Han Dang is stronger

Chapter 57
In fact, the cheating Qin II not only cheated the people of the Great Qin, but also cheated all the officials of the Great Qin except Zhao Gao. Zhou Zeng, the county magistrate who admired Xiang Kang very much, was one of the typical representatives. The ever-increasing number of apportioned corvees and garrison services must be accountable to the superiors, and must not be too harsh on the subordinates, just like a mouse caught in a bellows, being angry at both ends and not pleasing at both ends.

For Zhou County Magistrate, who is not bad as an official, the most cheating thing about Qin Ershi is that he connived at his teacher Zhao Gao to tamper with the laws of Qin. Like anti-common people, Leng modified the already strict Qin law to be almost cruel and tyrannical, which made Zhou county magistrate who had been familiar with Shang Jun's law since he was a child at a loss, and had to spend a lot of time and energy studying and researching for a few days The new Qin law with a different appearance, against the conscience, imposed severe punishments on each of the prisoners who only committed minor crimes.

"... County Honorable, this official is wronged, this official is wronged! This official did not do his job well, so he ran away after being caught as a bandit. According to the laws of the Great Qin Dynasty, he must be charged with the same crime as that bandit. This official admits it! But The bandit was caught without opening the door, which was an attempted theft. According to the laws of the Great Qin Dynasty, he was only sentenced to tattooing (face tattooing). Why did the jailer Sun Shangli in this county not only sentence me to tattooing, but also let me go to the city? Dan? The officials dared to beg (appeal), just want to ask the county lord to make decisions for the officials!"

Looking sympathetically at the criminal official kneeling in front of him and kowtowing again and again, County Magistrate Zhou's face was full of helplessness, but he had no choice but to say apologetically, "You are the one who wronged the beggar. Sun Prison is closed, our Daqin laws have been changed, even if the theft is attempted, you must be sentenced to a tattoo plus Chengdan, your carelessness caused the criminal to escape, and you will receive the same sentence as the criminal, you must be sentenced to a tattoo and plus Chengdan."

"Shangjun's law has been changed?" The weeping law-breaker was taken aback, and hurriedly asked: "Xianzun, when did the Shangjun's law be changed? Why don't the officials know?"

"Just a few days ago." County magistrate Zhou said helplessly: "You are unlucky. On the first day you committed the crime, the imperial court decree to change this Qin law happened to be issued to Xiaxiang County Temple, so prison prison punished him. There is no other way but to convict you according to the new Qin law."

If the petty lawbreaker was struck by lightning, he would be dumbfounded at first, and then he couldn't help but beat his chest and feet, and cried loudly: "Oh my God, why did you change it so severely? You have to get a tattoo on your face if you try to steal it. It's hard to live." ? My child is still young, I went to Lishan to be a prisoner, what will they do? God, you are so unfair to me!"

Hearing the desperate cries from the bottom of the heart of the lawbreaker, the magistrate Zhou and his right-hand assistant Sun Yuyan couldn't help but feel a little bit unbearable, but they had no choice but to do their best out of sympathy. ability, told the clerk who was in charge of recording next to him: "Don't forget, pretend that begging has never happened this time, or he will offend him even more."

The clerk agreed to stop writing, and Sun Yuyan also said to the criminal with great regret: "Cangpi, do you hear that, our county is magnanimous, and we will not pursue your crime of begging for failure this time. Thank you county soon." Honor? You should stop begging in the future, and if you make trouble in the county, the county will definitely give you a higher crime, and then your corporal punishment will definitely not be as simple as tattooing your face."

The petty lawbreaker didn't thank County Magistrate Zhou who kindly rescued him, but kept crying, feeling extremely sad and desperate.Magistrate Zhou understood his feelings and didn't pursue it. He just waved his hand and asked the officials to take the unlucky official who accidentally let the attempted theft escape to the county prison, waiting for the stabbing.But after the officer escorted him away, County Magistrate Zhou couldn't help but sighed again, and said with a wry smile to Sun Jianyan: "Poor, there's really no way to save him."

"The subordinate also thinks he is pitiful." Sun Yuyan said with some disappointment: "In fact, Gong Youwei also talked to the subordinate, saying that this Cangpi has always done a good job under his command, which deserves the comment of conscientiousness. I beg my subordinates to be lenient and deal with it leniently. But the officials really don’t have the guts, if the censor of the county finds out about his leniency, I will have to share the same crime with him, and the offense will be even worse.”

"Do things according to your conscience." County Magistrate Zhou sighed again, and said: "If you can accommodate, try to accommodate as much as possible. If there is really no way to accommodate, you can only follow the court law, and we cannot be included."

After sighing, he didn't want to recall the desperate and pitiful expression of that hapless little official, so the county magistrate Zhou could only change the subject and asked Sun Jianyan: "How is Xu Zuowei doing with the recruitment of the fourth round of guards? (In the Qin Dynasty, the right lieutenant of the county was in charge of arresting robbers, and the left lieutenant was in charge of militia recruitment, but neither had the power to command troops.)
"Reporting to the county lord, I heard from Xu Zuowei that it's not good." Sun Qiang smiled wryly and replied: "I escaped so hard that I couldn't even catch it. Xu Zuowei estimated that at most [-]% of it could be recruited, and it may even be possible." lower."

Sorrow reappeared on Magistrate Zhou's face, but Magistrate Zhou was still helpless and could only comfort himself by saying, "Whatever, the surrounding counties are escaping one by one, and it's not me who wants to convict." Convicted alone. Besides, the sheriff is on top of me, and if the sky falls, there will be a taller one to support me, so I don’t need to worry about dying alone.”

I finished talking to myself, and the county magistrate of Zhou, who still has countless business affairs to do, just asked Sun prison to go down to handle his errand. He never thought that an official sent to report suddenly outside the door, saying: "Report to the county, Xiang Kangxiang from Shiling Pavilion The young master is here, and he said that he has something very important to see you, please take some time to see him, the county lord."

"It's very important?" After hesitating for a while, considering Xiang Kangpo's appetite for him, County Magistrate Zhou, who had just picked up the bamboo slips and was about to go to work, said, "Take him to the back hall and wait, I'll be there in a while." .”

The guard agreed, and immediately went out to lead Xiang Kang to wait in the back hall, while Zhou County Magistrate took the time to finish the official business on the bamboo slips in his hand, and then got up and went to the back hall to meet Xiang Kang.However, what surprised Magistrate Zhou was that Xiang Kang, who had always been neither humble nor overbearing in front of him, unexpectedly jumped up and bowed to the ground, begging: "Master, please, junior!" Please, please save my clan nephew Xiang it, otherwise he will die."

"Save your son, your nephew?" County magistrate Zhou was stunned at first, then misunderstood Xiang Kang's meaning, and asked with a cold snort, "Mr. Xiang, what happened to your nephew?"

"The county lord misunderstood him. He didn't do anything. He was sick, very sick." Xiang Kang said nervously: "Only the county lord can save him, otherwise his life will be lost. I beg you, I beg you to show mercy outside the law and save him."

"How can I help him when he's sick? I'm not a medical worker." Magistrate Zhou was completely confused.

"The county lord forgives the crime. This junior should be beaten. The junior was too anxious and didn't understand what he said." Xiang Kang lightly smacked his cheeks, then straightened his words, and said, "The county lord, it's like this, my nephew Xiang Ta's household registration is Zuolu, and his height is over six feet seven inches, which means he is an adult. This time, the county is calling for the fourth round of soldiers, and he must obey the call and go to the frontier to serve in the army."

"Master, my nephew didn't want to be a fugitive, and he has prepared the clothes and luggage to serve in the frontier. When the time comes, he will go to the frontier with Brother Feng to serve in the frontier." Xiang Kang added: "But the weather was unpredictable. I thought that just the day before yesterday, my nephew suddenly fell ill. He was still suffering from typhoid fever. He had a high fever and was unconscious. The medical worker said that even if he could be rescued, he would at least have to stay in bed for a while. For two months, I can't do heavy work, and I can't be exposed to wind and rain, otherwise the disease will definitely recur."

Magistrate Zhou finally understood Xiang Kang's meaning, and asked, "Young Master Xiang, so you want to ask me for an extrajudicial mercy, so that your nephew will be exempted from the military service this time?"

"That's right." Xiang Kang nodded, and then said to Zhou County Magistrate: "Your Majesty, I dare not lie to you. My clan nephew, Xiang Ita, is the only grandson of my uncle Xiang Chao, his father, my elder brother." Xiang Tuan also died of illness when he was young. He was the only descendant of Xiang Tuan, a big brother of the younger generation. As the uncle of Ji, I must not just sit and watch him die in vain. Therefore, the younger generation has the courage to ask the county lord to raise his hand. Exempting our nephew Xiangta from this garrison, the younger generation will definitely repay the county's kindness generously, tie a grass ring, and go through fire and water, no hesitation."

An even more helpless smile appeared on Magistrate Zhou's face, and after a sigh, Magistrate Zhou sat down in his seat first, and then said: "Young Master Xiang, logically speaking, for your sake, this The official should help you with this. But there is no way. The Qin law is more important than the mountain. The Qin law stipulates that no one can be exempted from the military service except the elderly, children and disabled people. Your nephew is not included, so This officer is really helpless.”

"But my nephew is sick, and he is very ill." Xiang Kang said anxiously: "Going thousands of miles to the northern border, exposed to wind, sun, and rain, how could he survive? He must have walked halfway. If you get sicker, you may even die on the road!"

"There is no way. In the laws of the Great Qin, there is no such thing that sick people can be exempted from military service." County Magistrate Zhou shook his head helplessly, and then said: "Also, Mr. Xiang, you must also be concerned about the fourth round of conscription. I saw it with my own eyes. In order not to serve in the military service, many people in the head of Guizhou either ran or fled. If they were caught and cut in half, they would also be considered as fugitives. If you make an exception and exempt your nephew from the military service because of illness, The rest of the people in Qianshou still have to follow suit? At that time, I am afraid that even self-mutilation will be done! Then how about Xu Zuowei’s job in the county? What else do you do?"

"Xianzun, are you really not accommodating?" Xiang Kang asked persistently.

"I can't help you, son, don't blame me." Magistrate Zhou replied helplessly. At the same time, Magistrate Zhou knew very well in his heart that, knowing the virtues of the children of the Xiang family, he would transfer Xiang Ta in advance and help him flee to another country in all likelihood.

Quite beyond the expectation of County Magistrate Zhou, Xiang Kang stood up straight after pondering for a while with his head slightly lowered, and clasped his fists to himself and said, "Xianzun, the younger generation is so bold, I beg you for another thing, please grant me your favor." One side of bamboo slips, let the younger generation exchange household registration with the nephew Xiangta, and let the younger generation serve in the military service instead. The younger generation's household registration is Youlu, so there is no need to serve in the military service this time. After the younger generation exchanges household registration with the nephew, he So you can rest assured to recuperate at home.”

"Master Xiang, you want to serve in the military for your nephew? Aren't you afraid of suffering?" County Magistrate Zhou's surprise was no small matter. He never thought that Xiang Kang would value family affection so much in order to heal his nephew. During the rest time, he voluntarily served in the garrison instead of his nephew.

"Of course the younger generation is afraid of suffering." Xiang Kang replied calmly, and then said: "But there is no way, Xiang it is the only seedling of the younger brother of the big family. In order to preserve his blood for the big brother, the younger generation can only endure this hardship and suffer. This crime!"

After saying that, Xiang Kang lowered his head again, and said: "Also, don't dare to lie to the county lord, in fact, the younger generation and Yu Shu of the Yu family have already decided to get married on July 26, after serving my nephew in the military, The younger generation's wedding can only be postponed."

Magistrate Zhou opened his mouth in disbelief, and said after a long while: "Mr. Xiang, you have to think about it. You went to the frontier to serve in the garrison. Even I don't know when you will come back. Also, when the garrison The suffering of being a soldier is not something ordinary people can bear."

"Don't worry, the junior has already thought about it." Xiang Kang said with a firm attitude, "I still dare not lie to the county lord. In fact, just now, the junior also thought about taking advantage of the time now, and hurrying up my nephew. Sent to other places for a while to avoid this call. But the body of the junior nephew is too weak now. If there is any accident on the road, it will be too late even if there is regret medicine. Also, even if we can be careful on the road Take care of me, but after being a garrison, the nephew of the younger generation will have to hide for a lifetime, always worrying about being taken over by the government, no matter how difficult it is to get married and start a family, to continue the blood of my big brother."

"So this junior has made up his mind." Xiang Kang raised his voice and said, "Please forgive me and allow me to exchange household registration with my nephew! Let me serve in the military for my nephew, so that my nephew can feel at ease Stay home and recuperate!"

Staring at Xiang Kang carefully for a long time, he saw that Xiang Kang's eyes were clear and his expression was magnanimous. No matter how he looked at it, he didn't seem to be pretending to be wrong. The county magistrate Zhou, who already admired Xiang Kang very much, couldn't help but take another look at Xiang Kang. Finally nodded, and said: "Okay, I agree to you! Make an exception and allow you and your nephew to change household registration, and fulfill your painstaking efforts to protect your nephew!"

"Thank you county magistrate." Xiang Kang hurriedly bowed his hands to the magistrate Zhou to thank him.

"But don't regret it." County Magistrate Zhou fetched bamboo slips and wrote an official document allowing Xiang Kang and Xiang Ta to exchange household registrations, and said with a smile, "Don't go to the frontier and scold me behind your back because you won't be able to bear the hardships." Harm you, I didn't try my best to stop you at this time."

"Please don't worry, the county lord, this junior is not that kind of person."

Xiang Kang replied solemnly, and County Magistrate Zhou nodded in satisfaction. He quickly wrote the official document, and then handed it over to Xiang Kang, who asked Xiang Kang to go to Dongxiang Township to change his household registration. Young Master, I am really envious of your nephew, it is really his blessing to have an Uncle Ji like you."

"The honor of the county." Xiang Kang was modest, first took the slips respectfully, and then thought about it for a while, and pleaded again: "The honor of the county, I dare you, I would like to invite you to come to the office in person at noon on the fourth day of July. Go to Shiling Pavilion."

"What did you ask me to do at Shiling Pavilion that day?" Magistrate Zhou asked curiously.

"That day was the day when Dongxiang soldiers assembled and set off. They gathered at noon and first went to the Santai Pavilion to the north of Xiaxiang to meet the soldiers from other townships. Then they set off to serve in the frontier the next day. The younger generation is bold and wants to ask the county honor to be a younger generation. Go on a strong trip with a few brothers from the same clan of the younger generation." Xiang Kang explained, and then said: "Among the children of our Xiang family, there are five people who went with me in this call. Personally encourage our brothers with a few words, and let the people in Qianshou, who are all serving Lingting, know that our Xiang family's children are all men who are not afraid of hardships, and none of them should be fugitives! Let the younger generation win glory for our Xiang family!"

Of course, Xiang Kang's excuse was a bit forced, but it was the same as Xiang Kang's estimation beforehand. First, County Magistrate Zhou really appreciated Xiang Kang very much, and was willing to give Xiang Kang a face and help Xiang Kang win some glory for the old Xiang family; If things are handled well, setting a shining example like the Xiang family's children will definitely inspire the hearts and minds of the people and make it easier for me to govern the people in the future.So after a little calculation, County Magistrate Zhou nodded and said, "Okay, if I can spare some time then, I will definitely go to give you a good job, Young Master."

Magistrate Zhou didn't give a definite answer. Of course Xiang Kang, who worked so hard to arrange, was a little disappointed, but he didn't dare to show it on his face.However, when Xiang Kang bowed his hands and said goodbye after thanking Xiang Kang, the county magistrate Zhou suddenly remembered something, stopped Xiang Kang, and said: "Mr. There are ghosts and gods in the temple, and they have spread to Xiaxiang City, what kind of ghosts and gods are there?"

"Oops, why did County Magistrate Zhou hear the news so quickly?" Xiang Kang groaned in his heart, but he had to answer, and he didn't dare to deliberately lie to arouse the suspicion and vigilance of County Magistrate Zhou. He could only say carefully: " There is indeed such a thing, but the county lord forgives the crime, that matter is a bit taboo, the junior dare not answer directly, so I can only ask the county lord to inquire."

"Breaking a taboo? What kind of taboo?" County Magistrate Zhou asked doubtfully.

"It's a taboo of the imperial court. Brother Feng got sick from fright and is still lying on the bed." Xiang Kang replied truthfully, and then said: "And if this junior talks about that, he will be convicted immediately. Respect and forgive sins, juniors dare not say that."

"What kind of ghost and god is it? It's so terrible?" County magistrate Zhou wondered, but he didn't force Xiang Kang to answer immediately, but waved his hand, telling Xiang Kang to leave, and at the same time said in his heart: "It seems that I have to personally Go to the Shiling Pavilion, and go to the scene to investigate what ghosts and gods are. Even Mr. Xiang was too scared to say it directly. , so as not to implicate my official career."

(End of this chapter)