On November 21, the seventh year of Wanli, the 34th birthday of Empress Dowager Cisheng Li was approaching.

The Supervisor of Ceremonies issued an edict, in accordance with the Holy Mother's instructions, that on the twenty-eighth day of this month, the Chaotian Palace would be built to protect the country, bring peace to the people, and prevent disasters, and the funeral ceremonies would be held for three days and nights, executions would be suspended, and massacres would be banned for three days.

In order to rush back to celebrate the birthday of the Empress Dowager, the Emperor also ended his nearly one-month tour and returned to his loyal city of Beijing on November 23rd.

At the same time, there was an increasingly heated discussion about the emperor's official tour for the Dutian platform.

…

Dingxing County is part of Baoding Prefecture, North Zhili Province.

This place is very close to the capital, but far away from power. In addition, many academies have been built here, such as Si Xun, Chongzheng, Guangda, etc., and so on. Naturally, there are many students and a strong academic style. Whenever big or small things happen, there will be A group of students talked loudly about current affairs and criticized each other.

And the hobby of admonition is very easy to spread.

As we all know, colleges are often outside the law, and everything is handled internally. State government officials rarely get involved, so naturally they cannot be said to be restrained.

Therefore, I don’t know when, Dingxing County formed a unique custom of loving admonishment.

Just like Chongzheng Academy today.

A group of high-spirited young students were sitting in the corridor, warming wine, reciting poems and composing poems.

When the wine was full and my face was red and my ears were red, the topic gradually changed, and I began to write passionately and point out the country.

"...Be strict with yourself, and you will see the results; if you love the people, you will be sure to control your husband and govern the country."

"To be completely rebellious, I have never looked forward to a consistent future as much as I do now. I even said that if the emperor unfortunately gave up halfway, I might really be tempted to throw myself into the river."

A student grabbed the wine that had just warmed up, covered his sleeves and drank the rice wine in the cup in one gulp.

In the afternoon, heavy snowflakes drifted outside the porch.

Several students were sitting around the fire in the corridor, creating a good atmosphere for admonition.

A person at the same table swallowed the pig head meat in his mouth, shook his head and said: "It is right to be strict with oneself, but it is not necessary to be lenient to others. If the property of the officials can also be disclosed, it will be a complete merit. "

Widespread corruption has completely different public opinions in the officialdom and among the people.

Even though the crackdown on corruption has been fruitful since the first year of Wanli, the people naturally have higher expectations.

Especially at this point of land conquest, even the emperor was willing to clear out the imperial village and consecrate the land from top to bottom. Of course, these students were eager for the officials to follow suit and dig out the clan's land to bask in the sun.

The drinking man took another drink for himself and said with a smile: "You just go to the capital to give your opinions. I don't think it's your high opinions that are being solicited now."

A cold wind blew by.

Not only did a few people not feel the cold, but they went wild and opened their skirts a little and rolled up their sleeves.

One student clicked his tongue and said calmly: "It is unwise to act too hastily. You must first discipline yourself before you can discipline others."

"Not to mention the officials, just the emperor's self-discipline has already caused turmoil in the palace. After collecting opinions this time, it is still unclear whether it can be implemented in practice."

"Just take your time. If you have this attitude, the situation will eventually get better."

That's all for the common people. The students were better informed and more considerate of the emperor.

Apart from anything else, as soon as the emperor expressed his position this time, the inner court hurriedly called him back on the grounds that it was the Queen Mother's birthday.

Then news came that there was a huge quarrel in the palace - at least in the eyes of the concubines, eunuchs, and female officials in the palace, the emperor's move was tantamount to using the family's wealth to please outsiders.

In addition, the response from the official circles was not as enthusiastic as that from the scholars, and the public was so enthusiastic that it was somewhat ambiguous.

The pressure the emperor faced at this time was obviously not small.

This collection of opinions is said to be done before the first month of the year, and a result will be reached. Before then, it is obviously not suitable to tease the sensitive heartstrings of the officials.

The man who spoke just now couldn't help but sigh: "There is no need to say words of comfort, and I don't understand. It is precisely because I understand that I worry that the emperor may not be able to go to the step of publicizing the property of the officials."

The resistance to the emperor disclosing his property may not be too great, after all, it is his own flesh that is being cut.

The inner court's public accounts are all public accounts, so there is absolutely no reason to put them in other people's names.

In addition, countless pairs of eyes are watching, and the science and technology officials check the accounts on time every year, so it is a little more difficult to make public, but it is not difficult to clear the accounts.

If it is publicized to court officials, it will be a private account.

Who is watching what is being hidden in secret, what is being sent to someone else's name? Who is going to investigate?

We can't let the inner court and the outer court investigate each other, right? How many eunuchs are there in the inner court, and how many officials are there in the outer court?

Is it the Department of Science and Technology, or the Ministry of Personnel? Isn’t that a hero checking a hero, a hero checking a hero?

In the end, I'm afraid it's just a matter of showing how much the officials say.

At this time, a student who had been silent just now suddenly said: "There is no need to be so pessimistic. Newspapers dissect the New Deal and say every year that taking one step at a time is better than standing still. I always thought that in

Reason, it’s better to do it than not do it.”

"Furthermore, even if this action is only superficial, it is still a great good, and it is enough to shine through history."

This person is obviously not bad at school. He looks like he is in his early twenties, but his hair is quite gray.

Several students who were traveling with him heard this and looked at him one after another.

The man considered his words for a moment and then slowly said: "Since the founding of the country, this is the first time that an emperor is willing to tie his own hands and feet to serve the public."

"Once this matter is decided, it should be legalized. Even if it does not contribute to the current generation, it will still be regarded as a law established by the ancestors and will benefit the future."

After hearing this, several people fell into deep thought.

The emperor's move was not only to save the land, but also to clear out the imperial estate and give an explanation to the people of the world.

It also means from top to bottom, leading by example.

By tying one's own hands and feet in this way, the family world will give in to the public world, and it can be foreseen that it will be used to restrain all officials in the future...

No matter how effective it is, how can it be meaningless?

After a while.

Only then did someone sigh and sigh: "I only hope that the emperor will remain true to his heart and remain true to his resolve."

After a moment of silence, several people nodded one after another.

When he was about to say more, he saw several figures appearing in the sight of several people.

Several people looked up and saw that the dean of the academy was walking in front, followed by two wives on the left and right, welcoming a guest dressed in red flying fish silk and a large cloak as he walked out of the backyard.

The students quickly stopped talking and stood up to greet him.

"The chief of the mountain."

"Master."

Remonstrance is usually carried out among peers. If there are elders present, everyone will shut up in unison.

Especially this guest looks unusual at first sight - the big red flying fish silk was given by the palace, either from the local governor or from the central minister.

The dean smiled and returned the greetings to the students.

Immediately, he stretched out his hand to introduce the guest next to him: "This is Shen Li, the Duke of Longjiang, who is famous for his founder and integrity. Please come and greet me."

The students were stunned.

No wonder the outfit is so bluffing, he turns out to be one of the Imperial Masters.

"Mr. Longjiang."

"Students have heard of Longjiang Gong for a long time."

Several students looked at the important minister in front of them curiously while saluting and complimenting him.

Shen Li returned the gifts to the students meticulously.

Then he handed over to the dean: "I have to go to Beijing to take up my post, so I won't bother you anymore. I also ask Mr. Zichun to stay."

Of course, if you stay, you won't stay.

When a Confucian scholar sees him off, he never stays in the atrium.

After another round of pleasantries, the teachers and students took Shen Li outside the academy. Finally, the dean personally helped Shen Li onto the carriage, and both parties waved goodbye.

The wind and snow are getting stronger.

The carriage drove slowly and gradually disappeared into the heavy white snow.

…

In the carriage, the stepson Shen Yu respectfully handed the thick blanket to his father.

He talked about the next itinerary: "Sir, we can't get to Zhuozhou until late at night. We will rest overnight at Zhuozhou Post. We won't be able to reach the capital until noon tomorrow."

There is no waterway to enter Beijing from Henan, but a land route from Daming Prefecture to Beizhili, passing through Shunde Prefecture, Zhending Prefecture, and Baoding Prefecture.

It is already more winding than the water road, and there is more snow on the road.

Therefore, Shen Li's journey to Beijing to work seemed a bit slow and leisurely.

Shen Li took off his cloak and put it aside, then took the blanket and put it on his legs.

Shen Yu took the cloak smoothly, dusted off the snowflakes on it, put it on his lap and folded it in half: "Sir, your Majesty's announcement of the imperial property has received an extremely enthusiastic response from the public. Even the old farmers in the fields have many supporters. It is really like heaven." virtue."

This is of course what Shen Yu saw in Dingxing County - his father went to the academy alone to visit friends, and it was not like he didn't do anything. At least he went around the county and learned a lot.
To be continued...