Prodigal Son of the Ming Dynasty

  Chapter 203 Your Majesty's Heart Has Melted

  Seeing that everyone came out of the school, Xiao Jing looked around, and couldn't help but whisper to Emperor Hongzhi: "Your Majesty, it's getting late..."

  Here is his sad place, he doesn't want to stay here for a moment, he was really slapped in the face by Fang Jifan here, and it was a resounding slap in the face.

   This made Xiao Jing very sad, because he really wanted to leave this place quickly.

  Emperor Hongzhi frowned, staring at the distance with his eyes, in a thoughtful state, completely ignoring Xiao Jing, after a while, he looked back and waved to Fang Jifan.

   "Fang Jifan, come here!"

  Fang Jifan was about to rush over. Li Chaowen, a sycophant, is really annoying, and hindered my young master from sycophanting.

  So he trotted to the front of Emperor Hongzhi, just grinning and was about to speak.

  Emperor Hongzhi took the lead and asked, "How many refugees have been recruited from this Western Mountain?"

  Fang Jifan restrained himself with a smile on the corner of his mouth, and said truthfully to Emperor Hongzhi.

   "More than 3,600 households."

   "A lot." Emperor Hongzhi nodded, it was just a mine, with more than 3,000 households, which is equivalent to the population of a military household in a guard.

   "However, the population is less than 5,000. Your Majesty, you must know that although the refugees will bring their families, but... more people are alone. The population of each household is not large." Fang Jifan explained patiently.

  Emperor Hongzhi nodded, narrowed his eyes slightly, looked at the entire Western Mountain, and looked at the hard-working miners in the distance. The miners were busy under the sun and were not affected.

   Seeing such a busy scene, Emperor Hongzhi couldn't help but sigh with emotion.

   "Yeah, if it wasn't for being forced to an emergency, who would want to be a refugee? It's the same reason as that Wang San, why would he become a beggar if he was not in a desperate situation. Tell me, how should I deal with this Wang San?"

   "I will not be held accountable!" Fang Jifan replied firmly.

  Xiao Jing, who was behind Emperor Hongzhi, couldn't help admiring Fang Jifan's boldness. In any case, what Wang San committed was a crime of death. You let Fang Jifan go as soon as you said it?

  You are so young, you don’t even think about what you do or say.

  However, Emperor Hongzhi was not angry, but looked deeply at Fang Jifan, and asked in confusion: "Why?"

  Fang Jifan thought carefully before speaking slowly.

"I'm thinking, if I'm in his situation, I can't eat enough, I don't have warm clothes, and I'm oppressed by the government. It is inevitable that the leader of the beggar gang committed a great crime of treason. As Na Wangsan said, it is only natural for the ministers to be loyal, because Fang's family has been honored by the state, just like Xiao Gonggong and Commander Mou are loyal to His Majesty The same is true, but any of us, when we are in his situation, ask ourselves, can we still be loyal to the court and His Majesty?"

   "..."

   These words... are too bold.

  Mou Bin and Xiao Jing said in unison: "The minister (servant) swears allegiance to His Majesty to the death. No matter what the situation is, the heart of repaying the service will never change."

  They wished they could spit Fang Jifan to death. It’s fine for you to compare yourself to a rebellious party, and drag us into the water.

  Emperor Hongzhi ignored the words of Xiao Jing and Mou Bin, but frowned, stared at Fang Jifan, with a wry smile on his lips: "It seems that if it was that time, even you would think that I am a fool."

  Fang Jifan was busy shaking his head.

"No, if I'm Wang San, I have no way of knowing whether your majesty is wise or stupid. I only know that the officials are sent by your majesty. If they love the people, I will think that your majesty is a good emperor. For Wang San and the others, His Majesty is a tyrant. That's why I want some disciples to come and teach them a good lesson. I don't want them to ruin His Majesty and my reputation. "

"..." Emperor Hongzhi smiled, with a noncommittal look: "This statement is reasonable. A teacher must teach his disciples the principles of life; a ruler, if he wants to govern the world, he should also restrain his ministers, otherwise, let them go. If you harm the people, you are harming yourself. As for this Wang San..."

  When he said this, he paused, but raised his eyes, looked around again, and pointed to the place where the green smoke curled up: "That village is the settlement of the miners, right? It looks very dirty there."

  Fang Jifan complained in his heart, why doesn't the emperor eat minced meat? Do you think that everywhere is the Forbidden City, and everywhere is the inner city of Beijing?

  Fang Jifan chuckled: "I have already told that old fellow Wang Jinyuan to pay attention to hygiene. I will beat him to death tomorrow."

"..." Emperor Hongzhi sometimes found that Fang Jifan's words were easy to absorb and digest, and often thought-provoking, but sometimes, it was not easy to understand, but he did not continue to study, but continued to look at the distant village: " Why don't you take me to have a look, I want to see what it's like to live in this place where Wang San would rather give up his help and helmsman."

  Fang Jifan hesitated for a moment, but it was only for a moment, but he smiled: "Okay, let's go."

  Fang Jifan took the lead, and Zhu Houzhao trotted to catch up, as if asking for credit.

   "Father, my ministers also know the way, and my ministers often come here."

  Emperor Hongzhi noticed Zhu Houzhao, and kept a straight face without saying a word.

  Mu Bin looked nervous, pressed the handle of the knife at his waist, and followed Emperor Hongzhi closely.

  In his opinion, there...is no different from a den of thieves. After all, he is extremely cautious and cannot make any mistakes.

   A group of people went back and forth and arrived at the village.

   Most of the men have gone to work, and only some women are cooking. Surrounding the village, there is a well, and a group of women are washing clothes around the well water. From a distance, there is the smell of saponins.

  Emperor Hongzhi looked around with his hands behind his back, a pair of bright eyes, as if he felt that everything here was curious.

   Obviously, the environment here is not good, perhaps because there is a toilet not far away, so after walking a few more steps, there is a strange smell.

  There are no stone slabs on the roads here, because there are mostly coal miners here, so cinders and mud are mixed together, and black muddy water is everywhere.

The so-called dwellings are actually very ordinary. They are all earthen rammed earth houses. Some wooden boards are used for the doors and windows, but most of these boards are willow wood, which is not uncommon, not to mention the workmanship. There is a huge difference from carved beams and painted buildings. .

   It can be said that many places in this place are far worse.

But…

  Emperor Hongzhi frowned even deeper, his eyes flashed a hint of incomprehension, and his face was also full of surprise.

  Here... is what Wang San called 'a place to settle down'?

   "Xiao Banban..."

   When Xiao Jing heard Emperor Hongzhi calling him, he stepped forward quickly: "The servant is here."

  Emperor Hongzhi stared deeply at Xiao Jing, and asked very seriously: "How is it here?"

  Xiao Jing thought for a while, in fact he really wanted to cover his nose, but His Majesty never covered his nose, how could he dare, he apologized and said with a smile: "The most humble **** in the palace has a better place to live than here."

   This metaphor is very appropriate.

Emperor Hongzhi nodded his head and nodded. Usually, he only read the memorials about how difficult the people’s livelihood is. Now he has refreshed his understanding. Then, how bad was the environment that Wang San and the others were in before, so he thought that this place gave them a place to stay Woolen cloth?

  He didn't dare to imagine, and his brows frowned even deeper.

  Unexpectedly, as soon as Xiao Jing mentioned the lowest **** in the palace, Fang Jifan's eyes lit up, and he couldn't help but said: "This is why many people are eager to become eunuchs."

   "..."

   These words were harsh no matter how they sounded, Xiao Jing couldn't help but stare at him, feeling that Fang Jifan was mocking him.

  Emperor Hongzhi smiled, looked at the thatched roof of the house, and couldn't help looking at Fang Jifan: "Where does Wang San's house live?"

  Fang Jifan stepped forward and inquired about Wang San's residence. After a while, a group of people arrived at Wang San's house.

  Here...is still unsightly.

   "Iron egg is back?"

  In the house, someone seemed to have heard the movement, an old woman shouted.

   This iron egg is probably the son of Wang San, that legendary young man who happily married his bride.

  It's really enviable... Fang Jifan thought to himself, I don't have a girlfriend yet.

  When the old woman came out happily wearing an apron, she was stunned when she saw Fang Jifan.

  She hesitated for a long time... before she stammered and made a sound.

   "It's two... benefactors..."

  It seems... She had seen Fang Jifan and Zhu Houzhao from afar before.

  Zhu Houzhao's eyes sparkled suddenly, and he was very excited. Finally...someone recognized him.

   "That's right, it's Ben...me!" Zhu Houzhao couldn't wait to recognize each other.

This old woman has white beard and hair, and her eyes are cloudy. Logically speaking, she is probably Wang San's wife. She is about forty years old, but looking at her like this, I am afraid that she is sixty years old. Fang Jifan Also convinced.

The old woman paused for a moment, as if she had confirmed the identities of Zhu Houzhao and Fang Jifan. Immediately, the tears could not be contained, and fell down with a thud. She fell to the ground tremblingly, and said with a choked voice, "I greet you two benefactors, both of you!" Your benefactor waits for all generations..."

   This kneeling...

  Emperor Hongzhi, who stood on the sidelines and watched coldly, was heartbroken!

  He stared at this scene dumbfounded, his face full of disbelief.

   In fact, before Fang Jifan stepped forward to help the old woman, Zhu Houzhao was one step ahead of Fang Jifan. Old Fang, you have been in the limelight. It is not easy for someone to recognize this benefactor of the palace. Go and cool off.

Zhu Houzhao's excited eyes were red, his face was like a 'peach blossom', he stepped forward, held the old woman by his arm, and said with a smile: "You don't need to be polite, this... this little favor from my son is nothing, it should not be such a big gift. , old man, you have a really good memory."

   This is a sincere compliment, those ungrateful **** have their consciences eaten by dogs, I just remember that Fang Jifan doesn't remember Bengong, none of them can compare to this old woman's finger.

  (end of this chapter)