Qinghe County Department.
This is a complex of buildings with a duplex structure.
The front half is the county government office, and the back half of the courtyard is the residence of the county magistrate.
Many county chief officials in the Ming Dynasty were treated in this way.
For officials above the prefecture, their mansions may be separate and built in a beautiful place.
The backyard of the Yamen is just a temporary resting place for the prefect.
That morning.
Zhang Yunji, the magistrate of Qinghe County, was in the study room of his house, sitting on the Taishi chair with his eyes closed and meditating.
There was a person standing next to him, his master named Yao.
"Master, tell me about the situation in Gushan Town and how it is now."
Although Master Yao was privately hired by Zhang Yunji, and appeared to have no rank and no position, he actually had great power.
Equivalent to the county magistrate's special assistant.
The county magistrate, the Taiwei, and the first-class county officials, big and small, all had to show courtesy to him.
"Reporting to your lord, I received a report from the Wu family just before yesterday evening, saying that a group of bandits attacked the Wu family compound, and asked the county to send troops for reinforcements."
Master Yao replied respectfully.
"Master Wu is getting too old. The soldiers from this county are just police officers and government officials at best. There are only about a hundred people in total, which is not enough for bandits to fill their teeth."
"Why doesn't he go find Mr. Fu Cheng? Only Huai'an Prefecture has a garrison for thousands of households."
Zhang Yunji snorted angrily.
"Yes, sir, so my subordinates ignored it and just reported it as an ordinary situation." "But later, Mr. Wu, the prime minister of Huai'an Prefecture, sent someone over and told us not to do it first.
If you want to act rashly, it is very likely that the imperial envoy Xu Dagong went to Gushan Town and caused a big disturbance. "
"What, the Crown Prince of Wei?"
Zhang Yunji was shocked when he heard this. He jumped up as if a nerve had been stabbed. He was stunned for a moment, then a cold arc appeared at the corner of his mouth and said:
"Master Wu has always been bold and reckless. He encouraged his sons to roam the countryside and prey on the people. Even his eldest son Wu Qingfeng is quite dissatisfied."
"Right now, Emperor Yongle is implementing a new land tax policy. He has issued edicts to various government offices and county offices years ago. The tax collection officials from the Ministry of Household Affairs have all arrived in Huai'an Prefecture, and will soon go deep into counties and towns."
"The planner of this new deal is none other than this young official, Xu Qin, the grandson of the military god."
"And this Duke of Wei, the crown prince, a relative of the emperor and a third-rank imperial envoy of the imperial court, paid a private visit to the Yang and Huai mansions incognito. It is said that he was decisive in killing, vigorous and resolute, and very organized, so he should not be underestimated."
"This young imperial envoy will arrive in Qinghe County in the near future, but he is just passing through. There are two states and six counties behind him. I don't want to hear any inappropriate sounds, let alone see them."
"Not only do I not want to hear or see it, but the prefect Mei also doesn't want to see it. Do you understand?"
After hearing this, Master Yao was stunned and asked in confusion:
"Mr. Magistrate, what do you mean..."
"Wait a minute, send someone to Gushan Town to find out whether it was really the imperial envoy Master Xu who took action on the Wu family compound? What was the final situation?"
"If the Wu family compound is confiscated and the family is exterminated, the Ji Zhengwei sent by the imperial court will definitely send people to stay there to carry out land tax work."
"The tax collectors and other relevant officials in our county government office also asked them to go down quickly and cooperate with the Ji Zhengwei to re-measure the land, evaluate the grade of fertile farmland, determine the tax rate and other matters."
"In short, everything is focused on stability, and we need to send a message to other towns and villages in the county to let them tighten their grip and appease the villagers. Don't let things get into trouble and hit the knife edge. Don't blame me for saying hello before everything is fine."
"Tell them that as long as the county magistrate is still Zhang, everything will be over, and we will wait until the Ji Zhengwei withdraws."
Having said this, Zhang Yunji still seemed uneasy and gave a special instruction.
"Remember, all towns and villages must not cause trouble. Qinghe County is the first stop for the imperial envoy. As long as there is no trouble, he will be there soon."
"His final destination must be Huai'an Fucheng. This is the hometown of the Prince Consort, General Mei Yin, and the place where the Jianwen Party members are most concentrated. I estimate that Emperor Yongle used the name of this expedition to track down the Jianwen Party members."
"Yes, I understand!"
Master Yao also looked ugly when he heard this.
The next step is really not settled, it will definitely cause a wave.
"By the way, send people to the county to pay attention to the movements of strangers, especially the forces from all sides. I don't want anything to go wrong with the imperial envoy in Qinghe County, especially if it endangers his life. We must not It happened in Qinghe, do you understand?"
"I obey my orders!"
Master Yao was so nervous that he broke into a sweat.
He turned and left, hurriedly going to make arrangements.
…
While Zhang Yunji was discussing the situation with Master Yao, the public trial in Gushan Town had ended.
Xu Qin summoned Yang Shiqi, Su Zecheng, and Li Xiaoqi to meet to discuss the next step.
"Yang and Su stayed to organize the registration and clearing of the property and land deeds in the Wu family compound. After completion, they sent Yilin guards to escort them back to the capital via waterway and deposit them into the national treasury. They also waited for the surveyors to arrive in Gushan Town."
"All the troops will stay. Xu Sanlang and I will go incognito and wait for you in the county seat."
As soon as Xu Qin finished speaking, the expressions of the three people changed drastically, their heads shook like salesmen's drums, and they all disagreed.
"Master Xu, this is absolutely impossible. We have the duty to protect you. If anything goes wrong, Your Majesty will definitely punish you."
Li Xiaoqi was the first to bear the brunt and was the first to strongly object.
This is completely understandable.
Because he is the leader of the imperial escort team, if something happens to Xu Qin, he will be the first to die.
"Yes, sir, please think twice." Yang Shiqi and Su Zecheng also meant the same.
"Or let Chief Flag Officer Li lead a small flag and follow in plainclothes, just like in the past."
"No, we need to focus on guarding here. There are thousands of bandits in Hongze Lake, and there are also many bandits around. In addition, the cleanup itself also requires manpower."
Xu Qin insisted on his arrangement and said in a deep voice:
"This time I will go directly to the county seat. I will not show my face in public. I will just find out in secret. After you arrive in Qinghe County, we will make our identity known and head to Huai'an City."
"Don't worry, I have a salt mine in Zhuqiao Town, Shanyang County. There is a mine protection team of thirty people. I measured it on the map. It's only fifty or sixty miles from the salt mine to Qinghe County. Quick horse You can get there in half an hour.”
Seeing that everyone was still muttering, Xu Qin said half-jokingly:
"Ten thousand steps back, among the Yi Lin Guards, who has better martial arts than me?"
As soon as these words came out, everyone was speechless.
In terms of internal strength and force, even if Yilin Guards besieges Xu Qin with dozens of troops, he may not be able to win.
"That's it, don't waste any more time. Sanlang and I immediately changed our clothes and left quietly without telling anyone except the three of you."
"After I leave, everything here will be subject to Yang Shiqi's command, and there will be no mistakes."
Xu Qin said in a deep voice.
"As commanded."
The three of them clasped their fists and agreed.
In the evening of that day, Xu Qin and Sanlang entered Qinghe County on horseback.
This time Xu Qin transformed into a merchant, and Xu Sanlang was his attendant.
They settled in a high-end restaurant.
