Chapter 311 310 Aoshan Lantern Festival meets

Through the last visit to Yan's mansion, Wei Guangde knew that the Yan family's attitude towards him now was no different from what he expected.

That is, the surface is still the same, but he has secretly removed from the list of officials that Yan Mansion can trust.

But this is good. At least on the surface, the relationship between Wei Guangde and the Yan family has not changed. If the Yan family suddenly becomes enthusiastic about him, Wei Guangde must be careful.

As usual, I just go to Yan Mansion for a walk every month. I did this before, but now I still do it.

Days passed day by day, and after Wei Guangde's holiday ended, he naturally returned to the Hanlin Academy to pay a visit, but he also went to the Zhanshi Mansion and the Censorate every month, and he still had both errands.

The end of the year was approaching soon, and the Jiubian important towns naturally found some problems during the inspection of this year. The memorial was sent to the court. Naturally, the cabinet summoned the ministers and the draft to hand over the memorial and the bill to the palace after a discussion.

It’s naturally not difficult, just follow the process of Jizhen.

The uproar caused by the memorials of Tang Shunzhi and Wei Guangde into Xiyuan has gradually subsided, but the storms in other military towns have just begun to brew.

On November 1st, 19th year of Jiajing, Charlie's border depositor, Wei Yuanji, and others impeached all border ministers to invade their positions.

Emperor Jiajing issued an edict: In recent years, the number of grain grains paid by the grain manager was arbitrarily infringed on the expenses, resulting in a loss of money and grain. Gao Guang, the former chief of grain manager, Liu Chongwen, was dismissed from office and arrested Beijing for crimes; Ma Jiude, the former deputy governor of Jizhou, and Ai Xichun, the deputy governor of Baoding, was dismissed from his post; Ma Lian, the former chief of grain manager, was demoted to the outside world; Dong Ce, Cao Lin, Wang Shouzhi, Wang Huizheng, Wang Ji, Li Qiao, Zhang Bangyan, Qiu Wei, Ji Yu, Ji Lian, Li Yu, Zhang Feng, Hu Zhihe, and Liu Lusheng were each demoted to the second level; Yi Jiefu, Zhang Zishun, and Yang Yinxian, each with salary for three months.

Wei Guangde carefully looked at the manuscript of the imperial edict and recalled the officials involved.

The punishment list is definitely not wrong. These days, officials in the Ming Dynasty were too corrupt. If the officials were allowed to stand in a row and kill one of them, they would be almost half of the corrupt officials who missed the net.

It’s obvious that the people in charge of the investigation and prosecution were also merciless this time, and only dealt with a small part. After all, it is impossible to directly wipe out the entire Jizhen officialdom.

In recent years, naturally, not many officials were willing to be sent to the capital to work at this time. Wei Guangde, who knew the inside story, did not dare to run to the Censorate during this period, for fear that the officials inside would arrest the strong man, so he arranged for him to go to Yansui or Ningxia Town, and Gansu Town would be miserable.

If he disappeared for a while, the people in the Censorate would naturally forget him as a non-staff member.

Of course, he is not actually an off-staff member. After all, Wei Guangde is still holding the waist card of the Fujian Censor, and he is considered an official in the Censorate.

However, the censors of Fujian Dao will not be sent out easily now, including Zhejiang Dao. After all, when they go to the local area, the censors can basically lead the army to fight, which will naturally disperse the power of Governor Hu Zongxian and Governor Hu. This is something that officials such as Yan Song don’t want to see, and it is also something that the emperor doesn’t want to see.

As time enters December and the New Year is approaching, this is Xu Jianglan's first Spring Festival in the capital, so she is naturally full of curiosity.

She had heard of the Aoshan Lantern Festival in the capital for a long time, so she had long longed for it. This time she followed her husband Wei Guangde to the capital for finally seeing it.

When he arrived in the capital, except for the initial discomfort, it was a good thing. After all, there was a relative of the Duke Dingguo Mansion in the capital, so Xu Jianglan quickly became familiar with the noble women in the capital.

When the Wei family began to prepare for the New Year, a large number of officials left the capital with unwilling expressions and rushed to the border town to investigate the boroughs of embezzlement of the military town's money and grain. In fact, they were just finding some unlucky guys to endure the thunderous wrath from the heavenly court.

Are the embezzled money and grain really corrupted by the officials below?

Of course not. Just kidding, the military pay had already started to float out when it was out of Beijing. No matter whether the money came from Taicang warehouse or Changying warehouse, the Ministry of Revenue and Taipu Temple had already collected the regular rules as usual, and then released them. They were floated out again at the hands of government officials at all levels, one layer after another, and ended up in the hands of soldiers in the garrison.

But at this time, there must be a scapegoat to come out to bear the sin.

"Crack and crackle."

The sound of firecrackers resounded throughout the streets and alleys of the capital, and the children were playing happily on the streets.

Although the people in northern border towns and coastal areas in Jiangnan are still suffering from the trauma of war, all this is beyond the reach of the people in the capital, and the adults have begun to go to the market to prepare New Year's goods.

The three major festivals of the Winter Solstice, New Year's Day and Lantern Festival are very close. With so many holidays, Wei Guangde naturally had to take Xu Jianglan to visit and visit the various residences in the capital.

Early on, Xiyuan issued an order. This year's holiday in the palace is the same as in previous years, which means that the main dynasty meeting is not necessary. Even if everyone kowtows to Kong Yu's throne, it's all over. As for the wife who is destined to enter the palace to pay tribute to the queen, there is naturally no matter how the wife goes to the palace to pay tribute to the queen.

Since the fire broke out in the palace in the 26th year of Jiajing, Emperor Jiajing caused Empress Xiaolie Fang to die in the sea of ​​fire, and the destiny of the capital did not have to go to the palace to pay tribute to the queen. In fact, even when there was a queen, Emperor Jiajing often spared these false gifts.

Of course, activities like fireworks and Aoshan Lantern Festival will not be cancelled, and who made Emperor Jiajing like it very much?

Time flies into the 38th year of Jiajing. On the Lantern Festival night, Wei Guangde takes Xu Jianglan to Chengtianmen to look at the exterior lanterns.

Today, Xu Jianglan has naturally dressed up carefully as usual. In fact, Wei Guangde doesn't like the cosmetics of this era very much, but he can't resist Xu Jianglan's likes it.

He went out in a good dress, but he had to wear a veil on his head, and his whole face was covered with a veil. I don’t know who could see him when he was dressed up.

However, in the past, Wei Guangde had seen many noble ladies and daughters dressed up like this and came out to watch the lanterns surrounded by maids and mothers, so he naturally didn't pay much attention to it.

The tens of thousands of lanterns built into more than ten floors of "Long Live Aoshan Lantern" is undoubtedly the most eye-catching existence in the entire lantern festival. Before entering the venue, Xu Jianglan was attracted by the ao-shaped lamp in the distance. With the singing, dancing and performances of palace maids and musicians on Aoshan, Xu Jianglan quickly fell into the ocean of colorful lanterns.

Wei Guangde has been watching it for several years. To be honest, it was shocking when he saw it for the first time, but the second and third shock effect naturally decreased. I don’t feel much about seeing it until now. I can only do my best to protect the flowers with peace of mind, keep my wife paced in the sea of ​​lights, and slowly move forward with the crowd.

Soon, surrounded by servants and maids, they entered the center of the lantern festival and walked to the bottom of Aoshan.

There were Zhao Hu, Li San and other guards in front of them, squeezing the people in front of them to grab a piece of space for Wei Guangde and the others.

People in the capital are used to such families. They are squeezed away by these strong men with big and thick bodies. They can only curse in a low voice, but they cannot be heard by the other party.

In the capital, there are too many such families, so how can ordinary people afford to provoke?

At this time, the best place to watch the lanterns at the foot of Aoshan has been occupied by such a crowd, and the people are fortunately standing behind them to watch the lanterns.

After Wei Guangde stood firm, he looked around and saw many familiar faces.

Well, most of the people standing here are the families of officials from various yamen in the capital, and Wei Guangde couldn't help but bow to the surroundings with a smile on his face.

Soon, there was another noise behind me, covering the sound of drums and music on Aoshan.

Wei Guangde didn't have to look back and knew which powerful family or the Beijing official like him should have come with his family.

Although he knew what was going on, Wei Guangde still had to look back. If he knew him, he would have to say hello to him.

Today is the first day when the Aoshan Lantern Festival is open. Naturally, there are many people coming. It is easy to talk to acquaintances when going out the next day. This is the same for officials.

But when Wei Guangde looked back, although the guards outside the group were dressed as ordinary servants, one of the people inside caught Wei Guangde's attention.

Isn’t that Gao Gong?

Isn’t the one with a white face next to him Li Fang?

They guarded a young man in his twenties on the left and right, hissing.

As for the few female relatives Wei Guangde who were following behind them, he didn't take a look at him, needless to say, he knew that it should be Princess Yu, Zhang and other concubines. Although they couldn't see their clothes clearly, they all wore curtains on their heads like Xu Jianglan.

It was guessed that the new group of people was King Yu, and Wei Guangde felt a little moved and had never had the chance to contact His Highness. It seems that he has been right to see the Aoshan Lantern Festival today.

In fact, in the past, when Wei Guangde came here, he would choose to go on the second day of the lantern festival, because the traffic on the first day was too large and it was not convenient to walk around in the crowded place.

However, this year, Xu Jianglan lived in the lights. Well, in the inner house, Xu Jianglan always had the final say in the Wei family, and Wei Guangde often wanted to give her three points.

He was a little bit petite, but for Xu Jianglan's pretty face, Wei Guangde endured it.

Today, Xu Jianglan dressed up in the afternoon and jumped to Wei Guangde with her veil hat, either around him and walked around him for a few rounds, or turned around twice in place. The veil hat and veil completely covered the upper body, and only the hem of the skirt under the veil was seen.

When the lotus steps suddenly move, the veil is covered with jade, and the breeze blows. When the skirt turns in circles, it floats like flowers blooming.

Well, Wei Guangde knew that Xu Jianglan's performance was to go to the scene to see the grand occasion on the first day of the Aoshan Lantern Festival.

Unexpectedly, just because of Xu Jianglan's willfulness, he actually gave him the opportunity to come into contact with King Yu for the first time.

In the past, King Yu mostly stayed in the palace and basically did not go out. This was to avoid suspicion and give himself less trouble to others, but today is different.

Wei Guangde looked at the crowd behind him and signaled Zhao Hu to give up some place to the other party, while staring at the other side.

The guards of Prince Yu's mansion also noticed that there was a little gap here, and the light viewing position was also good. The route of moving forward was slightly offset and squeezed over.

When he approached, Wei Guangde saw Li Fang glance at him, and he unconsciously held his fists and bowed to him.

Li Fang had sharp eyes. When Wei Guangde bowed, he recognized Wei Guangde. His smile appeared and disappeared in an instant. He turned his head to the man in the middle and whispered something. The young man dressed in the middle, dressed in a noble man naturally turned to Wei Guangde.

Wei Guangde was holding his fists and saluting at the moment, and the young master also bowed to him like Wei Guangde.

Um?

Is this appropriate for King Yu to salute me?

This is the first sentence that Wei Guangde's head sounded.

Although there was no emperor in later generations, Wei Guangde was still deeply poisoned by the influence of the braid show.

In fact, the Ming Dynasty and the Song Dynasty were similar, and the emperor and ministers were still very casual.

Although the emperor held the power of life and death, whether it was the Emperor of the Song Dynasty or the Ming Dynasty, they generally chose to treat ministers with a more tolerant attitude.

Wei Guangde soon came to his senses. It was now the Ming Dynasty, and these ministers were not slaves to the emperor.

Then Wei Guangde raised his hand that he had just put down again and bowed to His Highness Yu.

Soon, the people from Prince Yu's Mansion squeezed to the Wei family and stood there. The female members of Prince Yu's Mansion were all like Xu Jianglan, looking at the palace maids dancing on Aoshan with great enthusiasm. Only women are interested in the Aoshan Lantern Festival every year, which is just that for men.

In the capital, there is Jiaosifang. Officials like Wei Guangde are naturally indispensable for gatherings and banquets, Kabuki of Jiaosifang is a must forge ahead.

However, King Yu stood in the guard without moving, pretending to be interested in watching the grand occasion on Aoshan. Gao Gong beside him had already squeezed out the crowd of Prince Yu's mansion and crawled into the Wei family.

The guards of the Wei family looked familiar to Gao Gong, but they did not stop him.

Gao Gong also visited the door several times after Wei Guangde returned to Beijing. Although many guards did not know who he was, they also knew that he had been at home, so they gave up a passage very happily.

"Great man, Yaxing is very high."

Wei Guangde saw Gao Gong coming, holding two lanterns in his hand, so he joked.

"This is a colorful lantern made by the craftsmen of the royal palace. I specially brought it to Guangde Shandai."

Gao Gong said with a smile, as he approached and handed the colorful lantern in his hand to Wei Guangde.

In the Ming Dynasty, the Lantern Festival was also called "Shangyuan Festival", "Yuanxi Festival" or "Lantern Festival". In addition to the custom of eating dumplings, the most important activity is to watch lanterns, which is the so-called lanterns on the fifteenth day of the first lunar month.

According to historical records, Zhu Yuanzhang, the founding emperor of the Ming Dynasty, established the capital of Yingtian. To celebrate the Lantern Festival that year, he attracted wealthy businessmen around the world and set off the lights for 10 days.

At that time, colorful buildings were built in Nanjing City and tens of thousands of water lamps were set off on the Qinhuai River, which was spectacular for a while.

Beijing City is located in the north, so naturally there is no such conditions as Yingtianfu in the south. Although there are rivers, it is not suitable for large-scale water lanterns. Therefore, the Aoshan lantern festival that was originally present in Nanjing was moved outside the Meridian Gate, but the scale was magnified several times.

When the Wei family came out to see the lanterns, they naturally prepared them, but they were all bought on the street, so the lanterns were naturally not as exquisite as Gao Gong handed over.

These two are revolving lanterns. The craftsmen light candles in the lamp, using the heat generated by the candle to create airflow and make the wheel shaft rotate.

There is paper cutting on the wheel axle, and the candlelight casts the shadow of paper cutting on the screen, so the image keeps moving. Because the pictures of ancient generals riding horses are often drawn on each side of the lamp, and when the lamp rotates, it looks like a few people chasing each other, hence the name of the lantern.
Chapter completed!