On the first day of August in the fifth year of Chongzhen reign in the Ming Dynasty, a group of officials and Confucian scholars had gathered at the gate of Dongmen Gate in Gucheng County. There was also a pavilion to receive officials and a painted archway set up outside the east gate. Anyone with some knowledge would know at a glance that a Shangguan was coming to Gucheng County.
Moreover, the officials and gentry of Gucheng County welcomed the Shangguan in such a grand manner. He must be a good official, right?
During this period, the landlords and wealthy people in the Gucheng area suffered a lot because of the beggars from Shaanxi who disturbed the area. Because there were too many begging soldiers in Shaanxi and they were very irritable, they liked to reason with the elders using long spears and short knives. Therefore, the rich and powerful people had no choice but to hide if they could not afford to offend them, and fled to the county where order was relatively good - in fact, there were some Shaanxi soldiers stationed in Gucheng County, but they were not looking for soldiers. They were part of the very elite Zhangqian Youth Army, which had just entered Xiangyang Prefecture from Xi'an via Hanzhong Prefecture and Yunyang Prefecture.
Although they are all Shaanxi soldiers, the young soldiers in front of the tent have strict discipline and do not commit any crimes. They can also prevent the begging soldiers from doing evil. The beggar soldiers are also afraid of these half-grown child soldiers. Each and every one of them has been taught to be a wooden person. It says one is one, and there will be no discount if you implement it seriously. I don’t know how a fellow countryman will burst into tears when he meets a fellow countryman... So With them guarding Gucheng County, the landlords and wealthy people in this area finally have a safe place to go.
But staying in the county town all the time is not an option! The autumn harvest is about to begin. If they, the local landlords or those who manage the family business for the capable people in the clan, cannot return to the countryside in time, they will be delayed in collecting rent!
In addition, next year will be the sixth year of Chongzhen, and the sixth year of Chongzhen is the year of the exam!
The scholars in Gucheng County all want to take care of all the troubles at home as soon as possible, and then concentrate on reviewing their homework and strive for good grades... If they win the exam, it will be a big deal. One floor up.
So when the news came that the Hunjun stationed in Xiangyang sent a high-ranking official to Gucheng County to make decisions for the people, all the people who took refuge in the county became excited... This was really an eye-opener for God. The foolish king has turned back!
Early this morning, the gentry of Gucheng who had received the news spontaneously went outside Dongmen Gate to greet the legendary Master Qingtian.
"Coming, coming, Master Qingtian is here..."
Among the people crowded in the crowd waiting for Mr. Qingtian, someone suddenly shouted loudly. Then I saw the honor guard holding the solemn avoidance sign and the official title sign, driving along the official road in a mighty manner. Behind the king's order flag sign, there was a group of knights on horseback, but they didn't see the sedan chair, and they didn't know who was coming. Is the Qingtian elder who makes decisions for the people in Gucheng County among them?
When Master Qingtian was about to appear, the gentry and students in Gucheng who were already a little impatient were already asking each other.
"Do you know who is coming to Gucheng this time?"
"It seems to be General Staff Gao... He is a well-known young official. He is not afraid of power or eunuchs, and he even opposed Wei Zhongxian!"
"That's great! When Gao Qingtian comes to Gucheng, we will be saved!"
"Do you know why Gao Qingtian is here?"
"What's the point? Of course I came here for the death of old scholar Fang. Did you see that? The person next to County Magistrate Li is Fang Yuezong, Fang Dafu's younger brother... I heard that Fang Dafu in Songjiang was given to Long Live Lord I have received a memorial to seek justice for his thirteenth uncle, that old scholar Fang."
"Okay, okay, if Fang Dafu comes forward and Gao Counselor comes to uphold justice, Fang Laoxiu will not die in vain!"
"No, no... look, why does the official in the python robe behind the Wang Ming flag have no beard?"
"The hat is wrong too, it's not a black gauze hat, it's a hat worn by an internal official!"
Some scholars from Gucheng County with good eyes have discovered that it is not Gao Hongtu who is here... Gao Hongtu is a big man from Shandong, with a long beard - nine out of ten high-ranking officials these days have beards. , and there is also a man without a beard who might be his father-in-law.
In addition, the visitor is not wearing a black gauze hat, but an official crown hat!
Needless to say, the person coming to Gucheng today is definitely not Gao Hongtu, but the great eunuch!
After a while, someone already saw clearly the words on the official title plate.
"Eunuch Bingbi, the Supervisor of Ceremonies, and the Imperial Envoy Governor Dongchang Official Banner to handle affairs...Ah, it's Governor Liu, the King of Hell who confiscates the property, is here!"
The eunuch who came here turned out to be Wei Zhongxian's confidant eunuch. Later, he spent a huge sum of money to buy indulgences to clear his name. With his love and responsibility for the job of confiscating the house, he gradually became Zhu Youjian's confidant, Liu Chao, the governor of the East Factory.
The king of hell has come to Gucheng to confiscate the houses. Is there still one here in Gucheng?
...
"Everyone, our Liu Chao family has come to Gucheng to make decisions for the people according to the decree of Lord Long Live!"
Outside the east gate of Gucheng County, Liu Chao told the officials and Gucheng gentry who came to greet him the reason for his visit!
He is here to make decisions for the people!
"Fang Xiucai!" Liu Chao said with a smile to Fang Yuezong, Fang Yuegong's brother, "Long Live Lord already knows about the tragic death of your old scholar, and is extremely indignant...Long Live Lord said that such a crazy gangster , must be a rebel member!"
A rebellious party member?
What kind of dirty trick is this Long Live Master up to?
The officials and gentry present felt a thump in their hearts!
It was originally a very simple case of a beggar soldier who violated military discipline and committed a crime... The perpetrator Wang's whereabouts are unknown after entering Baozuan Mountain. He is either dead or has escaped. The Gucheng gentry no longer expected to capture him. All they wanted was for all the soldiers to get out.
But no one expected that Zhu Youjian actually sent Liu Chao to Gucheng and brought out a fictitious remnant of thieves. What was he trying to do?
"Mr. Factory..." County Magistrate Li of Gucheng County quickly told Liu Chaodao, "This county has found no trace of the thieves and gang members..."
"But Long Live the Lord said so!" Liu Chao's tone was already serious. "Long Live Lord said that there must be gang members of thieves in Gucheng County!" As he spoke, he turned his attention to a man of seventeen or eighteen years old. On the face of a short, stocky boy with tanned skin and rosy skin, he said, "Mr. Li Qian, you have been in Gucheng for some time. Do you think there are any gang members here?"
This young man’s name is Li Shuangxi. He is a distant nephew of Li Zicheng, the deputy commander-in-chief of the Youth Army. He joined the guard regiment before the establishment of the Youth Army. He studied infantry. He has completed the squadron course and is now leading troops. Woolen cloth!
Not much, Zhu Youjian sent him to Gucheng.
As soon as he comes, of course there will be gang members of thieves here in Gucheng County!
Hearing Liu Chao's question, Li Shuangxi immediately replied loudly: "Yes! There are gang members of the intruders here! There are people in the nearby Laojun Mountain... They were the ones who killed the old scholar!"
Liu Chao nodded: "Since there are gang members of the trespassers, they must be caught! Only by catching them can we avenge the old scholar!
In addition, Long live the Lord also said that intruders like to use free food and interest to deceive people! Therefore, we ask the local government to be careful, and if possible, reduce or exempt some farmers’ rent and interest payments, so that they can take a breather! "
"What? Governor, what did you say?"
"It's not what our family said, but what Long Live Master said? Who of you dares to doubt what Long Live Master said?"
Of course what Zhu Youjian said cannot be false...even if it is false, it can still be made true!
In fact, the current king of Chuang, Gao Yingxiang, has never proposed the idea of free food and interest at all - Gao Yingxiang is now a king who occupies the mountains and is the king. He hides in a mountain in the west of the Qinling Mountains and is free and easy. listen? Who believes him?
But Zhu Youjian still took out this slogan used by Li Zicheng and Li Guo and gave it to Gao Yingxiang.
Its purpose is nothing more than to put pressure on the wealthy families in Xiangyang Mansion and even the entire Huguang.
Now is a critical moment in the game between Huguang and the Ming Dynasty!
The more chips Zhu Youjian holds, the greater his chances of winning!
In his opinion, land rent and usury are the main means for landlords to make profits - if the need to suppress bandits can be used as an excuse to touch these interests, he will not be afraid that the Xiangyang gentry will not go to Xiangyang City crying and asking for help. Tax!
(End of chapter)
