Qin Fang opened Du Ke's letter. There were a lot of papers in the letter, but not as thick as the one he wrote to Du Ke. Du Ke mentioned three things in the letter:
The first thing: Qin Fang's contribution to the discovery of sulfur and saltpeter mines was enough to get him promoted. But Qin Fang was a poor boy who had just been promoted to the fifth rank in March. It was not a good thing for a poor boy to be promoted too quickly, so he discussed with the emperor and decided to confer the imperial edict on his mother and grandmother. After asking Tao Shan, the old man was still in his hometown, so the imperial edict was sent directly to his hometown.
Seeing this, Qin Fang was happy. Compared to his own promotion, he was happier to have his mother and grandmother conferred the imperial decree. With the imperial decree, it was truly an honor for his mother and grandmother. They no longer had to bow humbly when meeting other wives with imperial decrees. Even if they came to Yunxiang County, if they did not have the imperial decree, they would still bow when meeting the wife of County Magistrate Yang, but it was different with the imperial decree.
So for this, he also thanked Du Ke and the emperor. At the same time, he also understood that although Du Ke implicitly mentioned that he had discussed it with the emperor, in fact, it was the emperor who made the decisions on these matters. Du Ke was just a minister, how could he make the decision for the emperor? It should be that the emperor did not want him to be promoted too quickly and attract attention.
No matter what the emperor's purpose was, it was undeniable that the canonization of his mother and grandmother really touched Qin Fang's heart. For this, he was very grateful to the emperor and to Lord Du.
The second thing: about Yang Haiyan's contribution to promoting the military camp land policy and discovering saltpeter ice making. If Qin Fang's contribution is to the country, then Yang Haiyan's contribution is to the people. For the emperor, the country and the people are equally important. Qin Fang's contribution is placed on Qin's mother and Qin's grandmother, but Yang Haiyan's contribution is still there, so the emperor conferred Yang Haiyan as Xiangjun, the third rank. Xiangjun has different levels, from the first rank to the fifth rank. Yang Haiyan is now a fifth-rank Yiren, and Qin Fang is only 22 years old now, so for Yang Haiyan, it is only a matter of time before the official edict is granted, so the emperor canonized Yang Haiyan's Xiangjun as the third rank, a more moderate rank.
However, for Yang Haiyan, what really means is not the rank, but the title. Although the title of Xiangjun cannot be passed on to children, for a woman, this meaning is extraordinary. For example, if Qin Fang and Yang Haiyan divorced, then Yang Haiyan's imperial edict conferred because of her husband would be gone. But now the emperor has conferred her the title of Xiangjun of the third rank, which is her own honor. Even if she is divorced from a man, her rank and title are still there, and she enjoys the salary of a third-rank imperial edict. Moreover, this salary is different from the salary of the imperial edict that the wife follows the husband's honor. The salary of the imperial edict that the wife follows the husband's honor is half of her husband's, while the salary of her Xiangjun title is the salary of a real third-rank official.
It must be said that the emperor is stingy in some places, but as an emperor, he will not take advantage of others. In some places, he will compensate. The emperor suppressed Qin Fang's chance of promotion, but he also compensated Yang Haiyan generously. It is equivalent to giving all the credit of Qin Fang and Yang Haiyan to Yang Haiyan.
Having said that, however, there is a difference between a man's promotion to an official position and a woman's title. In feudal society, women's honor is easily ignored because they have no access to real power, but men's honor is linked to real power.
However, for the Qin family, who came from a humble background, such honor was enough.
Qin Fang felt that his wife would be happy. From now on, he would have to pay respect to his wife in a proper manner.
Lord Du's meaning was also very clear. Qin Fang did not complain or get angry. What was the purpose of a man's hard work? It was for his family, his children, his wife, and his parents. Now, the emperor had given up his honor for his wife and his parents. What could he complain about
Qin Fang was very grateful to Lord Du for analyzing this matter with him. Even if he would not be angry after receiving the imperial edict and would not care about the credit, it was also meaningful to Qin Fang that Lord Du could write to him and analyze the matter. For someone like Lord Du, if it were not for Qin Fang who made Lord Du look up to him, why would Lord Du take the time to tell him all this? For this friendship, Lord Du could be regarded as Qin Fang's teacher.
Some teachers teach knowledge, some teachers teach how to behave in society, and how to behave in society and the officialdom are far more important to Qin Fang than any knowledge in books.
The third thing: about the identity of the imperial envoy and the eunuch. The imperial envoy who came was none other than Wei Wu's elder brother Wei Ting. Wei Ting was Wei Wu's elder brother, and was a doctor in the Ministry of Works, a fifth-rank official. Although his official position was not as high as Qin Fang's, there was a difference between officials in the capital and local officials. The doctor in the Ministry of Works was in charge of all matters related to the construction of the city, and the production of sulphur and saltpeter was also the responsibility of the doctor in the Ministry of Works.
The imperial envoy who came to announce the imperial edict was also the chief steward of the emperor, responsible for all matters concerning the emperor. Therefore, the announcement of the imperial edict was only secondary, and the real purpose was to observe the sulfur and saltpeter mines. The sulfur and saltpeter mines were so important that the emperor naturally could not send only Wei Ting.
Oh, the above three things are the important ones. Lord Du added one more thing at the end. I hope he won’t be so long-winded and talkative next time, and can be brief.
Qin Fang looked at it and couldn't help but smile. He could imagine Lord Du's serious expression when he pointed this out.
Then Qin Fang went to the fire and burned the letter. "Tao Shan, let's go down the mountain. Old Yang, I'll leave this to you. If the chained man wakes up in the first place, send someone to call me."
Captain Yang: "Yes, General."
An hour later, Qin Fang and Tao Shan arrived at the gate of the East Suburb Military Camp.
Wei Ting and Chief Steward Chi were admiring the plants and trees in the East Suburbs Military Camp. The East Suburbs Military Camp covers a very large area, so the East Suburbs Military Camp is also very large. However, the reason why the East Suburbs Military Camp is so large is that it is mainly used as a training ground, which can provide good training for soldiers. In addition to the training ground, the fighting field of the East Suburbs Military Camp is also very conspicuous. It must be said that this is much better than the military camps outside the capital. The main reason is that the military camps outside the capital are limited in area, and the East Suburbs Military Camp here has an advantage in area.
Even though Wei Ting didn't know much about military affairs, he could tell that this was a good place. Although he didn't know how poor Yunxiang County was, and he didn't go to the county town, he could accept it if he thought about living here for a year or two. After all, the mountains were high and the waters were far away, and the scenery was beautiful. Especially when he stood on Lookout Mountain and looked towards the Beast Mountain, he felt that the mountain was particularly interesting.
Chief Steward Chi is in his early thirties this year. He served the emperor when he was still a prince, so in the palace, even the imperial concubine has to give him some respect. He came to Yunxiang County this time to convey the imperial edict as a secondary purpose. The most important thing is to check the sulfur and saltpeter mines. Although Wei Ting led people to secretly manufacture narcotics, the emperor ordered him to check the sulfur and saltpeter mines. At the same time, observe Qin Fang.
Chief Steward Chi looked at Wei Ting's satisfaction and couldn't help but smile and said, "I didn't expect that General Qin, who is so young and comes from a poor family, has such luck." The emperor valued luck and even talked to him privately, saying that Qin Fang might be the opportunity sent by God to make him famous forever.
When Manager Chi heard these naggings, he was shocked. He knew exactly what it meant.
Wei Ting also smiled: "It's not easy for General Qin to get to this point through his own efforts." But he is indeed lucky. A 22-year-old fifth-rank general is rare to climb so fast even in the capital. But looking closely at Qin Fang's experience, it seems normal. He joined the army on behalf of his father at the age of 16, and became a centurion by his own efforts at the age of 19. At the age of 20, he got the opportunity and became a thousand-man captain. At the age of 22, he proposed a plan to break up the whole into small pieces to settle the surrendered barbarians, and was chosen by the emperor to become the Wude General who settled the surrendered barbarians.
Unexpectedly, when they arrived in Yunxiang County, sulfur and saltpeter mines were discovered. Soon after, his wife proposed a land policy for military camps and discovered that saltpeter could be used to make ice.
Speaking of which... Wei Ting paused. Was it Qin Fang who was lucky? Or was it his wife who brought him luck? When Qin Fang became the captain of a thousand men, he had just gotten married, right
Thinking of this, Wei Ting suddenly had an idea. Could it be that... his wife is the lucky one
Thinking of Qin Fang's wife, Wei Ting thought of the Yang family. Yang Taifu was executed, and Yang Haiyan was betrothed to the border. Later, he heard from Wei Wu about the matter of adopting a sister. Wei Ting subconsciously crossed his legs and put them behind him.
Manager Chi also laughed.
"My Lords, the general is here."
Wei Ting and Manager Chi looked at each other and said in unison, "Lead the way."
The soldiers took them to see Qin Fang, and Qin Fang also came over under the guidance of the soldiers. The three people looked at each other from far to near. Wei Ting and Chief Steward Chi only had one feeling, that the young man walking in front of them was really tall. With such a tall stature, he must be a natural military commander.
People always like to analyze people by their appearance. For example, if someone looks gentle, people always think he is likely to take the imperial examination. And if someone looks tall and mighty like Qin Fang, people always think he is likely to take the military examination.
So when Wei Ting and Manager Chi saw Qin Fang for the first time, they also had the same thought. When they walked in again, they found that this man had clear eyes and a bit of integrity. He looked resolute and cold, and looked like a man of iron will.
Qin Fang was a little nervous before he met Wei Ting and Chi Zongguan, but he was calm after he met them. It's not that he wasn't nervous, but after meeting a big man like Du Ke, he would always feel a little more relaxed when meeting others. In terms of official authority and ability, how could Wei Ting and Chi Zongguan compare with Du Ke