From the capital to Jiangnan, although due to winter, many sections of the Beijing Grand Canal are not directly accessible by boat, so the journey is a bit slower. But generally speaking, no matter how slow it is, it will not be until the end of February in the 13th year of Chongzhen that we will almost reach Jiangnan.
The reason for this is that along the way, many local officials did not dare to do anything to the patrolling censors who were out on orders, but if they wanted to embarrass them, they should not be too simple.
For example, if the livestock you use suddenly suffers from diarrhea, your trip will be delayed! Or the livestock that the inn can provide are either old, weak or sick, which will delay the trip! All these problems that Zhang Pu had never encountered before were all encountered by him this time when he went out of Beijing and seemed to be accidental. Even if he is an imperial envoy and has Dongchang officers around him, there is nothing he can do in this situation.
In this regard, Zhang Pu actually knew very well that the officials and gentry along the way were expressing their dissatisfaction with him.
In fact, he wouldn't want to do it if it were possible. I just didn't expect that the scene that I directed and acted is still hanging in the air. I don't know whether the damn Zhang Zonglie is dead or alive, as if he disappeared out of thin air. There is no news from Dongchang either. This made Zhang Pu always worried.
It was also because of this so-called assassination incident that these Dongchang fans took a very strict look at him. The superficial reason was to prevent him from being assassinated again. Zhang Pu knew this well and could not object. You can't say that the assassination was actually fake. I was not assassinated at all. You don't need such close protection!
When going to the toilet, there is a Dongchang fan standing at the door; when sleeping, there is a Dongchang fan guarding the wall; no matter what he is doing, there is always a Dongchang fan with him. This feeling makes Zhang Pu really feel Like being detained.
But what made Zhang Pu a little strange was that Wu Changshi didn't know what he was thinking, but he didn't make any noise. Whether in the capital or on the road, he behaves himself. Could it be that he was really determined to complete the errands assigned by the emperor?
If that's the case, it's better to walk slower here and let Wu Changshi take care of things first.
If he succeeds, it means that those Jiangnan officials and gentry are actually still afraid of the national law and will not resist it much. In this way, you can do it with confidence!
But if he doesn't do it smoothly, it means that this matter will be as difficult as imagined. Then I can’t do things in a high profile!
Zhang Pu was just thinking about this when he suddenly heard the sound of horse hooves coming from the shore, and then a voice shouted loudly, as if it was the Jin Yiwei, asking if this was his fleet?
Jiang Dong, the stall owner of Dongchang, happened to be at the bow of the ship. He saw that a royal guard was indeed coming quickly from the shore. After confirming it, he let the fleet dock, saying that he had something important to do.
After Jiang Dong heard this, he immediately told his men to protect Zhang Pu. Then, while he let the boat approach the shore, he shouted loudly: "If you have anything to do, you might as well speak up!"
"Wu Xunjian lost his footing and fell into the water. My elders told Jiang Baotou to protect Zhang Xunjian and make sure nothing happens."
Jiang Dong was startled by the words of the Jin Yiwei on the shore. He quickly asked people to speed up and move closer to the shore. At the same time, he asked: "What's going on? He fell into the water in such a cold day? How is Wu Xunjian doing now?" ?”
Zhang Pu, who was in the cabin, also heard their conversation and couldn't help but be shocked: Why did Wu Changshi slip and fall into the water at this time?
In this kind of weather, even if you don't drown, you will definitely freeze to death, right? Did he do it on purpose, was he careless, or was someone harming him?
Thinking like this, Zhang Pu wanted to get out of the cabin in order to figure out this matter.
Immediately, two Dongchang officers, one on the left and one on the right, were on both sides of him and followed him out of the cabin.
"Although Wu Xunjian was rescued, he has a cold and a fever and is being treated in Yangzhou. He is afraid that he will not recover in the short term. He wrote a memorial and hastily sent it to the capital."
Hearing this, Zhang Pu couldn't help but immediately guess, could it be that this guy actually did it on purpose? He is from Jiangnan. Although it is not clear, he is probably good at water. With Jin Yiwei watching by his side, even if he doesn't know how to swim, he will definitely be rescued quickly. But is it such a cold weather?
Thinking of this, he felt as if his body got a little colder. I stuck my head out to see the condition of the river. Unexpectedly, the two Dongchang officers beside him had also heard the conversation. Seeing him like this, they were frightened. They immediately stepped forward, grabbed him one from the left and the other from the right, and dragged him towards the middle of the ship. stand.
Jiang Dong looked back at the situation, immediately frowned, and warned in a cold voice: "Master Zhang, we all don't know how to swim. If you slip and fall into the water, it will be difficult to save you."
Zhang Pu had a ghost in his heart. Hearing the faint warning in these words, he subconsciously did not dare to refute it. He just replied: "There are so many mistakes and falling into the water. I am overthinking it!"
After saying this, he didn't want to continue talking to Jiang Dong, so he loudly asked the Jin Yiwei on the shore: "I wonder how Wu Xunjian fell into the water at that time?"
"It seemed that he was in a great mood for poetry. He stood on the bow of the boat to recite poems and compose poems. Then the boat suddenly rocked a few times, and Wu Xun fell in." When the Jin Yiwei saw the boat approaching the shore, he stopped worrying. He shouted loudly and said in a normal voice, "The boatman said that there happened to be a rapid current here. My adults checked and found that the current was indeed relatively fast. At that time, the wind happened to blow again."
Just hearing this answer, Zhang Pu couldn't determine what happened when Wu Changshi fell into the water. So, he decided to go see him when passing by Yangzhou Mansion and explore his tone.
No matter what, with Wu Changshi's current situation, he definitely couldn't continue to run errands! This means that he, Zhang Pu, has to do what the emperor has told him first.
Thinking of this, Zhang Pu couldn't help but feel a little tricky. If this really happened, he would have no precedent to refer to and could only cross the river by feeling the stones!
How to check the limits of privileges and exemptions for officials and gentry and pay back taxes, how to do it, to what extent, etc., all depends on your own adaptability!
Thinking about this matter, Zhang Pu couldn't help but want to scold Wu Changshi. Could it be that he had also made up his mind to let himself go on errands first, while he watched from behind and gave him a reference?
If this is the case, then his mistake and falling into the water was definitely intentional!
With this thought, he soon arrived at Yangzhou Mansion.
According to the emperor's assignment, this Yangzhou Mansion was the place where Zhang Pu inspected. Wu Changshi still wants to go south, but now that he is staying here, maybe he really wants to see how he can do his errands here!
Thinking like this, Zhang Pu wanted to find out more and more whether Wu Changshi did it on purpose!
Therefore, after Zhang Pu arrived in Yangzhou Prefecture, he did not immediately set out to check the quota of privileges and exemptions for officials and gentry, nor did he collect arrears of taxes. He did not even ask for the local account books, but immediately went to visit Wuchang.
As the stall owner of Dongchang, Jiang Dong's main job is to protect Zhang Pu's safety and monitor him not to engage in mischief. As for when and how he should do things, he has no right to decide for Zhang Pu. In fact, he also wanted to see what was going on with Wu Changshi?
So, they soon met Wu Changshi.
In fact, his coughing was heard before anyone saw him. They could tell that it was a real cough, not an act.
"Brother Wu Xian, how is your health?" Zhang Pu asked in a worried tone as he stepped across the threshold.
Wu Changshi heard it in the house and quickly asked the maid to help him lean against the bedside. At the same time, he looked at Zhang Pu who strode in and said with a wry smile: "Brother Zhang, I am having a bad time. I didn't expect that I would slip and fall into the water. Fortunately, I will slip and fall into the water." I got back to the ship in time, but I also fell ill. Ahem..."
As soon as he said this, he started coughing again. When the maid saw it, she quickly came over to catch the phlegm with a handkerchief.
Zhang Pu was already in his forties, so he had seen many people and could tell that Wu Changshi was seriously ill. But this did not dispel his suspicion.
He sat down on the stool in front of the bed, and after Wu Changshi had finished coughing, he pretended to be concerned and asked: "How could my dear brother go to the bow of the ship in this cold weather, and how could he fall off the ship?"
Jiang Dong beside him also looked at Wu Changshi with concern after hearing this. If this guy is like Zhang Pu and really doesn't want to punish those corrupt officials, but does it deliberately, he is really ruthless and can compete with Zhang Pu.
"Oh, don't mention it!" Wu Changshi sighed after hearing this, "Were there many difficulties along the way?"
Zhang Pu didn't understand what he meant, but he nodded truthfully and said: "Yes!"
"So, little brother, I know well that some people don't want you and me to go south." When Wu Changshi said this, his expression seemed to cheer up a little, and he raised his voice and said, "But His Majesty's decree, we, as ministers, will naturally do our best. Do it. What's more, the emperor has made it clear to us about the two things we are going to do, and they are of great importance. I have also made a guarantee in front of the emperor, and I will not hesitate even if I go through fire and water. Therefore, I remember With all the things going on on the road, I feel more and more that even if there are mountains of swords and seas of fire ahead, I still have to go through them without fear. I am so proud that I want to go to the bow of the ship to face the cold wind and write a few poems to express my feelings. Ahem..."
Just as he said this, he started coughing again. He coughed continuously for a long time before he stopped. The maid next to him was busy catching phlegm and giving him warm water to drink. She was very busy for a while.
Although Zhang Pu didn't hear any flaws, he was unmoved in his heart. Seeing that he was getting well, he pretended to admire him and said: "Brother Xian is really thoughtful and has unparalleled talents. I also know this. I don't know Xian." Did I get any masterpieces? I believe that if the emperor knew about it, he would also appreciate it very much."
After hearing this, Wu Changshi showed a hint of shame and said: "Oh, forget it. Before I could think of a good sentence, I didn't expect that the boat encountered a rapid current. In a flash, I was unprepared and fell in. My little brother almost lost his life. , even if there is a masterpiece, it will already be scared to the point of being out of the sky!"
"Oh, really?" Zhang Pu said a little surprised after hearing this, "Brother Wei thought that when my virtuous brother went to report to the emperor, he would attach your poems to it to express his feelings!"
There is a hint of irony in these words. Jiang Dong couldn't tell, but Wu Changshi knew Zhang Pu very well and was not bad at learning, so he knew it right away.
He couldn't help but curse angrily in his heart, but on the surface, he was still just like Zhang Pu, full of hypocrisy. He didn't show it, but said regretfully: "I really want to do what Brother Zhang said, but it's a pity that I was This disease tortures me so much that I feel groggy all day, and how can I have any time to think at ease? Ahem..."
Zhang Pu stared at him. From the conversation just now, he still couldn't tell whether this guy accidentally slipped and fell into the water or for some other reason?
But one thing is clear: this guy is so ill now that he will definitely be unable to leave. In this way, Lai is in Yangzhou, which is still far away from his work place, so he can just watch what he does? Regardless of his original situation, at least judging from the results, this guy will definitely take advantage!
When he was thinking about it, Wu Changshi finished coughing, and suddenly showed a trace of sincerity and said to him: "Although I didn't attach any poems to the report, although I am sick, I still have the heart to do things, but I don't know when I will recover. If I continue to go south to do things, I'm afraid it will delay my errands. Therefore, I proposed to the emperor that I want to change places with Brother Zhang. This way, it will be convenient for me to start running errands as soon as I recover from my illness!"
Upon hearing this, Zhang Pu couldn't help but become a little suspicious again. What did he mean? You actually want to change places with yourself? You know, the Yingtian Mansion that he is responsible for is the capital of the capital. There are many officials and gentry, and it is definitely a place that is difficult to investigate. Would this guy take the initiative to ask for an investigation of such a place? The sun shouldn't be coming out from the west, right?
The two of them have known each other for many years and must know each other well. Although Zhang Pu heard what Wu Changshi said, he still didn't believe it. He felt that Wu Changshi's original intention could not be what he said on the surface. However, he has no evidence.
While he was thinking about it, Wu Changshi was also staring at him, and he probably guessed what he was thinking, and suddenly asked: "Brother Zhang, I just thought about myself and forgot to ask. I don't know if there is an assassin who killed Brother Zhang." Find out who is so bold?"
Upon hearing this, Zhang Pu felt a little embarrassed and a little angry at the same time. Do you want to talk more?
However, Jiang Dong was by his side, and he did not dare to show it, so he had to pretend to be filled with indignation, and said bitterly: "When I went south for my brother, the murderer was not found yet. You don't know, but fortunately for my brother, I have a good life." , that knife only stabbed Brother Wei’s leg, and luckily this Jiang stall arrived in time, otherwise, the consequences would have been disastrous..."
At this point, he didn't want to mention this matter anymore. But Wu Changshi caught up on this matter and asked about it, even asking about the details. He asked more carefully than when Dongchang investigated the case before.
With Jiang Dong by his side, Zhang Pu couldn't avoid or lie, but he couldn't tell the truth at all. This immediately made him feel very strenuous, and in his heart he wished that Wu Changshi would die immediately!
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