Six hundred and eleventh chapter open investigation and unannounced visits
It turned out that the emperor had already thought about it and was waiting for him to fall into the trap.
If this thing is not done well, then you will offend people on both sides, which is really nerve-wracking.
If I had known that the concubine's pillow wind blowing was so useful, it would be better to eradicate her directly at that time.
Zhao Jin could only agree obediently.
Master Zhu and his party walked for more than half a month before arriving in Lingnan.
By this time, Zhao Zhongru and others had almost finished building the dam.
Mr. Zhu investigated the people's sentiments all the way, conducting overt and covert investigations. Although the people suffered from floods and had no grain harvest this year, they still had something to eat. They were living in peace and contentment.
Could it be that His Highness the Crown Prince’s information is wrong, or is this just for his own benefit?
Mr. Zhu has never been given a high position, but now that he is going south for the first time on behalf of His Royal Highness, he is naturally very energetic in everything he does.
He saw a stooped old man walking in front of him. Although he was old, he had not suffered too much.
"Old sir, please stay. I'm here to inspect the south on behalf of Chaotian."
The old man touched his beard, the vigilance in his eyes not diminishing at all.
"Old sir, we don't have any ill intentions towards you. I really want to know how the people here are doing. Are the relief grains enough?"
The old man said in a panic, "It's enough. We common people don't eat much fish and meat, but it's enough to satisfy our hunger."
Mr. Zhu is puzzled, but your place has suffered from floods recently, and there is no grain harvest. More than half of the remaining grain has to be handed over to the state. Where can the surplus grain come from?
The old man suddenly knelt on the ground with a plop and said, "Master, I'm just a commoner and I really don't know anything. I'd better ask other people about it."
After saying this, he left in a hurry, not even leaving the wooden crutch in his hand.
When Mr. Zhu saw this scene, he became even more suspicious.
He ordered someone to take the old man's crutches and follow him into a nearby relief camp.
It really puzzled him. None of the people in front of him were hungry, and the tents at their door were full of grain and white-flour steamed buns.
If these things can be considered a prosperous life in the capital, why do each of them have a sad face?
There happened to be a child running towards me, and his Cuju ball rolled to his feet.
That child is timid.
Master Zhu gave the child a few pieces of the sweet-scented osmanthus cake he brought, and then knelt down to ask questions.
"Can you eat enough every day?"
The child nodded, his chubby little face covered with dirt.
Master Zhu asked again, "Are you afraid of us?"
The little boy nodded, and suddenly said with a smile, "The officials of the state and county care about the people, and the heaven and earth will be rich in flowers and grains."
"What kind of books have you studied?"
The child shook his head, "My father and mother taught me to say this when I meet the officials, otherwise they will catch me and throw me into the river."
Mr. Zhou stood up and looked up at the sky. Could it be that when he came here, Zhao Jin told himself that he must not be fooled by superficial phenomena and must investigate openly and secretly to understand the suffering of the people.
A parent next to him hurriedly ran over and knelt in front of Zhu Ren.
"Excuse me, sir, but I failed to discipline my child well."
"It's okay, I want to ask you something now."
The woman was wearing a coarse cloth coat. Although it was still very new on the outside, the sleeves on the inside of her coat were worn and torn.
"The imperial court is very worried about you. You have done well during this period of time."
The woman lowered her eyebrows and said submissively, "It's very good. The officials will treat us as their own children. We have enough money."
"Then the governors of the prefectures and counties here have treated you harshly, and have imposed excessive taxes and miscellaneous taxes."
At this point, the woman in front of me dodges her eyes, but still smiles and says, "It doesn't matter."
Master Zhu
Having already seen the clues, he shouted angrily.
"How dare you, I am sent by the imperial court. How dare you not tell the truth? I will punish you with consecutive sentences."
The woman was so frightened that she knelt on the ground and kowtowed.
"Master, please forgive me, I really don't know anything."
Master Zhu took out his imperial token and said, "I might as well tell you that the imperial court has learned from the case that there are other hidden reasons behind the flood, so it sent me to investigate this incident openly and secretly. If the imperial court is so worried about the people, if
If you don’t tell the truth, then these women who commit crimes will never be brought to jail.”
After hearing these words, the woman fell to the ground and cried loudly.
"My lord, I don't know. Although we are located in Lingnan, which is the richest place, our people's life is really worse than death."
"I am here to make the decision for you. You can speak slowly." Mr. Zhu was already extremely angry. In his heart, the safety of the people was greater than the joy of being an official.
"Since the new governor of this prefecture and county took office, our grain tax has increased to 80 dan, and all our land has been taken away. The annual production of 70 dan is not enough."
Mr. Zhu had tears in his eyes. It turned out that he was not the only one who had been wronged in this world, there were many people here who were hungry.
"How long has this been going on, and what do you eat for a living?"
The woman wiped away tears and said, "It has been more than two years, and I usually make a living by hunting some game or wild vegetables."
Master Zhu understood, "Then who taught you to say this? It's because they knew someone from the imperial court was coming, so they must have done this deliberately to cover up."
The woman nodded.
"Sir, have you heard from the Wu family in Lingnan? Half of the money in Lingnan has gone into their family. This is really what they asked us to say. If we don't do what they say, then they will throw my two children away.
In the river."
Mr. Zhu has heard about the Wu family in Lingnan. They are indeed extremely wealthy. If this person is allowed to cause trouble here, the court will never be able to enjoy peace for a day.
Mr. Zhu helped the woman up from the ground, then put him down and said, "Since the court knows about this matter, it will definitely not leave it alone. I am here today specifically to subdue these bullies. You have told me everything you know."
, then you have to pretend as if nothing happened and don’t show off."
Women are grateful.
After passing these emergency camps along the road, there were two forked roads ahead, with guards standing at the intersections.
And these people even dared to stop people from the imperial court. I guess they didn't know that they were people sent by the imperial court.
"Who are you? Do you have any road signs?"
Master Zhu smiled and said, "Hello, gentlemen, I am a businessman who came all the way. I want to go to Lingnan to sell fruits."
The man gave him a confused look and said, "You said you are selling fruit, so why are there no fruits?"