The village chiefs Xu Zhiben, Xu Zhong, Wang Cai, and the old man Xu Yong rushed to Wang's home. When Xu Zhiben, Xu Zhong, and Wang Cai saw that it was Gu Zhengchen, they were so frightened that they knelt down and saluted.
Gu Zhengchen did not let the others stand up, but asked coldly: "Which liant is in charge of Xu Lin, Xu Guang, and Xu Rong?"
Xu Zhong raised his head and said, "Master, it's me."
Gu Zhengchen walked up to Xu Zhong and said with a gloomy face: "The li chief, although he is in charge of tax matters, according to the court rules, the li chief is responsible for taking care of the people's affairs and miscellaneous matters within a li. If something is undecided or cannot be decided, he will report it to the county government. Do it! Now Xu Lin and others are taking advantage of their power to bully the people and seize land deeds in broad daylight. As the head of the village, are you not aware of this, or are you closing your eyes and ears and allowing them to do evil? "
Xu Zhong broke into a cold sweat and quickly said: "I, I don't know."
"Hu!"
Gu Zhengchen sternly scolded: "There are more than a hundred households in one mile, but you don't know any of them? What's more, is this the first time Xu Lin has done this? Old man Xu Yong, you have the responsibility of educating the people and maintaining good neighborly relations. Now Old Man Wang and his family Why don't you, an old man, come forward when I'm being bullied? Are you intentionally conniving, or are you in vain for the great trust of the imperial court?"
As soon as Xu Yong got old, he felt aggrieved.
Yes, I have the right to educate, but the county magistrate, I have to have someone listen to my education. A group of people in this village are like a tyrant. I am an old man, trembling, and can't walk fast. You let me How do I teach them to go?
Gu Zhengchen knew that he could only scold the village chiefs and the elderly. If they were not involved, there would be no way to punish them. These people were neither officials nor officials. The power in their hands was only to serve the county government in collecting grain, and what they held in their hands was nothing more than mediation. right. If the mediation fails, you can't just arrest him and beat him up if he commits a crime, right?
The key is still the main culprit.
Gu Zhengchen was worried that he could not find anyone to establish his authority. Now that Xu Lin has become the outcast, he will of course be severely punished.
"Xu Lin, you have been a team leader in the county government. You should know what it is to intimidate people to do evil and extort property, right? Zhang Pei, arrest the three of them and send them to the county government!"
Gu Zhengchen showed no mercy.
Xu Lin panicked and begged for mercy. Xu Guang and Xu Rong also begged.
Zhang Pei turned a deaf ear, found a long rope, tied the three people's hands, pulled one end of the rope, and waited for Gu Zhengchen's order.
Gu Zhengchen looked at Old Man Wang: "Where is Xu Erya's home?"
Old Man Wang pointed to the street: "County Master, one door away is Xu Erya's home. Since Xu Erya was exiled, his father left as soon as he couldn't afford it. Only Xu Erya's mother Wu, his wife Zhang, and A five-year-old daughter.”
"Take me to have a look."
Gu Zhengchen felt a little sad.
Old man Wang hesitated, and the old woman came over: "County Master, if you want to go to Xu Erya's house, I should lead the way. His family is full of women now, and no male is allowed to mess with the family, for fear that someone will gossip and insult his honor."
Gu Zhengchen nodded slightly: "I didn't think carefully."
The old woman walked out of the door and didn't go far when she shouted into the yard through the fence: "Girl Xu, call your mother and grandma out quickly."
Gu Zhengchen saw a girl with withered hair and a sallow face running to the door and pulling an old woman out. Standing at the door was a woman in her thirties. The woman saw an old woman from the Zhang family outside the hospital, who seemed to be He relaxed his vigilance and walked out from behind the door. There was a sound of something falling to the ground inside the door.
"Mother Erya, this is the newly appointed county magistrate."
Mrs. Wang spoke enthusiastically.
Mrs. Wu looked at the young Gu Zhengchen in disbelief. When she saw the mayor and the old man following her, she quickly led Mrs. Zhang and her granddaughter to kneel down.
Gu Zhengchen looked at the dilapidated but neatly tidied courtyard. He glanced around and saw the loom could be seen through the half-open door. He looked away and said, "Get up, Mrs. Wu, I have something to ask. Can I go in?"
Wu stood up and opened the door.
Gu Zhengchen looked at the mayor and the old man behind him: "You all can stay outside. Just ask Mrs. Wang to accompany me in."
Mrs. Wang followed Gu Zhengchen in. Gu Zhengchen went to the door, opened the door, looked at the hoe lying on the ground at the door, glanced at Mrs. Zhang, and then looked at the loom in the room.
This is a foot-operated bias loom. The warp surface and the horizontal machine base are roughly at an angle of more than fifty degrees, and the heddle can be lifted by foot. The fabric woven is pure white without jacquard.
Gu Zhengchen touched the smooth wooden shelf and asked Wu: "I heard that Sun Erya had a fight with Xu Guang and was sentenced to exile. Can you tell me the specific situation?"
Mrs. Wu was very sad. Mrs. Zhang saw this and stood aside.
On August 17, the fifth year of Hongwu, Xu Guang wanted to buy the Xu family's cotton at a low price. Xu Yi refused. Xu Guang got angry and beat Xu Yi. Seeing this, Xu Erya rushed forward and punched Xu Guang. Xu Guang immediately fell to the ground.
Later, Xu Guang's family reported the case, and Xu Erya beat Xu Guang to pieces. He was paralyzed at home and could not move. The county government sent people to investigate. When they found out what was going on, they arrested Xu Erya and sentenced him to exile.
In mid-October, Xu Yi died of illness due to excessive worry.
The situation is basically consistent with what Mrs. Wang said.
Gu Zhengchen nodded, looked at Mrs. Zhang, and then at the hoe that fell to the ground. Seeing Mrs. Wang here, he didn't ask any more questions. He walked to the yard and turned around: "You are good at weaving, right?"
Wu and Zhang were a little confused, but they still nodded.
Gu Zhengchen said solemnly: "The county government has a job. After the autumn harvest, we need a group of weaving and tailoring women. Every month, we will give you three buckets of rice and three hundred coins. I wonder if you are willing to work in Jurong County?"
"Three measures of rice and three hundred coins per month? Master, let's see if I can succeed. I'm also a tailor."
Mrs. Wang's eyes suddenly lit up.
Gu Zhengchen nodded slightly: "As long as you have the ability, you can. However, this time the work requires someone to live outside Jurong City. They are free for four days a month and are allowed to go home. If you want to go, you have to ask the king The old man will answer or not."
Wu and Zhang were hesitant.
They were given three measures of rice and three hundred coins a month, which was not a low salary. A woman could not earn so much at home in a month.
Mrs. Zhang looked at Mrs. Wu, who asked uncertainly: "Master, is this a new corvee from the imperial court?"
Gu Zhengchen was stunned for a moment, shook his head, and explained: "Women are not required to do corvee service. I got this job from the court. I plan to let the women use their talents and do something every month to support the family. Of course, if the workmanship is exquisite and the sewing and weaving are fast, the monthly income will be no less than three buckets of rice and three hundred coins. This is all done voluntarily, and the government will not force you. If you want to come, you can come, and if you want to go, you can go."
"mother."
Madam Zhang grabbed Madam Wu's arm, feeling a little moved.
Mrs. Wu looked at the dilapidated home. She was old and could not work for a few more years. She was left with Mrs. Zhang and her young granddaughter. What should she do? Over the past year, the family has become increasingly difficult to cope with. If I could really go to work and earn some money, it would be a way to survive.
"You can't go, you still have to take care of the girl. When the time comes, I will go away and you will stay at home."
Wu gritted his teeth.
When Gu Zhengchen saw this, he quickly said: "You can also take the girl with you. The county government is in charge of the food, and no money or food will be deducted."
"really?"
Zhang couldn't believe it.
Mrs. Wu was so surprised that she quickly asked: "My Lord, where will we stay when we go to Jurong?"
Gu Zhengchen said to Mrs. Wu: "Don't worry, there will be a place for you to live, and there is no need to worry about safety. After the autumn harvest, the county government will put up notices to recruit people. You can come then. What the county government needs is not just one or two people. It’s not just one or two hundred people, but thousands of people. Whether things can be done and how long they can take depends on your abilities.”
"In addition, I will re-investigate Xu Erya's matter. Judging from the fact that Xu Guang is not disabled, Xu Erya should not be sentenced to exile. After the investigation is clear, I will send a letter to the Ying government and the Ministry of Punishment to remove him from exile as soon as possible. Retrieve.”
Mrs. Wu and Mrs. Zhang were so moved that they knelt down to express their gratitude.
Gu Zhengchen turned around and looked at the people gathered around the door, and shouted solemnly: "I have told the chief that old cases will be overturned if they are wronged. If you are bullied, you can go to the county government to file a complaint. People like Xu Lin will be punished." Don’t be lenient!”
"The county magistrate!"
Mrs. Zhang quickly called to Gu Zhengchen who was about to leave, hesitated for a moment, and begged: "We have no land, can you go to the county to do work as soon as possible, clean, wash, cook, and carry goods? I can do it. Just, just ask The county magistrate will give you some rations, and the child will..."
Gu Zhengchen looked at Xu Yatou, who was malnourished, and then looked at Xu Zhong, the head of the village outside: "They are also from your village, right?"
Xu Zhong quickly replied: "Yes."
Gu Zhengchen said seriously: "Xu Erya was exiled. This family should be classified as an abnormal household. I will temporarily move him to Jurong County. Is there any problem?"
Abnormal households, widows and lonely households who are unable to afford the errands, are under the supervision of the head of the village.
Xu Zhong frowned: "But the county magistrate, Xu Erya was just exiled. If he comes back to buy property..."
Gu Zhengchen said with a straight face: "Don't worry, it's just a temporary move to the county. If they have land, they will have to pay taxes. This is their roots, so how can they stay away for a long time easily."
Seeing this, Xu Zhong said no more.
Gu Zhengchen looked at Wu, Zhang and Sun Yatou: "Now pack up and follow me to the county town."
"Now?"
Wu and Zhang were not prepared.
Gu Zhengchen nodded slightly, glanced at Mrs. Zhang, and said pointedly: "It's better to live in the county town than to stay here and be afraid, and be on guard day and night, right?"
Mrs. Zhang lowered her head.
Madam Wu nodded and arranged for Madam Zhang to pack her things.
Old Wang also wanted to follow, but was stopped by Old Man Wang. The autumn harvest was coming soon, and with few people to help, Xu Erya's land was sold, but he still had land.
The carriage was given to three women and children, and Zhang Pei drove the carriage. Gu Zhengchen had to walk, taking Xu Lin and the other three people with him. Fortunately, Xucun was not far from the county seat, and he rushed to the county in the dark.
Yang Liang and others imprisoned Xu Lin and the others in the prison cell. Gu Zhengchen called Sun Niang and temporarily placed Xu Erya and his family in Dianshi's house.
Yao Zhen returned to Jurong, took Gu Zhengchen to the magistrate's house, and reported: "Master, your Majesty has sent word that the business affairs will be left to Jurong. In addition, Zhang Pei and I will follow the master from today on. "
Gu Zhengchen felt a little hot in his heart. Lao Zhu didn't know how to do things. He only knew how to fight and kill. Looking at Lao Zhu's actions, he clearly gave himself two light bulbs. He just wanted two temporary workers and didn't want to be beaten all the time. Staring...
