The Imperial Age with the Resurgence of Han Style

Chapter 191 Pollution Incident

On June 6, in the afternoon, a carriage bearing the royal emblem stopped steadily in front of the Shuncheng Gate of Taiyi Palace.

The emperor's eldest grandson, Qi Zexuan, got off the carriage, put his general's hat on his head, and arranged his military uniform. He looked up at the towering tower, took a deep breath, and then walked towards the palace.

After fifteen years, the Taiyi Palace was finally completed at the end of the 1726nd year of Taiping ().

Taiyi Palace is located in the southeast of Xuanwu District in Chang'an City, covering an area of ​​more than 4,200 acres. It is backed by Lingyun Mountain and is less than 100 meters away from the Changxing River (today's Gaoli River in Toowoomba City, Australia) that passes through the city. one kilometer. As the sun sets, climb up to the highest star-picking tower in the palace and overlook the meandering river in the distance, as well as the elegant and beautiful official residences and manors, as well as the vast tracts of woodland and grassland in the mountains in the distance. The scenery is incredibly beautiful.

The palace is a tall and spectacular building. It is based on the geographical situation of high mountains and hills. Traditional Chinese palaces and Jiangnan gardens are integrated. Hills are built, lake embankments are built, wide buildings, waterside pavilions, pavilions, pavilions and many other landscapes are built.

The small hill in the palace is lush with pines and cypresses, and the lake beside the hill covers an area of ​​more than 100 acres. There is a painted boat for lake tours. The garden not only has carved and painted buildings with extraordinary momentum, but also has many mounds, rockeries and high ridges, on which there are numerous pavilions, pavilions, corridors and pavilions, standing near the water.

The entire Taiyi Palace is divided into two inner and outer courtyards, with several main halls in the center and many auxiliary halls of different shapes around them. The main hall is magnificent, surrounded by walls and equipped with four palace doors, with red palace lanterns hung outside the doors. The palace has bare stone passages, lacquered red floors, nanmu furniture, golden chandeliers, and exceptionally gorgeous ceilings. Sculptures, murals and paintings add infinite artistic flavor to the palace.

Different from the earliest Taichu Palace built, the orientation of the houses and pavilions of this palace is based on the geographical pattern of the southern hemisphere, facing south to fully absorb the warm sunshine. When the sky is clear, outside the huge glass windows of each palace room, the sun's rays shine on the ground, reflecting colorful rays of light.

Several marble statues standing in the center make people feel solemn and solemn. Tall trees and numerous flowers are hidden in several gardens, giving the palace a natural beauty.

Inside and outside the palace, everything is filled with royal authority and elegance.

"You are full of confidence! You are very sure that the emperor of Qin will not do some irrational behavior in anger."

Emperor Qianyuan of the Qin Dynasty was sixty-two years old, but I, the crown prince of Qi, was also forty-three years old!

But this cousin of Qin has been the emperor for more than forty years!

"According to the established procedure, you are about to join various cabinet ministries as a trainee and become familiar with all kinds of government affairs." The prince smiled bitterly, and for a moment his interest waned. He turned around and sat at the desk, picked up a cup of tea, took a sip, and said softly: "You are going to do it first. Go to that department?"

A middle-aged man wearing a light blue brocade robe sat behind a large desk. The Jun porcelain incense burner next to him was emitting curls of green smoke, which was refreshing.

The palace door made of red sandalwood exudes a faint fragrance, and the hall is filled with gold and jade carvings, making it look extremely gorgeous. The screens covered with patterned brocade made the hall even more peaceful and peaceful. The floor of the room is made of marble tiles, shining with crystal light.

"Can you gain anything from traveling north to the Nanyang vassals and the Qin Kingdom?"

"Stay neutral for the time being and help Beiming secretly."

"Then what is your view on the ongoing war in Northeast China?" The prince did not comment on Qi Zexuan's answer and continued to ask.

"Yes." The prince raised his head, put the dipping pen in his hand into the pen holder, and looked at Qi Zexuan, who was wearing a navy uniform, expressionlessly, "I have rested for two days, I guess I have recovered."

"Yes, father." Qi Zexuan replied respectfully: "My son, I slept for almost two days and finally came to my senses. I finally returned to Chang'an City."

"..." Qi Zexuan was startled for a moment, not knowing what his father meant by the "overall situation in Nanyang", but under his father's gaze, he could only bite the bullet and said: "Nanyang is where the core interests of our country of Qi lie. , and it is the key defense circle of our Qi country, and there is no room for any loss. Therefore, it should not be touched and coveted by outsiders. A few years ago, our Qi country finally forced the Dutch East India Company out of Nanyang, thus achieving this goal. This area belongs exclusively to our Qi State. In the foreseeable future, the only one that can compete with our Qi State for Nanyang is the mainland Qin State. Therefore, whether it is a rainy day or making arrangements in advance, while suppressing the rise of Qin State as much as possible, The strong maritime power will serve as a deterrent and completely dispel Qin’s ambition to look south.”

"So, aren't you afraid of angering Qin?"

When the prince heard this, his eyes jumped a few times.

When the attendants on the left and right saw Qi Zexuan entering the hall, they all bowed slightly and nodded in greeting.

Under the guidance of a royal attendant, Qi Zexuan walked through the palace gates and headed towards the Guangming Palace, where the prince oversees the country and governs the country. The atmosphere in the palace is calm, and the walls of the corridors and the outside of the palace rooms are carved with dragons flying.

"Father, Emperor Qianyuan of the Qin State is already sixty-two years old, and he is not a young man with no ambitions."

"After the Northern Ming Dynasty made a false attack on North Korea and attracted tens of thousands of Qin troops to the peninsula, they then united with Dongdan and Bohai to raid Heilongjiang, Ussuri River and other areas. In just two months, they penetrated hundreds of kilometers into Liaodong. More than a hundred Qin towns and strongholds were uprooted, and more than 100,000 Qin soldiers and civilians were captured. Then, before the Qin army could react, they quickly retreated to the north of Heilongjiang and the west of the Ussuri River, built forts and dug trenches, posing a It looks like it has been holding on for a long time. The Qin State was hit hard by this attack, not to mention that its more than 20 years of field achievements in moving to the border were ruined, but it wanted to gather a large army to counterattack Beiming, Dongdan and Bohai, but it was limited by the long supply line and poor The geographical environment will make all military operations difficult. It is foreseeable that the Northeast War may become a long tug-of-war of attrition like the previous two Qin and Ming wars."

"The Qin State will not dare to break up with our Qi State until the northwest frontier troubles are completely eliminated. ... Moreover, the huge trade interests between Qi and Qin will also make the Qin State put a taboo on it and not dare to make any move."

"This is something that is on the surface." The prince shook his head and said, "I'm asking you, how should Qi, our country, deal with this situation?"

"Oh?" The prince stood up and looked at his eldest son playfully, "Then what do you think of the overall situation in Nanyang?"

"Father," Qi Zexuan bowed and saluted the prince, "My son, I am here to say hello to you."

"My son, I have been greatly confused during this trip." Qi Zexuan responded solemnly: "The ancients once said that a journey of thousands of miles is better than reading thousands of books. This is true and should not be deceived."

"I want to go to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs." Qi Zexuan bowed and replied.

"You want to get involved in the peace talks with England?"

"My son wants to know about the situation in Europe and other countries in the world."

"I originally intended for you to go to the Ministry of Finance to gain experience, but I didn't expect you to be so interested in the world situation." The prince had no choice but to choose Qi Zexuan.

Anyway, according to the training procedures for the heirs of the Daqi royal family, many cabinet ministries must take turns to observe the political practice, so he might as well choose it sooner or later.

"Father, are you worried about the ongoing nationwide tax audit?" Qi Zexuan's heart moved.

"Do you have any idea?"

"Father, Emperor Taizu once said in the past that to manage business, you must first manage officials." Qi Zexuan said softly: "Some things will become hidden dangers once officials and businessmen collude." "You mean that many officials in our Qi State dare to Are you taking personal risks and doing business for the sake of doing business?”

"Throughout the dynasties, officials were strictly prohibited from engaging in business. In addition to preventing competition with the people for profit, it was also to prevent officials from using business to support officials and officials to protect business from forming a powerful family. During the Pre-Han Dynasty, Dong Zhongshu once said, 'In ancient times The person who is given the salary will not live up to his strength and will not move at the end. This is also the case where the person who has received the big cannot choose the small, and he agrees with the sky. I have received the big and yet I choose the small. I am convinced of this. During the Taizu and Taizong periods, state laws and regulations strictly prohibited officials from engaging in profitable business. However, money and silk touch people's hearts, and no one can live with money. There are policies from above and countermeasures from below. It has existed since ancient times. It is thought that there are many officials in the country who use their power to support or secretly encourage close relatives to engage in business. If it is not curbed and dealt with, in the long run, officials and businessmen will inevitably become one, plunder people's wealth, and become a big gang. potential."

"Well, I still have some knowledge." After hearing this, the prince couldn't help but look at the eldest son with admiration.

The ignorant and playful boy in the past has grown into an adult and can make insightful comments on the political affairs of the country.

In fact, during the more than ninety years of the Qi royal family's history, apart from the two fathers and sons, Taizu and Taizong, who had a relatively close relationship and showed a rare love of a loving father and a filial son, the following generations of heirs were somewhat separated by generations. The relationship between father and son is relatively indifferent, but the relationship between grandparents and grandchildren is very close.

Emperor Taiping was taught by words and deeds by Emperor Taizu since he was a child. When he grew up, he followed the royal practice and served as an apprentice in the army and cabinet ministries, as well as local experience, and finally succeeded to the throne.

The same is naturally true for the prince. After his father, Emperor Taiping, became the prince, he was often busy with ministry affairs and local experience. He lived with Emperor Taizong in the palace, and was deeply influenced by Emperor Taizong.

As the eldest grandson of the emperor and the future heir to the empire, Qi Zexuan had received various academic educations since he was a child. He rarely had contact with his father on weekdays. Occasionally, he only rarely saw his father when he was checking his homework or when he was sick in bed, and the relationship seemed relatively indifferent.

But he could often see his grandfather, Emperor Taiping, in the palace, and enjoy the happiness of his grandfather and grandson when he came to his knees. That is to say, after entering the Daxing Naval Academy and starting to study, he reduced the time he spent living in the palace, and gradually became less in contact with Emperor Taiping.

As for his prince father, he really can't be said to be close to him. He is even a little unfamiliar and...fearful.

Therefore, Qi Zexuan's remarks on the issue of governing the relationship between officials and businessmen really made the prince stunned for a moment. Unknowingly, this son had his own thoughts and was able to express some independent opinions.

"Later, I will send an order to the cabinet to ask the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to place you on the negotiating delegation to Britain." The prince pondered for a moment and said in a deep voice: "But I want to remind you that all the officials in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs are He is a mature and prudent person who is familiar with the general trend of all countries in the world and has his own countermeasures for the British negotiations. When you participate in it, you must be careful in your words and deeds, and you must not maintain your own identity and disrupt other diplomatic affairs."

"My dear minister, I have noted it down." Qi Zexuan bowed and saluted, and responded solemnly: "My dear minister, I am a political intern at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. I must be careful about my duty, listen more and talk less, and ask for advice humbly."

"Well, go and have a good life. Now that things have happened, you can go to Nanyu County for me to visit His Majesty and spend more time with his old man."

"I'm sorry, sir." Qi Zexuan hesitated for a moment, then asked, "Is Grandpa Huang in good health?"

"It's fine. However, the accompanying imperial doctor called back and said that His Majesty is often physically weak, panicked, and mentally weak. He is afraid that he has worked too hard on state affairs in the past few decades. Therefore, His Majesty needs to rest quietly to calm his nerves."

When Qi Zexuan heard this, he couldn't help but breathed a sigh of relief.

It is speechless to say that Grandpa Huang is only two or three years older than Emperor Qianyuan of Qin, but he is obviously not as healthy as others.

After staying in Nanjing for several months, every time I met Emperor Qianyuan, I saw that he was very energetic and energetic. It is said that there are several newly born princes and princesses in the Forbidden City Palace, which makes people marvel at the "powerfulness" of Emperor Qianyuan.

"Your Highness, there is an urgent report from Jianye Mansion." At this time, an attendant quickly entered the palace and handed a document to the prince, "Hundreds of city residents have suffered from a serious outbreak. As of yesterday, forty people have died. There are more than 120 people who are seriously ill."

"Well, someone poisoned someone maliciously?" The prince's expression changed, and he reached out to copy the report in his hand.

"The Jianye Government reported that the drinking water source may have been contaminated by toxic substances from the factory, causing..."

"What did the cabinet say?"

"The cabinet has dispatched more than ten medical and health experts to Jianye on the fastest train in the afternoon. ... Deputy Prime Minister Deng Gong has also accompanied many of his staff to prepare for a thorough investigation of this water pollution poisoning incident."

"I ordered Prince Qi Weihao of Jian County to accompany the family to express condolences on behalf of the royal family. In addition, we immediately allocated 10,000 yuan from the Royal Foundation to comfort the bereaved families."

"Yes, Your Highness."

"Instruct the cabinet to ask all prefectures and counties in the country to start investigating the water supply problems in cities within the territory, and if there are any potential pollution problems, they should be dealt with and improved immediately."

"Yes, Your Highness."

"The Cabinet is ordered to order the Ministry of Industry, the Ministry of Science and Technology, the Ministry of Construction and Engineering and other relevant ministries to immediately investigate the pollution discharge situation of major polluting industrial and mining enterprises in the country."

"Yes, Your Highness."

"..."

Qi Zexuan stood aside, silently watching his father deal with this local emergency in an orderly manner, drawing inferences from one example, and soon paying attention to the domestic water source problem and the sewage discharge situation of industrial and mining enterprises, and couldn't help but feel emotional.

As a qualified leader, one must have the ability to understand things by analogy and know everything, and be able to grasp the key points directly through a superficial incident.

By the way, the industrial pollution in our country has reached a point where it has to be seriously controlled?

"You can go ahead." The prince looked up at Qi Zexuan, waved his hand and said, "In a few days, there will be an edict and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. You should do your homework in advance and don't insult the royal status."

"Yes, please keep this in mind." Qi Zexuan bowed to his father again and then turned around and left the hall.

(End of this chapter)