The night falls.
Zhu Yuanzhang picked up a document and felt depressed when he saw that it was a document from the Suzhou Prefecture asking for an order to be exempted.
Suzhou Prefecture, a heavily taxed city, suffered a disaster and nearly 300,000 households had no food to satisfy their hunger.
The imperial court knew about this. Some time ago, Wei Guan signed a document and issued an order to provide relief to the people of Suzhou Prefecture.
But Wei Guan was lucky. He actually thought that the relief loan was not good, and wanted the court to exempt Suzhou Prefecture from taxes on the victims.
Relief loans are not unconditional food relief, but lending food to the people to solve the current plight of the people.
There is no hope for the summer harvest, but you can always produce food for the autumn harvest. After harvesting, repay the loan first.
When you were about to starve to death, the imperial court loaned you two kilograms of rice. Now it's time to pay it back. The loan has interest, so you won't be charged interest for the rice loan. Pay the autumn tax, and the summer tax you owe... …
The case is different.
The exemption means that it is completely exempted. You will not collect it this time. After the next harvest, you will not be required to compensate for the last time.
Zhu Yuanzhang exempted many places every year, such as Shanxi and Peking. As long as the disaster was serious, the court would exempt taxes for half a year or even a year.
But not Suzhou Prefecture!
Zhu Yuanzhang was very helpless. The imperial court needed a lot of food, and Suzhou Prefecture and Songjiang Prefecture were the top priorities. The cost of eliminating food was too great and would affect the operation of the imperial court.
turn down!
Zhu Yuanzhang had no other choice. Suzhou's grain should be harvested after autumn. This was the bottom line. Don't even think about saving it.
The people in these places are suffering, and they are suffering because of the Ming Dynasty, so that more people will not suffer so much. Think about it, when you supported Zhang Shicheng and helped him beat me, Lao Zhu, did you suffer?
This is punishment.
The darkness becomes heartbreaking, dying in the sun.
Heaven and earth are clear.
Gu Zhengchen repeated his daily routine, tapping his fingers, processing documents, and auditing accounts. He occasionally went to Jurong College to take two classes, and went to the Jurong Guard Camp to see how Wang Liang beat Zhao Hailou. Oh, this time it was Zhao Hailou who beat Wang Liang, it doesn't matter anymore, it's just a fight, it doesn't matter who gets beaten.
Gu Cheng and Hu Hengcai came back from Jinling and brought many things, including clothes and shoes sewn by Gu's mother, gifts bought by Gu Qingqing, and books from their father-in-law Zhang He...
"Sir, there is a famine in Suzhou Prefecture. Do you know about this?"
Gu Cheng brought a bowl of hot tea.
Gu Zhengchen took the tea bowl and nodded slightly: "Suzhou Prefecture is not far from Jurong, and the news has been spread a long time ago. I heard that there were as many as 200,000 to 300,000 households affected by the disaster, which is considered a major disaster."
Gu Cheng nodded repeatedly: "We heard that Wei Guan, the prefect of Suzhou, is planning to provide relief with work. He wants to control the overflow in Suzhou City, dredge the river and reduce the flood."
“Work-for-relief is a good thing.”
Gu Zhengchen took a sip of tea and found it was a bit hot.
When a local disaster occurs, the yamen recruits people to work and exchange labor for food. This is a typical disaster relief method.
Gu Cheng smiled, glanced at Hu Hengcai, and said to Gu Zhengchen: "Master should know that after Wei Guan became the prefect of Suzhou, he wiped out Chen Ning's harsh rule in a short period of time and made a great change in the Suzhou government. The performance is the best in the world."
Gu Zhengchen listened.
Wei Guan was indeed a very talented man, but he was killed by Lao Zhu just this year.
Hu Hengcai said on the side: "My master transferred a large amount of water this year to save the people of Jurong from drought. Many people are saying, who has the best political performance this year, Gu Zhixian or Wei Zhifu."
"I?"
Gu Zhengchen was stunned for a moment. He was in a small county in Jurong, and Wei Guan was in charge of Suzhou Prefecture. It was a prefecture, which was not of the same magnitude at all.
Gu Cheng sighed: "I heard that Wei Guan is very popular among the people and is an excellent parent official."
Gu Zhengchen frowned and lost his mind to listen to anything else.
Wei Guan died in a political struggle. He was an upright official and an official who did practical things.
He is an honest official, so he will offend unclear officials, such as Cai Ben, the commander of Suzhou.
He does practical things, so he will offend officials who do not do practical things, such as Chen Ning, the previous prefect of Suzhou.
Of course, it was not without reason that these two people collaborated and asked Zhu Yuanzhang to raise the butcher's knife to kill Wei Guan. The reason was this time of providing work for relief.
Because of the famine in Suzhou Prefecture this year, Wei Guanhui expanded the scope of work-for-relief projects. He not only dredged rivers, but also carried out water conservancy construction. This was nothing, but what cost him his life was:
move place.
The move was not to Wei Guan's home, but to the Suzhou Magistrate's Yamen home.
Gu Zhengchen recalled the history books.
Wei Guan wanted to move, but it was not without reason.
During the Yuan Dynasty, Suzhou was governed by Wu Zicheng, the inner city. But after Zhang Shicheng occupied Pingjiang (Suzhou), he made Wu Zicheng his royal palace. The royal palace was in Wuzi City, so the government officials couldn't stay there, so they moved to the west side of the city, in the Shuixing Si Yamen.
Later, Zhang Shicheng was defeated and the palace was burned, leaving only ruins.
After Zhu Yuanzhang established the Suzhou Prefecture, the government office was still located in the west of the city. This place was not only remote, but also dilapidated. Because it used to be the Du Shui Xing Si Yamen and was very close to the river, so moisture was inevitable.
Ever since, Wei Guan thought about moving the government from its current position back to the inner city.
Wei Guan is an official who lacks political sensitivity. He considered all the favorable factors, but forgot that Lao Zhu's feelings need to be taken into consideration when moving...
Zhu Yuanzhang did not have a good impression of the people of Suzhou who supported Zhang Shicheng. This was clearly reflected in the heavy taxes. Zhang Shicheng was crushed to ashes, and his palace was burned to ashes. What do you think, Wei Guan? , actually want to build a government office on top of Zhang Shicheng's palace?
Hey, if you want to restore the architecture of Zhang Shicheng's period, do you want Suzhou people to support Zhang Shicheng?
You kid has second thoughts. You are obviously working for me, but in fact you are taking care of the people of Suzhou for Zhang Shicheng. Are you trying to comfort Zhang Shicheng?
The foundation of prosperity and destruction, the river of defeat for a country, should be killed.
Gu Zhengchen was worried. Although he knew about this period of history, he was powerless and could not help much.
You can't write a letter yourself and tell Wei Guan that this is not a government office. You are digging your own grave. If the school inspector knew about this and reported it to Zhu Yuanzhang, he probably wouldn't be able to save his head.
An official has his own boundaries. It is a rule not to cross the boundaries and not to interfere in the affairs of other places.
After Gu Zhengchen withdrew from the Jiangyin Guards, he never asked about the situation there once. It was not that he didn't want to ask, after all, he had fought life and death, but asking would be a taboo, and speaking would be a mistake.
"Husband, is there something on your mind?"
At the dinner table, Zhang Xiwan couldn't help but ask when she saw Gu Zhengchen looking worried.
Gu Zhengchen took a bite of the food and when he saw that there was no one else, he whispered: "Wei Guan, the prefect of Suzhou, is a good official."
Zhang Xiwan smiled: "It's natural. Magistrate Wei has a good reputation. He is diligent and loves the people, and the people of Suzhou Prefecture love him very much."
"But--"
"Husband?"
"nothing."
Gu Zhengchen didn't know how to speak.
At night, lying on the bed, Gu Zhengchen still couldn't sleep.
He knew that if the situation continued, Wei Guan would definitely die. Gu Zhengchen didn't want him to die unjustly as a minister who worked for the people and asked for their orders.
But what can I do now?
Leave no trace and send someone to give Wei Guan a message?
How could it be so easy for an unknown person to meet Wei Guan? If he reported his name, wouldn't he be dragging himself into trouble?
Zhang Xiwan felt Gu Zhengchen's irritability and gently fanned herself: "If you have something on your mind, husband, you might as well tell Xiwan."
Gu Zhengchen pulled Zhang Xiwan into his arms.
Strangely enough, even though it is summer, Zhang Xiwan's skin always feels a little cool.
"Wei Guan worked for relief. The rivers he opened and the houses he built are all related to Zhang Shicheng. Once someone makes a fuss about this matter, he will probably die."
Gu Zhengchen deeply smelled the faint fragrance in Zhang Xiwan's hair.
Zhang Xiwan was obviously nervous and her voice became very low: "Don't he know?"
Gu Zhengchen said bitterly: "So what if you know. For an honest official like him, it is enough if he is sure that he is right. He thinks that the purpose of opening river channels is to alleviate floods, and he thinks that the purpose of moving government offices is to make it more convenient." If you are good at governance and have a clear conscience, you will not consider anything else."
Zhang Xiwan stretched out her arm and placed it on Gu Zhengchen's chest: "Since it is right, where is the emperor..."
"The emperor will not consider right or wrong, nor will he consider his clear conscience. He will only consider whether he built the government office on top of Zhang Shicheng's palace. Once he does, he will undoubtedly die. You know, Chen Ning is in the imperial palace Shi Tai, how he governs Suzhou Mansion is incomparable to Wei Guan."
Gu Zhengchen knew very well that people like Chen Ning were difficult to deal with. He was like a scorpion. Once he found an opportunity, he would definitely kill him. Zhu Yuanzhang is also mentally fragile. At least when it comes to matters related to Zhang Shicheng, his emotions are easily influenced by others.
Zhang Xiwan lay on Gu Zhengchen and whispered: "In that case, let's think of other ways to avoid this disaster. My husband also knows that there are not many good ministers, and Wei Guan is a well-known good magistrate. …”
"Easier said than done."
Gu Zhengchen felt bitter.
He is the magistrate, he is the county magistrate, or he is the magistrate under Yingtian Prefecture. This network of connections has all gone to Suzhou Prefecture. It is really outrageous. If someone is caught and Lao Zhu knows about it, it will be difficult to explain.
After thinking about it, Gu Zhengchen still had no clue.
The next day.
Gu Zhengchen was somewhat lethargic.
Jurong Ximen.
Two carriages entered slowly, and a lively atmosphere hit them.
Zhan Tong felt that the carriage had slowed down a lot. He opened the curtain, looked at the busy street in front of him, and asked, "Hui'er, where is this?"
Zhan Hui turned around and said with a smile: "Father is awake, this is Jurong City."
"Is Jurong so lively?"
Zhan Tong was a little surprised.
Zhan Hui nodded slightly: "Many people say that Gu Zhi County is well governed. I thought it was just empty praise. Unexpectedly, this person is really capable. In just a short time, the lively scene in Jurong can be compared to Suzhou's Fuwai Street. .”
Zhan Tong stopped the carriage and got down with the help of Zhan Hui. An almost childlike smile appeared on his face: "Whether you have the ability or not, you still need to listen to what the people say. It may not be true at first sight, and you must listen to the wind and criticism."
