Save the tragic villain in progress!

There are many high-ranking officials in Beijing, so it is impossible for the crown prince to go door-to-door to collect money and food, so those who come to register are the officials of the Eastern Palace and the small officials of the household department, and only a few older uncles can let the crown prince personally door to door.

There is a family living opposite the general's mansion, which is the mansion of Xiao Da, the secretary and governor.This person is a member of King Jin's sect, and he had already received the news that King Jin had secretly assigned him last night, and the Prince's fundraising must not be allowed to go too smoothly.

Therefore, when the officials from the household department and the Eastern Palace came to the door, Xiao Da stood at the door, with his hands in his sleeves, and said with a guilty expression: "The old man's family is poor, and he has nothing. He wants to help the victims in the north, but he is powerless. Squeeze out 500 taels of silver, don't expect to be disgusted."

After speaking, he ordered the old servant to bring a box of scattered copper plates and silver, which looked really shabby.

Xie Jingyuan and Chu Xinian stood behind the door to watch the excitement, and when they saw this, they sneered and said, "This old man likes to raise horses, and there are dozens of top-quality horses from the Western Regions in the backyard. If you take one out casually, it will cost you a thousand taels of silver. Da Shi got the order of King Jin, and deliberately tripped the prince."

The salaries of all the officials in the Yan Dynasty were mediocre, not counting rice, grain and cotton cloth, and the annual salary of the third-rank officials was only 800 taels, so Xiao Da only took out 500 taels, which is hard to say.

It's a pity that the officials are not fools. Whoever has no business in private, the Emperor Yan will give gold and silver fertile fields from time to time. Coupled with the filial piety of the subordinates, the salary of the court is just a drizzle.

All in all, Xiao Da is purely disgusting people.

The officials in the East Palace are no longer surprised by it, and it is probably the same situation in other families.He ordered someone to count the money, and after registering it, he came to the general's mansion.

Xie Jingyuan threw a stack of silver bills into Chu Xinian's arms. The latter smiled when he saw it, and handed it to the prince's subordinate officer: "The general is very worried when he hears that the locust plague is spreading in the north, and the people have to change their sons to eat. Ten thousand taels, three thousand stones of rice grain."

1 taels, not too much and not too little, even if it contributed, it would not arouse Emperor Yan's suspicion.Everyone else is so poor, but you are the only one who spends a lot of money. Wouldn't it make people suspect that you are corrupt.

The prince's subordinate officials were so excited that tears filled their eyes, and tremblingly, they took the bank note.It can be seen that this is probably the biggest "windfall" he has received so far in fundraising today.

"General Dayi, I thank you in advance on behalf of the people."

Xiao Da stood at the opposite door, probably wanting to find out about the situation. Seeing Xie Jingyuan donating 1 taels of silver, he sighed meaningfully: "General Xie still spends a lot of money. Those who live on their salaries like me can only save money." These are a drop in the bucket."

He seemed to be in a strange mood, pointing fingers and scolding Huai, but people couldn't catch his feet.

Xie Jingyuan is also usually rampant. Hearing this, he glanced at Xiao Da, with a contemptuous smile in his eyes, and said slowly: "Master Xiao has been an official for more than [-] years, and he has only saved a hundred families, tsk, really..."

He shook his head, as if he didn't know how to describe it, and it took him a long time to spit out four words: "...a trash."

Chu Xinian thought so deeply.This is as outrageous as a modern leadership figure with an annual salary of one million who has only saved 20 in 50 years without any illness or disaster.I don't know whether to say that he is too rich or that his brain is not working.

Xie Jingyuan's curses are always blatant, never beating around the bush.Xiao Da heard this sentence on the opposite side, his face was livid with anger, he blew his beard and stared, pointed at Xie Jingyuan and tremblingly said: "You you you... Xie Jingyuan, this old man is going to read a book for you in front of the Holy One!"

Xie Jingyuan was not afraid. Hearing the words, he raised his head and laughed out loud, very happy: "Donating 500 taels of silver is ashamed to join the general, you go, and see who the Holy Majesty will punish."

People with a lot of money are tough these days.

Chu Xinian slowly shook his fan, made up his sword at the side, and said softly: "Master Xiao is already past his destiny, why should he be like a childish child, crying and complaining?"

Xiao Da was almost pissed off by these two people who had suffered thousands of knives, he felt dizzy before his eyes, and staggered back two steps.However, he really didn't have the guts to make a fuss in front of Emperor Yan. Donating 500 taels is already a sting, and he dared to make a fuss in front of the Holy One.

"The old man is not finished with you!"

Xiao Da could only throw out such a harsh word with no deterrent effect, turned around and walked in the door.

Xie Jingyuan squinted at Chu Xinian: "Is this the good show you said?"

Chu Xinian smiled and said: "General, don't worry, there will be a good show later."

There was no time to delay the matter of raising food, and in addition, the Donggong Household Department mobilized in unison, and the troops were divided into multiple routes, and they visited all the homes of the dignitaries in one morning.As expected, the amount was pitifully small, and those aristocratic families gave more, but it was still a drop in the bucket.

Everyone in King Jin's faction was watching the joke in secret, including King Ping and Chang Wang, who was also stumbling without a trace, and was going to see how the prince would do business.However, at noon, the officials of the East Palace suddenly went door-to-door to send out a card with the names of those who donated money and food densely written on it.

Xiao Da also had a share, he didn't see anything interesting after looking around, so he frowned and asked, "What is this?"

Chu Xinian and Xie Jingyuan were standing at the door, they came out to watch the fun after lunch, saw this and stepped down the stone steps, "kindly" explained to Xiao Da: "Master Xiao, don't you know that this is the ranking on the monument of meritorious deeds?" .”

Because the food collection affected thousands of households, all households came out to check the situation, including merchants and common people gathered on the street, ready to hear what this piece of paper was about.

Xiao Da frowned: "What merit monument?"

Chu Xinian's voice was clear and clear, not too loud or too small, just enough for everyone around to hear: "Your Majesty Xiao doesn't know something, His Royal Highness is grateful for your kindness in donating food, and intends to let future generations remember it, so he asked skilled craftsmen to build a hundred-year-old piece of white marble with white marble." On the stele of merit and virtue, engrave my name on it and stand outside the city gate, so that people who come and go can see it.

Xiao Da didn't realize the seriousness of the matter at this time, and nodded unconsciously, thinking that the donation of 500 taels of silver was not wronged.His achievements in this life are mediocre, and he is afraid that even if he dies, it will be difficult for him to be recorded by the historian. If he can leave his name and surname on the stele of century-old merits and virtues in the history volume, everyone can see...

When Xiao Dasi came to this point, suddenly there was a surge of heat in his chest, and his heart beat wildly, as if he had foreseen the scene where his fame would be passed on to future generations.The officials who live next to the General's Mansion are not much lower. When the servants heard Chu Xinian's words, they all ran in to report to their masters.

However, at this moment, Chu Xinian suddenly changed the topic, and clicked his tongue in embarrassment: "But the name on this monument..."

Xiao Da looked at him subconsciously: "What's wrong with the name on the stele?"

Chu Xinian shook his head again and again, as if it was a pity: "His Royal Highness said that the order of the names on the stele is based on the amount of money donated, regardless of the official position. It's down."

Xiao Da thought of his 500 taels, his heart skipped a beat, and his dream was shattered.

The ancients valued their names and festivals, and those with stubborn thoughts even regarded reputation as more important than their lives.It's nothing more than a small donation, and if it is engraved on a century-old stone tablet for everyone to see, wouldn't it be embarrassing to the eight generations of ancestors.

However, Chu Xinian was still holding the list, and turned several pages in front of Xiao Da's eyes, pointing to the names at the bottom of the last few rows and deliberately said: "Lord Xiao, look, your name is here."

Xiao Da looked along his fingers, only to see that his name was listed at the bottom of the crowd.Probably there wasn't enough space for the paper in the end, so the name was purposely shrunk down and written crookedly like an ant, and his face suddenly turned red.

But Xie Jingyuan crossed his arms, as if he thought Xiao Da wasn't stimulated enough, so he deliberately raised his voice and asked Chu Xinian, "Look, where are our names?"

Chu Xinian turned a few pages forward, pointed to the fifth row and said with a smile, "General, it's fifth."

Xie Jingyuan curled his lips slightly: "No matter how good the fifth is, at the worst, you have to squeeze in the third. Otherwise, the future generations will see that the names of the ancestors are behind, and they will lose their lord."

Xiao Da was so angry that his head was in a daze. Xie Jingyuan and Chu Xinian, two people who have lost their sleeves, have no sons and no grandchildren. Where did the descendants come from? They are clearly scolding themselves insinuatingly!

Chu Xinian put away his fan with a smile, and tapped his palm lightly: "It's not easy, the general doesn't have to worry, I'll immediately send someone to hurry up and send 3 taels of silver to the East Palace, and our family's ranking will naturally go up."

However, the crown prince was very hurt, deliberately writing the names of the hostile families together on the list.

The Pei family in Hedong and Jingzhao Webster's have a long history of feud, but Pei's ranking is just above Webster's in an impartial manner.The Patriarch of Webster's was already so angry that he slapped the table straight: "You bastard, we are both from a big family, why should I, Webster's, want to bow down and be suppressed by the Pei family!"

Mrs. Wei was even more worried: "Husband, I heard people say that this monument will be erected outside the city, and it will stand for a hundred years, so that people who come and go can see it, so let's donate an extra tens of thousands of taels of silver."

Patriarch Wei frowned and hesitated: "King Jin..."

Mrs. Wei shook her veil, and at this moment she couldn't help becoming annoyed: "King Jin, King Jin hasn't become the prince yet, even if he becomes the prince, what can he do with our family? Husband think about it carefully, it is a century-old reputation. The important thing is the king of Jin, if you don't donate money, if the concubine gets together in her boudoir in the future, wouldn't she be inferior to the wife of the Pei family."

Dynasties rose and fell, and the only ones who survived were the aristocratic families.His surname is unspeakably expensive, once overshadowing the imperial surname, and even the princess wanted to marry.Although King Jin may become the heir apparent, the Wei family needn't be too afraid.

Patriarch Wei sighed, thoughtfully: "I thought the prince was stupid, but just looking at today's method, I know he is not stupid. I know it's a trick, but I still have to dig in. No matter, tens of thousands It's just two silver coins, my Wei family can still afford it."

After saying this, he immediately ordered his servants to take the silver and send it to the East Palace as quickly as possible.And the same thing happened simultaneously in every household. For a while, the street was full of servants who were ordered by the master to deliver money to the East Palace, and the street was almost blocked.

But Chu Xinian still felt that it was not enough.The richest people in the Yan Dynasty were not these aristocratic families, nor the powerful royal family, but those busy and low-status merchants who wished to break a penny into two pennies.

Standing at the door, he saw Xiao Da was so angry that he threw his sleeves back into the house, and the people onlookers all looked at him curiously, and then turned to talk about another thing: "I almost forgot, in fact, His Royal Highness also said Well, this fundraising also has rich merchants who donate food and effort, he thanked them for their benevolence, and said that he would choose a few people to give a plaque with his own book as a reward."

Civil and military officials may not care about plaques written by the prince himself, but these humble merchants are different.When they met the county master, they felt that they were too expensive, let alone the prince who was a nobleman.

If there is such a plaque hanging on the door of their home, their status will be completely different from other merchants, and they will not have to bow and bow when they go out, and their faces will be full of light.It was a plaque bestowed by the Crown Prince himself. Anyone who saw it would not be courteous, and went out to do business with a little more confidence. After all, he was the one the Crown Prince praised personally.

There were also many businessmen among the onlookers. Hearing the words, he asked cautiously: "Will the crown prince really give you a plaque?"

"Nature is true."

Chu Xinian turned over a few pages of the list, pointed to one of the names and said to everyone: "His Royal Highness has something to say, Taiyuan businessman Chen Shi Shouren, who gave all his money to help during the famine in the north, specially bestowed a plaque of 'Dehou Liuguang' One, it must have been sent to his home by this time."

Suddenly a man in the crowd was surprised, pointed at his companion and said, "Chen Shouren?! Brother Chen, isn't that you?"

Chen Shouren, who was pointed at by his friend, also froze on the spot.His hometown is in the North, and he traveled thousands of miles to Beijing to do business. He did not return for several years. He never thought that there would be a plague of locusts. He heard that the crown prince was raising money and food. He feared that the elders in his hometown would suffer, so he donated all his wealth. Unexpectedly, he was given a gift from the crown prince himself. plaque? !

Chen Shouren was still a little unbelievable, and looked left and right frequently: "Is...is it me?"

The surrounding people couldn't help but cast envious eyes at him. To get something bestowed by the crown prince, maybe it's full of dragon spirit. This guy's ancestral grave is smoking.

Chu Xinian walked up to him, smiled and handed him the roster in his hand: "De Hou Liu Guang comes from "The Fifteen Years of Gu Liang Chuan Xi Gong". The prince hopes that your virtue will be profound, influence the world, and your descendants will also be rewarded."

Chen Shouren took the roster with both hands, his fingertips were trembling, and he felt that it was as heavy as a thousand catties.I don't know why, but when I saw my name written on it, I suddenly burst into tears: "Caomin...Caomin thank you, Prince..."

He took a gold pie out of the blue, which made other businessmen envious, turned around and went straight to Qianzhuang Liangzhuang without saying a word.Isn't it just a donation of silver? They don't have much else but a lot of money. Chen Shouren only donated a mere thousand taels of silver and got a plaque from the crown prince himself. Why can't they!

Chu Xinian saw all the reactions from all parties, and finally stopped the show, turned around and returned home with Xie Jingyuan, with a slow voice and a leisurely smile: "Look, general, all the money will be sent here what?"

Xie Jingyuan looked at him, didn't speak, and then laughed out loud after a while, but he didn't say the reason.

Chu Xinian really couldn't guess it now, and asked in a puzzled tone, "What is the general laughing at?"

Xie Jingyuan pushed the door open and entered the room, laughing so hard that he fell directly on the couch.He took off the mask on his face and threw it aside casually. After a long while, he said out of breath: "The general is laughing that King Jin is a blind man who is good at governing the world. He just throws it into the general's mansion as an outcast." Come on, how ridiculous, how ridiculous."

Chu Xinian himself felt like laughing, he leaned over Xie Jingyuan's side, and said in a low voice: "The general should thank King Jin, otherwise how would he meet my beloved."

"Beloved?" Xie Jingyuan rolled his eyelids when he heard the words, and snorted softly, "He's clearly a traitor."

He couldn't think of anyone in the world who was more treacherous than Chu Xinian.

Chu Xinian kissed his lips, bit it hard, and said in a vague voice, "Let's be a traitor."

Not a bitch.

At the same time, King Jin received the news very quickly, and the mansion was covered with dark clouds.