met free Page 2507
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Four words: A dazzling display of lights!
When the fireworks lit up the sky, Seljuk and the Japanese envoys all stared in disbelief.
They couldn't understand why such beautiful things existed in the world.
The soldiers and police officers of the Five Cities Garrison were all on high alert.
Firefighting equipment was prepared on every street in the city, and people stood next to every well.
The Lantern Festival celebrations in Tokyo were so lively starting from the reign of Emperor Huizong of Song.
Especially in the last few years of his reign, gunpowder had been used in all sorts of creative ways and was only one step away from being turned into a weapon.
For example, the "meteor" was made by mixing gunpowder with iron powder, filling a paper tube sealed with clay at one end, and then lighting it to make it fly into the air.
Commonly known as a skyrocket.
However, these rockets only take off and do not explode after they fly away.
Other fireworks simply spray flames, and their colors are relatively limited.
"The Emperor has arrived!"
"Your Majesty, Your Majesty!"
Lanterns were lit on the city tower, members of the royal family appeared, and the people below cheered.
Zhao Yuan, along with his wives, concubines, children, and grandchildren, waved towards the crowd, which immediately drew an even louder cheer.
"Let's set off fireworks," Zhao Yuan said with a smile.
Fireworks capable of rising into the air and exploding are about to appear in human society for the first time.
A large circle of fireworks had been erected on the walls of the imperial city, and musketeers began to ignite them in batches with flintlock ropes.
"Shhhhhh!"
"Bang bang bang bang!"
Clusters of sparks rose into the sky, exploding in the night and blooming into colorful flowers.
This time, not only foreign envoys, but also well-informed Tokyo residents all looked up at the sky with silly smiles.
A group of Hanlin Academy officials, who had little real power, were almost unaffected by the major case last year, and some even took the opportunity to be transferred to other posts for promotion.
They brought their families and friends, and now, watching the dazzling fireworks in the night sky, they were having an exceptionally happy time tonight.
One of the guys, who was a poet from the Dasheng era, waited until the fireworks display lasted for more than ten minutes before suddenly raising his arms and shouting, "Long live the Ming Dynasty! Long live the Ming Dynasty!"
The civil and military officials were also enjoying the lanterns at this moment. Having experienced the grand fireworks display, they seemed to have forgotten the recent upheaval in the officialdom.
They smiled with delight, as if they could see a golden age right before their eyes.
Suleiman was completely stunned, pointing to the sky and asking, "What are those things?"
Abu muttered, "Perhaps it's a miracle."
After the Lantern Festival, Grand Secretary Zong Ze retired and returned to his hometown.
He has lived two and a half years longer than historical records suggest. Last year, his health deteriorated, and he was bedridden and took sick leave multiple times.
After three requests and three resignations, and finally in the spring, Zhao Yuan approved Zong Ze's retirement.
The vacant cabinet minister position was filled by Zhang Shuye.
"Are you two also resigning?" Zhao Yuan asked.
Zhong Shidao said, "Your Majesty, I am already eighty years old this year."
Huang Shang said, "Your Majesty, I am already eighty-seven years old."
These two actually quite enjoyed being cabinet ministers, but last year's crackdown on corruption was too frightening, and their old hearts couldn't take it.
After New Year's Day, the major case came to an end, and Zhong Shidao and Huang Shang resigned one after another.
Zhao Yuan muttered to himself, "I'd like to retire."
Huang Shang said, "Your Majesty, if I do not retire this year, I fear I will not be able to return home next year. The journey by boat and carriage may be too bumpy, and I may die on the way."
“Your Majesty, I feel the same way and humbly request to retire,” Zhong Shidao said.
Zhao Yuan sighed, "Then it's approved."
According to the Book of Rites, officials can only apply for retirement at the age of seventy.
The preferential treatment given to civil officials in the Song Dynasty was also reflected in their retirement benefits.
Upon retirement, they would be promoted one rank and retain all their positions, with their pensions paid at full salary (pensions only became available after Emperor Shenzong of Song).
The Ming Dynasty also retained the pension system, but retirees could only receive half of their normal salary.
In fact, the total retirement pensions of officials across the country are not much. How many officials can live past seventy?
How many more years can one live after retirement?
Chapter 3323 Learning a Messy Approach
There is no mandatory retirement system here, and most officials are unwilling to retire unless their health is really bad.
The government's distribution of retirement pensions is actually encouraging officials to retire—you're all over seventy years old, why are you still clinging to your official positions?
After discussions between the emperor and his ministers, Li Hanzhang and Qian Chen were appointed as cabinet ministers.
The cabinet members underwent a major reshuffle and are now: Zhai Ruwen, Liu Jian, Xiao Chu, Zhao Quan, Zhang Shuye, Li Hanzhang, and Qian Chen.
This marks the entry of the younger generation into the cabinet as prime ministers; Li Hanzhang and Qian Chen are both under fifty years old!
Pan Lianggui, who was ranked second in the same examination as Zhao Yuan, succeeded Li Hanzhang as Minister of Personnel.
Pan Liangui was previously the Right Vice Minister of the Ministry of Justice, and he also worked with Chen Dong to handle last year's major case.
Now that he's the Minister of Personnel, he'll probably be living in fear, worried that promoting a bunch of corrupt officials will affect him.
Fang Mengqing, who raised an army to help Li Bao capture Huainan, succeeded Qian Chen as Minister of Revenue.
This man was extremely capable. At that time, Huainan was right next to Zhao Yuan's territory, and he was the only one in Huainan who trained troops to resist the "Zhu bandits".
The troops personally trained by Fang Mengqing were not only ruined by Emperor Huizong's misguided command, but the incompetent emperor also led his elite troops and ran away.
Enraged, Fang Mengqing led his remaining troops to surrender to Li Bao, who then conquered a large part of Huainan Province.
……
Fanlou.
Last year's case caused a significant drop in business here.
As long as they are children of officials, they are all restricted by their elders at home, who forbid them from going to high-end places, for fear that they might be targeted and investigated if they do something wrong.
As a result, Fanlou lowered the price of its liquor, and listening to music and watching plays also became cheaper.
Why go to such an expensive place?
Zhang Jun stood in front of Fanlou and said. Although his father was a Jinshi (a successful candidate in the highest imperial examinations), he died too young, and after the family divided their property, they could only be considered moderately wealthy.
Min Zishun laughed and said, "Brother Yirong (Pan Lianggui) has been promoted to Minister, so of course we should celebrate in a grand way. Today's meal is on me!"
Pan Liangui pointed at Min Zishun and said, "Is this considered bribing an official with food and drink?"
"Hahahaha!"
Everyone burst into laughter.
Some are happy while others are sad; many officials who were not investigated have been promoted as a result.
Zhang Jun was transferred from the Court of State Ceremonial to the Court of Judicial Review, and was promoted to Minister of the Court of Judicial Review.
Min Zishun was transferred from a local post to one of the Six Ministries and was promoted to Left Vice Minister of the Ministry of Personnel.
He Su, who was also a top scholar in the same year as Zhao Yuan, was sent to a local area to gain experience for a few years before being transferred back to the Ministry of Rites to serve as the Right Vice Minister.
These guys knew each other since the Song Dynasty. Now they've all been promoted together and, having been separated for so long, they've decided to come to Fanlou for a drink.
The bartender treated them hospitably and led them to a private room on the second floor.
Fanlou has five floors, and the prices increase as you go up. They were already considered restrained by choosing the second floor.
After entering the private room and waiting for the bartender to leave, Min Zishun sighed, "Back then, when I went on a night tour of Tokyo with His Majesty, seeing the brightly lit Fanlou restaurant, I felt that being able to eat and drink freely inside was already worthwhile."
"I don't actually have much ambition or aspirations, so I really didn't expect to be where I am today."
"Yeah!"
The door was suddenly pushed open, and Li Hanzhang strode in: "You scoundrel, you're lying. Back in Yangzhou Academy, when we first heard about the Dao Yong theory, who was it that was willing to abandon the exams to study this subject?"
“My dear brother, you have lofty aspirations, but they are just kept in your heart.”
Min Zishun laughed heartily: "So this is what kind of person I am. Brother Zhen, you flatter me."
"Welcome, Prime Minister Li!"
Everyone stood up in unison and bowed to Li Hanzhang.
There was some respect in it, but it was mostly a teasing and joking expression.
Li Hanzhang said irritably, "This isn't a government office. We're all old acquaintances. If you keep addressing me like that, I'm leaving."
Everyone laughed again and took their seats to have their drinks poured.
Min Zishun said, "We are still short a few people today, but they have important matters to attend to in other places."
Li Hanzhang sighed, "Bai Sanlang has the heaviest job. The land tax reform in Henan is very difficult."
"Moreover, he was the one who brought up last year's major case, and he is secretly resented by countless people."
The atmosphere became somewhat delicate when the topic of major cases came up; this matter was particularly sensitive.
"Let's talk about something else," Min Zishun changed the subject. "I heard that Deyuan was sent as an envoy to Japan. What foreign customs did he have there?"
Zhang Jun passed the imperial examination one year later, and he made his acquaintances with everyone through He Su:
“Japan imitates the Tang Dynasty in everything, but it seems out of place.”
"The noblewomen there all had blackened teeth, applied lead powder, shaved eyebrows, and wore long hair; seeing them at night was truly terrifying."
Pan Liangui was extremely surprised: "Why would you stain your teeth black? Don't you think it looks dirty and ugly?"
“I asked the Japanese nobles, but they couldn’t explain it either,” Zhang Jun said. “Even some Japanese court nobles and ministers imitated women’s clothing.”
"They shaved off their eyebrows, drew them into the shape of broad beans, and painted their faces pale before going to court, thinking that such an appearance was dashing and debonair."
He Su said disdainfully, "That's how barbarians from foreign lands are. They can't learn the essence of the Tang Dynasty even if they want to."
Min Zishun asked, "Does Japan really have that much gold and silver?"
Zhang Jun nodded and said, "There is a lot of gold and silver. I estimate that the first batch will be transported back this year."
"Moreover, it is associated with copper mines, which can make up for the copper shortage in the Ming Dynasty."
"This is a gift from Heaven to our Great Ming Dynasty!"
Chapter 3324 Wanting a Son
Pan Liangui clapped his hands in praise and raised his glass to drink with everyone.
After a glass of wine, they started asking each other about their experiences over the past few years, and the conversation gradually turned to national affairs.
Last year's major corruption case purged many officials and gentry.
Although it caused turmoil in officialdom and stagnation in local administration, it also strengthened the prestige of the imperial court, and Zhao Yuan took the opportunity to fully promote the reform plan.
Starting this year, all provinces, including Sichuan, will conduct land surveys, implement the land tax reform, and reform the official service system.
This is the best opportunity; we don't need to kill them all over again!
Li Hanzhang and others clinked glasses and chatted merrily, while someone upstairs was drinking alone in silence.
Li Bangyan sat by the window, drinking one cup after another.
He used to host banquets at home, often with dozens or even hundreds of guests, and the guests were all wealthy or noble.
Now he can't even find a drinking buddy. Those guys who used to fawn over him now avoid Li Bangyan like the plague.
He thought he was very popular and had friends all over the capital, but now he realizes it was all an illusion.