Inside the Sweet Dew Hall.
Li Er and his wife stared eagerly at Li Zexuan, because Li Zexuan had just mentioned a problem that they were very concerned about, which was the problem of the poor people freezing in winter.
In fact, in the previous dynasties of the Tang Empire, no matter which dynasty, many people would freeze to death every year! In the era where cotton had not been planted on a large scale, the price that the people had to pay to wear warm clothes was too high!
"Your Majesty, I wish to set up a public welfare organization to help the poor people!"
Li Zexuan clasped his hands and said the idea that he had been brewing in his heart these days.
"Public welfare organization? Marquis Yong 'an, what is public welfare? "
Empress Zhangsun was puzzled.
Li Er also looked at Li Zexuan curiously, thinking, Why does this kid always' pop 'new words out of his mouth? Could it be that he learned all these from that dream?
"Your Majesty, the so-called public welfare is related to the welfare and interests of all the people of the Tang Empire. I set up this public welfare organization mainly to call on the rich people to donate money, then I will use this money to help the poor. At that time, every time I receive a donation, I will donate four coal stoves and two hundred honeycomb briquettes to four poor families! My workshop will not earn a single cent and will just treat it as doing a good deed for the people of the Tang Empire! "
Li Er's face was bewildered as he said, "This is for no reason at all. Why are you suddenly so kind?"
Li Zexuan let out a sigh. In order to make Old Li believe him, he could only pretend to sigh deeply and say, "
"Your Majesty, many people are very poor! My heart aches when I see it! I remember that I read a poem two days ago and was deeply moved. I wonder if Your Majesty and Your Majesty are willing to listen to it? "
Li Er was even more suspicious. "Poem? What poem? Read it! "
Empress Zhangsun's face also revealed an interested expression.
Li Zexuan saw that the time was right and did not keep them in suspense. He slowly opened his mouth and said, "This poem is said to be written by a teacher from a village outside the city. The old teacher passed away two months ago and left this posthumous work. I saw it by chance. I am a dignified man, but after reading it, I could not help but want to cry."
"Get to the point!"
Li Zexuan began to fabricate an empty yet reasonable main character for the story. Li Er, on the other hand, seemed a little impatient. His face darkened as he said unhappily.
Li Zexuan hurriedly cut to the chase and recited in a deep voice,
"Ahem! The poem went like this: "In August, the wind roars angrily, rolling up my house to the three layers of reeds. Mao flew across the river and sprinkled on the outskirts of the river … Openly hugging Mao into bamboo, lips parched and mouth parched, unable to breathe. Returning home, leaning on his cane, he sighed … The cotton quilt has been cold as iron for many years, Jiao Er has been treading on the bed and cracking inside … Since she lost her sleep, the long nights have been soaked with sweat! Building thousands upon thousands of mansions, great protection for all the poor people of the world! Wind and rain do not move, as calm as a mountain. Whoosh! When did I suddenly see this house before my eyes? Even if my house is broken, I will still be able to freeze to death!!! "
Du Fu's "The Song of the Thatched House Being Broken by the Autumn Wind", which was also a must-memorized poem in middle school, was affectionately recited by Li Zexuan in this kind of situation. A miserable scene of the house leaking on an autumn night, wind and rain intertwined, the cotton quilt was like iron, Jiao Er has been treading on the bed and getting wet all night, unable to sleep, suddenly appeared in the minds of Li Er and Empress Zhangsun!
But a poem by a dignified poet would not be so simple. Showing the misery of one's life was only on the surface. The deeper meaning was in the latter half of the poem. The last few sentences of the poem had a change of style. For Li Er and Empress Zhangsun, the image of a stooped old man who was in a difficult situation but still worried about the country and the people! The sharp contrast between the front and back made this image particularly distinct. It simply pierced the depths of one's soul!
Empress Zhangsun covered her mouth, the rims of her eyes were somewhat red. Only to hear her murmur in a low voice, "The cotton quilt has been cold as iron for many years, Jiao Er has been treading on the bed and cracking inside … Building thousands upon thousands of mansions, great protection for all the poor people of the world! Marquis Yong 'an, you just said that the old man who wrote this poem has passed away? "
Li Zexuan bowed and said, "According to the news I received, the old man is indeed no longer in this world. It seems that he froze to death!"
(This fellow was secretly muttering in his heart, Great poet Du, don't blame this junior for stealing your poem. This Marquis is also to realize your dream of 'great protection for all the poor people of the world'!)
"Ah ~?"
Empress Zhangsun, who had always been graceful, strong, virtuous and magnanimous, showed a rare weak side at this moment. Her face was mournful and pale. "The old man was destitute and dejected, but still worried about the country and the people. Such a person actually froze to death at home. It is really the misfortune of the Tang Empire!"
Li Er didn't say anything, but his face didn't look too good. After hearing Li Zexuan recite the poem, he first felt that he was a bit like a fatuous ruler. Otherwise, how could there be people under his rule who were full of wisdom, but didn't get the chance to use their talents, and finally froze to death in poverty at home ~?
However, he quickly calmed down and felt that there were many suspicious points. The biggest suspicious point was that according to Li Zexuan's range of activities in the past three months, he could determine that the old man he spoke of was in a village near Chang 'an City. However, since that village was very close to Chang 'an City, if there really was such a talented old man in the village, how could there not be any news in Chang' an City?
As long as there was a slight movement, his subordinates would definitely be able to find out!
Therefore, in the end, Li Er's heart was already 70% to 80% sure that the old man that Li Zexuan spoke of at the beginning was completely nonsense!
However, even if he was sure, what could he do?
Inside and outside Chang 'an, there were indeed many people who suffered from the cold every year, just like what was described in the poem. Although those people might not have the profound consciousness and lofty ambition to "build thousands of houses and shelter the world from the cold", they were still Li Er's people! They should not be frozen to death!
"It is indeed a good poem! The person who wrote this poem is also a great talent! "
The thousands of thoughts in Li Er's heart could only turn into a long sigh!
At this time, Li Zexuan "struck while the iron was hot" and said, "Your Majesty, Your Highness, the original intention of this official to set up the public welfare fund was to gather everyone's strength to help those poor and destitute people, or people like the old man who had talent but had no opportunity and was in a difficult situation! Only in this way, tragedies like the old man's would become fewer and fewer! "
Empress Zhangsun took a while to calm down her emotions. She turned her head and said to Li Er, "Your Majesty, Marquis Yong 'an's method of setting up the public welfare fund is really novel! This is the first time I have heard of such charity! However, it will not bring pressure to the national treasury. Your Majesty, why don't you approve ~? "
Li Er looked at Li Zexuan and nodded, "Yes, I approve! I allow your public welfare fund to be set up in the name of the imperial court! "
Li Zexuan smiled and cupped his hands, "Thank you, Your Majesty!"
…
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