The fire outside the city was several feet high. As soon as the police patrolling in the county discovered it, they reported it to the county magistrate overnight.
Zhu Jiuchang, who had just finished farming with his concubine, came to the main hall of the back office with a look of displeasure.
Several prominent figures in the yamen were waiting in the main hall. When they saw Zhu Jiuchang, they all stood up and saluted.
"All sit down, all sit down." Zhu Jiuchang yawned, sat down on the Grand Master's chair in the middle, and said, "What are you doing here so late?"
The officer brought a cup of hot tea and placed it on the table beside Zhu Jiuchang.
Master Qian, who was standing aside, said, "Sir, there is a fire burning in the direction of Shuitai Village, ten miles away from the county town. I'm afraid it's because of bandits."
"Aren't there soldiers and horses from the Tiancheng Guard stationed ten miles away? Are they all blind, allowing the bandits to kill people and set fires in front of their eyes?" Zhu Jiuchang frowned.
No one answered the call in the main hall for a while.
After a long time, the head of the household department in charge of the county's money and food said, "I'm afraid Shuitai Village was attacked by soldiers and bandits."
"What!"
When Zhu Jiuchang heard the word soldier and bandit, he was so shocked that he couldn't even hold on to the tea cup in his hand. He dropped it to the ground and lost all sleep.
He knew who these soldiers and bandits were without even thinking about it. Except for the officers and soldiers sent by Tianchengwei who were stationed in the county town, there were no other officers and soldiers in the county.
"Come here, come and tidy up this place." Mr. Qian called a servant to clean up the broken tea cups, and asked someone to replace them with a new one.
Zhu Jiuchang did not touch the new tea that the officer had replaced, but said nervously: "He, they won't come to attack the county, right?"
During the day, he had just kicked a member of the Tianchengwei family out of the county government office. At night, there was looting and looting. At this time, he became frightened.
They were worried that the army outside the city would attack the county seat.
Master Qian comforted him and said, "Sir, don't worry. The city gate has been closed for a long time. The more than a thousand people outside the city don't even have siege equipment. They would attack the county town only if they are crazy."
"The city gate is closed, just close it." Zhu Jiuchang said with a slight trembling, "Notify the people outside the city that they must not open the city gate until they leave."
The Dianshi of Yangyuan County said: "Don't worry, sir. The officers on duty have already arranged to go up to the city wall. Tomorrow morning, the officials will recruit young men to go up to the city wall to defend the city."
"That's good, that's good." Zhu Jiuchang felt much more at ease.
The head of the Household Department on the side secretly winked at Mr. Qian.
Mr. Qian nodded slightly towards the head of the household department and said, "Before you came, my lord, the students had a discussion with several heads. The heads and students all believed that the officers and soldiers outside the city were unable to catch the bandits. He wanted to use the heads of common people as the heads of bandits."
As soon as he said this, Zhu Jiuchang naturally understood what it meant, and immediately said angrily: "These Qiu Ba are so brave, they dare to kill good people and take credit for their crimes. I will definitely join them to avenge the justice of those innocent people."
"Sir, you must not do this!" Mr. Qian hurriedly stopped him.
"I am a top-ranking Jinshi and the magistrate of Yangyuan County, why can't I join him as a military general from a border town?" Zhu Jiuchang glared at Master Qian with dissatisfaction in his tone, as if he was going to take advantage of everything in front of him without giving a reasonable explanation. Master Qian performed the surgery.
Master Qian saw that Zhu Jiuchang was really angry, so he had no choice but to bite the bullet and said, "Sir, let the students talk to you privately about this matter."
Zhu Jiuchang frowned, showing dissatisfaction.
The county magistrate Liu Shui was a tough boss, and the bosses sitting below him were all personal figures. They all stood up and said goodbye.
When only Zhu Jiuchang and Master Qian were left in the hall, Zhu Jiuchang picked up the teacup and said, "Everyone has left, let's talk now!"
"Yes." Master Qian looked around and then whispered, "Sir, Li Kaiyang is not allowed to participate."
Bang... Zhu Jiuchang placed the tea cup heavily on the table, and the tea splashed out all over the table.
"Why can't you participate? Or you accepted his benefits behind my back."
"Sir, please calm down." Master Qian said cautiously, "Sir, you have not been in our Yangyuan County for a long time, and many things are still unclear..."
Before he finished speaking, Zhu Jiuchang slapped the table and said angrily: "Isn't there Li Guangyi behind Li Kaiyang? Isn't it possible that I am afraid of them? A deputy envoy of Shaanxi Bingbei Dao has enough hands." Not here."
"Sir, please calm down and listen to the student." Master Qian picked up the teacup on the table and handed it over.
Zhu Jiuchang pushed the tea cup away and said, "No need to persuade him. I must join Li Kaiyang and turn his troops into bandits to plunder the place."
Master Qian put down his tea cup and said: "Sir, it doesn't matter if you are not afraid of Li Guangyi, but what if Li Kaiyang is backed by the Donglin Party?"
"Donglin Party?" Zhu Jiuchang frowned and said, "Isn't Li Guangyi a member of the Jin Party? When did he become a member of the Donglin Party?"
The Jin Party has gradually declined since the death of Zhang Siwei. Zhu Jiuchang is naturally not afraid of it, but the Donglin Party is a newly rising party in the imperial court. The forces behind it are complicated and complex, and he, a small border town magistrate, cannot provoke them.
Master Qian said: "You don't know, Li Guangyi was a Jinshi in the 23rd year of Wanli. In the same year as him, Liu Yuanzhen was a Jinshi. This person is one of the core members of the Donglin Party."
Zhu Jiuchang frowned, "You mean Li Guangyi defected to the Donglin Party?"
The Donglin Party is no longer the Donglin Academy it was when Gu Xiancheng founded it. Now it has considerable strength in the court. With the decline of the Jin Party and other parties, anyone with a discerning eye can see the rise of the Donglin Party.
Master Qian said: "Students are not too sure about the Donglin Party. However, the position of the deputy general of Datong has been pending for more than half a year. I heard that every time the candidate was selected, he was impeached by the censor who was from the Donglin Party. Later, the Li family made a fortune. Only then did I know that the position of the Deputy Commander-in-Chief was being targeted by the Li family, and it is only because you have just arrived in our Yangyuan County that you don’t know these things."
Hearing this, Zhu Jiuchang frowned even more.
At this time, Master Qian said again: "Li Kaiyang wants to kill people and make military achievements. Let's pretend that we can't see him. He is just killing some ordinary people. The Li family will not really come to attack the county, so my lord, you are as safe as a mountain in the city."
Zhu Jiuchang tapped his fingers on the desk a few times and asked: "So many people have died outside the city and it is impossible to hide it. How can I explain to the superior?"
Master Qian said with a smile: "This is even simpler. A group of bandits have come to our county. This matter can be blamed on the bandits, and several principals will help hide the matter. .”
Zhu Jiuchang said in an unclear tone: "So you and the principals have already discussed the matter?"
The smile on Master Qian's face paused, and then he nodded slightly.
"Then why do you call me here?" Zhu Jiuchang slammed the table, "Do you really think of me as a parent?"
Master Qian was startled, and he hurriedly bowed his waist and apologized: "Sir, please calm down. In fact, this matter is also good for you."
"What good can I do! I just push it out and sell it to the Li family." Zhu Jiuchang snorted coldly.
Master Qian hurriedly said: "Don't worry, sir. With the looting and the last letter from Li Kaiyang, you can definitely send him a letter and question him about the affairs of Yangyuan County. I believe that the Li family will definitely make some compensation to you." , maybe you can take this opportunity to build a relationship with the Donglin Party, and hope to go to Jiangnan to serve as a county magistrate or prefect in the future."
After speaking, he carefully looked at Zhu Jiuchang who was sitting on the Taishi chair.
Zhu Jiuchang was speechless, with a thoughtful look on his face, and his fingers kept twirling.
Seeing Zhu Jiuchang's slightest move, Mr. Qian continued: "Not only are we poor here in the border town, we also have to be prepared for the Tatars from the north to enter the border. Their lives are in danger at any time. It will be different if we go to the south of the Yangtze River to be an official. Every day Recite poems correctly, and the money will go into your pocket."
When Zhu Jiuchang heard these words, he made up his mind after hesitating at first.
"You write the letter to Li Kaiyang. I am tired and have to go to the back hall to rest." Zhu Jiuchang stood up and walked out of the hall.
"Student, please send me your best regards." Mr. Qian bowed and saluted Zhu Jiuchang's back.
