Lin Fu stood outside the government office lobby, watching Gu Zhengchen's verdict, and couldn't help but feel hot in his heart.
This person was the head of the government office who led people to eat and drink for free and to pay on credit. Lin Fu knew this man, Yang Shuixian, the owner of the Zui Chunfeng Restaurant on the street in front of the government office.
It is indeed profitable to run a restaurant business outside the government office. There are many drinkers, especially when it is prosperous, it is one of the best restaurants. It's just that it hasn't worked in the past few years. The entire Jinjiang City has declined, and his restaurant business has also plummeted.
Under such circumstances, the government officials couldn't afford to pay for free food and drink if they owed money to the government officials, but they didn't dare to offend the government officials, so they had no choice but to admit that they were unlucky. Seeing that the restaurant was about to go bankrupt and these people had no intention of repaying the debt, Yang Shuixian sent gifts to the government more than once to express their relationship, hoping that the government could give some money.
But when a gift is given and someone accepts it, the money should still be withheld.
Yang Shuixian was forced to a dead end. Seeing that Magistrate Gu was so fierce and decisive in handling the matter, Yang Shuixian thought that asking for the accounts would not offend others, so he simply stood up and complained.
Lin Fu looked at Gu Zhengchen. The young prefect asked the officials to stand up just like he did when he judged the Zhao Sanqi case.
Okay.
Sure enough, there must be cowards under the boss, the squad leader Lin Feng and a group of government officials readily admitted.
Gu Zhengchen looked at Lin Feng and others who had confessed, and said in a deep voice: "According to the laws of the Ming Dynasty, those who threaten or take property from others, or who extort property from others in the name of the government office, will be punished as theft. Those who are serious will be sent to the border army and will never return home." ! For the sake of your honesty, I will give you ten days to pay off the account. The leader will receive one hundred sticks, and the others will receive eighty sticks!"
Lin Feng was crying. He had beaten Wu Er just now, and now it was his turn to be beaten...
Gu Zhengchen solved the case quickly and ruthlessly. If he could avoid bothering the provincial government, he would not bother him. If he could avoid bothering Lao Zhu, he would just leave him alone and handle it all by himself.
If you can't do it with imprisonment or exile, it's still okay to play the game.
The people were happy to see the officials beaten. After all, the beatings left a deep impression on people, with their skin torn and flesh torn, begging for mercy and wailing. Being exiled for three thousand miles is nothing like an impression. If you go out in shackles, the people won't be able to talk about it...
Those who could simply hit the board were all on the board. Those with capital crimes like Wang Xinqian had no choice but to be locked up for the time being. The killing of Yang Baiju, a general judge, can be said to be an accident. The boy was in poor health and did not exercise at ordinary times. He received a few sticks and accidentally died. But if more people were beaten to death, Lao Zhurao himself and the group of censors would probably be killed. Spitting is inevitable.
Lin Fu nodded repeatedly when he saw that Yang Shuixian had received the government's promise.
Wang Sheng pulled Lin Fu and said in a low voice: "Well, this Magistrate Gu deserves the name of Qingtian. At least he is really good at doing things, straightforward and quick, and he has been sorted out in court. Look, this is a complaint. The officials in the government office worked privately with the craftsmen, which caused the craftsmen not to return home for half a year. Well, it’s another slap in the face..."
Lin Fu looked at his two colleagues, Wu Kang and Qin Xin. Their faces were ashen, but they could do nothing, not even say anything. It can be seen that Magistrate Gu has completely suppressed these two people, at least on the surface.
"Just wait a little longer."
Lin Fu still hadn't made up his mind.
The new prefect is as aggressive as fire and as decisive as steel, but after all, he has just arrived in Quanzhou Prefecture and lacks understanding of the intricate forces here.
The government office problem is only part of Quanzhou Prefecture's problems, not all of them. Those who truly influence and influence Quanzhou Prefecture may not all be in the government office. The local wealthy families are the most terrifying force.
For people like Lin Fu who still had some retreat, most people chose to wait and see, but for those people who could hardly survive, they placed their last hope on Gu Zhengchen and stood up to complain.
Gu Zhengchen judged eight cases in a row. It was already noon. Seeing that the people were unwilling to leave and some people continued to cry out for injustice, Gu Zhengchen simply continued the trial without even having lunch.
If the prefect doesn't eat, others won't have a chance to eat either.
On this day, the government office tried the case until dark, and then slowly dispersed after receiving the government government's guarantee that they would continue to press charges and deal with grievances tomorrow.
Gu Zhengchen was exhausted.
When people complain of grievances, there is often a lack of evidence. To find out the truth, they need to concentrate on analyzing various details and catch the defendant's flaws in a short period of time. Then they can break through the facts of the case and make judgments and executions based on legal orders.
The whole process took a lot of energy, and I didn't even eat lunch, so I was exhausted.
Xiao Cheng handed the heated handkerchief to Gu Zhengchen and said with admiration: "Since entering Jinjiang City, this is the first time I have seen people walking past the government office with smiles. Your Majesty is right to choose you to come here. You are indeed He is a good and capable official. But——"
"What?"
Gu Zhengchen wiped his face.
Xiao Cheng frowned and asked: "Why was the money found from the house of the official Wang Xinqian not allowed to be counted or included in the treasury? There must be at least four to five thousand coins there. If those treasures and land deeds were sold, it would not be possible to say more .”
Gu Zhengchen smiled and said: "This money has other uses and does not go to the treasury."
"You don't want to keep it for yourself, do you?"
Xiao Cheng speaks out.
Gu Zhengchen rolled his eyes at Xiao Cheng: "If I take it for myself, will you know? This money is for the Yuanhuo Bureau. Of course, it needs His Majesty's permission first."
Xiao Cheng relaxed, as long as Gu Zhengchen wasn't greedy.
Gu Zhengchen was thinking about the Far Fire Bureau. It was really a waste of money and food. This was only in the research stage. Once it was finalized and entered mass production and batch testing, it would cost even more money and food.
Once the money embezzled by Quanzhou Prefecture officials enters the government's treasury accounts, the provincial government offices and the court can also reach out. Sometimes it won't end well if you don't give it.
Gu Zhengchen also wanted to use the money to rebuild Quanzhou Prefecture, but the difficulty in the development of Quanzhou Prefecture was not a problem of money, but a combination of problems from the government, local wealthy families, pirates, and high policy.
Since the money is likely to be taken away by the province and the Ministry of Household Affairs after it enters the treasury, it is better to give it directly to Lao Zhu and let Lao Zhu transfer it to the Yuanhuo Bureau.
While Gu Zhengchen was eating, Zhang Pei walked in and said, "Sir, there is a blacksmith named Huang Fei who said he wants to join the government as a servant. He is asking for an audience outside the door."
"I didn't leave a message to the outside world. I will ask about the recruitment tomorrow morning."
Gu Zhengchen asked as he took a mouthful of rice.
Zhang Peidao: "I've told him, but he still won't leave and insists on seeing him."
Gu Zhengchen frowned: "But if he has any unspeakable grievances, let him wait in the second hall."
Zhang Pei left in response.
Li Chengyi looked at Gu Zhengchen who got up after eating in a hurry, and sighed that it was not easy to be a good official.
Second hall.
Gu Zhengchen looked at the bookish Huang Fei and frowned slightly: "I have seen many blacksmiths, but this is the first time I have seen one as elegant and delicate as you."
Huang Fei bowed politely, and then said: "This boy is Huang Fei, a student in the government. It's just that because his family is poor and his father is ill in bed, he gave up his writing and became a blacksmith."
"Shengyi, no wonder."
Gu Zhengchen motioned to Huang Fei to sit down, and then asked: "Tell me, what grievances you have that can't wait all night."
Huang Fei was stunned for a moment, and quickly explained: "The kid didn't come here to redress his grievances, but to seek evidence. I heard that the government office was recruiting officials and handymen, and I thought it was a rumor, but when I saw the government office notice, I realized that it was It’s true. The government offices have always been short of people, and all they need is a piece of paper. Whoever’s turn it is to serve as a corvee will be sent by the local government. Why the government government is recruiting people this time is really puzzling.”
Gu Zhengchen saw that Huang Fei's words were clear and logical, so he smiled and replied: "The government office is short of people, send the documents to the local government, and wait for the people to be sent to serve as corvees. It will take at least half a month, but I don't have half a month to do it." etc. By issuing a recruitment notice, firstly, it can make the subordinate officials and government servants who have left have a sense of crisis, so that they can return to the government office; secondly, they want to find a group of new people. These new people need to have a clean background and clean hands, and will not do any harm to their own jobs. The official's yang serves the yin and violates the yin."
Huang Fei heard Gu Zhengchen's words and asked: "So, the government notice is actually true. Then the subordinate officials will be given three strings a month, and the handymen will be given two strings a month. Isn't that a lie?"
Gu Zhengchen shook his head slightly: "The people of Quanzhou Prefecture are watching the government's movements and looking at my official. If you openly deceive people with notices, where is the prestige of the government and where is the majesty of this official? The notices are true to every word. .”
Huang Fei stood up and said uneasily: "Today I was outside the government office to watch the magistrate judge the case. I was very reasonable and well-founded, which was very satisfying. But why did I do such an unwise thing? If I leave someone to blame, wouldn't it be harming my official career? As soon as Gu Magistrate Let’s go, this Quanzhou Prefecture will definitely fall into darkness again! The darkness after lightning will be even darker!”
It is impossible for the government to spend a lot of money and food to support the subordinates and servants. The price offered by Gu Zhengchen is far more than the six buckets of rice the imperial court pays per month. This is nothing. You, an officer, cannot use the money from the treasury without permission. Raise officials?
The money in the treasury cannot be touched, otherwise someone will get caught.
If Gu Zhengchen financed his official career, it would be a capital offense.
Huang Fei couldn't understand how a smart man could make such a stupid move.
Gu Zhengchen looked at Huang Fei and was quite satisfied with this person: "As for my official position, I don't care. I just want to say, do you want to be a government servant or a minor official?"
Huang Fei looked at the calm Gu Zhengchen and said bluntly: "I want money."
Gu Zhengchen was stunned for a moment, smiled slightly, and asked: "Where do you live? How many people are there in your family..."
After Huang Fei left, Gu Zhengchen handed the paper recording Huang Fei's information to Zhang Pei: "Ask Qin Song to send people to investigate Huang Fei and tell them to keep an eye on the Bu family. This family has a close relationship with Fu Yazhong. Today I have dealt with so many people in the government office, and I am approaching Wu Kang and Qin Xin step by step. I believe they will make big moves soon."
Zhang Pei understood.
Tongpanzhai.
Tang Xian faced Wu Kang and Qin Xin with a stern look on his face: "Gu Zhifu's trick is to remove his wings first and then kill us! Nowadays, the officials and servants in the government office are panic-stricken. If he shows his power again, many people will be killed." I will take the initiative to explain, and by then, it will be difficult for you to escape just like me! It will take a few days for Gao Shenzheng to arrive in Jinjiang, and we must find a way to delay Magistrate Gu!"
Wu Kang gritted his teeth and paced: "I have an idea."
