When they came, everyone was united in one mind, when they left, everyone had their own thoughts. When they came, they were aggressive, and when they left, they were dejected. This is the portrayal of today's group of scholars.
They came to ask for an explanation, but the explanation did not come. Instead, they got themselves into trouble. The scholars couldn't help but be a little confused. Scholars had practiced this routine of gathering people to clamor for many years, and they should have tried it time and time again. Why did they always have such vigor in Fang Qin's place?
Nowhere to use it?
Shang Liangchen watched the corporal officer leave in a hurry. The other party smiled bitterly and said, "That's too much!"
Fang Yingwu explained with a heavy face: "The south of the Yangtze River, especially Suzhou, is rich and has luxurious customs and impetuous scholars. It is not as quiet and peaceful as ours!"
It should be noted that the public opinions of a place come from the scholars. I am urging the imperial court to collect money and food, but there are many obstacles and stagnation. If we do not kill the prestige of the local scholars and let them run wild, it will definitely become a constraint on governance!"
Shang Liangchen said sympathetically: "This mission of yours is indeed difficult to handle. The imperial court has its own position, and the local government has its own position. The court wants to collect money and food, but the local people have a negative attitude, and the prefecture and county yamen are not willing to cooperate too much."
Fang Yingwu said firmly: "I am an imperial envoy of the imperial court, so I can only stand on the side of the imperial court! However, if there is any compromise, it is not impossible."
Shang Liangchen shook his head and said: "It's difficult! It's very difficult! No matter how many wise ministers have been here for a hundred years, they haven't been able to completely cure it. How can Suzhou Prefecture not owe hundreds of thousands in arrears? If you can collect this year's allotted money and grain, it will be very difficult."
Not bad!”
Since the founding of the Ming Dynasty, Su Song has been famous for his heavy taxation. However, there has been a phenomenon that cannot be said to be strange. The local gentry and officials in Suzhou Prefecture have been asking for tax reductions. They have to appeal every once in a while.
However, the imperial court used the excuse that the ancestral law should not be acted upon and never agreed to reduce taxes. It insisted on heavy taxes and would not relent. It was not until Emperor Xuanzong that there was a slight reduction, but Su Song's taxes were still very heavy.
This is the contradiction between the overall situation and the local situation, which exists in every dynasty and every generation... Fang Yingwu bowed his hands to Shang Liangchen and said goodbye: "Thank you for your help today, senior. I have to go to the Hongmen Banquet of the government office.
Stay away for now!”
The Suzhou Mansion's reception banquet was held in a garden in the north of the city. A high hall was built in the middle of the lake, connected to the mainland through two long embankments.
Fang Yingwu strolled on the long embankment. Accompanied by Tongzhi from the government office, he walked towards the Huxintang. Taking advantage of the afterglow of the setting sun, he could see the tall and spacious Huxintang from a distance, with exquisite carvings on the outside. He couldn't help but sigh.
: "I have always heard that the land of Wu in the south of the Yangtze River is the most luxurious and luxurious. I don't know how much money the lake center hall in front of me cost."
Qi Tongzhi pretended not to hear, and just led Fang Qin envoy to the hall. After Fang Yingwu came in, he saw that the hall was brightly lit, elegant music was floating, and filled with a refreshing aroma. Li Tingmei, the prefect of Suzhou Prefecture, had been waiting here for a long time.
.
Fang Yingwu looked around. They were all officials from the government and county offices. He did not see any representatives of the local gentry. This obviously did not comply with the general rules for reception banquets. I wonder if it was because the government officials did not invite them or because the local gentry did not want to come?
"The scholars of Suzhou Prefecture have always been arrogant and arrogant. I think Master Fang will be frightened!" Magistrate Li stepped forward and asked in consolation.
Fang Yingwu retracted his thoughts and looked at Magistrate Li with a half-smile. Does this old man want to give him a slap in the face? "What Magistrate Li said makes sense. I had a warning before and reported it to the government office in a hurry. But the government office refused to take responsibility."
reason......"
Li Tingmei laughed a few times and explained: "Master Fang has misunderstood. This kind of thing is common in Suzhou Prefecture. It is not necessary to mobilize troops and mobilize people. It will be over if we just let them make a few noises."
If the government makes a big show of it, but falls behind, the reputation will not be good. Mr. Fang is also a scholar, why should he be afraid of facing the younger generation?"
Fang Yingwu laughed and said, "Prefect Li misunderstood. It's not because I'm afraid of anything, but there's something else! Shang Tixue in Nanzhili has a long history with me. Today he quietly came to visit the mansion for personal reasons. Unexpectedly, Shang
When Ti Xue left the house, he was surrounded and yelled at by scholars from Suzhou Prefecture. It was really unbearable!"
Magistrate Li was shocked, "What? Shang Tixue?"
Fang Yingwu sarcastically said: "Scholars are role models for etiquette. I think the government officials are serious about educating this Suzhou government!
In the past, some students blocked the imperial envoy on the water, forcing the imperial envoy to die and fell into the water; later, some scholars besieged the great master, but the government office knew the news but ignored it. I really don't know what they want to do?
My visit to Suzhou Mansion was really eye-opening. Could it be that Suzhou Mansion is a foreign land and is no longer under the control of the king's law?"
Magistrate Li was suddenly sweating profusely. Qi Tongzhi, who was next to him, quickly explained: "There are just some misunderstandings. Mr. Fang's words are serious."
Other officials also came forward to greet Fang Yingwu with a very warm and considerate attitude, and some even tried to flirt with each other to reminisce about old times. The scene became lively and the embarrassment of Magistrate Li was resolved.
After Fang Yingwu greeted everyone one by one, he stopped saying anything, walked straight into the hall with his head held high, and sat directly in the middle of the hall with dignity. He greeted everyone: "No need to be polite, gentlemen, just sit down!"
Fang Yingwu sat at the top, and originally the plan was for the prefect to sit here. His anti-customer attitude made everyone hesitate.
But Fang Yingwu was an imperial envoy, representing the imperial court, and ordinary people knew the so-called "one level higher than an official", so he just sat there like this, and no one could say anything.
Looking at the melons and fruits placed on the table, Fang Yingwu shouted: "I am here today to meet with you on official business, not to enjoy the blessings of the people!
All the singing and dancing girls have been removed, and all the fine wine and food are not served. Just a cup of tea for each person! The candles have also been removed and replaced with oil lamps!"
"This..." Magistrate Li was about to say something else. Fang Yingwu stared at him sharply and asked in a deep voice, "Does Magistrate Li have any dissatisfaction with what I said?"
Magistrate Li remained silent, and Fang Yingwu snorted coldly, saying that a sly person is a sly person, and his biggest characteristic is that he bullies the weak and fears the strong.
The others did not dare to say anything. For a while, Fang Qin envoys became the main guests and suppressed the officials of various prefectures and counties with their momentum.
Fang Yingwu paused for a moment and slowly scanned the crowd. It’s not like he has never done anything at the grassroots level. He did not serve as county magistrate for three years in vain. He understands the mentality of some local officials very well. If he wants to take some time to discuss the money and food issues with him, just
I'm afraid these prefectural and county officials will find all kinds of excuses to delay the process.
They will feel that they are all upright officials who love the people as their own children, and they are all good officials who cannot bear to exploit the local area. Money, food, money, and horses are all in vain. When the court is hungry, it will naturally look for food elsewhere. Besides, there are so many intricate things in Suzhou.
The local officials may not be able to offend the gentry, so they can just muddle along. Why bother to touch a hard rock?
Facing the local officials with this kind of mentality, Fang Yingwu wanted to discuss official matters candidly with him. The best time was really the reception banquet. Once the officials were caught off guard, there was no way to escape.
PS: This paragraph is very difficult to write, and the conception is a little slow, but it is basically straightened out, and I can have a small burst today.
