Chapter 2883 Talents for the Country
In order to get Bai Shan and Zhou Man to like his new manuscript, Bai Erlang had to run back to Mingda.
The next day, Mingda ran into the palace with Bai Erlang. She first apologized to the emperor on behalf of her husband, and then acted coquettishly to get the manuscript back.
The emperor was pestered to no end and returned most of it. He refused to return the rest at all. He said solemnly, "The son-in-law can't distinguish between public and private matters. How can he not be punished at all? These manuscripts are his punishment. Oh, and it's best not to spread them outside. Otherwise, if the Hanlin Academy finds out that I returned the manuscripts to him, I'm afraid they will impeach him and me."
Mingda realized that it was useless to act coquettishly, so he had no choice but to take that part of the manuscript to find Bai Erlang.
Bai Erlang looked at it and sighed, "Bai Shan and Zhou Man have already read most of these. Look, there are still their marks of revisions on them. I wanted to send them the new ones I wrote recently."
Mingda: "Do you want them to read your newly written manuscript or revise it for you?"
Bai Erlang asked, "Aren't these things happening simultaneously? What's the difference between the two?"
Mingda: "If it's the latter, I can do it too. I'll change it for you."
Bai Erlang was conflicted. "That's not good. You don't know what happened during the journey to the west. What if you change it and I go off track?"
Mingda said, "I heard Zhou Man talk about the journey to the west. He won't go astray."
Bai Erlang stared at her, still wanting Bai Shan and Zhou Man to revise it, so he came up with a middle ground. "Why don't you get the manuscript from His Majesty first, revise it yourself, and then send it to Bai Shan and the others for revision?"
He said, "I promised them that the manuscript must be reviewed by them before it is printed."
Mingda nodded, "Okay."
She was very happy in her heart, as long as she was involved.
So, how were they going to get the remaining manuscripts back from the emperor?
The couple looked at each other and looked towards the back hall of the Taiji Hall.
The queen did not agree on the spot and asked them to go back and wait for the news.
Bai Erlang was very confused. "Is it so serious that I'm writing a manuscript in the Hanlin Academy? So serious that even the Empress can't take out the manuscript?"
Mingda knew her father better and said, "I'll give it to you after the emperor has read it."
"But Liwei left after two days."
That night, the emperor did not go to the harem, but instead read a stack of manuscripts. The empress went over to take a look, then took the manuscript that the emperor had flipped through and began to read it. As she read, she smiled and said, "Mingda and the prince consort have both come to me for help. When will Your Majesty give them the remaining manuscripts?"
The emperor said nonchalantly, "Wait until I finish reading it."
The Queen couldn't help but laugh. "Your Majesty, if you don't give him the manuscript, I'm afraid he won't be able to write the next one. I also want to know how Bai Shan and the others managed to survive after breaking through the city gate."
The emperor felt wronged, "You have finished reading it, but I haven't."
The queen urged him, "Then look quickly."
He continued, "Didn't you notice someone else's handwriting on the manuscript? Apparently, someone else revised it. The Imperial Medical Bureau is going to send someone to Zhou Man. Since the Prince Consort suddenly got anxious, I'm afraid he's going to send the manuscript to Bai Shan and Zhou Man."
The matter turned to official business. The emperor tapped the quilt covering his legs with his fingers and said to the empress, "I heard from Xiao Yuanzheng that after each director takes office, it takes at least half a year for the local people to know about the existence of the medical department. If the local people want to accept the medical department, it will take even longer."
"Although Zheng Gu failed in his duties, the Luozhou Medical Bureau is the most accomplished of all the medical bureaus. It's well-known not only in Luoyang County, but also in other counties in Luozhou. This is why many refugees seek medical treatment at the bureau," the emperor said. "Last year alone, the Luozhou Medical Bureau registered 128 refugees. This is a great achievement."
The emperor raised his lips and said, "Zhou Man has only been gone for a short time, but she's already asking for someone from the Imperial Medical Bureau. It seems the medical bureau is progressing very smoothly. Sending her out is like a party."
The Queen said, "I heard from Mingda that Zhou Man has set up the medical office in Beihai County. The situation there is different from other medical offices. The county magistrates of other counties may not welcome the establishment of a medical office. But with Bai Shan in Beihai County, Zhou Man's work will be much smoother."
The emperor nodded. "I know this, but it's not a bad idea to start with Beihai County. Beyond Beihai County, other places are still other places, and Bai Shan can't influence them. I want to see if Zhou Man can open medical offices everywhere."
The Queen asked, "Has the Governor of Qingzhou not arrived yet?"
"Oh," the emperor lowered his head and continued to flip through the manuscript in his hand, saying nonchalantly, "I have appointed another governor for Qingzhou. He should be arriving in the capital soon. After seeing me, he will take up his post."
The queen was startled and asked, "Did someone change?"
The emperor's smile faded slightly, and he nodded, "Yes, Wang Rong has been ill and unable to travel. I saw that he was in poor health, so I asked him to recuperate at home. I discussed it with Wei Zhi and decided to send Guo Cheng instead."
Queen: "Guo Cheng? He..."
The emperor nodded and said, "That's him."
Seeing the Queen's strange expression, he laughed heartily and said, "Don't look at him as a fence-sitter, but he's quite capable and scheming. He's also determined to achieve great things. Qingzhou has the equally smart and capable Lu Cong, and with Bai Shan here, I think Qingzhou will only get better and better."
"On the contrary, it's Wang Rong," the emperor's smile faded, and he said coldly, "He's too arrogant. He looks down on Qingzhou and looks down on sons of humble families. He thinks Qingzhou is poor and cold, and he's embarrassed to fight a group of local gentry. But he doesn't know that the Qingzhou officials may not look down on him either."
He has never looked down on his own people, so why should Wang Rong despise them?
Because Wang Rong is indeed talented, he has been holding back. However, the appointment letter was issued before the New Year, and he could go after the New Year. However, after the New Year and the Dragon Raising Day, he is still thinking about catching a cold and wanting to worship his ancestors and take up his post after the Qingming Festival. In this case, there is no need for him to go and he should just stay at home and think about his ancestors.
Sensing that the emperor was in a bad mood, the empress soothed him. The emperor then looked down at the manuscript in his hand and happened to see the part where Bai Shan and his men took the initiative to join the Western Expedition Army. He sighed and said, "If all the ministers in the world were as pure-hearted as Bai Shan and Zhou Man, knowing to devote their talents to the country, there would be less chaos in the world."
The Queen couldn't help but laugh, "If all the ministers in the world are like this, how will Your Majesty repay them?"
"I will give them high positions, generous salaries, and unlimited honors."
The queen smiled slightly. Although these words could cause endless conflicts and disputes, she really liked seeing the emperor being so confident and outspoken.
I will start adding more chapters tomorrow. See you tomorrow.
(End of this chapter)
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