Han Shizu

Chapter 668 Chaos in Yangzhou

Fireworks in March, the city of Yangzhou is full of prosperity and prosperity. Officials, scholars, merchants, and all kinds of craftsmen have jointly promoted the prosperity of Yangzhou, and it has become better than before in the two years since it was ruled by the Han Dynasty.

Today's Yangzhou is not only the seat of Huaidong Road, the place of essence, but also the only port for the Han Dynasty to the Southern Tang Dynasty. There are not many merchants from the Southern Tang Dynasty who cross the river from Jiangdong to trade, and [-]% of the boats shuttle on the canal. From the south, the taxes on the port alone have enriched the Yangzhou government treasury.

The prosperity of Yangzhou has indeed been contributed by three parts of the Southern Tang Dynasty. Similarly, through private trade, the penetration of Jiangbei into Jiangnan is getting stronger and stronger.Huai salt alone has the meaning of controlling its lifeblood. For more than two years, the people in the south of the Yangtze River have almost never eaten cheap table salt.

The yamen of the Transshipment Department is set up separately, very close to several large ports, with a wide view and convenient transportation.The yamen is newly built, and it is magnificently built. As a well-oiled department, it is no problem to allocate some money to repair it decently.

However, just as the spring is warm and the flowers are blooming, an invisible cloud is hanging over the transfer office.In addition to the servants of the subordinates, there are hundreds of well-equipped Tokyo guards. They are the accompanying guards of the imperial envoys who are investigating the case. To show their importance, Liu Chengyou directly selected two teams of soldiers from the Ouchi guards to accompany them .

As for the envoys from Tokyo, after they settled in the Yasi, the bureaucrats and official errands who went in and out to handle affairs were much more low-key, and they were no longer as public as they were at the beginning.You know, Zhao Feng, the transshipment envoy, is under surveillance.

This time, the people who came to Yangzhou for investigation under the imperial edict were Shen Yu, the servant of the Ministry of punishment, and Sun Fang, the censor of Zuoqian capital of the Metropolitan Procuratorate.Sun Fang was the confidant of Zhao Li, the censor of Zuodu, and was single-handedly promoted by him. Shen Yun, who was well-known in the court, was recommended by Fan Zhi to come to the south.

Right now, more than [-] members of the transfer department have been summoned.Shen and Sun, the two imperial envoys, were sitting behind the desk. Zhao Feng, the transfer envoy, kept a straight face and lowered his head slightly. Under the sleeves of his robes, his clenched fists showed his restless heart.It has been half a month since the special envoy investigated the case, and now it seems that there is a result.

After looking at it, everyone was here, Yu Shisun signaled to Shen Yu, got his affirmation, turned his head, looked at the official of the transfer department, raised his chin a little, took out a clear document, and coughed lightly Voice, calling out: "Zhao Feng!"

Zhao Feng's heart tightened even more, and just as he was about to answer, he heard Sun Fang's cold order: "Take it!"

His mind was in a trance for a moment, and when the guards stepped forward to arrest him, he struggled hard: "I am the transfer envoy of the Tao, even if you are the special envoys of the imperial court, how dare you take me without authorization?"

Seeing his clamor, Sun Fang touched the thin beard on his upper lip, and said lightly: "Zhao Zhuanyun, are you asking me for evidence? I can tell you that there is a large stack of documents about you in the hands of Mr. Shen and I." Each of the crimes has its own evidence. His Majesty the Emperor personally issued an edict to investigate this case! If you have any objections, you can wait until Tokyo to present your case in front of the Sanju Division. However, if you dare to resist arrest right now, then stop Blame me for being ruthless."

Hearing what Sun Fang said, Zhao Feng's face turned pale, and his arrogance suddenly sank.In fact, since the incident was brought to Tokyo, he has had trouble sleeping and eating.What is even more shocking is that the emperor and the imperial court paid far more attention to this matter than imagined, but within a few days, the special envoy to investigate the case arrived and quickly controlled the upper and lower levels, and he did not even think of a way to deal with the evacuation out.

In fact, if Zhao Feng was smart enough, he should have fled to the south of the Yangtze River before the imperial envoy arrived.Of course, that is not self-inflicted, and even if he escapes to the south, if he is discovered, he is likely to be sent back north by the Jinling court in order to please the Northern Han Dynasty.

People like Zhao Feng have the guts to be greedy, and their greed is particularly strong, but after the incident, they don't have any means and skills to counteract and get rid of the crime, they just sit and wait to die.

After Zhao Feng was taken down, the rest of the people didn't dare to say anything more, and those who were named were all honestly put into prison.Some people even bowed down and pleaded guilty.In just a short while, almost half of the staff members of the Huaidong Transshipment Department were taken down.

Seeing that the overall situation has been decided, Sun Fang turned to Shen Yu: "Mr. Shen, what do you think about the next step?"

Shen Yu is a humble person, usually soft-spoken, but at critical moments, he is still very dignified.Hearing and asking, he thought for a while: "Our troops are divided into two groups. You take people to confiscate the houses of these criminals, and the old man goes to inspect the division!"

"Okay!" Sun Fang was not wordy, and even flamboyant.

This time he came to Yangzhou to investigate the case, but Sun Fang took the initiative to ask Zhao Li for his order. He intended to do a career and add credit to his resume. This was a rare case that the emperor paid special attention to.

After arriving in Yangzhou, he immediately controlled several censors in Huaidong. His methods were very tough, and he did a good job in internal investigation. He did not waste too much energy and found out the two censors involved in the case. .

It was less than ten years since the founding of the country by the great Han Dynasty. At the beginning of the founding of the country, the bad habits of the old age were followed, and the corrupt behavior of the treacherous officials was actually very superficial and ostentatious, and could not withstand investigation and scrutiny.Perhaps in another ten years, the corrupt officials of the big man will be more "artistic" in their work after fighting against the supervision and law enforcement departments.

On the fourth day of March, the atmosphere in Yangzhou was always tense, with discussions from top to bottom, from the government to the people.Regarding the Yangzhou and Huaidong officials who fell from the horse, most of the civilians in Qianshou were full of enthusiasm for watching the excitement, and there were many discussions.And those powerful merchants who have interests in the government are worried, for fear of implicating themselves.

In the evening, the chief envoy, Wang Pu, returned to Yangzhou. He didn't make any publicity at all, and returned to the government in secret.As soon as he returned to the yamen, before he had a sip of hot tea, Zhang Yi, a subordinate counselor, came up to him: "Your envoy, you are finally back!"

Wang Pu went north this time to inspect the Hongze Lake project in Si and Chu. After a year and a half of excavation, with tens of thousands of laborers, the progress has been good.Of course, Wang Pu chose such an opportunity to go north, not necessarily without the idea of ​​avoiding the political turmoil in Yangzhou.

However, no matter what, Yangzhou is now his territory, and if something goes wrong, it is not easy to be alone.

"What's the matter?" Seeing Zhang Yi's anxious expression, Wang Pu blew on the heat from the teacup and asked unhurriedly.

Zhang Yi was originally a general of the Tang Army in Shouzhou and a subordinate of the surrendered general Xu Xiang. He was the one who urged Xu Xiang to surrender and showed extraordinary "strength".

After returning to the Han Dynasty, he was also entrusted with an official position, and was later discovered by Wang Pu. He felt that this person was capable and decisive in doing things, and he was a rare talent, so he was gradually promoted.Now, he is already a high-ranking official, and he is considered to be doing well among the surrendered Southern Tang civil and military officials.

Seeing Wang Pu's slow-moving appearance, Zhang Yi also calmed down a little, and said: "Today, Shen and Fang made a big round of arrests and ransacked homes in the city. , has already affected the operation of the department. According to the inspection department, several officials were taken down in front of Zheng Gong!

Shen and Fang, although bearing the mission of the imperial court, are too domineering and domineering. They almost treat me as nothing in Huaidong officials!Especially Sun Fang, who is cunning and cunning, and wants to make meritorious service.Your Majesty, we have to do something, otherwise he will set fire to the chief secretary's office! "

Hearing what he said, Wang Pu held the poor lamp, pondered for a while, and raised his hand as a way to comfort him: "In your opinion, what should I do? Shen and Fang are special envoys with orders, and I can still take the lead to go Do you want to engage in confrontation? Besides, are the officials of the two divisions wronged? Could it be that Shen and Fang are taking people without asking right and wrong?"

Zhang Yi also gradually calmed down, pondered for a while, and said with a serious expression: "However, people in Yangzhou City are now in a state of panic, and all the officials in the department have nothing to do!"

After his words fell, Wang Pu's expression suddenly turned serious, and he said: "Since that's the case, what we should do is to tell everyone to obey their duties and govern in a safe manner! If you are calm in your heart, why should you be suspicious!"

(End of this chapter)