Returning from the newly built village outside the city, the sun had already crossed the sky. It's just that although autumn has entered, it's still hot.
After entering the city gate, we walked on the street back to the county government office. People on both sides were coming and going, and it was very lively. Seeing Wang Xiaolie and his entourage arriving, they all gave way to the middle road. Some people salute on the street, maybe they have received some kind of favor.
Wang Xiaolie was in a good mood. Although things in Xinjian Township were messy, they had finally begun. As long as something starts and goes on, it's good. As time goes by, there will definitely be good results.
At an intersection, a figure suddenly jumped out from the crowd on the roadside. When he arrived in front of Wang Xiaolie, he knelt down on the ground.
Wang Xiaolie was startled. After being in this world for several months, this was the first time I encountered this kind of thing.
Looking closely at the person kneeling in front of him, he was a young man of about twenty years old. Wearing a green shirt, his complexion is fair and his expression is very determined.
Zhang Jun on the side saw that Wang Xiaolie was silent and said sharply: "Who are you? How do you block Zhizhou's way?"
The young man said: "I am from Dongfangjia Village in Baofeng City. My surname is Fang and my name is Fang Mengchen. My family has some land. Last year, the Jin army captured Baofeng County. Our family fled to the mountains in the south. This year, I heard that the Jin army retreated. Then he went back to his hometown."
Zhang Jun waved his hand: "Who has the time to listen to your nonsense! Retreat immediately! If you are too late, I will give you a hundred military sticks!"
Wang Xiaolie said: "There is no need to scare the people. - You blocked my road, do you want to file a lawsuit?"
Fang Mengchen said hurriedly: "That's right! I just want to file a complaint!"
Wang Xiaolie said: "Looking at you, I think you have read poetry before. If you want to file a complaint, you can write a petition and send it to the Yamen."
Fang Mengchen said: "The magistrate said this because he wanted to shirk it. I had already written the petition, but the Yamen refused to accept it. I have lived in Baofeng County for three days. I was in front of the Yamen every day and could not get in!" "
When Wang Xiaolie saw the people around him gathering around him, he said to Zhang Jun, "Take his complaint and take it back to the Yamen."
Zhang Jun agreed. After getting off the horse, he arrived in front of Fang Mengchen like a wolf and a tiger, and accepted his complaint. Then he reached out, grabbed his collar, and lifted it up like an eagle catching a chicken. When he came to Wang Xiaolie, he handed over the petition in his hand.
Wang Xiaolie took a rough look and put it away. He was ordered to take Fang Mengchen back to the Yamen together.
When the people around saw it, they couldn't help but talk about everything. Seeing that Zhang Jun no longer mounted his horse, but just carried Fang Mengchen with him, they were all a little scared. The good impression of Wang Xiaolie that had just been established these days was suddenly gone.
Wang Xiaolie turned his head and said to Zhang Jun: "How could you hand this man over to the soldiers?"
Zhang Jun made a promise and handed over Fang Mengchen to the soldiers. He glared at him and got on his horse.
After returning to the yamen, Wang Xiao ordered someone to take Fang Mengchen to court, and then returned to the yamen and changed into official uniform.
In normal times, this kind of case would not be heard by the magistrate. There are managers who join the army and specialize in hearing cases. If the state is small and there are not many officials, other officials will also serve as military commanders. After the trial was conducted by the judicial officer, the magistrate made the judgment, and the result was signed by the magistrate and tongxuan. It's different now. Wang Xiaolie is the magistrate of the state and has no subordinates at all, so he can only do it by himself.
Sitting down in the middle, Zhang Jun led a few soldiers to stand on both sides, acting as yamen servants.
Looking at Fang Mengchen below, Wang Xiaolie said: "Just now I saw your complaint, saying that the property at home was seized. What happened? You can tell me in detail. Don't worry, although everything is simple now, I will uphold justice for the people. The officer can still do it.”
Fang Mengchen said: "The small family originally owned more than 500 acres of land in this village. Our ancestors lived frugally and bought it from the surroundings year by year. The land deeds are all there. A few days ago, our family returned to the village from the mountains, but we found that More than 300 acres of land have been forcibly bought. Zhizhou officials, how can there be forced buying and selling in this world! Please ask the officials to uphold justice!"
Wang Xiaolie asked: "Who bought it? Why did they buy it? Did they pay for it?"
Fang Mengchen said: "I heard someone said that a new village was going to be built next to our village. My land is in the new village. When they bought it, they couldn't find the owner, so they just wrote a deed and it was considered a purchase. I When I went to find it, the local official only gave me the contract, saying that the money for the land would be paid in installments over several years. My ancestors worked hard to buy the land, how can this be done!"
After Wang Xiaolie heard this, he took out Fang Mengchen's complaint again and read it carefully. Putting down the complaint, Wang Xiaolie said: "It was my idea to build the new village, and no one from anywhere can shirk it. Your complaint was written unclearly, no wonder no one is willing to accept it."
Fang Mengchen said: "What do you mean by knowing the state officials? So it turns out that the officials want to buy my land?"
Wang Xiaolie said: "I didn't buy it, the government wanted to buy it. You are right. When it was decided at that time, if the owner's land could not be found, he wrote a contract first and set the price according to the market price. Within ten years, when the owner comes back, This contract is still valid. If you don't return it in ten years, then let it go. Because of the war, the market price of the land is not high, so there is no way. You have more than 300 acres of land, which is estimated to be less than 200 guan. But now everything is difficult. , although it is not a big sum of money, it is difficult for the government to come up with it. We have to divide it into several years and pay it back bit by bit."
Fang Mengchen listened and looked around. He stretched out his hand and said to Wang Xiaolie: "Zhizhou officials, there is no reason to buy and sell by force in this world! Those fields were handed down from my ancestors and passed down from generation to generation. Why did they break in my hands!"
Wang Xiaolie said: "Are you the one who makes the decision in your family now?"
Fang Mengchen said: "My father is still here, so of course it is my father who makes the decision. It's just that my father is not feeling well after returning from the escape this time."
Wang Xiaolie nodded: "I see. Your family has more than 500 acres of land, which makes it a wealthy household in the countryside. Without the more than 300 acres of land, you won't be hungry. As for the money you should get from selling the land. , saying that it will be given to you in a few years, I will definitely give it to you——"
Hearing this, Fang Mengchen's neck stiffened: "But the official of Zhizhou, this land was passed down from my ancestors and I will never sell it!"
Wang Xiaolie listened and shook his head slightly: "Whether you are willing to sell it or not, it is the same. This is the government's decision, and the people must sell it. If I really don't want to, then I have to wrong you. Every year the Jin Army When we come to the south, the people are scattered and their lives are in ruins. We should find a way. Building new villages and letting the people live together is the way I came up with to deal with it. Whichever family suffers and which family gains an advantage, we have to settle for our destiny."
Fang Mengchen sneered: "I am a law-abiding and good citizen, why should I suffer this disadvantage? How can there be such a truth in the world! Where in the world can there be parents like Zhizhou! If you don't make decisions for the people, how can Zhizhou be worthy of the people!"
Wang Xiaolie said: "Before I came to Ruzhou, there were strongmen everywhere, killing people and stealing goods, and committed all kinds of evil. In the past ten days, except for one or two strongmen, Ruzhou could be said to live and work in peace and contentment. Of course I am worthy of the people. As for making decisions for the people , let the people have enough food, clothing, and warmth first, and then let’s talk about other things. The current situation is like this, when the country is ruined and the family is destroyed, of course some people have to suffer some losses——"
"Why is my family suffering!" Fang Mengchen's eyes were like spitting out fire, staring at Wang Xiaolie.
Wang Xiaolie said: "Why does your family suffer a loss? Ha, there are several families in the entire Ruzhou who are not at a loss! I think you are a scholar and you should know the truth. At this time, the first priority is Baojiawei. In our country, there is nothing you can do if you suffer some personal losses. Not to mention, the government paid you money to buy your land. Although it is divided into several years, the money will not cover you. Let me tell you the truth, if it were another person Zhizhou, why would I say this to you here? After being beaten with a stick, who would say anything?"
Fang Mengchen just sneered: "There are so many unscrupulous officials in the world. If the governor wants to do it, what can we, the common people, do?"
Wang Xiaolie said: "That's a good thing. I don't want to be an unscrupulous official. I only want to care for the people, so I'm telling you so much. When buying and selling things in the world, it's always better if one is willing to buy and the other is willing to sell. But there are many At that time, it was impossible to do it. The government bought your family’s land, not for me or anyone else, but for the common people——"
"Common people? Oh, that's funny!"
Wang Xiaolie smiled: "Why, don't you believe it's for the people?"
"Of course I don't believe it! Even in Baofeng County, there is so much wasteland, so you must buy my land!"
Wang Xiaolie looked at Fang Mengchen with a rebellious look. The kinder his attitude is, the more arrogant his anger becomes. Zhang Jun next to him had an angry look on his face and kept tapping the ground with his iron staff.
After calming his mind, Wang Xiaolie said: "Although you roared in court, made rude remarks, and made many mistakes, I don't blame you. Originally, when you did these things, an official should explain to you why. Once you have made it clear, you can do it again. If so, you will be punished. But in this extraordinary period, Ruzhou does not even have a county magistrate under its rule. Where can the officials come from to do this? If there is no way, then we have to do it forcefully. The people under the rule may not understand it for a while, then I can only feel aggrieved."
After hearing this, Fang Mengchen said coldly: "Why is it that my family has to suffer this injustice?"
Wang Xiaolie said: "Who said your family is the only one who suffers this injustice?"
Fang Mengchen asked: "Is there a second one?"
Wang Xiaolie said: "Thousands of families have been resettled in Baofeng and Jiaxian, how come they only bought your family's land? There are so many families, and you were the only one who came to the county to stop my car! It doesn't matter if you say you are intolerant. If you say that your family is the only one like this, you are just talking nonsense!"
After hearing this, Fang Mengchen just frowned and said nothing.
Wang Xiaolie said: "I will tell you clearly about this matter. The situation is like this now and there is no way. It is best if you can understand. If you can't understand, you can only suffer some grievances. It is inevitable when the country is in difficult times. The complaint you filed today will be dismissed. I will issue a notice to inform the people in the territory about what happened, so don’t let anyone guess."
After saying that, Fang Mengchen didn't speak. Wang Xiaolie waved his hand and asked Zhang Jun to take the people out.
