Chapter 178 Making a living in the Yizi roll (First update, please vote for me!)
“Then we are no longer outsiders.” Feng Ziying smiled, “Second Brother Lian and his family are also going to Baiyun Temple to offer incense and pray for blessings. It just so happened that we came together.”
"Ziying, are you afraid that you have something to do with Jia Lian? You don't need to take us with you, right?" Wei Ruolan laughed and looked Feng Ziying up and down: "Don't go to the academy for a few months and just fall in love with us. It’s divided.”
"Haha, no matter who we are separated from, we can't be separated from you two." Feng Ziying didn't care, "I have a business, and I just want to discuss it with you to see if there is any way."
"What kind of business do you make a living?" Wei Ruolan and Han Qi were both interested. They knew that it would not be an easy thing for Feng Ziying to say.
The two of them are also hanging around in the Imperial College now, unable to study. They spend their days carrying caged birds and playing with crickets, and their lackeys fly around the building. Not to mention their reputation has been ruined over time, but it is not a problem to be idle like this, more or less. There are people who want to do something, but it’s not yet time to resign or be dismissed from their posts, so how can they do anything?
So as soon as Feng Ziying suggested it, the two of them immediately became interested.
“I heard that the imperial court intends to build a mausoleum?” Feng Ziying observed Wei Ruolan carefully.
Wei Ruolan is the son of the eldest princess, Princess Jianyang. Although the emperor has many sons, there are not many adult princesses. There are only two, and one is Princess Jianyang.
Moreover, Princess Jianyang is the legitimate daughter of Empress Xiaoren, and she is the same mother as Prince Yi Zhong. However, because Empress Xiaoren died when she was young, she, the emperor and Prince Zhongshun were raised by concubines, so Jianyang The relationship between the princess and Emperor Yonglong has always been good.
Masking a mausoleum is no small matter.
The Dazhou ritual system followed the previous Ming Dynasty. When the emperor built a mausoleum, the mausoleum was usually built only when the queen was seriously ill or deceased. This can be regarded as preparation for the future burial of the emperor and queen together. This is the case for the Supreme Emperor. After Empress Xiaoren died of illness, the Supreme Emperor ordered the construction of a mausoleum. However, since the empress is still alive and healthy, this is obviously not the reason.
Another reason for building a mausoleum during his lifetime is more obscure.
Generally speaking, it is used to show the stability of the emperor's throne.
The imperial mausoleum is different from other mausoleums, both in terms of specifications and construction methods. As long as such an action is initiated, it is usually to declare to the common people the specific significance of the inheritance of the emperor's throne, or to prove that one's emperor's throne is stable.
In Feng Ziying's view, this is more like the emperor's reaction to some of Prince Yi Zhong's small actions, but it is not yet clear whether it is just an intentional move or whether he really wants to use the mausoleum to show his attitude. Easy to say.
But there is no doubt that the emperor is not willing to maintain such a low profile and silence without any action. He may need to use some seemingly less drastic measures to deal with the aggressive momentum of Prince Yizhong, so as to avoid overly irritating the emperor. , but it can also significantly suppress Prince Yoshitaka's side.
Even Feng Ziying was thinking that Emperor Yonglong was indeed a bit aggrieved to be the emperor, but there was nothing he could do about it.
His father, Emperor Yuanxi, the Supreme Emperor, has been in power for more than 40 years. His prestige and power are beyond what you, a prince who was not even a prince, can compare with. If you want to secure this position, you can only endure and save up. Regardless of your strength or waiting for the opportunity, falling out with the Supreme Emperor is undoubtedly a bad idea and may even bring huge risks. A wise man would not do it.
It should be said that Emperor Yonglong had a good grasp of this degree, and he also began to make some reasonable and well-founded counterattacks.
However, this is not Feng Ziying's business for the time being. He just wants to understand how intense the game between the two parties is, and he can also make a living by the way.
Wei Ruolan was also surprised. He didn't expect that Feng Ziying was so well-informed in Qingtan Academy. It had only been two days since he learned the news, and his mother also specifically told him not to spread the news. This was just an intention, or someone suggested it. , the emperor was a little tempted.
Of course you have to say that as long as someone knows about it, it is impossible to keep it secret. It just delays the time.
After hesitating for a moment, Wei Ruolan nodded: "Ziying, how did you know?"
"Ruo Lan, although this news has not spread outside, someone in the court must still know about it. It cannot be kept secret, and it is not considered a secret."
Feng Ziying understood that it was indeed true, but he did not think that the emperor would suddenly start such a large project when the court's financial resources were so difficult. He felt that Emperor Yonglong was more of a gesture.
"Ziying, you know that the construction of the imperial mausoleum has been delayed for a long time. At present, the financial resources of the Ministry of Household Affairs have been exhausted. It is estimated that there is only some money left in the inner treasury, but that is almost life-saving money. Once something goes wrong, you have to ask for it. Those who rely on this for disaster relief will not dare to use it easily."
This can show the level. Don't look at Wei Ruolan, who hangs out in the Imperial College all day long. He is only a boy who has just turned fourteen, but this situation is very clear. In comparison, Jia Rong is better than Wei Ruolan is still two or three years older, but she hangs out all the time and knows nothing about the situation outside. This huge difference suddenly becomes apparent.
Feng Ziying naturally knew what Wei Ruolan said, but he had other opinions.
Now that the news has spread, it means that Emperor Yonglong probably used such a gesture to show that his throne is stable, so repairs must be made, but it does not necessarily have to be fully started immediately, nor does it have to be done in a year or two. It was built, but now the imperial court does not have the financial resources.
Let’s do the preliminary basic work first. Although the cost may not be small, at least the court can accept it, and at the same time, it can achieve the stated purpose.
"Ruolan, do you think that since this rumor has spread in the court, hasn't the emperor considered it?" Feng Ziying did not respond to Wei Ruolan's words, but asked the question from another angle, "With the emperor's intention, With the utmost caution, if it were not necessary, do you think the Emperor would have the intention to do this?"
Wei Ruolan hesitated.
His mother taught him at home all day long, and under the influence, he understood the important affairs of the court far better than his peers. It turned out that he had always claimed that he was the most knowledgeable about court affairs among his peers and even his friends, but now he discovered that Dalang He knows this no better than he does.
Even he knew that the large treasury of the Ministry of Household Affairs was empty, and that all the payment arrears of the nine sides depended on the emperor's inner treasury, which was stretched thin. How could the emperor not know?
When the imperial mausoleum is moved, at least three to five million taels of silver will be thrown in to lay the foundation. Even if this silver can be taken out at this time, but when?
These emperors must have wanted it, but why did this news spread? Or should we do this? There must be a reason, and it is an irreplaceable reason.
Given the emperor's temperament, since this kind of thing has been spread, it will basically remain unchanged.
Thinking of this, Wei Ruolan nodded: "Ziying, when you say this, I understand. If so, this matter can be done. Ziqi, what do you think?"
Han Qi's eyes were already shining. When Feng Ziying was talking to Wei Ruolan, he had already begun to figure out how to participate, "Ruolan, Ziying, of course I have to be responsible for this. My family has a family in the western suburbs." The two stone mountains were originally mined when the city was built, but are now abandoned. If the imperial mausoleum is built now, a large amount of stone will definitely be needed, and my family can supply the stone..."
Wei Ruolan shook his head and smiled: "You guys, I originally asked you how this matter is, but you have already made up your mind to send stones..."
Han Qi rubbed his hands and said with a grin: "Have you not been bored for so long? I finally found something serious to do. If I can do it, I can go back and block my old man's mouth to save him. He scolded me all day long..."
Wei Ruolan didn't have this intention. Although he was the legitimate son in the family, he had an elder brother above him and a younger brother below him. The elder brother was the eldest son and wanted to succeed in the title. But even if he could get part of the family property in the future, he would not be able to do so. You can get a casual position in an yamen like the Zongren Mansion, but you can't live on that little salary in the future, right? You have to find a way to make a living.
He had never had any experience in handling such matters before. Feng Ziying suddenly brought it up, which gave him some ideas. Not only could he make some money, but he could also get a rough idea of how to run this kind of business. , which is a good opportunity to practice.
"Ziying, I'm afraid you have some ideas. Let's talk about it." Wei Ruolan laughed.
"If the imperial court wants to build a mausoleum, the expenses here will be huge. The procurement from all parties must be huge, and the supply of various materials is also complicated. Of course, Ziqi's family can supply stones, and there are two villages outside my city that can supply them. Timber, and how to plan some construction matters from it, are also very particular. The second brother Lian was originally good at such chores in the Jia Mansion, and his second uncle was a member of the Ministry of Works, so he must have some skills. In terms of adapting to dealing with the Ministry of Household Affairs and even the Ministry of Etiquette, Ruolan, you are the most suitable person to help,..."
These words made Han Qi and Wei Ruolan smile immediately. Although they knew that there were many specific joints here, it could not be as easy as this, but after all, Feng Ziying pointed out a way for everyone.
Han Qi couldn't help but sigh, "Brother Jun didn't come today, so he missed such a good thing."
"Brother Ye Jun is a busy man, so he probably won't care about such a trivial matter." Feng Ziying said lightly: "Here they come, Brother Lian and the others are here. Let's go in for a walk later, and then we'll get into the details." Talk about this.”
For Feng Ziying, these two years were his humble growth period. If he didn't pass the imperial examination, he would never be able to enter the center of power in the Great Zhou Dynasty. Although he had to read books, he could also do some things, especially Lin Lin. The girl is so tightly entangled. It is certainly possible to go to Jia's house in the future in the name of teaching Baoyu, but it will definitely be better if there is another reason, such as cooperating with Jia Lian, which will also allow Wang Xifeng to take more care of Lin Yatou.
Brothers, check your ticket pockets. You should have one or two monthly passes, right?
(End of this chapter)