I served as an admonisher in the Song Dynasty

Chapter 571 Extra 4: Prequel: The Lazy Official of Qizhou (Part )

June 29th, five o'clock in the morning.

In Qizhou City, the sky gradually brightens.

People went out one after another, and the sounds of hawking could be heard from the streets from time to time.

at this time.

Some people suddenly discovered that the short white wall next to the Qizhou government office was covered with words.

You know, this is the wall of the provincial government.

No graffiti or painting is allowed.

Apart from posting notices, no one dares to splash ink on it.

Suddenly, a large group of people gathered over.

When everyone saw the above content, they were shocked.

Someone couldn't help but recite it.

"Qizhou is located at the junction of three roads, with mountains and rivers as its collar and the throat of the East China Sea. It has mountains and rivers and its springs are the best in the world."

"The people should be well off and have long lives, but the officials are lazy and do nothing, which is a great harm to the people."

……

"Ge Wenlin, the governor of Qizhou, eats his fill all day long and does nothing. He drinks strong tea in the morning and sake in the evening, and spends his time in the perfume shop..."

"On the eighth day of the twelfth month in the third year of the Qingli reign, as a political achievement, 87 cases were cleared in one day, and all the guilty and innocent were released, disregarding the laws of the Song Dynasty."

"In March of the fourth year of the Qingli reign, the prefecture government summoned 300 laborers to reinforce the Lishui River embankment. Originally, soil from the fish pond three miles away could be used. Expanding the fish pond would also strengthen the river embankment, killing two birds with one stone. However, Ge Wenlin took soil from five miles away to reinforce the river embankment, and took soil from the fish pond to fill the gully five miles away, turning one labor into three, wasting laborers in vain."

"On June 27th of the fourth year of the Qingli reign, the prefectural government announced the suppression of more than a hundred thieves in Changqing County. In fact, they forced the people to become thieves, first letting them go and then intensifying conflicts, turning minor mistakes of the people into major crimes, all for the sake of their official careers..."

"The harm caused by lazy officials is far worse than that caused by corrupt officials. If lazy officials are not eliminated, the Song Dynasty will not be able to prosper."

……

"Today, Su Liang has impeached his superiors. I only hope that this article can spread the voice of the people to the court and the world, so that the lazy officials can be brought to justice and Qizhou can return to peace..."

"Qizhou Observational Magistrate, Su Liang, Book."

……

"This... this... this petition to the lazy official of Qizhou is... too bold to write. One of the prefectural governor Ge and the official Su will definitely be finished!"

"Everyone, let's quickly record this article. The state government can make the article disappear from the wall, but it can't stop us from speaking!"

"When Su Tuiguan was the magistrate of Changqing County, he was known as an honest official and was very much respected by the people. I believe in Su Tuiguan. Everyone should know very well what Qizhou City is like under the rule of Ge Zhizhou."

……

People were talking about it, and more and more people were watching.

Right now.

Qizhou Observation Judge Dong Dazhi also saw this article.

His expression suddenly changed, and he immediately said to the yamen runner beside him: "Immediately erase all the words on the wall, and don't leave a single word behind!"

Lean slightly.

He led a group of yamen runners to the wall where the "Qizhou Lazy Official Memorial" was written, and shouted to the onlookers: "Fellow villagers, I am Dong Dazhi, the Qizhou Observation Judge. This article is completely slanderous to the prefect and cannot be trusted. Anyone who spreads rumors will be beaten with 20 sticks. Everyone, please disperse immediately!"

Naturally, the people did not dare to fight with the officials and dispersed one after another, but there were still some people who remembered the content of the article.

boom! boom! boom!
The yamen runners took long knives and sticks and simply knocked off the wall.

Soon, the article disappeared.

Followed by.

Dong Dazhi came to Qizhou magistrate Ge Wenlin who had just woken up.

When Ge Wenlin wakes up early, his favorite thing to do is to drink a cup of strong tea.

After drinking tea and having breakfast, taking a walk, walking the birds, and reading a few books, it is time for lunch.

In the afternoon, he often went out of town for a walk in the name of patrolling, or went boating on the lake, fishing on the river, or tasting game.

This is his daily routine.

Dong Dazhi immediately reported the main contents of Su Liang's "Memorial to the Lazy Official of Qizhou" to Ge Wenlin.

"Zhou Zhi, I have sent people to remove this article that slanders you, and the people are forbidden to spread it!"

Ge Wenlin's face darkened.

The crimes he revealed in the article were basically correct and it was obvious that Su Liang had been keeping an eye on him for a long time.

"This Su Liang wants to fight to the death with me!"

"You must immediately send the yamen runners to arrest him and put him in the state jail for the crime of 'slandering the superior'. Also, find an excuse to arrest his wife as well. Within two hours, you must make her sign and admit that she was wrong and that she slandered me."

“In addition, patrols of restaurants and teahouses in the city will be stepped up. Anyone found discussing this matter will be immediately arrested and thrown into the state jail and severely punished!”

"I am a man who values ​​my reputation, and I will not tolerate anyone slandering me like this!"

Ge Wenlin murmured, "Su Liang, do you think you can trip me up with just one article? This time, I will let you see who is the king of Qizhou!"

The reason why Ge Wenlin is so confident.

This was because most of the supervisory officials in Jingdong Road were his friends and were in cahoots with him.

In the city of Bianjing, he also had backers and spies. If there was any bad news about him, it would be cut off in the middle and would never reach the Secretariat.

At this time, Dong Dazhi asked again: "Prefect, will this matter alarm Mr. Fu?"

Ge Wenlin smiled faintly.

"I'm afraid the new policy will fail. Mr. Fu is caught up in a clique and has no time to take care of such trivial matters! Moreover, he is not in Qingzhou now, but in Bianjing City. I have enough time and means to make Su Liang admit that he framed me."

"Even if the higher-ups send supervisory officials to investigate, I'm not corrupt, I'm just a little slow in my work, what can they do to me?"

……

Half an hour later.

Dong Dazhi hurried to Ge Wenlin.

"Zhou Zhi, this is bad! No one is at Su Liang's home. I heard that his wife left home last night, and no one knows where Su Liang is!"

"I don't know where he's going? Is he going to Bian Jing to file a complaint? This lunatic!"

Ge Wenlin's face darkened.

He didn't think Su Liang could bring him down.

But once a quarrel breaks out and he gets into trouble, it will also affect his career.

Just then, a bailiff ran over.

"Ge Zhizhou, Dong the judge, and Su... Su the judge have been in the judge's office the whole time. They have not fled!"

Hear this.

Ge Wenlin immediately strode towards the Tuiguan Hall, and Dong Dazhi followed closely behind him.

The yamen runner added, "Also, Magistrate Wang said he has caught a cold and needs to rest at home for a few days, so he won't be coming to the yamen!"

"Hmph!" Ge Wenlin snorted coldly.

The magistrate Wang Yue is very cunning.

When he saw that the "Memorial to the Lazy Official of Qizhou" cursed the prefect Ge Wenlin, he wanted to hide.

As an official on secondment, he would be transferred at the end of the year, so no one wanted to offend him.

As for the political affairs of Qizhou, if it is good, he will take a share of the pie, and if it is bad, he will stay away from it farther than anyone else.

……

In the magistrate's hall.

Su Liang was sitting at the table, handling government affairs seriously.

After he finished writing "The Memorial to the Lazy Official of Qizhou", he first went to drink a bowl of mutton soup, and then came to the Tuiguan Hall.

He wanted to see how lawless Ge Wenlin was.

Su Liang was an official who had passed the imperial examination in the second year of the Qingli period, so no one dared to openly take his life.

He doesn't hide.

The most Ge Wenlin could do was to detain him for slandering his superiors.

The state prison is actually the safest place.

In addition, Su Liang also prepared more than ten "Memorials on the Lazy Officials of Qizhou" and had them spread among his confidants.

The folk tabloids in the city of Bianjing would certainly like to publish this kind of articles.

If Su Liang makes a big deal out of this, there is a possibility that he will trip up Ge Wenlin. Asking Tang Wanmei to look for Fu Bi is just one of the ways for him to save himself.

"Su Liang, what on earth do you want to do? Do I have a grudge against you? You actually did such a thing that harms others and yourself, and maliciously framed me!" Ge Wenlin stood in front of Su Liang and glared.

Su Liang stood up slowly.

"Harming others and not benefiting oneself? It is not beneficial to oneself, but it is beneficial to all the people of Qizhou. Is what I wrote wrong?"

Ge Wenlin narrowed his eyes, thought for a moment, and said, "Su Liang, you should have asked your wife to go to Qingzhou to report me!"

"But you know that Mr. Fu is not in Qingzhou at the moment, but in Bianjing. The other supervisors are all my friends."

"In addition, if I am not mistaken, you should have sent your confidant to deliver your article to Bian Jing for publicity!"

"But you know that money can make anything possible, and it is difficult for an article like yours that slanders your superiors to be spread. I have someone above me."

"If there were no one in the court, how could I have become the governor? You should understand my character. I like to make big things go away and small things disappear."

"If you can explain exactly what you did and withdraw it in time, I will let bygones be bygones. And as long as you listen, I guarantee that your future career will be very smooth. How about that?" "Huh, disgusting!" Su Liang turned his face away.

"Alas! Young officials like you who have just entered the officialdom are so stupid and naive. Do you think you can save the world with just a warm heart?"

"Someone, come here! Observe the prosecutor Su Liang who framed Shangguan and spread rumors. Take him to the state prison and interrogate him carefully!"

Immediately, Su Liang was arrested.

Ge Wenlin looked at Dong Dazhi standing aside.

"Have him quickly admit his crime of defaming his superiors, and then sign his name. Remember, it is best to attack his heart, and do not use torture. He is an official after all, and if we use torture, we will be at fault!"

"I want to see where this article can be spread to and what kind of impact it can have."

Next.

Ge Wenlin will decide how to deal with Su Liang based on the impact of this article.

Although he could not kill Su Liang, he could find a crime to have Su Liang demoted and punished, making his career more difficult.

He is totally capable of doing it.

……

In the afternoon, inside the state prison.

Dong Dazhi looked at Su Liang with a smile on his face.

"Brother Su, why are you doing this? You are the only one who will be hurt by this. As long as you admit that you slandered Ge Zhizhou, Ge Zhizhou will definitely punish you lightly."

"Our governor is good enough. He is not greedy for money or lustful, and has a good temper. It is better to have less trouble than more. Our mission is easy. If you met another governor, you would have suffered a lot!"

……

Dong Dazhi kept persuading Su Liang, but Su Liang said nothing and ignored him.

……

Five days later.

A sultry afternoon.

Qizhou magistrate Ge Wenlin walked into the cell with a smile on his face.

"Su Liang, your evil plan will not succeed!"

"In the direction of Bian Jing, your article has been suppressed. Do you know who suppressed it? It was the current Privy Councilor Xia Shuxiang!"

"Your article contains hints and ridicules towards Prime Minister Xia Shu. He was furious after reading it and has already suppressed it. Hahahaha..."

Su Liang frowned slightly. He didn't expect that someone would pick on him and scold him.

Xia Song was indeed a lazy official who loved enjoyment, but he was very capable in his previous years.

Ge Wenlin continued, "As for your wife, she disappeared before she saw Mr. Fu!"

"There are many bandits on Jingdong Road, so accidents are likely to happen. I have already sent people to look for her. If you want her to return to Qizhou City safely, then write down your crime and publicly admit that you have slandered me."

"Don't worry! I am magnanimous and will punish you lightly."

"Hmph!" Su Liang turned his head away.

He believed that with Tang Wanmei's intelligence, she would be able to think of a way to save herself.

As long as Tang Wanmei is not caught, he has hope.

……

It was almost dusk on the fifth day of July.

Su Liang became anxious.

In the blink of an eye, several days passed, and still no outside official came to investigate him. It was obvious that the evidence of Ge Wenlin's guilt had not been leaked.

Su Liang at this moment.

His hair was dry and his face was pale. In addition, the prison was stuffy and he felt a little dizzy.

At this moment, it was the belief that good cannot prevail over evil that supported him.

at this time.

Two young men in black clothes with knives came over, followed by two yamen runners.

A yamen runner said, "Sir, this is Su Liangsu, the magistrate."

"Open the prison door quickly and invite Magistrate Su out."

When Su Liang heard the word "please", he immediately became energetic.

He was saved.

After a while.

Su Liang was taken to the lobby of the provincial government office. As soon as he entered the door, he saw Tang Wanmei rushing towards him.

"Husband, we are saved, we are saved!"

Su Liang's mind calmed down a lot and he looked up into the lobby.

At the top of the lobby.

Sitting there was a middle-aged man with a fair complexion and a little fat. Although he was not wearing an official robe, his face showed a righteous and awe-inspiring official majesty.

And on the side.

Qizhou magistrate Ge Wenlin slumped on the ground, Tongpan Wang Yue hung his head, and Dong Dazhi had a sad face, as if he had lost his parents.

Tang Wanmei helped Su Liang walk to the center of the lobby.

Su Liang looked forward and bowed slightly.

"Are you Su Liangsu Jingming, the Qizhou Observation and Prosecution Officer?"

"Yes."

"But you wrote the "Memorial on the Lazy Official of Qizhou"? And the evidence your wife holds about the Qizhou governor Ge Wenlin's laziness in government was also found by you?"

"Yes."

“Well written!”

"I have seen all kinds of flowery and whitewashing articles, and I am tired of them. There are very few articles like yours that criticize current ills and dare to tell the truth. Good article, good article!"

"May I ask who your superior is?"

Faced with such praise, Su Liang didn't know how to express his gratitude.

"I am Bao Zheng, the current Censor-in-Chief. I have been ordered by the Emperor to lead the clerks of the Imperial City to investigate the matter of Prime Minister Fu forming a clique. I am authorized to supervise all cases in Jingdong Road."

"I met your wife on the way and came here to investigate what you said. After investigation, it is completely true!"

"Bao Zheng?"

When Su Liang heard the name Bao Zheng, he subconsciously looked for the crescent moon on his forehead.

Unfortunately not.

He didn't expect that Bao Zheng in history would be such a middle-aged man with a fair face and slightly fat.

The Censor-in-Chief was not a high-ranking official, but he held great power and could even impeach the Prime Minister.

All the civil and military officials in the court turned pale when talking about the censors.

not to mention.

This time, Bao Zheng came to Jingdong Road under the imperial order and brought people from the Imperial City Administration with him.

Even if Fu Bi was here, he would have to show some courtesy and leave the case to Bao Zheng.

After Su Liang knew that the other party was Bao Zheng, he relaxed completely.

With Bao Zheng around, there is nothing to worry about.

Bao Zheng said loudly: "Su Tuiguan, the evidence you provided is sufficient. You did not slander your superiors. Not only are you innocent, but you have also made contributions. You can be reinstated immediately!"

"In addition, I have sent your "Memorial on the Lazy Officials in Qizhou" to Bianjing City. Soon, the emperor, the ministers, and the people of the world will see this article. The harm caused by lazy officials is indeed greater than that caused by corrupt officials!"

"Imperial Censor Bao is very observant. On behalf of the people of Qizhou, Su Liang thanks Imperial Censor Bao!" Su Liang bowed heavily.

Next.

Ge Wenlin is about to be in trouble, and Wang Yue and Dong Dazhi will also inevitably be punished.

……

a few days later.

Su Liang's "Memorial to the Lazy Official of Qizhou" appeared in the hands of hawkers selling folk tabloids on the streets of Bianjing City.

People are used to seeing jade-like articles.

Now when seeing articles as sharp as a knife, people are naturally curious and many people buy them to read.

at the same time.

The Song Emperor Zhao Zhen, the ministers of the two ministries and three departments, and all the officials in the capital had seen this article.

The most incisive part of this article.

It is about putting forward an argument: the harm caused by lazy officials is far greater than that caused by corrupt officials.

The people of Bianjing had very sharp eyes.

While chatting, they actually voted for the laziest official in Bianjing City: Privy Councilor Xia Song.

This made Su Liang, who had never met Xia Song, a thorn in Xia Song's side.

In the same month, with Bao Zheng's strong recommendation, Su Liang was specially ordered to serve as the Imperial Censor in addition to his position as a secretary in the Secretariat.

(End of this chapter)