The fierce quarrel outside the lecture hall door shocked everyone including Xia Yuanlong. There were people eating among them who even dropped their chopsticks but did not dare to reach down to pick them up.
Xia Yuanlong couldn't even sit still for a moment. He walked straight to the door of the gate, pressed his face against the door panel, and signaled all the scholars to be silent.
Zhu Che and others came up.
Yuanlong's expression changed, becoming fearful, and they became uneasy; gradually it turned into expectation, and they became anxious; until Xia Yuanlong's eyebrows jumped twice, and he said excitedly: "It's Messrs. Song and Yao who are here!"
At this moment, Zhu Che could no longer hide his extreme joy, but he just smiled with everyone and his sweat melted away.
"I'll open the door right now!" Zhu Che jumped in front of Xia Yuanlong, pushed open the two door panels, and ran into Governor Song head-on.
Governor Song held an official document in his hand, with tears in his eyes, and hugged everyone.
Yao Xiaogu came up from behind and said hurriedly: "It's better to discuss business matters first. It won't be too late to celebrate after the patrol has withdrawn."
Xia Yuanlong stopped everyone and asked Governor Song to go to the hall for discussion.
"Thanks to Mr. Xia for this incident," Song Zhang said, "otherwise it would be unpredictable."
"You two don't know yet, but Vice Meng Xia has already chosen the dean." Zhu Che said with a smile.
Governor Song and Yao Xiaogu looked at each other, their eyes brightening. He stepped forward and held Xia Yuanlong's hand: "I admire Mr. Xia for daring to take on such a heavy responsibility!"
"Let me tell you what happened before." Yao Xiaogu sat down and spoke calmly: "When Dean Xia was still in the Yamen, he asked the prefect to put Li Zhizhong away from the academy. When we left, he said When it came time to rescue him, the government office took out this official document. Governor Song had an idea and asked the government office if he could copy it down so that he could show it to his colleagues and reassure them. The government office immediately ordered Ma Shuban to write it down. One, brought here by us."
He took the official document from Song Zhang and wrote two short lines on it: "Li Zhizhong had nothing to do with the seizure of the academy, and his crime should not be aggravated. He passed the order and knew it." 'The seal of the prefect is stamped below.
After Zhu Che read it, he said happily: "With these black and white words on the paper, the material inspection has nothing to say."
"What did you tell those soldiers?" Xia Yuanlong asked.
Governor Song said: "I was afraid of being intercepted by them, so I only showed them the seal without knowing the contents."
"Okay! This has an unexpected effect." Xia Yuanlong looked around: "Come with me and confront the inspection."
The inspector hurried outside the lecture hall and asked the guard guard: "Where is Governor Song?"
"Song Zhang and Yao Xiaogu have entered the house."
"How not to stop?"
"He has official documents from the prefect..."
"You bastard!" The patrol inspector kicked him up, causing the officer and soldier to stumble.
"No need to be violent." Xia Yuanlong's figure slowly appeared in front of the door, insisting on the official document, "Inspection sir, it's time to withdraw from the siege."
The inspector came over solemnly, scanned the official documents up and down, bowed and said: "Mr.
Xia Yuanlong became confident this time: "Don't you think the academy is going to be closed down just because of Li Zhizhong's personal problems? Now that the government has clearly stated that Li Zhizhong is not guilty, that means the academy is not guilty, so there is no need to make any more excuses."
The inspector's face turned pale with anger, and he slowly pressed one hand on the scabbard of his sword.
Zhu Che's eyes widened and he rushed to protect Dean Xia. Governor Song stopped him and whispered: "He doesn't dare."
"Go back to the Yamen," the inspector drew out his sword, "Withdraw the troops immediately!"
Groups of officers and soldiers evacuated from the academy's lecture halls, study buildings, dormitories, corridors, and walls, and gradually disappeared from Xia Yuanlong's sight accompanied by the angry roar of the inspection team.
"Suzhou is peaceful." Zhu Che patted his shoulder.
Xia Yuanlong shook his head with a stern expression: "The prefect is leading this seizure. If he knows that we have tricked him, he will definitely fight back violently and show no mercy. We must not take it lightly."
Zhu Che lowered his head and did not answer.
"By the way, I haven't looked at the account books and other items you brought. Go back to the lecture hall." Xia Yuanlong closed the door of the academy.
"Ma Shuban, why did Li Zhizhong's brother whom you recommended change his appearance?" After hearing the inspection report, the prefect scolded Ma Shuban.
Secretary Ma knelt down and gritted his teeth: "If you know that this guy is a lackey of the academy, you will catch him even to death! It's a pity that you can't see through this treacherous plot!"
The inspector said: "Xia Yuanlong is proficient in deception. I can't beat him. How can he be more than just the secretary?"
The magistrate wanted to get angry, but after hearing these words, he nodded: "That's right. But you can't just sit back and watch and let them kill me."
The inspector hurriedly came to suggest: "The official document has been issued and cannot be violated. Why not use the trick to reinstate Official Li Zhizhong and falsely accuse someone else of corruption and lawlessness in the academy. Let's take the opportunity to lead troops to the hospital. Xia Yuanlong will have no excuse." "
The prefect thought for a long time before giving the order to the inspector: "It's up to you."
At the same time, the academy was also busy preparing countermeasures. Notices were posted on the walls of Suzhou streets, and many people gathered to watch them. They were all about the government's unreasonable seizure and the injustice suffered by the academy.
Xia Yuanlong called out the last person's name from the roster, and then handed the pen to Zhu Che: "Mr. Zhu, forty-three people are here."
"How does the number of people here compare with Nanjing?" Zhu Che asked.
Xia Yuanlong smiled bitterly: "It's hard to compare. I haven't counted them in Nanjing, but there are more than a hundred people in the small one, and nearly a thousand people in the big one. It can't be wrong."
"How should Suzhou develop?" As a core figure in the academy, he would like to ask for advice.
Xia Yuanlong felt deeply that the journey was difficult and sighed: "It's a long story. I think your recent letters to the government are too ambitious and too ambitious. Although the academy is set up by scholars to give lectures, it is the easiest. Preferring to talk, but this is not allowed; we must do some good governance, and the people will see it with their own eyes, and the best strategy is to win over the people."
He opened the account book and pointed to a few places and said: "Why are you rushing to build this water pavilion? This is definitely not a place for reciting poems and playing with scenery and flowers!" He smacked his lips, with a lot of dissatisfaction in his heart, thinking about it When the situation is critical, he will put it aside and not ask further questions.
"That's a long way off," Xia Yuanlong took out the roster again, "How many people are in the academy who are officials?"
"Thirty-three people, many of whom are serving in various counties."
"Tell them to go back to the Yamen and tactfully advise the government not to make a big move against the academy and discuss everything carefully." Xia Yuanlong was very decisive.
"This..." Zhu Che was worried, "Aren't you going to give in?"
Xia Yuanlong despised this kind of timid attitude, mixed with unreasonable distrust of him. He waved his sleeves and said, "How can you be so subdued? While I posted notices, calling on the people of Suzhou and threatening the government, I used this plan, both soft and hard. I think we should ask him when he will bend the knee to us!"
