Man Tang Huacai

Chapter 226 Taking office

The name Yanshi comes from the fact that King Wu defeated Zhou, ended the war, fought the war, mobilized the troops and released the brigade, showing that the world would no longer use troops, so it was named "Yanshi".

The county seat is north of Luohe River. The city wall is six miles and eighty-four steps in circumference, three feet high, and has four gates: Wangjing Gate in the north, Huaisong Gate in the east, Zhanluo Gate in the west, and Yingxian Gate in the south.

The Yingxian Gate in the south of the city faces the Luo River and has a wharf, which is called the "Yingxian Gate Wharf".

On the river, large cannons from the east carried grain, cloth, and treasures. They had a deep draft and traveled upstream, slowly amidst the shouts of the trackers.

A passenger ship came from the west and arrived at the dock.

Yin Liang stood on the bow of the boat with his hands folded, his eyes scanning the crowds on the shore, including watermen, porters, merchants, pedestrians, officials... Finally, he turned to Xue Bai and said, "Young Master, someone is here to greet you."

As soon as the sampan was put down, a man strode up to greet Xue Bai on the shore. He saluted Xue Bai and asked, "May I ask if this is in front of Xue County Lieutenant?"

"You recognize me?"

"The county captain was amused. There are not many people like him in the whole world, not to mention the small Yanshi County."

The man smiled respectfully and introduced himself: "Qi Chou, the villain, is the leader of the "bad guys" team in Yanshi County. He has been ordered by the commander to come to the dock to greet the county captain."

Xue Bai handed him a glance and asked, "How did you know I would come today?"

Qi Chou responded: "Yesterday the government office sent someone to inform us that we should arrange our residence first."

"Which official sent this person?"

"Of course the villain doesn't know about this."

"You don't know? The government official is so thoughtful, but I don't even know who to be grateful to. When the official asks, whose responsibility is it?" Xue Bai smiled and said, "By the way, your name is Qi Chou? What a good name. Remember, how did you get this name?"

"The villain is born when he is ugly."

Qi Chou responded, and after hesitation, he said: "I remember it, it seems that Luoyang ordered Duke Zhou to send someone to the county office, so the county magistrate asked the villain to make arrangements."

Xue Bai said: "I should thank Duke Zhou."

Yin Liang stroked his beard and smiled, thinking that he was the magistrate of Luoyang County, and Yan Shiwei was just an official in a neighboring county, so why should he be so enthusiastic?

Then I thought that it was because of the eunuch Wu Huaishi, which made sense.

Xue Bai wanted to take a tour around Yanshi County first, but Qi Chou kept asking him to settle down first. After all, Xue Bai brought many family members.

After entering Yingxian Gate, we first went to a house next to the Confucian Temple to the east of the county office.

"Please, County Lieutenant, this is the residence specially prepared for you by the Commander-in-Chief. When Xiao Wu comes into the hospital, you should share it."

Qi Chou smiled and led the way, directly calling his servants to move their luggage.

"What are you doing in a daze? Why don't you help the county captain move the luggage in?"

Xue Bai asked: "I wonder if the original Wang County Lieutenant lived here?"

"Don't worry, County Lieutenant. I don't dare to let you live in the house where County Lieutenant Wang once lived."

"Why? Haunted house?"

Qi Chou couldn't answer, so he rubbed his hands and smiled, asking Xue Bai not to embarrass him.

"What is this mansion?"

"If you rent it, it will be deducted from the county captain's monthly salary."

Yin Liang smiled and asked: "What's the rental price? Who is the proprietor?"

Qi Chou said: "How can a villain know these things?"

Xue Bai said: "Take me to see Wang Xianwei's residence."

Qi Chou was about to refuse, but Lao Liang and Jiang Hai stepped forward, sandwiching him on the left and right. He was also a strong man, but at this time, he felt an inexplicable chill in his heart, and he hurriedly agreed.

"Wang Xianwei lives in Sanguan Temple Lane. I will take the county captain there."

"Thank you."

Yanshi County is quite prosperous.

Although it is not as good as Chang'an and Luoyang, it is more lively than Shaanzhou City.

Xue Bai was not in a hurry to visit the county town and followed Qi Chou into Sanguan Temple Alley. The third house in the alley was Wang Yansiam's residence.

"No one lives here anymore? Where are his family members?"

"Wang Xianwei's family members stayed in his hometown in Bingzhou and were not brought with him. When he went to take office, he only had an entourage who had been with him for many years."

"What's your name?"

"Wang Yi."

With that said, Qi Chou opened the door.

Xue Bai sniffed, walked to the second courtyard, and went directly into the east wing. This was a study room. There were multi-treasure shelves on three walls, with inkstones and antiques on them. There were ten pen holders hanging on the desk. The remaining writing brushes... but not a single page of the document was found.

After a while, Yin Liang came over and whispered: "Young Master, this way."

When he arrived at the main house in the backyard, Xue Bai took a branch, broke it off, and dug out a little bit of soil from the gaps between the bricks and stones on the ground.

"wet."

Yin Liang looked up at the tiles above his head and said, "It's not leaking."

"I washed it last night."

"It seems that County Lieutenant Wang did not commit suicide out of fear of crime."

"This matter is obvious." Xue Bai said: "I thought that Wang Yansiam died as a scapegoat, but now it seems that he may have discovered something else."

"Yi Cang is greedy and incompetent in disaster relief. These are all obvious." Yin Liang said, "The young master can't do anything about them?"

Even his staff did not know whether Xue Bai had followed the imperial edict.

Xue Bai smiled and ignored the question.

"What if there are more than these crimes? After all, there are really more than 20 rebels among the victims."

"I can't say for sure at the moment, unless we can get the murderer."

Xue Bai turned his head and looked at Qi Chou standing outside the door, and said, "This squad leader did not kill him."

Yin Liang muttered: "Logically speaking, the handsome man who catches bad guys must be the confidant of the county captain."

~~

"Bantou Qi is from Yanshi County?"

"Yes, I grew up south of Yishui, and am a neighbor of Master Xuanzang."

"Then you were already the squad leader of Yanshi County before Captain Wang arrived?"

Qi Chou was a little more wary and responded with a smile: "Yes."

"A county lieutenant with flowing water, an iron-clad man who can catch bad commanders?"

"The county lieutenant is laughing. Removing the villain is just a matter of a word from the county lieutenant."

"Having said that," Xue Bai said, "As a foreign county captain, when you arrive in Ji County with tens of thousands of people, you will be surrounded by fish and dragons. If you are withdrawn, won't you be blind?"

Qi Chou said: "The villain is the county captain's lantern."

"How is your relationship with County Lieutenant Wang?"

"It's good."

"Then he died, how do you feel?"

It was difficult for Qi Chou to answer this question.

When he met him for the first time today, he felt that the new county captain was too straightforward and did not give him any room for questioning several times. But it seems that the new county captain is still in control of his position, at least he has no intention of dismissing him yet.

Xue Bai suddenly stopped.

They were walking in the Sanguan Temple Lane. Lao Liang and Jiang Hai stood in front of and behind them, surrounding Qi Chou.

"Don't worry, if what you say comes out of your mouth and reaches my ears, no one else will know."

"Yes...it is said that Wang County Lieutenant was able to move from Yucheng to Yanshi because of the contribution of County Magistrate Li of Yucheng. Wang County Lieutenant is not very capable. In the past two or three years, he has indeed been unable to suppress Yanshi All kinds of ghosts and gods.”

"Tell me, what kind of ghosts and gods are there?" "The Luo River passes through the county. Once the watercraft passes by, it will bring too many benefits. Thieves, merchants, fugitives, water workers, and various dignitaries from other states and counties. , Wang County Lieutenant died in the hands of these people, it’s not surprising, the villain also tried to persuade him, but they couldn’t save him.”

"Why isn't it weird?"

"He was a bit unreasonable and only talked about the victims. In the winter of the fifth year of Tianbao, the victims from other places gathered in Luoyang. Only Wang County Lieutenant shouted to open a charity warehouse to stock food, but he forgot that the victims were from other places. The charity warehouse But the food belongs to the people of Yanshi County. Luoyang County, Henan County, and Hanjiacang are not releasing it. He wants to release it alone. How can anyone agree with him?"

Yin Liang said: "Whenever there is a flood or drought, we will use the free warehouses to provide food. If there are no warehouses, we will eat from other states. This is the rule of the imperial court."

Qi Chou said: "You really know that these words have not been debated in the county office. It was an early rule in the state to eat food. After the Yicang Law, who didn't pay food and who didn't make peace?' Today I gave it. Of them, we will be the ones who starve to death in the future. This is not what I say, it is what everyone else says. Don’t blame us for being cruel. In the past few years, who has a surplus of food in Hebian? All of them point to Yicang."

Xue Bai asked: "What did Wang County Lieutenant say?"

Qi Chou thought for a while and remembered what Wang Yansiam said at that time.

“If we don’t make a living for the victims today, who will make a living for us when we are hit by a disaster tomorrow?”

He obviously didn't realize the deep meaning of these words.

Yin Liang asked: "How many victims were there at that time?"

"Quite a few, I don't know the exact number."

"As far as I know, whenever disaster victims move, there must be people selling people. Who is doing this business?"

This question made Qi Chou hesitate for a moment, his eyes averted, and he said: "Yanshi is just a small county. Sir, go to Luoyang and ask."

Selling people due to disasters is a problem faced by all dynasties, but it depends on how the court handles it.

At the beginning of Taizong's reign, natural disasters occurred one after another. Shandong, Guandong, and Guanzhong were hit by disasters one after another. The people sold their sons and daughters. Taizong said, "There are no floods and droughts, and all the rulers have lost their virtue. If I don't cultivate my virtue, God will blame me." The government provided money to redeem the children of the people and return them to their parents.

After many strategies of Emperor Gaozong and Empress Wu, the method of human trafficking, slave teeth and human beings was introduced in new ways. During the Kaiyuan period, the imperial government was exhausted from providing financial relief, and had no choice but to allow poor households to temporarily sell their children as "domestic servants" to cope with the difficult times. That is to say, it is allowed to temporarily buy and sell people's lives by paying off debts through labor. If there is money to redeem the body within the time limit, it will be done, otherwise, it will be a slave.

Gradually, human trafficking became popular all over the world under false pretense and became a legal trade.

It is conceivable that if Wang Yansiam is allowed to meddle in his own business and open a warehouse to release grain, how many rights and interests will be affected.

"Are those disaster victims selling their children and daughters in Luoyang?"

"The villain really doesn't know." Qi Chou said, "Since then, the villain has avoided Wang Xianwei. Although he thought about replacing the villain, the commander and the county magistrate did not agree, so he had nothing to do."

"How did he die?"

"In the middle of July, around the 17th, he asked his servants to go to Luoyan Tower to sell wine. He must have been drunk, and committed suicide that night out of fear of guilt."

"anything else?"

"That's all. The villain doesn't have much contact with him." Qi Chou said: "To be honest, the capture of thieves in Yanshi County does not depend on him, a foreign county captain."

"Who does he usually associate with?"

"Those people from Shouyang Academy."

Qi Chou lowered his head and thought about it again, making sure that what he said was information that was not difficult to find out.

Xue Bai and Yin Liang looked at each other. Yin Liang understood and went to Shouyang Academy to inquire.

~~

After asking about Wang Yanxiam, Xue Bai's heart sank a little, and he felt that it was more difficult to be a county captain than expected.

It is incomparable with the leisure of the school secretary and Tai Lecheng.

He settled into a small house, tidied up his appearance, put on his official robe, and headed to the county office with Wu Huaishi's letter.

The government office is located in the center of the county. It looks very solemn and the door is closed. No one is in the court at this time. There was only a small door open behind the splayed wall, and a concierge was waiting.

Seeing Xue Bai, who was wearing a dark blue official robe, the porter quickly stepped forward and said, "The county captain is here. I will lead you in."

"Thank you. What do you call me?"

"The nobleman from Lao County asked me, my surname is Zhao, and I am in the sixth line."

"Zhao Liu."

Xue Bai noted that he walked along the bluestone path and passed through the Yimen. There was a commandment stone with the "New Commandments of the Commander" engraved on it.

Behind Yimen is the location of the six Cao Cao, divided into Gong, Cang, Hu, Bing, Dharma and Shi.

The Gong Cao is in charge of official examinations, selections, sacrifices, and county schools; the Cang Cao is in charge of the palace, warehouses, and shops; the Hu Cao is in charge of household registration, accounting, and taxation; the Bing Cao is in charge of city defense, military affairs, and recruitment; the Fa Cao is in charge of the format of laws and orders, prison sentences, and punishments. Supervise the arrest of thieves; the scholar-cao is in charge of beams, boats, chariots, houses, and all kinds of craftsmanship.

In the county office, the county magistrate, county magistrate, and county lieutenant are officials, while the six county magistrates, whether they are in charge, recorders, bad commanders, warehouse governors, chief ministers, doctors, etc., are all officials.

Xue Bai looked around and knew that as a county lieutenant, he had to at least control the soldiers and law officers in order to gain a foothold in Yanshi County.

Passing by Liu Cao's place in turn, along the path and passing through a ritual gate, the third entrance into the courtyard is the central hall and two flower halls.

"Invite the county captain." Zhao Liu did not dare to go over and raised his hand to point to the flower hall to the east.

"Thanks for your hard work."

Xue Bai walked into the flower hall, where there was an old man sitting on a bench reading documents. His eyes were so fascinated that at first glance, people thought he was a county magistrate, but he looked like he was wearing ordinary clothes.

"The county captain is here."

When the old man saw someone coming in, he stood up quickly and saluted: "Little old man, Yanshi Luo Guo Huan, I am honored to meet the number one scholar. The Ming Dynasty has been waiting for you for a long time. Please come here."

"Lao Guo Lu will lead the way, please."

"The little old man has heard about the talent of the Number One Scholar for a long time... When will the bright moon come? Ask the sky for wine."

Guo Huan actually sang a line, which was quite friendly but also seemed to have no aura.

Xue Bai knew that he was the county magistrate's confidant, but it was not as simple as it seemed.

The two of them walked into the central hall from the back of the flower hall, and finally saw the county magistrate Lu Linghao.

To Xue Bai's surprise, Lu Linghao didn't look very old, a few years older than Wu Huaishi, and obviously less than forty. Considering that his daughter was having sex with Wu Huaishi in the palace, it was probably obvious that this person was utilitarian. ,

Today, if Lu Linghao meets in the flower hall, it means that they are close; sitting in the middle hall at this time, waiting for Xue Bai to come to see him, means that there is order in the government office and the rules must not be broken.

Maybe it has something to do with Xue Bai's actions after entering Yanshi County.

"Xue Lang is here."

When Lu Linghao saw Xue Bai, his reaction was very enthusiastic. He straightened his official robe and left his seat to greet him.

"I got the official document and found out that the talented Xue Lang was appointed as the county captain. I was overjoyed."

"The Ming government favors you."

Xue Bai hurriedly received the gift, and when he was helped up by Lu Linghao, he immediately took out Wu Huaishi's letter and handed it over, saying: "This is the letter that General Wu in the palace asked me to bring."

"Look!" Lu Linghao smiled at Guo Huan, "Mr.

"We are really destined. We will be officials in the same county in the future, and we will definitely have fun together."

After some greetings, they sat down in the east and west. Lu Linghao pointed at Xue Bai and said with a smile: "I just heard from the yamen servant that you have entered the county seat and immediately ordered someone to make tea. Unexpectedly, the tea was cold. , Haha, just make do with it and drink."

"Mingfu is too polite." Xue Bai said: "Really, some things have to be done first. Instead, Lao Mingfu waited for a long time. It's my fault."

"I have to do it?"

"It has to be done." Xue Bai said in a positive tone.

Lu Linghao sighed and said slowly: "I understand what you mean, how about this."

He held up Wu Huaishi's letter in his hand, and then said: "How about I reply with a letter and ask General Wu to explain it to us?"

This is what makes Lu Linghao extraordinary.

The person standing behind him was a chamberlain in the palace, and he had a relationship with his father-in-law and son-in-law, which was a deeper background than many high-ranking officials. In a certain way, he can understand the Sacred Heart better than Xue Bai. Xue Bai's previous methods of bluffing others could not bluff him.

At least that's the attitude expressed by Lu Linghao at this time.

"Okay."

Xue Bai breathed a sigh of relief and confessed directly: "It would be best if General Wu could explain the death of Lieutenant Wang to the saint and save me from investigating."

He bet that Lu Linghao would not dare to let Wu Huaizhi mention Wang Yansiam's death in front of the saint.

If he wins the bet, Lu Linghao will be confused about his depth, thinking that he is a saint who asked him to investigate, so he has to be a little afraid of him; if he loses the bet, nothing will happen...

　Sorry, I probably failed to adjust~~ Because this is the big transition from Chang'an to Luoyang. Some time ago, I was only focusing on updates, and there were too many preparations that were not done. I have been checking information and ideas during the day, and the more I write, the later it gets later~~ I wrote 9 words today. I spent all the time I spent adjusting yesterday. I have to take it easy tomorrow~~ In addition, I will draw the flat city in Yanshi County for everyone tomorrow when I am free~~ I hope to follow up after changing the map. Don’t order it, please give me a monthly pass~~

　　

　

(End of this chapter)