Because of the heavy rain today, Peng Shao did not go out to work. Instead, he stayed in the Fuzhong study to review the reports of his subordinates on the inspection of salt fields in various places in the past few days.
Peng Shao found that this matter was not as simple as he thought. Compared with Li Si who easily handled the salt law in Huaihe and Huaihe, Zhejiang was a little more complicated. The official atmosphere here is bad. Officials in various ministries seek public benefits for personal gain, officials protect each other, and corruption is serious. Moreover, there is a lot of salt in Zhejiang, but the money earned is not proportional to it. Just as Peng Shao frowned and thought hard about countermeasures.
"Suddenly, Peng Shao's personal entourage hurried in and shouted: "The master is not good, something big has happened. "
"What's wrong? Speak slowly."
The personal attendant took a breath and said: "There is a rebellion. The governor's office is surrounded by thousands of people."
Peng Shao was shocked when he heard this: "Do Governor He and the others know?"
"I don't know, but the governor's office has arrested a group of people. Now those people are unwilling to leave. They are kneeling outside waiting for Governor He to come out!"
Peng Shao said angrily: "Nonsense, can this be called a rebellion? Get me a car quickly and go see what's going on."
…
Outside the governor's office, captains Liu Fu and Li Yuan escorted He Maoxun and others. Next door is the Yamen Daping, crowded with people. Facing thousands of people, neither the horse nor the sedan chair could enter and could only stop where they were.
He Maoxun, Lu Kun, and Zhang Wenzhao got out of the car, and everyone looked at the government office that they couldn't get into.
The military attaché guarding Governor Fu Yamen looked at He Maoxun and others from a distance, filled with expectations. He was waiting for He Maoxun's order to arrest and severely punish these "troublesome people".
Li Yuan pointed to the people kneeling in the distance and said dissatisfiedly: "Supervisor, you see these unruly people are so outrageous, how should we deal with them!"
He Maoxun raised his head and looked at the gloomy sky, silent.
At this time, the chief envoy Lu Kun said angrily: "How to deal with this? Arrest them all, put them in prison, torture them severely, and make them confess the main culprit. Today, I will file a memorial."
Zhang Wenzhao, the inspector on the side, sneered and said, "With so many people, how can we catch them all?"
Lu Kun said: "This is the Governor's Yamen..."
"It can't be demolished. If it is really demolished, we should all be dismissed from our posts and go back to our hometowns. We still have to appease people's hearts. If we appease people's hearts, the people will naturally disperse." Zhang Wenzhao said.
He Maoxun never expressed his opinion. He stood there and watched the governor caressing the eaves of the Yamen before making a sound.
At this moment, another carriage arrived and stopped next to He Maoxun and others. The servant who was driving the horse stopped the carriage, quickly raised the sedan curtain and said softly: "Master, we are here."
He Maoxun came back to his senses and stared blankly at the carriage. Zhang Wenzhao added: "It should be Governor Peng who has arrived."
Peng Shao got off the car, glanced at He Maoxun and said coldly: "What's going on?"
When Lu Kun and Zhang Wenzhao saw that Peng Shao was coming, they said in unison: "I've seen the governor!"
He Maoxun replied: "I just heard about this matter and haven't had time to ask."
Peng Shao didn't say anything and walked straight towards the kneeling people. He Maoxun and others followed behind, but Lu Kun was unwilling to walk and got into the car with a cold face.
The kneeling people saw someone coming, and they looked like they were all high-ranking officials. They cried and complained in unison: "Master, please make the decision for us, there is no way to survive!"
Peng Shao personally helped up a few people and shouted: "Fathers and fellow villagers, why do you do this? What grievances do you have for crying out?"
One of the common people stood up and said: "The grievances are very big and concern the people of the whole province. If I don't have enough official positions, I won't be able to make decisions for us."
Zhang Wenzhao couldn't help but shout: "Don't worry, everyone. The person who is speaking is sent by the imperial court to supervise Zhejiang. He is a very powerful official! If you have any difficulties, just tell them. Governor Peng will definitely make the decision for everyone!"
Another commoner shouted: "In this case, we will tell the truth to the gentlemen. They say that the salt is given by your government to the merchants, but why is the price of salt getting higher and higher? We can hardly afford it. If this continues, how can we still survive!"
After this common man said it, all the common people immediately exploded, saying something to each other. Some people are talking about the price of salt, others are talking about corruption..."
Lu Kun in the distance lifted the curtain and snorted: "It's a waste of time to talk nonsense to these mud-legged people."
After hearing this, Peng Shao waved his hand to the people to be quiet, and continued to shout: "Fathers and fellow villagers, please write down any grievances you have on paper. It's raining heavily today, so you all should go back. Tomorrow morning, I will order someone to carry out a Table, prepare paper. You line up and write them down on the paper one by one. When you come back, I will handle it for you one by one."
He Maoxun, who had been silent at this time, finally shouted: "Please believe in the government, everyone go back first, it will be troublesome if you are hurt by such a heavy rain..."
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Everyone returned to the Governor's Yamen, and there was a "pop" sound. As soon as He Maoxun sat down, Peng Shao, who was sitting opposite him, threw his gauze hat on the desk in front of him: "What is this for? I am from the governor. When we set out for the capital, I was given numerous warnings from the saints, asking me to strictly investigate the areas of Jiangsu and Zhejiang. I have only been here a few days, and this incident happened. If this happened to the capital, He Budang's butt would still be able to sit still. ?"
Everyone looked at He Maoxun, but He Maoxun looked out the door and kept his mouth shut.
At this time, Lu Kun, who had long been impatient, said: "What are you saying, Governor? Can those who commit crimes against the people be blamed on us?"
Peng Shao sneered: "I'm afraid it's not just ordinary people making trouble. I've checked over the past few days and found that the price of salt in Zhejiang has been very high in the past two years. Where did the extra money go?"
He Mao My brother is indeed wrong in what he said. Those who sell salt at high prices are Westerners. If the silk is not delivered in full, I'm afraid it won't be the cabinet that will blame us. The cabinet will not be able to pay the mission. We are not just withdrawing the mission here. It’s easy.”
Peng Shao thought for a moment and based on the evidence he had found so far, He Maoxun was indeed right. The warehouse roll clearly states the year, month and day by whom the purchase was made, the specific quantity and how much was sold.
Suddenly a person's name appeared in Peng Shao's mind, and he asked: "But why is this year's salt quotation given to a military household instead of a merchant? You must have heard the name of this military household, Chen Fu from Jiaxing."
Zhang Wenzhao's heart trembled, and some of the two-foot-long monks were confused. Wasn't Yanyin handed over to Dong Jiazhong in the second half of this year? Why is it that Chen Fu's name is on it? "
He Maoxun said with a smile: "Brother Peng, where did you check this? I'm afraid your investigation is inaccurate. It is clearly written on our paper that it is Dong Jianzhong, a wealthy businessman from the Jiangnan area. How could we contact Chen Fu, a military householder?"
Peng Shao thought for a while and thought that the name on the previous paper was Dong Jianzhong. He paused and said, "In that case, it is better to send someone to take the paper and take a look."
He Maoxun nodded and said that everyone agreed without any doubt.
After a while, several subordinates took out the salt rolls from the warehouse. Zhang Wenzhao opened it and looked at it. He saw that this year's Yanyin acquirer was indeed Chen Fu.
Looking at He Maoxun and Lu Kun with surprised faces, I was also a little confused. Last time, Jingguan Tower had clearly agreed that Dong Jianzhong would be the contractor in the second half of this year, and I witnessed it with my own eyes, but today, how could it be blamed on Chen Fu again? "
Zhang Wenzhao had a good relationship with Chen Fu's father, and he had grown up watching this child since childhood. He clearly knew the consequences of secretly reporting the matter during the time when Peng Shao was investigating the Salt Law. In order to further confirm, Zhang Wenzhao admonished: "It is better to call the official who recorded the records and ask what is going on."
Peng Shao interrupted Zhang Wenzhao and said: "I have already asked. The official who recorded the file was bribed by Chen Fu and secretly changed the name on the file to him. Now he is in my custody!"
He Maoxun suddenly said angrily: "The traitor mistook me, come here, arrest Chen Fu and bring him to justice.
When Peng Shao saw He Maoxun like this, he wondered: "Is it true that He Maoxun has nothing to do with Chen Fu?"
He Mao Just scold me if you want, but the people in Zhejiang are wealthier than those in other provinces, and the price of our salt is only within their ability to accept. But after these things happened today, the people's emotions cannot but be appeased, but If hundreds of thousands of anti-people rebels are committed in Zhejiang because of these things, I’m afraid it won’t be my head that can take the blame!”
At this point, everyone fell silent. Peng Shao's mood was a little complicated. According to He Maoxun's meaning, he was a little unreasonable and made random definitions.
He Maoxun shouted again: "Li Yuan goes and delivers the governor's order to release all the arrested people. You can do it yourself!"
Lu Kun stood up and wanted to say something.
He Maoxun waved his hand and shouted angrily: "Why are you still standing there? Why don't you go quickly!"
…
At this time, the Chen Fu Dongchuang case occurred, but he did not know that He Maoxun betrayed him. From beginning to end, he was He Maoxun's scapegoat. As for the official who recorded Yan Yin, he was just He Maoxun's person.
"Master Chen, what should we do now? The government has sent people to arrest us." said the maritime merchant who called Chen Fu yesterday.
Chen Fu said in a deep voice: "Do you want to be a prisoner for the rest of your life and possibly lose your head, or do you want to continue with me?"
The maritime merchant said without hesitation: "Do you still need to ask? My parents have died early since I was a child. I have nothing to worry about. I have already given up my life! Of course, I will continue to work with you. Mr. Chen, what do you think?"
Chen Fu said harshly: "Nowadays, there are many pirates, and we should also become pirates. This place is not far from the sea port. How many brothers do you have who are willing to obey?"
The maritime merchant thought for a while and replied: "There are probably seven or eight brothers. I still have some silver here. If we all take it, it will be enough for the rest of our lives!"
At this time, the fat businessman heard that Chen Fu was going to continue to be a pirate, and cried: "Let's turn around, don't continue to do it! Now surrender to the government, explain the situation, and say that He Maoxun asked us to do it, maybe we It can also be dealt with lightly.”
Chen Fu turned back and glared at the fat businessman fiercely and said: "I didn't listen to the boss at the beginning and insisted on guaranteeing the goods. What does this have to do with the boss? But you, a fat man, are the one who spoils me!"
Before the fat businessman came to his senses, Chen Fu had already chopped off the fat businessman's head with a knife. He held up his bloody head and laughed. That smile was so hideous and terrifying...
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