When the emperor saw Du Ke coming, he asked the princes to leave. Three princes were tested today, and they performed well, so the emperor was in a good mood: "Look at your expression, is there something good?"
Du Ke did not hide it: "It is indeed good news, for the emperor, the court, and the country of Qi."
When the emperor heard Du Ke's tone, he was very curious: "Don't make me guess, I'm afraid I can't guess your good news."
Du Ke smiled and said: "Although this is good news, the emperor really can't guess it. It's news from Yunxiang County."
Speaking of Yunxiang County, the emperor now has a very deep impression of Qin Fang. The silver that the county magistrate of Yunxiang County searched out has been filled into the national treasury.
The emperor smiled and said, "You look so happy. It seems that this good news is really great. Well, don't keep us in suspense. Just tell us directly."
Du Ke said, "Qin Fang discovered two mines in Yunxiang County. Your Majesty, why don't you guess what they are?"
The emperor: "..." I told you not to keep us in suspense, but you are still doing it.
Du Ke did not speak directly, but took out Qin Fang's memorial: "Qin Fang was afraid that this memorial would be seen by others, so he sent someone to deliver it to the capital. Your Majesty, please take a look."
Oh?
The emperor took the memorial, but did not rush to read it. Instead, he said, "Why is this memorial so thick? Not to mention that I have never seen such a thick memorial since I ascended the throne. Even when I was a prince, I have never seen such a thick memorial on my father's desk. Did Qin Fang write all the trivial matters in it?"
Du Ke hurriedly said, "I am afraid. I don't know what he wrote in the memorial." He did not read the memorial, but he read the letters. His letters were so thick, and the memorials were so thick. It is conceivable that the content inside is the same. However, he did not know whether the emperor's words were a test.
The emperor said again: "You must teach him well next time you have the chance, otherwise he will become a general of the fifth rank and not even know how to write a memorial. If everyone's memorial is like this, how many memorials can I read in a day?"
Du Ke said: "Yes."
The study was quiet, and the emperor began to read the memorial. Indeed, the content of the memorial was the same as the letter to Du Ke. Although the emperor disliked Qin Fang's memorial because it was too thick, he liked the detailed content inside. As an emperor, of course he hopes that his subjects will tell him everything. What's more, Qin Fang's memorial overturned the emperor's perception of other memorials. Because... Qin Fang wrote in vernacular, which is completely different from the memorials written by those circuitous civil officials. Vernacular is easy to understand.
When the emperor saw the military camp and manor mentioned by Qin Fang, he raised his eyebrows but did not speak. When he saw the sulfur mine and saltpeter mine, he stood up suddenly, and then he met Du Ke's eyes: "This is indeed good news. If, as Qin Fang said, we have sulfur mines and saltpeter mines, our country can make big firecrackers, then God bless my country, God bless me." As an emperor, no matter how he got the throne, he really wanted to leave a good name for himself. Moreover, the emperor himself is a wise ruler, and he is naturally happy about things that are good for the country.
Du Ke immediately knelt down: "Your Majesty is a true dragon emperor. With such a big firecracker, why worry about not unifying the world?"
The emperor was a little flattered by this sentence, but he was still rational: "The name of this big firecracker is a bit ugly. If we can make something that is ten or a hundred times more powerful than firecrackers, what should we call it?" The emperor thought of the power of firecrackers blooming in the air. If it is ten or a hundred times this power... then the small flame of the firecracker will become a big flame. The flame and the flame look so powerful and terrifying.
Du Ke: "I am not talented enough to think of a name."
The emperor: "Sulfur and saltpeter are also medicines. The sulfur and saltpeter mines discovered by King Liang are also medicine mines. Firecrackers made of medicine can produce such a large flame power. How about calling it gunpowder?"
Gunpowder? Du Ke thought for a moment and said, "Your Majesty, this title is very good. Gunpowder, a medicine with great firepower, is very consistent with the medicinal properties and power of this medicine."
The emperor himself also felt that it was appropriate: "Qin Fang first suppressed bandits and arrested corrupt officials, and now he has found sulfur and saltpeter mines. Moreover, his policy on military camp land is also very beneficial to the court and the military camp. If every military camp can buy land locally, then the soldiers will not have a shortage of food. When fighting, food will no longer be a problem. It is not a problem anymore. "
Du Ke said: "I think so too. The issue of the military camp land can be discussed as appropriate. However, the military camp land was the idea of Mrs. Qin. Although she is a woman, she can consider these things for her husband while taking care of her husband and children at home. It can be seen that Mrs. Qin is also a virtuous woman. According to Qin Fang, when he went to suppress the bandits, many of the more than 3,000 people were infected with the disease, but everyone was unwilling to move out of the tents and refused to be isolated. It was also Mrs. Qin who personally gave them She convinced them by sending them food.
Those people were afraid that they would die after being isolated, but Mrs. Qin told them that the disease would not be fatal as long as they were treated well and took medicine in cooperation with the doctor. She personally delivered three meals a day to the door of the isolated tent, and those people believed her. Such a woman is really courageous. "
The emperor was also a little surprised: "Oh? Whose daughter is this Mrs. Qin? According to Qin Fang's status, he was not a general at the time, so his wife should be the daughter of an ordinary citizen, right?"
This... Du Ke said: "The relationship between Madam Qin and Qin Fang was brought up by your Majesty. This marriage is perfect because of your Majesty."
The emperor found this interesting: "What do you mean? Why don't I know?"
Du Ke explained: "Madam Qin was originally a maid of the Yang family. When you ascended the throne in August of the year before last, you released all the maids of the criminal's family who were not involved in the relevant incidents into slavery and gave them to the soldiers at the border. Do you remember?" They all knew what the relevant incidents were, but they just didn't say it.
The crime is not the same as the slave, this is the most humane law of Qiguo. As long as the slave did not participate in the crime of the master, the master can release the slave after the crime.
The emperor did not hate the Yang family, but they had different positions, so when he heard that Yang Haiyan was originally a maid of the Yang family, he had no other thoughts. "I do remember." After he ascended the throne, the first batch of criminals he dealt with were Taifu Yang and his associates, so Yang Haiyan and other maids were the first batch of slaves he released and the first batch of people he gave away as marriage gifts.
Du Ke said, "Mrs. Qin was originally a maidservant by the eldest daughter of the Yang family."
The emperor had a deep impression of the eldest daughter of the Yang family: "One of the two pearls in the capital was Miss Yang, what a pity..." What a pity? They all knew. "The people around the two pearls in the capital are naturally different from ordinary maids. They are virtuous and kind, and the young ladies of the rich families are no more than that."
Du Ke thought, with the emperor's praise, who can still say that Mrs. Qin was once a maidservant?
The emperor said again: "Mrs. Qin's military camp and land are of great merit to the court. What should you reward her with?" In fact, he would rather reward Mrs. Qin than Qin Fang. If Mrs. Qin is rewarded, Qin Fang's merit can be put aside. After all, Qin Fang was promoted to the rank of a fifth-rank military general this year. Although the sulfur mine and saltpeter mine were great contributions, Qin Fang's promotion now was too fast and needed to be suppressed.
Du Ke said, "This is difficult for me, but I have an idea. Qin Fang's mother and grandmother have not been granted an imperial decree. He joined the army on behalf of his father, which shows his filial piety. If I can ask for an imperial decree for Qin Fang's grandmother and mother, I'm sure Qin Fang will be very happy." As the emperor's confidant, Du Ke knew what the emperor was thinking. Moreover, Qin Fang could indeed be promoted because of his contributions to the sulfur and saltpeter mines, but he had just been promoted in March this year, so it would be inappropriate for him to be promoted again at this time. In this way, it would be appropriate to share this credit with his mother and grandmother.
The emperor was very satisfied with Du Ke's words: "Lord Du, your words make sense. Filial piety is the most important virtue. I will confer titles on Qin Fang's mother and grandmother. As for Qin Fang's wife, she has made contributions in solving the problem of food for the soldiers. She will be awarded 200 taels of gold and a jade ruyi..."
Du Ke: "I thank the emperor on behalf of Qin Fang for his grace."
The emperor: "That's enough. Let's talk about business. Regarding the sulfur and saltpeter mines, who do you think is more appropriate to send?" The emperor looked at Du Ke, as if he wanted Du Ke to go.
If it was normal, it would be okay for Du Ke to go. After all, after he went, it would be related to the gunpowder issue, but he was busy recently. However, "Your Majesty, if we send people to Yunxiang County, it will be impossible to transport sulfur and saltpeter, so the gunpowder must be made in Yunxiang County. In this case, it is better to let Qin Fang take full charge of this matter, and the court will send people from the Ministry of Works to go there."
The emperor heard it and said, "I really need to think about this matter again."
Du Ke saluted and said, "Then I will take my leave first."
The emperor waved his hand.
Du Ke came out of Yu's study and took a deep breath. Although Qin Fang's contribution was suppressed, he really left his name in front of the emperor. Sometimes, it is useless to have too much contribution, so it is better to leave an impression on the emperor.
When Du Ke left the palace, he saw the guards of his Du Mansion waiting at the gate of the palace. This guard... Du Ke's eyelids jumped. The guards also saw Du Ke: "Sir, sir, General Qin has sent a second letter."
Du Ke: "..." Is this giving people time to rest? The second letter came after only half a day. However, the fact that two letters were sent consecutively shows that the matter in the second letter is also very important. Du Ke got on the carriage: "Go back to the mansion."
Du Ke stayed in the mansion for only a cup of tea, and in the blink of an eye he went back to the palace. Du Ke's two consecutive visits to the palace attracted the attention of some people. Everyone was asking if something had happened, otherwise why did Du Ke go to the palace twice in a row?
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