Fang Keqin is a native of eastern Zhejiang. His ancestors were Confucianists for three generations and he is an outstanding small-town essayist.
When he was eight years old, he participated in the provincial examination and discussed the general situation of the world and the pros and cons of government affairs. Because of his fierce words, the examiner did not dare to admit him, but he became famous all over the world and everyone knew it.
Since then, Fang Keqin has been studying in his hometown. He took the time to marry a wife and gave him a son. This son was exactly the same as his father. He was smart and good at reading. Fang Keqin liked him very much, so he named the child
His name is Fang Xiaoru!
Fang Keqin saw the world in chaos and never had the chance to display his ambitions, so he was depressed.
The world is so vast, who is the wise master worth trusting?
While Fang Keqin was constantly observing and searching, Zhu Yuanzhang sent his army into Hangzhou.
It’s not like the Red Scarf Army never came before, such as Monk Peng.
They burned, killed, and looted, and their military discipline was ruined. Their actions were comparable to those of the Yuan army.
Fang Keqin despised these thieves. At a glance, Zhu Yuanzhang was not much better... But something he didn't expect happened. Zhu Jiajun entered Hangzhou. Qiu had no fault, and even went to pay homage to Yue Fei. This was especially disappointing.
What was shocking was that a kneeling statue was actually erected for Zhao Gou!
One can imagine how shocked Fang Keqin was.
He remembered that he had visited Yue Fei's tomb in the early years. Facing this great hero and hero who had suffered an unfair injustice, Fang Keqin burst into tears. He hated the injustice in the world and that people like Yue Fei could not escape their injustice.
Compared with Yue Fei, there is a huge gap between me and Yue Fei.
Compared with the Song Dynasty, the Yuan Dynasty only had tens of millions of people.
If I enter the officialdom, I'm afraid the end will be ten thousand times more miserable.
It was also his trip to Hangzhou that made him give up his plan to become an official.
But who could have imagined that there would actually be a monarch who could correct this centuries-old mistake and erect a kneeling statue of Zhao Gou, so that those who were willing to do things would not be disappointed.
Almost without thinking, Fang Keqin immediately went to Yingtian and successfully passed the exam. With his talent and ability, it was easy to pass the exam to become a minor official.
Fang Keqin served as a local official, mainly to appease the people and implement the equalization of land.
The most important thing in this job is to be fair and gain the trust of the people.
Especially in many remote villages, the people there have been controlled by a few large households for generations. They have no idea what the imperial court is and instinctively resist those who come from outside.
And even if they were given land, these people would not dare to take it for fear that it would be taken away by the masters again. In the end, they would be beaten or even lose their lives.
Fang Keqin worked tirelessly and went deep into the local area several times to investigate the evil deeds of large households, encouraged the people to stand up, and promised the people that he would make decisions for the people.
With his hard work, the land equalization matter went much smoothly.
Because of this, he was quickly promoted and appointed as the prefect.
Later, he was transferred to Yingtian, and he could be promoted to a higher level only after the assessment of the Ministry of Civil Affairs was completed... According to the plan of the Zhongshu Ministry of Education, some provinces were to be established. If nothing else, Fang Keqin was one of the candidates for the Chief Envoy.
.
Fang Keqin was very happy and wrote a letter home, telling his wife that he should educate his children well and be loyal to the Ming Emperor in the future.
Before the letter was sent, there was a knock on the door of the residence.
"Is the prefect here?"
Fang Keqin was startled and hurriedly ran to the door, "Where are you from?"
"It's from the Ministry of Rites. I have something to explain, and I would like to ask the prefect to open the door."
Fang Keqin looked through the crack in the door and saw a clerk in green robes outside, so he opened the door.
At this moment, several big men rushed out from both sides and directly held Fang Keqin down!
"Don't move!"
Fang Keqin was shocked, what was going on? Why should he be arrested?
"I, I am an official of the imperial court, you, you can't arrest people for no reason?"
The leader of the Archguard Bureau, Bai Hu, sneered: "Arrest innocent people? Magistrate Fang, are you really good at pretending to be confused? Let me ask you, are you purchasing officials for the Ministry of Industry and issuing blank official documents?"
Fang Keqin was startled, it seemed like this was happening... But isn't this a habit over the years!
"I, I didn't break the king's law, it's always been like this!"
"Always? Not anymore from now on!" Baihu sneered: "Take it away!"
Several soldiers from the Arch Guard Department dragged Fang Keqin away.
On this day, hundreds of officials were taken away!
There were foreign officials like Fang Keqin, officials from the Ministry of Revenue, the Ministry of Industry, and even the Ministry of War... Zhu Yuanzhang carried out the first large-scale anti-corruption campaign since he came to the throne. The Gongwei Department and the Du Branch jointly took action.
In an instant, the government and the public were shaken, and all the officials in Beijing were horrified!
Many people were frightened and frightened, and were panic-stricken.
What's the point?
The superior had just ascended the throne, and among our civil servants, Prime Minister Li and Prime Minister Zhang had become hereditary and irreplaceable dukes.
We are all heroes of the Conglong Dynasty. Even if we are not given a title, we can't just arrest people so casually, right?
It makes no sense!
Is the superior confused, or has he been bewitched by a treacherous minister?
"Needless to say! Guo Ying of the Guards Department is a villain! Jiang Nan of the Du Branch is a woman! Confucius said it well, only women and villains are difficult to care for! There are two treacherous sycophants in the court,
Don’t even think about peace!”
"That's good! Then, what should we do?" Gu Snoring
But after hearing this, everyone who was so angry just now was a little speechless.
Not only was the Imperial Guard directly under the emperor, but Guo Ying's sister also entered the palace and became a concubine. Guo Ying was also Zhu Yuanzhang's uncle. Would he act easily?
As for the branch office, they are responsible for settling accounts.
Moreover, the Du branch was under the supervision of the provincial government, which meant that Prime Minister Zhang was implicated behind the scenes.
In other words, this matter was instructed by Zhu Yuanzhang and Zhang Ximeng at the same time, so it’s over, don’t say anything, just wait for the result! Don’t even look for Li Shanchang, Prime Minister Li can’t control this matter!
Just when all the officials were frightened, Li Shanchang, who had no control over the matter, came unexpectedly. He glanced at the officials with a sullen face and majestic eyes, and then said in a deep voice: "There is an order from the superior, all of them go to the home of Zheng Shiyuan, the Minister of Household Affairs!"
After saying that, Li Shanchang turned around and left. As for the remaining officials, they were shocked!
Zheng Shiyuan can hardly be regarded as a corrupt official.
He is strict, serious, and does not show favoritism. He often quarrels with his colleagues. He will fight to the end over a slight discrepancy in the accounts and will not give up until the truth is revealed.
In the entire household department, he is regarded as the most difficult person to deal with.
It may be more credible to say that Ruan Hongdao, the Minister of Household Affairs, was corrupt and perverted the law!
Speaking of Zheng Shiyuan, are you afraid that you have wronged him?
Everyone was so frightened that they had to follow Li Shanchang and rush to Zheng Shiyuan's mansion.
To say it is a mansion is an exaggeration. This is just an ordinary small courtyard, not spacious, and even a little low and cramped.
There is a huge locust tree in the yard, with lush branches and leaves, covering half of the small yard.
Sophora japonica means pregnant!
People who are familiar with Zheng Shiyuan often hear him say that being an official is not as good as Bao Longtu, but we must also imitate Tao Yuanming and not give up for five buckets of rice! This Sophora japonica is the witness!
The words really ring in my ears!
Can such a person be greedy for ink?
Jiang Nan was standing next to Zhang Ximeng. With a sullen face, she still vividly remembered the process of checking the Zheng family.
When she came, she saw Zheng Shiyuan eating alone at home, with a plate of dried tofu and a plate of broad beans, and nothing else.
"I am alone in Yingtian. My wife and children are at home. They can dig in the soil for food. I don't pretend to be poor to show anyone. The salary from the superior is enough, so I just have some leftover to give to the poor students at home.
Whoever you are checking should not check me."
Zheng Shiyuan was determined, calm and confident.
Jiang Nan even suspected that she had really wronged him.
"Shilang Zheng, what's going on with the blank official document issued by the Ministry of Revenue?"
"This...I am willing to apologize to the superiors. In fact, the Ministry of Revenue has never done this in the past. It's just that this time, in order to rush the work, the imperial palace in the capital purchased too much. Time is tight. I would rather buy more than not enough. After all, it is a matter of concern to the superiors.
If there is indeed a mistake, I am willing to accept it for the Lord!"
Guo Ying gritted his teeth and said, "You are not worthy of having suffered for the Lord! Someone, search!"
The people from the Arch Guards Department immediately dispatched and checked the small courtyard thoroughly.
I even dug up the soil under the locust tree, but still found nothing.
Zheng Shiyuan smiled calmly, "Commander Guo, and Jiang Tiju, I have a clear conscience. You said that I issued blank official documents, which is considered dereliction of duty. I admit it, and I can go to the Ministry of Justice and the Department of Guards with you at any time. But you said
I am greedy for ink, so I have wronged a good person. All in all, no matter how I deal with it, I have no complaints!"
Guo Ying's face turned dark, and she gritted her teeth and said, "You are really a loyal minister!"
"I dare you. The superior is the hero. Now is the Ming Dynasty. We really shouldn't keep the bad habits of the past. Use me to scare the tigers and scare the tigers. I will kill the chickens to scare the monkeys... I admit all this. But you can't say that I am greedy, otherwise
I can’t go home to see my parents and folks?”
Guo Ying glanced at Jiang Nan. Jiang Nan walked slowly, walked around the room, and suddenly said: "Zheng Shilang, why is the inside of your room so much smaller than the outside?"
Zheng Shiyuan was startled and said hurriedly: "This is the old house I rented. It is said that it was originally owned by a merchant. This house is more spacious than the newly built house... Although the superiors have prepared residences for all the officials, including me, the minister, but the building
The house will take some time, so let the people below live in it first, I'm not in a hurry."
Jiang Nan nodded lightly, "Shilang Zheng is really a moral gentleman!"
After she finished speaking, she glanced at Guo Ying. Guo Ying understood immediately and called on several people from the Guards Department to rush up and check the wall.
Then someone brought a spade and a pickaxe... Looking at Zheng Shiyuan at this time, he was obviously a little tensed, and he swallowed subconsciously... His actions could not escape Jiang Nan's eyes.
"Smash it open!"
Bang bang bang!
Zheng Shiyuan stared with wide eyes. Suddenly a brick broke and a lot of yellow and white stuff flowed out from inside.
As the gold and silver flowed out, Zheng Shiyuan's face turned pale and he remained motionless...
"Master Zheng, these...are they probably not left by the businessman who rented your house? He hid the money and caused you to be implicated?"
When Zheng Shiyuan heard this, he seemed to have grasped a life-saving straw.
"That's right, that's right, that's it! Jiang Ti has given you a clear lesson!"
Jiang Nan didn't say anything, but walked over, leaned over and picked up a piece of gold ingot, looked at it carefully, and said with a smile: "That businessman is really careful, he even used the reign name of the Wu Kingdom in West China, it's not easy!
"
With just this sentence, Zheng Shiyuan collapsed instantly, his body shook, and he fell down, crying bitterly, "I, I, I didn't squander it! I, I have suffered for others!"
"This, this is all Ruan Hongdao's fault! He asked me to find a way to make up for the shortfall, and it was all his doing!"
…
The scene of the arrest flashed through Jiang Nan's mind again and again, and until this moment, she couldn't calm down. It's really shocking that a minister of household affairs could embezzle such a huge sum of money with his hands and feet freely!
A total of 180,000 taels was placed in front of hundreds of officials. Compared with him, Li Menggeng pales in comparison...