In the Tang Dynasty, "Songjiang" was either soaked in the river or in the sea.
Because there are two big rivers here, one is the Wusong River and the other is the Huangpu River, which divides the "Greater Shanghai" of later generations into three major parts.
From the perspective of outsiders, this place is a poor place with no future for development.
But Yang Fan knew that this place is located at the center of the Huaxia coastline, with the East China Sea to the east, the Yangtze River to the north, and Hangzhou Bay to the south. The geographical location is very advantageous.
In order to prevent pirates, the imperial court also set up a navy station here.
But when Yang Fan and his party were patrolling along the way, they looked very withered.
Except for some dilapidated boats and scattered huts, there was no sign of the naval station or naval warships at all.
Such a scene made Yang Fan dumbfounded!
If pirates really invade, what will Huating County do to resist?
With Wang Chengyue's introduction to local snakes, Yang Fan quickly got to know this place.
The surrounding area is full of tidal flats, sparsely populated, and barely any cultivated land, making it a completely desolate place.
Because of this, the entire "Greater Shanghai" in later generations occupied about 1/3 of the area of Huating County.
Therefore, in such a large place, there are only a few dozen naval officers stationed here.
The total number of residents in the entire Huating County was only more than 10,000, and it was considered a lower county for the Tang Dynasty.
Most people in the county make a living by fishing, but they dare not go out to the sea, so they are relatively poor.
After walking around and listening to Wang Chengyue's explanation, Yang Fan had a general understanding of the place.
But Yang Fan was very suspicious.
If Huating County is really so poor, why doesn't this guy want to be transferred out of here?
While thinking, Yang Fan and his party came to a place where the boat was parked.
There are wooden houses one after another on the shore, and countless timbers are piled randomly outside. It looks like a shipyard.
It's a pity that the shipyard looks very rundown.
Taking a look at the surrounding terrain, although Yang Fan didn't understand it very well, this was definitely a good place for shipbuilding.
Although the Tang Dynasty did not pay much attention to the navy, it still spent a lot of money every year. Why were such official shipyards so dilapidated?
In this situation, once there are pirates, there is no way to resist.
Seeing Yang Fan looking around at the shipyard, Wang Chengyue wiped the sweat from his forehead and said hesitantly: "Grand Governor, this was originally a shipyard of the Navy, but it is remote, sparsely populated, and there is no funding.
It was repaired, but now it is completely in ruins and shelved. There is nothing to see, why don’t you go back first?”
Decline and put on hold?
At this time, Yang Fan was attracted by a burst of noise!
His eyes also moved to the dock next to the shipyard. The fishy smell of seafood came with the spring breeze, and his face suddenly darkened.
Seeing that it was not good, Wang Chengyue was about to stop him, but he saw that Yang Fan had already galloped towards the dock.
Seeing this, Wang Chengyue had no choice but to follow him with short legs, but in his heart he didn't want Yang Fan to just take a look.
Arriving at the dock, Yang Fan's face became even gloomier.
It turned out that the noise just now was a dispute between a few fishermen and a group of arrogant handymen.
Several handymen were carrying the fishermen's catch from the fishing boat towards the shipyard nearby.
From the pleading of several fishermen, we can know that these handymen are simply robbing.
It really opened Yang Fan’s eyes!
This is simply a robbery in broad daylight. Isn't there any law?
Looking in the direction of the shipyard, Yang Fan discovered that the open space of the shipyard was full of various dried seafood.
What kind of shipyard is this? It has obviously become a seafood processing factory.
Who is so bold as to treat the Imperial Navy Shipyard as private land?
No matter how dilapidated it is, it can't be so ruined, right?
Besides, as long as these shipyards are repaired, they will definitely be a strategic location.
Looking at the dejected expressions on the faces of the robbed fishermen, some of the handymen continued to chatter and even fight with each other with fists and kicks.
Yang Fan was angry!
He waved to Xi Junmai on the side.
Xi Jun understood what he was thinking, stepped forward and shouted: "Stop, the sky is bright and clear, you actually dare to rob and plunder, don't you have the law?"
This loud shout startled the group of arrogant servants and they couldn't help but stop what they were doing.
Since no one else had caught up yet, the group of handymen suddenly felt relieved when they saw that Yang Fan and Xi Junbuy were the only two people.
The handyman in the lead said even more arrogantly: "You are foreigners, I advise you not to meddle in other people's business, otherwise, haha..."
"You mean Wang Fa? Here I am Wang Fa. Do you know who I am?"
These words immediately made Yang Fan laugh angrily, and he held back the anger in his heart and asked, "I'm all ears!"
The leading servant raised his head and said proudly with his nostrils pointing to the sky: "Listen carefully, my name is Wang Kui. I am from the Wang family in Jiangnan. The magistrate of Huating County is my cousin... If you dare to meddle in other people's business, you will definitely be punished."
Let you taste the pain of prison."
Yang Fan couldn't help but feel happy, and said with a smile: "I don't know if we will be jailed, but you will definitely be jailed."
With that said, Yang Fan ignored the group of clowns who jumped off the building, turned to look at the trembling fishermen and asked softly: "Fellow fishermen, if you have any grievances, you can tell me, and I will make the decision for you."
Obviously, several fishermen in ragged clothes did not trust Yang Fan very much, but did not dare to say a word.
In their opinion, although the luxuriously dressed young man in front of them had some background, he would never offend the Wang family for a little person like them.
Once Yang Fan leaves, they will surely suffer crazy revenge.
Seeing this scene, Wang Kui was even more proud and laughed loudly: "Boy, you know how powerful I am. I advise you to leave quickly, otherwise..."
Unfortunately, before he finished speaking, Wang Kui was kicked out by Xi Jun.
If you dare to call yourself Lao Tzu in front of Yang Fan, you are simply seeking death.
Wang Cui was kicked several meters away by Xi Jun. Not only did he lose his front teeth, he vomited several mouthfuls of blood before he slowly stood up with the help of several other handymen.
The fisherman on the side was completely dumbfounded and couldn't help but guess, who is this young man? How dare he hit someone from the Wang family?
In their opinion, Xi Junmai and Yang Fan were in big trouble, and they retreated unknowingly.
Sure enough, after Wang Kui vomited a few mouthfuls of blood, he glared at Yang Fan and the two of them with a pair of triangular eyes and said: "If you dare to hit me, no matter who you are, you will die. Come on, I will be responsible for you if you beat me to death!"
"
After saying that, a group of handymen came over and surrounded Yang Fan and the two of them.
Xi Junmai didn't pay any attention to this group of rabble.
Just as he was about to take action, an anxious voice came from afar.
"Stop it, stop it quickly"
Wang Kui turned around and saw a ball of meat rolling towards him quickly.
However, he still recognized the identity of the person who came, it was his cousin Wang Chengyue!
Thinking that the savior had arrived, Wang Kui quickly rushed to meet him and cried out: "Cousin, I was beaten by them. Hurry up and have them arrested. I will make their lives worse than death."
Hearing this, Wang Chengyue turned pale, glanced at Yang Fan quickly, and said anxiously: "Do you want to die? You dare to be rude to the governor, I will skin you."
Grand Governor?
Hearing Wang Chengyue's words, Wang Wei was dumbfounded.
How could he have imagined that a great governor would come to such a quiet place and interfere in such a trivial matter.
But Wang Shu knew very well that he really hit the iron plate this time.
Ignoring the pain in his body, he came to Yang Fan tremblingly and apologized quickly: "The young man was ignorant and bumped into the governor. Please be generous and spare the young man this time."
Several fishermen on the side couldn't help feeling relieved when they saw that Wang Kui, who had always been arrogant and domineering, was groveling and acting like a slave.
Do you really think that Huating County belongs to your Wang family?
It's just a matter of bullying ordinary people like us. In front of this great governor, it's not like a mouse sees a cat!
Humph, this guy is just waiting to be dealt with.
However, the Grand Governor looks too young and not as vicious as the rumors say. I wonder if he can calm these people down.
You know, Huating County belongs to the Wang family.
Although these fishermen are just little people, there are also some brave people who see hope.
With a plop, he knelt down in front of Yang Fan and shouted: "Wang Kui covered the sky with his hands and robbed us of our catch. Please make the decision for us, the governor!"
Please make the decision for us...
Someone took the lead, and the fishermen on the pier knelt down, and there were waves of shouts.
Yang Fan helped an old man with a gray beard in front of him up, and said firmly to everyone: "Please rest assured, please feel free to tell us any grievances you have. As long as it is found to be true, I will definitely make the decision for you. Everyone, get up."
Bar!"
"Thank you, Commander-in-Chief!"
The crowd did not respond, but directly kowtowed to the ground.
Seeing this, Yang Fan could only wave his hand and said to the guards who were following him: "Take down all these lawless people!"
"promise!"
Before these handymen could recover, they were knocked to the ground by the guards.
At this time, Wang panicked and shouted to Wang Chengyue: "Cousin, help!"
Wang Chengyue could only smile bitterly: "Grand Governor, can you..."
Just seeing Yang Fan glare at him, Wang Chengyue didn't dare to do anything anymore and could only swallow back his plea.
Seeing that Wang Chengyue was so discerning, Yang Fan did not feel embarrassed. Instead, he turned to Quan Wanji and Pei Xingjian said: "Let people write down all the people's grievances without omitting anything... I am waiting at the Huating County Yamen.
With."
After saying that, Yang Fan turned around and rode away.
Looking at Yang Fan's back, Wang Chengyue sighed helplessly, with an uncertain expression.
As a branch of the Langye Wang family, under the banner of the Langye Wang family, their branch is also a powerful family in Jiangnan.
Therefore, the Wang family can dominate Huating County with one hand.
Although Huating County is barren, it is rich in seafood!
The Wang family relied on this to quickly join the ranks of Jiangnan nobles.
When Yang Fan arrived in Huating County with an order, Wang Chengyue knew that if Yang Fan didn't die, his status as a "local emperor" would be over.
It is not a secret in Jiangnan that the Jiangnan nobles want to put Yang Fan to death in Yuntai Mountain.
Since the Wang family is a noble family in the south of the Yangtze River, of course they are also on the opposite side of Yang Fan.
Wang Chengyue was naturally happy that Yang Fan was killed, so he didn't take Yang Fan's order seriously at all.
As for the handover of work, it is simply impossible, because the entire Huating County has been hollowed out by him...
Of course, this situation cannot be discovered by the court.
When Yang Fan turned defeat into victory in Yuntai Mountain and became famous, Wang Chengyue felt that something was not right.
You know Yang Fan is not a good person!
Originally, I wanted to wait until Fan arrived to deceive and bribe him.
Who would have thought that his cousin would do this again and be caught by Yang Fan on the spot.
What to do now?
At this time Wang Chengyue was really panicked.
It would make perfect sense if he used this to punish himself, since he was not strict with his subordinates after all.
I originally thought that the reputation of the Langxie Wang family would make Yang Fan wary.
But judging from Yang Fan's current performance, Wang Chengyue felt a little unsure.
Feeling uneasy, Wang Chengyue followed Yang Fan back to the Huating County Yamen.
At this time, Yang Fan was sitting in the middle hall, his face extremely gloomy, and he didn't even raise his eyelids when Wang Chengyue came in.
Wang Chengyue could only stand on one side with his hands tied fearfully, his heart pounding, wondering what Yang Fan was going to do?
I can only cheer secretly in my heart. I am not the one who committed the crime. The most I can do is remove him from his post. What else can I do?
Yang Fan slowly drank a cup of tea, then lowered his eyelids and said: "Wang County Magistrate, you built your government office so luxuriously, but the court's shipyard is so dilapidated. Did you steal all the money you took out?
"
Wang Chengyue's heart skipped a beat, was he really going to deal with him?
Suddenly, Wang Chengyue's eyes lit up and he quickly cried: "Grand Governor, all the money for repairing the government office came from my Wang family, and not a penny from the imperial court was used."
"As for the money for repairing the imperial court's shipyard, this county also uses it for water conservancy facilities in Huating County. I ask the Governor to take note of this."
Seeing that Wang Chengyue still wanted to resist, Yang Fan shouted: "Come here, call the county boss and ask him to bring the account books to the governor to see where all the court money has gone."
Wang Chengyue's expression changed, and just as he was thinking of taking the opportunity to escape, an eerie voice suddenly sounded in his ears.
"Where do you want to go, the magistrate?"
Wang Chengyue shivered with fright.
When he turned around, he saw a strong young man standing next to him with a pair of bull's eyes.
Wang Chengyue felt a sudden change in his heart and quickly said with a smile: "General Xi, there is some internal emergency in this county..."
But Xi Junmai ignored him and said to the guard on the side: "Go get a bucket. How can you let the county magistrate work so hard and let the county magistrate solve it here?"
Hearing this, Wang Chengyue waved his hands repeatedly: "General, no need, no need, this county can still tolerate it."
But ten thousand idiots flew through my heart, this guy is simply too rude.
However, as soon as he finished speaking, Wang Chengyue was raised by Xi Junmai: "I don't like to be fooled!"
Because his neck was strangled directly, Wang Chengyue's chubby face turned dark red.
It wasn't until Wang Chengyue was almost out of breath that Xi Junmai threw him aside.
After coughing for a while, Wang Chengyue finally recovered and shouted: "Grand Governor, please spare me. I will definitely cooperate with you no matter what you do..."
Soon, a thin boss came in shaking and holding the account book.
Seeing Wang Chengyue thrown aside like a dead dog, I was almost so frightened that I couldn't walk.
After handing the account book to Yang Fan, the owner Bo was about to turn around and retreat, but was kicked to the ground by Xi Junmai on the other side, making him scream in pain.
Naturally, Yang Fan would not check the accounts in person. Among the people brought from Junyangfang, there were some talents who were proficient in arithmetic.
With the division of labor and cooperation among several people, the accounts were quickly sorted out.
At the same time, Quan Wanji found out all Wang Kui's crimes.
Looking at dozens of pages of accusations and various falsified accounts, Yang Fan looked at Wang Chengyue and sneered: "You are really a good county magistrate, but you actually condone your clan brothers to burn, kill and loot, and commit all kinds of evil. It is simply lawless.
Are you worthy of being the head of a county?"
"Not only did you act as a collaborator, but you also embezzled various funds from the court for food, drink and fun. It is simply shameful and abominable!"
"A field ditch that irrigates the world is only a few dozen feet, but you actually used 10,000 guans. Do you know how many guans can be built with these 10,000 guans? You can build ditches of dozens of miles. You are a money-maker.
Daozhen makes even this governor feel ashamed!"
"Also, there are more than 300 craftsmen and soldiers registered in the shipyard and the navy. Not only did you swallow the money for the shipbuilding, but you also falsified the personnel. You are too brave."
Yang Fan was really angry!
Although empty pay exists in every era, this guy dares to eat even soldiers' empty pay. Isn't he afraid of being killed by pirates?
Even though he, the county magistrate, is protected by government soldiers, the people do not!
The most irritating thing is that every time the imperial court withdraws money for disaster relief, since it is disaster relief funds and the people are counting on this money to tide over the difficulties, this guy will withhold more than half of it, which is simply seeking money and killing people.
Yang Fan really didn't expect this guy to do so well.
The entire Wang family regards Huating County as their own kingdom. It’s so dark!
If Yang Fan does not carry out rectification.
If we want to make this place prosperous in the future, can we stop this evil trend?
Yang Fan decided.
Take this opportunity to hold a public trial to clear away the dirt in the officialdom of Huating County.
Putting the paper on the table, Yang Fan said calmly without even raising his eyelids: "The Huating County magistrate was corrupt and perverted the law, and acted as a scheming agent to protect his own people who were tyrannical. He temporarily detained them to await trial at a later date..."
"Grand Governor, although I lost some money by embezzlement, it was all an honest mistake. I am willing to return double the amount, please be kind to me!"
Wang Chengyue’s soul was almost frightened!
Take custody?
How could Wang Chengyue endure that kind of filthy place?
Yang Fan was too lazy to pay attention to him and continued: "Take him under custody and wait to be executed!"
Wang Chengyue was completely shocked!
He hasn't been convicted yet? Why behead him?
When Xi Junmai dragged him backwards, Wang Chengyue realized what he was doing and shouted at the top of his lungs: "Grand Governor, the young one is just greedy for some money, why do you want to die?"
"What's more, I am a descendant of the Langxie Wang family, you can't kill me... You are simply disrespecting the laws of the court by killing people without reporting it to the court. The emperor will not let you go."
Xi Junmai paused for a moment and looked at Yang Fan who was sitting on top of the throne.
Wang Chengyue is right. Without a final review by Dali Temple, the death penalty cannot be arbitrarily imposed.
If Wang Chengyue was killed like this, the imperial censors would definitely impeach Yang Fan.
Yang Fan will definitely be in trouble by then.
Yang Fan couldn't control much. He glared at Xi Junmai displeasedly and shouted: "What are you still doing? Drag them down. After the public trial tomorrow, they will be beheaded! Their heads will be hung on the city gate as a model!"
"
"promise!"
Xi Junmai dragged Wang Chengyue out without any further hesitation, leaving only a string of curses!
Yang Fan's expression remained unchanged.
Since we want to establish a legal experimental zone here, we must make sacrifices.
Only suppressing with thunderous means can serve as a warning to those young people.
As for why the Wang brothers were killed, apart from the fact that they were really heinous, in the final analysis it was just to scare the monkeys!
It is definitely worth sacrificing a few lives to ensure that your drastic reforms can go smoothly.