Chapter 1034

Left and right symmetrical, exactly ten people.

Zuo Feng, who was newly promoted as one of the Ten Regular Attendants, was also among them, and he was the youngest one.

In the incomparably wide Chongde Hall, several young eunuchs stood on the outermost edges on both sides near the chime bells.

As the time approached, the young eunuchs slowly struck the chime bells.

The crisp and majestic sound instantly spread throughout the hall, and then spread outside the hall.

With the ringing of the bells, the first ray of sunlight symbolizing the new year also lit up the territory of the Great Han in the distant sky.

Outside the Southern Palace, with the opening of the Sima Gate, the lined-up civil and military officials began to enter the palace according to their official ranks.

The officials wearing black official robes were majestic and endless, and one could not see the end at a glance.

After passing through the Zhangtai Gate, the officials arrived in front of the Chongde Hall.

The Grand General, the Three Lords, the Nine Ministers, and officials of two thousand shi or above from various departments brought officials of one thousand shi to the front of the Chongde Hall gate.

The precious swords hanging at their waists and the shoes on their feet were all taken away by the young eunuchs waiting on the side.

"The auspicious time has arrived, ministers enter the hall."

Following the high shouts of the Ten Regular Attendants.

The Ten Regular Attendants walking at the front led the civil and military officials behind them to enter the palace to pay respects to the emperor.

Only officials of two thousand shi and above can enter the Chongde Hall to meet the emperor.

All officials below two thousand shi must stay outside the hall.

Those of one thousand shi can climb the steps, while those of less than one thousand shi must stay below the steps.

In addition to civil and military officials, there are also feudal lords and imperial relatives who must come to pay respects to the emperor.

Liu Hong, wearing a black and red dragon robe, knelt and sat behind the large bronze-carved dragon desk, wearing an imperial crown on his head and the Son of Heaven's sword at his waist.

The Imperial Jade Seal, the symbol of the highest power of the Great Han Empire, was placed in a golden box on the side.

Dozens of bronze fire basins were placed around the hall.

The dark red fruit wood charcoal burning inside flickered, baking the temperature in the hall to be hot and dry.

At the very front of the ministers were the Grand General, the Three Lords, the Nine Ministers, the heads of various departments, and a group of feudal lords and nobles.

Under the prompt of the Ten Regular Attendants, the ministers knelt on the ground, and then kowtowed and shouted "Long live."

Liu Hong, who was kneeling and sitting behind the dragon desk, waved his hand gently.

"Ministers, please rise."

Liu Hong's pale face behind the imperial crown was smeared with some red rouge.

The ministers below then stood up one after another.

Grand General He Jin.

And the newly appointed Grand Marshal Ma Ridi, Minister of Education Cui Lie, Minister of Works Zhang Wen, and others stood up one after another.

Three days ago, Yang Ci had died of illness in his mansion.

But for the upcoming New Year's Day, Yang Ci's death did not count for anything in Liu Hong's eyes.

After symbolically posthumously conferring some titles, Liu Hong quickly promoted Ma Ridi to the position of Grand Marshal.

On New Year's Day, besides paying respects, the most important thing for the ministers is to pay tribute.

Pay tribute to the Son of Heaven, that is, Liu Hong.

According to the etiquette of the Great Han.

Feudal lords and the Three Lords must present jade discs to the emperor.

And officials of two thousand shi and those of equivalent rank must present lambs to the emperor.

Officials of one thousand shi and six hundred shi need to present wild geese to the emperor.

And officials below six hundred shi must present pheasants to the emperor.

It is recorded in the "Records of Rites": And congratulate the feudal lords with jade discs, two thousand shi with lambs, one thousand shi and six hundred shi with wild geese...

Of course, this is the ancient ritual.

For Liu Hong, who can even sell official titles for money, if officials only present these things, then Liu Hong has nothing to be happy about.

Therefore, Liu Hong changed the things needed for the tribute on New Year's Day every year.

Simple and direct, directly discounting the money collected according to the official rank.

That is to say, feudal lords need to pay between fifty million and one hundred million.

The rest pay according to the size of their official rank.

Those who are not in Luoyang but are serving in local areas must also send people to deliver the money to Luoyang at the same time, otherwise, New Year's Day, which is the New Year, will be the last term of office for such officials who cannot pay the money.

This is why Liu Hong quickly promoted Ma Ridi to the position of Grand Marshal right after Yang Ci died.

This is fifty million coins.

For Liu Hong, who is now poor to the bottom, as long as he can get money, anything is fine.

If it weren't for the large amount of tax revenue sent by Duan Yu during the Yellow Turban Rebellion and after the autumn, Liu Hong would have no rice to cook now.

Not to mention living a life of extravagance.

At this time, Zhang Rang, standing on the steps, had already unfolded the list of money paid by the ministers for tribute.

And read it out one by one in the hall.

"Grand General pays one hundred million coins for congratulations, one hundred rolls of silk."

A smile appeared on Liu Hong's face, who was kneeling and sitting behind the dragon desk, and then he stroked his chin and nodded: "Good."

"The Grand General is indeed my pillar, loyal to the monarch and patriotic." Liu Hong praised with a smile.

Liu Hong was happy, but He Jin's heart ached so much that he gritted his teeth.

One hundred million coins.

This money was just obtained from Duan Yu's white paper and snow salt.

Originally, this money totaled two hundred million.

It was the total value of this batch of snow salt and white paper.

He Jin thought that Duan Yu was already dead, so he kept all this money.

And he also threatened Dong Zhuo to hand over the production method of white paper and snow salt.

But no one expected that Duan Yu was actually faking his death.

According to the previous distribution, he could only take one hundred million.

The remaining one hundred million had to be given to Duan Yu.

And this one hundred million hadn't even been warmed up yet.

Now it was given to Liu Hong again.

It would be strange if He Jin's heart didn't ache.

Besides He Jin, the Three Lords Ma Ridi, Cui Lie, and Zhang Wen all paid fifty million coins, while the remaining Nine Ministers, including high-ranking officials with two thousand shi positions, all paid twenty million coins.

Listening to Zhang Rang reading out a name, the smile on Liu Hong's face became even thicker.

"Shepherd of Liangzhou... Marquis of Ji, General Conquering the West, Duan Yu..."

When Zhang Rang read to this point, the hall was immediately silent.

Even Liu Hong sat up straight, his eyes full of expectation.

Zhang Rang swallowed a mouthful of saliva, looking at the long string of numbers on the list, the expression on his face was also extremely surprised.

"Shepherd of Liangzhou, Marquis of Ji, General Conquering the West, Duan Yu, congratulatory money... two hundred million, three thousand head of cattle, sheep, and horses, three thousand rolls of silk, ten boxes of various jewelry... three thousand lambs... one hundred thousand shi of chestnut rice... ten beauties from the Western Regions."

Hiss!

After Zhang Rang's voice fell, there was a sound of gasping in the hall.

The expressions revealed in everyone's eyes were all the same.

This is too much.

Isn't this roasting them on the fire?

"Haha!"

After Zhang Rang's voice fell, Liu Hong burst into hearty laughter.

"My Marquis of Ji did not disappoint me. With the Marquis of Ji in Liangzhou, I... have no worries."

"The Marquis of Ji's loyalty to the monarch and patriotism is unmatched in the world. My heart is very comforted, my heart is very comforted!"

Duan Yu opened the Hexi Corridor and reopened the Western Regions and connected the Western Regions, which had already been sent to Luoyang more than a month ago.

This is a great achievement in expanding the territory, so Liu Hong naturally did not skimp on rewards.

Directly rewarded Duan Yu with the power to open a government office, and ordered Duan Yu to handle the affairs of the Western Regions with full authority. ===== CHAPTER 1036 =====