"It's okay, Master. It's already dark, so you should go back and rest."
Yuan Zhong advised.
Yuan Chixin waved his hands, looked at the warehouse in front of him and said:
"You're right in front of this warehouse, you might as well go in and have a look."
Opening the door of the warehouse and going inside, I saw many boxes placed in the warehouse. When I opened them, I saw that they were indeed full of silver.
The two opened several boxes in succession. There was no problem, they were all full.
Yuan Zhong saw this and said: "It seems that this place is not as bad as before. The money is all there and the treasury is quite sufficient."
Yuan Chixin looked at the silver in front of him, but he was a little confused. He felt something was wrong. He picked up two pieces of silver and knocked them against each other. The silver made a crisp sound.
"No, this sound is wrong. This is not official silver, but inferior silver..."
Yuan Chixin, who quickly discovered the problem, his face darkened.
Yuan Zhong looked a little unhappy when he heard this.
Later, the two tried the silver coins in other boxes.
Without exception, they are all inferior silver.
After seeing this, Yuan Zhixin said again:
"Let's go and have a look at the granary."
The two set off immediately. After arriving at the granary, they opened it and saw that there was less than a thousand stones of grain.
The huge warehouse is almost empty.
Finally, I went to the fabric warehouse to check, and found that there were only a few thousand pieces of fabric, which was very little.
Seeing this, Yuan Zhong cursed: "dog officials, these dog officials!"
Yuanzhixin looked around and said:
"We checked three warehouses in one night, but they haven't found it yet. The guards are lax, which is really disappointing..."
After checking these places, the two returned to the mansion.
Yuan Chixin just rested for a while, and it was already dawn outside.
Early in the morning, Fu Cheng and Fu Wei were called to ask questions about the warehouse.
But I heard Fu Cheng say:
"Your Excellency, you don't know. The matter in the warehouse actually has nothing to do with us, but has something to do with the evil spirits."
"Evil tricks?"
Yuan Chixin glanced at the two of them and motioned for them to explain.
"Sir, there are really evil spirits at play. Some time ago, the house encountered an incident where the underworld soldiers borrowed food, which completely emptied the foundation of Pingbo House."
"The Yin soldiers borrowed food?"
Yuan Chixin's eyes were like lightning, staring at the two of them.
The two people who were originally confident looked at each other and suddenly felt a little panicked.
But he still explained the whole story, saying that he dreamed of a golden-armored god at night who said he needed food and wages for the war, so he came here to borrow silver, grain, and cloth.
The next day when everyone woke up and looked at the warehouse, the official silver turned into bad silver, the rice grain turned into dust, and the silk and satin turned into leaves.
After everyone cleaned up the dust and leaves, the two warehouses were empty.
As for the inferior silver, it is still useful and has been kept.
Unexpectedly, the borrowed food and salary would never be repaid.
Only then did everyone realize that it was Xie Sui who was pretending to be a god.
Yuan Chixin sneered at the two people's explanation:
"You two, I'm afraid your statement is not very convincing, right?"
The two people quickly explained:
"Sir, this is true. If you don't believe it, you can ask anyone.
On the night when the Yin soldiers borrowed food, many people in the city heard the sound of soldiers in armor and the shouts of the Yin soldiers. It was really not our nonsense. "
When the two of them talked about this, their expressions were very sincere.
When Yuan Zhixin saw this, he was also suspicious.
Regarding the so-called dark soldiers borrowing food and fire dragons burning warehouses, generally everyone will automatically classify them as excuses for local corruption.
Yuan Zhixin thought so too, but then he recalled his previous dream and felt that there might be something wrong with it.
But looking at the performance of Fu Cheng and Fu Wei, Yuan Chi knew in his heart that even if it was true that the Yin soldiers borrowed food, these two people would never be clean.
It's just that he has just arrived here, and he only has a hundred personal guards and Yuan Zhong at his disposal. His foundation is too shallow, and he is not sure about taking down these local snakes in one fell swoop.
Thinking of this, he smiled and said:
"Since you two have said this, I'm going to go and find out more."
When the two of them heard this, they both laughed and said:
"Please make sure to inquire in detail to prove our innocence."
Seeing that these two people were so sworn in, Yuan Zhi knew that the so-called Yin soldiers borrowing food might be true, but he was also sure that there must be something wrong with these two people.
Immediately he took Yuan Zhong and a group of personal guards out of the government office to visit the city.
Since it was a visit, the group naturally had to dress up a little.
After a while, he pretended to be a local gentleman taking his servants out to relax.
Pingbo City is quite prosperous, with businesses from all walks of life, and traders and servants all working to make a living.
At first glance, it gives people a sense of prosperity.
Yuan Chi did not waste any time and asked the people around him to find someone to ask about borrowing food from the Yin soldiers. He himself took Yuan Zhong to find an old man leaning against the wall to bask in the sun and ask.
After some inquiries, it was discovered that there was indeed something about Yin soldiers borrowing food.
It is said that on the night of the incident, people in several streets in the city heard sounds, like an army moving things across the sky.
Some brave people went out to check, but they could only hear sounds in the air but could not see anyone in the air.
After asking different people one after another, I found that although everyone had different opinions, the general content was similar.
"Sir, if you put it this way, there is really something about the underworld soldiers borrowing food."
Yuan Zhong was a little puzzled and felt something was wrong.
Yuan Zhixin also frowned, and after thinking for a while, he said:
“Right now we still have to solve the problem of our control over Pingbo Mansion.
These local officials are all the same, and I, as the prefect, must fully implement all of my powers before the follow-up matters can be handled easily. "
As he was talking, he suddenly saw a handsome young man walking in front of him.
At first glance, one might even mistakenly think that this young man is a god.
Several people were stunned when they saw it.
The young man walked up to Yuan Chixin with a smile and said:
"This must be the new magistrate, Lord Yuan, right? It's very polite of you to have a good relationship with me."
"A gentleman with good karma is polite."
After Yuan Chixin returned the salute, he looked at the young man in front of him curiously and said,
"I don't know how Mr. Shanyuan recognizes me, and why is he worthy of me?"
This Young Master of Good Destiny is naturally Ye Ming who came all the way from Shiwanda Mountain to Pingbo Mansion, the big mansion on the sea.
Regarding Yuan Zhixin's question, Ye Ming smiled and said:
"To be honest, I am a passionate young man who aspires to serve the country and save the people from disaster. However, the officialdom is dark and disgusting. I am unwilling to stoop to serve the powerful. Until now, I have not held any official position.
I'm looking for you this time because I heard that you are upright and upright, like a gentleman from ancient times, so I came here specifically to save the people! "
Hearing that this person came to seek refuge with him, Yuan Chi naturally welcomed him.
What he lacks now is a manpower team, and it is impossible to refuse the offer of a man who seems to have extraordinary bearing at first glance.
Moreover, after communicating with this Mr. Shan Yuan for a while, Yuan Chixin valued him very much.
This person has a lot of insight into everything. Just a few words can tell that he is a knowledgeable person and definitely not the kind of embroidered pillow.
When the two were chatting happily, someone rushed out on the road.
This man was holding a stack of books in his arms and was walking in a hurry. He accidentally bumped into a stall next to him.
The stall was fine, but the man fell down and the book in his arms fell to the ground.
The man picked it up in a hurry, looking very anxious.
A book fell at Yuan Chixin's feet and was picked up by him.
If you look closely, you will see that this is not a book, but an account book.
Looking at the other books, they are all account books.
Yuan Chixin picked up the account book in his hand and looked through it casually.
Seeing this, the man who picked up the book immediately snatched the book back and said repeatedly:
"This is the yamen's account book, you can't read it."
Seeing this man in such a hurry, Yuan Chi asked in his heart:
"Are you a government clerk? Why are you in such a hurry?"
Naturally, the clerk didn't know the magistrate who had just arrived yesterday. However, seeing the obvious appearance of a great man and the fact that he was accompanied by his servants, he didn't dare to make any mistakes and just said:
"Sir, I am rushing to the government office, please get out of my way. It will be a disaster if we miss the time!"
"What's so urgent?"
"It's not very urgent, but the government has regulations. You must not delay the delivery of documents, accounts, etc., otherwise you will be whipped!
Master, please let this villain pass! "
The scribe was impatient and even had the urge to squeeze past.
Yuan Zhixin heard the words and said:
"It's not an important document, but if it's late, it will be whipped? There shouldn't be such a rule in the Code, right?"
"It's not in the Code, but Master Fu Cheng has decreed it. Who dares to violate it?"
The scribe said, begging Yuan Chixin again to give way.
Yuan Zhixin said: "Really? Let's go, I will go back to the government office with you."
"Officer... who are you?"
"I am the new magistrate of Pingbo Mansion, Yuan Chixin."
"Are you Lord Yuan?"
The scribe was very surprised when he heard this, and immediately said:
"Master Yuan, I have heard of your name. You are a great talent and a famous person. Please listen to my advice and leave here!
This is not your territory, and you cannot suppress the local snakes here. "
“Before I came here, someone had already advised me, but now that I’m here, I won’t leave easily.
You, on the other hand, don't know why you say that I can't defeat the local snake here? "
"grown ups......"
The scribe glanced sideways at his surroundings, pulled Yuan Chixin aside, and whispered,
“Who doesn’t know that Pingbo Mansion is under the control of four families and three businessmen, from the Prime Minister and the Lieutenant to the officials in charge at all levels, everyone is their people.
Unless Mr. Fu Wang personally brings troops, no one can control it.
The villain admired you very much for taking off your hat and resigning, so I gave you some advice.
You, listen to the villain's advice and leave as soon as possible. "
Yuan Zhixin ignored the clerk's words to persuade him to leave and just asked:
"What are the specifics of these four merchants?"
"The so-called four families and three merchants refer to the four families of Yan, Jia, Lin, and Lou in Pingbo Prefecture, as well as the three types of chambers of commerce: maritime merchants, ship merchants, and land merchants.
The entire Pingbo Mansion was controlled by these people, and the prefects of all dynasties either had no choice but to work with them or be ignored.
or......"
"Or what?"
"No, it's nothing."
Facing Yuan Chixin's questions, the scribe was obviously frightened and did not dare to say any more.
Afterwards, Yuan Chixin took the clerk directly back to the office.
As soon as I returned to the office, I saw Fu Cheng working.
When Fu Cheng saw Yuan Chixin, he first greeted him politely, then immediately changed his expression and said to the scribe:
"It took so long to bring the account books. Do you know your guilt?"
When the scribe heard this, he trembled with fright and knelt on the ground.
Fu Cheng didn't care about Yuan Chixin's expression, so he had to drag the clerk down and give him twenty lashes first.
Seeing this, Yuan Zhixin looked slightly gloomy and said:
"Lord Lou, I'm afraid it's inappropriate to punish government officials so casually, right?"
"The magistrate is joking. Pingbo Mansion has always been like this. This is the rule."
"There is no such rule in the Code."
"But this is Pingbo Mansion, and there are such rules."
"Then if I say that there will no longer be such a rule in the future, is that okay?"
"I'm afraid that won't work. After all, this is an old rule that no one can break easily.
It’s understandable that the new magistrate has taken up his post, but it’s also important to know that some things can’t be solved at the highest level. "
"Then I would like to give it a try."
"Your Excellency, the magistrate, is very ambitious. Please forgive me for speaking frankly. Although you are ambitious, I am afraid it will not be easy to accomplish this kind of thing.
However, for your sake, I can spare him this once. "
Fu Cheng said, sneered, turned around and went to the back room, looking fearless.
Seeing this, Ye Ming laughed and said to Yuan Zhixin:
"My lord, there is still a lot to say between us."
Yuan Chixin was not angry because of Lou Fucheng's attitude and said with a smile:
"Let's go into the house and talk."
...
