Zhejiang, Zhejiang Governor's Mansion.
Under Hu Zongxian's introduction, Gao Hanwen quickly became familiar with officials of all sizes in the Governor's Mansion. According to the previous plan, today the land in Chun'an County under Zhejiang should be inventoried.
"My dear brother, let me tell you, just leave this kind of matter to your subordinates. Why go to the fields and suffer yourself? You are the disciple of Mr. Xiaoge!" Zheng Michang, Zhejiang's chief envoy, came from the government. He chased him out and tried to persuade him.
As early as the second day after Gao Hanwen arrived in Zhejiang, Zheng Michang took the lead to explain the people's sentiments in Jiangsu and Zhejiang, and invited him to his home for a banquet to facilitate the development of follow-up work. However, Gao Hanwen, who had just entered the official career, was not experienced for a long time. Zheng Michang's opponent in the officialdom, before Gao Hanwen came, Zheng Michang had found out his preferences and so on.
After a few glasses of wine, coupled with the compliments at the right place, Gao Hanwen couldn't help but find that he and the Zhejiang Chief Minister had many similar political views and hobbies! In addition, the chief envoy seems to be quite partial to his own writing style, and there are copies of his early poems in the room.
Gao Hanwen immediately regarded him as a confidant, and the relationship between the two developed by leaps and bounds, and they soon became like brothers.
"Before Hanwen took office, my teacher once encouraged me that serving as an official would benefit the whole country! Moreover, this is a great cause that benefits the country and the people, and Hanwen dare not slack off." Gao Hanwen's movement of mounting the horse paused. In the air, he frowned and said.
"Forget it, brother, I happen to have nothing to do today, so I'll go with you." Zheng Michang smiled and then stroked his beard.
"Don't refuse in a hurry, one more person will help you more." Zheng Mi Chang saw the hesitation in Gao Hanwen's eyes and spoke first.
"In this case, that Hanwen would be disrespectful." Gao Hanwen bowed and saluted.
…
Zhejiang, Chun'an County.
"The land here is recorded as 820 acres, but the actual measurement is 832 acres!" Seeing the soldiers measuring a field with a tape measure, Gao Hanwen nodded and wrote down the number.
"Brother Wei, the measurements have been completed. Here is the booklet. Only the last Dao'an village has not been measured." I saw Zheng Michang rushing from a distance in a hurry, his official robe and face covered with mud. , the whole person looked embarrassed.
"I've really embarrassed my elder brother today. When the measurements are completed, Hanwen will sit in the east seat. Please be sure to show your respect, elder brother!"
Gao Hanwen closed the book and looked at the embarrassed Zheng Michang in front of him, and couldn't help but feel moved.
"We are all doing things for the imperial court, so what's the difficulty?" Zheng Michang waved his hand without saying much.
Hearing Gao Hanwen's words just now, Zheng Michang couldn't help but secretly rejoice: His emotional investment of these days was not in vain. Gao Hanwen is a disciple of Mr. Xiaoge, and his official career can be said to be smooth. If he doesn't make big mistakes, he will surely reach a high position in the future, and even It is not impossible to join the cabinet!
Just imagine, one day when Gao Hanwen ascends to a high position and there is no one available for him, will he think of his talented but frustrated chief envoy?
"Brother, brother?"
Gao Hanwen's soft call woke Zheng Michang out of his thoughts, and he scratched his head in embarrassment: "Brother Wei was thinking about something just now, shall we go to Dao'an Village?"
"Um."
Gao Hanwen nodded, then mounted his horse, followed by a dozen soldiers.
Chun'an County, Dao'an Village, the entire village is concentrated at the entrance of the village.
On a big banyan tree at the entrance of the village, several villagers were hung upside down. Their bodies were covered with scars and they did not know whether they were alive or dead. There were also large buckets filled with excrement and water placed underneath.
"Did you see it? This is what happens if you don't pay the court taxes!"
A fierce official pointed at the villager who was hanging upside down and threatened the remaining villagers.
"Since you don't pay taxes, we won't treat you badly and let you have a taste of this "tuberose", let it go!"
Seeing that the villagers were unmoved, the leading official laughed ferociously, raised his hand, and his men loosened the rope hanging upside down from the big banyan tree. Only a few "plops" were heard, and the rope hanging upside down from the banyan tree was heard. The villagers fell headlong into the feces and water, and in an instant, the feces and water splashed everywhere.
"You!" The villagers became even more angry when they saw this. They clenched their fists and struggled to break through the officials' blockade and rescue the people.
"Do you want to rebel? Anyone who dares to take another step forward will die!"
After the leading official said this, the soldiers who had previously blocked the people showed their long swords at their waists. Under the threat of the bright swords, the angry villagers were forced to retreat to their original positions.
"My lords, I am the head of Dao'an Village! You just came here to collect miscellaneous taxes last month, and now you have to collect exempted taxes. We really have no food to pay!"
An old voice came from the crowd, and then the crowd gave way to a path, and an old man with a stooped body and a cane walked out shakily, wearing patched rags.
"There is nothing we can do. This is what the above said. We are also acting under orders. If we can't collect taxes, we will have to walk around without food!"
"So you'd better pay the tax quickly, so that both of us can live better and it's convenient."
Seeing the old village chief coming forward, the leading official's tone softened a bit.
"Sir, my Dao'an Village has no food to pay. It is the autumn harvest now, and people don't have any extra food in their homes. If the taxes are paid again, many families will have no food to eat! I hope you will understand, can you postpone the payment? How many days?”
"Hmph, you stubborn old thing! I'm talking to you so often but you're turning a deaf ear. Come on, hit me!"
Seeing that the old village chief was still unwilling to pay the grain, the leading official couldn't help but became furious, and then called his men to beat and kick him.
A rain of fists fell, and the old village chief was quickly knocked to the ground.
"village head!"
"village head!"
"We'll fight them."
Seeing that the beloved old village chief was knocked to the ground, the villagers' anger reached its peak. Even if the soldiers showed bright swords and threatened, the villagers rushed through all the obstacles and killed the soldiers who had beaten the old village chief. They all drove away, and along the way, they also rescued the villagers who had been hung upside down from the tree.
"You are a traitor, you are rebelling! Come to me."
When the leading official saw this, he couldn't help but became furious. He called the remaining soldiers and wanted to take action.
"Stop! What are you doing?"
A voice mixed with anger came from not far away. Following the voice, it was Gao Hanwen who was riding on the white horse.
…
"Who are you? Dare to interfere in my own affairs?"
The leading official saw Gao Hanwen's green official uniform and guessed that he was not of high rank. He squinted and threatened.
"Then I wonder if I am qualified to take care of your affairs?" Zheng Mi Chang patted the dust on his body and walked out of the team slowly.
When the leading official saw Zheng Mi Chang's crimson official uniform, he immediately bowed to the ground with a respectful look on his face: "I... I have seen your Excellency!"
The official said, but he was secretly thinking something bad. Now he hit the wall. The person who came was at least an important member of the court of rank five or above. The energy behind it was immeasurable! Crushing yourself to death is like crushing a bed bug.
Thinking of his possible fate, the kneeling official's body could not help but tremble.
