The river is gurgling and the boat is docked.
Zhan Hui helped his father Zhan Tong out of the cabin and onto the dock.
It was midnight and the sky was full of stars.
Zhan Tong looked at the busy pier, raised his head and cast his gaze towards the night sky.
The rich bells came from the sky, blowing the coolness of the night and blowing on people's cheeks.
"Hanshan Temple outside Gusu City, the bell rings at midnight to the passenger ship. Is this the bell of Hanshan Temple?"
Zhan Tong looked at Zhan Hui.
Zhan Hui smiled and said, "I guess so."
Zhan Tong walked forward and hit the bluestone with his crutch: "Haha, Ouyang Xiu pointed to "Night Mooring at Maple Bridge" and said that the poet was so greedy for good sentences that the truth did not make sense. Although "The bell rings at midnight" Good sentence, but there is no reason to ring the bell in the middle of the night. Haha, looking at it now, Hanshan Temple really has the habit of ringing the bell in the middle of the night..."
Zhan Hui nodded repeatedly: "What my father said is that Ouyang Xiu is also arbitrary. There are some things that you may not know the truth without seeing for yourself."
Zhan Tong laughed and checked into an inn in Suzhou City.
During the Ming Dynasty, many prefectural cities had one county attached to Guo, that is, the county government was placed in the city of the government office. There were not many cases where one county was attached to Guo, but it was rare for two counties to be attached to Guo. But like Suzhou, where three counties were attached to Guo, It can be said to be extremely rare. In other words, in Suzhou city, there is not only one prefect government office, but also three county government offices.
This saves the magistrate Wei Guan a lot of trouble. After all, several magistrates are in the city. If something goes wrong, they can be found immediately, and the county government can be invited to come and deal with it from time to time.
Click Mao to process paperwork.
Wei Guan looked resolute and steady as a mountain, and he opened his mouth to make decisions easily as usual.
After finishing the corresponding matters, the thin Gao Qi, dressed in white robes, walked into the second hall leisurely like an immortal. Looking at Wei Guan with his eyebrows hanging, he smiled and said: "Now that most of the hungry people have entered the construction site, as long as they have food, Yes, if there is hope of survival, there will be no chaos in Suzhou Mansion."
Wei glanced at Gao Qi and closed the documents on the table: "Mr. Gao came just in time. I am about to leave incognito. Would you like to go with me?"
"nature."
Gao Qi responded.
Wei Guan changed his clothes and left the government office with Gao Qi, heading to the Jinfanjing construction site.
River workers went down into the river one by one, working hard to clean up the silt. There were horses and mules on the river bank pulling the silt. If the work was rushed, people would need to be arranged to pick up the silt.
Many temporary huts have been built on both sides of Kam Sail Path for river workers to rest.
They finished their work before noon, but the sun was so hot that the river workers had no choice but to hide in the shade of trees and wait for their meal.
The rice porridge shed finally opened.
A group of river workers went to receive the meal, but it was only a small portion, and the bottom of the bowl was not even covered tightly. Several river workers shouted, but they were scolded: "If you don't want to eat, get out of here. It would be nice to have something to eat these days."
After the old river worker stabilized the situation and appeased everyone, he said to the yamen officer who was giving out porridge and rice: "This official, we all work hard. It's just a little porridge and rice in the morning, but we have been tired all morning." , if you don’t have enough to eat, how can you work in the afternoon?”
The yamen servant slammed the iron spoon into the pot: "I don't care how you work, I only care about serving porridge and rice, whether you like it or not!"
"Eat, eat."
The old river worker saw that the government officials were so unreasonable and was used to it, so he had to ask everyone to line up and take away the poor rice.
Gao Qi looked at this scene and frowned: "We have given repeated orders not to deduct food from the river workers. It seems that the words of Magistrate Wei have not reached the ears of some people."
Wei Guan looked very ugly. The biggest problem with the work-for-relief program was the withholding of food.
The money and food passed through the hands, 30% and 30%, and I don’t know how many 30% were stripped off the people’s hands. I originally had six buckets of rice a month, but maybe only a handful of rice fell into my hands. This is the method of subordinate officials!
Wei Guan was furious. Under his nose, and despite having stated the consequences several times, someone still dared to snatch the food rations of these famine-stricken people!
Extremely abominable!
Wei Guan did not bother the officials who distributed the grain. Instead, he went directly to the housekeeper who distributed the grain. He brought him to the scene, pointed to the small amount of rice in the pot and asked: "There are three kilograms of rice per person per day. Now what are you telling me?" Hey, how much rice is in this pot? There are more than 500 river workers in this section of the river. Can you tell me if there are fifty kilograms of rice here?"
The housekeepers were trembling. Wei Guan had never been here before. Why he came here today and was caught red-handed was hard to explain.
Wei Guan ordered people to arrest the officials on the spot, and arranged for people to get additional food. He took the time to boil rice, and assured the people gathered around him: "It is my duty, Wei Guan, to keep you well fed. Now you have suffered It’s a disaster, and I ask you to contribute your efforts in exchange for food. I can’t bear it, but there are also officials who are corrupt, how can I be lenient?”
"From today on, the Suzhou government office will be open to you all day long. But if someone prevents you from eating, you can go to the government office and play drums. As long as I, Wei Guan, am in Suzhou for one day, and as long as you do one day's work, I will Make sure you don’t go hungry this day!”
When the river workers heard this, they were so moved that they all called Wei Guan Qingtian.
Among the river workers, a middle-aged man with a bronze complexion and thin cheeks looked at Wei Guan. The corners of his mouth moved slightly. He took the bowl to the foot of the tree and asked the old river worker beside him: "There are not many rivers in Suzhou Prefecture. Why does Wei Guan have so many rivers?" The prefect chose this Jinfan Trail?"
The old river worker looked at the new river worker and explained kindly: "Jinfan Path is located in the west of the city. Once it is dug out, it will facilitate shipping and save a lot of trouble. Besides, this is related to the Feng Shui of Suzhou. Naturally Need to come quickly.”
"Feng Shui?"
Xin Hegong frowned and asked why.
The old river worker pointed to the east with a smile: "This Jinfan Path is located to the west of Wolong Street. Dragons need to drink water, but this Jinfan Path has been blocked since the Yuan Dynasty. Without water, it is naturally not good for dragons. As long as this path is dredged Jinfanjing, our Suzhou Prefecture has a dragon spirit."
"Dragon Qi?"
Xin Hegong was shocked.
What on earth does Wei Guan want to do? He is actually arranging Feng Shui matters and stealing the dragon energy of the Ming Dynasty? I heard that he also wants to build a government office on Zhang Shicheng's palace. Is this also to cooperate with Feng Shui and Dragon Qi?
Xin Hegong's eyes became sharp and he looked at Wei Guan in the distance with a cold expression on his lips.
A middle-aged river worker came over and sat directly on the ground. He picked up the bowl and put rice into his mouth. After swallowing it, he said: "This city of Suzhou has always had dragon energy, but it's a pity that it always lacks something. King Wu He It is a pity that King Zhang of Lu and Taizhou (Zhang Shicheng) did not have a long-lasting national destiny."
The old river worker glared: "What nonsense are you talking about!"
Xinhegong put his rice bowl on the ground, his face turned cold: "Is that so?"
pity?
It seems that the people of Suzhou Prefecture are still thinking of Zhang Shicheng. It seems that in their eyes, Zhang Shicheng is more like their emperor, and he should be their emperor!
The name of the Xinhe worker was Zhang Du, who was the censor of the Censorship Station and was sent by Chen Ning. Zhang Du and Wei Guan had conflicts in the past, and now that they have seized Wei Guan's advantage, they would naturally not let go of such an opportunity.
Zhang Du turned around and left the construction site. He had just changed his clothes and was about to leave Suzhou when he bumped into Zhan Tong and was shocked.
Zhan Tong did not expect to meet the censor Zhang Du here. After all, he was an old acquaintance in the court. Zhang Du knew that he could not escape, so he took the initiative to salute.
"Have you met Magistrate Wei since you came here?"
Zhan Tong asked after a few words of greeting.
Zhang Du shook his head slightly: "Back to the old minister, I didn't go to see the prefect of Wei. I just learned some information from the river workers."
Seeing Zhang Du's wandering eyes, Zhan Tong laughed and said: "The river workers know the situation, and what can the river workers say about the situation? They are just a group of common people who cannot afford to eat. What they talk about is just vulgar remarks and rumors." It's just a rumor. If the river worker's words are taken as the truth and reports are reported, hehe, I'm afraid you won't be able to keep your righteous courage."
Zhang Du saluted: "Please give me some advice from the old minister."
Zhan Tong said sternly: "You can't see the whole picture even if you see the leopard in the tube. As a censor, you should take the truth as the standard. You should understand that listening to both sides will lead to enlightenment, and listening to one side will lead to darkness. Zhang Du, you are also not afraid of power and dare to fight with the powerful. For Those who speak out for the people should weigh clearly what is justice, what is the truth, and what is serving the country and the people before doing anything!"
Zhang Du looked deeply at Zhan Tong, broke into a cold sweat, and lowered his head: "I have learned a lesson."
Zhan Tong patted Zhang Du on the shoulder and said with a smile: "I am an old man, but I just came to Suzhou to see an old friend. Zhang Du, the court lacks someone like you, someone like Han Yike who dares to speak out and speak for the world and the people." Censor, please keep your heart."
Zhang Du turned around, looked at Zhan Tong's slow back, hesitated, walked into the inn again, and said to the innkeeper: "Stay for three more days!"
Zhan Hui saw that his father Zhan Tong was in a good mood and asked, "Father seems to be beating Zhang Du?"
Zhan Tong nodded slightly and said calmly: "Although Zhang Du became the supervisory censor in the fifth year of Hongwu, he is quite courageous. He has impeached many nobles and officials. He can be regarded as a proud man. It's a pity... …”
"What's a pity?"
Zhan Hui was puzzled.
Zhan Tong stopped, took a few breaths, and then said: "It's a pity that Zhang Du is a bit pandering to His Majesty, and may not really be impeaching. Chen Ning, Hu Weiyong and others all know that they have problems, especially Chen Ning, I have never seen Zhang Du impeach Chen Ning once, let alone Hu Weiyong. I can only say that he is a smart man, and he is still a smart person. "
Zhan Hui understood.
It turns out that Zhang Du is a gentleman in the eyes of his father, but sometimes he is more hypocritical and sometimes more upright, it all depends on the needs of the situation, he can be strong or soft, stretch or bend.
Zhan Tong is an old fox. He knows that Zhang Du is coming to Suzhou Mansion at this time, and he has something to do with Chen Ning. Even if Zhang Du tells Chen Ning about Suzhou Mansion, it doesn't matter. There is still a chance now.
This opportunity was given by Gu Zhengchen.
Zhan Tong met Wei Guan on the shore of Jinfan Trail. He was an old friend he hadn't seen for several years and his eyes were wet when they met.
Wei Guan was so happy that he took Zhan Tong's hand and said emotionally: "Old Minister, we are really lucky to be able to meet again."
Zhan Tong nodded: "Yes, if I don't come to Suzhou, I'm afraid I'll never see you again."
"Old Minister is in good health, how can he say such unlucky words."
Wei Guan waved his hand quickly.
Zhan Tong looked at Wei Guan and said with a serious smile: "I'm talking about you..."
