This time the emperor quickly let them get up and was eager to see his new palace.
Zou Ming was notified of the construction of this palace two months ago, and the emperor was very much looking forward to it.
Surrounded by five or six eunuchs and palace maids, the emperor walked towards the palace step by step.
After walking under the eaves and taking a clear look at the entire palace, the emperor's fat white face was filled with anger, "Where is Zou Ming?"
Zou Ming stepped forward quickly, "I'm here."
He hesitated and asked, "Is Your Majesty dissatisfied?"
"I'm not satisfied!"
The emperor's eyes were filled with anger. He pointed at Zou Ming's nose and cursed, "Look at you. You only built this thing for me in a few months! It's so small and shabby! There's not even a garden. Is it big enough for me to live in?"
Zou Ming did not dare to look up, and said in a low voice, "Your Majesty, the warehouses in Jiangnan are empty, and we can only build such pavilions. The people and soldiers can't even afford to eat, so how can we build a large-scale project?"
The emperor snorted coldly, still angry, "Where is your mansion? Don't let me see that you live better than me."
Zou Ming bent his waist even lower, "Your Majesty's temporary palace was converted from my mansion, and my mansion is there now."
Zou Ming pointed to a thatched house swaying in the wind not far from the palace, "That thatched house is where I live. If Your Majesty doesn't believe me, you can go check it out."
The expression in the emperor's eyes was hard to read.
"Okay. Just stay here until spring. Someone, move my things in."
After these words were spoken, the palace servants began to move in twos and threes, carrying out large pieces of luxurious ornaments and furniture from the carriages.
Queen Xie Yunyan also entered the palace surrounded by palace maids.
Zou Ming had already arranged accommodation for all the ministers and led everyone forward.
He smiled a little embarrassedly, "In these troubled times, I can't entertain you all properly. My residence is a little shabby. I'm really sorry, Zou Ming."
The ministers waved their hands one after another, and saw confusion in each other's eyes.
Now that we have arrived in Jiangnan, what should we do next?
No money, no soldiers, and your majesty...
While the officials and the emperor were cleaning up the house.
In a secret manor in the south of the Yangtze River, the national teacher Yu Yichou, the prefect of Jiaozhou Yang, Lu Yinli, and Song Zhen, the former prince's tutor and a veteran of three dynasties, gathered quietly together.
Yu Yichou unfolded the letter and said, "Gu Wei's letter said that we should persuade the emperor to go to Lingnan.
Secondly, Governor Yang, tell your soldiers to spread the good news about Sinan and stir up trouble."
Governor Yang nodded repeatedly, "Okay!"
As he said this, he couldn't help but glance outside the house, feeling uneasy.
Cold sweat rolled down his forehead. He was the most cautious one.
Everyone discussed it.
Song Zhen said, "I have a new idea."
Lu Yinli nodded quickly, "Teacher, please speak."
Song Zhen knocked on the table, "I want to directly incite the officials and turn the passive situation into active one."
Yu Yichou was surprised, "Is this idea too risky?"
Song Zhen nodded, "Taking risks can sometimes have unexpected results."
After a pause, Song Zhen's straight body became a little hunched, and his gray hair was blown up and down by the wind, making him look very old.
"Beijiang has long been destroyed, but the people cannot continue to live in such dire straits. You have seen it along the way."
Lu Yinli gritted his teeth and said, "Yes! I really can't stand it anymore. The emperor is really ridiculous!"
Yu Yichou nodded, "Okay, but we have to carefully screen the list..."
Night falls.
The emperor sent eunuchs to the homes of officials to notify them of court meetings and discuss important matters.
When everyone was present, the emperor looked at Governor Yang and said, "I heard that you are in charge of the Lingnan area. Is that also the case with Sinan?"
Governor Yang stepped forward and said, "Yes. The magistrate of Sinan County is an official who was transferred from the capital six months ago, Zhou Shijing. He is not only loyal to the emperor and patriotic, but also incorruptible and extremely talented."
In fact, the officials had heard a lot about Sinan along the way.
Originally, they were a little skeptical. How could a small county town be governed so well in troubled times?
But when I heard that the county magistrate was Zhou Shijing, I began to understand a little.
This man was born into a commoner family, had no family and no power, but he relied on his talent to leave his small village and came to the capital to take part in the palace examination, where he won the top three places.
He was a taciturn, incorruptible person who rarely interacted with officials, so people did not know much about him.
But what is certain is that Zhou Shijing is an honest official who is loyal to Beijiang.
The emperor raised his lips and there was a hint of pride in his eyes.
This Zhou Shijing was promoted by Chen Daoyu and myself.
It was he who secretly sent him down to Sinan in the first place. Now it seems that he was really preparing for a rainy day.
"County Magistrate Zhou has come to me with a memorial, asking me to move to Sinan. What do you think, my dear ministers?"
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