half life slave

Chapter 30 Bribery

Huixian Pavilion is indeed the largest restaurant in Yangzhou City, with gorgeous decoration and quiet private rooms.And those who are eligible to attend this evening are only officials of the fifth rank or lower, plus Rong Yu and Lin Sheng, there are no more than [-] people in total.

But Duan Xun booked the entire restaurant, such a big battle, Rong Rongyu couldn't help but think of the words "Hongmen Banquet".

As soon as he entered the private room, Duan Xun raised his hand and gave way, blindly begging for tolerance and taking the main seat.In line with the principle that a visitor is a guest, Rong Yu simply did not get involved with him, said his words modestly, and sat at the top with half a push.

After the banquet, there was a lot of toasting, Rong and the previous life and present life were not good at drinking, in order to keep their minds clear, they could only drink a little, and every toast was just a sip.

Duan Xun and the others didn't persuade them too much. After a long while, they only heard a colleague surnamed Huang ask, "I heard that the imperial court will set up a special salt transport department and assign a salt transport envoy to manage salt affairs. Is the department under the jurisdiction of the state capital for unified management, or should it be returned to the yamen of the household department? Mr. Lin will go to Datian to listen, and I think he can answer the doubts of the officials."

After asking this question, more than half of the people at the banquet put down their wine glasses, and waited for the tolerance and answer with their ears pricked up.

The imperial court plans to set up a salt transportation department in Lianghuai, Liangzhe, Changlu, and Hedong to manage local salt affairs, but both the salt import and the final salt tax will be handed over to the Ministry of Households for management. The company has nothing to do with it, so far, only a few people know about it.

No wonder everyone is concerned, after all, there is no similar policy in this era.The people here are all old officials, and they have long been keenly aware that this will be a fat job. If they are directly affiliated to the household department, there will not be much room for local operations, and naturally there will be no money-making opportunities. access.

Rong Yu knew it in his heart, turned his wine glass and said in an official tone, "Huang Tongzhi really flattered me. I just obeyed the emperor's order to run an official business. As for the holy order, Lin doesn't dare to speculate. Instead of asking me, you don't ask me." Mr. Hubu Wang, he may know better than me."

Another Tongzhi, surnamed Lin, still didn't give up, "Then everything related to salt affairs will belong to this salt transport department? So, wouldn't the salt transport envoy become the world's fattest job?" Everyone who said this would know With a smile in his heart, he continued, "For such an important position, the imperial court must choose the right person. Does Mr. Lin know who the emperor plans to send as this salt transport envoy?"

Since it is the world's most fat job, I am afraid that it will be difficult to send anyone.Everyone said that this position was profitable, and the eyes of the big guys stared at it together, it was like putting a person on a charcoal fire to roast, the taste would not be very good.

It's a pity that most of the people only look at the short-term interests. For example, the big and small officials present are thinking about how to win this vacancy, or they may settle for the second best. I hope that the court will not send someone who is too strict and ignorant of the world. Everyone earns money together.

Rong Yu took a sip of his tea and answered him with a smile, "Before I left Beijing, the emperor hadn't decided on a candidate yet. I don't know if he has discussed with the cabinet ministers at this time. I know that everyone is concerned about the court's gains and losses in salt affairs. I also care about my colleagues in the future, so why not ask Mr. Duan to ask Qin Shoufu, or if you have anyone you can recommend, you may wish to recommend it to Mr. Shoufu."

After speaking, he played with the wine cup in front of him. In fact, he could see everyone's reaction out of the corner of his eye. Some people were already showing displeasure. They probably didn't expect that this noble young eunuch in front of the imperial court was actually a master who didn't know everything.

Duan Xun held his breath, raised his glass and smiled, "Master Lin has worked hard on business, and the emperor is considerate, so it's possible that he doesn't want you to worry too much. Let's say it's a banquet today, so we won't talk about official business. "After that, he led everyone to drink up the wine in the glass first.

Putting down his cup, he leaned closer to Rong Yu and said in a low voice, "The emperor will get married next spring, have you not been assigned to buy things for the wedding for the Long Live Lord and Empress during your trip?"

Rong Yu shook his head, "That's not true, why did Master Duan ask such a question?"

Duan Xun smiled meaningfully, "Master Lin never thought of giving the emperor some good things? Yangzhou belongs to Yingtian Mansion, and Yingtian Mansion has everything you need, such as Suzhou embroidery," he said with a low voice, laughing, "Admiral Jiangning Weaving is the younger brother of the lower official. If your lord has any requirements, you may as well tell me. If you can find a masterpiece to present, I think the emperor and empress will be very happy when they get married."

Rong Yu nodded frequently, and said yes, with only a sneer on his face, "I'm afraid I will disappoint Lord Duan's love for the Lord Long Live. All the things for the wedding are purchased by the Ministry of Internal Affairs, not with the Supervisor of Ceremonies. It's related, nothing else, the Chief Qian of the Ministry of Internal Affairs is not easy to offend, Rong Yu dare not take his job."

Duan Xun was stunned, "Ah, that's true, that's true..." Fu Xu agreed, and hurriedly changed the subject, "I heard that Mr. Lin likes Danqing. I recently got a picture of Daojun Emperor Ruihe, and I want to borrow it." This is an opportunity for my lord to help you appreciate it, my lord, please move on, how about coming here for a look?"

At this time, there was already a picture in the hall with his Chang Sui Qing, Rong Yu followed him to the front of the picture, and everyone got up and surrounded him.

The scroll unfolded, and it turned out to be the Ruihe picture of Emperor Daojun Zhao Ji.This painting, Rong Yu had seen written descriptions in ancient books, seen rubbings, and even glanced at the picture albums in previous lives.

The style of the painting on the scroll in front of me is completely different from the general painting of flowers and birds. The whole picture covers the sky with flying cranes, and only a line of eaves is used to set off the soaring posture of the group of cranes. exactly the same.The body of the crane is written in chalk and ink, and the eyes are dotted with raw lacquer, making it lively, natural and lifelike.

It is really an excellent flower-and-bird painting that is very different from the style of the painting academy. Rong Yu felt emotional in his heart, and couldn't help but take a closer look, thinking to himself, this is probably the only time in this life, to see its true face .

"What do Master Lin think of this painting?" Duan Xun asked with a smile, interrupting his greedy look at the painting.

Rong Yu turned around and looked at him, with an embarrassed expression on his face, and said apologetically, "I'm really ashamed, in fact, Lin doesn't know much about painting. I don't know where Mr. Duan heard that I have researched on Danqing?"

Duan Xun was obviously taken aback, and looked at him rather puzzled, "My lord is too modest, who doesn't know that your lord was selected by the emperor because of a picture of lush forests and distant mountains. The painting was judged to be authentic, and Li Cheng's style of painting was clearly stated, which made the emperor very happy. Why, now that the adults say that they don't know how to paint, isn't it a bit insincere?"

Frowning, he suddenly pointed to the picture of Ruihe and asked suspiciously, "Could it be that this painting is a fake, and my lord can't bear to expose it so he pretended to say so?"

Rong Yu waved his hands again and again, his expression becoming more and more troubled, as if there was something hard to say, "No, no, I dare not tell the truth of your painting, because I really can't tell it. As for the picture of Maolin Yuanxiu that your lord said , that was really a big misunderstanding."

With a wry smile, he went on to say, "Lin has always been good friends with a scribe from the imperial prison, and he has always studied Danqing calligraphy. I just happened to catch up with him that day, and he told me about the painting. The good point. Unexpectedly, Xia’s palm print was questioning the authenticity of the painting. My friend prevented me from going up to the peak, so I said it for him on a whim. The emperor happened to pass by and heard it, so I thought I was the one who understood. Appreciation of paintings. How do you say this, I am really embarrassed to mention it so far, and it made everyone laugh."

The tone was both sincere and helpless, he lowered his head after speaking, and sighed again and again, everyone listened, and couldn't tell the truth from the fake for a moment, but they could see that his face was slightly flushed, but it was hard to tell whether it was because of shame or because of drinking The air surged up, and this thin halo was revealed just now.

Seeing this, Duan Xun lost his mind. He wanted to find out what he likes, so he used this painting as bait. If he is interested, he can catch it.Unexpectedly, he made a one-push two-five-six, and the push was so clean that there was no room for it.

After a while, Duan Xun had no choice but to give up and no longer dwell on this topic.Everyone returned to their seats one after another, and the atmosphere in the private room became quite delicate.

After a while, Duan Xun turned his head, explained a few words to his servant, and then said with a smile, "My lord, when you come to Yangzhou, besides tasting Huaiyang cuisine and visiting the Slender West Lake, you should also take a look at our famous lean horse in Yangzhou. This is a good thing that the screwdriver salt merchant came up with, my lord, do yourself a favor and listen to how they sing?"

After finishing speaking, he clapped his hands, and the door opened immediately, and two fifteen or sixteen-year-old girls walked in.One wore moon-white, the other wore crimson-colored, holding Yueqin, pipa and other things in their hands, and bowed their heads together to greet everyone.