The First Corrupt Official of Ming Dynasty

Chapter 279 Master Ye’s two additional conditions, Master Wu bombarded Ying Tian, ​​and Zhu Yuanzhang opened his eyes and told lies!
Under the morning light, the two large stone lions on both sides of the county government office gate, which were usually very conspicuous, were no longer conspicuous at this moment.

Because all the officials of the county government not only stood at the gate, but also blocked the stone lions behind them, so that only the tops of the two lion heads could be seen!

The reason why there are so many more officials in the Yanmen County government than in other places is that the management methods they implement are very different from the imperial regulations.

There are as many as 18 female officials working at major tax windows. You can imagine how many officials there are in Yanmen County.

But although there are many of them, none of them are freeloaders. It can be said that it is the configuration of an official family, but it is the income model of a private enterprise.

The people passing by looked at this scene and felt it was very strange.

"Is this a group portrait?"

"Officials wear official uniforms, and officials wear official uniforms. They still stand so neatly. They must be preparing to paint a collective portrait of the county government!"

"No, why are they painting a group portrait?"

"No need to ask, didn't you see Mr. Ye coming out in official uniform just now? Mr. Ye must be getting promoted and leaving office, so I painted it as a souvenir for Mr. Ye!"

"."

The more everyone guessed, the more likely it was that it happened, and many people actually wiped away tears.

But after watching for a long time, they didn't see the painter coming out with the equipment, and then they realized that maybe that wasn't the case.

Just when they were curious, a powerful voice came from the south direction of the street.

"The imperial envoy is here!"

Everyone looked south and saw the guard of the south gate riding on horseback to clear the way, followed by the eunuch carrying a yellow cloth baggage.

Behind them were dozens of Jinyi guards wearing brocade robes and golden armor.

When the people looked at this scene, they realized that they were overthinking it. It turned out that all the officials of the county government were standing outside the gate to welcome His Majesty the Emperor's imperial edict.

But even if it is not a commemorative collective portrait, as soon as the imperial edict for promotion comes, their Lord Ye should leave office!

Thinking of this, they still secretly wiped away tears, but they cried with joy as if they were in mourning!

Ye Qing looked at the upcoming 'key to go home'. While he was secretly happy, he also felt a little overwhelmed.

If these people knew that he was destined to die instead of being promoted, I really don't know what kind of crazy behavior they would do.

"I have to find a way to prevent these people from 'rebelling'!"

"."

Just when Ye Qing thought of a solution, the eunuch who delivered the edict got off his horse and took out the imperial edict scroll with the wax seal intact from the yellow cloth bundle.

He first held the imperial edict high to indicate that the wax seal was intact.

At the same time, he was also secretly cursing the eunuch who came to deliver the order last time: "That's nonsense. Why is Mr. Ye so rude? Why should I be careful?"

"This is because the general opened the way, and everyone greeted me at the gate. It is a courtesy to His Majesty, and it is also a courtesy to my father-in-law."

"It is simply unjust for such a sensible Mr. Ye not to be promoted!"

"."

After a while, the eunuch who delivered the edict removed the wax seal in public, and then pulled the edict with the golden dragon embroidered on the back under the sun.

"Ye Qing, magistrate of Yanmen County, accepts the order!"

Ye Qing took a step forward, bowed slightly and said, "Your Majesty, Ye Qing accepts the order."

At the same time, all the officials in Yanmen County knelt down and worshiped.

The eunuch who delivered the order looked at this scene and frowned subconsciously. Why didn't Mr. Ye kneel down?

While Ye Qing maintained his slightly bowed posture, the corner of his mouth also raised a proud arc.

He must be proud!

He has lived in ancient times for ten lifetimes, but he still adheres to the bottom line that modern people only kneel to their parents, ancestors and mentors, but not to feudal emperors!

This is extremely difficult, it is even more difficult than a stunning beauty staying a virgin on an island of macho men for 100 years!

Just when Ye Qing was secretly proud of himself, the eunuch who passed the order thought about the legend about Mr. Ye and turned a blind eye.

"Following the heavens, the emperor ordered:"

"Ye Qing, the magistrate of Yanmen County, has been an official for three years. He is dignified and close to the people. He is self-disciplined and law-abiding and has achieved good results. I am very pleased that the civil servants support the army and do not get involved in the army."

"Special, promoted to the sixth rank, promoted to the fourth rank, 'Prefect of Ningbo Prefecture'!"

"Wu Yong, the magistrate of Yanmen County, has served as an official for three years. With outstanding assistance and meritorious service, he was promoted to the fourth rank and promoted to the sixth rank, 'Tongpan of Ningbo Prefecture'!"

"The remaining officials in Yanmen County will remain in office and will be rewarded as soon as possible. They will be issued after the new magistrate takes office!"

"Bestowed!"

Just when the eunuch who delivered the order had just finished speaking, everyone present became excited.

Although the people watching were sad that Mr. Ye was about to leave office, they were even more happy that Mr. Ye had been promoted to the sixth rank in a row.

The same is true for the county government officials. They are really happier than getting the top prize.

Especially Wu Yong, he burst out laughing with joy!

He walked up to Ye Qing, facing the direction of Yingtian Mansion, and bowed again and again: "Thank you, Your Majesty, for your kindness. I am so grateful!"

"Long live your Majesty, long live, long live your Majesty!"

At this moment, everyone was shouting "Long Live Your Majesty", but Ye Qing stood there like a sculpture, neither happy nor sad.

The eunuch who delivered the order looked at the petrified Ye Qing and said, "Master Ye, why don't you accept the order and thank me?"

As soon as the eunuch who delivered the order finished speaking, the scene instantly fell silent.

Because only then did everyone notice that Mr. Ye was standing there with no expression on his face, not even blinking.

Judging from his unresponsive performance, it was impossible to tell whether he was happy or unhappy now.

But even so, no one thought in an unhappy direction, they just thought that Mr. Ye was overly flattered.

Yes!

Even being promoted to the sixth rank cannot be said to be a miracle of this dynasty. In the past 500 years, only he, Ye Qing, could do it.

In fact, they had many guesses before the imperial edict came, but no matter how much they guessed, they would be promoted to three levels in a row, and they would first become the magistrate of the state!
But he never expected that he would be directly promoted to the sixth rank and become the prefect!

Thinking of this, they felt that they had underestimated the handiwork of the founding emperor!
Wu Yong, who was kneeling on the ground, looked at Ye Qing, who was still expressionless as if he was petrified, and immediately frowned and pulled the corner of his clothes: "Master Ye, why are you still standing there?"

"Why don't you kneel down quickly to accept the order and thank me!"

Other officials also whispered to Ye Qing to kneel down and receive the order.

His Majesty the Emperor is already very interesting. If he is still dissatisfied, it is Ye Qing's fault.

Ye Qing listened to these reminders and looked at the imperial edict in front of him. His eyes were full of fire. If he could breathe fire, he would have burned down the imperial envoy and the imperial edict!

In other words, hundreds of years of life experience combined allowed him to barely keep his emotions and anger at bay during this furious moment!
Finally, Ye Qing lowered his head slightly and glanced at Wu Yong, who was kneeling on the ground and tugging at the corner of his clothes.

He just kicked him on the butt with an expressionless expression, and Wu Yong jumped directly in front of the eunuch who delivered the order and hugged his feet!

"No bones!"

"That's it?"

"Okay, I would like to congratulate Mr. Wu on his promotion!"

As soon as he finished speaking, Ye Qing turned around decisively, held his hands behind his back, and walked back home with his head held high.

On the way back to the mansion alone, Ye Qing frowned and couldn't figure out why. Was it the part-time imperial envoy Mr. Guo who went back and lied, or was the founding emperor of the Ming Dynasty blind?

"I have been an official for three years, and I have only worn the official uniform five times. The total time I have spent in office is less than one month, and I keep yelling at people. How can I be 'upright, dignified and close to the people'?"

"I have been an official for three years. I changed the regulations privately and created my own system. I just said that I would become the emperor behind closed doors. How can I 'discipline myself, abide by the law and achieve good results'?"

"I admit that I have some achievements, but I can discipline myself and abide by the law. Where can I see it?"

"I admit that I am a civil servant, but how can I tell that I support the army but do not get involved in it?"

"If I hadn't wanted to go home, I would have bombarded Yingtian with just one order. Do you believe it?"

"It's just nonsense, it's just talking nonsense with your eyes open."

In the bedroom, Ye Qing simply took off his official uniform and complained in his heart.

But just when he changed into his regular clothes, he immediately realized that the content of the imperial edict was not the point at all!
It has been the same throughout the ages. As long as the superior wants to promote someone, he can make up [-] reasons. Even if he knows that he is telling lies, it doesn't matter. It is just a process anyway.

The key point of this matter is that he obviously committed a serious crime of evading agricultural taxes, but in the end he was promoted to six levels in a row!
This seemingly completely unreasonable result is what he should focus on!
Thinking of this, Ye Qing calmed down for a moment, and then began to think about what was going on.

"Mr. Guo and his wife will not and dare not deceive Zhu Yuanzhang, so Zhu Yuanzhang must know all my good and bad things."

"For him to issue such an imperial edict must be the result of weighing the pros and cons!"

"But my crime of evading agricultural taxes is absolutely unforgivable!"

"Unless he listened to other people's advice!"

"Yes, he must have listened to others' advice and sent someone to secretly investigate why I evaded agricultural taxes!"

"."

Thinking of this, Ye Qing also sighed helplessly.

His original plan was to use the intuitive results of evading agricultural taxes to make Zhu Yuanzhang furious, and then kill him in a fit of anger.

Of course, his temper would also affect Taiyuan Magistrate Liu Wencheng and other colleagues.

But they don't want to die. They will definitely talk about the war preparation granary, the disaster preparation granary, and the liquidation granary.

With so many officials claiming injustice and so many officials talking about this matter, as long as Zhu Yuanzhang was not a fool, he would put down his butcher knife temporarily and investigate first.

After the matter is found out, he will definitely forgive Liu Wencheng and the others for not telling them, and there will be corresponding rewards.

With such a result, he, Ye Qing, could be considered worthy of them.

Of course, Zhu Yuanzhang might regret killing Ye Qing by mistake, but there is no regret medicine in the world. Ye Qing has returned to modern times.

And so many of his 'legacies' in this era are compensation and gratitude to Zhu Yuanzhang.

This was Ye Qing's plan to use the agricultural tax to return home, a perfect plan that would only kill himself but not implicate his superiors, colleagues and subordinates.

As long as this plan succeeds, it is a perfect plan.

such a pity!
I don’t know which annoying guy persuaded Zhu Yuanzhang who was in a rage, so that his perfect plan ended in failure!
Ye Qing didn't want to go into details about who this annoying guy was, whether it was Queen Ma or Zhu Biao. Anyway, the result of his plan was failure, and it was just a waste of brains to think about who the murderer was.

What he has to think about now is how to continue to seek death.

Ye Qing will never compromise or give up.

After staying in this ancient time with nothing for hundreds of years, he was really tired of living!Just when Ye Qing was thinking about what to do next, the eunuch delivering the order outside the gate of the county government was also calmed down by Wu Yong and others.

Of course, the reason why Wu Yong was able to appease them was not only because Wu Yong was very capable, but also because of the legend that Ye Qing used imperial edicts to flatter them and not die.

The eunuch who delivered the order suppressed his anger and said: "Master Wu, Master Ye's sentence is dismissed right now. What do you mean?"

"Is he still not satisfied?"

While Wu Yong welcomed the eunuch and others to the front office to rest, he explained: "It's probably not what you think. I will definitely give you a satisfactory answer."

"Come here, serve tea and snacks!"

After a while tea and snacks arrived.

The tea is real tea, and the snacks are also real snacks, but next to the snacks, there is a treasure note with the denomination of 'One Hundred Guan'.

The eunuch who followed Zhu Yuanzhang had never seen so much money before. He immediately smiled and said: "Don't worry, Mr. Wu will go ask questions first."

"His Royal Highness the Crown Prince has privately stated that if Mr. Ye feels there is anything wrong, he can raise it as long as it is not too excessive."

When Wu Yong heard this, he immediately figured out the true meaning of Mr. Ye's words, "It's over now."

Yes, it’s a simple and crude literal meaning!
It must be that Mr. Ye is talented and can control the superiors very well. Sure enough, there is still room to increase his worth.

After all, Wu Yong's appetite is still small!

"My father-in-law, wait a minute. I'm going to ask Mr. Ye what he really means."

As soon as Wu Yong finished speaking, he decisively turned around and headed towards Ye Qing's study.

Just when Wu Yang came to the study, Ye Qing also thought of the next way to seek death!

In fact, when he kicked Wu Yongzhi, he said, "It's over now." He didn't mean anything else, it was just a simple statement of anger.

But now he is ready to make this sentence mean something!
After Wu Yong entered the study, he bowed and said, "Master Ye, aren't you satisfied?"

"I've been promoted to six levels in a row, and I can't get any lower!"

"Not only that, I can continue to work with you without resigning. Your Majesty has thought very carefully about this. It can be said that the emperor's favor is immense."

"But I know, my appetite is still too small!"

Having said this, Wu Yong smiled again and said: "The eunuch who passed the order just said that before he left, His Highness the Crown Prince made an explanation. If you have any other conditions, you can put them forward as long as they are not too excessive!"

After hearing this, Ye Qing just raised the corner of his mouth slightly. It had to be said that Zhu Biao was indeed a wise king as recorded in historical records.

He was in the court, and just based on the information he learned from Mr. Guo and Xu Da, he was able to be so courteous to the virtuous corporal. If Ye Qing didn't go home, he might actually be able to save his life!
The next moment, Ye Qing gave up the idea decisively. There was no if, absolutely no such if!

Thinking of this, Ye Qing was ready to unswervingly implement his next plan to seek death, which was a plan that made the phrase "let's get rid of it" a little more interesting.

Ye Qing looked at Wu Yong and just sneered: "Yes, your appetite is too small."

"Take off your official clothes, put on regular clothes, and accompany me to negotiate terms."

A moment later, Wu Yong, dressed in casual clothes, accompanied Ye Qing to the front office hall.

In the eyes of the eunuch who delivered the order, Ye Qing changed from his official uniform to his regular uniform. He was still sitting with his legs crossed. He looked like a completely different person than when he was greeted at the front door.

A discerning person can tell at a glance that he is not satisfied with this imperial edict!
But what could be dissatisfying about being promoted to the sixth level in a row?

After Ye Qing picked up the tea cup and took a sip of tea, he leaned on the back of the chair and didn't even look at the eunuch who was delivering the order.

He just said in a leisurely tone: "It only took me three years to turn this impoverished place into such a prosperous place!"

"Although I am a corrupt official, but go and see, among those honest officials who can't even afford to buy coffins for their parents, how can any of them have such outstanding political achievements as my own?"

"Not to mention other things, if I can double the grain production by myself, it will take more than just a fourth-grade prefect!"

"Also, I made suggestions for the Northern Expedition, not to mention my contribution to the defense of the city. I will treat my contribution to the defense of the city as a gift to Your Majesty!"

"I must take credit for recovering the jade seal passed down from the country!"

"A mere fourth-grade prefect is sending beggars away?"

After saying that, Ye Qing pointed excitedly in the direction of Yingtian Mansion and said, "Can Zhu Yuanzhang be a little more stingy?"

"No, I should give him the minimum respect. I should call him His Majesty the Emperor. But he is so cold to my heart, why should I give him the minimum respect?"

Having said this, Ye Qing leaned forward again and looked directly into the eyes of the eunuch who delivered the order, his eyes filled with amusement: "Tell me, am I right?"

The eunuch who delivered the order just smiled awkwardly, and he did not dare to answer at all.

Now he just feels that the last eunuch who delivered the order was so right. Coming here to deliver the order is really a torture!
The eunuch who delivered the order just whispered: "Master Ye, you can't say that. If you look forward 500 years, which official can be promoted to the sixth rank at once?"

“It didn’t happen in the past 500 years, and it will definitely not happen in the next 500 years!”

"Master Ye, this official position is really not small!"

"Of course, your achievements are indeed great, but in order to commend you, His Majesty also held a special court meeting to commend you in front of hundreds of officials!"

After saying that, the eunuch who delivered the order smiled flatteringly and said: "Master Ye, as the saying goes, a tree must be watered from the root. You cannot turn it into a fat baby in one bite. You have a bright future, just do it step by step!"

Ye Qing knew that the eunuchs who could get in front of the emperor and deliver the emperor's orders were all first-class smart people.

But this is similar to what the boss in his previous life said, "Young people should not just look at what's in front of you." In front of him, an old fox who has lived for hundreds of years, it is completely nonsense.

Besides, he doesn't care about the bright future here. He just wants to return to the bustling modern metropolis as soon as possible.

Thinking of this, Ye Qing nodded again, as if giving the emperor some face.

"Fine!"

"Then I will give your Majesty some face, and the magistrate of Ningbo will be the magistrate of Ningbo!"

"However, I have two additional conditions. If Your Majesty agrees, I will accept the order and take office. But if he does not agree, I will either take off my black gauze hat, or I will take off the head on my neck!"

When Wu Yong heard this, he was so frightened that his legs almost gave out.

He just wanted to ask Ye Qing now, do you really want to play this big?

In Wu Yong's eyes, when Ye Qing said, "Take off the head from my neck," not only did Ye Qing's eyes look like torches and his eyes were firm, but his tone became even more serious. It was like a eunuch who was afraid of delivering the order Can't help it, it seems like it's not conveyed properly!
The eyes of the eunuch who delivered the order were full of horror at this moment. He had never seen such a desperate negotiation method in his life!

"Master Ye, can you tell me about your two additional conditions?"

Ye Qing just shook his head and said: "These two additional conditions of mine may be said to be simple or complex, and it is easy to make mistakes when conveying them orally."

"I will write it down right now, and then I will trouble my father-in-law to take it back and give it to Your Majesty!"

As soon as he finished speaking, Ye Qing immediately asked someone to bring him the Four Treasures of the Study, and then wrote down his two additional conditions in a fluent manner.

He wrote very quickly and could finish it on just one piece of paper, which showed that the number of words was not many.

His expressions can be clear in a few words, which is enough to show that his two additional conditions are indeed very simple, but they are also full of 'professional terms' that the eunuch cannot understand, which is enough to show that it is not that simple!
Although the eunuch who delivered the order couldn't understand it, Wu Yong, who had studied with Ye Qing for three years, understood it immediately.

After Wu Yong subconsciously swallowed his saliva, he looked at Ye Qing with doubtful eyes and said, "Master Ye, do you really want to put forward these two additional conditions, and do you really want to use your head as collateral?"

Ye Qing said firmly: "Of course!"

As soon as he finished speaking, Ye Qing handed the sealed letter to the eunuch who delivered the order, and directly issued an order to expel the guest.

After the eunuch and the others left, Wu Yong turned around decisively, looking like he was in a hurry.

"Why are you going?"

Wu Yong turned his back to Ye Qing and said seriously: "I understand what I mean, sir. You are not negotiating. You are deliberately breaking up the negotiation."

"I finally know how big your appetite is. I will go to the arsenal and ask them to speed up production, and then mobilize for rebellion!"

When Ye Qing heard this, his eyes widened instantly.

He hurriedly stopped Wu Yong and said: "Don't act recklessly, I have no intention of doing this!"

"Have you forgotten my teachings?"

"Although His Majesty is short-sighted and has many shortcomings, he has made great contributions to China. He deserves to be in this position."

"Besides, what's the good thing about being an emperor? I'm as tired as a dog day and night. How can I live a comfortable life?"

"I just want to increase my worth, I just want to make more money!"

"This is a negotiation technique, do you understand?"

"Don't worry, I guarantee that His Majesty will definitely agree to these two additional conditions of mine, and then we will happily go to work together!"

Under Ye Qing's sincere words, Wu Yong believed Ye Qing's words again.

He just nodded thoughtfully and said, "If His Majesty agrees, that would be the best."

"But will Your Majesty agree to such an excessive condition?"

"If I were Your Majesty, even if you, Ye Qing, were the King of Heaven, I would still kill you. Your two additional conditions are really too much!"

Ye Qing waved his hand and said: "You have already said what if you were His Majesty, but how can there be so many ifs in the world?"

"The two additional conditions I have attached may seem excessive to you, but not too excessive to His Majesty. Don't worry, I have enough sense!"

When Wu Yong heard this sentence, he felt that it made sense.

Yes,

People's positions are different, their heights are different, and their bottom lines are naturally different.

Many things in this world really cannot be considered by putting yourself in their shoes. If you are not in that position, you really can’t think of so many things!
But when he thought about it again, he felt that there was something wrong with what he said, but for a while he couldn't figure out what was wrong!

In the afternoon nearly a month later,
The eunuch who delivered the edict came back to Zhu Yuanzhang with the imperial edict that he had opened but had not handed over.

In the imperial study, the eunuch who delivered the edict was as vivid as possible, trying his best to recreate the scene of delivering the edict in front of Zhu Yuanzhang, as well as Ye Qing's original words of dissatisfaction with the edict.

Just listening to these words, Zhu Yuanzhang was so angry that he clenched his fists and clasped his toes.

"Yes, Your Majesty,"

"Master Ye said that as long as you agree to two additional conditions, he will happily accept the order and take up the post."

As soon as he finished speaking, the eunuch who delivered the order knelt on his knees and presented the letter with both hands.

Zhu Yuanzhang looked at the six words "His Majesty the Emperor personally" on the cover of the letter, and his eyes jumped slightly.

This familiar handwriting is so familiar that it makes me angry just looking at it!

"it is good,"

"Let's see if this guy can spit out two ivory tusks from his dog mouth!"

As soon as Zhu Yuanzhang finished speaking, he took the letter and tore up the envelope quite simply. Even his gesture of holding the letter away was very rough.

I saw him holding a corner, flicking it hard and opening the letter!
　Please follow up with the support of the officials, and please support the recommendation ticket and monthly ticket, thank you!

　　
　
(End of this chapter)