"Hey, Zihou is back."
In the late afternoon, Doctor Zhao skipped work early as usual and prepared to go to Jinfeng Tower to exercise his waist. He had heard that Jinfeng Tower had specially brought in several beautiful and skinny horses from Yangzhou in order to compete with Xiaoxiang Pavilion. He had been coveting them for a long time. Just as he was about to leave the Taicang gate, he saw Zhu Pingan riding a horse towards him.
"Master Zhao, are you going out?"
Zhu Ping'an dismounted from his horse and bowed in return. Seeing that Doctor Zhao was about to go out, he couldn't help but ask out of curiosity.
"No, no, it was a routine inspection of the Taicang guard situation." Doctor Zhao shook his head vigorously and denied it, then quickly thought of an excuse.
Hearing this, Zhu Ping'an's dark eyes flashed with light. He did not point out Doctor Zhao's lies full of loopholes, but curled his lips and praised: "Master Zhao is strict in his duties. He is really a role model for our generation."
"Haha, no, no." Doctor Zhao smiled modestly and shook his head. He looked very proud. He was proud of his quick wit. As a veteran official in the officialdom, he felt a sense of superiority over an inexperienced rookie like Zhu Ping'an.
"Oh, by the way, didn't Zihou go to Xiyuan to deliver a memorial? How come he came back so soon?" When Doctor Zhao saw Zhu Ping'an, he thought of the memorial. He almost forgot about it when Zhu Ping'an asked him just now. Now he suddenly remembered it again and couldn't help asking curiously.
"Oh, that's right. After the memorial was delivered to Wuyi Palace, it was quickly approved because Taicang is related to the foundation of the country. The Ministry of Works also responded quickly, saying that they have already sent skilled craftsmen to speed up the production... However, if it weren't for the reminder from Lord Li, the head of the Ministry of Revenue who was on duty at Wuyi Palace, I almost missed the job. I didn't expect that there are so many procedures and details to replace the warehouse door. I have to ask the Imperial Observatory to choose a date and measure the feng shui. During the replacement, I also need to ask the Imperial Household Department to seal the silver vault with the holy seal. When the new door of the Ministry of Works arrives, the seal can be removed when replacing the warehouse door on the auspicious day selected by the Imperial Observatory. Only in this way can the warehouse door be replaced."
"At Lord Li's reminder, I quickly completed the procedures in Xiyuan, reported to the Imperial Observatory, and requested a seal from the Imperial Household Department. I was afraid of delaying the work, so I rushed back without stopping."
Zhu Ping'an told Doctor Zhao the whole story, with a look of fear and relief on his face.
"Haha, Zihou is new here, so it's normal that he doesn't understand the procedures."
Doctor Zhao comforted Zhu Ping'an verbally, but he felt relieved in his heart. He let you take the credit, and now you've made a fool of yourself. Haha, you deserve it.
Zhu Ping'an touched the back of his head angrily and smiled embarrassedly.
Doctor Zhao felt even more relieved when he saw Zhu Ping'an in such an embarrassing state. Thinking of the watermelon and peach theory mentioned by Zhang Siku, Doctor Zhao said with enthusiasm, "Oh, by the way, Zihou, don't you want to put up seals? Fortunately, I have nothing to do, so I will accompany Zihou to report to Zhang, the treasurer, and then go to the silver vault to put up seals. I know the people in the silver vault very well, so putting up seals is not a big deal."
"Then thank you very much, Lord Zhao." Zhu Ping'an bowed and thanked him.
"It's no trouble, no trouble. Why are you being so polite?" Doctor Zhao said with a smile.
The horse was handed over to the warehouse soldier to be taken to the stable. Zhu Ping'an and Zhao Langzhong went to Zhang Guanku together to inform him about the sealing.
"The day before yesterday, the emperor issued an edict to 'allocate two hundred thousand taels of silver to order Master Tao to perform a ceremony to calm the gods at Jianyuan Yue in Wudang Mountain.' It just so happened that the treasury soldiers had already moved the two hundred thousand taels of silver this afternoon and escorted them to the inner treasury. In the short term, there will be no entry or exit of gold and silver in the treasury. Sealing the treasury door will not affect the normal operations of Taicang. Since it is a necessary procedure and it is related to the safety of Taicang, we, Taicang, will naturally provide our full assistance." After hearing this, Zhang Guanku understood and supported Zhu Ping'an's work. He looked through the recent arrangements and said that the seal could be posted immediately and the treasury door could be closed.
"It is our natural duty to assist in replacing the warehouse door. Zihou, Lord Zhang just said that Zihou has solved a safety hazard for our Taicang, and he is a hero of Taicang." Doctor Jia on the side said with a smile.
"Haha, congratulations, Lord Zhu. You have accomplished such a great thing on your first day in Taicang. When Lord Zhu becomes successful in the future, don't forget us Taicang." Then several people laughed and said in a teasing tone.
Like Doctor Zhao, they felt relieved when they heard that Zhu Ping'an had made a fool of himself in Xiyuan. Let you take the credit, haha, you made a fool of yourself.
"Hehe, no, no, Ping'an just happened to be here by chance." Zhu Ping'an touched the back of his head and smiled embarrassedly.
Seeing this, everyone started to tease again.
In short, everyone in Taicang unanimously supported posting seals and sealing off the gold and silver vaults.
They could still tell which was more important, the watermelon garden or a small peach. Since Zhu Ping'an needed the small peach, he should just give it to him.
With everyone working together, things will naturally become just as Doctor Zhao said, and it cannot be simpler.
Zhu Ping'an accompanied Doctor Zhao and Doctor Jia to the silver and treasury again, summoned the officials and soldiers, announced the replacement of the treasury doors, registered them according to the prescribed procedures, and then followed the customary practice of burning incense and offering sacrifices to the sky, officially closed the treasury doors, posted seals, and sealed the treasury and silver treasury.
It was necessary to wait until the Ministry of Works had cast the fine iron gate and the Imperial Observatory had selected an auspicious day before the seal could be opened and the warehouse door replaced.
During this period, no one was allowed to open the treasury or silver vault unless there was an imperial decree. Violators would be charged with treason.
The reason for this is that the seal was stamped with the golden seal of Emperor Jiajing by the Imperial Household Department, which was equivalent to an imperial edict. If you dare to disrespect the seal, you are disrespecting Emperor Jiajing. In ancient times, if you dare to disrespect the supreme ruler, it is a serious crime that is "unforgivable".
As long as there is a seal on the vault door, the silver vault and gold vault are completely sealed, and even the minister in charge of the Taicang Silver Vault has no right to open it.
Zhu Ping'an watched the seal being affixed to the warehouse door. He narrowed his ink-black eyes, but a bonfire seemed to be burning in the slits of his eyes, flashing with fireworks. He pulled the corners of his lips slightly, and in the setting sun, he looked like a silly fox with a silly smile.
"Haha, Zihou, you can feel relieved now. Now that the process is complete, we just need to wait for the Ministry of Industry to deliver the fine iron gate."
Doctor Zhao stepped forward, patted Zhu Ping'an on the shoulder, and said with a smile.
In his eyes, Zhu Ping'an was smiling like an idiot with his eyes narrowed. He couldn't help but laugh at him in his heart. This Zhu guy was really short-sighted. It was just a small achievement of changing the door. What was the big deal
"The seal has been affixed. It's a cause for celebration. Zihou has eliminated a safety hazard for our Taicang. We in Taicang will host the dinner tonight. Firstly, we want to thank Zihou for eliminating the hazard for our Taicang, and secondly, we want to congratulate Zihou for his achievements since he first came to Taicang." Doctor Jia smiled and invited Zhu Ping'an to stay for dinner.
In response, Zhu Ping'an declined the offer, citing family matters as an excuse.
"Hehe, Zihou is newlywed, I understand, I understand..."
In response to Zhu Ping'an's reason, Doctor Zhao squinted his eyes and smiled obscenely.
I understand.
You wretched man!
I'm just afraid that I'll accidentally fall into the trap of you foxes and be corrupted by you... Zhu Ping'an complained in his heart.