On the streets of Beijing under the clear sky.
As time went on, more and more poor people and scholars gathered around Wu Hongji, and more and more voices questioned and reprimanded him.
"What are you doing?!"
"A bunch of stubborn and unruly people, do they still have any rules?!"
The first person to be angry was not Wu Hongji himself, but his domestic slave Shen Lu.
When Shen Lu was a slave in Wu Hongji's hometown, he always walked sideways in the countryside because of his status as the Wu family's steward and slave. Not to mention the common people had to kowtow to him when they saw him, even the county officials saw him. Everyone had to call him "Uncle Judge", especially after Wu Hongji became a Jinshi official, the magistrates and counties were all very polite to him.
Therefore, at this time of trial, it is the first thing that cannot be accepted. Ordinary scholars and common people stand and question their masters, instead of kneeling down and begging their masters for justice.
"You, a slave who is willing to humble himself, have no right to belittle us!"
"According to the new rites, we are the emperor's pure sons, and we are the foundation for the continuation of the Ming Dynasty. That's why the emperor takes benefiting the people as the basis for governing the country."
"You are a self-deprecating person who has given up your personal dignity. If you have any sense, just shut up, otherwise we will beat you to death, and even the king will not let us pay for your life!"
Li Zhi, who was responsible for organizing this matter, pointed at the review record and reprimanded him.
The review was blocked.
At that time, another student named Zeng Zhan directly questioned the people in the sedan: "Are you Wu Hongji? You have the courage to be an official, but don't you have the courage to come out and face the people?!"
Wu Hongji's face was livid.
But he did not go out. He only shouted from the sedan chair: "You are not qualified to confront me, nor are you qualified to ask my name!"
"Why are you not qualified?"
"If Taizu's "Da Gao" were here, I could tie up this evil official like you and run away!"
Li Zhi shouted at this time.
Zeng Zhan and others echoed: "That's right!"
Wu Hongji's face became even more ugly.
But he still had no intention of going out.
Not long after, Li Zhi shouted on the spot: "Fellow villagers, go and get the "Da Gao". This official is unwilling to answer people's questions and resolve their grievances. He ignores the country and the country and goes to get the "Da Gao", just like him." If you continue to refuse to answer people's questions and address their grievances, you are derelict in your duties, and you should be sent to beat the drum!"
"good!"
"I'll go get it from home right now!"
"I am coming too!"
As a result, many young people quickly responded and ran back.
Wu Hongji's face became even more ugly.
And after a while, many young people came back with "Da Gao".
Li Zhi asked at this time: "Censor, are you going to come out on your own, or do you really want us to drag you out?"
Wu Hongji had no choice but to walk out of the sedan with a sullen face, but he still looked at the soldiers and people with arrogance: "What on earth do you want to ask?! If you have anything to say, can't you submit a petition?!"
"We want to ask directly now."
Li Zhi replied.
Wu Hongji glanced at Li Zhi with burning eyes.
Zeng Zhan asked first at this time: "Are you Wu Chunyang, the censor of Shanxi Province?"
Wu Hongji replied perfunctorily: "Yes."
At this time, a young man in short clothes named Dai Qishu asked: "Then why are you, Wu Chunyang, making trouble for nothing? Why do you want to form a party and disrupt the government?"
"An Xifan and other superiors interceded for the traitor Wu Yuexiu. They were obviously suspected of being traitors to the party, but they were poisoned. When he was poisoned, Zhao Mengbai was present. What was wrong with the Jin Yiwei arresting Zhao Mengbai for questioning?"
"But you say that it is Tishuai who is suppressing you. You are clearly confusing right and wrong and intending to disrupt the government. You want to prevent you, the Jinyi Guards, from asking questions! In this way, you can continue to instigate other people's affairs unscrupulously, and even achieve the goal of re-conquering the state. We ordinary people cannot live a good life!"
Wu Hongji glanced at Dai Qishu disdainfully, then sneered.
"talk!"
Zeng Zhan asked loudly at this time.
When Wu Hongji saw that Zeng Zhan was a student, he sternly rebuked: "You are also a scholar, why do you speak for Jin Yiwei?! Why are you so shameless and formed a party with Jin Yiwei!"
Zeng Zhan spread his hands in astonishment, pretending to be puzzled:
"How can I form a party with Jin Yiwei?"
"I just wanted to ask you, along with the fellow citizens, why you don't distinguish between right and wrong?"
"You are a clique!"
"You're in the Afu Imperial Court Eagle Dog!"
Wu Hongji suddenly raised his finger and pointed at Zeng Zhan and shouted loudly.
After hearing this, Zeng Zhan also lost his composure on the spot and shouted angrily at Wu Hongji:
"You are the one who forms the clique!"
"You clearly formed a party with Zhao Mengbai to disrupt the government, and that's why you are confusing right and wrong here!"
"Yes, you are forming a party and disrupting government!"
"You harbor evil intentions!"
"You are deliberately making trouble because you are with the King of Chu and others. You also want us to have no land or land, and you also want us to sell our sons and daughters!"
"You are not just with the King of Chu and others, you are also with those dog officers of the Qing army!"
"A dog like you deserves to be beaten to death!"
Wu Hongji did not cooperate and even remained arrogant and unkind, which made the crowd even more angry, so much so that the war of words was about to turn into a riot.
Wang Tingshu, the Jinyi guard who was secretly observing from the side, whispered to the Jinyi guards responsible for maintaining order in this area:
"Be prepared to throw paprika and carry barricades to prevent the situation from intensifying and killing people!"
"yes!"
But before the royal guards could take action, Zhao Qing, the patrol censor of the city, led his troops to rush over first and asked loudly:
"What's going on? Are all the people gathered here to rebel?!"
Zhao Qing said loudly: "Kick these people away immediately!"
The soldiers of the Bingma Division were about to take action. At this moment, Li Zhi stood up first and said to Zhao Qing:
"We are all scholars and good families. We are just here to ask Wu Shiyu some political matters. How can it be considered a rebellion? Have we killed people or raised troops?!"
"The scholars are okay, but the common people and the common people can't ask for political advice."
As Zhao Qing spoke, he commanded Zang Bangyan, the commander of the troops and horses, in a deep voice:
"There is no need to beat them away. All the scholars will be arrested and all the unruly people will be suppressed and executed!"
The soldiers and civilians couldn't help but panic.
Wu Hongji was overjoyed at this time and echoed: "You have done a good job, how can you keep the unruly people? If you keep them, they will only mess up the etiquette!"
"slow!"
At this time, the Imperial Academy, who had been watching the excitement in a bookstore here, stood up and shouted.
When Zhao Qing saw Zhang Wei appeared, he hurriedly dismounted, bowed and asked:
"What do you think the public has to say?"
"The common people are also your majesty's innocent son, how can you kill them without permission?"
"What's more, they did not break the law. This move is against the new etiquette!"
"Furthermore, although the Duke is the censor of the city, he only has the power to arrest thieves and rape. He does not have the power to kill others beyond the scope of the law."
"Doing this openly will only lead to the reputation of being a cruel official, and may even lead to severe punishment."
Zhang Wei said.
Zhao Qing turned back to look at these scholars and civilians, pondered for a long time, and suddenly said:
"No! I would rather bear the reputation of being a cruel official, or even be punished for violating the new etiquette, than let these common men question officials and argue about state affairs!"
"In short, unless I die, ordinary people can't discuss politics beyond etiquette!"
After Zhao Qing said this, he sternly ordered Zang Bangyan, the commander of the troops and horses:
"Kill these unruly people for me, and leave no one alive! If you are guilty, I will bear the responsibility alone!"
After hearing this, Zang Bangyan drew his sword, and all the soldiers under his command drew their swords and walked towards the soldiers and people.
The people became more and more frightened.
Wu Hongji, on the other hand, slightly raised his lips and then raised his hand towards Zhao Qing:
"Mr. Zhao's righteousness and risking his life to defend Li are so admirable to me!"
(End of chapter)
