This time Su Qi'an left the state city and went to the nine local counties not secretly, and it was impossible to do so secretly.
During a trip to Yanglai County, a Danyang County Sheriff and several big fish were found by the state captain. If there were no problems in the other eight counties, this ghost would not believe it.
I probably know it well, so there is no need to be secretive. It is better to be honest and meet the governors of the eight local counties to discuss the issue of preparing food and grass.
Along the way, Su Qi'an's trip was informed by informants and eight local county guards. Su Qi'an did not bring many people with him on this trip. He only brought one-tenth of the direct team, which was about a hundred people.
This group of people seemed a bit underwhelming, but Su Qi'an was very calm. With his status, whenever something happened in the eight local counties, the first person to be held accountable would be the senior officials of Dongzhou.
Even though there were only a few people around Su Qi'an, upon learning of his trip, Zhou Zibin, Feng Nan and other senior officials arranged for manpower to protect him secretly in advance, and notified the eight county guards.
Although no one had arrived, the eight county guards were all frightened. They sent state soldiers from each county to repeatedly patrol the road that Su Qi'an must pass and beat down the bandits on the mountaintops.
If anyone shows up at this time, without warning, troops will be dispatched to exterminate them without mercy. Su Qi'an's trip made the eight local counties lively again. Under this situation, the local security became somewhat better.
The eight county governors are all in their own mansions, waiting for the latest news and wondering where Su Qi'an's first stop will be.
During this trip, Su Qi'an's team was aboveboard, but they did not inform the local authorities of their itinerary. This was what made them most anxious.
The supervisors at Caishikou in Zhoucheng had received the news a long time ago. As soon as they took office, they used the Shen family and the governor of Dongzhou to establish their power, without giving the two big shots any face.
Crazy enough, cruel enough. This is what the eight county guards said about Su Qi'an. They were very afraid of this reception and whether the inspector would attack them. They were just small county guards. If they were really offended, no one could protect them.
After being reminded by Zhou Zibin, the eight county governors launched county-wide self-examinations within their respective jurisdictions and actively cooperated with the officials sent by the state government in the review.
Anyone found to have violated the law, no matter who they are, will be dealt with severely and will not be tolerated. Under this trend, the lifeless Houjiu County began to stir.
Before Su Qi'an arrived in Houjiu County, a large number of corrupt officials and merchants were arrested. Under the scrutiny of officials sent by the state government, they all received the punishment they deserved.
This move somewhat favored the local people. As the review was in full swing, news spread about the first stop of Su Qi'an's inspection.
The first stop he went to was not any of the other eight counties, but Lu Wenliang's Danyang County, which he captured. This news somewhat surprised the other eight county governors. Lu Wenliang was the first to be captured, and Danyang County was the first county that state officials focused on reviewing.
Earlier than the other eight counties, under Zhou Zibin's personal order, Danyang County discovered many corrupt officials, and at least half of the officials in the entire county were replaced.
It stands to reason that a county that has been under scrutiny like this is the most reassuring, but Su Qi'an's first stop is still here.
Not only that, when Su Qi'an arrived at Danyang County, he also sent a message to the other eight county guards, asking them to arrive at Danyang County as quickly as possible. The supervisor had something to summon them.
As soon as this order came out, the eight county guards did not dare to delay and came towards Danyang County one after another. At this time, in Danyang County, because the county guard was under investigation, no new county guard has been appointed. Therefore, the affairs of Danyang County are currently jointly managed by the county magistrate and the county lieutenant.
The Danyang County Magistrate and the County Lieutenant were in a very nervous mood right now. They never expected that the supervisory envoy would suddenly visit Danyang County.
This news really shocked the two of them, and they quickly ran out of the city and led other officials to greet them. Su Qian sat in the carriage without getting out of the carriage. He nodded slightly and motioned for the two officials to get on his carriage and accompany him into Danyang County.
Su Qi'an's carriage was relatively large, more than enough to accommodate four or five people. Although it was spacious, the two county officials were trembling and nervous.
The two looked at each other, and just as they were about to introduce something, they were interrupted by Su Qian's faint words.
"You two don't need to be so nervous. This envoy came to Danyang County not to cause trouble for you, but to stay temporarily and see the effect of your improvements during this period." Su Qian said lightly, but the two county officials But he didn't look relaxed at all, he nodded repeatedly.
Su Qi'an didn't pay attention to the tension between the two people. He turned his eyes and looked at the street outside the car. After the renovation, the environment of the county could be seen to some extent improved, but Su Qi'an didn't care about this improvement and didn't even think about it. These were just superficial efforts because of his arrival.
What he saw was exactly what the local officials wanted to see. This kind of superficiality has been practiced in all dynasties. Even if Su Qi'an wanted to change it, there was nothing he could do.
Anyway, he had already sent people to investigate before. It will not be long before the real situation in some places will be passed to him.
This trip to the nine local counties was not just for review, but to take the opportunity to have a good chat with these eight experienced county guards.
Su Qi'an's motorcade arrived at Danyang County Mansion quite smoothly. Everyone got off the carriage. Danyang County Magistrate wanted to arrange to entertain Su Qi'an and his party to rest, but he refused.
Su Qi'an took people directly to the county court and sat calmly in the court, drinking tea and waiting.
When the two county officials saw this, they could not stop him with words. They smiled and nodded, then turned and left. As time passed by, Su Qi'an, Xie Cang, Fang Jingzhi and others sat in the courtroom for half a day.
The two county officials outside were pacing back and forth, looking outside from time to time. When Su Qi'an came towards Danyang County, the two county officials had already greeted the other eight county guards.
Sure enough, the result was as they thought. Not only did Su Qi'an come to Danyang County, he also sent an order to summon eight county guards.
Moreover, they had been waiting silently in the courtroom for half a day. The more this happened, the more chilling the two county officials felt.
Such people are the most calm and terrifying. No one knows what they are thinking. Just as the two county officials kept pacing, suddenly, there was a rush of footsteps outside the door. The two looked and saw eight county officials walking towards them in a hurry, almost in front and back.
He simply said hello to the two local county officials, straightened his official robes, and then said respectfully.
"I'll wait to see the inspector!"
"Well, everyone, come in." Su Qian's voice sounded softly in the courtroom. The eight county officials nodded and walked into the court one after another. The two county officials outside the door wanted to leave, but Su Qi'an's voice sounded again, signaling for them to come in together.
The two county officials looked at each other. Logically speaking, they were not qualified to attend a meeting of this level, but Su Qi'an called his name, so the two naturally couldn't refuse and walked in slowly.
When the two entered the court, the eight county guards in the court were seated on both sides. Su Qi'an and Xie Cang were sitting above them. Although they did not speak, they exuded a strong sense of majesty.
The two county officials stood by silently and thoughtfully. At this moment, one of the county officials held his hand and began to speak.
"Inspector, the eight counties in this county have cooperated with the state officials' review during this period. Fifty-two judges and officials have been found to be corrupt, eight at the county level, and thirty-five at the county level. The rest are all township officials. What's more, Please ask the supervisor to check it." With this county guard taking the lead, the other seven county guards all spoke up one after another and submitted the results of each county's self-examination.
As if they had been prepared for it, the eight county guards submitted the documents. Su Qi'an nodded slightly, and Master Liu and Fang Jingzhi beside him put them away and put them aside.
Su Qian looked around and said calmly,
"The envoy summoned you today not to listen to your report on the situation. I think all the county guards know this."
"People in the Ming Dynasty don't tell secrets. The main purpose of my envoy's visit is to collect and borrow grain and grass from the eight county guards. Each county will provide 10,000 dan of front-line grain and grass. The deadline is one month. Can the county guards do it?" Su Qi'an said straightforwardly. , which surprised the eight county guards. They knew the purpose of Su Qi'an's trip, but they didn't expect that the inspector would go straight to the point without saying anything.
This makes people feel a little unhappy, but if it were anyone else, the eight county guards would never pay attention to it.
But this was the inspector after all, and he still had to give an explanation. After a short silence, one of the county guards spoke.
"My Lord Inspector, the war on the frontline is tense and we need food and grass. Logically speaking, we should fully cooperate. However, your Lord Inspector does not know. Four months ago, we have provided tens of thousands of stones and grain and grass to the front line."
"Now that the war is on the front line again, even if there are grain storage warehouses in the rear, they are not built like this. Please supervise the Lord to understand the difficulties in the rear. It is indeed difficult to raise these 80,000 stones of grain and grass."
"Yes, Mr. Inspector, it's not that the subordinate officials are uncooperative, but there are also difficulties in the rear. The last provision has already caused many people to cut back on their clothing and diet. Now, in less than half a year, if tens of thousands of stones are provided, I'm afraid it will If it causes a riot, I ask the supervisor to think twice." Within a moment, the eight county guards all spoke like this one after another, describing the difficulties of the eight counties.
Su Qi'an was not surprised by this move. He was silent for a while, nodded slightly, and said softly.
"Well, I know your difficulties and can understand you, but if the front line is not secured, the rear will be unstable. I think all the county guards know this."
"This time we are collecting food and grass, I don't want to oppress you. However, the war on the front line is tense. You must show your sincerity no matter what. If you are so evasive, then the envoy can only..." Su Qian's tone was calm, half of the words were said, and then he said nothing. , but his attitude could be felt by the eight county guards present.
After a period of silence, finally, a county guard spoke up,
"The supervisory envoy is right. Everything is in the overall situation. In this case, Luyue County will provide five thousand stones of food and grass to support the frontline war."
