But in his heart, he smiled happily and praised loudly: Zhang Pu, Qian Qianyi and others started to conflict, which was what he wanted to see. In his opinion, although Zhang Pu is more famous than him, he is now a pathfinding stone thrown out by him. How this errand will go depends on what happens to Zhang Pu first!
With this idea in mind, Wu Changshi naturally didn't want his illness to be cured early. Therefore, when the captain of the Imperial Guard was not paying attention, he secretly poured out the medicine in order to drink it. Or, waiting until midnight, deliberately not covering the quilt, so that even if you take medicine, it will not be cured.
Wu Changshi was just like Emperor Chongzhen, who also wanted to sit firmly on the Diaoyutai and watch the snipe and clams fight with a smile!
Besides, after Zhang Pu left Qiuyue Pavilion with his people, he took them to the Yamen of Yangzhou Prefecture and left them to the Yangzhou Prefecture. Before leaving, he warned him: "Under your rule, these officials openly come in and out of Fengyue's places, which really ruins the officialdom. If this matter is not dealt with seriously, I will definitely report the truth to the emperor about the officialdom in Yangzhou Prefecture." .”
This kind of thing cannot be put on the table. Although most people in the officialdom are like this, the emperor will turn a blind eye if he knows about it. But if it comes to the table, even if the emperor doesn't mind, he will have to deal with it. If the emperor had cared about it, then this matter might have been a big deal!
And the current emperor, since he ascended the throne, has been strict with himself, and his level of diligence is as fast as that of Taizu. Such an emperor can know the requirements for his ministers without looking at their performance over the years.
In fact, the emperor's comments were secretly circulating in official circles: mean.
Otherwise, it would not have been the case that in the years since Emperor Chongzhen ascended the throne, many cabinet ministers and feudal officials have been changed back and forth, and many of them were even killed upon questioning.
Therefore, after hearing Zhang Pu's threat, the prefect of Yangzhou Prefecture did not dare to take the matter lightly and quickly promised that he would strictly rectify the official atmosphere of Yangzhou Prefecture. Of course, as for whether he will strictly rectify it, time will tell.
Zhang Pu returned to the inn and sat down in the room. He didn't feel like he had vented his anger. Instead, he sat there blankly, his mind constantly echoing the scenes he heard.
"He is the son of a lowly maidservant. He deserves to be looked up to and all of us praise him. That's why he is what he is today!"
"With his kind of character, I, Hou Fangyu, disdain to be in the same camp as him!"
"Yes, you are a lowly son born from a lowly servant, how can you be the same as him!"
"Isn't there no one at your side? Well, that's fine. After the poetry tea party here is over, Mr. Zhang will hold another one, staggered from the one here. In this way, there won't be too many people. !”
"..."
Thinking of these words, the mocking faces of Hou Fangyu, Qian Qianyi and others seemed to appear in front of his eyes.
Jiang Dong was sitting on the other side. When he saw Zhang Pu sitting there motionless after he came back, he paid more attention, wondering what the talented man was doing.
After a while, he discovered that Zhang Pu's face was getting more and more ferocious. He didn't look like a scholar at all. He was full of hostility. His hands were also clenched into fists, and the veins on the back of his hands were prominent.
This is……
Jiang Dong watched, secretly surprised.
Suddenly, I saw Zhang Pu's face changed, and he suddenly returned to his original state, as if he had not been extremely angry just now. I saw him grinding the ink himself, and then began to write the memorial.
Obviously, he must have a clue. He wrote very quickly. In just a moment, he put down the brush and blew on the ink. Seeing Jiang Dong walking over, looking a little curious, he said to Jiang Dong with a normal expression: "Wu Xunjian is very ill and it is really not appropriate to move too much. I also wrote a memorial to request the emperor to change the Xunxun's office. county."
In fact, he didn't need to explain it to Jiang Dong, but if he took the initiative to say it, it was to show his goodwill to Jiang Dong.
Jiang Dong has no objection to this, just do as you like with Zhang Pu.
After the memorial was sent out, Zhang Pu rested in the post station as usual. He even seemed to have forgotten what happened before. He did not send anyone to ask the Yangzhou Prefecture magistrate whether he had dealt with those officials and how to deal with them.
If it is calm inside the inn, then there are turbulent waves outside the inn.
Zhang Pu ignored the unspoken rules of officialdom and went to Qiuyue Pavilion to cause a scene, leaving the rest of the people alone and almost pissing Donglin leader Qian Qianyi to death. This matter was extremely topical and spread immediately throughout the country. Almost everyone paid attention to this matter.
Many people criticized Zhang Pu, needless to say. Especially the officials and gentry here in Yangzhou Prefecture, as well as those who owed taxes, were even more dissatisfied with Zhang Pu. After seeing Zhang Pu arriving in Yangzhou, he hid in the inn without any movement. In this regard, they all thought that this was the silence before the storm. It is absolutely impossible for this Zhang Pu to give up. After all, he had already broken up with Qian Qianyi and others.
Just two days after the Qiuyue Pavilion incident occurred, late at night, suddenly, the silent city of Yangzhou rang out the cry of "flooding".
Jiang Dong heard the sound and quickly asked his men to protect Zhang Pu. He stood ready and went out to see what happened. It was discovered that the place where the fire broke out was not at the inn. That location seemed to be the prefect's Yamen.
Since it's not an inn, Jiang Dong doesn't care. When he was about to enter the door and go back, he suddenly saw a fire on the other side, which was particularly noticeable in the night.
"Where did this leak happen again?" Jiang Dong couldn't help but be a little surprised when he saw it, "Zhu Rong came to Yangzhou Mansion, two places were on fire in one night!"
Next to him, there was Yi Cheng who came out after hearing the news. He looked at the second place on fire and guessed with a little surprise: "It seems to be the Jiangdu County government office!"
Yangzhou Prefecture has a total of three states and seven counties, among which Jiangdu, Yizhen, and Taixing counties are under direct jurisdiction.
Jiang Dong was even more surprised after hearing this: "It's strange. Two government offices were on fire. What a coincidence?"
As soon as he finished speaking, he saw another place on fire. Before he could say anything, a sergeant pointed at another place and said, "Look, there's a fire there too!"
Yi Cheng was also extremely surprised. He looked at the places on fire and said in a voice, "It seems to be the county offices of Yizhen and Taixing over there!"
After hearing this, everyone understood that there was definitely something fishy about this fire. No matter how coincidental it was, it was impossible for several government offices in Yangzhou Prefecture to catch fire at the same time.
Jiang Dong ordered a few of his men to see what was going on?
Then, he turned back to the inn and told Zhang Pu about the situation outside.
After hearing this, Zhang Pu just sneered, as if he had expected something, but did not speak.
Soon it was daylight, and the fire, which had been noisy for half the night, was put out. The situation of fires everywhere was also brought back by the banyao who went to inquire about the news.
At Zhang Pu's house, the police officer reported to Jiang Dong: "The warehouses where land account books are stored in all the government offices were on fire, and they were all burned to the ground. Although my subordinates heard different reasons, they can be sure that this There must be something wrong inside.”
Needless to say, fire broke out in four different places, but in the same warehouse where land account books were stored. No matter what the reason was, it was definitely abnormal.
When the officer said this, he glanced at Zhang Pu, and then said to Jiang Dong: "My subordinates think that someone set the fire deliberately to burn the land account books and so on, so as to hinder the investigation of the case by the inspector. !only……"
He paused and said with a puzzled look on his face: "Are they just too bold? For such an obvious thing, no amount of excuses are useless. Why don't we do this kind of thing separately?"
He had just finished saying this. Before Jiang Dong could speak, Zhang Pu sneered and said: "So what if we are separated? Anyone who wants to burn those land account books can always tell. And I have predicted that there was a fire last night, but Not only Yangzhou City, but also Gaoyou Prefecture and Baoying and Xinghua County Government Offices, as well as Taizhou Prefecture Office, Gao County County Office Office, Tongzhou Prefecture Office and Haimen County Office Office, all caught fire last night."
Others, including Jiang Dong, were a little surprised when they heard it and turned to look at him.
I heard Jiang Dong say confidently: "They think that if I don't move for a few days, I will be thunderous if I move. Therefore, in order to increase all kinds of obstacles for me, they set fire to the local land." Account books. In this way, I won’t know that after knowing that the land account books of one place have been burned, I will immediately withdraw the land account books of other places.”
Hearing this, Jiang Dong and others nodded. It is indeed the case. If Zhang Pu really wants to investigate the case in Yangzhou Prefecture, once he hears that the land account books in one place have been burned, the house will be accidentally burned, and the land in other places will be destroyed. Account books are prepared in advance to prevent damage.
"But this seems to be useless!" After hearing this, one of the officers said a little doubtfully, "There are copies at the Nanjing Household Department, and there are also copies at the Capital Household Department. Just send someone to get them. They are like this What’s the use of raising troops and burning the ground?”
After hearing this, Zhang Pu sneered again: "How could it be useless? Even if you go to another place to get it, firstly, it may not be the latest one, and secondly, it will delay a lot of time. It just gives me a warning. It's disgusting for me to use it." Yes. You have great intentions!"
Jiang Dong frowned when he heard this. These people who set fire were really arrogant. They were blatantly doing this illegal thing and directly challenged the imperial envoy.
He immediately shouted in a cold voice: "The local government should be instructed to investigate this matter strictly. If necessary, I will report it to the factory official and request to intervene in this matter for a thorough investigation!"
"It's useless!" After hearing this, Zhang Pu immediately shook his head and said, "Since they dare to do it, they must have thought of a way out. At worst, they will launch a few minions to take the blame!"
Seeing that Jiang Dong seemed to be interested in this idea, he further said: "If you are obsessed with this fire case, it will play into their hands and divert their attention, so that they will not check their exemption limits and debts. A matter of endowment.”
"Then what should we do next?" After hearing this, Jiang Dong stopped talking and asked immediately.
After hearing this, Zhang Pu sneered again and said: "Of course we must do what they want and let them see the reaction they want to see!"
It can be heard that his real intention is definitely not what he said. But since he didn't say anything, Jiang Dong didn't ask any more questions. Anyway, his duty was to protect Zhang Pu and supervise him. This matter of carrying out errands is still Zhang Pu's own business.
In fact, Zhang Pu's idea is very simple, that is, wait.
Wu Changshi had committed adultery before and reported to the emperor that he wanted to change the location of the state capital. Later, he also published this memorial and rushed it to the capital. According to his estimation, the emperor would probably agree. In this case, the trouble in Yangzhou belongs to Wu Changshi and has nothing to do with him Zhang Pu. Those people came at him, but he didn't answer and punched him into the air!
Even if the emperor disagrees, it doesn't matter much. Zhang Pu has long decided to put the Yangzhou Prefecture last and build the plank road openly and secretly to Chencang. After the purpose is clear, he will immediately check the other prefectures with thunderous momentum and beat them. Caught off guard, handle these two things ruthlessly, kill them with dignity, and let them know that Zhang Pu is not someone to be trifled with! Even if he is born from a lowly servant, he can still manipulate people like them!
It's just a pity that the money old man is not his patrol area, so he can no longer deal with this old man!
With this idea as the principle of doing things, Zhang Pu then took up support under the escort of Jiang Dong and others, and went to the Fuya County Yamen in a mighty manner. He was furious and furious, and asked the chief officials everywhere to give him an explanation.
His performance seemed a bit angry, which made everyone hiding in the dark laugh at him.
"He's the son of a lowly maid, but he dares to fight with us, bah!"
"This is just the beginning, let him know how much he weighs, and come back later to beg for mercy!"
"Still want to come and beg for mercy? He has humiliated Mr. Yushan so much, so he will never be spared!"
"That's right. Mr. Yushan is so angry this time. He must make him look good. He will definitely not be spared!"
"..."
While they were watching Zhang Pu's joke, Wu Changshi was a little worried and regretful. If he had known this, he should not have submitted a petition to change the prefectural patrol area. If the emperor agrees, Yangzhou Mansion is the place where he wants to investigate. If the trouble is so fierce, how can he investigate?
With this in mind, just in case, he would not take medicine or worsen the condition. Anyway, he could not let the disease show any signs of improvement at this time.
A few days later, Emperor Chongzhen's decree arrived, agreeing to the exchange of purposes between Wu Changshi and Zhang Pu.
Zhang Pu couldn't help but feel very happy about this, thinking to himself, that old money man, just wait and see!
Then, he immediately discussed with Jiang Dong: "I have to investigate and deal with it immediately according to the order, and we can't delay it any longer. However, the first choice is Changshu County, Suzhou Prefecture. In order to prevent a similar situation from happening again in Yangzhou Prefecture, can the stall Do me a favor?"
"My lord, please speak frankly. As long as it is related to the emperor's orders, I am naturally responsible!" Jiang Dong replied seriously after hearing this.
He saw a trace of ferocity on Zhang Pu's face and said: "I will continue to stay here to fight with them for two days. At the end of the stall, I sent people to Changshu County immediately to protect all the land account books of the county government to prevent them from being captured." I destroyed it and got to know the situation in Changshu. Two days later, I will rush to Changshu, how about it?"
