Some things can't bear to be thought about carefully, and thinking too much will only cause more troubles to oneself. This is the case for Jia Cong now.
Compared with the current emperor, the Supreme Emperor is more political, and politics is dirty...
It is worth spending more than a thousand lives in exchange for the dynasty's complete control over a province, or to eliminate an unstable factor.
But using human life as a sacrifice to maintain the rule of the country, Jia Cong could not deal with it indifferently.
Since receiving the news from the capital, Jia Cong has dreamed of the scene in Taiyuan Wengcheng every night.
The sky full of snowflakes and white paper money seemed to be sending farewell to the poor people in the eight hundred coffins.
"Alas, I am still too idealistic."
"What did Third Master say?"
When Jia Cong sighed, Jia Shiyi walked into the study room of Pingyang government office holding a stack of books.
Seeing Jia Cong shaking his head and refusing to say anything, he didn't ask any more questions. He just put the stack of books on the table and said: "These are all collected from the Lu family. According to the records of the county offices in Linfen and Xiangling counties, from the 38th year of Zhaowu to the present, the name of the Lu family has been The amount of land under his control has increased nearly ten times. This is most obvious in Xiangling County, where at least 30% of the fertile land in the county is recorded in the name of Lu Huan and his eldest son Lu Zhen."
"Normally, the Lu family's ancestral home is in Xiangling, and Lu Huan is a famous scholar in the north. With him here, who in Xiangling County would dare not give him face."
It only accounted for 30%. Not to mention the Kong family in Qufu, when Jia Cong was in Southern Zhili, he even met Li Bancheng, Zhang Benxian, Wang Banfu...
Even the two houses of Ning and Rong have almost ten thousand acres of fertile land in the ancestral land of Jinling. The people's donations, natural disasters and man-made disasters, selling the land for mortgage, and even taking it by force are nothing new.
"Register these in the register and wait for the decree from the capital. His Majesty's people should arrive soon. Just hand them over when the time comes."
When Jia Cong mentioned the capital, he thought of the more than a thousand innocent women who had suffered. For a moment, his mood waned and his spirit became obviously depressed.
He casually flipped through a few pages of the account book before losing interest. He threw it on the table and asked, "How is Lu Huan? Are you still clamoring to see me?"
"Indeed, Third Master wants to meet you?"
"Don't go!"
Jia Cong shook his head, slumped down on the chair, and complained: "See what he did, I might as well write a letter to Sister Lin if I have this time... Alas, it's already the end of April before I know it, and we went out at the beginning of the year Jing, it’s been almost half a year, I really want to go home.”
Jia Shiyi laughed when he heard this: "It's been a long time. By the way, Third Master, Mr. Zhang mentioned something to me before. According to his guess, after the matter in Pingyang is over, His Majesty will order you to return to Beijing. "
"It's possible."
Even if the emperor does not recall him, Jia Cong plans to go to the capital.
Shanxi's corrupt officials, lawless gentry, and wealthy businessmen were arrested and beheaded by him. If he continues to stay in Shanxi, the remaining people may not be able to sleep well.
It's better to go back to Beijing. You've basically done everything you need to do, and you have to leave some credit to others.
It is estimated that the DPRK and the Central Committee have already discussed the person who will take over, but I don’t know if he will take the blame or take the blame when he returns to Beijing this time...
…
The Lu family was raided, the whole family was imprisoned, and Pingyang Mansion seemed to have changed the world.
Jia Cong originally wanted to take the opportunity to rest for a few more days, but the drums at the entrance of the government office never stopped. Many people from various prefectures and counties gathered in the city and submitted a copy of the petition to the Pingyang government office.
Snapped!
"Uncle, I'm here to sue the Lu family again. It's really an eye-opener for me. This Lu family is not a family that has been called Fan Yang Lu family for thousands of years. How come all the children, grandchildren and nephews in the family have this kind of virtue?"
Lan Jingwen hadn't had a good rest for many days, his eyes were red and his voice was hoarse.
But he seemed very excited. As soon as he entered the room, he slapped a pile of zhuangzi on the table, picked up the herbal tea on the table and poured it down his throat.
He spent the entire morning reviewing the case in the front hall. This job could have been handled by assistant officials such as general magistrates and push officials, but he was very concerned about the case related to the Lu family and had been following the matter closely for several days.
"Uncle, look at these accusations. The people of the Lu family are really like each other. Even their evil deeds are carved out of the same mold. Underneath their sanctimonious appearance, they are all acting like jackals."
Jia Cong also picked it up and looked through it curiously, and responded smoothly: "What's so strange about this? Dragons give birth to dragons, phoenixes give birth to phoenixes, and the sons of mice are born to dig holes. Lu Huan himself is not upright, so what qualifications do he have? Go asking others? What a bunch of beasts, there are so many people in the entire Lu family, and no one can be called a good person!"
Seventy percent of these complaints were against the Lu family for plundering, taking advantage of sacrifices, disasters, etc. to take away people's land and property, and even forcing people to marry their wives and sell their daughters into slavery.
From the records in these few complaints alone, there are more than ten people who died in the Lu family. This does not include those who were found out in the past few days and those who have died without any evidence and cannot come to the Yamen to complain.
Lan Jingwen saw that Jia Cong was obviously in a bad mood, so he wanted to change the subject: "By the way, uncle, there are many suffering masters and people in the city who want to see you these days, and they also made a Ten Thousand People Umbrella. , to thank Uncle for getting rid of the evil thieves in Pingyang Mansion..."
"No, I don't have the qualifications. Senior Lan refused for me..."
Jia Cong waved his hand and refused, which was his sincerity.
Unexpectedly, Lan Jingwen smiled and shook his head: "The official thinks that the uncle is fully qualified to accept the Wanmin Umbrella. This is the most simple gratitude of the people. If it weren't for the uncle, I'm afraid that the sky of Pingyang Mansion would still be obscured by the Lu family, at least Xia The officials are incapable of overthrowing the mountains of the Lu family that are pressing down on the people of Pingyang."
After saying that, Lan Jingwen stood up with some bitterness, walked closer and whispered to Jia Cong: "It's best for me to show my face. The people of Pingyang Mansion have been oppressed by the Lu family for nearly thirty years. Even if the Lu family falls now, the people They still don’t trust the imperial court very much. They don’t trust the magistrate Xiaguan, but they still respect my uncle very much, so he just thinks he’s helping me.”
After so many years, the people who have been oppressed by the Lu family have not complained to the county or government offices, but is it useful?
It is precisely because of the inaction of the government over the years that the people have lost confidence in the government and the court.
Why the people did not go to the prefectural and county government offices this time, but came to the government offices to complain, was not because Jia Cong, the royal cat Qingtian, was in charge.
Lan Jingwen's bitter expression made Jia Cong feel dumbfounded and filled with emotion at the same time.
"It seems that Pingyang Mansion has an arduous task if it wants to regain the people's support!"
Jia Cong said helplessly: "Then let's meet. In this way, when the case is being heard in the Mingtang this afternoon, I will also go to the jury and meet the people in the city."
"Why don't my uncle be the chief judge..."
Before Lan Jingwen finished speaking, Jia Cong raised his hand to interrupt and said: "No, it is your responsibility as the prefect to try the cases. These cases are not only to redress the grievances of the people, but more importantly, to re-establish the people's trust in the court." .”
Jia Cong's words made the look on Lan Jingwen's face become more solemn. He bowed solemnly to Jia Cong: "My uncle's lesson is that I should remember it carefully."
…
Lan Jingwen was able to rise from the seventh-rank county magistrate to the fourth-rank prefect in just over ten years, so he was naturally talented.
He is much more familiar with criminal cases than Jia Cong. Some cases are even old events from more than 20 years ago, and he can find anomalies in the confessions of victims and witnesses.
There was a false accuser who wanted to fish in troubled waters, but Lan Jingwen exposed his lie on the spot, and confessed a series of accomplices in one sentence.
It turned out that this was the fall of a Lu family, and someone else was eyeing the short void that appeared in Pingyang Mansion after the fall of the Lu family.
"Someone wants to become the next Lu family. How will Lan Jingwen deal with it?"
Jia Cong looked at the solemn Lan Jingwen under the high-hanging plaque in the mirror, and thought to himself that money and silk really moved people's hearts. Even though he was still sitting in the Pingyang government office, some people couldn't bear the loneliness.
Lan Jingwen was stunned: "Come here, arrest Zhang Chaoshan, Fan Siwen, Vern Sizhe, Jin Bingwen..."
"The imperial edict has arrived!"
Hustle, the case has not yet been completed, and there is a loud noise outside the government office.
There was a loud clatter of horse hooves, and the people who were watching the trial let out a loud roar and then made way for them.
Jia Cong and Lan Jingwen didn't even leave the government office lobby when they saw a group of imperial guards escorting a green-robed official walking in.
"Third brother?"
The person who came to deliver the edict turned out to be Lin Bai. He was holding a bright yellow imperial edict in his hand and nodded in greeting.
"Brother Cong, please take the order first."
Jia Cong nodded and bowed down: "Your Majesty, Jia Cong, I wish you the best of blessings!"
Lan Jingwen and everyone in the hall bowed down together and shouted long live.
"Holy Holy Gong!"
Lin Bai held up the imperial edict and declared: "The edict says... Jia Cong, please let me kill him. Kill all the moths and rats in Shanxi, and give the people a bright and clear sky!"
ah?
Jia Cong was dumbfounded, Lan Jingwen was dumbfounded, the surrounding officers and soldiers, and the people watching were also dumbfounded.
"These are His Majesty's exact words, not a word has been changed."
Even though Lin Bai already knew the contents of the imperial edict, he was still filled with emotion. This was the first time he had seen such a straightforward and murderous imperial edict.
After a brief moment of surprise, Jia Cong's face became solemn. He bowed and worshiped again: "I accept the decree, long live long live long live!"
After he took the imperial edict with both hands, he immediately raised it high and shouted to the people around him: "Everyone has heard it, your Majesty has let me go free to kill those who oppressed the people and corrupted the king's law." I will kill all the national thieves, Lu Jing, and Shuo Shu, and make the decision for the big guys to avenge themselves."
"The Holy Emperor has not forgotten us, long live your Majesty!"
A sudden loud shout woke up the people who were still stunned, and the crowd instantly became excited. The people bowed to the bright yellow imperial edict in Jia Cong's hand and shouted long live.
Jia Cong glanced at the crowd who first started chanting long live, and Jia Shiyi was blinking at him.
Sure enough, his own people understand him best...
The appearance of the imperial edict gave the people of Pingyang Mansion a renewed confidence in the imperial court. At least after the people who came to watch the excitement in the government office left, Lan Jingwen became even busier.
The teahouses and restaurants in the city are all spreading the emperor's straightforward and murderous imperial edict.
The imperial edict of the Holy Emperor was placed in the government office lobby of Pingyang Mansion. One after another, people came to complain and redress their grievances. The grievances were redressed. Lan Jingwen's official reputation became better and better, and the people's trust in the government office was greatly enhanced. .
Jia Cong was not idle either. The capital had not yet sent officials to take over, so he took Lin Bai to patrol around the states and counties under the rule of Pingyang Prefecture.
After all, the emperor had sent a decree. Although most of the Shuoshu in Pingyang Mansion had been killed by Jia Cong at the beginning, he still had to show his face and give reassurance to the people.
The deterrent effect of the royal cat Jia Cong is still very strong. At least the security of Pingyang Mansion has improved a lot these days.
…
The fifth day of May is the Dragon Boat Festival.
Jia Cong didn't even bother to eat a rice dumpling, so he was in a hurry to pack his things and prepare to return to Beijing.
The capital finally sent someone, and after learning about the specific situation in Shanxi, the whole court was in an uproar.
All the officials in Shanxi were cut to pieces by Jia Cong in one fell swoop. The Ministry of Civil Affairs almost emptied the capital before they managed to scrape together enough people to leave the capital together with the officials from the Third Division.
After several days of galloping, Jia Cong finally arrived in Taiyuan when he couldn't bear it any longer.
After returning to Taiyuan, he did not go to see anyone from the Third Division. He just said hello to the King of Hebei, Liu Huai, and Zhang Zhengju, and then re-entered the road with Lin Bai and headed for the capital.
"Zhang Zhengju is indeed the most famous talent in Jiangnan. He sees clearly that His Majesty is going to implement a new law in Shanxi. Whoever stays in Shanxi at this time must be prepared to fight with the conservatives in the DPRK."
Lin Bai opened the curtain of the carriage and looked at the wheat fields that were about to mature on both sides of the official road. He asked meaningfully: "Brother Cong, are you ready to compete in the ring?"
Jia Cong smiled: "I am always prepared. I was ready three years ago."
"Ha...you were only nine years old at that time, and you thought so much?"
Lin Bai looked at Jia Cong funny, a little surprised.
Three years ago, Jia Cong was only nine years old. At that time, he must have just fallen in the emperor's eyes, and he didn't expect to have such arrogance.
Jia Cong's face was full of determination and he said solemnly: "I'm afraid Third Brother Lin doesn't know that I received His Majesty's grace at Tienwang Mountain. His Majesty once asked me what my wish was. My answer at that time was to be an official. Be a high official!"
"oh?"
Jia Cong nodded and continued: "But at that time, I had not thought about worrying about the world first, and rejoicing after the world's happiness. Your Majesty asked me why I wanted to be a high official. Third brother, what do you think I said? "
"Have you learned martial arts and become a member of the emperor's family?"
"Hey, I told Your Majesty, give me a high-ranking official, preferably one with a higher rank than my father, so that my father can't beat me..."
Thinking of the embarrassing things that happened back then, most of the depression that had accumulated in Jia Cong's heart these days was gone, and there was a smile on his face.
But then he put on his dignity and judgment again. He clenched his fists and said sincerely to Lin Bai: "Actually, there are two people who make me truly understand my heart. One is His Majesty, and the other is Mr. Wei. .”
Lin Bai was stunned: "Mr. Wei Wenzheng?"
"Yes! I promised Mr. Wei that everyone would have food to eat, clothing to wear, the elderly to be cared for, and the young to be supported. Now we have just taken the first step towards a great cause, but we have already incurred such great resistance... "
Jia Cong touched the cold golden ring on his waist and sighed inexplicably: "Fortunately, Your Majesty has steadfastly supported me, otherwise I wouldn't have the guts to continue going down."
…
Cao Jiugong walked into the Qinzheng Hall out of breath. He presented a secret letter to the emperor with both hands and reported anxiously: "Your Majesty, something happened in Nanzhili. Tens of thousands of people gathered in Jinling. The Yamen was willing and asked the court to recall Xu Jin, abolish the newly established commercial taxes, and restore the ancestral system. On the first day of May, Xu Jin, who was patrolling Yangzhou, was assassinated, and his life and death were unknown. Mr. Xia Ge had already left Shandong..."
The emperor quickly opened the secret letter, and it turned out to be Xia Lingxing's own handwriting.
Bang!
After reading the letter, he slapped it on the desk and cursed angrily: "What a resister to the law and taxes. The water in the south of the Yangtze River is really unfathomable. I killed one crop after another, and now the imperial envoy I sent is here." You dare to do something evil!"
I’ll stop here tonight and continue tomorrow. Good night!
(End of chapter)
