Be a small county magistrate in ancient times

Chapter 27 Six shirks
As soon as the emperor sat down and was about to take a short rest, Eunuch Qian came in with a secret report.

Sure enough, the emperor also asked this question: "Where is the previous letter?"

Eunuch Qian copied Wei Zhishan's explanation.

Opening the envelope, there was an official document and a piece of paper folded in half.

Judging from the content written on the book, it should be Meng Changqing's New Year's message to the prefect of Liangzhou.

The emperor unfolded the paper to read the contents. He frowned after reading only a few lines and immediately opened the official document next to it.

I saw it written on it: The people had no clothes on their bodies, no fixed place to live, and the children fed themselves with dirt.There was hunger and cold in winter, and wars continued from spring to autumn.

The common people live without a day of peace, and there is no pure land after death.

It was such a tragic scene that Meng Changqing wrote two pages in succession.

Later, he wrote that if the people of Beishan County wanted to survive, they had to seize the time to build the city wall.

It is not cost-effective to build on the original site and there are many hidden dangers. It is better to just push the city wall forward.

The emperor read the official document and then looked at the piece of paper. On the paper was written the location selected for the new city wall, the remaining time to build the city wall, and the scarce materials.

After reading it like this, you can understand why the tenth secret report was rushed to Beijing together with the memorial from the Liangzhou Prefect.

This Meng Changqing really couldn't rest for a moment.

"Go and ask the Taifu and the Six Ministers to come over."

"Yes." The servant next to him who was delivering the message bent down and retreated at a normal speed, but was suddenly urged by the emperor, "Hurry up!"

The chamberlain shivered and quickly quickened his pace.

The emperor paced in the imperial study, asked Eunuch Qian to bring the map of Liangzhou in front of him, and found the site where Meng Changqing said the city wall was built.

"Such a stop is really clever." The emperor clapped his hands from time to time.

"Evergreen, Changqing, don't just say nice things."

The emperor called urgently, and before the six ministers arrived at the Yamen, they were hurriedly carried back to the palace gate in a sedan chair.

Several ministers were confused. When they entered the palace, they walked together and asked each other: "My lords, do you know why your Majesty is urgently summoned?"

After asking around, no one knew the reason.

When they entered the Imperial Study Room and saw the emperor's expression, the adults suddenly felt a little familiar.

It seems that His Majesty had the same expression when Meng Changqing came from the East Palace to the Imperial Villa two years ago.

I still remember that His Majesty had a headache at the time and kept scolding him, but he didn't stop him in his behavior at all.

"See Your Majesty."

The emperor briefly looked away from the map and said, "You all, please sit down."

"Your Majesty has summoned his ministers to come here. What important matters can be discussed?"

The emperor didn't even raise his head, "We'll talk about it later when the master comes."

The few ministers sitting below could not help but speculate.

Calling all the six ministers here, and also inviting the old master, it seems that this is not a small matter.

It's not like Meng Changqing can do it.

Some people wonder whether His Majesty wants to completely abolish the three-province system?After all, this dynasty followed the regulations of the previous dynasty and established three provinces. However, in order to avoid the crisis of the previous dynasty and prevent the powerful ministers from becoming dominant, the three provinces never established officials.

Perhaps His Majesty has made up his mind to change.

The Taifu came a little slower. He was old now and only came to court occasionally. The palace servants invited him from home.As soon as everyone arrived, the emperor passed on the congratulatory message written by Meng Changqing, "All my dear friends, please read what is written here."

Not to mention the content inside, just read the words on the front: Beishan County Magistrate Meng Changqing congratulated Shangguan on the New Year.

how?Meng Changqing was sued by the Liangzhou magistrate after he tried to flatter him in Liangzhou?
This magistrate of Liangzhou is an old acquaintance of General Meng, and he has to complain to His Majesty about even this trivial matter, which is really too much to tolerate.

But when I opened the contents inside, my heart suddenly changed, "Okay, what a Meng Changqing, he has no time to settle down."

He knew clearly that His Majesty asked him to go to Liangzhou to hide from the Xiao family, but looking at his attitude, he insisted on getting out of Beishan County.

The congratulatory messages were circulated one by one and returned to the emperor's case.

"What do you think, dear friends?" the emperor asked.

Several ministers looked at the old master. They had not yet figured out the emperor's intentions, and no one wanted to speak first.

They didn't say anything, but the emperor began to call his name, "The Ministry of War."

Wan Shan, the Secretary of the Ministry of War, spoke cautiously, "Reporting to your majesty, Changqing's intention is beneficial to the frontier. I support it, but we need to carefully discuss the location of the new site."

The emperor passed the piece of paper down again, and the Minister of Household Affairs was anxious. How many days did Meng Changqing stay in Beishan County?He dared to ask for so many things.

It takes two months to build a forty-mile city wall. I have never heard of anyone who has this ability. This kid is too arrogant.

It is really disappointing to rely on the merits of my father and brother and His Majesty's favor to make trivial matters of national affairs.

"Zhu Aiqing, I think you look bad."

The Minister of Household Affairs stood up and replied: "Reporting to Your Majesty, there have been wars in the border areas in recent years, and the national treasury is not rich. Moreover, although the population has increased in the past two years, most of the growth has been in the south, and the population in the north has not increased. If we want to recruit soldiers from the south, Husband, there’s not enough time.

I think Changqing’s request is inappropriate. I don’t believe that the forty miles of city wall can be built in two months, so why not let him settle..."

The emperor raised his hand and interrupted him directly, "Bring up the map."

The emperor had already marked the location of the city wall mentioned by Meng Changqing with cinnabar on the map, "My dear friends, please take a closer look to see if that wall is necessary to be built."

The Minister of War saw that this location was really good, "Your Majesty! If this wall is built, it will be of great benefit to Liangzhou!"

"What do the other beloved ministers think?" the emperor asked.

"What Master Master said is absolutely true." Several ministers present could see the benefits, and they all knew how difficult it was to build this wall.

"So, how to build it?" the emperor asked again.

None of the six ministers wanted to be the first to speak.

"If we can't come up with any results after discussing this matter, my dear friends, please stay here with me."

The Minister of Civil Affairs said: "Your Majesty, based on what I have seen, this matter should be handed over to the Ministry of Works."

The Minister of Rites immediately agreed, "I also think that this should be the case. The construction of the project is a matter of the Ministry of Works. Since Chang Qing is young, it is a bit risky to let him take charge. He is not as prudent as the officials of the Ministry of Works."

The Minister of Industry did not want to take on this job, and the next step would not be successful. "Your Majesty, although the Ministry of Industry is responsible for the construction of the project, Beishan County has a special location, so it is better to hand it over to the Ministry of War."

The Taifu had not spoken since he came in. He sat on a chair and asked Eunuch Qian for two things written by Meng Changqing, holding them in front of his eyes and reading them over and over again.

"Your Majesty." The Minister of War also didn't want to take it. "Our Ministry of War really can't allocate manpower."

"I understand." The emperor said, "They all say it will be beneficial if this is done, but they don't want to take the lead in doing it, so what use do I need you for?"

The six ministers knelt down and said, "I am guilty."

"Since Changqing is already in Beishan County, he must understand the local conditions, have this plan, and guarantee that it will be completed within two months. Why doesn't Your Majesty believe in Changqing?" The Minister of the Ministry of War decisively pushed out the Ministry of Household Affairs, "I hope you don't just cry about poverty. I, Daliang, will not be so poor. The imperial court can still get what Changqing wants, right?"

"Your Majesty." Shangshu of the Ministry of Finance was about to speak. He looked up and saw that the emperor's face was not very good. In addition, the things Meng Changqing wanted were not too much for the entire Daliang. He immediately changed his words and said, "You can get it."

(End of this chapter)