The literary giants of the late Ming Dynasty began by copying books

Seeing that Wang Wenlong liked the gift he sent, Liu Cheng hurriedly said:

"I didn't take care of my subordinates in Suzhou before, and I had some disagreements with Duke Jianyang. Now I have driven those traitors out of the house, and sent people to carefully check the nonsense newspapers and periodicals. I didn't do anything before, so I asked Duke Jianyang to take care of it. Duke Jianyang will keep these gifts first. I am in such a hurry when I come back. Next time whether it is me coming to Nanjing or Duke Jianyang coming to Suzhou, I just need to say..."

Wang Wenlong interrupted: "Thank you very much, Eunuch Liu, for your kindness, but it is not convenient for me to accept these gifts."

Looking at Liu Cheng's surprised expression, Wang Wenlong explained: "Since my father-in-law already knows that there are one or two traitors under his command, with all due respect, Eunuch Liu's reputation in Suzhou is not very good. It is all because of the evil deeds of these traitors. They What's the point of slandering me, Wang Wenlong, in the newspapers? The real bad thing they did was to make the people of Suzhou miserable."

"I heard that my father-in-law's people have recently imposed a large tax collection in the four prefectures of Susongchang Town. The tax amount is far more than the official office. If my father-in-law can restrain his subordinates, he will remove the extra tax cards on the canal in the past two months and not give gifts. , Wang Wenlong naturally treats his father-in-law as a close friend."

Ye Zhou was quite impressed when he heard Wang Wenlong's words and secretly looked at Liu Cheng's expression.

Liu Cheng's face had gradually turned bad since Wang Wenlong said he would not accept the gift. He had been patient and finally said angrily: "Mr. Jianyang, I come here to apologize sincerely. Sir, please don't be arrogant and unforgiving."

He said with a threat: "With all due respect, there have been a few people who have gained favor in front of the Holy Master in recent years. As the saying goes, you will know how to advance or retreat when you are in a position of strength. Even when you are in the limelight, you have to think about retreating..."

Wang Wenlong smiled and said: "My father-in-law doesn't need to worry about my affairs."

"Okay, let's continue fighting. Sir, Suzhou Xundao is still doing business." Liu Cheng has a bad temper. He has been pretending to be in front of an eighth-grade official like Wang Wenlong for so long. Sun Tzu himself felt very humble, but Wang Wenlong still had such an attitude that he couldn't help but threaten him.

Wang Wenlong looked at Liu Cheng without fear and said word by word: "Eunuch, you can try it. If you dare to seal the "Suzhou Xunbao", I guarantee that the "Wealth of Nations" received by the Holy Father will write a large article. My father-in-law’s wonderful deeds.”

Liu Cheng's back was covered with cold sweat, and his voice trembled: "You dare to threaten me?"

Liu Cheng and Pang Bao, as the two most favored eunuchs under Concubine Zheng, were somewhat respectable in front of Emperor Wanli. When they came to Susongchang Town to collect taxes from the four prefectures, they even spoke of the Constitution. All the feudal officials at the governor level were polite in front of him. Treating each other, it’s been a long time since I remembered what it felt like to be threatened.

Wang Wenlong said: "It can't be said to be a threat. The Holy One asked for a book and asked me, Wang Wenlong, to write a preface by name. I just told the truth in the preface."

Liu Chengdao: "Tell the truth? Wang Jianyang, don't think I'm afraid of you! I also have the right to send private messages to heaven to hear. If you tell the truth, I can also report it to the Holy One!"

Wang Wenlong sneered and said: "If Eunuch Liu has any opinions, you can complain to the Holy One. We can write our own. I hope the Holy One will never misunderstand our meanings."

"Okay, let's do it!" Liu Cheng was furious, dropped the gift and left.

After he left, Ye Zhouze asked worriedly: "Jianyang, Liu Cheng won't do anything in a hot head when he goes back, right?"

Wang Wenlong said with a smile: "Don't worry, you are well versed in literature. Liu Cheng's words are tough, but he definitely doesn't have the courage. Although these eunuchs seem to be vulgar and uncivilized, they are not really stupid. In officialdom, both sides are shining brightly. , the awareness of not living up to the facts is no worse than that of civil servants. He cannot take back his tax supervisor, nor can he admit that his subordinates collect taxes randomly, so it is impossible not to quarrel with me. If not, he will definitely worry about his own After he rectifies the mistake, I will give him a copy." Wang Wenlong said: "This Liu Cheng is stubborn and refuses to admit his mistakes, but he will definitely do things right after leaving my house. I guess my book will be available again in a few days. The house is sold.”

Ye Zhou opened his mouth wide when he heard this. After a long while, he shook his head and said, "This is the reason why I don't want to be an official. People's hearts are as deep as the sea."

As Wang Wenlong said, after Liu Cheng returned to Suzhou, he immediately sent people to lift the ban on Wang Wenlong's books.

Then Liu Chenggong began to close the newspaper office. A group of newspapers and periodicals that criticized Wang Wenlong excessively were directly banned by Siyue, the academy of the four prefectures. All the literary staff who had written articles criticizing Wang Wenlong were also dismissed by Liu Cheng.

Wang Qiwei was even thrown into prison for questioning by Liu Cheng. Wang Qiwei couldn't help but feel worried and angry.

Just like what he complained about in "The Record of Chasing a Guest's Wrongs", those high-ranking people would give them high positions when they were needed, and when something went wrong, they would be the first to kick them out to take the blame. It was simply Like a toilet, you take it out when you need it and hide it under the bed when you don't need it. Even just looking at it makes you feel dirty and smelly.

Then Liu Cheng's men also reduced the tax revenue of the four prefectures significantly. As for the birthday gift for Emperor Wanli, he gritted his teeth and reluctantly allocated part of it from his own small treasury.

After doing this, Liu Cheng asked someone to write a sincere letter, apologizing to Wang Wenlong and saying that he was too temperamental that day when he came to visit, and he also gave some gifts with the letter.

Liu Cheng did all the above behaviors, but he never admitted in his words that he had done anything wrong.

Those who scolded Wang Wenlong were the unscrupulous local newspapers in Suzhou and some of his staff who had deceived him. They have all been punished. As for the reduction of tax supervisors, Liu Cheng said that it was due to his recent efforts to enforce tax discipline. Those tax supervisors who collected taxes indiscriminately were his fault. The typical examples found through observing discipline are not only not evidence of one's crime, but also show that one's tax team is highly disciplined and considerate of the people.

Wang Wenlong was also helpless about this. He was valued by Emperor Wanli, and he almost set a trap for Liu Cheng by getting involved in the game. In the end, he could only get this result.

He knew from the beginning that Liu Cheng would definitely retreat, because no matter how prestigious the eunuchs were outside, the root of their power came from imperial power.

Liu Cheng didn't know whether Emperor Wanli really valued Wang Wenlong enough to punish the tax eunuch for him, but he would not risk himself to test Emperor Wanli's attitude at all, because once he made a mistake, he would be doomed.

The tax eunuchs have been sued a thousand times by civil servants and scholars. As long as they can please the emperor, they can avert danger. However, no matter what high position the tax eunuchs hold, as long as Emperor Wanli says to change them, they will immediately lose their ownership position.

If Liu Cheng really wants to fight Wang Wenlong, the cost of trying is too high, so even if Wang Wenlong is really just Jane in the emperor's heart, Liu Cheng will do his best to support him. As eunuchs, pleasing the emperor is their first task. That's it. Many eunuchs want to please but haven't had the chance yet.

(End of this chapter)