The next day, Ding Hao had a secret discussion with Ding Chengzong all morning. In the afternoon, he went to learn the ancient accounting methods from several senior accountants in Ding Mansion for an afternoon. It was not until the sun set in the west that he brought
The smelly Zhuer hurried into the city.
After entering Bazhou City, Ding Hao did not go to Zhutou Alley immediately, but drove directly to the prefecture government office to inquire about the whereabouts of County Lieutenant Zhao. The official position of County Lieutenant Zhao was not a big one in the government office, but it was
Not too small, not to mention the power reshuffle in Bazhou Prefecture. A large number of officials were seconded to investigate and handle cases. A considerable number of them will stay in the local area as officials afterwards. Who knows whether this County Lieutenant Zhao will stay, so
The naughty little officials in the local government were all diligent and respectful to the officials transferred to handle the case, no matter how big or small they were, and they did not dare to offend anyone. When they heard that this person was looking for County Lieutenant Zhao, and accepted a bunch of money from him, the little gatekeeper
The official then ran in and informed him with a smile on his face.
After a while, Zhao Jie came out quickly in official uniform. Although it was already dark, he was still working in the public room. When he saw Ding Hao from afar, County Lieutenant Zhao laughed and said: "Brother Ding, I am my brother."
I miss you so much. When I came to Bazhou this time, I was too busy with official duties, so I couldn't spare the time to invite you to meet me. It's rare that you come to see me. Come on, come on, come on, come on, sit in my room.
.”
Ding Hao had passed through the gate of the magistrate's office. Even the people who came in and out of the general's residence were regulars. However, he had no novelty about Bazhou Prefecture, so he smiled and exchanged greetings with him and entered the gate arm in arm with him.
The two of them arrived and sat down in the Zhaoxian Lieutenant's room. They saw a pile of papers and files piled high on the desk, and they were scattered everywhere. It seemed that there were too many miscellaneous things to do, and the words just said were not true.
False words.
The waiter brought tea, and Zhao Jie invited him to sit down. While drinking tea, he talked about the scene after farewell, and then asked: "Brother Ding came here to see me today just to catch up on old friendships?"
Ding Hao smiled and pointed at the case files scattered everywhere, and said: "I don't come to the Three Treasures Hall unless I have something to do. Brother Zhao is very busy with his affairs. If there is nothing else, even if he wants to come, he will not choose this time. Brother Zhao is knowingly asking.
"
Zhao Jie laughed, with a shrewd look in his eyes: "Brother, I, Zhao, am a cheerful person, so let's be honest. I had the opportunity to come to Bazhou, and I had to meet you, not only because I accepted your
Because...you are a person and worthy of my respect. But this time, the business trip involved the Ding family, so I didn't invite you to meet, so as not to embarrass each other.
The gatekeeper just said that you are here, and I know why you are here. If you treat me carelessly, it means that you don't regard me as your brother. Then I have nothing to say. I will just deal with you and I can get along with you.
That’s it. Now that you have spoken out, as a brother, you will also speak out..."
County Lieutenant Zhao frowned slightly and said: "Do you know how deep and muddy the water is? That big shot standing behind you, crushing a prefect to death is like crushing an ant to death. It's not because I don't want to help you, brother.
But I really don’t have the ability to help you. If the Ding family tries to get involved with Magistrate Liu, they are asking for their own death."
Ding Hao smiled calmly and said: "Brother Zhao, I know who is behind this case. Because I know, I don't expect Brother Zhao to be able to help me."
Zhao Jie raised his thumb and said: "Brother, he is straightforward and candid in his words. I have not misjudged the person. Then you can tell me. Since it is related to this matter, you are not asking me to take advantage of you in the mouths of those big shots. what's your plan?"
Ding Hao sat up straight and said seriously: "Brother Zhao, I believe that everyone now thinks that the Ding family is the mastermind of bribing Magistrate Liu, including you, all have the same idea. But I can tell you, Ding My family is a decent family that follows the rules and doesn’t even bother to do things that violate the law.”
County Lieutenant Zhao was stunned for a moment, then smiled and said: "I can only use these words to talk about, haha, what has happened to Ji? Even if I believe you, the superior from Bianliang does not believe you, based on these few words of yours Can you exonerate the Ding family?"
Looking at his expression, he was very disapproving. This was for Ding Hao's sake. Even though he knew he was talking nonsense, he was too embarrassed to point it out, otherwise he would have to show off his official power and rebuke him face to face.
Ding Hao knew that people saw that he was talking nonsense, but he didn't change his expression and said seriously: "Master Ding has a family of poetry and etiquette, a scholarly family, and the most prestigious reputation. When he learned that he was suspected by the government, Master Ding felt very uncomfortable. For Since I am innocent, Mr. Ding specially sent me to the city to assist the government in cleaning up the Ding family’s account books in preparation for the government investigation. I hope that the truth will be revealed to the world as soon as possible and the Ding family will be cleared."
Zhaoxian Lieutenant's face was uncertain. He stared at Ding Hao for a long time before he laughed and said: "Brother Ding, I know that you are full of wisdom and thoughtfulness, but this case is not trivial. If anyone wants to show off some cleverness, take the tent evidence If you destroy it, I'm afraid you will be killed, so I advise you to be cautious."
Ding Hao said sincerely: "Brother Zhao is wrong. Ding Hao will never do anything to destroy evidence. When the big shots in the court want to persecute a person, they will do whatever it takes, and they don't care whether he is really innocent. They don't care. The method, the process, all they want is the result they want. Don't say that the Ding family can't escape the involvement at all. Even if the Ding family is innocent and is completely innocent in this case, so what? When they need to be sacrificed, those big shots won't even look at it. They won't blink. In Bazhou, they are like the sky in this area. In the eyes of the big shots in the court, they are just a piece of dirt. They are in the way. If they are trampled to pieces, who will take a second look? "
He emphasized his tone and said every word: "If you want to have evidence... it is there, how could it be destroyed?"
A strange color flashed in Zhao Jie's eyes, and he said with a half-smile: "I have never been involved in officialdom, but I have a clear view of it. Haha... Since you know this, why do you still take risks?"
Ding Hao said: "How dare I show off on the tip of a knife? The husband in the court has made it clear that he wants to destroy Liu Zihan. Unless he is a person with the same strength as Zhao Xianggong, anyone who dares to stop him will only be shattered into pieces. This will This is a trend that we cannot stop. How come Ding Hao doesn't know it well? To be honest with Brother Zhao, although Xu Muchen from Zhutou Lane works for the Ding family, over the years, he has formed cliques for personal gain, embezzled treasury funds, and made friends with the government. , gradually became bigger, the Ding family wanted to get rid of this wolf, but they did not dare to do it because of many scruples. Now the court wants to investigate and handle the case. For the Ding family, if they help wholeheartedly and solve the case clearly, they can use their power to get rid of it. A person who deceives his master and can satisfy the court at the same time is not killing two birds with one stone?"
The smile on County Lieutenant Zhao's face became deeper and deeper. He gently twirled his beard, pondered for a long time, and asked without raising his eyelids: "So, what do you think, Brother Ding?"
With his straight facial features and thick eyebrows, he looked like a warrior with no ambitions. However, his expression at this moment showed the cunning and deepness of a subordinate official in the officialdom, making it difficult for people to guess his true intentions.
Ding Hao smiled and said: "The Ding family is the landlord of Bazhou, but they are also businessmen. Businessmen talk about making money by being friendly, making things convenient for others and themselves, and they are especially good at taking advantage of the situation. "Borrowing chickens to lay eggs."
"Borrowing land to make money", "borrowing ships to go to sea", "taking advantage of opportunities", "taking advantage of problems"...
In fact, if you look at the world, the word "borrow" is indispensable. A king borrows to conquer the world, a wise man borrows to seek high officials, and a businessman uses borrowing to make a lot of money. People who are good at "borrowing" borrow flowers from others to offer themselves to the Buddha, and borrow others' help to achieve success.
To reach the top of your career, you can realize your dream of success by taking advantage of the right time, place, and people. Without the help of external forces, there is no one since ancient times who can accomplish great things out of thin air."
Zhao Xianwei chuckled and said: "However, standing on one's knees and looking up is not as good as climbing up to get a better view. When climbing up to move, the arms are not lengthened, but the one who sees is far away; when you call along the wind, the sound is not accelerated, but the one who hears it is louder.
. A fake horse is not good enough, but it can travel a thousand miles; a fake boat is not good for water, but it can stop rivers. A gentleman is born without exception, and he is good at fake things. My brother's words are very good, but to be specific, you
What do you plan to do?"
Ding Hao was trying to be sloppy, so Lieutenant Zhao also accompanied him to fight against sloppiness. He would not give up until he heard what he wanted to hear from his own mouth. As the discussion continued, the two of them were about to talk about poetry and painting. Now they took the initiative to talk.
With no one to control him, Ding Hao had to smile bitterly and said a little more clearly: "What does Mr. Zhao in Bianliang City want? It's just evidence of Liu Zhifu's crime; what do those high-ranking officials from Beijing want? Solve the case as soon as possible.
, the merits are complete, and it is just to win the appreciation of the chief officer; what do you, Brother Zhao, want?"
Zhao Jie laughed, cut off his words and said: "I earn my salary from the court for my brother, I do errands for the court, I work hard, that's all, what's the point?"
Ding Hao smiled and said: "Since you have devoted your whole life to the imperial court, you must do this job clearly and clearly, so that you can live up to your conscience. Brother Zhao is indifferent by nature and works conscientiously. Naturally, he does not seek to please his superiors, but he must also be willing to do it.
You have to do this job beautifully to be worthy of this official uniform, right?"
County Lieutenant Zhao chuckled and said: "What your brother Ding wants...is to protect the Ding family, but...is there any perfect plan in this world that can satisfy every aspect?"
Ding Hao said sternly: "Brother has already said that the Ding family was really unjust. These illegal things may have happened, but they were all done by Xu Muchen. He used the Ding family's wealth to make friends with the government and used the government's intimidation to suppress Ding.
Family. Now that the Ding family has sent me to check the accounts, it is precisely to use the authority of the official to clear up this internal harm. As long as this person is thoroughly investigated, are you afraid that everyone from top to bottom will not be able to return home satisfied?
"
County Lieutenant Zhao moved his eyebrows and thought: "Here he comes, his intention is to let Xu Muchen shoulder all the blame. I have been in contact with Xu Muchen several times, and this person's words and deeds are impeccable. I want to
It is not easy to find his flaws. Although Ding Hao is somewhat smart and quick-witted, he still has little experience. He is not afraid that Xu Muchen will be forced to panic and recruit all the Ding family members. If Xu Muchen confesses in court, what will happen if he takes out the evidence?
With the evidence from the account books, Mr. Zhao, the boss in Beijing, and me, Old Zhao, are all satisfied, but the Ding family is trapped inside, and no one can escape. What means does this Ding Hao have to let that person
Xu Muchen is willing to be a scapegoat, isn’t he so clever that he will be misled by his cleverness?”
