Jingming

Chapter 173 This gentleman is like a leek

"Did you forget that there will be new rules in Guangdong?" Zhang Fujing asked with a smile in Zheng Cunzhong's house.

Zheng Cunzhong's face was extremely ugly: "I don't know what the rules are in this game of chess?"

Is this how chess is played?What a fart!

"Don't you have some guesses about the new rules in Guangdong?" Zhang Fujing asked strangely: "It's your turn."

Zheng Cunzhong looked at him for a long time, and then said: "Students admit defeat."

"Admit defeat or plead guilty?"

"Students don't know what crime they committed."

"Connecting with the wealthy households of the country gentry, using the hand of Chaozhou Jieyang county magistrate and subordinate officials to provoke the villagers to besiege the county government, is there any?"

"No, the students have been studying in Guangzhou City to prepare for the exam."

"As a guarantor in the middle, do you find good land for officials from all over the country and recruit rich households for rent in Guangdong?"

"Students refer to their sons, what can they do?"

"Write a pleading for the rich and tell the villagers, is there any?"

"There were a few times. The students just wrote the papers on their behalf to make the pleadings fit the style. The students never participated in how the case was tried, and they never worked as litigators."

Zhang Fujing nodded, and asked again: "Then how much did you evade the family's tax and labor?"

After being silent for a moment, Zheng Cunzhong said calmly: "If Futai wants to punish the students for this crime, the students should plead guilty. But let's see if Futai can treat them equally, and ask Your Majesty to punish all gentry in the world for this crime. Didn't Futai say that? Futai I'm afraid the family has already acted like this."

"Proficient in laws and regulations, relying on fame and status, as long as you move your mouth, your hands are never stained with blood. You can be called a person who violated the laws of the country, but this crime is the only one. However, the law does not punish the public, so you have nothing to fear." Zhang Fujing said with regret in his tone, " With this ability, why do you have to be a moth. Now that you have confessed to this crime, then this book will do as you wish, please Your Majesty, send you to Beijing."

Zheng Cunzhong's body trembled slightly.

What does it mean to let him enter Beijing?
"It's just a mere candidate, I want to leave a name in the history books." Zhang Fujing looked at him, "I have studied hard for many years, and I still don't have the qualifications to enter the Fengxian Hall to see Tianyan, but now you have done it with your own ability. You don't have to wait for the palace exam, you You will be able to wear the shackles and go to the temple first. If you are lucky, you will be beheaded in full view outside the Meridian Gate, honoring your ancestors!"

The yin and yang are strange, every word punishes the heart.

"There are 99 out of [-] gentry in the world. There is only one student, and the student is not convinced!!! Even if it is to kill the chickens to warn the monkeys, is it useful? You should have this honor after studying hard for decades. Why have the world's taxes been cut off because of this? Your Majesty and the court Why do the lords of Gungun sit in peace? Isn't it because the officials and gentry of the world govern the place and educate the village?"

The words of being beheaded fell into his ears, and Zheng Cunzhong suddenly lost his composure.

Zhang Fujing picked up the chessboard and smashed it on top of Zheng Cunzhong's head just after his roar.

Chess pieces splashed, Zheng Cunzhong was dizzy, bleeding from his forehead, his scarf was scattered, his hair was messed up, and he didn't look polite anymore.

"This is what the sage Ben Fu taught you." Zhang Fujing put down the chessboard and clapped his hands, "You don't have to growl in front of Ben Fu. In the Fengtian Temple, you should either keep silent and be a martyr and confess other crimes. If you die, you can look forward to whether the officials and gentry in the world will spread your good name secretly. Or you can speak out boldly and let His Majesty see clearly why Ming Dynasty is not rich or strong. Maybe the law is not to blame How can everyone escape with their lives?"

Zheng Cunzhong was aggrieved and trembling all over.

Boldly speak these words in front of the imperial court?I'm afraid that there are many important officials in the court who wish to draw out their knives on the spot and hack him to death first, right?
The blood on his forehead flowed to his cheeks, and he said with a crazy smile: "Okay! I will go to Fengtian Temple! I want to see how His Majesty solves this deadlock, how to convince the gentry all over the world, and after decades As Futai said, the Ming Dynasty is full of innocent officials and gentry!"

Zhang Fujing turned around and waved: "Tie it up!"

……

The second session of the Guangdong Provincial Examination ended the next day, and the gates of the Gongyuan were opened, and those who were able to hand in their papers could leave early.

After they walked out of the tribute courtyard, they saw many people running in one direction excitedly.

Just as the sky was about to clear up, a scholar hurriedly asked the servants or book boys waiting here: "What's the matter?"

"There is a master Juren, a scholar, and a wealthy family who sued the inspector and the prefect of Guangzhou, but the governor arrested all the complainants last night. I heard that several people's homes were raided, and the soldiers and horses of the capital were dispatched Now!" Jia Ding said excitedly, "Now the governor and the Guangzhou government have posted notices, saying that the case should be handled impartially, so that the people of Guangdong will not be afraid of being oppressed by the government and the gentry and wealthy households, and they will sue for grievances! Now the magistrate Yang is interrogating Xun Juren !"

"Mr. Xun who is as famous as Mr. Cunzhong?" The scholar turned pale with shock, "What crime?"

"Forcing to sell fertile land, allowing servants to beat people to death!"

"...Go and have a look!"

Since he sued the inspector censor and the prefect of Guangzhou, why was the bitter master arrested first and ransacked his home?

Encouraging the people of Guangdong to sue officials and even the wealthy gentry is even more inconceivable, but the first one to be taken out as a model was Xun Juren?

What on earth are they going to do in Guangdong!
In the Guangzhou government office, three old farmers knelt aside, while Juzi surnamed Xun stood aside with a sullen face.

He has this treatment for judging people without kneeling.

But that's not the problem now.

Yang Shen had an unbiased expression on his face: "It's an old case 17 years ago. Since the sufferer has mentioned the name of the witness, he should summon it. Don't worry, since the government has accepted the pleadings, the case will definitely go on trial."

Xun Juren was like swallowing a fly.

If this case is going to go on trial, will I, the defendant, have to wait for a summons at any time?
If it is normal, you can hand in a famous post to settle the matter, or even ask a litigator to defend it on your behalf.

But right now it's a tearful situation.

How many civil disputes?As long as it is not a homicide case or a major case, the government has always let Lizheng mediate first, and is very unwilling to receive more papers and open a court for questioning.

How much energy does this involve the local officials?More diligent officials would have their subordinates take on more cases and try them on their behalf, just asking about the facts and verdicts of the case. How can it be like now, where the governor openly encourages the people to file a complaint?

The disaster relief work is so complicated, what are they going to do?
Not only are those litigators less daring to stand up for them at this time, I am afraid that some scholars who are taking part in the provincial examination will be affected!
Especially those scholars who come from rich families and are expected to win the exam!
The trial of the case is going on, the number of cases is increasing, should Guangdong Juren set off as soon as possible to go to the Ministry of Rites in the capital for a trial?
There was a lot of discussion here in the Guangzhou government office. In the governor's office, more than a dozen people stood or knelt and looked at the front with pale faces.

In front of them, Xie Changjie had already removed his official uniform and hat, stood there with his head bowed and said, "I plead guilty, and everything I said is true."

"You are the censor of Guangdong Province appointed by the imperial court. Your Majesty will decide how to deal with it." Zhang Fujing looked at him. Bribery comes later. Now that the evidence is conclusive, Zhai Tixue?"

Zhai Luan's heart was racing, but he could only say with a sullen face: "If you don't cultivate your virtues, you violate the laws of the country. You should be punished for your fame, and you will be punished according to the law."

Zhang Fujing nodded: "I will write a document and hand it over to the various prefectures, ordering interrogation."

"Master Futai is wronged! He is the one asking for bribes, it is he..."

"Report!" Someone broke in from outside the door, "Master Futai, the imperial decree has arrived!"

Everyone in the hall showed a trace of expectation in their eyes, and Zhang Fujing hurriedly led all the officials to the door to meet the order.

It was Gao Zhong who came to deliver the decree.

Looking at his haggard appearance, everyone knows that he has come all the way through wind and rain.

"Zhang Fujing accepts the order!"

"Minister Zhang Fujing, ask Sheng'an? Long live Your Majesty! Long live! Long live!"

"Saint Boon."

After he replied, he cleared his throat and opened the imperial decree.

"Fengtian Chengyun Emperor, the imperial edict said: The hurricane passed through the country, and the people died. My heart is very sad! Guangdong is exempt from tax for one year, and the other government officials need to be approved by the governor and chief minister. Don't waste the people's power. Guangdong Zhucang sees the decree That is to say, we will open the warehouse to release the grain, and transport 20 shi to Fujian as soon as possible."

"Zhang Fujing, the imperial governor of Guangdong, saw the decree and then held the sword given by the emperor to urge Guangdong to provide disaster relief, investigate cases, and calm the people. There are officials and gentry who take advantage of disasters to embezzle people's land and do illegal things. Those who are fourth-rank and below should be executed first. Of."

"In addition, I have ordered Duke Dingguo to go south to Guangdong. If things change, Huguangdu can be dispatched to command [-] elite troops to go south, and all orders and symbols will be prepared. Duke Dingguo will command them! This is yours! "

One was more terrifying than the other, and Zhang Fujing kowtowed excitedly to accept the order: "Minister Zhang Fujing accepts the order, and thank His Majesty Long En on behalf of the people of Guangdong! Long live Your Majesty! Long live! Long live!"

It is also the authority of the fourth rank and below, and those who were not affected last year will all tremble under the butcher's knife this time.

The most important thing is that Duke Ding is going south!Huguang's [-] elite soldiers are on standby at any time!
The imperial court is not afraid of chaos in Guangdong.

Now that such a decree has been issued, the Ministry of Officials should already be doing interpretation and selection, waiting to go to Guangdong to fill the vacancy at any time, right?
After receiving the order, the pawn crossing the river saluted Gao Zhong: "Guangdong censor Xie Changjie has pleaded guilty to accepting bribes and extorting bribes, and the other Guangdong son Zheng Cunzhong and others have all been arrested and brought to justice. Please rest for a few days, Mr. Gao, and send everyone Go to Beijing."

Gao Zhong looked at the majestic Zhang Fujing and didn't dare to neglect him, but asked suspiciously: "Your son committed a crime...do you want to send him to Beijing together?"

Zhang Fujing took a deep look at him.

Gao Zhong's heart skipped a beat all of a sudden: "Our family understands..."

Even Ding Guogong was sent here, and the layout of Guangdong is naturally related to the entire Ming Dynasty.

Gao Zhong is an errand runner.

"Please, Eunuch Gao, go to the yamen to rest. Ben Fu is going to the Sansi yamen to read His Majesty's will!"

This is a clear decree, but only Zhang Fujing is allowed to accept the decree.

From now on, although Guangdong does not have a separate governor, he already has this authority.

All divisions are subject to restraint.

A dozen or so detained gentry and wealthy households in the hall watched Zhang Fujing go out with a sword in one hand and an imperial decree in the other with pale faces.

"...Put it in prison first!"

"It's wrong--"

Gao Zhong watched them being taken away, but then asked the person who asked him to take a rest: "Where is Huang Mingji? Our family has never been to Guangzhou, so please guide us."

The people in the governor's yamen were shocked, thinking that there might be a secret order, and immediately said respectfully: "Grandpa Gao, please wait a moment, I will arrange someone to prepare the sedan chair."

After giving an order, he asked people to quickly prepare hot tea and pastries, and then asked flatteringly: "Please tell me about the name of Eunuch Gao? Eunuch Gao has worked hard all the way, and he is very strict in handling the stage. Many entertainments have to be credited. It is really... presumptuous... "

"That's it." Gao Zhong narrowed his eyes and said with a smile, "Our family name is Gao Mingzhong, loyal Zhong."

……

In Guangzhou City, Gao Zhong didn't feel that the sword was on the verge of coming, and the city was full of enemies.

He didn't understand, so he asked Wei Bin for advice.

"Grandpa, I still don't understand."

The corner of Wei Bin's mouth showed a faint smile: "I'm not happy to keep calling it that way."

"Where is the old ancestor? You have supported me a lot in the past, Gao Zhong is such a snob!"

Wei Bin thought to himself, isn't it because of Huang Ming Ji?This kid is always staying in Qianqing Palace, so he naturally understands that Huangmingji may be very important.

There is no secret order to come to visit, just to burn some incense by the way.

"Let's call our supervisor." Wei Bin told him the new name His Majesty had chosen for his position, and then asked, "What don't you understand?"

"...Guangzhou looks very peaceful, doesn't it? Listening to what the ministers said in the memorial, Guangdong seems to be going upside down."

"Brushwork, of course." Wei Bin smiled, "It's true to say that the situation is tense. It's just that civil servants have always used pen and ink as swords and guns, and words as sharp arrows. If your majesty only listens to his words and reads his writings, It seems that there are thousands of troops. Actually? Eunuch Gao also saw it."

Gao Zhong looked down from the top floor of the Yuan Studio, full of smoke and fire, and the people looked quite alive.Probably because... the government and county government are all accepting complaints, and there are many cases for discussion?

"Zhang Fujing is a real talent!" Wei Bin sighed, "He knew that words and pens are not worth worrying about. In this world, only those who can't survive will be willing. Those officials, gentry, and wealthy families are used to being superior and arrogant. I am used to it, and I always think that the foolish people who are nodding, bowing, and pleasing to the eye on weekdays will do what they say and make a small profit. As everyone knows, the common people will change their minds quickly because of other things. To avenge grievances, not to send slaves, that is a good day."

The corners of his mouth were filled with a sneer: "If there is such a lively scene of punishing the high-ranking gentlemen in the past, just look at it, and it will relieve your anger and fill your stomach. Without these people who can really let go, what can the country gentry and wealthy households do?" ?Their servants are not dead men. After two or three generations of wealth, they forget that their ancestors were also farmers who had no food to eat and no clothes to cover their bodies. They brag together on weekdays, and they talk about advancing and retreating with one mind. Jiajing, fuck off immediately, you betray me, I betray you."

"Zhang Fujing knows how to use a knife, and His Majesty knows how to use a sharp sword. How can a country become rich? We don't understand how to get rich every year in the future. But right now, Guangdong has confiscated all these family wealth and official lands. All yamen gates in Guangdong will be rich within ten years! This gentry is like a leek. The number of applicants and students in Guangdong will not decrease, and there will be another crop in three years. Zhang Fujing is in Guangdong. There will be problems, His Majesty will just stare at the frightened other provinces with peace of mind."

Gao Zhong just felt creepy: "Isn't it because other provinces are looking at Guangdong, so it's important here? Zhang Futai killed so hard, and the officials and gentry of other provinces were terrified. What if they colluded with each other?"

"Zhang Fu knows the importance of respect, and he will definitely give His Majesty a good excuse to make other provinces speechless."

Gao Zhong thought of the batch of scholars and scholars Zhang Fujing asked him to send to the capital.

"Let's go back to Huangmingji's Guangdong branch."

"... Supervisor, isn't it here?"

"What's a restaurant?" Wei Bin curled his lips, "It's just a copy that wasn't sold to Huang Mingji."

"How much silver?"

"No, but I have to arrange for the fleet to go to Jiaozhi to buy food and return it to the Guangdong Fantai." Wei Bin said with a sad face, "I'm working hard, I don't know if the hurricane at sea has stopped."

"... If the supervisor is busy, then I'll go back first?"

Wei Bin shook his head: "Your Majesty wants some things, please take them back with you."

"The supervisor was joking, but he dare not say trouble!"

"It's good to be busy! It's good to be busy!" Wei Bin's words were sincere, much better than Shouling.

I am used to the wonderful life, how can I get used to the lonely life of darkness?
Gui E is on the contrary, in the past few years, his life was too boring.

But now, it's wonderful.

The commander sent by the capital is in Huizhou, and there are not enough strong squads, and there are still soldiers.

Huguang's [-] elite soldiers are staring at them, and they have the momentum to do things that Guangdong can't do.General Jiang has already chopped off the heads of three thousand households, and strictly ordered that the past should not be blamed, but he must do his job well!

Is it really bothering that old man Dingguo to lead Huguang's elite soldiers south to claim meritorious service?

The chaos outside of Guangdong has something to do with them, so first plow the local area!
So Gui E went up to ask the case, and looked at every magistrate, subordinate official, gentry, and wealthy household who were sued with his nose.

Find out the facts and make a decision!

No one to do something?Gui E was driven mad by the two Shangguans, and she was frighteningly energetic.

He even found himself relishing the thrill of arbitrating the fate of others, especially those who looked down on him and were self-righteous.

"My lord! My lord, this official was just coerced by officials to take some money. According to the "Regulations on Interrogation and Punishment", this official's crime is not an exception and he should be sent to the army forever. This official can redeem his sentence, and this official is willing to redeem his sentence... ..."

Gui E is very tangled.

There are such provisions in the Interrogation and Penalty Regulations.As usual, Daming had almost "no unredeemed crimes, no unredeemed persons".As long as they are not over [-] years old, under [-] years old, or disabled and sentenced to death, or sentenced to permanent exile, they can pay for atonement.

According to the money he was greedy, he would be sentenced to a lifelong exile, and there is no need to sentence his descendants and relatives to succeed him forever.

"... Then I will pay 4000 taels of silver..."

Before Gui E finished speaking, she whispered again: "Fu Zun, according to the "Law of the Great Ming Dynasty" and "Regulations on Interrogation and Penalty", it should be four thousand coins..."

The prefect's small eyes were about to widen, and his beard trembled.

"According to the "Yuzhi Dagao", the government will be released, and those who sell the rich and the poor will be punished by the family! Those who take bribes and say that things are too much money will be executed in a short time! Those who steal and sell granaries will have their faces tattooed and their knees removed!"

"The next official accepts silver! Accepts silver!"

Gui E held the pen in her hand and tremblingly wrote the verdict: "I'm pissed off! I'm pissed off!"

Could it be that this group of people ended up accepting money to atone for their sins, demoted to their citizenship and sent back to their hometowns?
Who knows what fields they are still hiding under the name of so-and-so, and various places will not conveniently and strictly check who is still an official?
Because there is no clear definition of official status!

"Next! Next! I want to submit a memorial, revise the "Regulations on Interrogation and Punishment", make a decision on the prosecution, and send copies to the counties..."

He muttered to himself, the commander of the Guangdong capital who accompanied him here only felt that the prefect of Huizhou had some brain problems.

On the official ship outside the city of Guangzhou, Zhang Fujing handed the confession in a small box to Gao Zhong and said: "There will be new files later, and I will send them to Beijing again, and I will hand them over to Your Majesty." That's it."

Gao Zhong, who stayed in Guangzhou Mansion for three days, nodded: "Our family remembers, Futai, take care!"

As the official ship set sail, Gao Zhong walked into the cabin and looked at Xie Changjie, who was guarded by two Jinyi guards on one left and one on the right.

"The patrol didn't result in a conviction, it doesn't have to be."

What he was referring to was that Xie Changjie himself was wearing plain clothes.

Xie Changjie pursed his lips: "But just listen to His Majesty's instructions."

Gao Zhong heard about the situation in Guangdong in the past few days, so he said with a smile: "It's more or less far from the land of right and wrong, and I can get a few more sleeps on the way."

After that, they went to the bilge again, where more than a dozen people were shackled and locked in small cages firmly nailed under the wooden beams.

Curiously, he walked towards the lonely person in the innermost place, squatted down and asked, "Our family heard that you also have the character Zhong in your name?"

Zheng Cunzhong, with disheveled hair, looked at him contemptuously.

In the dark bilge, he sat upright, with a rather strong appearance.

Gao Zhong hooted loudly, and then said, "Bah!"

Zheng Cunzhong clenched his fists tightly and let his saliva flow down his face and hair.

"What do you mean by the flowing dynasty, the iron gentry, you deserve to be called Zhong?" Gao Zhong said with disgust.

(End of this chapter)