Wang Qiong has had a headache these past two days, and more and more news about the situation in Jiangxi has spread to Zhejiang.
The governor of Zhejiang and Fujian in Fujian has also been asking him to make progress in punishing businessmen for smuggling.
But Jiangxi can just catch a few corrupt officials, while Fujian is busy suppressing bandits. None of them is as difficult as Zhejiang.
In the seventeenth year of Hongzhi, the imperial court launched a corruption case here, but it was a matter of a few leading officials, and the imperial court sent a large army to stabilize the situation.
But this year's situation is different. The so-called fight against smuggling is actually a fight against the gentry. Fighting against the gentry requires strength, but this 'power' itself is the gentry.
On the contrary, Wang Qiong and Wang Hua can be regarded as "official officials" in a sense. They are just greedy for some money. It is easy for the court to catch them.
But it is very difficult to shake the foundation of the gentry.
On the second day of November, I probably heard the news that Jin Yiwei was coming to Jiangxi.
Scholars suddenly began to gather in Hangzhou. They talked loudly on the streets, threatening that there were traitors in the court, and all scholars who had the world in mind must fight resolutely against this.
They move freely in the city and can go wherever they want. Do you think the government will arrest them?
People can find official relatives in their own homes.
The capital commander Tan Wenyi was also quite constrained in Zhejiang, because the guards commanders who were nominally under his leadership were actually vested interests. They occupied large tracts of land, hired tenants, and had unclear relationships with various businessmen.
Some people even get involved in maritime trade themselves.
Several well-known gentry families also have deep reach because they have people in the court and local people also like to have relationships with them.
We usually do not invade each other. You are an official and I am a citizen.
When there is a true conflict of interest, it's yours and mine.
The imperial court was in Zhejiang, and there were just a few floating officials.
Speaking of which, the Li family in Qiantang also produced the number one scholar in the Jiachen family of Chenghua. His name was Li Min, and he once met Zhu Houzhao. In the seventeenth year of Hongzhi's reign, his mother passed away, so Ding You resigned and returned home to honor his mother.
Judging by the time, I will probably be able to return to serve in the imperial court at the end of next year, as long as I am properly recommended.
Although he was not appreciated when he was in the East Palace, it is not a big problem to get a less important position.
Look at Zhejiang, Wang Hua is the number one scholar, Xie Qian is the number one scholar, plus this Li Min, they are all the number one scholars in the Chenghua period. How many subjects did Chenghua have in total?
Therefore, Zhejiang and South Zhili have always been prosperous in culture.
There are tens of thousands of Jinshi, Juren, and scholars besides the number one scholar.
The literati are noble and do not bow to the powerful. What matters most is their literary reputation. That is to say, I do not recognize your official position, but I recognize your academic level.
In addition, the Qiantang Li family itself is a wealthy family.
It is understandable that many people spontaneously want to reunite around Li Min.
Regardless of whether Li Min was happy or not, he had no choice but to accept this job. He has put on his high hat. If he takes it off tomorrow, his reputation will be tarnished and everyone in the scholar community will be ashamed.
The literati could not accept this blow.
You can lose your life, but not your reputation.
This is what literati always talk about, because they have never encountered situations where they were going to lose their lives several times. When you really get to that point, you can just say, "The water is too cold to go in."
When scholars gather together, they talk a lot, and sometimes many of their behaviors are not rational behaviors. Talking about the mob is just a compliment, and they are basically a group of emotional catharsis.
But Wang Qiong has nothing to do about it. If he really sends a few soldiers to arrest people, he will have dug a huge hole, and even the governor's office will be rushed. By then, Zhejiang will be completely in chaos. .
Of course, he still handed over the memorial to the capital in time.
"...Zhongcheng should go find Peng Jiwu."
Wang Qiong walked up and down the main hall with his hands behind his back. Peng Jiwu is also Peng Ze, the inspector of Zhejiang. He is also a typical scholar who always talks about benevolence, justice and morality when he speaks.
"What's the use of looking for him?" Wang Qiong felt that Mei Kejia's method was not good. "Peng Jiwu has the same stupid head as those people. If you ask them to get together, they might become a group and encourage each other. Woolen cloth."
"But I think it is a way, and I have to give it a try." Mei Kejia lowered his brows, and he had a hint of worry, "With the scene like this in Hangzhou, the late emperor might have listened to what they said, but His Majesty Those who don’t even bother to listen.”
Wang Qiong sighed. He wanted to say something, but he changed his words to a rhetorical question: "Are you really so sure?"
"Yes." Mei Kejia nodded, "Your Majesty is determined. The more you resist, the more oppression you will have. That's for sure. Even if it's not something as important as opening the sea. It's just a small matter. If the scholars gather, It is impossible to change the emperor's will by saying some arrogant words and making trouble. Because His Majesty will think that if the trouble is successful once, what about the second time? If the trouble in Zhejiang is successful, what about other provinces?"
Mei Kejia didn't want to see so many people involved in a major case.
His reputation in Zhejiang is also not good.
There are really so many murder cases in Zhejiang, and I don’t know how many people want to blame him for this. After all, the emperor and ordinary people dare not say anything, so they will pick on the people around the emperor.
Even if these are not mentioned, he still hopes that the opening of the sea can be simpler and smoother in Zhejiang.
Don't make the emperor angry.
No one can stand that.
Wang Qiong thought about it carefully, "Then I'll give it a try."
In fact, this matter is also very beneficial to Wang Qiong.
If Peng Ze is not assimilated by this group of people, he can help appease the scholars.
If he is assimilated, then Peng Ze's poor performance will, to a certain extent, make the emperor ignore his poor performance as the governor and chief envoy of Zhejiang.
After all, there is an inspector beside me who is causing trouble, so you can't blame me, right?
In this way, Wang Qiong set off to find Peng Ze.
In the city of Hangzhou, as the Jin Yiwei got closer, the emotions of these people became more and more high. They thought that they wanted to mobilize this energy and let the court and the emperor hear their voices.
What they call a weapon is the pen in their hand.
When Wang Qiong came to Peng Ze, Peng Ze was reading an article.
At about this time, scholars gathered in many places in Hangzhou were also reading this article.
This article is called "Tombstone Notes", which means that you have to mark your own tombstone first.
“A gentleman does not care about himself but is good at authority; he does not take advantage of the situation but seeks benefit; he does not act selfishly but neglects others; he is not suitable for himself but causes others to suffer misfortune.
A man who does not rely on his power but is good at power is wisdom; he who does not take advantage of the situation but seeks benefit is righteousness; he who does not act selfishly but ignores others is ignorant, which is sincerity; he who is not suitable for himself and puts others into trouble is benevolence.
Which of the four is not a gentleman and can do it?
However, it is easy to propose in peacetime, but difficult to deal with in a hurry, it can be done in a contest, but it is out of reach for those who use it calmly!
Today's trip to our society is to serve as the first scholar and to uphold justice. If you are on the execution ground, you will still be in high spirits, chatting and laughing until you die! The severed head is placed on the city, and the color does not change slightly! "
The scholar who looked like a scholar read it out in a measured tone in front of the public.
All the officials and scholars around applauded!
"It's really Xiongwen!"
"It's a pity that when your Majesty reads this article, he can't see that we will die to express our will!"
"Hateful! The treacherous ministers in the court tried to lure His Majesty to open the sea. The person leading them is the man named Yang Jiefu!"
These people were smart enough to know that the emperor couldn't say anything, so they took advantage of the people around him.
Anyway, if you look at him or say something to him, Hangzhou City has been in this situation for a few days.
It was so disturbing that people almost forgot about opening the sea.
The other side.
When Wang Qiong heard Peng Ze read it, he immediately felt that something was wrong. What does it mean that "it is easy to propose in peacetime, but difficult to deal with in haste"? Isn’t this just to encourage people to risk their lives and never retreat?
"How audacious! Who dares to write such nonsense? He is trying to disrupt our city of Hangzhou!"
Peng Ze put down the rice paper calmly, "Why should Zhongcheng be angry? Scholars always write impassioned articles, and this "Tombstone Story" is nothing more than that."
"That's all?" Wang Qiong swallowed his anger. He didn't want to argue about this here, and he just wanted to talk about business. "Ji Wu, the current situation in Zhejiang probably depends on you. Apart from you, I I really can’t think of anyone else who can appease these scholars.”
"Appease, how to appease?"
Seeing that his attitude was wrong, Wang Qiong decided to be harsh first, "Ji Wu, you don't think it's right to let them talk about gentlemen and villains like this on the street, do you?"
Peng Ze disagreed, "Why can't we talk about gentlemen and villains? Only by clarifying what is a gentleman and what is a villain can we distinguish between good and evil!"
"Are you really confused or are you pretending to be confused?!" Wang Qiong suddenly shouted loudly, "Think about the north, if Hangzhou continues to cause trouble like this, will nothing happen?"
"Zhongcheng!" Peng Ze refused to let him go. He has never been a timid person. "If I heard you right, you are trying to slander Sheng Gong."
Wang Qiong was confused, "Why are you so fussy? When did I slander Sheng Gong?"
Peng Ze said: "Listen to Zhong Cheng, your Majesty can't spare these scholars in Hangzhou City. But the next generation of your Majesty is a benevolent monarch, and there are all scholars outside who are determined to serve the country. How could there be those things that Zhong Cheng said? You are not slandering What is the Holy Bow?"
Peng Ze is top-notch when it comes to hating him.
Historically, this person's level of struggle was also extremely high.
When Wang Qiong saw him talking like this, he lost his face and pointed at his nose and said: "Peng Jiwu! Today's sage is wise and decisive, and he is by no means a weak king. Think about it for yourself! Such a large number of scholars Gathering together, they read articles like "Tombstone" and made arrogant opinions on national policies. Throughout the ages, which emperor with means could spare them! I slandered the Holy Gong? I think it was you who slandered the Holy Gong! You want to say that His Majesty You will be afraid of these powerless scholars!"
"It doesn't matter what you think of me. But you'd better figure it out, don't end up failing to save yourself and blame the court for taking action!"
When Peng Ze was told this, he was speechless for a moment, because he was also worried, what if it was really what Wang Qiong said? This person doesn't have much morals, but he has a lot of brains.
"So what does Zhongcheng mean?"
"You come forward and advise them all to go home. When you go back, see what the imperial edict says! When the emperor is angry, he will lay down millions of corpses. With the temper of the current emperor, even a hundred thousand troops from Zhejiang will not be afraid, let alone these few of them. ?”
Peng Ze's fists clenched, he didn't know whether to believe it or not. In his opinion, Wang Qiong's words were somewhat sensational. No matter what, the court wouldn't do anything to so many people, right?
