After Liu Jin gave the order, the action had just begun, and they could not reach the further Suzhou Prefecture and Songjiang Prefecture for the time being, but Jiangning County was right in front of them, and even if they wanted to escape, sometimes it would be too late.
In fact, no matter how capable Zhu Houzhao was, no matter how much he valued local officials, it was good that he could take care of officials like the three envoys in various provinces. After all, he still had many affairs to take care of, such as the capital, the army, the nobles, the harem, etc. There were too many people to remember.
Therefore, magistrates and county magistrates always rely on the recommendation of the local chief official.
This is not to speak ill of Li Dongyang here, but in the past few years since he was the governor, Jiangnan's literary style has become very prosperous, and the economy has been good due to the overall situation, so he has shown a prosperous age. But having said that, whether the scholars employed by these scholars are good or bad depends entirely on luck.
In this place in the south of the Yangtze River, the warm wind makes tourists drunk, and even a few hard bones are softened by the smoke. But no matter how soft the bones are, the mouth is still hard. That is to say, a mouth full of benevolence, justice and morality, but a belly full of male thieves and female prostitutes! !
In the final analysis, the political ecology of the Ming Dynasty's officialdom did not undergo such radical changes.
The county magistrate of Jiangning, whose surname is Wu and whose name is Xiuyan, needs no mention of his literary talent. Being able to become a magistrate in the Zhengde Dynasty must have some ability, but his actions in the past few days are eye-opening.
The four surveyors had always looked upright and upright when they saw him several times. They never expected that when he entered the county government again this time, Magistrate Wu would have a flattering smile on his face and show his obscene attitude.
And he no longer mentioned the nonsense about the obstruction by the officials and the delay by the gentry. Instead, he ordered people to pour tea, prepare snacks, and spoke out the ideas in his mind, saying: "The four surveyors don't know something. Although the actual land transfer has not yet been carried out, the county has already made preparations. In Jiangning County, there are 36,500 households and more than 360,000 acres of paddy fields. These are recorded. Of course, how many people are there nowadays? There are some hidden fields that can only be found within one foot of the field.
Furthermore, this county is located in southern Zhili, with a dense network of rivers, fertile land, and abundant products. Among the big families, the Zhao, Chen, and Li families are the most prominent, and they are all the families of officials, and there are many other big and wealthy families. This measurement matter...please understand, four of you, that we had to do some work for each gentry's house, which delayed us a bit, but it was not a measurement. Oh, yes, yes, within the county government, from this county down, the homes of the county magistrate and chief bookkeeper often have thin fields. As court officials, we should lead by example, starting with us! "
The reversal of his performance in this play is huge,
I deceived these four people.
And they were all a little scared. Is this some kind of conspiracy?
"Wuzhi County." One of them raised his hand and said, "It is the imperial court's order to clear the land of the father-in-law, and we are also ordered by the imperial court."
"Yes, yes, that's natural, and this county understands it."
"Now that I understand, I don't know what Wuzhi County's words today... mean?"
Wu Xiuyan was not such a thick-skinned person originally, and a scholar would always care about his face, but now in this situation it was no longer his turn to care about that, so he rubbed his hands and said: "In Nanjing, there is... news has come Yes. Drink tea, drink tea, and listen to me while you drink."
"Oh, it must be the noise on the street outside?"
As soon as these words came out, Wu Xiuyan could no longer hold back, "Four senior officers, we are all scholars, it is not easy to live in poverty for ten years! Now there is an old eunuch in Nanjing, and he is a murderer without blinking an eye. Lord, when I get to Jiangning, please four of you to speak a good word for me. The Jiangning County Government has never stopped you, and has never hindered the court's plan to create land!"
"Forehead."
All four people understood, but they did not dare to express their opinions.
People respectfully call them 'Shangchao', but in fact they don't even have the right to speak.
Wu Xiuyan felt that they did not agree, so he simply cried, "Our Wu family is a single generation of three generations. I have elderly parents and have not yet given birth to a son. If something happens to me, the Wu family's incense But it’s over! Four superior officers, I beg you, when someone comes to ask questions, you must say that this county has cooperated well! "
boom! !
There was a sound of banging the head against the wall outside the house. It turned out to be the master who could not walk steadily. His face was slumped, and he fell to the ground all the way, "Tang...Tang, sir, there are many father-in-laws coming outside!!" "
"Ah!" Wu Xiuyan jumped anxiously. He opened his hands as if he could lift a big basin, "Hurry, hurry, welcome, welcome!"
When he crossed the threshold, he stabilized his official hat with both hands, fearing that it would fall off.
The master was talking about eunuchs. Yes, they were the eunuchs that Zhang Yong brought from Beijing.
In fact, Zhang Yong is still in charge of the Royal Horse Prison. The Internal Guard Prison is usually called this, but it actually belongs to the Royal Horse Prison. As a powerful department with a sense of surveillance, the Internal Security Supervisor's personnel are selected from the Royal Horse Supervisor.
Zhang Yong is the emperor's most trusted eunuch, so these subordinates of Zhang Yong are not comparable to cats and dogs.
If it weren't for Eunuch Liu, a small county magistrate, none of these people would have come.
At the door, if the magistrate does not arrive, they will not enter, so they must be welcomed.
The black hat, the sword on his waist, and the war horse that are more energetic than others all show his unique status. The leader has a high nose and deep eye sockets. He is somewhat handsome, but unfortunately he is not strong enough.
"Wu Xiuyan, the magistrate of Jiangning County, has met my father-in-law!"
Knowing that he didn't know me, I didn't embarrass him. I got off my horse and entered the door, saying, "Our family name is Li."
"Hello, Eunuch Li."
At this time, four more surveyors walked out of the main hall. They also followed suit and said, "I have met Eunuch Li."
"Our family is the Royal Horse Supervisor of the capital, and we are here to supervise an imperial order from the Nanjing garrison, Eunuch Liu."
Wu Xiuyan stepped forward and said, "Eunuch Li, how about we talk in the room?"
"No, it's urgent. There are four surveyors coming to Jiangning County." He squinted his eyes, "Are they the four standing here?"
"Exactly, exactly."
This person didn't say anything nonsense, "In late July, the emperor issued an imperial edict asking various places to start clearing land and compile a new fish scale atlas. Where are the things?"
He stretched out his hand and asked the four people.
But there was nothing, everything froze.
Wu Xiuyan was still flattering, "Eunuch Li, it's a long story. Do you think you'd better sit down inside and let me talk slowly?"
“Let’s ask again, what are the results so far?”
These people had no choice but to report truthfully, "Due to the opposition of the local gentry, the work of clearing the father-in-law has not been officially launched. So...there is nothing that Eunuch Li wants."
In fact, they still left room for such reporting and did not mention the county magistrate's inaction. After all, eunuchs... they are also afraid. Civil servants are at least normal people, but when eunuchs become violent, they are no longer human.
"But it's August 6th now. Half a month has passed and there's nothing. Jiangning County is far away from Nanjing. Does it take a long time to travel?"
This man looked calm, suddenly turned to Wu Xiuyan, raised his eyebrows and said, "You are not following the imperial edict."
thump!
Wu Xiuyan immediately knelt down, "No! No! No! No! It's unfair. Eunuch Li, I will never dare to disobey His Majesty's will. The truth is just as the surveyor said. Yes, it is the big households in the county who are against it. I am the official." He is doing his work in accordance with the wishes of the imperial court."
"So... what kind of work have you done?" He stretched out his hand and asked him again, "Have you arrested those who opposed it? Have you ever stopped those with ulterior motives who incited the people?"
It’s not easy to tell this lie. You’ll know if you’ve ever caught someone. But at this point, Wu Xiuyan had no choice but to respond, "Yes... yes,"
His voice turned from soft to strong, and then he nodded as if he was self-affirming, "Yes! Yes! I have taught those people a lesson!"
"You're teaching me a lesson. You haven't done any work at all in the past half month. At least you didn't even touch a hair on Zhao Mingfei who got into Eunuch Liu's ears. Okay, we won't talk nonsense with you anymore. .”
He waved his hand and said, "Come here and kill this ungrateful person who doesn't obey the imperial edict and doesn't know how to repay the emperor's kindness."
When these words came out, not to mention one of the county government officials was arrested, but even the four surveyors were dumbfounded.
How can there be any reason to kill an official of the imperial court on the spot?
However, these people from the Internal Security Prison were serious. Wu Xiuyan was caught and tied up after rolling around in circles. Under the threat of death, he went crazy and shouted: "Eunuch Li , Eunuch Li, have mercy on me! Your Excellency has a lot of money, please give me a chance to change my ways! I promise, I will definitely handle the affairs of my husband! Eunuch Li, please have mercy on me!"
It's a pity that this plea for mercy was not heard at all.
There were five big men in total, and the movements of their hands did not stop at all. Some took off his official uniform, some tied his hands and feet, and the one standing next to him also pulled out a shining steel knife.
Seeing death approaching, this guy went crazy and desperately wanted to break free, "I am the magistrate of Jiangning County granted by the imperial court. I am an official appointed by the imperial court. Even if I am guilty, I must be tried first and then determined. Only after reporting to the imperial court can I be killed! You! What right does a eunuch have to kill people here! If you behave like this and kill people like crazy, you will definitely not die a good death in the future! You will not die a good death!"
Bang! !
Eunuch Li threw the tea cup that was handed to him on the ground, "What a bad mouth! Let's behead him now! Zhao Mingfei is such an old man and has been wandering around the county town for so many days. How dare you turn a blind eye and say anything?" It is so shameless to keep saying that you have not violated the holy will!
We must tell you clearly that we are here to take your head on the order of Eunuch Liu! Eunuch Liu is holding the royal flag, and he has the right to kill first and report later! Today, grandpa, I just want to chop off your head and let everyone in Jiangning County see. If you people dare to play dirty tricks with the imperial court, then don’t blame the imperial court for playing dirty tricks with you! From now on, if you don't do things according to the emperor's will, you have to watch your head! cut! ! A small county magistrate is nothing! "
Phew! !
For a moment, a column of blood shot into the sky, and his round head rolled around on the ground several times, and his eyeballs popped out in a frightening way.
"Where is Jiangning County Magistrate?!"
"I'm... I'm here." A little old man knelt down with sweat on his head.
"You, order someone to hang his head on the city wall, and then take care of the four surveyors sent by the court and take them to Zhangtian. Our family will keep people in Jiangning County. If this matter stops ...As long as you survive, our family will bear your surname!"
"Ah, I understand, I understand, I understand."
students,
magistrate,
There are also big players!
Liu Jin is not a weak scholar. He wants to cut down the obstacles on the road one by one. As for provoking a popular uprising, that is a joke.
He is Liu Jin, Liu Jin who has been with the emperor for more than ten years! Would he not be able to understand why Zhou Shangwen, the Marquis of Jinglu, led 30,000 troops in the south of the Yangtze River? !
===
In November, 160,000 words were finally updated.
I took two days off, one day to drink and one day to go out on business. I originally wanted to try it without asking for leave for a month, but it's a pity.
(End of chapter)
