[Qing Chuan] Mu Emperor's Grace

Hongli is not happy, this is the unanimous cognition of the officials accompanying him in recent days.

Ever since the Xu Ji and Cathay incidents happened, Hongli lost interest in traveling around.Sometimes he will be trapped in another courtyard for a day, and it is difficult to see him from the concubines to the ministers.

Of course, He Shen is an exception.As the general manager of the emperor's daily life, he still called Hongli to get up on time every day.Trivial tasks like changing clothes and washing up were naturally undertaken by He Shen.

On this day, He Shen was tying Hongli's clothes when he suddenly heard a sentence: "He Shen, call Yong Yan and Yong Yan today, and you will follow me to the pier to have a look."

He Shen was stunned, then smiled and said: "After being bored in the house for so many days, the emperor is finally going out. I see that the weather outside is good today." Then, he picked up the silver chopsticks and put them in the Hongli bowl He ordered a steamed bun rolled with bamboo joints, and said softly, "Try it, Your Majesty, it's very refreshing, and you won't get tired of eating it during the day."

Hongli put the steamed bun into his mouth, and it was just as He Shen said, it was crispy and refreshing, with a lingering fragrance on his teeth and cheeks.

What He Shen doesn't know is that Hongli is not hiding in the house and sulking these days.He recalled the entire process of the Shandong Guotai case in his previous life.

Cathay Pacific was punished in the previous life after Wang Lun's uprising.At that time, Cathay was promoted to governor of Shandong and replaced Xu Ji.It was because Hongli believed that Xu Ji was incompetent in governing, which led the people to turn against him.However, Guotai was usually a reliable person, so it was not only because of Qianlong’s trust that he was appointed governor of Shandong, but more importantly, Hongli hoped that through Cathay, the central government’s control over Shandong could be tightened.

Like the kings of past dynasties, the pampered Hongli is not a person who is good at introspection.For the public to stir up troubles, he naturally attributed it to the violent folk customs in Shandong, and Wang Lun's fortune was a side branch of the White Lotus Sect.Hongli characterized this responsibility as the white lotus believers inciting popular uprisings, and the final result was to intensify the search and arrest of the white lotus believers throughout the country.

During this period, Agui, Fu Long'an and others also mentioned to Hongli either explicitly or secretly: the local government in Shandong was also the key to Wang Lun's uprising.The people in Shandong were overwhelmed by the food grain collected year after year. In addition, the local officials cleverly set up names and forcibly apportioned the food, which finally pushed the people to a limit.

But Hongli was unwilling to admit this statement from the bottom of his heart. He still remembered that He Shen was in front of him at that time, bragging repeatedly about his political achievements since Yuji.It is said that in this peaceful and prosperous age, there is plenty of food, how can the common people feel indebted to the emperor because of a little grain?

After talking too much, Hongli believed it completely.

But what Hongli saw in this life was not what He Shen said.He saw how Xu Ji and the others stole the money and turned the silver storehouse and grain storehouse into their own private property.Really, as Agui and others said, Shandong's official administration has long been rotten to the root.

There is a saying that if the upper beam is not straight, the lower beam is crooked.If the governor of a province acts like this, how can the officials under him, the finances of the local prefectures and counties, be any better?

Every time he thinks about this, Hongli feels that he can't eat.He looked at He Shen's handsome profile, and obediently held the food for him, but suddenly felt that the words he said in the previous life may not be sincere.Most of the time, it's just that he has seen his own mind and figured out his temper, so he hits the mark and says what he wants to hear.

Looking at the food in the bowl, Hongli lost his appetite. He took the handkerchief and wiped it, and said in a deep voice, "Let's go to the pier."

Along the Xiaoqing River to Daming Lake, there are many large and small piers.Some ships in the past transported salt, rice and other materials to the city of Jinan, and most of them were water transport ships from the south. They stopped in Shandong for supplies before rushing to the capital.

Hongli led Yongzheng and Yongyan, and asked a boatman, "Boatman, what are you transporting, and where are you going?"

The boatman took a look at him, saw that he was well-dressed and had an extraordinary bearing, so he knew that his identity was not simple.Seeing that the four of them behaved well, they nodded and said: "This boat is grain from Shandong, and it is going to be transported to the capital."

Hongli nodded and said: "The grain is provided by Tiangeng. You have made great contributions to transporting grain to the capital for thousands of miles."

Unexpectedly, the boatman sighed: "Whatever Tian Geng's official offering is a false name, the most important thing is to fill the stomach."

Hongli frowned and said, "How do you say that?"

The boatman curled his lips: "It looks like this man was born in a wealthy family, he really doesn't know what it means to be rich. The price of rice in this market has risen to 34 five yuan, which is not so high even in previous years. 27 Bawen can no longer be tolerated."

Seeing that Hongli frowned and remained silent, the boatman went on to say, "I often hear from the old people that the price of rice was only seven cents a liter during the reign of the Grandfather. Nowadays, rice growers can't afford rice. Everyone on this boat It's our blood and sweat, who cares about a word of praise from the court?"

Before Hongli could speak, Yongzhen blushed and shouted, "Presumptuous, how dare you..."

The boatman looked at Yongzhen inexplicably, and said strangely: "You child, why do you talk to the elders?"

Yongzhen was still about to answer, but He Shen stopped him first: "Brother, don't mind, this kid has been arguing with others since he was a child, and I apologize to you on his behalf."

The boatman snorted, but he heard Hongli say: "But except for the grain, don't every household have any surplus grain?"

"Don't mention it, it's not bad in a good year like today. If the harvest is not harvested every year, the government will only buy storage, and the surplus grain will be confiscated."

Seeing the distressed expression on the boatman's face, Hongli's tone was full of resentment, and his heart was also very depressed. Even his voice sank unconsciously: "Is it not a good thing for the government to buy grain? If there is a natural disaster, the grain purchased by the government will It can solve the urgent needs of the people.”

The boatman shook his head and sighed: "You don't know about this. After the grain has entered the official warehouse, how can it come out again? Take this Jinan city as an example, the governor is the biggest merchant. In that city The granary in his house is the rice vat in the backyard of his house. The harvested rice is sold at a high price to the rich local households. The people in the city know that if there is a real famine, they will not be able to wait for the relief from the government. They want to survive Kneel down in front of the rich households in droves, sell their few acres of Susukida to them, and become tenant farmers of the wealthy households, this is the only way out."

Hongli's face was completely gloomy. If he hadn't heard these words from the people with his own ears, he really thought that the Qing Dynasty was the same as what he heard in the Jinluan Hall: the world is peaceful, and the people live and work in peace and contentment.

He Shen also thought to himself, no wonder the Wang Lun uprising broke out when Xu Ji took office.If there is a glimmer of hope, no one will embark on the road of uprising with their lives hanging by a thread.That year, Shandong had a small harvest because of the severe drought. After the water transport took away part of it, the government tried every means to exchange grain from the people for money.

Hongli turned around slowly, and said softly: "Let's go." He Shen followed behind him, seeing that his footsteps were a little sloppy, he hurried forward to support him.

Hongli's eyes were slack, and he didn't know where to focus his eyes. He Shen couldn't help calling out: "Your Majesty... Your Majesty..."

Hongli suddenly said without beginning or end: "He Shen, do you think that I, the emperor, have failed very well?"

He Shen knew that the words of the boatman had greatly shocked Hongli, so he persuaded softly: "The emperor is the hero of the sky, how could he fail?"

Hongli laughed and said: "You, you just know how to say nice things. Tell me, what should I do this time?" When Hongli asked, he didn't hold out much hope. He originally thought that He Shen would use compliments Perfunctory, or simply reprimand the boatman for talking nonsense to deceive the saints.Heshen never thought about it but said solemnly: "The most urgent thing is to ask for the price of square rice. The reasons for the high price of rice are: one is that the population of the Qianlong Dynasty increased significantly compared with the Kang and Yong Dynasties, and the population was large with less arable land. Naturally insufficient. These two are grain storage, the starting point of grain storage is excellent. But with Xu Ji’s approach, grain storage will not only fail to play its due role, but will also become a burden for the people.”

Hongli looked at He Shen in amazement, and it was hard to believe that these analyzes came from his mouth: "According to you, I can't change the increase in population, but we have to start with the first level of purchasing?"

He Shen did not answer Hongli's question directly, but asked instead: "Has the emperor ever heard a saying? The green wheat in the field has been rented by others. I don't want to discuss the exemption, but I hope to delay the pursuit."

In an instant, Hongli understood He Shen's meaning: "You mean, the government's annual purchase amount can be reduced as appropriate?"

He Shen smiled and said: "The emperor can do more than that. Although the grain is provided by Tiangeng, in the final analysis, it is the monthly tax paid by the farmers to everyone in Beijing. The emperor can forgive it at his discretion. One can make People all over the world know the emperor's determination to love the people like his son; secondly, it can also lighten the burden on the peasants' shoulders."

"Exemption of grain?" Hongli murmured, he really never thought of this level.Hearing Heshen's proposal, Yongzhen frowned: "I think this is inappropriate. Provinces such as Jiangsu, Zhejiang, and Shandong have always had to pay grain grains according to the rules. If there is a precedent for relief, there will be a There will be two, and it will be difficult to manage strictly."

He Shen didn't expect Yongzheng to intervene at this time, but he also lamented that this [-]th elder brother really learned the emperor's mind skills ten percent.It's a pity that Xu Shi has received too little love and care since he was a child, and he is more than smart in his actions but not lenient enough.

He Shen said softly: "This statement is wrong. If the grain is not waived at this time, the people are forced to make a living, and it is very likely that they will take risks and revolt. Such people are the easiest to be used by villains. Benevolence and enlightenment, At the right time, it can stabilize the hearts of the people. If it is like what elder brother said just now, the vision is not long-term enough. Although it can preserve the immediate profit, it cannot make the country long-term stability."

Yong Xing blushed at what he said, and gave He Shen a hard look.Hongli was taken aback by He Shen's words "rise up from the pole".

Is it a coincidence that He Shen told the truth, or did he know it too?If it is not changed in time, the Wang Lun uprising will break out soon?

He Shen's attention was on Yong Xin, so he didn't notice the emperor's scrutinizing eyes.After a while, he heard Hongli say slowly: "Just do as you say, and plan to exempt all provinces from grain for three years."