Travel through the Qing Dynasty and become emperor

Chapter 431 The Golden Theater

Prior to this, Zhao Bingjun had already sent someone to book a box in the front row. When he came here, he had everything such as melon seeds, candies, towel boards, tea, and snacks ready.It can be seen that the Golden Theater can achieve today's scale by no means just a few words.

At this time, the play has not yet started, audiences are constantly coming in from the audience, there are shouts, hawking, and greetings one after another, and the towel boards upstairs and downstairs are flying up and down. Those who don’t know it think it’s the groceries But theaters are like this, the more noisy it is, the more people like to come here, Chinese people like to show their popularity.

After sitting down, Zhao Bingjun thought about today's drama, sipped tea leisurely, and looked down the stage from time to time, feeling indescribably at ease.

"Director, someone wants to see you." The entourage leaned close to Zhao Bingjun's ear and said.

"See me?" Zhao Bingjun immediately raised his vigilance. He didn't make any fanfare when he came. How could anyone recognize him? "who is it?"

"He only said that he was the Xia Dujian who tried the case, and that he was your junior."

Only then did Zhao Bingjun suddenly realize, "It turned out to be him, please come in."

Not much effort, when the door curtain was lifted, a tall and thin young man with a red face came in, bowed to Zhao Bingjun and said: "Students pay homage to Mr. Director. Please forgive the students for being so abrupt."

Zhao Bingjun got up and said with a smile: "Shouzhi, it's you. Your eyes are sharpened. There are thousands of audiences in the Golden Theater. How could you recognize me? Come, come, sit down." Let's talk."

You must know that the person who can call himself a student in front of Zhao Bingjun is not an idle person. This young man is called Xia Kangshou, a native of Wuhan, Hubei, a son of a family, father and son two generations of Hanlin, once won the Juren, was selected as a Jinshi the next year, and entered the Imperial Academy as an editor. build.Later, due to his excellent character and learning, he was sent to the United States by the Imperial Ministry of Education to investigate politics and accept Western political ideas.After studying and returning to China, it happened that Hubei set up a consultation bureau and was elected as the deputy speaker.Later, he served as the deputy minister of the Hubei Political Affairs Department, and later served as the advisor of the Dudufu.Back then, when the Imperial Security Bureau was in its infancy, Zhao Bingjun went to Hubei to investigate military development, and Xia Kangshou was fully in charge of the bureau chief's reception and inspection affairs.After Zhao Bingjun lingered for a while, he found that Xia Shoukang was upright and honest, with strong working ability, and he usually didn't like to make friends, and hated the injustice in the officialdom the most.So he praised him very much, and with a letter, he recommended Xia Kangshou to the Beijing Government Affairs Department as a government envoy, specializing in judicial investigations.At that time, Guan Xuqing was vigorously promoting the New Deal period. In view of the lax and corrupt officials at that time, Guan Xuqing attached great importance to the government affairs department and other judicial departments. He also paid attention to Xia Kangshou's efforts to rectify the unhealthy atmosphere in Beijing's official circles.Since Xia Kangshou was recommended by Zhao Bingjun to work in Beijing, he believed that Zhao Bingjun had a kindness for him, so he always respected the bureau chief and called him a teacher.Although the two had never been very close in order to avoid gossip in the officialdom, they had always been very close in their hearts.

Zhao Bingjun knew that Xia Kangshou had fewer hobbies than himself, so he was naturally a little surprised to meet him here today.

After sitting down, Xia Kangshou said with a smile: "Master Zhao, others can't recognize you. The student has known you for five years, how can he not recognize you? Besides, you are dressed as a teacher, but you still have a Two bodyguards, the reason for this will be understood after a little deduction."

"Shouzhi, this is not the main reason. It is mainly because you are engaged in judicial investigation. I think what you have experienced in the past few years is that you can tell the parents when a fly flies by." Zhao Bingjun joked.

The two immediately burst into laughter.

Zhao Bingjun quickly suppressed his smile and asked, "Shouzhi, you never come to this kind of place, but today the sun is coming out from the west."

Xia Kangshou's face turned serious, and he lowered his voice and said, "My lord, to be honest, the students are not here to watch a show, but to do business."

"Oh? You, Su Zhengshi, are really hardworking. You have come to the theater on business. Hehe"

"Lord Zhao doesn't know something. Recently, students have heard that there is a famous young man in the southern part of Beijing. He imposes land taxes on the guild halls and halls in this area, and even occupies two women, bullies traders, and kills and injures people. There were no less than a dozen of them, and people were angry and afraid of him, secretly nicknamed him Jingcheng Nanbatian!"

"At the foot of the emperor in the capital, there is such a thing? It's the opposite. Who is this person?"

"This person's name is Wang Ke. Naturally, not many people know his name, but when he mentions his name, he is very famous in the imperial city."

"Who is his father?"

"It is Wang Zhixin, director of the Beijing Police Department and mayor of Beijing."

Zhao Bingjun's face was solemn, and he took a deep breath. Who in Beijing doesn't know Wang Zhixin? He has been in Beijing for many years, and now he is in charge of the police department, that is, almost all the social security forces in the imperial city are in his hands.I once heard that this person is domineering and domineering on weekdays, but Wang Zhixin is not under the rule of the Imperial Security Bureau, so there is no need for me to ask about his affairs. The big one, he always finds an opportunity to get close to this person, so many princes and ministers in the capital have received gifts from Wang Zhixin, or have never had a relationship with Wang Zhixin.In addition to Wang Zhixin's flexible wrist, there is another very important reason, and that is because he is Yuan Shikai's confidant.Some people say that Wang Zhixin is Yuan Shikai’s brother-in-law, and some people say that when Yuan Shikai was working as an assistant in North Korea, Wang Zhixin followed Yuan Shikai to protect Yuan’s safety, and won Yuan Shikai’s trust and respect. The official career is magnanimous, and he has achieved his current prominent position all the way.

Originally, it was only Wang Zhixin, even if he was a big official, Zhao Bingjun would not pay attention to him at all, but he had to take Yuan Shikai's face into consideration.Who is Yuan Shikai?The Governor of Singapore is in charge of the lifeline of Asia, the outlet of the empire, and the Strait of Malacca. He holds the military and political power of Singapore in his hands. He is one of the best figures in today's officialdom. Except for the emperor who can make him fear, there is no one he can put in his eyes.Yuan Shikai was in far away Singapore, so he naturally had to arrange his cronies and eyes and ears in Beijing to keep abreast of the dynamics of the capital and even the emperor.

Zhao Bingjun was silent, as if thinking about something on his mind.

Xia Kangshou continued: "I have received many complaints about Wang Ke from the common people. Relying on his father's influence, this kid has committed all sorts of crimes in the Nancheng area. Therefore, I have collected a lot of evidence of his crime through open and unannounced visits. Today I heard that he is going to come to the Golden Theater to listen to plays, and maybe he will come up with something famous, so I made a special trip to check it out. I didn't expect to meet Mr. Zhao."

"So that's how it is." Zhao Bingjun looked at Xia Kangshou with a half-smile, and said, "Do you know that Wang Zhixin is a leader in the Beijing police circle and has a deep connection with officials. You plan to touch his son. I'm going to die!" At the end, Zhao Bingjun's tone suddenly became serious, and his face looked extremely serious.

Xia Kangshou snorted, and said: "The responsibility is, even if you go up the knife mountain or down the oil pan, the students will not hesitate. I still remember that you told me when you recommended me to work in the Suzheng Office in Beijing that the water in Beijing is very poor. Deep, one hair can move the whole body, and I have to be careful everywhere. I still remember that when the emperor inspected the Suzheng Hall, he said to me that I would never be soft on anyone. Although I, Xia Kangshou, have a small official position, Dare to betray the great trust of the emperor, and also dare not to betray the cultivation and kindness of the adults, the responsibility lies in it, and I am obliged. I want to eradicate this thorn in the eyes of the people of Beijing!"

When Xia Kangshou spoke, he was so upright that even Zhao Bingjun couldn't help admiring him, his heart was filled with respect, but at the same time he was also worried about Xia Kangshou.

Xia Kangshou lowered his voice and said again: "Master Zhao, the student is here for Wang Ke firstly, and secondly for Wang Zhixin."

Zhao Bingjun's eyes widened immediately: "What's wrong with Wang Zhixin? Could it be that he also has problems?"

"It's not just a problem. According to what I know so far, Wang Zhixin has been in charge of the Beijing police force for many years and is also the mayor of Beijing. He is suspected of extremely serious corruption and bribery."

"Oh? Shouzhi, the more you talk, the more mysterious it becomes. You can just tell me about today's matter. Don't let it out casually."

"My lord, students don't dare to say that if they are not sure. As far as I know, since Wang Zhixin was transferred to Beijing, he has listed a detailed price list for the promotion, appointment and dismissal of officials. If he wants to be an official, he only needs to spend money according to the regulations on this price list." It is enough to hand over the full amount to Wang Zhixin. Since he became the mayor of Beijing, all officials at the county magistrate level of the 23 counties under his jurisdiction have given him huge amounts of property. When Wang Zhixin celebrates his birthday, the officials have to go to his home to send a huge sum of money. Anyone who doesn’t go will be dismissed soon. Beijing currently has 24 counties under its jurisdiction, except for one county magistrate who was awarded by the prince’s background. In addition, after Wang Zhixin took office, he actually collected bribes from 23 county magistrates. Each of them paid thousands of filial piety, and the stolen money could reach more than [-] yuan at a time. In such a short period of time, at the feet of the emperor, such a large-scale bribery, even in the past During the more than two hundred years of the Qing Dynasty, it was rare to hear about it. Wang dared to do this, first because he thought he had a strong police and judicial background, and second because he was Yuan Shikai's confidant and thought he had a strong Political background. Finally, it is said that Yuan Shikai’s eldest son, Yuan Keding, paid a lot of expenses with public funds, and Wang Zhixin paid a lot of it with public funds, and he is very skilled in raising funds himself.”

(End of this chapter)