Chapter five hundred and forty second bright and open
Accompanied by Wang Ying and Tang Yin, Fang Yingwu and Shi Shiran walked into the front hall. At this time, there were seven or eight people in the hall. When they saw the imperial envoy, they all came together to see the ceremony.
Fang Yingwu glanced at them a few times, but he didn't recognize most of them, but there was a young man in his twenties who looked familiar. After careful recall, he remembered that this young man was Zhu Zhishan, whom he had met several times six years ago.
After Fang Yingwu returned the gift casually, he sat down on the main seat and asked Tang Yin to bring tea and water. Wang Ying stood behind Fang Yingwu and listened to his instructions.
"This is the eldest son of Tang Yuan's family in Wangjiang Tower outside Changmen. I think this son is talented and intelligent. He will definitely be a rising star in Wuzhong in the future!" Fang Yingwu pointed at Tang Yin and introduced him to everyone.
, I took this opportunity to give young Tang Bohu a thumbs up.
After all, Fang Yingwu is now a young and successful celebrity. In terms of fame and reputation, he is from Huiyuan, so praising someone in public still carries a lot of weight.
Then Fang Yingwu looked at Zhu Zhishan, who was at the end of his escort, and said with a smile: "It's been six years, but I wish my friend is still as charming as ever! How is your studies now? Have you ever gained any fame?"
This tone was like that of an old-timer asking a younger generation, which made Zhu Yunming grimace and feel extremely depressed. Six years ago, he was completely disgraced by Fang Yingwu, and six years later, it seems that he still can't find his place again.
Zhu Yunming came from a well-educated family, was precociously intelligent, and boasted of his talent and reputation. He was regarded by the locals as a genius and a future star, but in front of this freak Fang Yingwu, he seemed to be nothing.
Six years ago, he was the most promising young man in Suzhou, while Fang Yingwu was just a wild boy from the countryside; six years later, he was still the most promising young man in Suzhou, but Fang Yingwu was already a famous Imperial Envoy.
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In only six years, he was able to soar to this point! And Fang Yingwu is three or four years younger than him. So it is really infuriating!
Zhu Yunming was full of distracting thoughts, but he still had to answer. He could only reply: "I'm sorry to hear you, sir. I'm a junior student and have entered school. Now I'm a student in Linshan."
A junior student in his twenties would normally be proud of himself, but in front of Fang Yingwu, a nineteen-year-old Jinshi scholar, he was really unworthy and felt ashamed even if he said it.
Fang Yingwu nodded amiably and encouraged him: "You still need to study diligently. You should follow the example of your predecessors such as Wu Gao'an and Wang Shouxi and win the title of Huangjia in one go!"
I don’t know since when, Fang Yingwu fell in love with the feeling of pretending to be a senior to teach (tease) others, especially future celebrities like Zhu Yunming who have not achieved success or fame. In the boring official life, this is a rare pleasure.
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Of course, according to the rules, in the eyes of others, he is indeed a senior. Those who are successful in examinations are ranked first. No matter how young he is, he is still a senior.
After teaching (tuning) and guiding (talking) and congratulating Yunming, Fang Yingwu turned his attention to others again and asked: "I'm sorry for my poor eyesight, but most of you look strange to me..."
The people who jointly visited today must be local celebrities, otherwise how would they be qualified to enter the Imperial Envoy's Residence?
However, none of them were familiar with Fang Yingwu. Everyone could only introduce themselves, and then everyone started to praise Fang Yingwu——
"Lord Fang acts righteously and upholds justice. Our city of Gusu is like a rain after a long drought. I regard Lord Fang as if he was reborn!"
"Master Fang is not afraid of violence, eradicates evil spirits, and helps the weak. His kindness spreads throughout the city, which is really a blessing for the local area!"
Facing the flood of flattery, Fang Yingwu smiled and said nothing, and just drank tea slowly. I don't know how long it took. Suddenly, a harsh cold snort came from the hall, and someone didn't know who muttered: "Praise to kill!"
"
The words were not loud, but they were loud enough for everyone to hear clearly. Everyone looked along the sound and saw this person standing behind Envoy Fang Qin, probably one of his followers.
As a long-term attendant, Wang Ying was standing next to Fang Yingwu. Naturally, these sudden words could only have come from him.
Fang Yingwu put away his smile, turned around and reprimanded: "All of you here are local celebrities and people of clean moral character. How can you be so presumptuous!"
However, although the person he was scolding was Wang Ying, it made the other visitors in the hall blush slightly. Their thoughts could even be seen by a long follower who couldn't get on the stage... Sima Zhao's heart was known to everyone on the road.
After scolding his entourage, Fang Yingwu said to everyone with a smile but not a smile: "You gentlemen are here, I hope you have some advice. Although I am an imperial envoy, I always attach great importance to public opinion, so you might as well say it directly."
An elderly man in a broad robe and long sleeves coughed and said, "Master Fang eliminates harm for the people and is respected by everyone. Is it possible that he started well and ended well? Think of it as the eunuch who hired the eunuch to station in Su Yueyu but plundered countless people's wealth. This is all unjust."
That’s a lot of money! Why don’t Master Fang handle it properly and act with complete virtue? This can be said to be perfect.”
The key to this sentence lies in the four words "proper disposal", and everyone can hear that his proper disposal means returning the property to its owner...
"Well said!" Fang Yingwu suddenly clapped the table and cheered, "The eunuch Wang Jingming purports to purchase it on behalf of the emperor, but in fact he is bringing disaster to one party, and all the money he collects is ill-gotten gains!"
Hearing that the Imperial Envoy seemed to agree with his views, the old gentleman who spoke earlier gradually smiled, and everyone nodded frequently.
Then I heard Envoy Fang say even more impassionedly: "So, don't worry, gentlemen, I have my own ideas! All ill-gotten gains should be confiscated and brought into the office, and greedy villains like Wang Jing must not be allowed to take advantage of them!"
What? Confiscated and brought into the official position? Everyone was stunned. This was not the way they had in mind...
Fang Yingwu seemed not to understand what everyone was thinking, and looked around the hall again, and said with dignity: "You can rest assured, gentlemen, although the treasure is touching people's hearts, I have also read the books of sages! I will never take a penny without permission.
All belongs to the public!”
For a moment, everyone seemed to have a collective cold, and the sound of coughing could be heard in the hall. After looking at each other, the old gentleman spoke: "Ill-gotten wealth, taken from the people, should be returned to the people."
Then he pointed to a person in the hall, "For example, this brother Zhang, his family was extorted from five thousand taels of silver and two ancient paintings, and he suffered heavy losses..."
Fang Yingwu was impatient to listen to the complaints and interrupted, "According to the court's practice, it is common for anyone who has a corrupt person to be investigated and punished to have his or her house confiscated.
But after the house was confiscated, all the family property was returned to the public, and I have never heard of anyone looking for the original owner to return it. This is the case, and I also acted in accordance with the rules."
Someone else argued: "The situation is different, I hope the imperial envoy can tell the truth."
Fang Yingwu's face gradually turned cold, "You also said that there are countless ill-gotten gains, so how can you repay it? Is it possible that if you say one thousand taels, you will repay one thousand taels, and if he says ten thousand taels, he will repay one thousand taels?
Ten thousand taels?
Secondly, you all said that you were blackmailed, and the evidence is not very clear. Does anyone know if anyone took the initiative to pay bribes? If you bribed the eunuch and wanted to get the bribe back, then it would be too disrespectful of the official?
After all, the facts are not clear, how can I return it to you? I am an imperial envoy in charge of food supervision, so I don’t have time to tell you one by one! It is best to follow the rules and confiscate the ill-gotten gains to the official!"
These words made everyone feel helpless for a moment. Could it be that after Eunuch Wang extorted money, he would issue a receipt as evidence? The imperial envoy was very eloquent, and he was also very good at evading words, which made them hesitate to speak. How to open your mouth.
After a moment of silence, the squire named Zhang asked unconvincedly: "Is there no other way? My money, calligraphy and paintings were taken away by Eunuch Wang in vain, but I can't get it back?"
Fang Yingwu sarcastically said: "You also know that Eunuch Wang took it away, so you can ask Eunuch Wang to get it back, but why are you here?"
The man couldn't keep up with Fang Yingwu's sarcasm, and retorted: "The property is here with you now, wouldn't it be the opposite for us to go to Eunuch Wang? I can only come to you, Master Fang."
Broken! Others were slightly shocked. How could such words be said easily? If you really said it, wouldn't it be equivalent to saying: Your Lord is easier to bully than the eunuch, so we don't dare to go to the eunuch, only to you. Master Fang is here to cause trouble!
Which official can stand such a tone? Let alone the imperial envoy minister who has just expelled the eunuchs and is in full swing!
However, Fang Yingwu did not get angry. Instead, he smiled and said, "Actually, there are many ways to do it. If you encounter any financial disputes, you can go to the officials! You can go to the Yamen to sue Eunuch Wang and say how much money Eunuch Wang extorted from you. , some antique calligraphy and paintings, after the yamen has reviewed them thoroughly, they will naturally return them as appropriate!
As the saying goes, if the people do not complain, if you don't file a complaint, I think you are considering yourself unlucky!
Besides, if the imperial envoy just returns the money at will without clear legal action, wouldn’t it be a private grant?
If it is spread out, others will think that there is some inside story. If it is determined that I am enriching my own pockets, I will not be able to explain it even if I have my mouth!"
Everyone wanted to vomit blood when they heard this. What is superficial skill? This is superficial skill! When they went to the Yamen to sue the eunuch, the imperial envoy could tell that since ancient times, he had never heard of a successful lawsuit against an eunuch!
Not to mention that Wang Jing is still in Jiangnan, who can guarantee that he will not come back with revenge? Besides, Wang Jing is a close servant of the emperor. If he files a lawsuit, he will bring the lawsuit before the emperor. This does not mean giving the emperor eye drops. What?
Seeing everyone whispering to each other, Fang Yingwu suddenly said loudly and righteously: "What I want in my actions is to be aboveboard! The money we handle must be able to withstand the doubts of the world and the test of future generations!
I think it is not advisable for you guys to do things in private and secretly, but I think it is not advisable, but after thinking about what happened to you, I will not blame you, so please go back!"
Is it a sin to want to get back the money that was extorted? Everyone was confused... What is the truth about this?
Watching everyone leave in anger, Wang Ying took a sip and said to the other party: "This generation of villains are afraid of power but not ethical!"
Fang Yingwu sighed: "Yes, they are afraid of eunuchs, like tigers, but they are not afraid of me! When the property was at Wang Jing's place, they did not dare to say a word, but when it was transferred to me, they dared to join forces to come to ask for it. ..."
In fact, the truth is simple to say. Fang Yingwu himself is a representative figure of this class. He cannot treat the gentry group as brutally and without a bottom line as the eunuchs. Others naturally understand this. (To be continued...)
ps: Yesterday I was talking to someone about adapting an old book. Although the hope is slim, I have to try hard. For this reason, I delayed the update. I will make up for it and there will be more today.
