Ming Dynasty 1566

Chapter 22

The yamen is bigger, and the concierges are divided into left and right. Although they are all for those who are waiting to see to rest, there are differences in grades.Hai Rui entered the gate and was led by the book office into the gatehouse on the right. It was a room with only two rows of long benches next to the wall.

The book office said: "Sit here first, I will come and let you know when the superiors tell you to come in." After speaking, he walked out again.

This room also had lights, but it wasn't very bright. Hai Rui came in from the brightly lit outside, and after sitting down, he realized that there was already a person sitting inside.

The man stood up first, and looked at Hai Rui: "It's a pleasure to meet you. I'm next Wang Yongji, the new county magistrate of Jiande."

Hai Rui also stood up hastily: "It's a pleasure to meet you. I'm under Hai Rui, the new Chun'an."

That Wang Yongji's eyes lit up: "Jiuyang! It really is Brother Gangfeng, Haibijia!"

Hai Rui: "Don't dare. Brother Wang is famous?"

Wang Yongji: "The name is Runlian. Tan Lun, Tan Zili and I are good friends in the same department."

Hai Rui also had a good impression immediately: "Brother Runlian was also recommended by Tan Zili, right?"

Wang Yongji: "What kind of recommendation? I'm a county magistrate in Kunshan. No matter what, it's a good job. Tan Zili didn't let me go and brought me here."

Hai Rui: "Didn't you ask Brother Runlian beforehand?"

Wang Yongji: "Brother Gangfeng also knows Tan Lun's mouth. After some persuasion, you can't help but come."

Hai Rui was in awe: "Brother Runlian is willing to be transferred from Kunshan to Jiande, which is a blessing to the people of Jiande."

Wang Yongji was also solemn: "Chun'an is even more difficult. Brother Gangfeng is going ahead, I will try my best to follow." At this point, he found Hai Rui's whole body: "Brother Gangfeng just arrived?"

Hai Rui: "After five days of rushing, the city is advancing after dark."

Wang Yongji: "Have you eaten yet?"

Hai Rui nodded.

"I'll ask if I can get something to eat." Wang Yongji said and left.

"What's this place? Don't look for them." Hai Rui stopped him, then took out a dried lotus leaf rice cake from his body, "I brought it with me."

Wang Yongji watched him peel off the lotus leaf on the rice cake, gulped down the dried rice cake, with a look in his eyes that "meeting is better than being famous", and immediately went to the small wooden table by the east wall to pick up a handful of rice cakes. Thick porcelain jug, pour water for him.

The jug was empty.

Gao Hanwen's horse team also arrived at this time.From a distance, seeing the grandeur inside the gate, Gao Hanwen stopped the horse team, got off the carriage, and said to a group of guards, "Leave two people here to wait, and the rest go to the magistrate's yamen." Walk to the gate on foot.

The team officer guarding the gate probably already figured out the route of today's meeting, so when he saw Gao Hanwen walking over in casual clothes, he stopped drinking him and asked directly, "Which county is it from?"

Gao Hanwen took out an official certificate and handed it to him, the team officer took a look at Fang Hong's big seal and returned it to him: "Go in."

Gao Hanwen didn't say a word, he took the official letter and walked towards the gate.

When he entered the gate, there was no one to receive him, so Gao Hanwen stopped again.I saw the book office at the gate on the right yelling impatiently to Wang Yongji, who was carrying an empty pot: "I told you. Everyone has their own errands. You need to drink water. When we go to the lobby to discuss matters later, You have to drink tea."

Gao Hanwen walked over: "Excuse me..."

"Which county?" The book manager took a look and interrupted him.

A look of disgust flashed in Gao Hanwen's eyes, and he held back immediately, and asked, "Are all the people from the county waiting here?"

The book office: "Yes. Go in and sit down."

Gao Hanwen: "Have Chun'an and Jiande counties arrived?"

"Isn't this?" The book office glanced at Wang Yongji, who was carrying an empty pot, and left after answering.

Wang Yongji looked at Gao Hanwen, ready to talk to him, but Gao Hanwen turned to the book and said, "Excuse me."

The book office stopped.

Gao Hanwen: "Can I make a pot of tea?"

The book manager gave him a blank look: "I said you people..."

Gao Hanwen tore off a jade pendant from his waist and handed it to him.

The book office's eyes stopped on the piece of jade, and then looked at Gao Hanwen, his expression brightened immediately: "I'm really busy." As he spoke, he first grabbed the jade pendant from Gao Hanwen's hand, and then took it from Wang Yongji's hand Teapot: "Wait a minute." Holding the pot, he squeezed the jade pendant tightly and walked inside.

Only then did Wang Yongji bow to Gao Hanwen: "My lord, Wang Yongji, is the new Jiande. May I ask your Excellency..."

Gao Hanwen: "Let's talk inside." He walked into the porter room first.

Wang Yongji followed in.

"It doesn't matter who I am." Gao Hanwen waved his hand, "It's the two of you who have a heavy burden. One county is completely flooded, and another county is half flooded. I don't know the strategy of the two of you to 'reform and relieve the dilemma' for the imperial court." What do you think, how do you plan to implement it?"

Hai Rui didn't even look at him, and was still sitting there, slowly chewing and swallowing the dried poop.

Wang Yongji looked at Gao Hanwen: "It's difficult."

Gao Hanwen: "Where is the difficulty, I want to hear."

Wang Yongji is actually a very clear person. Seeing his behavior and questioning, he already guessed that this person is probably the new boss Gao Hanwen, but since he doesn't want to reveal his identity, he doesn't want to be abrupt. , and turned his gaze to Hai Rui.

At this moment, Hai Rui answered, "Your Excellency should ask the new prefect of Hangzhou."

There is something in the words.Gao Hanwen was shocked, and looked at Hai Rui.

Wang Yongji was also taken aback, staring at Hai Rui with restraint in his eyes.

Hai Rui ignored Wang Yongji's intentions, put the remaining half of the lotus leaf rice cake on the stool, stood up, and then said: "I heard that this strategy of 'reform and relief' is the new prefect of Hangzhou. It was proposed to the imperial court. According to this strategy, the people in the two counties of Chun'an and Jiande sold their fields at a low price, and changed the rice to mulberry. At that time, those who should get rich will get rich, and those who should be promoted will be promoted Officer. By next year, the common people will have no land and starve to death, so our two county magistrates will be able to leave. I don’t know if the new magistrate’s “dilemma and self-solution” refers to this result?” Speaking of this, Hai Rui turned his gaze to Gao Hanwen.

Gao Hanwen was startled again.

Wang Yongji looked at the ground.

Gao Hanwen stared closely at Hai Rui. Leaving aside whether the new magistrate of Chun'an recognized his identity, he was a little surprised by his fierce attitude towards the strategy he proposed, and asked, "What do you think?" Will the strategy of reform and relief cause the people of the two counties to starve to death?"

Hai Rui: "Of course not this year. Those big households have already prepared grain, eight shi per acre, at most ten shi per mu, and the victims will be able to deal with it for a year or so after selling their fields."

Gao Hanwen: "How do you know that the government will let those big households buy the victims' fields with eight stones and ten stones per mu?"

Hai Rui: "This is exactly what I want your Excellency to ask the new magistrate. "Change" is the first word, the government does not lend food, and there is no rice in the pot. If the new magistrate of Hangzhou is a disaster victim, at that time eight stone one Ten stones per mu, will he sell it or not?"

These words were exactly the same as what Hu Zongxian said, Gao Hanwen looked at Hai Rui and remained silent.

The most embarrassing thing was Wang Yongji, who was very worried that Hai Rui would offend his boss with such fierce words at this time, but it was not right to go to the boss at this time, and it was also wrong to intervene, so he could only look at the two in a daze.

The three of them froze there.

At this moment, the book office came in with a pot of tea. He didn't care that the three of them were standing there. They were very polite. They also brought three clean porcelain cups and put them on the table. While pouring tea, they said: " Don't take it too seriously, the yamen is big, and people are lazy. You said so many masters came, and the kitchen waiter was still playing cards, and asked me to find the tea. Fortunately, I brought a bag of this year's new tea with me. The Longjing tea, the young leaf sparrow tongue, is also considered top grade. It’s not easy for you guys to be on the job, so drink it.” After pouring the tea and talking, I realized that the three people were still standing there. I was a little surprised and looked around. This, and then looked at that.

"This tea is not clean." Hai Rui didn't even look at him, "I don't want to drink it." He sat down and picked up the unfinished half lotus leaf rice cake on the stool and ate it again.

The secretary was taken aback for a moment, and immediately thought of the embarrassing situation of several people standing there, and immediately glared at Hai Rui: "I said, are you here to be an official or to find trouble? See clearly, this is Governor's Yamen!"

Hai Rui raised his head and stared at the book office coldly, "Does the governor's yamen have to offer and accept bribes for a cup of tea?"

The book office was swallowed by his words: "You..."

Gao Hanwen: "He's not trying to make trouble with you, you should go out."

At this time, an attendant appeared at the door and asked the book office, "Has the Kochifu arrived?"

The book office finally had a step to go down, and he mumbled to Hai Rui: "I don't know." He immediately turned and walked towards the door, and said to the attendant, "I'll ask now."

"You don't need to ask." Gao Hanwen answered loudly, "I am."

The book office's feet were nailed again, and it froze there.

The attendant quickly walked into the door: "Master Gao has arrived early, please hurry up, everyone in the hall is waiting."

Gao Hanwen said to the attendant: "Please inform the hall, we will be there soon."

The attendant: "Okay. Please hurry up, I've been waiting for a long time." Said and walked out quickly.

Then Gao Hanwen slowly turned to Hai Rui and Wang Yongji.

Wang Yongji cupped his hands on his chest, Gao Hanwen reached out to stop him: "It doesn't matter whether you two know who I am. But Haizhi County said just now that the strategy of 'reform and relief' will make the two counties The people are struggling to make ends meet, this is very important. I just hope that you two will still persist in this kind of love for the people in the hall. Please." He said and strode out.

Wang Yongji looked at Hai Rui, and Hai Rui also looked at him.

The book office, who was stunned there, understood at this moment, took out the jade pendant from his sleeve, and hurriedly followed it out.

Only then did Hai Rui stand up slowly.

Wang Yongji: "Brother Gangfeng, we have to do things, but don't be in a hurry."

Hai Rui: "Brother Runlian, if the people in Chun'an and Jiande can't survive, can you and I get out of Zhejiang alive?" After finishing speaking, he strode out.

Wang Yongji's face immediately turned serious, and he followed him out.

There are two rows of desks on the left and right, and the lobby of the Governor's Yamen is full of red robes and purple robes.After waiting for too long, some people became impatient, and all kinds of boring situations were exposed.Two officials sitting in the same case were playing with a chicken cup made of official kiln fine porcelain; two officials in the same case were even more unreasonable, and even spread out a newly copied Kunqu opera score on the case, He tapped the board eye on the case with his fingers and hummed at the same time.

Zheng Michang was sitting in front of the big case in the middle, but he was very patient, closing his eyes and ignoring him, resting there.

"Hey! Hey!" He Maocai, who was sitting first at the desk on the left, became anxious, and fixed his eyes on the officials in front of the next few cases, "Aren't you a bit official? This is not a place where you can play with antiques. place!"

The two officials who sang Kunqu opera stopped singing, one put away the score, and the other took his hand away from the desk.

The other two officials who were playing with the chicken bowl cup also put away the cup.

The scene that was lively just now suddenly became deadly silent again.

"Really!" He Maocai threw another official tone, and then said to the officials below, "I heard that some unscrupulous people in Chun'an and Jiande incited the people to refuse to sell their fields, and each household gathered some silk and silk to buy grain everywhere. Have you taken care of all these things?"

An official who was playing with chicken cups just now replied: "They have arranged people to keep an eye on them. It seems that there are more than a dozen boats waiting to buy grain on the Caohe River, and they are negotiating prices. The grain ship is detained."

"The grain market must be controlled." Zheng Michang opened his eyes, "All the grain must be used to turn rice into mulberry. Anyone who buys and sells grain privately will be arrested for disrupting the national policy."

The official: "Understood. The subordinates will withhold food and arrest people tomorrow."

"This is seriousness." After He Maocai said this, the attendant who went to ask questions outside the door hurried in and whispered in He Maocai's ear.

"It's here. The grand master of Hanlin has finally arrived." He Maocai looked at Zheng Michang and shouted impatiently.

While talking, Gao Hanwen walked in, followed by Hai Rui and Wang Yongji and stopped at the door.

Zheng Michang stood up first, and the officials below He Maocai had to stand up lazily.

Gao Hanwen also bowed to Zheng Michang: "Your Majesty, don't wait for the driver to go. Hurry up and let the adults wait for a long time."

Zheng Michang smiled: "It took fifteen days to come here in one month's journey. You can imagine the hard work of Mr. Gao. Come on, please sit down."

His seat is actually assigned to be the first one opposite He Maocai, which is obviously a low position and a high position.Zheng Michang’s intentions for this arrangement are obvious. First, because this person was recommended by Yan Shifan, respecting him is to respect Shifan; It is very important for him to agree to the proposal set by the Zhejiang government and the Weaving Bureau. Once he has been wooed, with an order, the purchase and sale of land will be done vigorously, and the matter will be completed within a month.But according to the official rules, Gao Hanwen should be humble at this time, say something like dare not, and then everyone will praise him again. After the meeting ceremony, let him sign the set proposal, and start to act tomorrow.

But Gao Hanwen didn't give in, and he was not only rude to those below He Maocai, he didn't even look at him, so he calmly walked to that seat and sat down.The faces of the officials below He Maocai were a little ugly.But he still endured it, as long as he decided on the proposal, he would follow through.

As soon as Gao Hanwen sat down, Hai Rui and Wang Yongji, who were still standing inside the door, really stood there like pen holders.

Gao Hanwen stood up again, and said to Zheng Bichang, "Master Zhongcheng, the two counties haven't set up seats yet."

He Maocai became impatient at this moment: "There has never been a precedent for the magistrate to attend the meeting in the provincial discussion. It is decided to let them do it." Speaking of this, he turned to the two: "Go down."

Wang Yongji moved his legs and was about to retreat, but when he looked at Hai Rui inadvertently, he couldn't help being startled and stopped again.

At this moment, Hai Rui was still standing there straight, looking directly at He Maocai.

He Maocai also inadvertently saw the two gazes that Hai Rui cast on him, and he couldn't help but shudder—the two gazes seemed to be lacquered under the light of the lantern, shining two spots of light, brighter than the light of the lantern!
What's going on today?A magistrate who waited came to fight against the provincial government, and now a county magistrate who can't attend the court actually showed a chilling air to his superiors!He Maocai felt this invisible momentum, and so did Zheng Michang and others.

But after all, the position is there, let alone the one who is in charge of punishment, He Maocai immediately put on a powerful show: "Did you hear what I said?"

Gao Hanwen immediately took up the conversation again: "Chun'an County was flooded, and half of Jiande County was flooded. Hundreds of thousands of victims have to change rice into mulberry. If they need to do something, they should know how to do it." The subordinates thought that the two counties should be allowed to participate in the discussion."

He Maocai's breath surged into his throat, and he turned his head to attack Gao Hanwen, but suddenly saw Zheng Michang's gaze.

Zheng Michang stopped him with his eyes, and then shouted down: "Set up a seat for the two county magistrates to watch tea!"

Immediately, an attendant came in from outside the door with two benches, one for the last seat on the left and one for the last seat on the right.

Hai Rui sat down on the left, and Wang Yongji sat down on the right.

Immediately afterwards, the book office in the concierge came in with a tea tray, and quickly walked up to Gao Hanwen, who was sitting on the left, and raised the tea tray in one fell swoop—the three tea bowls were arranged in a rather meaningful way, the one facing Gao Hanwen was a tea bowl, and the tea bowl was facing towards Gao Hanwen. There are two teacups on the side of the book office.

Gao Hanwen picked up the tea bowl on his side and wanted to put it on the desk, but the tea tray in front of him still hadn't been removed. Only then did he realize that his jade pendant was impressively placed under the tea bowl he picked up!

A slight smile flashed across the corner of Gao Hanwen's mouth, he stretched out his other hand, picked up the jade pendant, and then held the tea bowl with both hands, the gesture of holding the jade turned into a gesture of holding the bowl with both hands in the eyes of others.

The secretary showed gratitude in his eyes and smiled awkwardly. Then he walked up to Hai Rui with the tea tray in his hands, but instead of lifting the tray, he directly picked up the tea bowl with his hands and placed it on the end of his bench, and then walked in front of Wang Yongji, He picked up the tea bowl and put it on one end of the bench, then backed out.

Only then did Gao Hanwen sit down.

Zheng Bichang then coughed lightly and said, "Let's discuss the matter."

The busy lobby immediately fell silent.

(End of this chapter)