This is Chang Feng's third trip to Beijing on business since he entered the Wei Dynasty.
When he left Beijing for the first time, he caused a disaster in Shandong and saved Zhu Youtang's position.
On his second trip to Beijing, he went to the Oyster Mirror to worship Mazu. During this period, they killed Japanese pirates, massacred gentry, and provoked internal fighting between real and fake Japanese.
God knows what kind of waves he will make when he leaves Beijing for the third time.
Chang Feng left Qianqing Palace and returned to Jinyiwei to discuss with Xu Guangzuo.
Chang Feng said: "The inventory of the sixty-nine counties that have been completed is all full. I guess that many of them have been bribed by local officials."
Fatty Xu agreed: "That's definitely the case. The local officials are very clever at bribing people! They give money and women as soon as they come up."
"There are very few people in this world who are not greedy for money, and there are very few people who are not lustful. Those who are neither greedy for money nor not lustful are simply rare!"
Chang Feng said: "We will go out to the capital for inspection this time without any guard of honor. We will go in plain clothes. We will only bring fifty capable warriors, all with scorpion crossbows."
Fatty Xu said: "Sure! It's inconvenient to patrol in official clothes with great fanfare."
What Fatty Xu was thinking was that it would be inconvenient to visit the local brothels in his spare time with such a high-profile inspection. The famous big prostitute in the capital is not just a rumor. Everywhere you go, you have to check the customs.
The custom shop Tandian has become famous on the Internet.
Chang Feng added: "We have to take Qian Ning and Shi Wenyi with us on this trip."
Chang Feng considered that if there was any internal and external collusion to block the Holy Listening, officials would definitely be killed.
Killing an official will offend a string of disciples and old friends behind the official.
The matter of killing should be left to his substitute Qian Ning.
As for Shi Wenyi. He's so good at serving people. The bosses even gave him the nickname "Big Brother". With him here, he can arrange all the food and accommodation along the way.
Having made up his mind, Chang Feng returned home. He asked Madam Ninth to pack a few changes of clothes for him. Feiyufu and Xiuchundao were put into a rattan box.
Mrs. Ninth was a little reluctant to give up: "How many days will it take for this errand?"
Chang Feng said: "I won't leave Beizhili this time. I will wander around in several prefectures and counties near the capital. I will be back in less than two months."
Madam Ninth said: "Then you have to take care of yourself. Don't leave such a long scar on your chest like last February when I was working in Daguanying."
Chang Feng picked up the Xiuchun knife in the rattan box and wiped the scabbard with a piece of cloth: "Don't worry. This time I went out to deal with the officials, not the Tatar craftsmen. It's a pity for the officials to die. They I don’t have the guts to plot to assassinate an imperial envoy.”
"Besides, there are fifty capable warriors beside me. They are all experts from the 12th Regiment Battalion."
Mrs. Ninth felt a little melancholy: "I have to leave for two months, ugh."
Chang Feng reached into Madam Ninth's ears and mentioned the whispers between husband and concubine: "You are in charge of the family's purchases. Don't you know that eggplants on the market cost twelve cents a pound?"
Mrs. Ninth's small fists hit Chang Feng's chest one after another: "I'll kill you."
For a moment, the atmosphere in the bedroom became ambiguous, and Chang Feng closed the bedroom door.
On the third day of March, Chang Feng led everyone out of Beijing.
They plan to inspect five counties in Baoding Prefecture: Ansu, Dingxing, Xincheng, Rongcheng and Xiongxian.
Everyone came to Xiong County first.
During the Mongolian and Yuan Dynasties, counties were determined based on household registration population. The upper county has more than 6,000 households, the middle county has 2,000 households, and the lower county has less than 2,000 households.
After the founding of the People's Republic of China in Hongwu, counties were determined based on the amount of money and food paid. The one who pays 100,000 shi of grain is the upper county, the 60,000 shi is the middle county, and the 30,000 shi is the lower county.
Xiong County is a lower county with an annual grain payment of 20,000 shi. According to the standards set by Emperor Hongzhi, the official warehouse in the county should have five thousand shi of grain.
Everyone entered Xiongxian County and stayed at the only inn in the county.
The second floor of the inn is the guest rooms, and the first floor is the restaurant.
Chang Feng went downstairs with everyone and tasted Baoding's local specialty donkey meat roasted on fire.
Not long after, several people walked into the inn.
The leader was wearing a robe and had a chain around his waist. The rest of them all carried waist knives. He looks like a local government servant.
Shopkeeper Wang of the inn hurriedly greeted him: "Hey, isn't this Mr. Jia Bantou? It's too late to greet you when you come here. Are you here to eat or not?"
Mr. Jia Bantou looks so good! He has a sharp mouth and monkey cheeks, a crooked nose and slanted eyes, and is as thin as a skeleton. Anyone who saw his appearance would be so frightened that they would have nightmares or be so sick that they could not sleep.
Boss Jia scolded Shopkeeper Wang: "Fart! Are you treating me like a wine bag? Do I have to eat when I come to your inn? Can't I do business?"
Shopkeeper Wang seemed to be very familiar with Bantou Jia. He smiled and said, "If you don't eat, it will be a good relationship. You won't pay me after eating anyway."
Bantou Jia said angrily: "Shopkeeper Wang, don't think that your mother-in-law's second uncle's brother-in-law's brother-in-law is Mr. Wang, and you dare to quarrel with me all day long!"
After speaking, Captain Jia raised his arm like a dry branch: "When I entered the county government office, he was still collecting swill from Xieyan Street!"
Shopkeeper Wang said: "Yes, yes. Who doesn't know you? If you fart, the whole Xiong County will tremble. If you poop, the whole Xiong County will smell the stink."
Jia Bantou said proudly: "That's right!" After a moment, he frowned: "No, why don't they sound like good words to me!"
Chang Feng on the side couldn't help laughing while listening to the conversation between Bantou Jia and Shopkeeper Wang.
Leader Jia said: "Okay! Let's do some business first. We have to prepare food for us. We can eat after we finish our business!"
Shopkeeper Wang muttered in a low voice: "Okay, you're still here to eat. I'll ask the kitchen to prepare food for you."
Boss Jia started working on his errands. The so-called tolerance is actually blackmail.
Xiong County is a poor place where nothing matters. The people are so poor that they wish they could bare their buttocks.
The inn is different. The people who live there are merchants traveling from north to south. Only here can you squeeze out the oil and water.
Leader Jia Ban led several soap slaves to a table of guests.
Boss Jia said: "Hey, isn't this shopkeeper Jiang from Fucheng Butcher Shop? You've made a fortune recently!"
Shopkeeper Jiang knew that he had incurred a disaster, so he stood up quickly and said, "Boss Jia, I still have something to do in my shop. Let's go first."
But Team Leader Jia stopped Shopkeeper Jiang and said, "Don't leave! Someone came to our Zhuang Team to sue you. They said you were selling sick pork!"
Shopkeeper Jiang slapped his chest and shouted, "The conscience of heaven and earth. The pigs I killed were all as alive and kicking as you."
Bantou Jia grabbed Shopkeeper Jiang's hand and said, "You look like you are mine."
After saying that, Bantou Jia took Shopkeeper Jiang's silver slip away.
Shopkeeper Jiang said: "I just made this silver slide."
Captain Jia sneered: "The one I like is mine! Why, do you need to take someone to your shop to check for sick pigs?"
Shopkeeper Jiang thought he was unlucky: "Well, it's yours, isn't it? I'm still waiting to kill the pig in my shop. Goodbye."
After saying that, shopkeeper Jiang left angrily.
Chang Feng frowned. The team leaders and servants in these county government offices are like gods to the common people. They are like crabs in their territory and can move sideways.
Fatty Xu was about to stand up. He whispered: "I'll teach this guy a lesson."
Chang Feng stretched out his hand and held his shoulder: "We came out this time to check and store food, so there is no need to add extraneous matters. There are too many things like this in the world, and we can't handle it."
Chang Feng spared Jia Bantou, but Jia Bantou took the initiative to cause trouble.
He walked up to Chang Feng: "What are you doing?"
Chang Feng replied: "A passing merchant."
Jia Bantou stretched out his hand: "Businessman? Where is Lu Yin?"
According to the "Da Gao", whenever people in the Ming Dynasty were hundreds of miles away from where they lived, they needed road guidance issued by the local government. Similar to a pass.
If there is no way to guide him, the government can punish him with a stick and send him back to his place of origin.
Chang Feng was stunned. Jin Yiwei went out incognito, so how could he find any way to lead the way from Shuntian Mansion?
Chang Feng said: "Forgot it."
Bantou Jia smiled and said: "That's easy to handle! Either you pay a fine of thirty taels of silver, or I take you back to the county government, give you thirty slaps, confiscate your goods, and send you back to your place of origin."
Chang Feng stood up: "The money is on my waist. You can take it yourself."
Jia Bantou smiled sinisterly: "I like how sensible you are."
Jia Bantou reached out and touched something hard on Chang Feng's waist.
That is Chang Feng's waist card.
Captain Jia picked up his badge, looked at it, and cursed: "You dare to trick me? Is such a broken piece of copper worth thirty taels of fined silver?"
Chang Feng couldn't laugh or cry. It seems that this leader is illiterate at all!
Jia Ban raised his hand and gave Chang Feng a big blow.
Chang Feng was stunned by the fan! In the autumn of the 22nd year since Chenghua, he had Wantong give him a good beating in the check-in room, and he has never been slapped again.
Jia Bantou is awesome. He actually gave the famous Jinyiwei Chang Butcher a big fight!
When Qian Ning saw this, he became angry and slapped the table: "Brothers, hit me!"
"Hoola!" More than fifty warriors in civilian clothes stood up and swarmed forward, beating Jia Bantou and others until they cried for their fathers and mothers, and their noses were bruised and their faces were swollen.
After a stick of incense, Chang Feng waved his hand: "That's it! Don't kill anyone. Let them go."
Leader Jia was extremely grateful: "Thank you hero for sparing your life! Brothers, leave quickly!"
Several minions followed Jia Bantou to the door of the inn. Leader Jia suddenly turned around and shouted: "You are in trouble! Just wait for me!"
After shouting, he ran away quickly.
Fatty Xu said angrily: "Mother, Master Chang, why don't you order them to be executed on the spot?"
Chang Feng said: "As the saying goes, little devils are difficult to deal with. There are not even 100,000 but 80,000 of these little devils in the yamen in the world. Have we finished killing them?"
Everyone had just finished eating. Suddenly dozens of police officers, Zaoli and Minzhuang rushed in.
The leader is a county official named Lu. Jia Bantou followed behind him.
Although the officials have no rank, they are in charge of detecting thieves and handling cases in the county. Equivalent to the county-level Fobol director in later generations.
Lu Dianli shouted: "Beating an official is like treason! I want to see who is so bold."
Chang Feng sighed: "Oh. I was originally going to pay a private visit incognito. Well, I can't hide it anymore."
"Hula la", fifty warriors came to guard Chang Feng, and all took out their scorpion crossbows, aiming at the government officials.
Lu Dianli shouted: "Rebellion! Rebellious! How dare you hold a weapon privately!"
Captain Jia saw that the momentum was not right and said, "I will ride a donkey out of the city and find the garrison at the Baihu Station outside the city to quell the rebellion!" After saying this, he began to apply oil on the soles of his feet.
Chang Feng no longer hides his identity. He threw his belt card in Lu Dianli's face.
Lu Dianli was in pain, so he caught the waist badge with his hand and took a look. It didn't matter, he knelt down to Chang Feng with a "pop".
Captain Jia was puzzled: "Master Lu, why did you kneel down for the rebels?"
Lu Dianli cursed: "You are blind, oh no, our dog eyes! These are the best of the Jin Yiwei!"
"Sir, I can't see Taishan! Have mercy on me!"
Bantou Jia can be considered a small leader of the government officials. Although he is illiterate, he has heard of Jin Yiwei's name.
He knelt down and kowtowed: "Ah! My ancestors have mercy on me! My ancestors have mercy on me!"
Chang Feng walked up to Jia Bantou: "You just slapped me. I don't want your life, so I only want you to return this slap. Fatty Xu, slap him! Only once!"
Fatty Xu, a strong man weighing more than 200 kilograms, lifted Jia Bantou up like a chicken. He ordered: "Stand up straight!"
Leader Jia had no choice but to obey orders.
Fatty Xu took a deep breath, gathered enough strength, and slapped Jia Bantou in the face.
The force was so strong that Jiaban's head was turned around three times, and four of his teeth were chipped.
Chang Feng said: "That's it! I'll spare you this time. Take us to the county government office!"
Chang Feng and others entered the Xiongxian County Government Office.
The five Jinyi guards who patrolled and stocked up grain in Xiong County also lived in the county government office.
Together with Cheng Zhixian of Xiong County, they visited Chang Feng.
Chang Feng did not pursue the matter of Lu Dianli and Jia Bantou's collision with him. Ask directly: "How much grain does your Xiong County official warehouse store?"
Cheng Zhixian replied: "Five thousand five hundred stones. It is 10% more than the number set by the imperial decree."
Chang Feng looked at General Qi Pao Zeliang who was kneeling beside Cheng Zhixian.
He saw that Mr. Liang's face was slightly red, as if he had drunk alcohol. I still smell like powder.
He asked: "Liang Hong, have you checked it?"
Mr. Liang Qi replied: "Master Chang, I have verified it. Five thousand five hundred stones, one stone is a lot."
Chang Feng actually had no objection to his subordinate Pao Ze drinking wine from local officials and playing with the women given by local officials.
When he went to the south on errands, he also paid homage to the local officials' wine, sex and filial piety along the way.
This is an official rule. The reception has been the same for thousands of years.
As long as the errand is handled fairly and without favoritism, it will be fine.
Chang Feng said: "Okay! Take me to inspect the official warehouses in your county. Magistrate Cheng, I have something to say first. I know the tricks of official warehouses in various places."
"It's nothing more than substituting old grain for new grain to earn the price difference; adding quicklime to the grain to make it thicker; adding sand to steal the weight."
"If I find out, you will not only lose your official hat, but also your head under the official hat!"
Cheng Zhixian said confidently: "The superior officer can check it as he pleases! Our official warehouse stores a lot of new wheat. If we find a grain of old wheat, a grain of sand, and a rub of lime, take my head!"
Chang Feng said: "Okay! Let's go to Guancang."
One stone made in the Ming Dynasty weighed 166 kilograms. The main product of Xiong County is wheat. A total of more than 900,000 catties of wheat were stored in the official warehouse.
Chang Feng and others walked to a grain store. He ordered someone to bring a sharpened half piece of bamboo and poke it into the sack containing grain.
"Wow, wow, wow", a lot of wheat grains flowed out of the bamboo.
Chang Feng grabbed a handful, looked at it, put a few wheat grains into his mouth and chewed: "Well, it is indeed good new wheat."
Cheng Zhixian said proudly: "The emperor has issued an imperial edict, how dare I neglect it? I will definitely do my best and not dare to make any mistakes."
Chang Feng said: "There is no basis for what you say. Jinyiwei only looks at the facts when handling cases. Come on, check it carefully for me!"
More than fifty warriors, each responsible for three or five grain villages, went around inspecting half of the bamboo.
I checked from noon to evening. Sure enough, as Magistrate Cheng said, they were all full weight of new wheat, and the total difference was only a hundred kilograms.
More than 5,500 stone grains are always eaten by insects and rats. A hundred kilograms of grain difference is nothing.
Chang Feng praised Cheng Zhixian: "You are a conscientious person!"
Cheng Zhixian hurriedly said: "The superior is so complimentary. Tonight, the lower official will be serving wine in the back office to greet the superiors. I wonder if the superior will be able to honor you."
Chang Feng said: "Forget it. When you serve wine, you need a woman to accompany you. We have to be on the road tomorrow, so we can't put all our energy into women."
"We'll spend one night at the inn and set off tomorrow. The wine is free of charge."
Then Chang Feng ordered General Liang Qi: "The inspection of Xiong County is over. You will also set off tomorrow to inspect the remaining counties within your duties."
Mr. Liang raised his hand and said, "Yes, Mr. Chang."
Chang Feng remembered something: "Mr. Cheng, you have a squad leader named Jia who bullies the people and extorts money. How can such a person be used again?"
Cheng Zhixian immediately said: "I will tell him to pack up his bed and get out of here immediately!"
At night, Chang Feng returned to the inn. Everyone tasted the donkey soup.
Fatty Xu said "嘡嘡嘡" and ate a whole basin of food by himself.
Chang Feng said: "I always feel like something is wrong."
Fatty Xu said glibly: "What's wrong? The wheat is of good quality. The quantity is also right. I even stocked up an extra five hundred stones."
Chang Feng said: "It's because Cheng Zhixian's errands were handled flawlessly that I felt something wasn't right. I couldn't tell what was wrong."
Fatty Xu said: "Hey, Mr. Chang, you are too worried, aren't you? There are more than 1,100 county magistrates in the world. You can always pick out a few who are dedicated to their duties."
Chang Feng said: "That's all. Let's go inspect Ansu County tomorrow."
In the next half month, Chang Feng and others inspected Ansu, Dingxing, and Xincheng counties.
Without exception, the food stockpiles are all sufficient. The quality of the wheat is also very good, it is last year's new wheat.
At the end of March, they came to Rongcheng County, the last county they visited on this trip.
Rongcheng County Government.
When the county magistrate saw Chang Feng, he bowed his head and bowed: "Huang Boren, the magistrate of Rongcheng County, is here to pay my respects to the superior minister."
Chang Feng looked at Huang Zhixian. I saw that Huang Zhixian was born with a fat head and big ears. He had three gold slippers and two jade rings on his ten fingers. He doesn't look like an honest official.
Chang Feng suddenly felt that his name was very familiar: "Huang Boren? Why does it sound so familiar? Who are you, Huang Zhongren, who placed third in the Beizhili Provincial Examination last year?"
In ancient times, if a family had several brothers, they would use "Bo, Zhong, Shu, Ji" when naming them, so that the elders and younger ones were in order.
Huang Boren and Huang Zhongren sound like two brothers.
Huang Zhixian replied: "It's because of my superiority. Huang Zhongren is his brother-in-law."
Chang Feng's impression of Huang Zhixian was a little worse. As soon as his younger brother was elected, he talked about getting promoted and making a fortune. Nine times out of ten, the elder brother will be a corrupt official.
Chang Feng sneered: "Oh, let's talk about it, your second brother and I are still the same age. We are close brothers."
Huang Zhixian said quickly: "Don't dare to climb high."
Chang Feng said: "We are here to check on the grain stores in your county."
A trace of panic flashed across Huang Zhixian's fat face: "Huh? The Jin Yiwei from Zhaguancang just left!"
Chang Feng glared at Huang Zhixian: "Why are you panicking? You don't have anything in your heart. Are you afraid that we will check twice? Is it possible that you colluded with the previous group of Jinyiwei who checked the warehouse, paid bribes, and protected you?"
Huang Zhixian said quickly: "Ah, there is no such thing!"
Chang Feng said: "Whether there is or not, we will know after checking the official warehouse!"
Chang Feng has concluded that there must be something fishy about Rongcheng County's food hoarding. Everyone came to the official warehouse in Rongcheng.
Book club group: 178810462
(End of chapter)
