Ever since Hu Zongxian left Zhejiang and rushed to the capital, all affairs in Zhejiang fell on Zheng Michang, the chief envoy.
At this time, Zhejiang, Zhejiang Province is in the Governor's Mansion.
In the study, Zheng Michang was sitting behind the desk, processing the official documents sent by his subordinates in an orderly manner.
Since Zheng Michang had been exposed to this matter before, he was able to handle it with ease.
Afterwards, Zheng Michang put the brush in his hand aside and said silently to himself: "Oh, I really don't know when Mr. Zhao will be able to arrive in Zhejiang. I am already very busy!"
Just as Zheng Michang was complaining like this, he heard a rush of footsteps outside the door. Not long after, a guard from the Governor's Mansion pushed open the door and came to Zheng Michang to report respectfully.
"Your Majesty the Chief Envoy, according to your previous instructions, we captured a group of suspicious merchants!"
"Oh, you caught a suspicious businessman?"
After listening to the guard's report, Zheng Michang suddenly became energetic. Regardless of the unfinished official documents in his hands, he suddenly stood up from his seat, looked in the direction of the guard, and asked.
Facing Zheng Michang's gaze, the guard did not panic at all. After sorting out the words in his mind, he leaned down and reported the report in a deep voice.
"Mr. Chief Minister, the thing is like this. It is said that the group of merchants were asking around where there was raw silk produced in Zhejiang. Later, by chance..."
Under the guard's narration, Zheng Michang finally understood the ins and outs of the matter. Immediately, he saw a gloomy face, slammed the table, and said in a deep voice.
"These damn insects, not long after the Governor left Zhejiang, they couldn't wait to reach out to Zhejiang!"
The guard was frightened when he saw Zheng Michang's sudden anger. Immediately, he lowered his head and asked cautiously.
"Sir...Sir, what should we do next?"
Hearing this, Zheng Michang glanced at the guard and ordered coldly.
"Where is the man? Take me over immediately to have a look!"
"Yes, yes, sir, to be honest, that group of suspicious merchants has been taken to prison. Please follow me here!"
Then, under the guidance of the guard, Zheng Michang left the Governor's Mansion with several guards and came to the cell where the group of merchants were held.
…
Since there is no sunshine all year round, the cell is filled with a musty smell that cannot be dissipated for a long time.
After entering the cell, a strong and pungent odor came. Seeing this, Zheng Michang couldn't help but frowned. Then, he took out a handkerchief and covered his mouth and nose.
When the jailer who was responsible for guiding the way saw this, he immediately turned around and suggested flatteringly: "Master Chief Envoy, why don't you go up and leave the interrogation of prisoners to the younger ones! "
When Zheng Michang heard this, he just glanced at the jailer coldly and said in a deep voice: "No need, lead the way!"
"Yes, Lord Chief Envoy!"
When the jailer heard Zheng Michang's words, he immediately suppressed all the chaotic thoughts in his heart and led the way.
Along the way, when the prisoners in the cell saw Zheng Michang's arrival, their faces showed a look of hope. They desperately went to the door of the cell and shouted their injustice.
"Sir, the younger one was wronged!"
"Xiao... Xiaoxiao didn't do anything. It was all of her own free will!"
"Sir, I have an eighty-year-old mother who needs support, and a two-year-old child who is waiting to be fed. How could I do such an embarrassing thing? Besides, my elder sister-in-law is like my mother..."
Zheng Michang turned a deaf ear to their cries of injustice, and the cries of injustice of the prisoners were quickly suppressed by the fellow jailers.
"Shut up, everyone. If anyone dares to yell again, I will make him go without food for three days!"
"Damn it, if you don't eat the toast, you will be punished with a drink. Beat me!"
After the farce subsided, Zheng Michang was finally led by the jailer to the cell where the group of merchants were imprisoned.
Seeing the arrival of officials, the group of merchants seemed to have grasped at straws. Just like the prisoners before, they desperately slammed the cell door and shouted their injustice.
"Sir, we were wronged, we were just..."
Zheng Michang ignored the group of merchants' cries of injustice, but looked at the previous guard of the Governor's Mansion and asked, "Is it them?"
When the guard of the Governor's Mansion heard this, he immediately looked stern, lowered his head, and responded respectfully: "That's right, Lord Chief Envoy, it's them!"
Hearing this, Zheng Michang responded in a subtle way, then waved his hand, pointed at the merchants who were still complaining, and said in a deep voice: "I really can't shed tears until I see the coffin. Come, give them all to me." When the officials are pulled, we must make them tell who ordered them!"
"Yes, sir!"
After receiving Zheng Michang's order, the jailers who were accompanying him immediately took out the keys from their waists, opened the cell door, and dragged the merchants out of the cell like dead dogs.
After this, there was a shrill wail, which made people shudder.
Listening to the wailing sounds that kept reaching his ears, Zheng Michang's extremely depressed mood was somewhat relieved.
Afterwards, Zheng Michang suppressed all the chaotic thoughts in his heart, summoned a guard, and gave instructions: "You stay here first, and if you have any news, report it to me immediately. Do you understand?"
After Zheng Michang took his people back to the Governor's Mansion, he continued to handle the remaining official duties.
It was getting late, and the guard who had been left in prison by Zheng Michang also brought the confessions of the merchants.
In their oral confessions, those merchants admitted that they were instigated by others and came to Zhejiang specifically to inquire about information. As for the rest, they knew nothing about it.
After Zheng Michang read through all the contents of the confession, he couldn't help but frown. At this moment, an endless sense of crisis quietly spread in his heart.
Then, Zheng Michang rubbed his temples, called for the guards, and gave instructions: "Go and invite the Inspector over immediately, and tell him that I have something important to discuss with him!"
"Yes, sir!"
When the guard heard Zheng Mi Chang's words, he didn't dare to be negligent in the slightest, and left quickly after responding.
Soon after, He Maocai received the news and rushed to the Governor's Mansion without stopping.
After He Maocai came to the study room of the Governor's Mansion under the guidance of the guards, he looked in the direction of Zheng Michang and asked subconsciously.
"Old Zheng, what happened, why are you so anxious?"
"Oh, see for yourself!"
When Zheng Michang heard this, he sighed helplessly, and then handed the confession in his hand to He Maocai's hands.
After He Maocai took the confession from Zheng Michang, he read it with extra concentration. After he finished browsing the above content, the look on his face became extremely solemn: "Old Zheng, this...this !”
Zheng Michang took in the expression on He Maocai's face, nodded, and then said: "Hey, Lao He, it seems that those in the court have already started to attack Zhejiang!"
When He Maocai heard Zheng Michang's words, his face was full of doubts, and he immediately asked: "By the way, has there been no news from Mr. Yan Ge and Mr. Xiao Ge?"
When Zheng Michang heard this, he shook his head and responded: "Well, yes, there is currently no news from Mr. Yan Ge and Mr. Xiao Ge!"
He Maocai heard this, his face was full of sorrow, he sat slumped on the seat beside him, and then spoke.
"Master Zhao hasn't officially taken office yet. Just a few of us can't stop those in the court, otherwise..."
Before He Maocai finished speaking, Zheng Michang raised his eyebrows and asked rhetorically: "At this point, Lao He, do you think we still have a way out?"
When Zheng Michang said this, he added immediately without waiting for He Maocai to respond.
"Over the years, if we hadn't been protected by Mr. Yan Ge and the others, we would have died seven or eight hundred times!"
"If something goes wrong this time, in the end, the responsibility will have to be borne by both of us. We might end up sinking a stone!"
When Zheng Michang mentioned Shen Yishi's name, the expression on He Maocai's face became extremely ugly.
The scene where Shen Yishi and Yun Niang set themselves on fire together appeared in his mind unconsciously.
He Maocai calmed down after taking a deep breath. Immediately, he looked at Zheng Michang and said in a deep voice.
"Old Zheng, let's take a gamble. No matter what, we have to wait until Mr. Zhao takes office!"
"Well, let's take a gamble. Call Ma Ningyuan over later and discuss how to deal with this group of businessmen with unknown origins next!"
…
Five ships of different sizes were sailing on the canal. This was the ship Zhao Zhenji was riding.
It has been some time since Zhao Zhenji left the capital.
In the cabin, Zhao Zhenji was seen closing the book in front of him, then walking out of the cabin with his hands behind his back.
The rushing water beats against the rocks, making bursts of roaring sounds. Clouds and mist are shrouded on both sides of the bank, the mountains are undulating, and the lush woods are disappearing and appearing.
After Zhao Zhenji stopped to watch for a moment, he withdrew his gaze. Since he set off from the capital by boat, his concept of time has gradually become blurred.
Zhao Zhenji's daily pastime, in addition to reading the books he brought earlier, was to walk out of the cabin and appreciate the surrounding scenery.
At this moment, Zhao Zhenji summoned the guards and asked: "How long will it take to reach Zhejiang?"
After hearing this, the guard gave the answer after recalling for a moment: "Sir, according to the sailors on the ship, according to the current speed, we will be able to reach Zhejiang in four days at most!"
After Zhao Zhenji learned the news from the guard, his face suddenly showed a look of loss, and he lowered his head and murmured to himself.
"Four days left!"
Three days passed in the blink of an eye, Zhejiang, Zhejiang Governor's Mansion.
At this moment, in the meeting hall of the Governor's Mansion, Zheng Michang, He Maocai, and Ma Ningyuan gathered together to exchange their gains in recent days.
I saw Zheng Michang sitting at the top, looking over He Maocai and Ma Ningyuan respectively, and giving instructions.
"Tell me everything, how is the situation now?"
Ma Ningyuan on the side heard Zheng Michang's words and immediately stood up and spoke immediately.
"Master Zheng, according to your previous instructions, the government has posted notices and dispatched officers to carry out operations to search for those merchants who are acting suspiciously. So far, there is not much harvest!"
Hearing this, Zheng Michang frowned slightly, and then said: "Is it because of the shortage of manpower? If it really doesn't work, we should also transfer the Chief Envoy and the guards of the Governor's Mansion!"
He Maocai on the side heard the words and stood up, and then added: "We can also send some people over from the Inspectorate!"
When Ma Ningyuan heard this, he shook his head and said slowly: "No, it's not a matter of manpower. Although the government has posted notices asking several counties under its jurisdiction to cooperate and encouraged people to actively report, there is still not much gain. , only two groups of suspicious businessmen were caught!"
"It seems that those merchants must have gotten wind of the news and hid it deliberately!"
Hearing this, Zheng Michang couldn't help but sneered, and immediately said: "Humph, I don't believe it. They can hide it all the time. Isn't it just a waste of time? I have plenty of time to waste with them!"
When Zheng Michang said this, he changed the topic and continued: "By the way, I have received news that Mr. Zhao will arrive in Zhejiang tomorrow. You can go with me to the dock tomorrow to greet him!"
When Zheng Michang finished speaking, Ma Ningyuan and He Maocai on the side couldn't help but breathed a sigh of relief, their faces full of anticipation.
After hearing the news, He Maocai's face was filled with relief, and he couldn't help but sigh: "Huh, Mr. Zhao is finally taking office!"
Ma Ningyuan on the side heard this and took over the conversation, saying in agreement: "Yes, when Mr. Zhao takes office, the situation should gradually get better!"
After that, the three people exchanged opinions on how to deal with those suspicious merchants. Later, when everyone saw that it was getting late, they said goodbye and left.
After Ma Ningyuan left the Governor's Mansion, he ordered people to spread the news.
…
The night passed in the blink of an eye, and in the early morning of the next day, when it was just dawn, many officials had already gathered near the pier.
After those officials heard the news that Zhao Zhenji, the new governor of Zhejiang and governor of Zhejiang, was about to take office, they rushed over from everywhere without stopping!
After all, if anyone dares not to come on a day like today, then he will no longer have to hang out in Ming Dynasty's officialdom.
At this moment, the three people standing at the front of the team were Zheng Michang, He Maocai and Ma Ningyuan.
Everyone had been waiting eagerly for a long time, but there was no sign of a ship appearing in the distance. They simply gathered in small groups and chatted.
"Do you know the background of Mr. Zhao who succeeded Governor Hu?"
"You don't even know this, Mr. Zhao, is from the Inspectorate, and he was an Imperial Envoy not long ago!"
"Hiss, what? Mr. Zhao is actually from the Inspectorate. It seems that the days ahead may not be easy for him!"
"Youdao is the first thing a new official needs to do when he takes office. We should be more careful!"
While everyone was still actively discussing this matter, someone in the crowd was the first to shout: "The ship is coming!"
After everyone heard the words, they followed the sound and saw five ships bathed in the morning sun in the distance, moving in an orderly manner towards the dock. As the ships approached, the figures on the ships could still be vaguely seen.
Seeing this situation, everyone quickly lined up and stood in line, not daring to make any move.
The ship was full of heavily armed soldiers. According to Zheng Michang's visual inspection, there were at least four to five hundred people!
Afterwards, the five ships docked one after another. Zhao Zhenji got off the ship under the escort of his guards. Behind him were the accompanying officials.
Seeing this, Zheng Michang immediately lowered his head and saluted respectfully: "I am Zheng Michang, the Chief Envoy of Zhejiang Province. I have met the Governor!"
When Zheng Michang finished speaking, all the officials behind him also bowed and saluted, and said in unison: "I have met the governor!"
Hearing this, Zhao Zhenji glanced at the officials present. Immediately, he looked back at Zheng Mi Chang and said, "Well, lead the way from the front!"
"As ordered, Lord Governor, please come this way, Lord Governor!"
After Zheng Michang responded, he immediately made a gesture of invitation.
Afterwards, the two of them walked at the front of the team, followed by Zhejiang officials of all sizes. There were heavily armed soldiers patrolling everywhere. Once anyone acting suspiciously was found, they could be captured immediately without questioning!
When he was about to get on the sedan, Zhao Zhenji stopped, turned around, looked at Zheng Michang, and asked in a low voice.
"What's the current situation?"
Zheng Michang heard the implications of Zhao Zhenji's words, the smile on his face froze, and he quickly lowered his head. After making sure that no one was paying attention, he withdrew his gaze and lowered his voice.
"My Lord Governor, this is not the time to talk. I will come to see you after you have settled down!"
When Zhao Zhenji heard this, a look of confusion suddenly appeared on his face. Then, he waved his hand, got on the sedan, and went to the Governor's Mansion.
Zhao Zhenji got off the sedan and looked at the Governor's Mansion, which was so close in front of him, with an inexplicable look on his face.
"I really didn't expect that last time I came as an imperial envoy, but now I have become the governor-general of Zhejiang and the governor of Zhejiang. Things are really unpredictable!"
After Zhao Zhenji said this with emotion, he shook his head and stepped into the Governor's Mansion.
After entering the Governor's Mansion, the officials of the Governor's Mansion quickly welcomed Zhao Zhenji to the study, and took out booklets one after another that recorded the accounts of Zhejiang Province's expenditures, land, money, population, taxes, prisoners, grain, warehouses, etc. Come up and hand it over to Zhao Zhenji for inspection.
Among them, there were a total of thirty-one items that Zhao Zhenji needed to check. With the help of the accompanying officials, Zhao Zhenji spent half a day to finally check the corresponding items.
Afterwards, Zhao Zhenji closed the book in his hand and sighed to himself.
"Hu Zongxian is really a good official. He not only completely wiped out the Japanese pirates, but also managed the entire Zhejiang in an orderly manner, with abundant warehouses and a lot of money and food left in the house!"
When Zhao Zhenji thought of this, he couldn't help but secretly determined to be the governor of Zhejiang Province!
After checking the relevant books, Zhao Zhenji also got the seal and ribbon left by Hu Zongxian, representing the governor-general of Zhejiang and the governor of Zhejiang.
From this moment on, Zhao Zhenji succeeded Hu Zongxian and became the new governor-general of Zhejiang Province and governor of Zhejiang Province. He was a veritable feudal official!
Soon after this, officials from the Governor's Mansion came to report that Zhao Zhenji's luggage, as well as several maids and a concubine he had brought with him, had been properly accommodated.
Upon hearing this, Zhao Zhenji responded casually, and then sent the official from the Governor's Mansion away.
At this moment, what Zhao Zhenji is most concerned about is the current situation in Zhejiang.
After all, his mission on this trip was to stop the group of people in the court from buying raw silk from the people at low prices.
For this reason, His Majesty also specifically gave himself the right to kill first and then report later. The meaning is self-evident!
"Your Majesty, don't worry, Wei Chen will definitely live up to your trust. Wei Chen will fight those insects to the end!"
Zhao Zhenji thought so, his face was full of determination, and he clenched his fists unconsciously.
Gradually, as night fell, a guard was seen walking silently into the study, came to Zhao Zhenji, and said in a low voice.
"Reporting to the Governor, the Chief Envoy is outside asking for an audience!"
"Oh, Zheng Michang is finally here!"
Zhao Zhenji thought so, then came back to his senses, looked at the guard, and said: "Well, I know, let him come in!"
"As you command, Lord Governor!"
When the guard heard this, he immediately bowed his hand to Zhao Zhenji and responded in a deep voice.
Soon after the guard left the room, Zheng Michang was led to the study of the Governor's Mansion.
After Zheng Michang entered the study, he looked in the direction of Zhao Zhenji, lowered his head and said respectfully.
"I have met the governor!"
"You don't have to be so polite. I have just arrived and there are still many things I don't understand. I will have to rely more on you as the chief envoy in the future!"
Upon hearing this, Zhao Zhenji saw the expression on Zheng Michang's face and responded with a smile.
When Zheng Michang heard what Zhao Zhenji said, his face was full of humility, and he immediately said: "Where, where, the governor is joking, this is the responsibility of the lower officials!"
Zheng Michang knew very well that the new Zhao Zhenji was very difficult to deal with. Not only did he come from the Supervisory Council, but he had also been an imperial envoy, and now he was sent to Zhejiang by His Majesty to serve as a frontier official!
This shows how much His Majesty trusts Zhao Zhenji. This time Zhao Zhenji came to Zhejiang to take up a post, it must not be as simple as it seems on the surface!
Then, Zhao Zhenji looked away from Zheng Michang, raised his eyebrows, and followed up with instructions.
"Tell me about the current situation in Zhejiang!"
When Zheng Michang saw Zhao Zhenji, he chose to get straight to the point, and a look of surprise flashed across his face.
Afterwards, Zheng Michang was able to organize his words in his mind and then said cautiously: "Your Majesty the Governor, currently, there are many unidentified merchants in Zhejiang, trying to buy raw silk from the people. The government is also trying its best to arrest these merchants. , but with little effect!”
When Zheng Michang said this, he paused and continued: "Besides, the Weaving Bureau..." (End of Chapter)
