberlain finished speaking, Liu Che pretended to pick up a scroll of memorials and asked casually: "Okay, I understand. After I left today, who went to Changle Palace?"
The chamberlain hurriedly said: "Your Majesty, here are the eldest princess of Guantao, the imperial censor Zhuang Qingzhai, and Yilang Su Ren!"
"Su Ren?"
"Yes! It was Zhuang Qingzhai, the imperial censor, who brought Su Ren there."
Liu Che nodded: "Go back and report to the Queen Mother. I will definitely handle the matter well and never let down the trust of the Queen Mother!"
After dismissing the chamberlains of Changle Palace, Liu Che immediately threw down the bamboo slips, paced back and forth in the room happily, turned around two or three times, and quickly ordered: "Go, find Li Guang and Cheng Bushi, I want to discuss important matters with them!"
Su Ren wandered back home, and everyone at home was very anxious. Everyone knew that Su Ren and Liu Piao were not going to deal with each other. The Empress Dowager was Liu Piao's biological mother. No one knew what he was doing in Changle Palace and what would happen.
No one knew. When Su Ren came in, Sima Xiangru hurriedly came to greet him.
"You're finally back, nothing happened?"
Seeing the posture in the lobby, Su Ren quickly saluted Dong Zhongshu and Wen Dang: "I've made you two gentlemen worried, but I'm fine!"
"It's okay!" Wen Dang nodded.
Dong Zhongshu frowned: "What's the matter?"
"The Empress Dowager asked me about my arrogance against Chang'an and asked me to come up with a solution!"
"How did you answer?"
"Tell the truth, kid, to stabilize Chang'an, the powerful must be driven out!"
"Expulsion? You really dare to think about it!" Dong Zhongshu was a little angry: "The matter of the Imperial Academy has not been revealed yet. How could the Empress Dowager ask you about such a thing?"
To be honest, Su Ren didn't understand it. Judging from Dong Zhongshu's posture, he was worried that Su Ren would favor the Empress Dowager and become an obstacle in the dispute between Taoism and Confucianism. Su Ren smiled and said: "This kid doesn't know either, but don't worry, sir.
Starting from today, I will work wholeheartedly to build the Imperial Academy as soon as possible."
"I hope so!" Dong Zhongshu ignored everyone and turned around to go out. Others didn't know why, but Wen Dang knew it and patted Su Ren on the shoulder and followed Dong Zhongshu out.
Sima Xiangru smiled slightly: "It's okay. Just now you said you wanted to build the Imperial College, but people in Chang'an are panicking at the moment. Such a big thing happened to the Imperial College a few days ago. I'm afraid there is not enough manpower."
"Don't be in a hurry, use as many people as you have, work it out little by little, and you'll be done eventually!" Su Ren sat on the chair where Dong Zhongshu was sitting just now: "In a few days, Chang'an will slowly get better, and there will be people
Yes, as long as the river channel and foundation work is completed, not many people will be needed for other things."
Leng Jun asked quickly: "What? Do they have a way?"
Su Ren smiled: "It was originally a strategy of the emperor. Now that the goal has been achieved, it is time to close the net. Naturally, it will not continue to be so chaotic."
"It was you who gave Liu Che the idea, right? Do you know who are behind those powerful men? It's hard for us to deal with just one Liu Che, let alone so many people."
"Afraid?" Su Ren looked at him with a stern smile.
"Aren't you afraid?" Leng Jun said with a cold face: "There are hundreds of people here. Now is not the time when we are watching Laojun. If something happens to you, so many people will be buried with you!"
"Don't worry, it's okay!"
"Humph!" Leng Jun snorted coldly and walked away angrily.
Sima Xiangru sighed: "Brother Leng is right, Chang'an is not as good as Shuzhong. In Shuzhong, we had Governor Wen, Wenshui and Yuanshan we could rely on, but it's different here."
Su Ren nodded: "I have concerns and will be careful."
The Taixue construction site started again. In order to avoid problems again, Su Ren left the necessary guards and called in all the others. Cui Chengru also persuaded several merchants to remove many servants and guards to assist Su Ren. In order to let Su Ren
The people and craftsmen were relieved, so Su Ren specially opened up a place and built a work shed for the people and craftsmen to rest temporarily.
There were too few manpower, and the river excavation could only be done temporarily. The construction of Taixue was the top priority, so all the manpower was concentrated to start clearing the area of Taixue. Su Ren and his people stayed at the construction site twelve hours a day.
Watching deep pits being dug out of the originally flat land, and scaffolding being erected where houses need to be built. Occasionally, Su Ren would help. He was sweating profusely and covered in mud, but he enjoyed it.
When the peasants and craftsmen met, they felt that this Su Yilang was really different. He could put down his body and do the same work as them, and pay back wages every day. Naturally, he went all out. He had the strength to work hard and was skilled in the work.
Out of 12 points, everyone worked hard for the quality of the project. If there is a little dissatisfaction, I can't wait to slap myself in the mouth.
Holding a large pile of thick bowls in his arms, Huang Shisan and Shi Bao were carrying the burdens behind him. Su Ren stood in the square and shouted loudly: "Everyone, please have a rest! Drink some water before you do it. Today's water is full of water."
Frosting!”
Sugar is a high-end product that ordinary people don't have at home. It is extremely luxurious to put sugar in water. Su Ren knew that the peasants and craftsmen did physical work every day, so he drank some sugar water to replenish some energy to avoid collapse from exhaustion.
Everyone surrounding Su Ren had smiles on their faces. Su Ren was chatting with several peasants while filling them with water.
"Let's all drink some, not too much. Don't dislike it!"
"Su Yilang is benevolent and righteous, I will do my best!"
"Okay, what I want is your word. If it is completed ahead of schedule, I will give you a few more days of wages!"
"Thank you Su Yilang!"
The prototype of Taixue has emerged. There is room for the artificial lake in the middle. The foundations of the surrounding buildings are also being compacted. The wood has been transported and is being renovated. The uneven earth walls are connected to each other and are made of fine clay.
, with firewood added in the middle, which is very thick and strong. The bricklayer next to him stacked the tiles in the open space to dry, and after firing, they became roof tiles. This was Su Ren's invention. He did not use wooden boards and firewood, and the roof tiles were comparable to those
Things last a long time.
Dong Zhongshu stood with his hands behind his back at the place where the artificial lake would be dug in the future. He was looking at the Taixue Hall under construction. According to Su Ren's wishes, a statue of Confucius would be built at the front entrance. He had already found someone to draw the picture. Dong Zhongshu was very satisfied with this.
Su Ren came over with a bowl of water and handed it to Dong Zhongshu with a smile: "Mr. Dong, would you like to drink some water?"
Dong Zhongshu glanced at Su Ren and said, "Are you really sure that the Empress Dowager agrees to build a statue of Confucius in Taixue?"
Su Ren chuckled: "We agree or disagree, let's figure it out first, it's a done deal, we'll talk about it later."
"Nonsense!" Dong Zhongshu's face immediately darkened.
"Sir, don't be angry. Your Majesty approves this matter. As long as your Majesty agrees, the problem with the Queen Mother will not be too big. Just rest assured that if we build it, will it be destroyed?"
Dong Zhongshu glanced at Su Ren. These days, Su Ren stayed at the construction site day and night. He looked a little thin. His already thin body became even thinner. When the northwest wind blew, the clothes he wore were loose and loose. Drink
Taking a sip of sugar water, Dong Zhongshu said: "Take care of yourself. This Imperial Academy cannot be built in a day. Without you, who knows what it would be like."
Su Ren smiled and nodded repeatedly: "You know, boy!"
The northwest wind is blowing, and winter is coming in the north. Desolation and coldness are the biggest characteristics of winter, but Chang'an City is boiling. Ever since the Northern Army suddenly appeared in Chang'an, the demons and monsters in Chang'an City have been panicked. They have already had a premonition.
When danger came, they all sought protection from their superiors. However, this time it seemed different from the past. Their superiors all lost their voices in unison.
Su Kai stood in front of Liu Che and pointed at the map of Chang'an to report the situation of Chang'an's powerful forces. Li Guang and Cheng Bushi listened quietly. When Su Kai finished speaking, Liu Che nodded: "Very good, I didn't expect Chang'an."
There are so many people with evil intentions hidden in the city!"
Su Kai said: "Most of these people are concentrated in the houses of the emperor's relatives as retainers. They are not registered in the household and do not pay taxes or food. They rely on the power of their superiors to carry out robberies in Chang'an City. The most powerful among them are
One family owned 300 hectares of land outside the city and built a manor with hundreds of slaves and more than 200 subordinates, all of whom were local gangsters or gangsters."
"It's unreasonable! It's really unreasonable!" Liu Che said angrily: "Li Guang, Cheng Buzhi, you two have also heard it. I will tell you clearly today, no matter who is behind them, no matter how powerful they are, they will all be arrested.
Don’t let one go!”
"No!" Li Guang and Cheng Bushi saluted quickly.
After sending away Li Guang and Cheng Bushi, Liu Che breathed a sigh of relief. He looked at Su Kai with a determined look and said, "It's been a hard time. I heard that you are married and have children. I'll give you a few days to rest and go back."
Stay with them!"
"Thank you, Your Majesty! The affairs of the minister are not over yet. It will not be too late to wait until Chang'an is completely settled before taking a rest!"
Liu Che nodded with satisfaction: "Su Ren is really right. You are indeed loyal to my big man. I am very happy. Last time I asked you to send people to make trouble at the Taixue construction site. I heard that Sima Xiangru was beaten. Is he okay?
"
"Your Majesty, don't worry, the people you send are measured!"
Liu Che smiled: "Speaking of which, what I did was not honest. I will explain it to Su Ren when the matter is over. Solving the problem that the powerful man has had in my heart is gone. Su Ren has done a lot of credit. He is now focused on
There are many people in the Imperial College building, and I am afraid that those people will not give up. You should send people to protect them and make sure nothing goes wrong."
"No, I understand!"
The first snow finally fell, and the whole of Chang'an turned white overnight. The weather was still good in ancient times, the air was not polluted, and the falling snow was white, pure, and crystal clear. The brazier in the house was lit.
It was so smoky that people choked and couldn't open their eyes. The weather was too cold and no one wanted to go out. Su Ren had to huddle in the room with tears in his eyes.
Liu Gao brought Xuehua into the house, and a blast of air-conditioning made Su Ren tremble all over, and asked quickly: "Where is the person? Have you found him?" (To be continued)