"I'm not a kind person. I'm just soft-hearted and don't want to see others suffer."
Hearing someone interrupting, Cheng'er's grandfather turned around and saw a capable-looking man in his thirties, standing not far from him, looking carefree, waving his hands and saying loudly.
Looking at the man in front of him, Cheng'er's grandfather hesitated and was about to say something. The shopkeeper was the first to say: "Old man, the good man who helped you is this gentleman. He is the one who provided the money for you."
The food I bought is two steamed buns and a bowl of hot soup per person, which adds up to more than one tael of silver, which is not a small amount. You have to be very grateful to me."
Hearing what the shopkeeper said, the man waved his hand again and said: "This shopkeeper is overly praised. I just do it casually. Hundreds of steamed buns and dozens of bowls of hot soup are not worth a lot of money."
As he said that, the man handed over to Cheng'er's grandfather and took the initiative to strike up a conversation: "I have met this old man, I am Wang Hong. What do you call me?"
Seeing Wang Hong's attitude, Cheng'er's grandfather felt even more grateful and said in a trembling voice: "Old man, my name is Zhang Huan. I would like to thank my benefactor for helping us poor people. I can't repay you. Please pay my respects to my benefactor!"
"
As he spoke, old man Zhang Huan was about to kneel down and salute Wang Hong.
Wang Hong quickly supported Zhang Huan's body and said repeatedly: "No offense, no offense, it's just a trivial matter, but I don't deserve to be so polite."
Zhang Huan couldn't resist Wang Hong. After getting up, he looked at Wang Hong a few more times. He felt that Wang Hong's temperament was different from ordinary people, but he hesitated and asked: "I think my benefactor is dressed in an ordinary way, but his temperament is extraordinary. I'm afraid he is in the yamen."
Are you doing something here?"
Wang Hong was a little surprised when he heard what Zhang Huan said. After hesitating for a moment, he smiled and said: "My father-in-law has good eyesight. I did work in the government before. Unfortunately, I have an upright temperament and I don't know how to behave, so I offended my boss.
Now they have been kicked out."
The shopkeeper on the side had a very good impression of Wang Hong and couldn't help but sigh: "Hey! Nowadays, evildoers are in power in the government. It is difficult for a kind-hearted person like you to survive. Only those who are ignorant of their conscience and help corrupt officials to pacify the people."
Evil officials are promoted step by step, hey! God really doesn't care!"
Hearing what the shopkeeper said, Wang Hong frowned slightly and a hint of anger flashed in his eyes. But he sighed in agreement.
…………
At the same time, in just a few words, the surrounding refugees had already devoured the steamed buns and hot soup in their hands, and finally remembered that they should thank the kind person who bought food for them. They learned that this kind person was Wang
Queen Hong gathered around him, and like Zhang Huan before, they kept saluting Wang Hong and saying words of gratitude.
Compared with the old man Zhang Huan, although they were a little late, their attitude was sincere.
Seeing such a formation, Wang Hong still couldn't help but refuse to be polite. After finally getting the refugees to stand up, Wang Hong asked with concern: "Where are you folks from? You brought your whole family here.
I don’t know what happened? But my hometown was hit by a disaster?"
Seeing the inquiries from kind-hearted people, the refugees felt extremely wronged and told Wang Hong their stories one after another.
"...This benefactor, our life is miserable..."
"...The emperor wanted to tour the south, and the government said they wanted to build a palace, so they forcibly took away our houses and fields..."
"...The tax has doubled, and I really can't survive..."
"...complaint..."
However, so many people were talking together, talking in a jumbled manner, and the voices were confusing and interfering with each other. The shopkeeper on the side felt his head was spinning, but Wang Hong actually understood and kept nodding.
After the refugees finished speaking, Wang Hong stamped his feet and sighed: "It turns out that this is not a natural disaster, but a man-made disaster. Corrupt officials have done such evil, and all the villagers are really pitiful."
Seeing Wang Hong's sympathetic look, the old man Zhang Huan beside him also said sadly: "Yes, those corrupt officials, by preparing for the emperor's southern tour, levied exorbitant amounts of money everywhere, and the taxes were increased.
, they even forcibly expropriated all the land and houses that we people depended on for survival. We really had no way to survive, so we wanted to go to Beijing to file a complaint, hoping to get justice. Otherwise, who would be willing to have a bite of food otherwise?
You have to travel such a long distance and leave your hometown to file a petition!"
As he spoke, Zhang Huan's weathered and wrinkled face was already filled with tears.
When the passers-by and diners around saw Zhang Huan's miserable appearance, they couldn't help but shake their heads and sigh.
In today's Ming Dynasty, treacherous ministers are in power and corrupt officials are everywhere. Although this situation is well known to everyone, no one can reverse the situation.
On the other side, while Wang Hong was sighing, he seemed to suddenly remember something. He suddenly raised his hands and said loudly to the refugees: "Fellow folks, if you want to go to Beijing to complain, I have some news here, but I want to tell you."
Seeing Wang Hong's serious expression, not only the refugees, but also the pedestrians and diners watching the excitement all looked like they were listening attentively.
Seeing that everyone around him was paying attention to him, Wang Hong's eyes flashed with pride, but his mouth was upright, as if he was thinking about the refugees.
"Fellow folks, I used to work in the Yamen, and I have heard a little bit about your affairs. However, you may not know that the preparations for the emperor's southern tour are personally responsible for the preparations for the emperor's southern tour. The prince is the future emperor.
, as the saying goes, one person is inferior to ten thousand people, and no one dares to offend him. Now that such a big mistake has been made in the preparations for the southern tour, which has caused such a big public resentment. Although it has a great impact, no one dares to take care of it!
"
Hearing what Wang Hong said, all the refugees around him looked shocked.
They were just ordinary people. They had only heard that the prince had a good reputation and had the support of both the government and the public. They thought he was a good person, but now listening to Wang Hong's description, it seems that this is not the case.
However, although the prince had a good reputation, they had never seen him with their own eyes, and Wang Hong had just rescued them, so they couldn't help but believe Wang Hong's words.
While the refugees were shocked and hesitant, Wang Hong continued: "Actually, a few days ago, people from Heze, Shandong Province came to Beijing to complain. They were also beaten by local officials because of the preparations for the emperor's southern tour.
, the grievances suffered are the same as those of you. However, the officials in the DPRK and the Central Government were afraid of the prince's power. Not only did the Dali Temple and the Ministry of Punishment dare not accept the case, but the Procuratorate was controlled by the prince, and they wanted to cover up for the prince.
After the incident of driving and beating refugees on the street, poor people in Heze, they finally made it to the capital, but they had no way to complain. They were bullied, how pitiful!"
As he spoke, Wang Hong looked like he was feeling the same. He kept shaking his head and sighing.
Old man Zhang Huan asked in a trembling voice: "Is this...is this true?"
Going to Beijing to file a complaint is now their only hope. After learning that there is no way to complain, it is naturally difficult to accept it.
"It's absolutely true!" Wang Hongyan said conclusively: "Many people have seen these things with their own eyes. Now in the capital, there are even more rumors about this. I am definitely not deceiving you."
After these two days, all kinds of rumors in Beijing have obviously spread here. After hearing what Wang Hong said, many passers-by and diners around him who had heard the rumors responded one after another.
"...Yeah. I've heard of these things too..."
"... I have not only heard that when the government officials of the Procuratorate beat Heze refugees in the street, I watched from the sidelines. It's a pity that we ordinary people did not dare to stop the government from doing what it was doing..."
"...I heard that the two yamen of the Criminal Department and Dali Temple originally planned to accept the case, but they were opposed by the prince..."
"...It is said that the factory guards and detectives in the capital are now everywhere, suppressing rumors and arresting many people. They must have been coerced by the prince. This means that the prince has a guilty conscience..."
"...It is said that the prince made hundreds of thousands of taels of silver in one go through the preparations for this southern tour..."
"...The prince is also greedy for money? If it hadn't been for this, I would have thought that the prince would be a good emperor in the future..."
"...Why isn't the prince greedy for money? He has to support so many people and spend a lot of money on weekdays. How can a little salary be enough..."
"...I'm just saying, the world is as dark as crows. From top to bottom in this officialdom, I'm afraid there are no good people..."
………
Originally, the refugees who had benefited from Wang Hong's words believed him sixty-seven points after hearing Wang Hong's affirmation. Now they heard the words of the passers-by and diners around them, and they believed it even more!
For a time, the refugees felt that there was no hope of complaining, and their hearts were even more desperate. Many people were already sitting on the ground and crying loudly.
On the other side, the stall manager couldn't help but feel anxious when he saw this scene. Nowadays, the factory guards are suppressing rumors and arresting people everywhere. He has also heard about it. As an honest and responsible businessman,
I don't dare to mess with this kind of thing.
But I didn't expect that because of the incident about these refugees today, not only did a large number of people come to watch, but these people, led by Wang Hong, were also discussing rumors unscrupulously. If the factory guards got the news in the future, I was afraid that they would be punished.
Not good!
Thinking like this, seeing more and more people gathering around to watch the excitement, and the commotion getting louder and louder, the shopkeeper was even more secretly frightened, and quickly said loudly: "Everyone, I still need to do business here, why don't I just hang around here?"
Okay, let’s discuss it elsewhere!”
However, although the shopkeeper shouted loudly and even bowed to the surrounding people, everyone was focused on discussing the rumors in the capital, but no one paid any attention to him.
After the old man Zhang Huan learned the news, he had no other thoughts in his mind. He just took Wang Hong's hand and asked in a trembling voice: "My benefactor, you once worked in the officialdom, and you are more knowledgeable than us.
Do you understand that our grievances really have nothing to say?"
Wang Hong shook his head and said: "It's difficult. Now you are going to Beijing to complain. Although you are complaining about local corrupt officials, since the prince is responsible for the southern tour, you are actually going against the prince! How can you please him?"
After opening his eyes and telling lies, Wang Hong changed the topic and said: "However, fellow villagers, don't be too desperate. Now this matter is getting bigger and bigger. Sooner or later, it will reach the center of the temple. At that time, all folks can still hope to seek revenge."
It’s fair, but there is one thing I hope all of you folks will remember..."
Wang Hong's words once again brought hope to the refugees. After hearing Wang Hong's instructions, they all looked at Wang Hong eagerly, waiting for Wang Hong to continue speaking.
I saw Wang Hong with a serious look as he continued: "After all fellow villagers enter Beijing, you can go to any yamen to file a complaint, but you cannot go to the Duchayuan Yamen. The Duchayuan is controlled by the prince. If you go
I went to that yamen, not to mention complaining about my grievances, I'm afraid they would still take them into custody and put them in jail..."
Just when Wang Hong was giving "sincere words" to the refugees, a group of government officials were coming from far away on the official road.
The person leading the team was a censor named Jia Simao from the Metropolitan Procuratorate!
When Jia Simao came here, he was ordered by Lu Chunxiao, the imperial envoy to the right capital, to look for refugees entering the capital along the way, hoping to get the refugees' petitions into the hands of the Metropolitan Procuratorate first! (To be continued...)
ps: It’s the end of the month. I know I should give more updates, but my body is really weak during this period. Going for infusions every day is a waste of time. Since I was admitted to the hospital a few days ago, I don’t dare to joke about my body anymore. I hope everyone can forgive me and wait.