Soon, Hai Rui and Ma Ningyuan arrived at the Zhejiang Governor's Mansion.
In the Governor's Mansion, Hu Zongxian was handling official duties for the day when he suddenly heard a report from his subordinates.
"Report to the Governor, your student Ma Ningyuan and Chun'an County Magistrate Hai Rui are outside asking for a meeting!"
"Oh, let them come in." Hu Zongxian nodded and ordered.
"Yes, Lord Governor!"
The subordinates took the order and left quickly, putting Ma Ningyuan and Hai Rui into the Governor's Mansion.
Hu Zongxian sighed, put down the brush in his hand, and then walked to the meeting hall.
"What do you two want from me?"
Hu Zongxian sat at the top, picked up the teacup beside him, and took a sip.
"Teacher, I..."
Seeing Hu Zongxian's question, Ma Ningyuan could only respond hesitantly.
"It's better for me to come and speak for Magistrate Ma."
Upon seeing this, Hai Rui glanced at Ma Ningyuan and then spoke.
"Well, okay, it's up to you."
Hu Zongxian put down the tea cup in his hand and said loudly.
"Reporting to the Governor, this is what happened..."
Upon seeing this, Hai Rui told everything that had happened in Wangjiacun.
After listening to Hai Rui's report, Hu Zongxian's face turned pale. He then turned to Ma Ningyuan and asked in a deep voice, "Did you do this?"
"Teacher, I just want to..."
Seeing that something was wrong with the expression on Hu Zongxian's face, Ma Ning saw the situation and was about to explain, but was interrupted by Hu Zongxian.
"You bastard! What did I teach you in the past? What do you think of the common people! Huh?"
Then there was only a crisp sound of 'bang', and Hu Zongxian smashed the teacup beside him!
Ma Ning, who was on the side, saw the situation and knew that he had done something wrong. He quickly knelt on the ground and apologized to Hu Zongxian: "Teacher, the student did something wrong in this matter. It doesn't matter how you want to punish me. Don't be angry." Body."
"I, Hu Zongxian, don't have students like you, so get out of here! You should deal with the troubles you caused by yourself."
After Hu Zongxian finished speaking, he turned away angrily, as if he didn't want to talk anymore.
"Teacher, I..." Ma Ningyuan hesitated for a long time and did not say a word.
Then Ma Ningyuan kowtowed heavily to the ground three times and said in a deep voice: "Teacher, since I was the one who caused this matter, then I should settle it. I will go to the Inspectorate immediately."
After Ma Ningyuan finished speaking, he turned and left without waiting for Hu Zongxian's reaction.
"well!"
After Ma Ningyuan left, Hu Zongxian turned around and sighed helplessly.
"Hai Rui, please leave too, I have official business to handle next!"
"Yes, Lord Governor, I will be resigning now."
Hai Rui bowed slightly to Hu Zongxian and left the Governor's Mansion.
…
Ma Ningyuan did not break his promise. After coming out of the Governor's Mansion, he went straight to the Inspectorate.
After a while, Ma Ningyuan finally arrived at the Inspectorate. When the guard at the door saw that it was Ma Ningyuan, the prefect of Hangzhou, he couldn't help but speak in a respectful tone: "My lord, please wait a moment. I will inform my lord right now!"
After saying that, he hurried into the Yamen and reported to He Maocai.
At this time, He Maocai was taking a nap on his desk. He saw his subordinate coming to report that Ma Ningyuan, the prefect of Hangzhou, was here to visit. He then wiped the saliva from the corner of his mouth and ordered: "Let him wait in the waiting room first. I will be there soon." arrive."
"Yes, Sir Inspector! I will inform him immediately."
After the guard finished speaking, he left quickly.
"Master Prefect, my master asked you to go to the waiting room and wait for a while. He will be there soon!"
"Well, I know, please lead the way."
Ma Ningyuan nodded and ordered.
"Your Majesty, please come this way."
Under the leadership of this guard, Ma Ningyuan came to the waiting room of the Prosecutor's Office to wait.
As soon as Ma Ningyuan sat down, a servant immediately came forward and brought him a cup of good Longjing.
After a while, He Maocai walked out with a smile on his face and said, "I'm sorry, Mr. Ma, I was correcting an official document just now. Please bear with me if there is any lack of hospitality!"
"Where are you? I'm suddenly here for a visit. I'm troubling Mr. He!"
Ma Ning picked up the teacup, took a sip, and responded.
"Master Ma, what's going on? What happened? If you have anything, you can tell me."
And He Maocai also saw that Ma Ningyuan's mood was not right at this time, and quickly comforted him.
"Oh, Mr. He, the thing is like this..."
After Ma Ningyuan sighed, he told everything about what happened before.
"Hey, I thought it was some big deal. Didn't it just mean that a few unruly people died? Let me tell you, these unruly people should be punished severely!"
"Don't worry, you are the Governor's student. What he just said were just angry words. You don't have to take it to heart."
After listening to Ma Ningyuan's narration, He Maocai patted him on the shoulder and comforted him.
"But, I will teach you a method that will definitely make these unruly people submissive!"
"Oh, what can I do?"
After hearing what He Maocai said, Ma Ningyuan also became interested instantly.
"If these unscrupulous people are unwilling to change rice to mulberry, then punish them severely! After a while, it will be time to collect land tax again. At that time, you will separate these unscrupulous people who are unwilling to change rice to mulberry." Put them on a list and collect double taxes from them."
"You don't have to come forward personally to do this. Just give the list to the officials responsible for collecting taxes. They know how to handle the matter."
"Let me tell you, these officials responsible for collecting taxes have a lot of tricks! Are you worried that they will not be able to deal with these unruly people? Even the conversion of rice into mulberry can be successfully implemented."
After He Maocai finished speaking, his mouth suddenly felt dry. He immediately picked up the kettle on the side, poured himself a glass of cold water, and drank it all in one gulp.
"How about it?"
After He Maocai put down the cup, he raised his eyebrows, waiting for Ma Ningyuan's comment.
"This method is very wonderful, thank you Master He for your advice!"
After listening to He Maocai's plan, Ma Ningyuan slapped his thigh and said excitedly.
"Everywhere, everyone is a colleague and should help each other!"
Seeing that his strategy was recognized, He Maocai couldn't help but feel a sense of pride in his heart, and responded with a smile.
…
At night, in the capital, the home of Li Chunfang, Minister of Rites.
"My dear, what's wrong? You've been looking sad since you came back today. Did something happen?"
Li Chunfang's wife brought him tea. Seeing her husband so worried, she couldn't help but ask.
"Didn't the homes of eight officials previously have their homes raided by people from Dongchang without any warning?"
"Yes, I know about this. What's wrong?"
After listening to Li Chunfang's wife, she didn't notice anything wrong.
"Oh, you don't know. Today, Mr. Yan Ge announced in front of everyone that the officials whose homes were confiscated by Dongchang were all criminals. They deserved to die as they did now!"
"And these officials have visited our home before. Do you think they are from His Majesty's side..."
Li Chunfang thought for a long time and finally proposed his conjecture to his wife.
"I don't understand this officialdom thing! But I know that as long as my beloved you are sincere and don't be greedy for money, you will never end up like this."
"Well, my husband will remember what you said."
After Li Chunfang finished speaking, he put his wife into his arms and said softly.
(End of chapter)
