Chapter 3092 Different
Compared to the simplicity of the people in Beihai County, the people in the capital are much smarter and can't help but think more.
Bai Erlang's new book had just been printed, and after reading it for a short while, everyone guessed that Taibai in the book was Zhou Man and Wenqu was Bai Shan.
Even the students of the Imperial College secretly bought books to read.
"Is this true? Is this book really written by Lord Zhou and Lord Bai?"
"Of course it's fake. You'll know if you read on. It contains stories about curing smallpox and details the method of vaccination. Isn't this something Lord Zhou did?"
"But this is a chaotic world. It's written above that Taibai and Wenqu met again on the battlefield, and even smallpox broke out on the battlefield."
"Hey, what is a huaben? It's a made-up story, half true, half false, passed off as a legend. The skin and flesh have been changed, but the bones and muscles remain the same. Look at what's written in that book. Are the stories of saving lives on the battlefield and saving lives from smallpox true?"
"So is it true that Taibai and Wenqu were at odds since childhood as described in the book?"
"Well... they're fellow disciples, and they're husband and wife, so that shouldn't be the case, right?"
"Otherwise, otherwise, the White Prince Consort is their junior apprentice, so wouldn't he also write about their bad deeds?"
"Why did Prince Consort Bai write this book?"
"I think it's well-written. Although it doesn't have the endurance and humiliation of Xiang Mingxue's biography, it's still very moving."
"I didn't say it was bad. I was just curious. Why did he use the myths of gods to write about Lord Bai and Lord Zhou?"
"Who knows? Even though this book describes the relationship between the two adults in a strange way, it's mostly praiseworthy. That's not a bad thing, right?"
The students at the Imperial College were baffled, while the emperor in the palace read with gusto. However, he complained as he read, "Is the prince consort jealous? That's why he wrote about their childhood in such a strange way?"
Gu Zhong poured tea for the emperor and said with a smile, "Your Highness is kind-hearted and doesn't look like such a stingy person."
An eunuch came in and announced, "Your Majesty, Master Xiao Tang and His Royal Highness the Crown Prince have arrived."
The emperor let them in.
The prince just returned to Beijing from Jiangnan two days ago. This time he went south to deal with many people. He has reported a lot in the past two days. Today he just wants to talk about some small things.
The small matter is, "Bai Shan reported that the official salt stored in Beihai County now accounts for one-third of the official salt transported from Jiangnan to the Central Plains and the North in a year."
The emperor said, "It's still not enough."
The Crown Prince nodded. "But Beihai County is still drying salt. As far as I know, Qingzhou, Laizhou and Dizhou are cooperating. They will send people to teach them the salt drying method. If we open the salt fields now, we will be able to produce a large amount of sea salt after the summer of next year. By then, even if the official salt supply in the Jiangnan area is completely cut off, we will be able to control the situation."
The emperor pondered, "If that's the case, then relying solely on a few coastal prefectures and counties like Qingzhou and Laizhou can replace Jiangnan. Then the salt administration and salt taxation of the Jin Dynasty can be completely restarted."
The prince also thought so. Jiangnan was fundamentally bad in terms of salt tax. Since Qingzhou area could replace Jiangnan's official salt, they no longer needed to be controlled by Jiangnan in this regard.
Tang Zhihe listened to the father and son discussing how to revise the salt policy with his hands clasped at the side. His eyes darted around in boredom and accidentally met Gu Zhong's gaze.
Tang Zhihe smiled slightly and was about to lower his eyes and stand still when he saw Gu Zhong's eyes turn, sweep across the emperor's desk, then lower his eyes and avoid his gaze.
Tang Zhihe was stunned and became thoughtful.
The Emperor and the Crown Prince had finished their conversation. After taking a sip of tea, he looked at Tang Zhihe and asked, "How are the trials of the prisoners brought back from Jiangnan going?"
Although Tang Zhihe was the Shaoyin of Jingzhao Prefecture, because of his professional ability and his involvement in the investigation of the Jiangnan case, he was seconded to help and was considered one of the main judges in the trial.
He immediately came to his senses, bowed, and said, "The evidence has been reviewed, and the suspects in custody have all agreed to their charges. In my opinion, they can be convicted."
The emperor asked, "What do you think should be done?"
Tang Zhihe said expressionlessly, "Let it be decided according to the law."
Those who should be killed will be killed, those who should be exiled will be exiled, and those whose property should be confiscated will have their property confiscated. Anyway, no one is innocent, and it is not a pity if they die.
The emperor raised his eyebrows slightly, smiled faintly and said, "In that case, I will leave this matter entirely to you and the Dali Temple and the Ministry of Justice to handle."
This was a very offensive thing to do, but Tang Zhihe thought about it and agreed.
The emperor was very satisfied. Seeing the book on the table, he picked it up and flipped through it. He asked the two of them, "Have you read the Prince Consort's new book?"
There were many imperial consorts in the Jin Dynasty, some of the same generation as the emperor and some of the same generation as the prince, but there was only one imperial consort who could write books and whom they could see.
The prince said nothing. He had just returned and was very busy. How could he have time for leisure and entertainment? So he didn't watch it.
Tang Zhihe, who was well-informed, touched his nose, bowed, and said, "I have seen some."
He paused, closed his eyes, and praised, "Well written."
The emperor waved his hand and said, "Don't be so complimenting. I think this is far inferior to his Biography of Xiang Mingxue and Journey to the West."
Tang He didn't say anything.
"But the strange part about Taibai and Wenqu's reincarnation is also interesting. I think the beginning and the middle are well written, but why did he write Taibai and Wenqu as enemies when they were young?" the emperor asked him. "They were enemies, weren't they? Weren't Zhou Man and Bai Shan very close when they were young?"
The prince also turned his head to look at Tang He.
Tang He pondered for a long time before saying, "I heard that Lord Zhou and Lord Bai were very naughty when they were young. It's normal for children to fight and quarrel..."
He paused and then changed the subject, "However, although Lord Bai is older, he does not take advantage of Lord Zhou. This is evident from their status. Lord Zhou is the senior apprentice sister, so although Prince Consort Bai is older, he is the youngest junior apprentice brother..."
Tang He didn't say the rest, but the emperor and the prince understood. Bai Cheng was the most bullied among the three of them, so when he wrote the book, he couldn't help but bring up some of his childhood.
Tang He smiled and said, "From what I know, their relationship when they were young wasn't that bad. After all, they were fellow students, studying together. It was normal for them to quarrel, and they really supported each other."
The emperor nodded and sighed, "It's just like brothers in a family. It's normal to quarrel, but no matter how much you quarrel, you still have to support each other in the future."
While saying this, he did not forget to look at the prince.
Prince: ...
Tang He was also stunned for a moment. He didn't expect that the emperor would bring up the topic of the prince. He was silent for a moment, lowered his head and dared not interrupt again.
After leaving the hall, Tang He breathed a sigh of relief. He felt that working in front of the emperor was really a life-threatening task. He didn't know how his father had survived all these years.
The prince came out behind him and he immediately stepped aside.
The prince stopped and looked at him, then asked, "Did Zhou Man and Bai Shan have a bad relationship when they were young?"
Then why can they still be husband and wife?
Tang He said carefully, "Your Highness, I also heard it from Yang Heshu. After all, he was the magistrate of Luojiang County. However, Zhou Man and Bai Shan were only a few years old at that time. It's normal for children to fight and quarrel."
How old is she? How old are you and Prince Gong? Can you compare with her?
The prince was very satisfied with his answer, and he also felt that his emperor father was unreasonable. How old were they when they quarreled? How old were he and his brothers, Prince Gong, when they quarreled?
Besides, other people who were in their teens could live and die together, so could he and Prince Gong live and die together?
He and they are in a life-and-death struggle, so Zhou Man and Bai Shan can become husband and wife, but they... humph!
I went to get my second shot this morning, and I haven't been feeling very energetic since I came back, so I haven't been writing anything yet. I'm not sure if I can update tonight, so I'll take a leave first. I'll make up for it tomorrow or in two days.
(End of this chapter)
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