The shadow of the country

Now, half a month later, Mu Yan got along very well with that Persian cat.At the moment in Lanling Palace, Mu Yan was gently following the soft white fur on the cat's back, and the cat's face gently rubbed against his hand.

At this moment, Yi Lan pushed the door open and came in with a rare serious expression on her face.Mu Yan hurriedly bent down to pay his respects.After Yilan sent all the palace people away and closed the palace door, Mu Yan stood up, "What's wrong? You look so ugly."

Yi Lan frowned slightly, and said: "Floods in the south. It's been two months, and the money and food are still not in the hands of the people. In the next few days, I'm afraid I will go to the south for a tour."

Mu Yan's expression froze, and he put down the cat in his arms, "Flood? Then will it be dangerous for you to go? Do all the ministers in the court have any objections?"

Yi Lan sneered, "Except for Dr. Zuo Jianyi (Lord Ye), everyone else is against it. The imperial court and local officials protect each other, and local officials withhold money and rations. How can the central and central officials support the Southern Tour? But it’s useless for them to have any opinions. This southern tour must severely punish these corrupt local officials. The Qin Tianjian has calculated the date, and it will be an auspicious day in six days, so we can start our journey.”

Mu Yan listened, bowed his head and remained silent for a long time, "You are going, I will go with you, is that okay?"

Yi Lan caressed Mu Yan's hair, "Yes. It's just that this southern tour is for disaster relief, not for fun, so the journey will be harder. But this southern tour also passed by your hometown. By the way, you can also visit your parents. I remember you mentioned it before, you are from Hengzhou, right?"

Mu Yan sighed softly, "Yes. I have been away from home for three years, and I only communicate with letters. My parents and younger sister are all in Hengzhou, and I haven't seen them for a long time."

"Then go and see them this time. If you want, you can bring them to live in the capital."

Mu Yan smiled slightly, then nodded lightly.

Six days later, Yu Jia set off from the capital in mighty force.During this southern tour, they traveled all the way south from the capital to Tanzhou, but still did not see half of the victims.Although the area around the south of the Yangtze River is a wealthy area, when the floods hit, it is impossible for the people to remain in this happy scene.

Yi Lan felt that something was wrong, so she summoned the governor of Jiangnan to interrogate her carefully.The emperor personally summoned him, and the official had no choice but to truthfully admit, "It is true that I sent away the victims in advance, so that they would not disturb the holy car. The crime deserves death, and the emperor forgives it!"

Looking at the official who kowtowed to the ground and pleaded guilty, Yi Lan said coldly: "Those refugees were displaced by natural disasters and were homeless. The alimony paid by the court was withheld by you people. In the end, the people had to sleep on the streets. Now that you have driven them to another place, euphemistically saying 'don't disturb the holy driver', shouldn't I reward you well?"

The emperor was furious, and the official was so frightened that he was sweating coldly, knelt down and trembled, and dared not say a word.Yi Lan's expression was still cold, "I won't hold you accountable for this matter. However, do you know how to deal with embezzlement and deception?"

"Return... to the emperor. According to the law of the country, under a million stones, one should be dismissed from office and exiled, while above a million stones, one should be beheaded for public display..."

"Then let me ask you, how much official rations have you withheld?"

The official didn't dare to hide anymore, and kowtowed on the ground, "The guilty minister...had embezzled 300 million stones of official rations. Your Majesty, I'm guilty! The guilty minister is willing to pay back twice with his own efforts. There are old mothers, wives and daughters in the criminal minister's home. I beg the emperor to show mercy! The emperor has mercy!..."

Yi Lan snorted coldly, her tone was as cold as ice, "You are quite capable. If you make up for it twice with your own power, it seems that there are not a few money that have been embezzled in the past. If I hadn't traveled south to this point, you still want to do it again." How much is deducted? How much more do you want the people in this area to starve to death?!"

Before the official could speak, Yi Lan turned her head to look at the accompanying courtiers behind her, and ordered: "Hand this person over to Dali Temple for a thorough investigation, and don't let his corrupt subordinates be spared, they must be severely punished!"

"I obey the order." Dali Temple officials responded.

At this time, Mu Yan who was standing behind Yilan gently pulled down the corner of his clothes calmly.Yi Lan understood immediately and asked the others to back down.After the group of people retreated, Yi Lan looked at Mu Yan and resumed her usual gentle tone, "What's wrong? What's the matter?"

Mu Yan seemed a little uneasy: "What will the people from Dali Temple do to the Jiangnan governor just now? Will he...will he die?"

"He embezzled 300 million shi and silver grains, and the natural death penalty is inevitable in accordance with the national law. Maybe his home will be ransacked after his death."

Mu Yan said cautiously: "But...he said just now that there are old mothers, wives and daughters in his family, and if his house was stolen, how would the family members of his family live?..."

"If a man is convicted, his wife and daughter will be exiled to the military camp as slaves. The law of the country has always been like this."

"But what does this have to do with his wife and daughter?"

Yilan sighed silently, and said, "Mu Yan, there is always a limit to kindness. The law of the country has always been like this. I came here to tour the south, but these officials drove the refugees to other places so that I wouldn't see them. The alimony was withheld, and countless people starved to death. These people are unforgivable, and their crimes are unforgivable. Do you still pity them?"

Mu Yan pursed her lips tightly, lowered her head and remained silent.Yilan was silent for a while, thinking that maybe she had said something serious just now, so she tried to make her tone more gentle, "Mu Yan, the people in Dali Temple will take care of these things, don't think too much. I found that such a big fanfare The southern tour will not only disturb the people, but also there is no guarantee that officials will send refugees away again. So I plan to go to Weibo for a private visit, how about you go with me?"

Only then did Mu Yan raise his head, and finally nodded and said, "Okay."

After that day, Yi Lan first ordered the Southern Xun's brigade to stop in Tanzhou, and then took Mu Yan and several important officials and servants to Jianning in a carriage.

Because there was no publicity along the way, even the local prefects didn't know about it, and naturally they didn't arrange it in advance.Only then did Yilan and the others gradually see some victims.The victims saw that this group of people came in a carriage, and they were not as ragged as they were, so they all went to beg.Along the way, Mu Yan took the pre-prepared dry food and broken silver from the carriage and gave them to them.But seeing how grateful the victims were after receiving the dry food, Mu Yan felt a little sad.

Yilan got off the carriage at this time, and quietly stood behind Mu Yan, "What's wrong?"

Mu Yan quietly looked at the dilapidated huts of the victims in the distance, and said, "I was thinking, just a few pieces of dry food can make these people so grateful. I don't know what kind of life they lived before."

"Don't worry. I have already ordered the right servant of the Ministry of Officials to find out the list of corrupt officials and the amount of corruption. New officials will be transferred soon. The money will be distributed to the people soon."

"Really? When?"

Yi Lan nodded, "Within one month. Let's see if the situation warrants, the people in this area will be exempted from taxes for three years."

Mu Yan blinked, and said in a rascal tone: "There is no basis for what you say. I'm afraid you won't admit it when the time comes."

Yi Lan chuckled and said, "When did I deny it? But if you want, I'll give you the proof tomorrow."

Mu Yan was a little suspicious, but didn't think much about it.Patting Yi Lan on the shoulder, he said, "Let's go, get in the carriage."

In the early morning of the next day, Yi Lan sent someone over to deliver something to Mu Yan, which was a golden rectangular box.After Mu Yan hurriedly washed up, he opened the box and found a piece of something resembling an imperial decree lying inside.Opening it up, I found that it was a blank emperor's handbook.It is also stamped with Yilan's imperial seal, and the bottom line is a line of small characters in a red brush—seeing this handwritten letter is as if I am here in person.Mu Yan looked at the blank handwritten note and was at a loss for what to do, so he immediately took it to find Yilan.

In Yilan Palace.Mu Yan put the handwritten letter on the table and said, "Yilan, what are you doing with this? This is the handwritten letter from the Son of Heaven, no jokes are allowed."

Yi Lan was standing in front of the case, reviewing the urgently sent memorial from the capital, without raising her head, she said calmly, "What's the matter? I'm not kidding, it's for you. Didn't you say yesterday that your words are empty-handed?" ? This time, even if you want to exempt this place from taxes for ten years, it will not be a problem."

"Yesterday? I said it casually. You don't have to take it seriously. I naturally believe that you will do what you say. You should take this letter back."

Yi Lan smiled faintly, "I also believe in you, that's why I dare to give you this handbook. It's better to keep it, but don't show it to others easily, and let some villains with evil intentions take advantage of it."

Afterwards, Mu Yan declined again and again, but still couldn't hold back Yilan.Finally, he held the box tightly in his hand and said, "I will keep it safe, and I won't take it out unless there are special circumstances."

Yi Lan smiled, kissed Mu Yan lightly, and said, "Okay."

The author has something to say:

☆、29. Charming