It's May, the sun is scorching in the sky, the air is filled with the fragrance of rice, and the joy of harvest spreads throughout Huguang.
Agriculture is the foundation of all industries. Handicrafts and commerce all need the support of agriculture. Therefore, driven by agriculture, commerce in Huguang area is becoming increasingly active.
Most of the prefectures in Huguang have already fallen into the joy of the autumn harvest.
On both sides of the official road, the golden rice was harvested with sickles. The farmers were buried in the rice under the scorching sun, and the sharp awns could not break through their cocoons.
Not far away, a post station was being built, with dozens of carpenters busy.
"Hey, it's crooked, the sign needs to be straightened up!"
"The paint is not done well, are you worried?"
Although a piece of his ear is missing, the man's voice is still loud and harsh, making it even more uncomfortable in the irritable summer.
With his hands on his hips, Zhou Dacheng salivated and his mouth went dry.
The post station is Shuima Post, close to the Xiangjiang River, one set up every 100 miles, covering an area of about five or six acres, with a front store and a backyard.
A wall surrounded the entire inn, and the gate in front was like a wine shop, exclusively for eating and drinking.
People live in the backyard, and there are stables for livestock.
A few dozen steps away is a pier for ships to dock for repairs.
The green bricks and green tiles look particularly bright and beautiful.
Retired as a wounded soldier and getting older, he took the initiative to come to the land where the exchange was held and asked for a job as a postmaster.
I originally wanted to go to the military camp, or to the county government office, but it was too late, and my status was no more than a minister, so I could only be a postmaster.
Fortunately, after some reforms, a low-ranking official position like Yi Cheng was promoted to the ninth rank.
He was quite excited thinking that this bright inn would be managed by himself from now on.
"Yicheng, the mung bean soup is ready!"
At this time, the hired cook came with a large bucket of soup.
"Come on down, drink some soup, and avoid heatstroke."
Zhou Dacheng waved his hand, and the craftsmen stopped one after another and drank mung bean soup happily.
In this regard, he is soft-hearted after all.
He stood up and looked at the nearly harvested rice fields in the distance, the sun-scorched official road, and the slightly swollen Xiangjiang River, and he couldn't help but think:
"At this time, there should be no one!"
As the saying goes, the less you want something to happen, the more likely it will happen.
After a moment, I saw a donkey carrying a person on the official road, followed by two servants, followed by a group of officers and soldiers, walking hungry.
When I saw the inn, I was instantly overjoyed.
"Young man is the postmaster of this place. Not only is there a great official coming to visit, but is there any chance of cooperation?"
Zhou Dacheng walked up to him and asked.
The young man on the donkey was stunned, then he took out Kanhe from the bag and said with a smile: "I am the judge of Xiangyin, and I just go to take office today."
Zhou Dacheng hurriedly looked at it and saw it written on the seal: Zhang Wencheng, 28 years old, is hereby appointed as the magistrate of Changsha County. He must arrive in Changsha County on June 30th...
"It turns out to be Judge Zhang!"
This is a high-ranking official from the seventh rank. Zhou Dacheng hurriedly saluted, and then said with a smile: "Judge, this inn has not been repaired yet, and the conditions are a bit crude. I hope you can forgive me."
After saying that, Zhou Dacheng realized: "Why don't you go to Xiangjiang River?"
Compared with the land route, the boat is not only safer, but also extremely convenient. It is much more comfortable than taking the official road.
"Xiangjiang?"
Zhang Wencheng smiled bitterly and said: "The Xiangjiang River has flooded downstream. The water flow has surged, making it difficult for ships to move. We can only take the official road."
"Okay, arrange food and accommodation for us!"
Zhou Dacheng did not dare to neglect and started giving orders hurriedly. valley
Zhang Wencheng sat in this spacious post station and couldn't help but sigh: "Has the post station been built in Changsha Prefecture in just a few months?"
After working in the Military and Political Department for half a year, he passed through the various positions. He thought he could be assigned a county magistrate, but unexpectedly there were too many people and he had little qualifications, so he could only serve as a judge.
However, what is even more tragic is Fuguo County, the greatest misfortune among misfortunes.
Still not qualified enough!
Sighing, Zhang Wencheng became excited again that he was about to show off his skills. After following Zhang Shenyan for so many years, he already had some confidence in judging cases.
However, it is rare to be able to become a seventh-rank judge after half a year of experience, or even directly become a county magistrate. Such a generous act as the King of Yu is really rare.
"This is the treatment only Jinshis receive!"
After a while, the meal was served.
As a seventh grade judge, Zhang Wencheng had his own table. On the table were two dishes and one soup, one meat and one vegetarian, scrambled eggs, vegetables and tofu, and a bowl of Xiangjiang fish soup.
The entourage has no official status, so he can only pay for it, and the two of them will have one dish.
The officers and soldiers escorted by the first group were from the personal barracks. As a rule, they were treated as if they were from the ninth rank, and the five of them only had three dishes and one soup.
Although it was a bit crude, it was provided for free after all, and everyone didn’t pick on it and gulped it down.
Seeing that the army of soldiers was still insufficient, Zhang Wencheng paid for a jar of rice wine to relieve the heat.
After everything was swept away, everyone was satisfied.
At this time, Zhou Dacheng took out the bill and asked him to sign it so that he could be reimbursed.
"Yicheng, how is Changsha County?"
Zhang Wencheng couldn't help but ask.
"Although Xianguan has just arrived, he has heard that there were fewer military disasters in Changsha County. Unlike the Baidi in Hubei, it is now very prosperous and densely populated. Every family raises silkworms and reels silk, and there are many tea mountains. That is first-class. A good idea."
Zhou Dacheng praised.
"but……"
"But what?"
Zhang Wencheng was stunned. What did this half of the sentence mean?
"However, although Changsha County ranks first in Hunan, it is extremely difficult for a judge like you."
Zhou Dacheng said honestly.
"Why is this?" Zhang Wencheng didn't understand what he meant.
"Hey, Changsha is in a good location, and the people don't have much famine. There are at most a few floods every year, which is much better than the Central Plains."
Zhou Dacheng said with a smile: "With such prosperity, the people of Changsha only see money, and everyone is benefited by seeing more."
"In other words, people are very careless and willing to pay for lawsuits and litigants."
"Ah this!" Zhang Shenyan was quite helpless after hearing this: "How similar is this to Nanjing?"
"A group of unscrupulous people, who only have money but no kindness, and are unjust for the sake of profit. It is true that the world is declining and people's hearts are not as old as they used to be!"
When he thought of this, he seemed to see a mountain of cases in his future, and flies were buzzing in his ears every day.
It's really annoying.
For a moment, he actually regretted it.
The "litigation-loving" trend prevailed in the south, especially in the middle and late Ming Dynasty. Government management was lax, urbanization, and commercial development made the "no litigation" advocated by the government an illusion.
And it also gave rise to the vigorous development of the profession of litigants.
Of course, for the government, more lawsuits means that the people's customs are not ancient, which denies their governance ability and affects their future.
Moreover, in the officialdom, it is advisable to do less and make fewer mistakes, and to do more and make more mistakes. Once a case is ignored, it will have a great impact on his political career.
So officials don't like lawsuits.
