In ancient times, news spread slowly, but no matter how slow it was, what happened in Shandong in the spring would have reached Jiangnan.
The land of fish and rice in the south of the Yangtze River. Since the early years of Zhengde, the imperial court has repeatedly allocated funds for river repairs, and rural water conservancy has been improved. Now that the harvest is good, anyone who sees the golden rice will be a little more happy.
On this large piece of flat land, there is a long official road, lined with green trees. There are flying horses galloping in the middle, and several people dressed in Tsing Yi hurriedly entered the capital of Suzhou.
"Please send a message that the second son of the Zhuo family in Jinan Prefecture wants to see Uncle Liu."
There were three young men standing outside the steps. Their master was knocking on the red door, looking very anxious.
"Master Zhuo, wait a moment."
The second son of the Zhuo family, named Zhuo Ding, looks like he is in his early twenties. Naturally, there is a reason why he is so anxious.
Soon after, the Zhumen opened again, and the people inside said: "Master Zhuo, please come in quickly."
There is a change in the Zhuo family of Jinan Prefecture. This is not a big deal and will not cause trouble to the whole world.
Liu Tong thought it was a normal visit. Although he thought it was strange to visit suddenly at this time, he didn't think too much until he saw the anxious look on his nephew's face. When he saw him, he knelt down and said, "Uncle! Help!"
"What's going on? Get up quickly." Liu Tong's heart tightened upon hearing this, "What happened?"
Zhuo Ding immediately said: "My nephew was traveling abroad this time. When he arrived in Yangzhou, he suddenly heard that my parents and the whole family were arrested by the government. Their lives are still uncertain! My nephew didn't want to trouble my uncle, but so Something terrible happened that destroyed the family suddenly, and my nephew was in chaos. I asked my uncle to come to my aid because of the friendship he had with my father in the past!"
Liu Tong was also shocked. He was indeed old friends with Zhuo Yiduan. The two had met through painting when they were young. However, they later became friends and spent a lot of time together enjoying painting.
After people reach middle age, they each return home to inherit the family business. The children are now this big.
"Child, please calm down first and speak clearly. What happened?"
Liu Tong helped him sit down, and then drove all the servants out of the room, leaving only the two of them talking secretly in the room.
It was already evening, and the room was dark, with only a flickering candle glowing.
Zhuo Ding cried and said: "Because my nephew is not at home, the specific situation is unknown. At that time, no one in my family of more than a hundred escaped. It was a friend from the same county who sent a message saying that it was related to Qingtian, Shandong!"
"Qingtian?" Liu Tong immediately thought, "Is it the order of Qingtian under the imperial court?"
"Yes. Last year, Yang Ge, the cabinet minister, went all the way to Xinjiang, and Mr. Xiao Wangge died suddenly of a sudden illness. The situation in the cabinet changed suddenly. The reputation of Mr. Dawangge's talent was expected by the world, but as the emperor's teacher, he failed to dissuade the emperor. . After the new cabinet elder Zhang Cong entered the cabinet, he used new strategies to win the emperor's trust. He must have secretly planned the Qingtian Order in the world, hoping to gain promotion and gain both fame and fortune.
At the end of last year, the imperial court issued an order to clear land all over the world. My uncle must also be aware of it. However, as the new year is approaching, the imperial court has issued orders but failed to implement them. I thought it was an anxious struggle in the court with no results. Unexpectedly, after the Chinese New Year, Zhang Cong suddenly arrived in Shandong. He actually chose Shandong to try out this order!
During this period, hundreds of so-called surveyors were sent to force officials and gentry from all over the country to clear their land. Their methods were ruthless and ruthless. They also negotiated peace with the Jin Yiwei and the eunuchs guarding Shandong. Anyone who acted slightly differently from the governor of Shandong would be treated as minor. Exile, or even death. At this time, evil spirits were rampant in Shandong, and my father was inexplicably accused of murdering a surveyor!
My uncle should know that although my father has a bad temper, he acts steadily and never takes any risks. How could he do something like sending someone to assassinate him? This is a crime you want to inflict, so why bother! "
Speaking of the emotional part, Zhuo Ding felt heartbroken, fearful, and full of powerlessness, "Uncle! The Zhuo family has been in Jinan for four generations, and its centuries-old fame can only happen in a blink of an eye!"
After saying this, Liu Tong's fingers trembled slightly, "The imperial court...the imperial court is really going to implement the order to clear the land?!"
At this time Zhuo Dingran insisted, "Yes! Shandong is just a trial. In two months at most, Zhang Cong will go to Jiangnan. I heard along the way that this spring, he trained thousands of surveyors in the capital. This is by no means just for Shandong. prepare."
"Then...then..." Liu Tongxin was also a little confused, but as an elder, he didn't want to be seen that he had considered his wealth and life in his heart, so he still forced himself to pretend, "What about your father and the others?"
Zhuo Ding shook his head, "I don't know whether he is alive or dead! Zhang Cong...he is the elder. My nephew knows that his uncle is powerless, but the Liu family has some connections in the government. Besides, when the Tianxia Tianqing Order comes to Jiangnan, every family must be opposed. Uncle...uncle But we can secretly communicate with each other and mobilize officials from all over the country to expose Zhang Cong's rebellious behavior to the emperor. With the removal of this thief, not only the disasters of the Zhuo family can be eliminated, but also the disasters of the Liu family and the Jiangnan family can be eliminated!"
If this is the case, it is not difficult to unite several officials to go up.
But that's Elder Ge... What are they talking about? How can they compete with Elder Ge? The second son of the Zhuo family has had too many good times and does not know the dangers of the world.
But when I thought about it again, I felt pity in my heart. Seeing that he spoke clearly and clearly, it must be not that he didn't understand, but that he couldn't help it.
Alas, it was also a pain for him.
"Nephew of the Zhuo family, if your family caused this trouble, the government will definitely want you if they find out about it, so don't go out during this period. Just find a secluded courtyard to stay here. As for rescuing people, we have to Think about it in the long term. As you said, since Zhang Cong wants to go to Jiangnan, it is not a matter between the Zhuo and Liu families, and there may be no chance at that time."
Zhuo Ding was anxious, maybe there would be a chance? Isn’t that just waiting?
The Liu family could afford to wait, but he couldn't afford to wait. His relatives were still suffering in prison! Some of those who were exiled may be on the road!
"Uncle!" Zhuo Ding still didn't want to give up, but he couldn't say too much because he was living under someone else's roof. "My nephew hopes that his uncle will see the situation clearly as soon as possible. That Zhang Cong has human skin and an animal heart. If he doesn't get rid of it, the world will be in trouble! "
"I know, you can rest for now. This is a big deal for you. I have to find someone to discuss it. Don't worry."
After walking out of the door, Liu Tong's body could not help but sway like willow branches in the wind. Fortunately, he held on to the wooden pillars in the corridor to prevent him from falling.
If Jiangnan also wants to clear the land and measure it, it will be a big mistake. If he surrenders with both hands, he will definitely lose half of his family wealth, and the Liu family's status here will plummet. If he doesn't surrender... the other party is the elder of the pavilion! !
Logically speaking, if you throw away some yellow and white things and save your life anyway, you can still get through this kind of thing.
However, things in the world, especially people's hearts, are complicated. Once his status is not as good as before, it is just normal for him to receive a few looks. If the people in the government no longer treat him a little bit thinly, will he have a good ending? !
This matter must be clarified.
Suzhou Prefecture, magistrate's office.
Liu Tong couldn't get in by himself, but he could still go with the other two families and follow the Zheng family who had a third-grade official.
He thought he was well-informed, but he didn't expect that many officials and gentry in Suzhou knew about this matter.
If the imperial court really wants to clear the fields in the south of the Yangtze River, it will go all the way through the chief envoy, prefect, and county magistrate. Who else can it turn to if not the prefect?
Moreover, the current Suzhou magistrate's surname is Min and his given name is Yiqin. He is the eldest grandson of the late Minister of Punishment Min Gui.
Min Gui had been appointed Minister of the Ministry of Punishment during the Hongzhi period. He died of illness in the sixth year of Zhengde. For more than ten years, he had been a minister whom the emperor relied on.
Furthermore, Min Gui enforced the law and was lenient. Not only did he have a reputation as a virtuous man, but he was also deeply trusted by the emperor and was given the title of Taibao after his death. As his grandson, when Min Yiqin went to the capital, not to mention being a minister, he could even enter the residences of Wang Hao and Yang Tinghe.
"...Recently, I have heard about things in Shandong. As for when to implement it in Jiangnan, it all depends on the imperial court's wishes." Min Yiqin is still relatively immature. He only has a small beard, but his posture is dignified and he has the reputation of a famous man. Feng, "What is the purpose of your coming here today to ask me?"
The head of the Zheng family glanced at Liu Tong, who immediately understood, "Your Majesty, we must obey the government's national policy. It's just..."
Min Yiqin asked: "It's just what, is there something unspeakable?"
"That's right, I and others speak lightly and cannot make unreasonable comments about the important ministers of the dynasty. But..." Liu Tong pretended to be confused, "But I heard that the important ministers in the dynasty are ruthless in their methods, and under the righteousness of the father-in-law, all officials, gentry, and People, no matter who's life or death, is not in his eyes. The villain happened to have a good friend in Shandong, and his death was in vain."
After he finished speaking, the head of the Zheng family said: "There are many rumors about this kind of thing. Your Excellency, if there is an order from the imperial court, we have no intention of not disobeying it. But the example in Shandong was first, and now it has spread from the north of the Yangtze River to the south of the Yangtze River." , people are already panicking, and little people like us are even more panicked. And not only us, all the gentry families are discussing this matter, and we are also here to remind you, please take some precautions, Lord Fu."
"What are you guarding against?" Min Yiqin snorted angrily, "Does anyone dare to rebel against the imperial court's decree?!"
Of course, Min Yiqin understood what he meant. These people wanted to make him believe that it would be inappropriate for the court to force the Qingzhang matter on the grounds that people's hearts were unstable and they were afraid of adverse events. If a big commotion broke out, he would be incompetent to govern as a prefect. , cannot escape the blame.
Not only that, the gentry was the foundation of the court and the people's hearts. The choice between the two was not easy.
But Min Yiqin had his own plans. As a famous minister, he naturally disdained to associate with these people, so no matter what they said, he would respond with the attitude of "doing everything according to the will of the imperial court."
However, he knew in his heart that once what happened in Shandong reached Jiangnan, it would definitely shock everyone.
The court, does it really have to be so intense?
The visit ended unhappy, and the heads of the Liu, Zheng, and Yu families were very upset.
"I should have been more decisive at the beginning and dug a few holes for this bird magistrate so that they wouldn't be useless at the critical moment. What should I do now?"
"Don't worry, this matter is not only in Suzhou, Nanjing, Changzhou and Yangzhou must be in chaos after receiving the news. If he doesn't help, we will let Suzhou become chaotic." The head of the Zheng family said: "Let the imperial envoy spread the word first Before the order was given, everyone shouted for beatings. As for the people in the government, I will look for people. These people themselves have benefited from us. If we are found, can they escape? "
On the other hand, Min Yiqin did not dare to entrust him. He drafted the document overnight and sent someone to hand it over to Governor Yingtian. Nowadays, there are constant voices of rebellion in various places. Seeing the disaster in Shandong, every family does not want the emperor's imperial envoys to go to the south of the Yangtze River.
Moreover, the situation has a tendency to gradually worsen. Min Yiqin knows that this is the national policy of the imperial court, but he is also a very smart person today. Since he is a smart person, he must retreat despite the difficulties, so he wants to ask the imperial court to suspend it.
As the prefect, he could have complained directly to the court, but this matter was of great concern, so he thought it was better to go through Governor Yingtian.
The governor of Yingtian at this time was Jing Shaokui, who was specially promoted by the emperor.
