EBE Chapter 111 The streets are full of people starting to sell warming pots and pans.
Chapter 111 The streets are full of people starting to sell warming pots and pans.
“Honeycomb briquettes can benefit the people, which is a good thing, but we need to consider this matter carefully and not act rashly,” said the prime minister, stroking his long beard.
Those present were still skeptical about the availability of the honeycomb briquettes. After all, they were more cautious about accepting something new, as it concerned the future of the dynasty. So it was understandable that they would be cautious.
Furthermore, we need to send someone to investigate and understand the matter before we can determine the final course of action.
It feels like this matter is going to drag on for a long time.
At this point, the Salt and Iron Commissioner, who was hiding among a group of ministers, could no longer sit still and risked his life to remonstrate.
"Your Majesty, the weather has been getting colder lately. According to observations from Chongwen Terrace, this winter will be even harsher than in previous years. Without coal, the people will suffer even more than in previous winters! I hope Your Majesty will consider the well-being of the people of Jin Dynasty."
After saying these words, the Salt and Iron Commissioner knelt down before the Emperor.
Every word he uttered resonated in the hearts of everyone present. All the officials there were of higher rank than him, while he was merely a minor sixth-rank official. He was only able to enter the Imperial Study because his mentor, the Grand Tutor, had brought him in.
He had only asked the Grand Tutor to take him into the Imperial Study because he was concerned about the honeycomb briquettes.
The Grand Tutor knew that he had always cared about the people, so he paid close attention to honeycomb briquettes and understood the nature of this former student.
That's why they brought him in.
The emperor probably wouldn't pursue the matter; as long as the Salt and Iron Commissioner remained quietly among the group, no one would notice.
But now that he has actually spoken out about this matter, the outcome is different. If the emperor wants to investigate, the Salt and Iron Commissioner will be in trouble, and in severe cases, he could be stripped of his official position.
The imperial study fell silent. Amidst the turbulent political landscape, no one dared to break the silence.
"Your Majesty, the Salt and Iron Commissioner was acting in the best interests of the people. He has offended Your Majesty and we hope Your Majesty will forgive him."
At this moment, the Grand Tutor suddenly stepped forward.
“Teacher!” Yan Tieshi did not want to implicate his teacher. When he stood up to say these words, he intended to take all the blame himself. If His Majesty felt that he had offended him, he would keep his mouth shut and claim that he would find a way to sneak into the Imperial Study.
"I remember you, the Salt and Iron Commissioner?!"
Although this person was short and appeared obese, his eyes were untouched by the vicissitudes of officialdom, and his gaze was remarkably clear.
The emperor remembered precisely what minor official the other party was, yet it made the official in charge of the Three Departments standing in front of the Salt and Iron Commissioner break out in a cold sweat.
He didn't know how this low-ranking official had entered the imperial study, but if the emperor were to investigate, the first person to be punished would be his superior.
"Your Majesty is indeed a lowly official." The Salt and Iron Commissioner was already kneeling on the ground, awaiting the emperor's judgment.
Actually, he had already started to feel scared after he stood up and said those words, but he didn't feel any regret.
However, the emperor felt that this person rarely cared about the people, so he was not angry. "The Salt and Iron Commissioner is absolutely right. This matter concerns the livelihood of the people this year and cannot be delayed any longer."
The Salt and Iron Commissioner, kneeling on the ground, was overjoyed at the Emperor's wisdom, for it seemed he had succeeded!
At this moment, the Emperor issued an order: "The Three Departments of State Affairs!"
"Your subject is here!" The scribe of the Three Departments stepped forward.
"You three departments are in charge of this matter. You must complete the installation of the honeycomb briquettes by the end of the month, and remember to make sure that the honeycomb briquettes are in every household by the end of the month!"
"I accept the decree!"
"And you, Salt and Iron Commissioner," the emperor suddenly changed the subject, and everyone's attention returned to the Salt and Iron Commissioner. The Salt and Iron Commissioner was extremely nervous. He knew that his sudden appearance today was against etiquette and would surely be severely punished, so he had already made preparations.
But the emperor's next words still surprised him: "The Salt and Iron Commissioner will be appointed as a fourth-rank official. From now on, you will be in full charge of this matter. The Three Departments will allocate some manpower to you."
Not only the Salt and Iron Commissioner himself, but all the officials present were taken aback!
The Salt and Iron Commissioner was so excited that he felt as if he had been hit by a huge surprise. It was only after being reminded by the Grand Tutor that he belatedly knelt down before the Emperor.
"Thank you, Your Majesty!"
After a while, the emperor waved for them to leave, and everyone came out of the imperial study. The Salt and Iron Commissioner was still in a daze and did not come to his senses when he left the imperial study.
He didn't expect the punishment he imagined to come. Instead, he was promoted from a sixth-rank official to a fourth-rank official. It seemed that his previous hard work had finally paid off.
He was still in a daze as the ministers who had just come from the imperial study offered their congratulations.
The tutor beside him was also very happy for him. His student was stubborn and inflexible. Even though he was talented and knowledgeable, he did not understand human relationships and was therefore not well-liked in officialdom. He had been in the position of Salt and Iron Commissioner for more than 20 years. His classmates had long since become fourth-rank officials, and the best of them were now second-rank officials.
However, the Salt and Iron Commissioner's superior, the Three Commissioners, came out with a dark face, but he couldn't show it.
The official in charge of the Three Departments did not congratulate him along with the other officials. Instead, he told him to report to the Three Departments the next day, personally selected some people to be assigned to him, and then left.
Once the three officials left, the others mostly dispersed.
The Grand Tutor suddenly said to the Salt and Iron Commissioner, "An Tong, I hope you can still maintain your original intentions. The officialdom is ever-changing, and no one can fathom the emperor's heart. I only hope that you will not lose the emperor's favor."
"I understand." Upon hearing the Grand Tutor's words, the Salt and Iron Official's initial excitement and joy subsided, and he was very grateful for his teacher's words.
But the Salt and Iron History official understood that his promotion was thanks to Mr. Wuming. If it weren't for "his" method, he would still be a minor official who worried about the country and its people. All he had was a heart that was willing to die for his cause, which allowed him to get promoted among a group of cunning old men.
Therefore, he made up his mind to do this well and bring benefits to the people!
"Achoo!" Ye Yuwu suddenly sneezed. "Who's talking about me behind my back?"
"Young lady, you've caught a cold!" Huaping said helplessly from the side.
"Impossible, I'm perfectly healthy!" Ye Yuwu refused to believe it.
Recently, the tea business has been booming, and I didn't know that Wen Ding (a type of ancient Chinese cooking vessel) has suddenly become widely popular among the people.
Everyone knows that Chayunhe and Yutianxia Teahouse have produced Wen Ding (a type of savory broth), and those who have tried it say it tastes amazing, which has attracted wave after wave of people to come here.
After all, it's cold outside, so we eat warm food to warm ourselves up.
Moreover, I heard that the banquet held in the palace during the winter solstice was served in a warm cauldron.
This attracted many people who wanted to taste what the nobles ate in the hot pot. The people of Bianjing were still wealthier than those in other towns.
So as long as you're willing to grit your teeth and spend the money, you can enjoy the same gourmet food that even the nobility eat.
The last sentence became Ye Yuwu's slogan for "advertising" in ancient times.
Yes, that's right. Why not take advantage of free "traffic" advertising that's offered to you?
So she specially commissioned someone to make a large wooden board, on which she wrote these attractive slogans for the event using paintbrush and other pigments.
Surprisingly, people in ancient times were drawn to this, and the teahouse business became unexpectedly booming.