late Qing Dynasty

Chapter 122
Not long after, a middle-aged man in official uniform came out from the inner hall.

If he didn't guess wrong, he should be the governor of Anqing.

"Master Imperial Envoy, the lower officials are far away to greet you."

I stood up, looked at Governor Anqing solemnly, and said sharply.

"The governor of Anqing, Chen Zhonghe, received the order."

Chen Zhonghe and everyone else immediately knelt down and bowed their heads to listen to the order.

"Following the fate of heaven, the emperor ordered Tang Zhongzheng to be the imperial envoy to take full responsibility for the plague in Anqing, and all local officials will obey it."

I put away the edict, Chen Zhonghe stood up after kowtowing and thanking others, and said to me with a smile on his face.

"The imperial envoy has been exhausted all the way, and the lower officials have prepared a banquet to wash you off."

I didn't accept Chen Zhonghe's kindness, I glanced at him indifferently, and said slowly.

"Master Chen, I am following the Emperor's order to supervise the Anqing Plague. It concerns the lives of the people. It has been delayed for some time on the road. Let's skip the banquet! Let's talk about the plague first."

A trace of displeasure flashed across Chen Zhonghe's eyes, but out of face, he still smiled and said.

"What the adults said is, let's go to the side hall to talk!"

Accompanied by Chen Zhonghe all the way, we came to the side hall.

My initial impression was that although Chen Zhonghe was obese and ordinary in appearance, he was sophisticated and sophisticated. The furnishings in his home were all very expensive, the yard was also very large, and there were many maids and servants in the mansion.

If you compare me with him, then my mansion will pale in comparison.

To be honest, after all, he is a member of one party, and I am only the minister of military aircraft in name, and I have no real power.

"My lord, please take your seat."

Chen Zhonghe bowed and made a gesture of invitation. I didn't take the main seat, but found a seat at random and sat down.

"I'm more casual and easy to get along with. Mr. Chen doesn't have to stick to etiquette. Tell me about the current plague situation in Anqing!"

Seeing that I didn't put on airs like other officials, Chen Zhonghe stopped being polite, sat next to me, rubbed his hands and said.

"To tell you the truth, this plague is threatening. I have been an official in Anqing for ten years, and nothing like this has happened. There are rumors among the people that it is because of the long-haired army that the gods were angered."

Chen Zhonghe didn't get along with the preface, and didn't answer my question directly at all, but dragged the cause of the plague to other things.

"Master Chen, what the common people say is their business. As officials, we want to cure the plague. As for the matter of the long-haired army, let's not talk about it for the time being?"

Seeing that I was a little impatient, Chen Zhonghe gave the master a wink, and the master turned around and left.

"My lord, it's not that I'm a lowly official complaining. The plague is really hard to control at present. There is not enough money in the government office. The imperial court has been fighting with the long-haired army. Not to mention the payment of the army, even the money on weekdays has to be paid out of the government office. Those officers and soldiers can't control these things, if they can't eat, they can't fight, and my governor of Anqing is just a decoration, it's hard to take care of!"

Chen Zhonghe is really old and cunning, he wants to shirk his responsibility when he has no money, and even drags the problem to the war, which is really far-fetched.

If such an official is placed in modern times, it would be inaction, and he will not be far from the next post.

"Master Chen's difficulties are naturally clear to me, but if the plague can really be cured, the emperor's face will be delighted, and it will be a matter of course for him to be promoted."

As soon as he heard that he was promoted to the rank, Chen Zhonghe's bitter face immediately returned to a smile.

"What your lord said is true, but this official's ability is still insufficient, and you still need to rely on your lord's official authority."

"It's easy to say. Since I have followed the emperor's will, I will definitely do my best to do a good job. Otherwise, I will be killed when I go back."

I deliberately exaggerated the seriousness of the situation, Chen Zhonghe immediately turned pale, and quickly agreed.

At this time, the master came in from the outside, holding an account book in his hand, and handed it to Chen Zhonghe.

After Chen Zhonghe picked up the account book and glanced at it, he handed it to me with both hands.

"My lord, this is all about the current plague, please read it over."

I took the account book in Chen Zhonghe's hand, and took a panoramic view of the contents page by page.

I was secretly surprised. It turned out that the plague in Anqing had caused such a large loss, which was completely different from what the court heard.

"Master Chen, are you convicted?!"

I threw the account book down on the table heavily, and looked at Chen Zhonghe coldly.

Chen Zhonghe was looking at me seriously, and was unprepared for my sudden turn of events, so he fell off the chair.

"My lord, the lower officials are terrified and don't know what crime they have committed?"

"I don't know what crime I committed? Let me ask you, is the statement in this account book true?"

Chen Zhonghe immediately realized the problem and quickly nodded to explain.

"The sentences are true."

"Really? This is different from what the Queen Mother heard!"

I intentionally lengthened my voice and gave Chen Zhonghe a blow.

"The lower officials don't dare to lie. This account book is the situation of the Anqing plague. As for what you said is different, my lord, then the lower officials don't know."

It seems that Chen Zhonghe did not hide the truth this time. The Anqing plague must have been concealed layer by layer. In the end, it was nothing more than a big deal in the court. However, no one is willing to do even a big deal, or can use it article.

And I became the test subject of this article.

For me, who had just entered the officialdom, I was a rookie, and a discerning person would know the seriousness of the matter at a glance, but I was pushed to the forefront and had no choice. I had to use my ability to prove everything.

And, more importantly, is there really no problem with Chen Zhonghe's account books?Judging from his reaction just now, it doesn't seem like he was lying. If I believed him so easily, wouldn't it be too tender?

As the Chairman once said, 'Without investigation, there is no voice'.

Therefore, Chen Zhonghe's account books can only be a reference to my impression. The Anqing plague is actually very serious, and it has reached the point of no delay.

And what I really need to do now is to first send more people to obtain the first-hand information about the plague immediately; the second is to use empty-handed wolves to get money and provide medical and health protection for the plague; the third is to protect my health. Personal safety.

Thinking of this, I stood up and said righteously.

"Master Chen, call the masters from various Taoist platforms to come to the government office tomorrow morning, I have important matters to arrange."

"My lord, don't bother. If you have any arrangements, just tell the subordinates, and the subordinates can do it."

Chen Zhonghe bowed and stood behind me, a trace of suspicion flashed in his eyes.

(End of this chapter)