Volume 2: The Capital, I’m Back Chapter 82 I Want to Reprimand Him
Li Yan never imagined that this imperial envoy was serious about his actions.
As a result, the entire Mizhi County was in chaos, and a large number of people were driven out of the towns very reluctantly, like cattle and sheep.
The ferocious officers began to search house by house. If they saw anyone who was unwilling to migrate, no matter whether they were male or female, young or old, or what their status was, they would be taken away by force.
If we encounter someone with a tough attitude or even who resists with force, I'm sorry, but we still have three thousand troops behind us, let's see who can be tougher!
The temporary station on the outskirts of Mizhi County seemed like a huge prison. Countless people were forced to crowd into this small camp like refugees, and complaints were heard everywhere.
…
It was snowing in the capital city. The snowflakes were like goose feathers, icy and drifting all over the ground.
Although Zhu Qizhen did not attend court, he was very busy every day.
I go around the Xishan cement workshop, Wanggongchang firearms workshop, and the Martyrs' Shrine construction site almost every day.
The cement workshop is progressing most smoothly, having already reached a daily output of 3,000 kilograms, and this output is still increasing.
Li Shulin is in charge of Wang Gongchang, and he has recruited a large number of skilled craftsmen from all over the country. They were divided into several groups, including cast iron forging, shrapnel, granular gunpowder, etc. Each group specializes in one topic. So far, the progress is relatively slow.
Because what Wang Gongchang was researching was so powerful, Zhu Qizhen ordered it to move out of the capital and move to the Western Hills. While researching granular gunpowder, it could also help the cement workshop with blasting rocks.
The progress on the Martyrs' Shrine was also relatively smooth. The design drawings that Lu Xiang originally received were for a reinforced concrete structure. However, pig iron was a strategic resource in that era, and it was too luxurious to use it to build houses. So he used bamboo strips instead of steel bars to make a skeleton, and then poured it with a mixture of cement, gravel and sand, with a good effect.
According to the current progress, it will be completed before the end of the year and put into use after the new year.
As it was getting dark, Zhu Qizhen returned to the palace from the construction site of the Martyrs' Shrine. Huai'en stepped forward to report that Prince Zhu Qiyu of Qin and Prime Minister Cao Nai of the Cabinet wanted to see him and had been waiting for a long time.
"Let them wait in the imperial study!"
"yes!"
Zhu Qizhen washed his face, changed his clothes, and went to the imperial study.
"Your Highness Zhu Qiyu pays homage to the Emperor, long live His Majesty!"
"Your Highness Cao Nai pays homage to the Emperor and wishes him long live the Emperor!"
Zhu Qizhen waved his hand and said, "You two nobles, please stand up without formalities!"
"Thank you, Your Majesty!"
"Thank you, Your Majesty!"
Zhu Qizhen asked again: "Why are you still waiting for me so late?"
"Your Majesty!" Cao Nai took out a memorial and said, "This is an urgent memorial from Yulin Prefecture, impeaching Beilin, the Imperial Observatory, for abusing the people of Mizhi County. Countless soldiers and civilians were driven out of the city in the freezing cold and snowy weather. This act is even more brutal than that of the Oirat people."
Zhu Qizhen calculated the time silently in his heart. It had been ten days since Beilin set out. They said there would be an earthquake in seven or eight days. Why did it seem unreliable...
Zhu Qiyu then said: "According to the report, three people froze to death on the first day, and hundreds were injured. If it is allowed to continue, who knows how many more people will be killed."
"This Beilin is so bold!"
Zhu Qizhen slammed the table and said, "I just asked him to go and warn, but I didn't expect that he would be so reckless and even interfere in local affairs. When he returns to the capital, I will definitely reprimand him!"
Zhu Qiyu and Cao Nai looked at each other and thought to themselves, is this something that should be reprimanded?
Brother, the people over there are already angry and resentful. He went there with your imperial edict. Now that something has happened, you should call him back!
"You two, please go back first. I will handle this matter myself."
Cao Nai could not help but say, "Your Majesty, the memorial from Yulin Prefecture was forwarded from the Ministry of Personnel. There will definitely be someone impeaching him at the morning court tomorrow. I'm afraid..."
"I know!"
Zhu Qizhen thought about it and felt that Beilin might not be able to hold on any longer, so he decided to step in himself.
I just hope this guy doesn't screw himself...
Cao Nai shook his head helplessly and said, "I will take my leave."
Zhu Qiyu didn't say anything else. He bowed and left with Cao Nai.
The two men came to the cabinet. At this time everyone else had already left their shift and only one clerk was still on duty. When he saw Prince Qing, he hurriedly poured tea for him.
Cao Nai sighed first and said, "The emperor is biased and allows Beilin to do whatever she wants. If this continues, there will be complaints everywhere. What should we do?"
"I have discussed this matter with my brother. Beilin went to save people, but her methods were a bit extreme."
"Save people?" Cao Nai shook his head and said, "Just relying on a fictitious prophecy, you let people go and harass the military and civilians, and make people leave their homes under the banner of saving people and justice?"
The ancients valued their hometown. No one would be willing to leave home unless they were forced to do so at knifepoint. Zhu Qiyu could almost imagine how many brutal and heinous methods Beilin and the soldiers of the Three Thousand Battalions had used.
"It has already happened. There is no point for us to complain here. Let's think about how to deal with it at the court tomorrow. By then, someone will inevitably file a petition to impeach us. If someone with ulterior motives takes advantage of this to spread rumors, things will be difficult to handle."
After the two finished talking, there was a long silence, and Cao Nai said again: "I just don't understand why the emperor is so confident that there will be an earthquake in the northwest? After all, there is no certainty in this world, otherwise it would be too easy to govern the world. Forget it, things have come to this point, and this mess can only be left to us to clean up."
…
Early the next morning, Zhu Qizhen got up very reluctantly .
According to the time of later generations, it is only four o'clock in the morning. Getting up at this time is simply unethical.
If he is not even allowed to sleep in, what is the point of being an emperor...
In fact, the civil and military officials had an even harder life. They had to get up at three o'clock and were already waiting outside the Meridian Gate.
It would be fine if it were summer, but now it's winter and it's snowing. Those who have the conditions can bring a charcoal stove, while those who don't can only huddle in the sedan and shiver.
Especially those censors and imperial officials, even if they are rich, they cannot show it, because they position themselves as clean officials and they have to show an attitude of being incorruptible.
But it's really too cold.
The more these people thought about it, the angrier they became, and the resentment in their hearts increased. When they got to the palace, they would definitely impeach a few people to vent their anger.
At the hour of Mao, drums sounded from the city wall and the palace gate opened.
Led by Prince Zhu Qiyu of Qin, all officials entered one after another, crossed the Jinshui Bridge and lined up in the square.
The process was extremely strict. Any official who coughed, spat, or walked unsteadily would be recorded by the censor in charge of inspection and await further action.
When they arrived at the Fengtian Hall, all officials lined up according to their rank. First, the officials from the Honglu Temple came out and reported the number of people attending the court, as well as the number of officials who came to the capital to express their gratitude or to leave the capital to resign. Then, the morning court officially began.
