Emperor Kangxi: The First Rule of the Palace

Chapter 80
"His family bought my 500 acres of land to change the name, and they should pay [-] taels of silver. If you take five taels, you will make a fuss!"

Shouyusuoqian always follows the fifth grade, but Mingzhu is a little hesitant.At this time, there was a gap in his words, and he asked quickly: "The rename field is a land left by the Ming Dynasty, and it belongs to the imperial court, and the money from the sale should belong to the imperial court. How dare you enter into private pockets? When did you arrive?"

"I was on business the year before last." Feng Yinglong said with an easy answer, he was a little irritable. "What kind of official are you?"

"Busy asking me what to do?" Mingzhu said coldly, then asked the father and daughter, "When did you plant this land?"

The old man shrank and didn't dare to answer, the woman had already seen Mingzhu's background, she hurriedly knelt down and replied, "Our family fled famine here in the tenth year of Shunzhi, and planted fifteen mu of land...it turned out to be the land of the former Prince Mingfu. This ruffian relied on his elder brother's power to secure President Qian the year before last, insisting that the land would have to pay 500 taels of silver... It's hard to get enough money from the imperial court, so where can I find the money to pay this bottomless debt?... Can't pay it? He took my elder brother to serve as a camp soldier, and my father came out to stop him, blinding them both eyes..." The girl was sobbing so hard.

"Brother Mingzhu," Wu Ciyou said in a low voice, "this man is really a traitor, we must not let him go!" Mingzhu nodded, and said, "Girl, if you speak boldly, I will make the decision!"

"Why should I tell!" the girl pointed at the common people kneeling on the ground and said, "They are all witnesses, let them talk about it. How did Mr. He die in the front county!" Seeing that no one dared to speak, the girl choked up Said, "I'm afraid of him, let me tell you! Master He was the magistrate of Zhengzhou for six years in Kangxi, and he issued a notice to ask the people to postpone the payment of the name change—how many years have we waited to meet such a good official. He Feng Yinglong and the magistrate of Zhengzhou My elder brother Feng Yulong communicated and held a banquet in Wulong Town to treat guests. Master He died violently on the road that night! Master He’s coffin had no money to return home, and the poor in Wulong Town secretly exchanged the money to Mr. He—— Are you all dumb? Why don’t you dare to tell the truth?”

This matter was so important that no one dared to speak up. In the cold night, there was deathly silence in front of the Guandi Temple, only the shrill cry of a night owl could be heard from afar, and everyone shuddered.Mingzhu knew that if she didn't reveal her identity, it would be difficult to investigate the case, so she ordered: "It's getting cold, take the yellow jacket that the Holy Majesty gave me!" This sentence was very clear in the wilderness, and Feng Yinglong was shocked. The whole body trembled, and the common people were even more stunned.

When I was young, the drums and music rang together.Mingzhu wears a yellow mandarin jacket, a Lujiang sea gown, and a red cap with emerald feathers on her head.The attendants carried out two stone benches from the temple and let Wu Ciyou sit in separate compartments.The people in the town could hear the music outside in the middle of the night, and more and more people came.The common people in the poor villages, who had never seen such a powerful faction, kowtowed their heads and shouted in unison: "Master Qingtian!"

The words made Mingzhu feel warm in his heart, he slowly stepped down the steps and folded his arms together, saying: "Fathers and elders, please get up!" Then he turned to Feng Yinglong and said, "Didn't you ask me my identity? I am the first-class bodyguard in front of today's emperor. , Zuodu Yushi Mingzhu, envoyed by the emperor to go to the West Road for business, passed by this place tonight, visited your bad deeds, and wanted to eliminate harm for the people!"

After saying a few words, the people below burst into cheers and shouted like thunder: "Long live the emperor! Long live!" Feng Yinglong's face was ashen, and he collapsed to the ground.

Mingzhu became more and more energetic, pointed at Feng Yinglong and said: "I punish you like a pig and dog." Then he said to the people, "If you have any grievances, you can sue him, this Constitution is for you!" Tell Feng Yinglong's crimes forward: [-] people have been killed just for the ignorant money of changing the name of the land, not to mention his misdeeds of seizing women, seizing men, and enclosing land.It was not until dawn that the main crime was revealed.

"Please Tianzijian!" Mingzhu shouted, and Wu Ciyou got up to avoid it.I saw two school lieutenants coming out carrying a wooden frame at one end, on which was inserted a golden dragon scabbard and a sword with a jade inlaid hilt.Putting the sword in front of the steps to enshrine, Mingzhu unhurriedly turned around and kowtowed three times and kowtowed nine times, got up and said to Feng Yinglong: "Your thirteen lives alone will make you die!" Holy order, patrolling on behalf of the heavens, we are going to clear out the thieves here today, wait for your service!"

The school captains heard the order, and shouted in unison: "Zha!" With the sound of horns and three booms, Mingzhu waved his hand, and the two school captains walked over and dragged Feng Yinglong into his arms. A few steps ago, the knife was raised and dropped, and with a "cha", the head had already landed on the ground.At this point, Mingzhu Fang felt that half of her anger had gone, she pointed at Feng Yinglong's accomplices and said, "What do you say?"

Those three people were already scared out of their wits, they didn't care to bind their hands behind their backs, they just kowtowed and shouted: "I just hope that the master will be reborn under the sword!" Sins don’t deserve death, just enlightening them a few boards is enough.”

"Okay!" Mingzhu said loudly, "Drag it on, each with forty sticks, let them remember this day forever!"

The common people's grievances and grievances over the past few years have been relieved day by day, and each of them raised their eyes to the sky to express their gratitude.Some chanted continuously, some came around to inquire about Mingzhu's official title, some watched the fun, and some were extremely rascals, so they went to search for money from Feng Yinglong's body.The chaos didn't go away until breakfast.Wu Ciyou took out another 30 taels of silver and sent the singing father and daughter away.

"Happy!" Mingzhu returned to the main hall, sat down at the god's table, took off her big hat, raised her head and drank a cup of herbal tea, "I don't want our brothers to perform "Oolong Town" together last night!" After saying that, she laughed loudly.

"Brother, you have lost your mind!" Wu Ciyou said suddenly.Seeing that Mingzhu was surprised, he said, "There is no confession, and there is no charge." After pondering for a moment, he continued, "His elder brother is also the magistrate, and he will come here today to make things difficult. You have to deal with it properly."

"Just because his brother conspired to poison an official He, how dare he come to ask me if there is any confession?" Mingzhu laughed, "That's all right, Feng Kuilong will come tomorrow if he doesn't come today, just look at his brother. I let that person go because I told him to report the letter. I'm afraid that if he doesn't come, there will be a lawsuit with pen and ink, which will be troublesome!"

"I know that, even if you file a lawsuit, you will undoubtedly win." Wu Ciyou said slowly, "I mean, my brother's eunuch is far away, so you should be more calm when you encounter problems in the future."

This is indeed a kind word, Mingzhu was very grateful in her heart, and hurriedly said: "Brother, write it down."

At this time, it was three poles in the day, and after eating breakfast, Mingzhu simply issued a sign, saying that she would stay here for three days to observe the people's conditions.The murder incident last night had caused a sensation in the whole town, and the people, old and young, flocked to the north of the town to see it. In front of a temple that broke the customs, it was like a meeting.Mingzhu sent someone to carry a big gong, and shouted while beating: "The imperial envoy will get off the sedan chair here for three days. If the people have complaints of grievances, go to Guandi Temple to lodge a complaint!"

Just as they were shouting, the flow of people ahead suddenly gave way to a corridor.A blue woolen sedan chair with four people was carried over tremblingly, the guard of honor in front of it indicated that none of them were in use, and only a few yamen servants pushed the crowd with their hands to clear the way for the sedan chair.It turned out that Feng Kuilong, the magistrate of Zhengzhou, had arrived.

He originally got the report last night that his brother Feng Yinglong was kidnapped by bandits in Wulong Town, so he went to the camp and quickly ordered [-] soldiers, and personally led the team to kill them.When he arrived in the town, he found out that it was an imperial envoy, so he hastily sent the soldiers back from the others, and came to see Mingzhu by himself in a sedan chair.The common people were gearing up, discussing in small groups about recommending gentry to kowtow to the imperial envoy, but when they saw him coming, they all stopped and stared blankly at him as he went straight to the Guandi Temple.

Mingzhu was talking with Wu Ciyou in the main hall, when suddenly a school captain came in, handed over his resume and said: "Feng Kuilong, prefect of Zhengzhou, please see Mr. Chief Constitution!"

"Tell him to come in!" Mingzhu ordered with a smile on her face.Wu Ciyou said: "Your officials have official visits, I'm a commoner, so avoid it." Mingzhu hurriedly said: "Why bother? What kind of thing is he, I want you to avoid him!"

Just as he was talking, Feng Kuilong had already entered the hall.When Wu Ciyou looked carefully, he was short in stature, with a square face and a vigorous look.While reporting his name and position, Feng Kuilong raised his face and flicked his two horseshoe sleeves, and attended the court according to the etiquette of meeting the governor in the hall.According to the rules, Mingzhu should be exempted from the ceremony, but he just sat still.Feng Kuilong refused to salute again, and the two of them had already had a bad feeling in their hearts.

"Please sit down and offer tea!" Mingzhu ordered coldly, and then asked deliberately, "Is the prefect of Zhengzhou under your feet?"

"Don't dare," Feng Kuilong replied with a bow, "the imperial envoy has already received it, but I didn't expect the imperial envoy to come so quickly. I beg for forgiveness for not waiting for you!" He changed the subject and asked: " Your Excellency asked the Son of Heaven to kill Feng Yinglong from my mansion last night, but I don't know what crime he committed?"

Mingzhu didn't expect that he dared to strike first, she was taken aback and replied: "Brother, there is a reason to kill him. Why, I can't kill him?"

"It's not like that." Feng Yulong straightened his waist, "Feng Yinglong is now a fifth-rank official, and he was ordered to urge the department to pay the money for changing his name. He is not a criminal. Even if you kill him, you must have an explanation. , otherwise the humble position cannot return to the top."

"The people are suffering from hunger. Where can I get the money to pay for the name change? This minister has already paid homage to the Holy Spirit, and I request that all be waived!"

"Please return the decree to the decree, and the decree belongs to the decree," Feng Kuilong responded loudly, "Now that there is no decree, there is a crime of killing an official without authorization, and a lowly position must be punished!"

Wu Ciyou suddenly laughed loudly and said, "The poisoning of the former county magistrate He Mou and the death of thirteen people was also followed by orders?"

"What He, what thirteen lives?" Feng Kuilong did not show any weakness, "I am talking to my lord, who are you?"

"If he asks, he just asks, and he doesn't bother you to ask anyone!" Mingzhu was furious, "Come on, remove your seat!" Then two school captains stepped forward, pushed Feng Kuilong one by one, staggered one by one, and took away the stick. The stool, and Mingzhu continued to order: "Remove his top hat!"

"Slow down!" Feng Yulong was very stubborn, and shouted loudly, "Who would dare? I'm an official from Xixuan!"

"Xixuan" refers to the civil and military officials selected by Pingxi King Wu Sangui. These people are not controlled by the second department of the imperial court.Wu Sangui has a large army of 53 assistant leaders and more than [-] green flag soldiers occupying Yunnan, and every movement of his foot shakes the government and the opposition, and even Kangxi wants to give him three points.Mingzhu couldn't help frowning in embarrassment.But when things came to an end, there was really no room for change, and it was really hard to save face.With a heartbeat, he shouted again: "Crazy slave! Is King Pingxi greater than the imperial court? Capture him!" The school captains rushed forward.Feng Kuilong still struggled and cursed, and rushed forward aggressively.Mingzhu took out the sword from the rack and stabbed him in the heart, piercing the back of the heart for more than half a foot!Wu Ciyou couldn't help closing his eyes.

Feng Yulong leaned back and fell forward, refusing to fall down, holding the hilt of the sword in front of his chest with both hands, bleeding from his mouth, and said with difficulty: "You...you...you are so poisonous!"

"No poison, no husband!" Mingzhu laughed, "It's not wrong to kill you, and the common people are happy! It also saves you and me from going to court again." As he spoke, he pulled the sword violently, and blood flowed profusely immediately.Feng Kuilong fell to the ground with a scream, and died without even kicking his legs.Seeing this tragic situation, all the servants under Feng Kuilong's faces turned ashen.General Wang Shen looked at this elegant and elegant scholar, he was so ruthless, he was secretly startled.

As if nothing had happened, Mingzhu took out a piece of silk from her bosom, wiped the blood on the sword, and said, "Happy, happy! One day and one night to wipe out two evils for the people, the Holy Majesty will definitely praise me!"

After everyone retreated, Wu Ciyou was shocked, and said to Mingzhu: "My dear brother, I didn't know you have such talent and courage. In comparison, Brother Yu is only a rotten scholar!" Mingzhu laughed and said, "Where did I get such a talent Courage! This kind of air comes from listening to the elder brother's lecture on classics and history. The elder brother is a sage and sage, and he does not do it. The younger brother slaughtered this beast, and he has entered the indecent." After speaking, he smiled, but Wu Ciyou remained silent. After a long while, Fang said: "It's just that the attack is too harsh. Don't gentlemen come close to the cook?"

"If your hands are not ruthless, how come the world?" Mingzhu laughed, "This is all from reading experience. This time to capture Oboi, if it wasn't for my younger brother's advice and laying a golden wire net on the roof of Yuqing Palace, brother Huchen is so talented. I'm afraid it will take more trouble!"

Wu Ciyou and Mingzhu lingered in Wulong Town for three days, and carefully documented Erfeng's crimes in accordance with the law, and then issued a memorial, which was sent to Beijing urgently within six hundred miles, asking for an order for punishment.After everything is done, Wu Ciyou will go east along the old course of the Yellow River.Mingzhu stayed and said: "Perhaps the imperial court issued an order to punish me, so my elder brother would have the heart to go. Why not wait a few more days?"

On the sixth day, the imperial edict came down, one for Mingfa and one for court.

Wu Ciyou laughed after seeing Ming's edict: "This kind of decree saves the money for changing the name of the field, which is really a great merit! The sage is like a mirror, and the world can be prosperous and naturalized from now on!"

Mingzhu said: "Brother, don't be too happy, let's take a look at this Tingji, this is a punishment for younger brother!"It turned out that Kangxi personally wrote the Zhu Zhu. The previous recounted what Mingzhu asked for punishment, and the latter Zhu wrote:

〖According to the censor, the killing of officials without an order should have been punished as appropriate to extend the state's clear order.Thinking about cutting violence in Erqing and punishing rebellion in Chumeng, his original intention is good!The order still goes westward with the original purpose, inquires about the officials all the way, and plays me in detail.The requested punishment is exempt from discussion. 〗

Seeing this, Mingzhu exclaimed in surprise: "Brother, the Holy Majesty is still asking about you!" When Wu Ciyou looked at it hurriedly, he saw a few lines of small characters behind:

〖Will Mr. Wu go east?I miss it very much.If not, please send me your wishes.It's already cold, I hope he will take care of himself along the way, you can send two competent people to accompany him to Anhui, I have issued an order to the governor of Anhui to receive him, very earnestly. 〗

Mingzhu was very moved, and said: "Your Majesty, I will never forget my elder brother!" Wu Ciyou did not answer, and both of them worshiped the imperial edict with teary eyes, and when he stood up, his sleeves were completely wet.

The next day, the two brothers finally broke up.On the embankment of the Yellow River, the wind is cold and the dust is all over the sky. The long braids of the two of them are fluttering behind their heads. The waves of sand are swaying in the wind like streams. , It seems to be a confession of divorce from people.The two held hands and looked at each other, without speaking for a long time, Wu Ciyou suddenly sang:

〖The king will go, and I will live, looking west at Yansuo Chang'an Road.

The sand path wanders the ancient Yellow River, where is Piaoping tonight?
The flowing wind returned to his sleeves and sighed at the vastness, and he wanted to dance to the sky with his sword.

Alas, don't you see the ancient Yanzhao tragic singer, who went west with his sword and did not look back!
Efforts to make Mingde have a meeting period, and the long-term Jiangyue lays down the ancient times! 〗

Yinba said with a tearful smile, "Brother, let's part now!"

Mingzhu burst into tears and fell to the ground.Wu Ciyou was also afraid of looking at him again, so he got on his horse, and the group of three and four rode without looking back.Mingzhu boarded the embankment and looked around until they were nowhere to be seen, so she ordered to set off westward.

(End of this chapter)