Jinyi Night Walk

In late autumn, the lotus flowers in the moat have withered, and most of the lotus leaves are bare on the water surface. Occasionally, some half-residual lotus leaves are still standing on the stems, shivering with the autumn wind.

At the gate of the city, the common people and merchants who came in and out carried baskets and burdens, and were in a hurry. The soldiers guarding the gate thought the wind was strong, so they had already hid under the gate, lazily basking in the slanting sunlight, and the wind could not blow them. In the place where there is a faint yellow sun, it still feels a little warm.

By the moat, a woman was washing clothes. A smooth clear stone slab dipped obliquely into the water, and the wooden pestle was pounding on the clothes. Although it was not winter yet, the river water was very cold, and her hands were red from the cold. .

Occasionally, a chain would be frightened by the sound of beating clothes, turn over and jump out of the water, splashing a few waves.The fish here are very big, because the lotus root, fish and shrimp in the moat are not allowed to be killed, so the section of the river around the city has become a paradise for fish and shrimp. As long as they don’t swim across the border, they can basically enjoy their old age However, the Yellow River burst its embankment a few months ago, and this place was also flooded. The damage to the lotus flower was not only the result of autumn frost, but also the result of flooding.

"Boom! Boom, boom!" With the sound of the gong, the yamen servant holding the signboard "Quiet" and "Avoidance" came over, and the people who were entering the city hurriedly stepped aside, and the woman who was beating clothes by the river set up an awning to face her. Looking at the gate of the city, looking at this posture, he knew that the county magistrate had returned.

Kaocheng county magistrate surnamed Shi, called Shi Xiaohan, a Jinshi in Hongwu 27 years, has been Kaocheng county magistrate for seven years.This person is not very capable. After taking office, Kaocheng has not seen much change but it has not become worse. This person is also a clean official. It can only be said that he is a conservative official, and his reputation among the people is not good. not bad.

At this time, Shi Xiaohan was sitting in the sedan chair with his head slightly locked, still thinking about the magistrate's summoning.

Kaocheng County is under the rule of Guide Mansion, and the prefect of Guide is Bie Guanghe.Shizhi County is not good at flattery, and the relationship with this other prefect is very weak, and there are few contacts in normal times, but Sun Zhifu suddenly sent someone to summon him two days ago, Shizhi County did not dare to neglect, arranged the affairs of the county, and hurried away Sun Zhifu of Guide Mansion hosted him warmly and invited him to a banquet. During the meeting, he also said that he was a clean and capable official, and he should have been promoted or moved to a better county. It was only because of the four-year Jingnan disaster that affected the officials' examinations. , This made him sit in the Kaocheng office for seven years, and the magistrate planned to recommend him, at least transferred to a rich county.If Biezhifu really did this, it would be really easy to do, because Zhou Wenze, the in-law of the prefect, was a doctor of the Ministry of Civil Affairs.Regardless of the fact that officials are not considered big and real power is not small, the four fat jobs recognized by the court are the Department of Literature Selection of the Ministry of Officials, the Department of Examinations of the Ministry of Officials, the Department of Military Selection of the Ministry of War, and the Department of Arsenal of the Ministry of War.Among the chief officials of the four yamen, the energy is really amazing.

However, Shizhi County is not a confidant of Sun Zhifu. This is such a great thing, how could it fall on him for no reason?At that time, Shizhi County felt that there was something strange in it. As expected, the Supervisory Envoy of Henan Province accompanied the Henan Provincial Procuratorate’s Henan Tourist Envoy to summon him and Sun Zhifu. This time, they did not ask about political achievements or honesty, but only asked about two months The prefect of Shizhi County was aware of the flood in the Yellow River before.

The flood of the Yellow River was partly caused by natural disasters and partly caused by man-made disasters.It is said to be a natural disaster because when there is too much rain, the water of the Yellow River is indeed too fierce. In the past four years, the southern and northern armies have fought fiercely, and the imperial court has not put much effort into river management.

It is said that it was a man-made disaster, but the flood of the Yellow River this time is actually not particularly severe compared to previous years. With the river control funds allocated by the imperial court every year, it can be dealt with by calling servants to sew and mend it.

However, the river control funds allocated by the Ministry of Household Affairs every year, through the hands of the magistrate Sun, only [-]% of the [-]% in Kaocheng County will be considered good. Shi Xiaohan has a clear conscience. There was no greed, and all the money was spent on river governance, but such a small amount of money was obviously not enough. As a result, after several years, the dams were not well repaired, and something happened this year.

As soon as the flood broke out, he wrote a letter requesting tax relief and relief for the victims. In fact, the new Yongle Dynasty had just come to power and was still in the process of taking over the official affairs of the Jianwen Dynasty. If there is a flood, which affects the autumn harvest, and a request for tax relief to relieve the victims, nine times out of ten, the imperial court will directly approve it as a natural disaster, and may not think of checking whether the river management is doing its best.

can go to...

Shi Zhixian secretly sighed, that magistrate is too greedy, he has gained a lot of benefits in the past few years, now that the people have suffered disasters, as a parent and official, he is generous to the court anyway, why can't he just accept it? How about reporting the truth, reducing or exempting taxes, and reducing the burden on the people?Serving as an official can't benefit one party, and shouldn't it make things worse for the common people?

However, this Sun Guanghe has been the magistrate of Guide for many years, and he already has the capital to be promoted in terms of seniority. The flood was concealed and not reported, so that many people's fields were destroyed, and they were forced to pay grain sharps. If they couldn't pay, they had to leave their homes and become beggars.

This year's flood did not cause too serious losses. On the contrary, it was due to Sun Zhifu's selfishness that the damage of this flood was doubled.Although Shizhi County was dissatisfied with this, he dared not say it in front of the prefect.He didn't take the prefect's promise to him very seriously. Although he didn't dare to claim to be a good official who benefited one side, he didn't want to form a party with a corrupt official like Prefect Sun.What he was afraid of was that, not to mention someone in the prefect's government, if the Metropolitan Inspectorate could not bring down the prefect, or only brought down the prefect, he would be unable to do so in the future.

However, when the imperial envoys of Henan Province and the visiting envoys sent by Jingli came to investigate the case, they wanted to directly ask Sun Zhifu, and then summoned him, or asked Sun Zhifu in front of Sun Zhifu. If he was excused, how could he still have the courage to expose it, he had no choice but to say a lot of things against his will, but when he looked back, he felt uneasy again, the matter had nothing to do with him, but now he was forcibly dragged into the whirlpool by the magistrate. If the imperial court really investigates this case strictly, he will not be implicated, wouldn't he be extremely wronged?

Shizhi County thought about it, struggled in his heart, and wanted to report "for fear of being suppressed. If he didn't report, he was worried about being implicated. Seeing that he entered the city gate, Shi Zhifu sighed and said: "That's all" and they have already returned , Why do you want to think so much! Just muddle along...,..."

"The county lord is back!"

The guard of honor was walking, when someone blocked the way in front of him, Shi Zhixian opened the sedan chair curtain and saw that it was Old Master Wang from Shenghua Academy. There have been many scholars and scholars, and his son is now the imperial envoy of the imperial court.

For such a person, "Shi Zhixian dare not hold his ears too high. If he wants to govern the region, he cannot do without the support of such a powerful person in the place. Shi Zhixian hurriedly got off the sedan chair, smiled and said: "Master Wang invites you. "

Old Master Wang said with a smile: "It's just in time for the county lord to come back." I have a good friend who has traveled here from the middle of the capital. Sit at my house. "

Shi Zhixian hurriedly said: "No, no, Mrs. Jiang, I just came back from Guide Mansion..."

Mrs. Wang is not willing to obey him." He waved his hand to the guard of honor and said, "You go back to the county government, and the county lord will go to my house to have a drink. When I turn back, I will send the county lord back. "

Mrs. Wang is a rich local family, and the leader of the three classes of yamen servants is his nephew. But Mrs. Wang was half-spirited, so he pulled him away, but Shi Zhixian had no choice but to follow him back with a wry smile.

Old Master Wang took him back to his home, and told his family: "Quickly invite my friend from the middle of the capital to come out and meet the county lord."

Shi County Magistrate said with a wry smile: "Old Master Wang, I really don't have the heart to drink today."

Old Master Wang smiled mysteriously: "My lord, do you think that this old man really has to meet you today? Hehe, this old man is specially waiting for you to come back. This friend from the capital, it will only be good for you to meet him once." , old age will not harm you."

When the county magistrate Shi heard it, he immediately became vigilant: "Do you know this friend that Old Master Wang mentioned?"

"From today on, don't you recognize it?"

Following the voice, a skinny man with a tall forehead, thin face and fair complexion, about forty years old, walked into the living room, his sharp eyes cast on him like a falcon.

The county magistrate Shi was surprised and said: "Where is your step?"

The man smiled slightly and said, "I'm here to save your life!"

County magistrate Shi shrank his eyes and said in a deep voice, "How do you say that?"

The man said calmly: "When I came to Kaocheng, I made a secret investigation and found out that you, Mr. Shi, are an incorruptible official, so I wanted to give you a hand. Shi county magistrate, Kaocheng flooded, and reported the disaster, but the court has not seen you for a long time. Reply, the people are displaced and complaining, why can't you send a letter to ask? You have done your duty to report it? This is self-deception!"

"My officer? Are you..."

Old Master Wang said solemnly: "This is Mr. Chen Ying, the imperial envoy of the left capital of the Metropolitan Procuratorate!"

The magistrate of Shi County exclaimed "Ah", and Chen Ying said loudly: "The water is not strong this year, so why is Kaocheng the only trouble? The disaster report was submitted to the capital, but there was no reply. The gentry of Kaocheng asked repeatedly, and you also Repeatedly posting letters, asking Guide Mansion, how Sun Guanghe will answer, how to suppress, witnesses, physical evidence, and official correspondence, my official has arrived, and you still refuse to hand it over?"

"This……"

Chen Ying said sharply: "Shi Xiaohan, you are the shepherd guard of Kaocheng, but you want to stay out of the matter, isn't it wishful thinking! Either, you are in cahoots with that prefect, let's see if I can punish you! Or, you Boldly expose, I am the judge for you! Sun Guanghe is now entangled with the search envoys and supervisors sent by the official in Guide Mansion, this is your only chance to get rid of the crime, don't make mistakes!"

After hearing the poem, the county magistrate turned pale as paper, "...

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At the same time, the capital, Xinyi Division.

Wu Youdao, the deputy imperial envoy, and his people were looking through the registration book carefully, when suddenly, they found the memorial of Shi Xiaohan, the magistrate of Kaocheng County, who reported the disaster. Wu Youdao's eyes lit up, and he looked carefully. The next day, it was forwarded to the Secretary of General Administration, and there was a stamp signed by the Secretary of General Administration on it.Wu Youdao smiled slightly, closed the roll of registration book, stuffed it in his sleeve, and said with a smile to the steward of the post office: "I took this roll of registration book away first, and I will write to you again when things are done." post office."

The Secretary of the General Administration, Huang Zhen, the imperial envoy, and several people are also checking the search directory uploaded by the official letter for registration one by one. Zhang Antai is like an ant on a hot pot. He had to panic. But there was nothing he could do. He pretended to have accidentally lost or neglected to report "it could also be said to be careless, tampering with the handover book, he dared not.

Besides, it's useless for him to change it. The Xinyi Division has their signature from the Secretary of the General Administration, and his hand can't reach the Xinyi Division.However, no one would want to offend him before he had the evidence. After all, the Tongzheng Secretary was not a yamen to mess with. That old slicker Wu Youdao went to check on the Post Office Secretary, and left the Tongzheng Secretary to Huang Yushi.

He had signaled several times, both openly and secretly, but this bastard surnamed Huang didn't know whether he was pretending to be stupid or he really didn't understand." He was completely unmoved by the benefits he promised. Whose influence did this old bastard rely on? , Dare to put him in your eyes?

"Yang Xu?"

Zhang Antai suddenly thought of Yang Xu's treat, and the Metropolitan Procuratorate had invited three people, Chen Ying, Wu Youdao, and Huang Zhen.Chen Ying is the Imperial Envoy of the Zuodu, and Wu Youdao is the Deputy Imperial Envoy of the Capital." Forget about these two, but the Metropolitan Procuratorate also has thirteen imperial envoys and the imperial envoys in Beijing. These ordinary envoys total no less than a hundred People, Yang Xu invited only one Huang Zhen...... Is he from Yang Xu?

After figuring out this joint, Zhang Antai gave up immediately, no matter how he could win over "how good would it be to have a Fu Guogong for Huang Zhen?" Zhang Antai turned and walked out.

Huang Zhen held a handover catalogue, raised his eyelids slightly, glanced at his back and smiled coldly, his eyes fixed on a record of a certain year, month and day on the dossier, Huang Zhen had found what he was looking for a long time ago, deliberately This slow tormenting" is to wear patience with Zhang Antai, and Zhang Antai really can't hold his breath anymore.

Seeing Zhang Antai go out, Huang Zhencai said slowly: "Here, the person who received the memorial of the magistrate of Kaocheng is Su Xiaopu, the governor of the county. Where is this person? Tell him to come and ask about the whereabouts of this memorial!"

Wang Lesi, who was in charge of the General Administration, quickly replied: "Oh, Su Xiaopu..., my mother is seriously ill, has she already asked for leave and returned home?"

Bizhen smiled slightly and asked, "Oh? When did you leave?"

"Uh...unfortunately, I just asked for leave yesterday!"

Huang Zhen said angrily: "Yesterday? Hehe, how can you say it's not a coincidence, a coincidence, a coincidence!"

Wang Ji was hesitant to say anything, Bizhen asked again: "Where is this Su Xiaopu's hometown?"

Wang Jiji hurriedly said: "Yunnan Chuxiong Mansion!"

"Tsk tsk tsk, it's really far away."

Huang Zhen clicked his tongue repeatedly, stood up, and said to his people with a smile: "Come on, let's go to the Ministry of Officials and find out if Su Xiaopu's hometown is Chuxiong Mansion in Yunnan!"

Wang Ji was startled, and quickly said: "Oh, Governor Su's hometown is Fenghua County, Ningbo Prefecture, but... I heard from Governor Su that he has now moved to Chuxiong, Yunnan."

Huang Zhen nodded, and said slowly: "Didn't you move out of our Daming territory?"

Wang Ching said with a dry smile: "Huang Yushi was joking, of course..., he didn't move out of our Daming territory."

Huang Zhen shook his head and said: "Success, as long as you haven't left our Daming territory, you don't have to worry about not being able to find it!"

He rolled up the handover book, carried it behind his back, and swung his buttocks like a proud duck." ""

Zhou Wenze, the tester of the Ministry of Officials, was very angry and said: "Master Zhang, why are you so impatient? Yang Xu made it clear that he was knocking mountains and shaking tigers. Why do you still come to see me at this time?"

Zhang Antai was very angry and said: "What if I don't come to you? I suppressed this memorial for your in-laws because of your face. Originally, a third-class county was established at the beginning of the new dynasty. Everything was going on, and it was not expected that Datian would listen to it. But "...Yang Xu just let him know. Now that I have been found out, how can I not be in a hurry? "

Zhou Wenze suddenly said: "Stupid! You are stupid! Hasn't that Su Xiaopu been solved? This clue is broken at this point. He Yang Xu has great skills, and he can't find out about you! You just After killing Wang Xiaopu, what can he do to you?"

Zhang Antai sneered and said: "My Master Zhou, you said it lightly, I am doing something for you, otherwise...it is really not easy for him Yang Xu to catch me. Yes, Su Xiaopu's line is broken Yes, but what about Kaocheng? Chen Ying's mad dog is the master who won't back down when he bites someone. If he has the evidence of your good in-law, he might not be able to catch you out? You Mr. Zhou is about to enter Jinyiwei's prison, I don't believe that your mouth is stronger than Jinyiwei's torture tools. At that time, can you not recruit me? Once this line is exposed, can I still explain the memorial? ?”

Zhou Wenze said decisively: "Don't worry, my in-laws have been running the Guide Mansion for many years. It is useless for Chen Ying to send a search envoy who is not familiar with the place. Can he find a way? You can't rely on the Henan Dao imperial envoy. This Henan Dao Imperial envoy, my in-laws have already fed me enough, so if I don’t work at this time, when will he do it? With him by my side, the people sent by Chen Ying can’t make a fuss!”

Zhang Antai insisted: "Don't be afraid of [-], just in case something happens. It's too late to say anything. In my opinion, you should talk to that person and ask him to think of a way!"

Zhou Wenze hesitated for a moment, then sighed, "Okay, you go back first, I'll see him in a while!"

In Fuguogong's mansion, little Sixun was vigorously riding a wooden horse in the flower hall. Yang Xu crossed his legs, holding a cup of tea, and Zuo Dan stood beside him. After listening to his narration, Xia Xun smiled: Kouji? This thing is getting more and more interesting, staring at him, the goblin...is about to show up!"! ~!