I'm sure of the prosperous age of Kangxi and Qianlong!

Chapter 559 Seven people in the cabinet

Lu Chongning ran away, taking a boat overnight.

But instead of fleeing in fear of crime, he ran directly from Xiamen to Nanjing.

I don’t know whether it’s because I can’t trust the Xiamen Shipping Department, or because the fear in my heart has gained the upper hand, or because it’s a combination of both.

When Lu Youlong saw that his son was in the dust, he didn't even have time to be surprised when he heard that the other party had stabbed him in such a big way. His anger and blood surged up on the spot: "You evil son, evil son! As a father, I have been with you for a long time." You said that corruption and smuggling are what I hate most today, how could you knowingly commit the crime and how much money did the other party give you?"

Lu Chongning replied subconsciously: "Father, I gave you a lot of money. The Xiamen Shipping Department and those maritime merchants earn at least one hundred thousand taels of silver every year from taking care of their children."

"One hundred thousand taels? Their silver was blown by the strong wind. Is that the money they earned with you? This is trying to drag you into trouble, dragging your father into trouble! You evil beast, I... I will beat you to death!" Lu Youlong was so angry that he felt faint. He stretched out his hand to hold the jade tablet and tried to hit it, but after holding it up for a long time, he still couldn't bear to drop it.

After all, he is his only son, and he is almost sixty this year. Seventy-year-olds are rare in ancient times, and this sixty-year-old is already close to knowing destiny.

When Lu Chongning saw his father's reaction, he finally realized that he was afraid. He quickly knelt down and cried: "Dad, Dad, please think of a way! Otherwise, the child's life will be..."

"You evil son..." Lu Youlong was about to speak, but suddenly he realized a problem: "No, the imperial court is going to send an imperial envoy to thoroughly investigate coastal customs smuggling. How did you know this news?"

Lu Chongning was stunned for a moment, unable to react: "This...isn't this the Xiamen Shipping Company that you sent to inform me about, father?"

"You evil beast, when has my father ever sent someone?"

Lu Youlong was about to vomit blood from anger. Even if he really wanted to send someone to inform him, he would only inform his son. How could he inform the officials and smuggling merchants who dragged his son into the water?

"No, this matter is no longer a trivial matter."

After decades of official career, Lu Youlong has an extremely keen sense of politics. Even if he takes a boat from Xiamen to Nanjing, it will take four or five days.

The imperial envoy sent by the imperial court had just set off ten days ago. This was almost impossible. Someone had leaked information about the imperial court.

Lu Youlong held up his official hat and said, "Let's go, immediately enter the palace with my father, and confess to His Majesty in person. It's late for the imperial city's curfew, but it's too late."

When Lu Chongning heard that he was going to confess to the emperor face to face, he felt a little weak. He could see his father's angry eyes and couldn't say any words of rejection.

Forbidden City.

"Lu Qing brought his son to see him? Isn't his son in Xiamen?"

Zhu Yijiong didn't understand for a while, thinking that the "(political) weight" elder was finally ready to retire early, so he brought his son over to ask for a favor (political exchange).

Zhu Yijiong didn't have much reaction to this. Although the opponent's ability was not outstanding, he was very knowledgeable. He had worked conscientiously for more than ten years and served as the political weight of the new Ming Dynasty without interfering in the cabinet.

Of course, the most important thing is that this relative of the nine ethnic groups has paid for the new dynasty, and he is so understanding that Zhu Yijiong is willing to give him a political dignity, which can be regarded as a fulfillment of the relationship between the monarch and his ministers.

The father and son were summoned quickly. As soon as they entered the palace, before the emperor could say anything, Lu Youlong knelt on the ground and said, "I am guilty and have failed to teach my son well. Please forgive me!"

After saying that, he scolded his son beside him: "You evil beast, why don't you kneel down and confess your sins."

Zhu Yijiong was confused: "Why does Lu Qing do this great ceremony? Please get up quickly."

On the side, Lu Chongning, already under the coercion of his father, kowtowed first and said: "Your Majesty, spare your life! It's a common man. The common man collaborated with the Xiamen Shipping Department and coastal merchants to evade taxes and was forced to participate in the smuggling and maritime trade business of Xiamen Port. , but that was all deliberately designed by the Shipping Department and those maritime merchants..."

"Did you just say smuggling and tax evasion?" Zhu Yijiong's face darkened, "I remember you weren't staying in Xiamen. You came to Nanjing this time to surrender?"

Lu Chongning was so frightened that he could hardly speak: "Your Majesty... Your Majesty, forgive me! The common people are just greedy for profit, and this is all the Xiamen Shipping Department..."

Zhu Yijiong waved his hand to interrupt: "Counting the time, from the time I sent people to Xiamen to the time you came to Nanjing...that is, when the imperial envoy from the imperial court arrived, you got the news? Who told you?" Lu Chongning replied: " They were all... informed by the Xiamen Shipping Department, and they said everything had been arranged."

Zhu Yijiong narrowed his eyes slightly, took a deep breath, and returned to normal after a moment: "You can go directly to the Metropolitan Procuratorate to explain the case! For the sake of your voluntary surrender, I can allow you to serve the crime."

When Lu Chongning heard that he had to go to the Metropolitan Procuratorate, he was instinctively frightened, but he could only kowtow and thank you: "The common people... the common people have thanked Your Majesty!"

As soon as he finished speaking, Lu Youlong who was standing next to him said, "Your Majesty, I have failed to teach my son well, which has led to me committing such a heinous crime. Please resign from your position in the cabinet and return to your hometown."

"That's right!"

Zhu Yijiong was too lazy to persuade him to stay: "I will ask the cabinet and the Ministry of Rites to prepare a title reward for you. You can resign and retire."

"Old minister... thank you for your consideration, Your Majesty!" Lu Youlong bowed to the end, and his whole body seemed to have aged a lot in an instant.

……

The next day.

The emperor issued an edict to promote Lin Jingyu, the Minister of Rites, and Chen Ji, the Minister of Hubu, to the cabinet.

Although the civil and military affairs of the Manchu Dynasty were surprising, it is not surprising that the Ministry of Rites was in charge of examinations for the world and had always belonged to the Qing noble yamen. The Ministry of Revenue was in charge of the national treasury and had profound powers and responsibilities.

Both ministers were from Long Lao Chen, so it was natural for them to join the cabinet, but it was just a little hasty.

Immediately afterwards, the six-member Lu Ge Department of the original cabinet suddenly resigned and returned to their hometown to retire.

The process of three applications and three resignations was almost completed on the same day. The cabinet and the Ministry of Rites followed the usual practice and planned to confer knighthoods, but only earls, and no additional empty titles were granted.

Although the fictitious title of casual rank is only an honorary title, generally speaking, as long as you resign and return home normally, you should basically have it.

Unless your official position is too low, you are not qualified at all, and your reputation is not very good.

At this time, the civil and military officials in the Manchu Dynasty were shocked, and they all speculated about what was going on and what kind of political signal it represented.

On the contrary, the two newcomers, Lin Jingyu and Chen Ji, did not attract much attention. At most, they would think of a way later to see if they could build a relationship.

At this point, the cabinet changed from the original six-word hall to the seven-word hall.

Wang Jingqi is very happy. With the merit accumulated through his continuous writing of articles, this guy has been successfully promoted to the position of Minister Zuo of the Propaganda Department.

Nowadays, the Ministers of the Ministry of Rites and the Ministry of Husband have joined the cabinet, and the Lu Ge Ministry has also retreated. The left ministers of the three departments have taken advantage of it, and they have been directly promoted on the spot and become the new ministers.

Just here in Nanjing, there were personnel changes in the imperial cabinet. The urgent letter sent from the Fujian Post Station, which was 800 miles away, also arrived in Nanjing.

"The Metropolitan Procuratorate is urgent!"

"The Metropolitan Procuratorate is urgent!"

　so sleepy

　　

　

(End of this chapter)