Qin Xiao suddenly became interested and said: "Sir, what you said makes sense."
"In fact, the four northeastern counties are full of talents, and there is no shortage of heroes with extraordinary courage and wisdom." Ximen Hao said solemnly: "Not to mention other things, it was in this Liaoxi County that a major event with extremely wide implications occurred six years ago.
It has had an impact to this day, and there are many talented people involved.”
Qin Xiao said hurriedly: "Sir, what are you talking about?"
"The Bai family in Liaoxi County is a scholarly family with a century-old history. It is a famous scholarly family in the four northeastern counties." Ximen Hao said: "Your Majesty may not have heard of the name Baiyulou, but this name was once very popular. When this person was young,
He was known as a child prodigy and had a photographic memory. He was the best in local and county examinations. At the age of 22, he was also appreciated by the late emperor in the Kyoto palace examination and directly entered the Ministry of Rites as an official. However, after staying in the Ministry of Rites for more than a year, the late emperor passed away.
After the death of the saint, the saint ascended the throne. The Lord knew that there was no peace in the court at that time, and many officials were implicated because of their opposition to the saint. Although Bai Yulou was not involved, he resigned directly and returned to his hometown, and has stayed away from the court since then. "
Qin Xiao said: "He wants to avoid the whirlpool of the court."
"Yes, after returning to western Liaoning, although he was without an official position and was in a state of poverty, local officials did not dare to show any slight to him." Ximen Hao said: "He opened Yingcaotang, an academy in western Liaoning, to teach children from poor families for free.
For studying, the county governor's office will allocate a sum of money every year for the expenses of the academy, and Bai Yulou does not refuse. In his words, the government's money comes from the people, and it should be used for the people."
Qin Xiao laughed and said: "Interesting, it seems that Mr. Bai is not a nerd."
"If he is just a bookworm who just blindly studies, how can he be afraid of so many officials in the Northeast?" Ximen Hao said with a smile: "In just two years, Yingcaotang has recruited two to three hundred disciples, most of whom are from poor families, although there are also some from aristocratic families.
Disciples, but all of them are smart, eager to learn, and of good moral character. The lectures at Yingcaotang are different from those in ordinary academies. Mr. Bai has a high prestige in the Northeast. He often invites some outstanding scholars from the Northeast to give lectures. Many of these scholars' opinions will be understood.
Opposites, but in the academy you can freely teach your personal academic arguments in an eclectic way, so Yingcaotang has gradually become a place where various schools of thought contend, and its influence is growing."
Qin Xiao knew nothing about this and asked: "Sir, he said that a big event happened six years ago. Is it related to Yingcaotang?"
"This incident originated from a student named Fan Lun in the academy." Ximen Hao said: "Fan Lun is a talented scholar, and his courage is extraordinary. In fact, before this, he often criticized government officials for not making decisions for the people.
, but because of the influence of Yingcaotang, no one bothered him. But six years ago, he found evidence from nowhere and sued the county magistrate's office against the Pingkang County government officials for killing good people and taking credit for their crimes. That year Pingkang
A group of county officers killed more than a dozen people in a village. According to Pingkang County, it was a group of bandits hiding in the village. That operation was a carefully planned bandit suppression operation. But Fan Lun produced a lot of evidence to prove that they were
The people who were killed were just ordinary people and had nothing to do with the bandits. The reason why the Pingkang County government officials killed the people was only because the magistrate of Pingkang County had a personal enmity with two villagers from that village, so they publicly avenged their private enmity in the name of suppressing bandits.
"
Qin Xiao frowned, and Ximen Hao said slowly: "After Fan Lun was involved, it wasn't long before he himself was involved in the case of raping and killing a civilian girl. At the scene of the crime, there was not only the evidence of crime that Fan Lun left hastily, but also
Several people witnessed Fan Lun appearing at the scene of the crime, so Pingkang County Government arrested Fan Lun and quickly concluded the case. After Bai Yulou learned about the incident, he ran around, but in the end he could not save Fan Lun."
"Is Fan Lun being framed?"
"At least that's what the people think." Ximen Hao sighed: "After Fan Lun was executed, Bai Yulou could not leave his house for three months. Just when everyone thought that the case would eventually be forgotten, Bai Yulou suddenly appeared one day.
In front of the governor's house, a huge piece of paper written on a cloth curtain was opened, which was called the Ten Questions."
"Ten questions?"
"Exactly." Ximen Hao said sternly: "The first question is why there are so many fertile fields in the Northeast and the people are working hard day and night, but why are they so hungry? The second question is why the taxes in the four counties in the Northeast are numerous and become heavier year by year. These taxes
Where have they all gone? The third question is why most of the officials in the four northeastern counties are from the Liaodong Army. Are soldiers in power in the Northeast? The fourth question is why does the Fucheng Trade Market need the goods label of the Duhufu? The trade taxes of the Tang Dynasty should be managed by the Ministry of Household Affairs of the Imperial Court.
, are the goods labels issued by the Duhufu authorized by the Ministry of Household Affairs or are they acting on their own initiative? Five questions: People in the Northeast have paid countless grains, so there should be a large amount of grain stored. Why do famines occasionally occur, and there is no grain relief? On the contrary,
It is the grassland tribes that can buy a large amount of grain from the Fucheng trading market every year. Does the government use the stored grains to line their own pockets and trade with the grassland tribes privately?"
Speaking of this, Ximen Hao sighed: "The next few questions are all fierce and hit the point. With such a petition, not to mention the county governor's office, even the governor's office and the Liaodong Army are frightened."
Qin Xiao was in awe and said: "Bai Yulou is risking his life regardless of life and death."
"Exactly." Ximen Hao said: "Baiyulou acted alone, but after what happened, the students of Yingcaotang and some conscientious literati actually wrote down the Ten Questions and handed them to various government offices.
Some are in the county offices in western Liaoning, and some even go directly to the Duhu Mansion. I heard that there are still people who risk their lives and go to General Anton's Mansion and the Liaodong Army Camp. It is said that some people even go directly to Kyoto to prepare to submit to the saint.
Ten Questions."
Qin Xiao said: "These literati students in Yingcaotang are really full of blood." He immediately asked: "What's the result?"
"How can a group of weak intellectuals with no strength be the opponent of the Liaodong Army?" Ximen Hao sighed: "This matter has been going on for a month or two, and soon it was spread that these intellectuals who submitted the petition were colluding with the rebels.
Upon hearing the news of the intention to rebel, the Liaodong Army soon took action and arrested a large number of students. Even Bai Yulou was detained for inciting rebellion, and Yingcaotang was even burned down by people sent by the Liaodong Army."
Qin Xiao's face was solemn, and Ximen Hao also sighed and shook his head: "Many of the people who went to Kyoto to complain did not enter the customs and died on the way, saying they were killed by robbers. In the end, a few people arrived in Kyoto, so naturally they could not be seen.
The saint went to the Ministry of Punishment to file a complaint, but for some unknown reason, those people completely disappeared very quickly, and there was no further mention."
"Then what happened to Mr. Bai?"
"The Bai family is a century-old scholarly family. He himself has been an official in the court, and his status among the literati in the Northeast is very high. The Protectorate has not dared to be cruel to him. However, after being imprisoned, he has not done anything yet.
Released, dozens of literati students who participated in that incident were accused of being traitors and exposed in public. Most of the rest were imprisoned in prisons. Those who escaped by chance did not dare to say anything more now.
What, after all, if you stand up again, it will be a dead end."
Qin Xiao was shocked. He did not expect such a big event to happen in Northeast China a few years ago.
"Sir, with all due respect, although Bai Yulou and that group of literati were bloody, their behavior at that time was undoubtedly the same as moths flying into a flame." Ximen Hao sighed: "They have neither strong financial resources nor military power. Even the imperial court
I don’t want to offend the Liaodong Army because of this matter, so I am just indignant. From the beginning, it was destined to not have any good results.”
Qin Xiao nodded, pondered for a moment, and then said: "Where are those people being imprisoned now? Where is the White Jade Tower?"
"I don't know about this." Ximen Hao shook his head and said: "I only heard that hundreds of people were imprisoned, but I don't know where they were imprisoned. But if Sir, you want to find out, it will not be difficult. Guangning Prison is far away from here.
The Lieutenant's Mansion is not far away. Send someone to the prison to get the list of inmates, and then you can find out whether Bai Yulou is being held in Guangning Prison. Sir, people like Bai Yulou are talented and courageous, and although they are imprisoned
They were detained and imprisoned, but their prestige in the hearts of the people and even many aristocratic families in the Northeast only increased. The most important thing was that they were incompatible with the Liaodong Army. Not only were they angry that the Liaodong Army exploited the people in the Northeast, but they were also wrongly imprisoned in Liaodong.
If you can bring these people over, it will definitely be a great help to Sir Alex."
Qin Xiao said with emotion: "Sir, I am really lucky to know you. You have helped me so much."
"Sir, please don't say that." Ximen Hao said hurriedly: "If it hadn't been for you, the Jiangnan family would have been massacred by the Shence Army. Everyone was able to escape death because of you. No matter what,
There is no way to repay your lordship too much."
Qin Xiao smiled slightly and then said: "I will think about the matter of Baiyulou carefully. I still need my husband's help for the matter of Heishan Trading Center, as well as those merchants from Youzhou. If they participate, they will naturally help. Experts can do it
When it comes to things done by insiders, the success or failure of something depends on whether the person doing it has experience. I know nothing about business. If an outsider gets involved, it will be counterproductive. Personally, if I really want to do it, the best way is to be an official.
The Commercial Supervision Office is supervised by the government, and the specific affairs are handled by experienced businessmen."
"Official and Supervisory Office?"
"That's right." Qin Xiao nodded and said: "I am responsible for escorting you. Any external pressure that hinders the development of the trade field will be resolved by my side, such as taxation and trade routes. All are handled by me. And the trade field
The specific implementation will be all left to you. The development of Fucheng Trade Market will not happen overnight, and we cannot be impatient. What is important is that a group of merchants can stay in the Heishan Trade Center first, and a large number of goods can be stored in the trade market.
Market, only in this way will the tribes in the north dissolve with you and start trading. As long as the trade is beneficial to both parties and everyone treats each other with sincerity, I believe that the trade field will become bigger and bigger and more prosperous.
.”
Ximen Haowei pondered for a moment, and finally said: "Your Majesty trusts me so much, I am willing to block everything in the Ximen family and try my best to organize this matter. I only hope that I can live up to your Majesty's high expectations and really accomplish this matter.
ps; I went back to my hometown to celebrate the New Year. All the banquets that were suspended due to the epidemic last year are now being reorganized. Those who have children, those who are building houses, and those who are getting married are really helpless. The family also has to prepare things for the New Year and is out every day. I will try my best to keep updated.
, everyone should be more considerate, just for the past few days. At the same time, I also wish everyone all the best. In addition, I am also speeding up the work on the extra chapter, which will be out soon. Finally, I would like to apologize to everyone again, and please be more considerate!