"Oh, Yan Junyan?" Zhang Xiao touched his mustache. According to his previous experience in sorting out historical materials, Yan Junyan was an honest man. He had been a promotion official in Guangzhou for four years and had a close relationship with the Chen Zizhuang family. In the early years of Chongzhen, when Yan Junyan presided over the imperial examination, he promoted Chen Zizhuang's younger brother Chen Zisheng to the top of the list. Many people in the Chen family were his disciples. Chen Zizhuang also commented in detail on Yan Junyan's "Mr. Yan Yanshu's Lianjie Manuscript" and financed its publication in Guangdong around 1629 with home engravings. When "Meng Shui Zhai Cumulative Slips" was published, Chen Zizhuang wrote a preface for it. At the same time, the prefaces were also written by Han Rizuan, the Minister of Rites, He Wuzou, a scholar of Dongge University, Lu Zhaolong, the official official, Lu Zhao, the prefect of Zhaoqing, and Jingcha Deputy envoy Wang Yinghua and the Department of Lili and Lili provided guidance for Li Le.
It's a pity that we are independent in this dim world, and there are really few people who care about the country. The turbid officialdom of the Ming Dynasty has no room for honest people. I am afraid that Yan Junyan has been dismissed from his post and returned home, so that he can grow beans in Nanshan.
However, there is still a problem here. He remembered that Kuang Lu, a close friend in Chen Zizhuang's circle, ran away to Guangxi because he offended Huang Xiyin, and even Liang Yuanzhu's pleas were in vain. Based on Yan Junyan's relationship with the Chen Zizhuang family, his friendship with Kuang Lu must be quite strong. If Huang Xiyin and Yan Junyan are really good friends, they should be more open to Kuang Lu. Therefore, you have to be careful whether what this old boy says is true or false, whether it is true or not.
As for Huang Xiyin, he is also an old acquaintance. This person was not originally famous in history, but because of his "persecution of Kuang Lu", he became famous. This man had been the magistrate of Nanhai County for many years. If he could surrender, it would be more useful to him than the Guangzhou Tongpan who had just taken office.
Thinking of this, Zhang Xiao asked: "Has the false tax been exempted in the end?"
"Looking back to the commander, Mr. Futai had originally agreed to report to the imperial court and strive to exempt the false taxes. However, Wang Zunde was marching to Lingao, and there was a large shortage of military expenditures. Not only was it not exempted, but a few cents were added to the land taxes in each county. The fields to be replenished were not from a county in the South China Sea, but from the new fields in Xiangshan and Shunde counties and towns. It is a pity that Wang Zunde did not know the military power of the Song Dynasty, and ended up like a chicken. He lost his wife and lost his troops." Wei Bifu couldn't help but sigh. stand up.
"Damn it!" Zhang Xiao complained secretly in his heart. It turns out that the military expenses for Wang Zunde's attack on Lingao came from here. It was all the Senate's money!
He remembered something and asked: "Huang Xiyin was originally the magistrate of Nanhai County. Where did he go when Guangzhou was restored?"
Wei Bifu has been thinking about this for a long time. Why? Because Huang Xiyin did not "commit suicide" as most elders thought. In fact, he was recorded as "missing" in official files.
Huang Xiyin did not commit suicide, nor did he formally surrender. Instead, he took advantage of the chaotic situation at the beginning of Guangzhou's recovery and quietly hid in the countryside, planning to wait until the situation calmed down and try to return to his hometown. But because the border is closed and he still has his family, he can't leave even if he wants to. Seeing that the Australian rule has been stabilized for more than two years, my family has gradually become unable to survive in the countryside. Huang Xiyin then had the idea of "comeback".
It's just that his comeback is somewhat embarrassing now, and Australians will inevitably think that he has "impure motives." Huang Xiyin thought about it, and the only option was to ask Wei Bifu, an "old acquaintance". After all, he had the highest rank among those who were demoted in Guangzhou, and now he is doing well among the Australians. And the friendship between them was not bad at first.
After more than two years, Wei Bifu was shocked to see Huang Xiyin again and thought he had seen a ghost. The two met again after a long separation, and after a heart-to-heart talk, he finally realized that Magistrate Huang also planned to "change his ways."
"Brother Huang, I'm not talking about you. Two years ago, when the army entered the city, you could have just followed me and voted for the Senate! Now it's been more than two years, and you vote again..."
When Liu Xiang first entered the city, all candidates who had no major "historical problems" were hired. Although they were generally not given actual positions, they were always given the title of counselor, and a monthly carriage fee provided that the whole family could eat and drink.
Now that he is defecting, not to mention the suspicion of "speculation", the Senate's rule in Guangdong is greatly stable, and whether he is willing to re-employ him or not is a question.
"My little brother is always confused for a moment!" Huang Xiyin said, "Please ask your brother to correct it for you." After that, he presented the gift.
The gift is a fine golden head and face. Wei Bifu couldn't bear to part with such a good appearance, and thought about the fact that Huang Xiyin also had a friendship with him. He agreed wholeheartedly.
Although I agreed, this matter was not easy to handle. Wei Weifu has been waiting for the opportunity. Now that the chief is asking, it’s a good opportunity!
"Mr. Huang did not commit suicide. He was just worried about the war, so he took his family and fled to the countryside of Nanhai."
"Hiding?"
"Exactly." Wei Bifu said with a smile, "He didn't want to go to the Ming Dynasty, so he lived in the countryside of Nanhai farming and studying."
"How did you know?" Zhang Xiao suddenly asked.
"A few days ago, the student went to the countryside and met him in Jiujiang Town. The student was also shocked at the time and thought he had encountered a ghost during the day."
"Haha, I see, I thought he was dead!" Zhang Xiao thought to himself, wouldn't it be better to have this person! And since he didn't commit suicide or go north, it was obvious that he had the intention of "surrendering to Kun". Maybe he even came here specifically to ask for help from the Councilor Wei in front of him. This is really a pillow for sleeping - it just comes at the right time. Then he said:
"In that case, please go out and tell me that I intend to hire him as a counselor in Guangzhou and follow me as a counselor in the South China Sea."
"The leader has his orders, and the students must obey them!" Wei Bifu was secretly happy, but he didn't expect that it would be done so easily! It seems that Chief Zhang really wants to do something in the South China Sea, "The students will set off to handle this matter tomorrow!"
"Well, tell him not to have any worries. Since he is willing to go out, he can honestly do errands for the Senate. If he is not willing, I will not force him. Let him stay in the countryside and be a good citizen."
"Yes, yes, students understand."
"But since he is still in the countryside, he can only continue to trouble Councilor Wei to continue explaining this 'difficult' word to me."
Wei Bifu thought that his response would satisfy the new leader in front of him, so he stood up and said: "The Guangdong-born foreigners are friends with the barbarians, and the crazy invaders in Luliang, relying on the mountains and blocking the sea, often secretly attack. In the middle of Guangdong, Therefore, there are many big thieves and the atmosphere is not peaceful. The Jia people who do business in Guangdong are almost all full of sycophants. If they are small, they will spend their money, and if they are big, they will lose their lives. In order to use Lingnan as a profit source, it is now a ghost country. There were six criminals, including Li Yachao, who used boats to kill people and rob officials during the day. They killed and drowned three people in the tower camp during the day, and plundered seventeen people. The thieves came from Qingyuan to rob, and passed down the Sanshui River. Those who asked about it went to the Shizhou Gorge and were captured. The provincial capital was in various places, and stickmen from other provinces pointed out names and colors, lurking in the place as evil spirits. Once they were reported, the birds and beasts scattered, and the officials often could not ask questions. Yan. In the Guangdong region, the mountains are bordered by the sea, and the caves are the most dangerous. The deserted land of sand islands and traces are unpredictable. Therefore, for decades, there have been monsters with built names in the mountains, and bandits with flags in the sea..."
At this point, Wei Bifu stopped, and he suddenly realized that the Australians were once the giant invaders he called.
"What's wrong? Keep talking." Zhang Xiao was puzzled by Wei Bifu's behavior.
Wei Bifu's face was a little nervous. He glanced at Zhang Xiao's expression, but there was no difference, and continued: "The people can't sleep peacefully, and business can't go out on all roads. Surrounding the mountains to the north, following the sea to the south, there are all pits and pits, which are all boiling. .”
"In your opinion, what is the cause?"
"In the previous dynasty, the sea ban was very strict. All ships entering and exiting had to be drawn from Xiangshan, and the city secretary had to submit orders. There was no reason to park in the dark. However, more than a thousand foreign thieves broke into the inland river. The local military sentry and the city secretary and other officials saw the advantage. Forgetting harm and being a traitor on the outside is a collusion between bandits and the government. There are also officials involved in smuggling. Because there are many thieves in Guangdong, some use the name of anti-theft to cut the skin of the common people and suck out the marrow of the common people in order to arrest the government officials. Strong refers to stealing, instigating theft, trapping, intimidating and defrauding, enslaving and extorting, fabricating false accusations and defrauding, and doing everything possible. The third is that the number of bankrupt people becomes more and more, and they turn into bandits. The officials are corrupt every day, and the people are in poverty every day, and they look forward to lawsuits. With the number of lawsuits being filed, there are more and more people who steal and steal. Inferring this reason, the local officials changed the name of robbery to theft to avoid punishment, intending to sacrifice the important and take the light, so as to avoid impeachment. I don't know that the people are guilty of the crime of beheading and hanging, so they have to live in exile. What scruples are there with the punishment? It’s no wonder that the more theft is tabooed, the more it will be stolen. The conspiracy to use theft to cover up the case is especially cunning: one robbery case involves thefts from several cases to make up for it; once the crime is committed, the consequences will be all the consequences. Enter several cases. Either instruct subordinates to induce confessions, or force officers to intimidate, and one of the prisoners will die. If you confess more or less, you will not be punished. It is better to accept more cases to avoid being whipped. The officials are happy to get the trick. I don't know the official. It can be exempted from the crime, and the thief can be exempted from the investigation. What is particularly different is that if you are not reported when you are robbed, you can use the excuse of ignorance. Once the report is reported, the committee will conduct an inspection and move the Suofu horse. If you want to satisfy your desires, there will be nothing left after the robbery. Wealth; does not give them what they ask for, and does not live up to their actual talents. No wonder the family that was robbed suffered more and more hardships, swallowed and endured, and refused to report it to the official. But the official was happy that he did not report it, thinking that one case was underreported. , to avoid being burdened by one case. Is it true that a few official cases are burdened by one case, but the people are burdened by countless robberies?"
Wei Bifu's answer satisfied Zhang Xiao. Prefectural and county magistrates hope that people will file lawsuits, because officials and subordinates can benefit from civil lawsuits; and robberies are criminal cases, and more robberies means that the local public security situation is not good. Not only does it affect an official's reputation, he may even be impeached. Therefore, the number of people who want to sue the public will become less and less, and the number of people who keep silent about theft will increase.
Based on the experience of the Senate in suppressing bandits in Hainan, the background information of the bandits will be clearly understood through long-term investigation before the official operation. For example, before Lingao's first county-wide crackdown on bandits, the Intelligence Committee had a clear picture of the county's bandit situation: there were 38 gangs with more than 50 people active for a long time; seven groups with more than 100 people, and this did not include There are many household bandits who usually farm but commit banditry when necessary. And we strive to destroy criminal gangs at once to avoid falling into an endless public security war.
(End of chapter)
