"Fifteen or six hundred people?" Liu Xiang was shocked. This small prefect's yamen actually had thousands of yamen servants! This did not include the two counties of Panyu in the South China Sea. If they were all added up, the city of Guangzhou would
There are at least 3,000 subordinate officials.
According to modern standards, in a city like Guangzhou with a population of hundreds of thousands, having three thousand "public servants" can be called a streamlined organization. The burden on the people should not be heavy. The problem is that in China, a classical society, officials were valued over officials.
It is to eat "imperial food". The officials eat most of the "imperial food", leaving the subordinate staff who can't even "drink soup". No matter whether it is seven taels per year for a six-room economic official, or "there are
The 30,000 or 20,000 yuan that the yamen servants who "established" were only six dou of rice per month. In fact, it was not enough to live on, not to mention that the vast majority of people did not earn a penny. Therefore, every one of the more than 3,000 people had to find it themselves.
food.
These more than 3,000 people are not willing to obey the public, but they are also the incarnation of the power of the government at the grassroots level. It is natural for them to use their power to grab land and take advantage of it. The old-style government actually acquiesced in this.
You can imagine how serious the harm these more than 3,000 "public servants" have done to the people and the city's economy. Liu Xiang looked at the dark crowd below and realized that if he hadn't held the "barrel of a gun", he would have had a ready-made cadre and administrative team to do it.
Rely on, if a foreign official came here to serve as an official, it would be better if he could help count the money without being sold by the subordinates.
He slowly glanced at the subordinates in the courtyard for more than a minute. The courtyard was filled with silence, and only the sound of the wind blowing the leaves was heard. After a long time, he said: "Since you have abandoned the dark and surrendered to the bright, and pledged allegiance to the Senate, I have something to say here.
I have to say something, I hope you will keep it in your heart."
The following immediately sang in unison: "Please give me instructions!"
Liu Xiang said: "I know it's not easy for you people: the Ming Dynasty gave you so little money for food and work that you can't support your family - most people don't have this little money for work and food; the officials regard you as slaves; this is
All government affairs in the government offices, big and small, are said to be handled by the officials, but in fact they are all done by you."
The expressions of the crowd changed slightly: officials have always given official instructions when they take office, which are nothing more than "forbidding abuses and corruption". To express their determination to "serve the country and the people", they must also "admonish" the subordinates.
They were asked to "do their work honestly" and "not cheat" and so on. In fact, it was all official and no one took it seriously. When Mr. Liu opened his mouth, he said it in a different tone.
Tasting it carefully is an affirmation of their work and understanding of their "difficulties". The subordinates couldn't help but secretly whisper: What kind of medicine is sold in Mr. Liu's gourd?
Liu Xiang changed the topic: "Of course, there has never been a saint in the world who was willing to obey the public, and you are not the same. I have heard that being a subordinate official can lead to great success. This is all in the past. I, the Senate, are generous and kind.
, 'The culprit will be punished, and threats will never be brought to justice'. As long as the people are not extremely angry, past events will not be pursued..."
The crowd suddenly became commotion. Although these words were a "reassurance pill", they were also a "death reminder". Those with a flexible mind already understood that this Australian gentleman wanted to "kill chickens to scare monkeys" and use his head to frighten subordinate officials and win over the people. There were a few people there.
His face suddenly turned pale.
Liu Xiang was very satisfied with the effect. In fact, he already had an arrest list prepared by the Ministry of Urban Affairs. There were more than a hundred people on it. Among the top ten, only four people came to answer - it seems that their
The nose is also very sharp!
He suddenly said loudly: "Meng Gongchang!"
After this drink, the entire government office courtyard was immediately silent. Meng Gongchang was a fast-moving government servant. Although he was "upright", he was not a famous figure.
Meng Gongchang trembled all over, thinking that he was not the "chief culprit" in any case. Could it be that Mr. Liu wanted to use the "chicken" to scare the monkeys? Although he was afraid, he did not dare to respond. He had to stand out and barely support himself.
With trembling legs and feet, he walked to the dripping eaves, crossed his hands and saluted, "The villain is here."
"Can you recognize the words?"
"The villain recognizes it."
Liu Xiang dropped a piece of paper: "Read it!"
Meng Gongchang tremblingly picked up the paper and unfolded it, but there was a list, densely written with the names of twenty or thirty people. Some of them he knew, and some were strangers. As for the people he knew, some were on the fast track.
, there were also those from the soap class; there were both "right people" and "white members". He couldn't help but be secretly suspicious. He didn't dare to delay and read aloud:
"Wu Duoduo!", "Zhao Xian!", "Ai Fan!"...
Those whose names were called came trembling one by one and stood under the dripping eaves to greet them. Liu Xiang waved his hand: "No need to greet me, just stand aside!"
After the names were called, a total of thirty people, including Meng Gongchang himself, lined up at the foot of the steps. They were in a state of confusion and felt like chaff - none of them were important figures among the government officials, and they were very suitable for being "chickens".
standard.
Liu Xiang nodded and said to Meng Gongchang: "I now appoint you as the captain of the Detective Brigade of Guangzhou Special City Police Station. These people are considered your subordinates!"
Meng Gongchang had already closed his eyes and waited for death, but now he suddenly heard that Mr. Liu had made a mistake on the spot and appointed him as a "captain". Not to mention the high and low officials, at least his life was safe. He was like Sanjiu
Han Tian drank a cup of hot wine and warmed it from his feet to his head. He knelt down on the ground with a pop and said in a trembling voice, "Thank you for your cultivation!" He kowtowed three times.
The remaining twenty-nine people also came to their senses, knowing that they were "Jane in the Emperor's Heart", and they knelt down and kowtowed together.
"Okay! Our Senate is not in the mood to kowtow to ask for peace," Liu Xiang waved his hand, "Since you are the captain of the detective team, it is your duty to arrest the traitors! I have a list here, take it by name.
Man! Mr. Lu, read it!"
"Here!" Meng Gongchang was full of energy at this time, turned around and stood under the dripping eaves.
Lu Yizhong hurriedly took a few steps and took the list - he had already guessed that Liu Xiang was going to arrest people in court. The so-called killing of chickens to scare monkeys, it is impossible to use these people without "showing power". Lu Yizhong quickly opened the list and
He took a deep breath, gathered his energy, and wanted to leave a good impression on Chief Liu.
"Zhen...Zhen...Hao...Ren..." Unexpectedly, Lu Yizhong stuttered at the first name. He was so surprised that he almost couldn't read it.
The subordinate officials present were also in a commotion.
Zhen Haoren is the Secretary of the Household Office of Guangzhou Prefecture. Although he is just a small clerk, he is one of the most powerful people in Guangzhou City. As the head of the Household Secretary Office of Guangzhou Prefecture, he is responsible for the tax collection of the entire Guangzhou Prefecture.
Everything is under his control, from the county magistrate to the grain collector in fifteen counties and one prefecture, everyone looks up to him. Although the prefect can display his authority as an "adult" in the official world, in private he is still treated as a guest.
He was polite. The local gentry did not dare to look down upon him too much. His two-finger-wide strip was actually more effective than the county magistrate's zipper.
Lu Yizhong never expected that the first person to be arrested would be the "local magistrate". He had been in the officialdom for a long time and had seen many "disloyal ministers". He was honest and upright, and was not afraid of the powerful. But no one dared to take action against subordinate officials.
, especially the household secretary who holds the power of finance and endowment, when encountering an honest, upright, shrewd and capable official, at most he will restrain his sharp edge and stay dormant for a while. Shangguan will also give up when he sees good, and will never pursue him to the end.
Zhen Haoren has not gone to the Yamen for a long time. He directs his disciples and grandsons to do errands and exercise power at home or in teahouses. He is sure that he will be indispensable in the world, so this time Dian Mao did not come at all.
Meng Gongchang was also surprised. In the eyes of these subordinates, Uncle Zhen was a figure in the clouds - the secretary in the sixth room was a "official", which was one level higher than "subordinates" like them, not to mention
He is also the head of the most important office among the six houses!
However, Uncle Zhen was not present at all today. He hurriedly reported back: "To my lord, Zhen Haoren has not arrived yet! Please give me the cards and fire lottery. I will go and get them now."
"Go quickly!"
Meng Gongchang did not dare to neglect, and immediately ordered a few brothers to go together. Here Lu Yizhong read out the second name:
"Bivusi!"
The crowd was in a commotion again. If Zhen Haoren is the "prefect of the local government", Bi Wusi is the "Tai Sui sitting on the ground" - the head of the fast class in Guangzhou Prefecture. This position is not even a "official", it is an out-and-out "Xu"
". But his power is not much less powerful than Bi Zhenhao.
He has the most white minions under his command. Not only do all the city foxes and social rats in the city have to listen to his orders, but also the various "gods" who come to the city to make a fortune will never even think of setting up business in the territory of this prefecture and two counties if they don't pay enough filial piety.
.As for ordinary people, they are treated as nothing.
Lin Baiguang collected a lot of black materials about him - in fact, it is not black materials at all. Many of his evil deeds are already known to everyone in Guangzhou, and he only killed more than a dozen people on his hands. Although no one knows the exact number of wealth amassed in his family,
But some people estimate that his "regular money" every year amounts to several thousand taels, and his family wealth is at least one hundred thousand.
Zhao Xian and Ai Fan were both yamen or white members of the fast class. They were shocked when they heard that they were going to be the leader of the fast class. On weekdays, they didn't even have a chance to talk to Bi Wusi - he rarely went to the yamen.
His disciples and grandchildren ordered everyone to kowtow together and give gifts during festivals or birthdays. If the leader of the team said a few words to them and smiled at them, it would be a big reward.
Now that the superior officer was calling for it, they naturally couldn't disobey the order. They immediately pulled the chain in their hands and walked towards Biwusi.
Zhao Xianpi bowed with a smile and said, "Master Bi! I have a small business to attend to, so please bear with me..."
Bi Wusi came to answer the question in person today - he didn't have the ancestral secret knowledge to rely on compared to Zhen Haoren, so he was very fawning. Hearing that Liu Xiang was about to question him, he couldn't help but panic. After all, he still had power, and waved his hand.
Zhao Xian and others did not dare to take it by force.
Bi Wusi forced himself to calm down, raised his hands and sneered: "What did you do to disobey your lord? Your Majesty, you want me to do something to you? Although I am not a saint, you have kept Guangzhou safe these years. Xiaoxiao doesn't dare to make trouble, sir."