Chapter 171 The sword given by the emperor has not seen blood for a year
Chapter 171 The sword given by the emperor has not seen blood for a year
Guangdong has indeed been hit by disasters.
The power of a huge typhoon often affects the entire southeastern coast. The only difference is how strong the wind is and how heavy the rain is.
"This is the best time!" Zheng Cunzhong was very excited. "The solution to Changjie's land clearing has almost been completed, and the wealthy gentry and wealthy households in Guangdong are extremely uneasy. If there is no accident, after the autumn grain is harvested, the imperial court will establish a new system of taxes and levies in Guangdong! At this moment, although the imperial court
The decree has not yet been issued, but if the disaster spreads to Beijing, the old party will never remain indifferent, and the imperial court will definitely decide the outcome!"
He didn't bring a fan today, but urged all the elders: "The first test on the ninth day of August, the provincial examination will last for half a month, Yang Shen can't take care of it! Fang Xianfu, a cunning guy, has already claimed that he is sick, so we can start from Chaozhou Prefecture.
Ask the subordinates to announce to the village that the summer grain harvest and autumn grain harvest will continue as before. If we make more noise, the villagers will definitely be in a state of excitement. Naturally, we will set up porridge factories, but Yang Shen has been urging donations this year, and we don’t have much leftover grain at home.
That’s reasonable, right?”
"Most of the summer grain has been destroyed, and the grain reserves are much less. I am afraid that a lot of the grain Zhang Fuking bought from Cochin will be used to provide relief to Fujian!" Zheng Cunzhong's eyes were bright, "I am afraid that the court does not know that the Guangxi miners are also in trouble. There is a fire everywhere.
It’s all a disaster caused by the imminent imposition of taxes and servitude under the new law!”
Thanks to a natural disaster, the best time seems to have arrived.
After Zhang Fujing came to Guangdong, he killed many high-ranking officials, and then Xie Changjie seemed to be aggressively clearing out the land, but in the past year, he only changed the name of the shipping company.
The old and new parties in the imperial court have conveyed the fact to Guangdong: even in Guangdong, a trial province, it is difficult to easily move taxes and levies. His Majesty wants to enrich the country and seek governance, but he cannot just sit back and watch Yang Tinghe gain power in the name of the new law.
Go on again.
Otherwise, why would Fei Hong still be listed in the Taige? Why would Sun Jiao vaguely side with Fei Hong?
Zhang Fujing was in Guangzhou to inspect the disaster, and the three great talents also went to the outskirts of Panyu County with Yang Shen.
Heavy rains and sea tides blew the early rice, which was almost ripe and ready for harvest, to pieces.
The old farmer knelt down at the edge of the field and cried loudly, making everyone look pale.
In Chaozhou, hundreds of miles away from them, there were actually subordinate officials facing some people in the countryside. The head of the class and the villagers said sternly: "Don't you stop paying food when there is a hurricane? On the order of the county magistrate, Your Majesty is going to go to Guangdong."
The purpose of trying out the new law is to make the country rich! How can we make the country rich if we don’t pay food? Next month is the time to urge payment, so don’t miss it!”
"Nearly half of this place has been destroyed. How can we pay the full amount of food? For such a huge disaster, can't Your Majesty be considerate of the disaster and exempt from tax?"
"We fought at sea last year. Do you know how much food was spent to reward the officers and soldiers last year? Don't be nagging, I have to go elsewhere to inform the countryside!"
The subordinate officials walked away, leaving only the villagers with sad and angry faces.
"These dog officials! I heard from people in the county that Your Majesty has exempted Guangdong from taxes for several years. With such a big disaster this year, how can we pay for food?"
"Go to the county and ask for an explanation! We must hear from the county man himself whether we need to pay for grain due to such a big disaster this year! So many fields have been destroyed, and the seedlings of late rice have also been destroyed. There is still less summer grain and autumn grain.
what to do?"
"Yes, are we really going to be forced to die?"
In Siyamen, the administrative envoy of Guangdong, Zhang Fujing, Zhang En and others were discussing disaster relief matters. They announced: "Master Fantai, the magistrate of Jieyang County, Chaozhou Prefecture is asking for an audience. The people of Chaozhou are besieging the county government office!"
Zhang En was shocked and stood up: "Let him in quickly."
The Jieyang magistrate's official uniforms were not neatly dressed, and he came out in the rain and looked miserable with mud on his face.
Zhang En saw him and asked: "How did the prefect and you deal with it? At this critical moment, why did the people besiege the county government?"
The county magistrate of Jieyang looked aggrieved: "The governor has been sick since last month. I went to report the situation to the official, and he fainted immediately. Lord Fantai, the provincial government has repeatedly issued orders to apply for summer and autumn grains. Please do not miss the official order."
The subordinate officials sent a message to the village, asking the people to renovate the fields and plant seedlings as soon as possible so as not to miss the late rice. Unexpectedly, the unscrupulous people came together and even besieged the county government office. The lower officials had already taken the leaders into custody..."
Zhang En's eyes flashed with a fierce look: "Stupid! Magistrate Min County is suddenly hit by a big disaster. What is your motive for urging grain and taxes at this time?"
"...Your Majesty, the Chief Envoy just issued a document to urge this matter last month, and my subordinates are also acting under orders." Jieyang County Magistrate was extremely aggrieved. "My subordinates have already made arrangements for disaster relief, and all Jieyang gentry donated money and food.
To help the victims, the county also rushed to send workers to clear out mud and repair fields, all for early rice and late rice. This is also related to the livelihood of the people. Unexpectedly, the unruly people only heard that this year's grain and tax must not be less, but they completely ignored the county's efforts to help.
They share the disaster together."
Zhang Fujing looked at him quietly.
There will definitely be no problem with the arrangements in Jieyang County. The Chief Envoy has issued official orders. In addition to caring about food and taxes, the Min County Magistrate must also have made appropriate arrangements for disaster relief.
But how the subordinates spread the word and how the people's emotions were stirred up is unknown.
Now that the people are besieging the county government office and demanding an explanation, it is naturally impossible for him as a county magistrate to replace the above-mentioned statement about the reduction of grain taxes this year.
The imperial decree has not yet arrived, and in a month or two, when everything is still uncertain, to what extent will the public resentment in the midst of a catastrophe ferment?
Zhang En looked at Zhang Fujing with a sullen face: "Futai, I am afraid that this is the case in every prefecture and prefecture. How should we act now?"
When it comes to disaster relief, Guangdong will not play any tricks, and those gentry who have complaints will not take the lead in this matter, and will definitely show great "cooperation".
The most important thing is the emotions brought about by the people who have to pay the full amount of grain because this year's harvest has been greatly reduced. If they are provoked at the slightest moment, something will happen.
Guangdong is so big, how can it still spread manpower all over the place to keep an eye on who uses what words and what actions to stir up public dissatisfaction?
The only person in Guangdong who can make decisions ahead of the imperial decree is Zhang Fuking.
Guangdong taxes do not need to be paid for the time being, so Zhang Fujing can consider everything.
Zhang Fujing said solemnly: "Since we are besieging the county government, the crime is unavoidable. It is right to detain him first, but we must not treat him lightly. Magistrate Min, if something happens in the prison, you know the severity!"
Minzhi County even claimed that it was.
Zhang Fujing bowed his hand to Zhang Engong again: "I have already submitted a petition to the imperial court requesting that the land tax be exempted this year. Although the decree has not yet been issued, I ask the feudal lord to write to all prefectures and prefectures accordingly."
Zhang En asked back: "The ditches, houses, and roads damaged by the hurricane must be repaired as soon as possible, and troops will be sent from various places."
This is the bigger problem.
The people will clean up the washed-out farmland as soon as possible without any instructions. But what about those public facilities? This will be a temporary mission all over the place.
If a household cannot send a child, it will have to pay for it.
You don't have to collect the grain tax, but if you have to take out the money now, the people's resentment will rise to the next level.
"Leave this matter to me! Each prefecture and prefecture will send officials, and the governor's office will make unified arrangements." Zhang Fuking's eyes reappeared with a fierce look, "This is for disaster relief, and it is not an ordinary mission. Please ask the governor to write a letter to each prefecture to collect donations from the gentry and wealthy households. Disaster situation
Afterwards, everyone erected a monument to commemorate their merits."
"Where did Ding Yi come from?"
"Working and providing relief at the same time! Where there are shortcomings, there are all the guardsmen in Guangdong."
Zhang En's expression changed: "Futai, there are both bandits and miners making trouble in Guangxi. If the military households in Guangdong also make trouble because of their military service, it will be a big mess!"
Zhang Fujing said with certainty: "There will be no chaos!"
After leaving the Chief Envoy Si Yamen, Zhang Fujing returned to the Governor's Yamen and wrote letters one after another, and then handed them to his staff: "Send to Huangmingji, Wuzhou, and Wuchang Mansion respectively!"
He knew very well that many things had to be moved forward due to natural disasters.
He looked at the sword given by the emperor hanging on the wall as an offering.
This knife has not seen blood for a year, so it’s time to drink it!
The first person to receive the Chief Envoy Si Xing's letter was naturally the Guangzhou Prefecture. Yang Shen also felt it, so he invited some wealthy gentry and wealthy households living in the city to the government office and said unceremoniously: "In the year of great disaster, we must prevent
Rogues! The walls of several counties in Guangzhou have been damaged. This is also for your own wealth and life. Every family in this government has visited you. The people have been severely affected. At this time, we should work together. The government will allocate silver coins and leave the rest.
I have to ask you all."
The faces of the representatives of the gentry in Guangzhou were ugly.
But Yang Shen didn't care. He knew that because of his previous actions, he would no longer be able to clear his image in this life.
But it is true that he came to Guangzhou and saw too much, and now he has a different understanding in his heart.
"You all are unwilling to speak?" Yang Shen said calmly, "Although I would like to get closer to you, there are always backlogged cases that need to be tried."
When I visited the countryside before, I found that everything I saw was open to stone. Some people really thought that the blue sky was coming, and many old cases were reported to the Guangzhou government again.
Then the faces of the representatives of the gentry in Guangzhou became even more ugly.
"Master, the hurricane is fierce and all our families have been severely affected." Someone said, "Now we have to buy grain seeds, repair the fields, set up porridge sheds, and arrange for family members to provide relief to the village. This year's event, sit down
We have donated a lot to do it. We have also donated a lot to renovate the tribute courtyard, but it is really unsustainable."
"It's all difficult, and I know it." Yang Shen said calmly, "Compared to the people who suffered the disaster, your families are well-off, how can it be difficult to survive? Futai and Fantai have said that this time we will overcome the difficulties together and be kind.
In the future, the gentry will have to erect monuments to commemorate their achievements. If the family has outstanding students who are recommended to the county school, the government school or even the Imperial College, they will also be invited to report the favor of the imperial court. At this time, it is difficult to send letters to the common people.
There has been a civil uprising in Chaozhou Prefecture. Do you think the villagers don’t know who roamed the countryside in the past?"
Many people suddenly changed their colors.
Is it a combination of kindness and power? But the people in the countryside know who can be provoked and who cannot be provoked! How can you, "Yang Qingtian", always make decisions for them?
"... What the Master said makes sense. Here, students, please raise another hundred taels."
In a flurry of words, they all promised something, whether it was dozens of taels or more than a hundred taels.
At the gate of a social college in a township on the outskirts of Panyu County, there was a long line of people outside the porridge shack set up by the "Xiang Xian".
In the porridge shed, a certain gentleman's housekeeper came out and pulled a commoner in the queue: "Gan Laoqi, you have three acres of land on the mountainside, and there has been no disaster there. The porridge shed set up by our master is for charity.
The fields in that area of the bay have been washed away, why are you here to join in the fun?"
"Manager Xu, please do well, there is a flash flood!" The man cried and said, "There are eleven people in the family, and now we have no food rations until the autumn..."
"What are you talking about? It's not like I've never been to your house! In addition to your own more than eleven acres of good land, you also rented five acres of government land. How could you have no food storage? Stop arguing with them, don't you think so?"
When the people in the group of victims heard this, they immediately complained.
"Your family has so much farmland and why are you here begging for porridge? My family only has four acres and sixty acres of farmland, and it's all destroyed this time! Are you embarrassed?"
"How shameless!"
"Get out!"
The man known as Gan Laoqi cried loudly: "Half of it has been destroyed. How can a family of eleven survive?"
"Why are you having so many children? Why don't you just sell one or two of your daughters to be maids? Don't fight with us. You can still fight if you can afford to raise so many!"
Guangdong is not the place most severely affected by the typhoon this time. Jiang Mian has not yet reached South Zhili, but the closer the distance, the faster the news comes.
More than 40 counties were affected by the disaster, millions of people's fields were destroyed, and tens of thousands of households were displaced.
Old people committed suicide, their children were sold, local officials sent out laborers due to disasters, and gentry set up porridge sheds to give alms when rice was scarce, and then they took advantage of the disaster years to lend rations or even buy fertile farmland at a low price. These were all common practices.
Jiang Mian has never been a local official, he is Qingliu.
When Zhang Zilin went to the southeast last year, he only faced the frightened officials and gentry of the southeast.
At this moment, Jiang Mian was heading south, facing millions of victims.
Zhu Wan, who had successfully supervised the Southeast Official Murder Case last year and was promoted to the prefect of Zhenjiang, burst into tears while standing on the mountainside looking at the devastated muddy fields.
"The land tax will definitely be waived. This government promises you first!" He lifted up the already wet sleeves of his official robe and wiped his face. "The victims of the disaster will receive county and government education first. If there is not enough, the county and government offices can provide them with resettlement."
! Go to buy grain one by one, buy it on credit first, and keep good accounts!"
"Master Fu! The rich families of the gentry have the most fields and suffer the heaviest disasters!"
"Where have we learned from the teachings of the sages?" Zhu Wan stared at the magistrate under his control, "It rained continuously, and the food was stored in the warehouse and became moldy? Could it be that the victims were really forced to revolt, destroying their homes and grabbing food? I asked you to buy it
, It’s not about forcing donations! Are you trying to force me to go to court to investigate the case?”
"Without an order, they will definitely save the grain that will be paid as land tax this year." The county magistrate was afraid of his stubbornness, "Master, how can you tell the people to be exempted from land tax this year without the decree of the imperial court? In the tax-heavy area of Southern Zhili, how could the imperial court
Will you make this decision?"
"You will do whatever I tell you! If something happens, I will bear the responsibility! If you don't obey my order, I will deal with you first!"
The weather in the north is still sunny and sunny, the autumn wind has not yet risen, and the heat is unbearable.
The show girls have spent two months here, and Sun Ming is being watched by more and more people because of the vague respect of some female officials and eunuchs.
She missed the emperor more and more, but the worry between Zhu Houcong's brows did not dissipate because Lin Qingping was pregnant.
The world is cruel to everyone, and the emperor needs to make more choices.
"It is sent to the Marquis of Zhenyuan. If Guangdong needs it, he will go down the Lingqu Canal!" He paused and then said, "It is sent to Mai Fu, Chen Jin, Zhang Fuking, Wang Hong and Zhao Jun to close the net in advance!"
Fishing is fishing, Zhu Houcong never meant to play with the lives of the people of Guangdong. Although the Jinyiwei Lingnan Walk has changed people, the nearly one year has not been wasted.
Although they haven't exposed enough of them now, with the natural disaster coming, they can't care less about missing some people.
In the imperial study room, the counselors had different expressions.
They didn't know that Lin Qingping was pregnant, and Empress Dowager Chiang had strictly ordered not to make any claims until she was three months pregnant.
But they knew that in order to avoid the superposition of various causes of chaos, Guangdong was afraid of using sharp knives, so that the chief military officer in Huguang, Zhenyuan Marquis Gu Shilong, had to prepare to go south.
And the miners in Guangxi happened to cause trouble in this hot summer, so Zhu Qi had to stay in Guangxi.
It still takes time for the decree to travel from the sunny days in Beijing to the stormy south. The scholars in Guangzhou continue to take the provincial examination in the heavy rain.
Zhai Luan was asked to pay attention to the provincial examination, and then a list of names was handed to him.
"We have all found solid evidence. The intention of Futai vassal government should be to abolish his fame!"
Zhai Luan looked at the long list and his fingers couldn't help but tremble.
Is there really no problem with this?
In Guangzhou Mansion, Zheng Cunzhong asked in surprise in his private residence: "Are you really suing Yang Shen and reconciling Changjie together?"
"It's absolutely true! Yang Shen forced donations, the head of the Zhong family committed suicide by hanging from a beam, and the eldest son of the Zhong family is kneeling at the gate of the governor's office. Many families sent people to testify!"
Zheng Cunzhong stood up excitedly: "The big deal is done! Sue the fifth-rank magistrate, and the third-rank governor participates in politics. The governor's office must take over the case! Zhang Fujing cannot suppress it easily. Send this news to the capital as soon as possible to Lu Yushi!"
In front of the Guangdong Governor's Yamen, a middle-aged man wearing sackcloth and wearing mourning kneeled at the door, holding the paper high in both hands. The servant next to him held an umbrella for him.
In the heavy rain, there were still more than ten people kneeling together to apologize.
"Master Futai, please make the decision for the common people! The prefect of Guangzhou has forced the good people to death and is domineering in the countryside. The people of Guangzhou are suffering unspeakably!"
The Governor's Yamen is located in the Guangzhou Mansion. The subordinate staff of the Guangzhou Mansion reported back in fear: "Master, something bad has happened! The Zhong family has gone to the Governor's Yamen to sue you!"
He is not an ordinary prefect, he is the biological son of the chief minister of the cabinet.
Yang Shen was actually startled in his heart, and then he was silent for a moment and then said with a smile: "Let them sue, I have no regrets in my heart. However, it is not rude to come and go without going back. Go and tell the Gan family, Li family, and Ge family of Panyu
Lord Sufferer, I will go to court tomorrow to inquire about the case!"
"...Master Fu, the porridge shed set up by Xun Ju in the south of the city is the largest. He is there every day..." Tong Magistrate reminded him fearfully.
"Since there is a victim, he should be summoned." Yang Shen sneered, "What? Will he immediately evacuate the porridge shed?"
Inside the governor's Yamen, Zhang Fujing already knew the situation at the Yamen's door.
"Take the complaint first and let them go back to listen to the announcement." After Zhang Fujing gave the casual instructions, he said to the three people in front of him, "General Jiang, Wang Jiantai, and Commander Zhao, please take care of everything!"
The three of them said in unison: "The last general takes orders!"
Zhang Fujing picked up the "sword" and ordered in a cold voice: "Go to Zheng's house!"
On the streets of Guangzhou Prefecture, the rain has not stopped.
Many people saw the governor re-equipped the sword given by the emperor and walked towards the west of the city surrounded by many guards.
No one knew where he was going. In the Zheng family's house, Zheng Cunzhong had just finished writing a letter and dried the ink with a smile on his face.
After the butler took the letter and handed it to a servant, the servant left through the front door carrying the package.
As he was walking towards the city's carriages and horses, he was suddenly blocked by two people in front of him.
He lowered his head and tried to avoid it, but two hands came over in front of him.
"What are you doing... ugh!"
The governor's guard of honor walked through the streets and alleys, and arrived at the door of Zheng Cunzhong's house in full view of everyone.
There were many small shops not far away, and many people's expressions couldn't help but change, and then they left in a hurry.
Zhang Fujing waited patiently for the servants of Zheng Cunzhong's family to open the door. Once the door opened, as usual, the servants were supposed to pass the door, but Zhang Fujing stepped in directly.
The housekeeper in the front yard glanced here, his face changed drastically, and then he greeted him with a smile: "This sir..."
"Where is Zheng Cunzhong?"
Zhang Fujing kept walking, and after passing through the door between the front yard and the back yard, he saw a scholar in a green shirt standing up in astonishment in the front yard, holding a book in his hand.
Zheng Cunzhong was really stunned. He didn't know why the governor came to his house in person.
In sight, there was only Zhang Fujing, who was approaching step by step with the sword given by the emperor. There was no intention of coming on the governor's face.
"...The Governor is here, and the students are welcome from afar..."
"What book is Zheng Juren reading?" Zhang Fujing walked up to him, showed a smile, and asked warmly.
"...The students are preparing for the exam, and they are reading Zhu Xi's Four Books... Please come to Futai, and the humble house will be full of glory. I wonder if you are lucky enough to ask Futai for advice..."
"The sages have great knowledge." Zhang Fujing smiled and sat down in the open-air library on the corridor next to him, "I am just about to test your knowledge."
"...Students are ashamed." Zheng Cunzhong was about to ask the butler to make tea when another person walked in from the front yard.
The rain-stained Feiyu suit sprinkled water drops as he walked. After the man strode over, he just silently took out a letter from his arms and handed it to Zhang Fujing's hand.
Zheng Cunzhong's eyes froze: That was the letter he had just written and sent.
Zhang Fujing smiled slightly: "The handwriting is very good."
After saying that, he opened the envelope in front of him, took out the letter and shook it. Zheng Cunzhong wanted to stand up to stop him, but finally glanced at the emperor-given sword at his waist with a dry mouth.
"The Imperial Censor Zuo Qian of the Metropolitan Procuratorate!" Zhang Fujing sighed with emotion, "You have taken the exam four times, and you have already been promoted to such a high position in the same subject?"
Zheng Cunzhong stared at him closely.
"What about learning?" Zhang Fuking looked at him, the smile in his eyes gradually solidified and asked, "Since you have to take the Ministry of Rites exam next year, you should not forget every word of the sages' teachings, right?"