The Ming Dynasty’s Prodigal Son - Chapter 1749

[1749. Chapter 1663 Send to the Emperor]

When Xiao Jing saw Emperor Hongzhi, he burst into tears, so much so that even Fang Jifan couldn’t help but sigh.

After finally finding Xiao Jing, Emperor Hongzhi was naturally happy. He stayed in Nanjing for some time, while Xishan Bank took over the land, made a series of arrangements, and began to list it rent-free.

Although the south of the Yangtze River is a land of plenty, it also has a lot of people and little land. Unlike in the north, where each household can rent thirty to fifty acres, it would be good to have ten to eight acres.

Now people are rushing to rent, but they are also causing a lot of jokes and troubles.

The Hangzhou government reported that because a certain village disliked that the land it rented was not as good as that of neighboring villages, they actually started a fight and killed two young men. Others complained that their land was too small, and the bank only rented it based on households. However, the population of each household was different, which was unfair.

There may be only one or two such farces in each prefecture or county, but they add up to a lot. By the time Emperor Hongzhi arrives, there will be quite a few.

Emperor Hongzhi couldn’t help but smile bitterly when he saw the report.

Even good governance may not satisfy everyone.

He called Fang Jifan. Seeing His Majesty’s gloomy look, Fang Jifan said: “Your Majesty, these are only a minority after all. There is nothing in the world that can be perfect. There are certainly people here who are making trouble unreasonably, but there are also some, indeed. It’s Xishan Bank’s mistake. It needs to be corrected. As long as there is no trouble, it is a good thing.”

Emperor Hongzhi nodded: “It has to be like this. Successor, do you know what the prince did in Beijing?”

This topic changed? It’s not that fast, but…

Fang Jifan looked surprised, and then his heart tightened. He wouldn’t burn down my house, would he?

“Your Majesty, what’s wrong with the prince?” Fang Jifan’s voice was filled with a trace of nervousness.

Emperor Hongzhi said with a sullen face: “I am still asking you, and you are still asking about me. It is precisely because I have no news and there is no word in this report that I came to ask you.”

Fang Jifan finally relaxed. It turned out that nothing happened, it would be fine if nothing happened.

His mood suddenly relaxed again, so Fang Jifan burst into laughter: “Your Majesty, His Majesty the Crown Prince is very witty and loves the people like a son. Now that His Majesty is traveling far away, His Majesty oversees the country, and the world is still at peace. This is the greatest good governance. It is said that those who are good at fighting have no great achievements. “

Emperor Hongzhi laughed after hearing this and said: “You are right, but I have been away from Beijing for so many days, but I still feel a little worried. Here in Jiangnan, Finally, the hidden danger has been eliminated, and I can rest easy. “

As he spoke, he continued to cheer up: “Go back to Beijing in a few days, and send an order to the various departments in Nanjing, telling them… I am leaving, so there is no need to see you off. , and there is no need to disturb the people. “

Fang Jifan also felt that it was reasonable, so he responded one by one.

Then he said goodbye and came out, but he happened to meet the British Duke Zhang Mao walking towards him. Zhang Mao was old, with silver hair on his head that was visible to the naked eye. He looked like a hero in his twilight years. Although he still had spirit, he still could not resist the erosion of time.

After meeting Fang Jifan, the British Duke slapped Fang Jifan’s shoulder hard: “Wei Guogong has arrived in Nanjing. He met with me and said… It’s thanks to you this time. If it hadn’t been for your kind words in front of His Majesty…”

Zhang Mao did not continue.

Fang Jifan smiled: “The kind words are beautiful words, and I am still talking with dry mouth. There is nothing I can do. After all… my nephew has a conscience.”

“You.” Zhang Mao shook his head and said, “You don’t know how to be humble either. , look at me, I am very cautious, this is the way to be a minister and a disciple. Although I am not accompanying your majesty, this time, the first thing that comes to mind is that your majesty wants to pay tribute to Xiaoling again. It’s me.”

Fang Jifan immediately said: “I don’t plan to go to worship all day long.”

As he said that, he ran away quickly. Zhang Mao wanted to chase him, but sadly found that he was so powerful back then. He was so quick-sighted when he lifted up this little naughty boy. How could this boy escape from his own five-finger mountain? But now…his waist and legs seem to have become dull.

So, he had to keep smiling and shaking his head: “Old, old, how could he run away when he was young.”

Then, he worked hard to cheer up and headed in the direction of Emperor Hongzhi.

………

Three days later, the weather has turned cold. Although the cold wind in the south of the Yangtze River is not as sharp as the knife in the capital, it is also exceptionally cold. The coldness in the humidity is always pervasive. Emperor Hongzhi I miss the heating in the capital.

Of course, in this early morning, Emperor Hongzhi got up early.

We are already busy here. Wei Guogong and Ying Gong went to wait outside early. Xiao Jing also stood under the corridor against the cold wind in the morning.

Teams of guards, with bright flags and armor, are still in high spirits and have been waiting outside silently.

Emperor Hongzhi came out and got on the carriage. The carriage drove slowly. After a while, Emperor Hongzhi ordered Fang Jifan to ride with him, and Fang Jifan got into the car.

Today…it’s time to drive back to Beijing.

After staying in Jiangnan for so long, Emperor Hongzhi was ready to return home.

It was warm in the carriage. Fang Jifan accompanied Emperor Hongzhi and poured him a cup of tea in the carriage.

Emperor Hongzhi nodded, picked up the tea cup, and said calmly: “Every winter, when the cold wind blows, I feel more and more that I am tired and my energy is always not as good as before. I get up early every morning, but I still feel the same.” If you are sleepy, your energy will not last long if you take a short nap.”

Fang Jifan said, “I will get back pain occasionally when I get up. Your Majesty, this is a common thing. I think your Majesty does not need to worry. When you return to the capital, Drink more fish oil and your body will become stronger.”

Emperor Hongzhi looked at Fang Jifan strangely: “Jifan already has backache at such a young age?”

“This…”

Seeing Fang Jifan’s embarrassment, Emperor Hongzhi smiled and did not continue to investigate further. He thought to himself: “Last night, there was some trouble again. This matter of rent-free land allocation is after all a matter of interest. The common people have a stake in it.” It makes sense to make a fuss.”

Although he expressed his understanding, Emperor Hongzhi seemed unhappy.

Fang Jifan could understand Emperor Hongzhi’s feelings.

It is obviously a good governance, and the people can benefit from it, and even in the future, hunger can be greatly alleviated. It can be said to be the first of its kind in history. However, the people still only look at the immediate benefits. Noisy, who is your majesty? How can you be happy after seeing this situation?

Fang Jifan simply remained silent. Emperor Hongzhi seemed to be sleepy again, so he did not continue talking. He lay half on the sofa, covered himself with a thin quilt, and closed his eyes to rest.

Along the way, the wheels of the carriage were turning, and there were only the occasional sounds of horse hooves and breathing. After all, it was still early, but it was only around nine o’clock. The sky outside was still dark. Emperor Hongzhi got up after taking a nap for a while, and said in a daze: “Where are you?”

“Your Majesty, you haven’t left the city yet.”

Emperor Hongzhi said strangely: “It must be three quarters past three o’clock. At this time, why are there no lights outside the carriages and horses?”

This is a very strange thing.

Emperor Hongzhi always liked to get up early, and sometimes he would go up to the tower to look far away. Nanjing was unusual. It was the old capital, with a large population and great prosperity. Logically speaking, at this time, even if there were not thousands of lights, there would always be many lights. , Emperor Hongzhi’s carriage, the curtains were open, but there was almost no light outside the glass window, as if it was midnight, and it was deathly silent.

Fang Jifan couldn’t come up with anything, so if you asked him about what happened early in the morning, you’d be asking the wrong person.

Emperor Hongzhi had regained his energy: “Where is this?”

Fang Jifan had no clue and shook his head upright.

Emperor Hongzhi sighed: “You have lived here for a long time, how could you not know that the Gongyuan is on the right side of the Wei Guogong Mansion, followed by the Confucius Temple, and after that, Yongqing Lane, along Yongqing Lane… that’s all, I am here, feeling groggy, and got out of the car for a walk. I am afraid that I will leave the city at this time. “

Emperor Hongzhi ordered the carriage to stop and got out of the carriage. Xiao Jing accompanied him outside the carriage and immediately helped him. Emperor Hongzhi. As soon as his feet landed on the ground, under the starlight, he saw a strange look on Xiao Jing’s face.

Emperor Hongzhi frowned and looked around, but then he was shocked.

In this darkness, the streets along the way were packed with people. People knelt beside the road without making any sound. There was no light in the houses and streets along the way. When the cold wind blew, Emperor Hongzhi shuddered. Even the heavy clothes on his body could not resist the cold wind, but in the darkness, the figure kneeling by the road remained motionless.

Emperor Hongzhi frowned and looked at Xiao Jing: “Who arranged it?”

“This…this…” Xiao Jing shook his head: “I don’t know.”

Emperor Hongzhi frowned again. He saw a person curled up by the roadside. With a small body, this is a little girl, who looks like seven or eight years old. She is also kneeling by the road in ignorance, with her little hands grasping the road paved with rain flower stones. Although she cannot see clearly, Emperor Hongzhi seems to be able to see it. The little hands were already blue and blue from the cold.

Emperor Hongzhi stepped forward quickly, reached the little girl, and said: “Get up.”

The girl raised her face, which was red from the cold, looked at Emperor Hongzhi, then looked at her parents beside her, and shook her head: “I said I can’t get up.”

“Your grandpa asked you to come?”

The girl nodded.

“What are you doing here?”

“Send it to the emperor… The emperor came to Jiangnan and gave us rent-free land, so that we can have food to eat and clothes to wear. Grandpa said, we must be grateful, otherwise we will be worse than animals, the emperor.” We are leaving today, so we came to see him off early in the morning. Grandpa also said that the emperor is old and must be very sleepy when he wakes up so early. We must not disturb his sleep. He also told my mother not to light the lamp before dawn, but here The black cloth is long in winter, I’m scared.”

Emperor Hongzhi looked at the child. There were many people behind him, and he couldn’t tell who his grandfather was. But at this moment, Emperor Hongzhi was stunned.

…………

Today is the National Day. First, I wish the motherland a happy 70th anniversary. I also wish everyone a happy National Day holiday. Tiger is also celebrating the National Day today. The update has been delayed a bit, Wan died. There will be another chapter later, but it may be late because we haven’t eaten dinner yet.

In addition, the monthly tickets are doubled at the beginning of the month. Please give me a guaranteed monthly ticket. After all, one vote is worth two votes. Thank you, everyone. Thank you.

(End of chapter)