The rain pattered down and hit the roof of the workshop with a pitter-patter. It formed a clear contrast with the death-like silence below the roof.
The workers in the workshop gathered fearfully at the very back. The terror on their faces was not hidden, but everyone's hands had already begun to unconsciously touch the metal shovels and wooden boards. No one knew what would happen next.
Standing at the front, the treasurers in charge of the strike had faces full of fear. Looking at the imperial envoy sitting in a chair at the entrance of the workshop, no one paid any more attention to the already dead master Xiao. No one even dared to glance at the wretched sight of the decapitated body by the mouth of the stove. They only stared in terror at Fan Xian's warm and gentle face. Everyone's feet unconsciously retreated.
One person retreated, 10 people retreated, everyone retreated. The footsteps of the treasurers as they retreated made a rustling sound, like millipedes crawling in the desert. However, the workshop was only so big, and most of the space at the back was taken up by the thinly dressed workers. Where could these green-clothed treasurers retreat to?
Fan Xian looked at the scene in front of him and unconsciously shook his head. In an even voice, he said, "I am not a ruthless person. Workers, do not be afraid. The court is only investigating the matter of the treasurers' embezzlement and deduction of pay. It has nothing to do with you."
The workers at the very back looked at each other. Their emotions were slightly calmer, but they did not completely trust this young official. Their hands still gripped the handles of the metal shovels.
"You … even if you are an official of the court, how can you randomly kill people?" One of the treasurers finally could not stand the pressure of this silence and cried out in a sharp voice.
At this moment, the deputy of the transport company, Ma Jie, was standing stupidly behind Fan Xian. He had not expected that Fan Xian would first behead a master of the workshop without saying anything. This matter had gotten out of hand. How was he going to clean it up?
In a trembling voice, he said with shock and anger, "Imperial envoy, why … why? Everything can be discussed … it's over, it's all over. "
In Ma Jie's heart, the most important thing in the palace treasury was the group of treasurers in front of him. Only these people knew how to maintain the palace treasury. Even if Fan Xian beheaded a few dozen people today and forced these treasurers to submit, what about in the future? If the treasurers did things with resentment, who knew what would become of the palace treasury?
What's more, there are still two managers of the First Workshop who are also causing a strike. If they find out that you killed Manager Xiao of the First Workshop and incited public resentment, the strike will really continue … Oh my god! If you really killed everyone, who would do the work? Could they count on those illiterate workers?
Fan Xian ignored the bewildered deputy beside him and motioned for Su Wenmao to come closer. He then said to everyone in the square in a clear voice, "Listen to every word I say!"
Everyone was taken aback.
Su Wenmao took out a few pieces of paper from his drenched robe, squinted his eyes, and began to read loudly.
"Today we have found out that the master of the First Workshop of the palace treasury transport company, Xiao Jing, has done many evil and illegal things since the beginning of the year."
Su Wenmao furrowed his brows and glanced at the restless treasurers. He continued, "In the second year and third month of the Qing calendar, Xiao Jing hid the Tong Mountain mine disaster and ate the dead's salary for five years. In total, it was 13,700 liang. In the fourth year and ninth month of the Qing calendar, Xiao Jing bribed the Suzhou Master Bo and bought 700 mu of fertile land at a low price. In the sixth year and first month of the Qing calendar, with Xiao Jing as the leader, the masters of the three workshops and a group of treasurers owed the workers more than 10,000 in wages. This caused a riot. 14 people died and over 50 were injured … "
No one knew how many crimes he listed out. He read them until Su Wenmao's mouth was a little dry. At the end, he said, "The crimes are unforgivable. According to Qing law, they should be executed."
He then took out a number of land deeds, the Suzhou Master Bo's confession, and related evidence.
"Don't ask me for evidence again," Fan Xian continued. "I have kept the witnesses, and I also have a lot of material evidence. Since I am the master of the palace treasury, I will not keep such a bastard like Xiao Jing."
The workers, who had been trembling uneasily, listened to the imperial envoy discuss the crimes and the list of crimes. They immediately thought of how tyrannical Xiao Jing was and how harsh and sinister he was to the workers under him. Immediately, they felt that the imperial envoy had killed him well. He had killed him well.
However, the hatred in the treasurers' eyes grew heavier. Someone shouted unhappily, "Even if you want to punish him, you have to open a court to try the case. If you want to pin a crime on someone, you can always find a pretext!"
When Deputy Ma Jie, who was standing behind Fan Xian, heard Su Wenmao read out the crimes, he knew that the imperial envoy was looking for an excuse. The things that Xiao Jing had done were actually all known to the officials of the palace treasury transport company. However, even if he had to be punished according to Qing law, he couldn't just randomly kill him like this.
After all, Ma Jie wanted to maintain a good relationship with Fan Xian because of his cousin, Ren Shao'an. No matter how much he disagreed with Fan Xian's style of doing things, he forced his mouth shut and did not question it.
He did not question it, but there were still trusted aides left behind by the Eldest Princess in the transport company who would not let go of this great opportunity. Sinisterly, they said, "Sir, you handle matters decisively. However, it seems that this kind of person who takes bribes and breaks the law should be openly tried and have him personally admit it. Only then can we be wary of thieves and thieves. Furthermore, you gave the treasurers a deadline of three days. These three days have not passed, inevitably …"
The treasurers trembled, but they did not give up. Hearing that someone in the group of officials was speaking up for them, they gathered their courage and began to clamor.
Fan Xian did not even turn his head. A cold smile rose to the corners of his lips. "I am the Commissioner of the Overwatch Council and also the head of the palace treasury transport company. The Overwatch Council is responsible for investigating cases. The transport company follows the special Qing law, and the case is decided by the head of the transport company. What is wrong with trying him and beheading him? Besides, I am not using these crimes to behead him. "
He lowered his head slightly and smiled. "Inciting the workers to make trouble, go on strike, and resist the Emperor's edict. Do you think I cannot behead such a disrespectful person?"
The Qing law was meticulous. For something like killing, it was fine to do it in secret. However, for Fan Xian to kill openly like this, he needed a good excuse. If he only used Xiao Jing's illegal actions as a rope to justify his killing, it would give the officials and treasurers a good opportunity to refute. Beheading a criminal without investigating the case would not be justifiable in any yamen.
However, Fan Xian was a very practical person. He had clearly investigated Xiao Jing's crimes, yet he said that he was beheaded because he disrespected the Emperor's edict. Edicts were the most illusory of things. As the imperial envoy, he had the final right to explain.
Furthermore, it was necessary for the Overwatch Council to investigate Xiao Jing's crimes. In the future, when the case was brought before the Emperor in court in Jingdou, these crimes of forcefully buying good farmland and bullying people to death would be enough to stop any doubts after the fact.
Killing at the moment to establish power and collecting evidence after the fact to stop the mouths of the people was a long-term plan.
… …
One person had already died in the large workshop of the first workshop. The workers had high hopes for the imperial envoy. The treasurers were as timid as mice. Although the officials had ulterior motives, they could not accuse Fan Xian to his face. The situation slightly stabilized.
After another period of time, the Second and Third workshops also calmed down. However, because those two places were handled by General Ye and Dan Da, it took a bit more time. These two people were not as daring as Fan Xian. They only dared to capture people and not kill.
The treasurers of the other two workshops were escorted by soldiers into the large workshops. The workers were strictly forbidden to stay in each workshop. Even so, the sudden influx of 200 green-clothed treasurers still made the large workshop immediately appear crowded.
However, with the cold light of the military's knives and spears and the Overwatch Council's arrows pressing in, no matter how crowded the crowd was, no one dared to move.
Seeing this scene, the officials of the transport company who had followed Fan Xian into the workshop were shocked. Only now did the officials know that the imperial envoy had long made arrangements for the situation on the last day of the three-day order. Furthermore, he seemed to have long guessed that the treasurers would have an extreme reaction.
For a moment, the trusted officials of Xinyang were all disappointed. It looked like the chaos today would not be too big. At the same time, they were hoping that Fan Xian would be more ruthless later. It would be best if he could offend all of the treasurers. In the future, the palace treasury would decrease production and quality would drop. Let's see how you explain that to the Emperor.
After the workshop was quiet for a while, Fan Xian stood up from his chair. The small puffs of water that had been in his robe flowed to the ground.
He looked at the group of treasurers in front of him. He saw that there was still dissatisfaction in their eyes. The treasurers who had been escorted here from the Second and Third workshops still had arrogant expressions. It was as if they did not know what had happened.
"Everyone is here," he said with a warm smile. He smiled warmly and said, "It rained heavily last night, and the fire in this workshop was extinguished. What about your side? Also, the workshop treasurers are clearly 30 or 40 li away. Why are you all so close to the yamen today? Even if the workshops have stopped work because of the rain, you should still go to your own workshops to keep an eye on them. It is still early. Have you all already gone and then turned back? "
He continued to talk to himself. The treasurers, through the explanation of the treasurers who had been left behind in the workshop, finally knew what had happened. Their faces gradually paled.
Fan Xian shook his head and said, "This is good. Everyone's crime of going on strike has been confirmed. It will be easier for me to kill."
After Master Xiao's unusual and straightforward death and the spread of words, the treasurers finally knew that the imperial envoy was a ruthless character who killed without blinking. Hearing these light words, the treasurers exploded with a buzz. Some begged for mercy, some cursed viciously, and some rolled their eyes as if trying to see if there was a dog hole in the workshop they could crawl out of. The crowd gradually dispersed. The situation was slightly chaotic. However, the army and Overwatch Council on the outside kept a close watch and forced everyone back.
Two people squeezed out from among the treasurers. They were not bystanders. They were the three leaders of this strike, the main treasurers of the Second and Third Workshops.
Earlier, these two masters had been high-spirited in the largest workshop under their jurisdiction. Eloquently, they had directed the treasurers and workers to go on strike. Their words flowed like a river and their aura was astonishing. Although the workers looked weakly and unintentionally at the two of them, the hundreds of treasurers had been moved by their words. They thought that given the intelligence in their heads, the court would not be able to punish them severely. Of course, these two masters had also strictly ordered the treasurers to be incomparably respectful toward the imperial envoy. What they wanted was for the silver in their homes not to be taken by the court and not for them to truly rebel.
Unexpectedly, not long after the strike, countless soldiers and secret agents of the Overwatch Council charged in from outside the workshop. Faced with weapons, the two masters' words immediately lost their power. They obediently allowed themselves to be captured and escorted here. Along the way, they were still confident. They thought to themselves that they knew what they were doing and that the imperial envoy would not be able to do anything to them.
Unexpectedly, the imperial envoy did not know what he was doing. After standing in the crowd for a while, the two masters finally realized that Master Xiao, who had plotted with them to go on strike, had died.
The two masters stood outside the crowd and looked around the workshop. Finally, they found Xiao Jing's body by the mouth of the stove. In an instant, the bloodstains and head stunned their hearts. The two of them cried out sorrowfully, "Sir Xiao … Sir Xiao!"
There were knives and spears all around them, so they didn't dare to go to the side of the stove and cry out. However, they still raised their heads and glanced at Fan Xian with a venomous gaze. They knew that they would probably not be able to escape today.
Fan Xian did not look at them. He only tilted his head slightly and listened to Dan Da's report. When he learned that the Third Workshop was as usual and that the technicians of the Third Bureau of the Overwatch Council had all taken over and no one dared to take advantage of the chaos to do anything, he finally relaxed. At this moment, a Tiger Guard who was supposed to be stationed in the manor quietly moved past the officials and came to Fan Xian's side. Moving close to his ear, he said, "The person in the manor wants to go out for a walk."
The reason the Third Workshop was important was because it was responsible for producing important items such as military equipment and ships. If the secrets of that place were leaked, who knew how many more young people in the Qing Kingdom would die on the battlefield in the future. Fan Xian did not dare to take this responsibility. Originally, he had felt slightly more at ease listening to Dan Da's report. However, after hearing the Tiger Guard's report, his brows furrowed again.
Haitang had disguised herself as a serving girl to follow him. She could fool the officials and many people, but she could not fool Gao Da's eagle-like eyes. Although Fan Xian realized that he had made a big mistake, it was already too late to make up for it. Fortunately, the Qinian Unit was watching in secret. The Tiger Guards did not release any information to the outside world. Only then did he feel slightly more at ease. He began to wonder again.
However, now was not the time to deal with this matter. The person the Tiger Guard was referring to was Haitang. It looked like that village girl knew that there would be a commotion today and probably wanted to take advantage of the opportunity to do something.
Fan Xian calmly said, "Don't go out. Keep an eye on her. Use all methods to keep her in the manor today."
Seven Tiger Guards against Haitang was the standard arrangement on the meadow last year. Fan Xian was not worried about anything. Furthermore, once military force met, Haitang knew his determination and would calm down.
After dealing with his own matters, Fan Xian turned his gaze back to the scene and said, "Tie up these two criminals who instigated trouble and fought against the court."
Soldiers had long gone forward to tie up the two masters. Although the treasurers' faces were filled with fear and hatred, no one dared to go forward to help. For one, there was the violent machine in front of them. For another, these treasurers had earned their fill of silver these years and truly did not have the courage to fight ruthlessly. The more money a person had, the more cowardly they were. Fan Xian saw this matter very clearly.
"Sir Fan!"
The two masters did not resist. Somewhat numbly, they allowed the soldiers to tie up their hands. However, the Second master continued to stare faintly at Fan Xian's face. "If you want to kill me, then kill me! But how will you explain this to the court in the future? "
"Are you threatening me?" Fan Xian smiled. "On the way here, I once said something … if Butcher Zhang is dead, do I have to eat furred pigs? Without you little treasurers, do you think I won't be able to take care of the palace treasury? "
The Second master laughed wretchedly and said, "Is that so? We have indeed underestimated the imperial envoy's determination, but you also seem to have underestimated these unremarkable workshops! "
His last words were practically shouted out. It was clear he had already lost all hope, but he also had the ruthless thought of seeing how Fan Xian would destroy the palace treasury even if he became a ghost.
…
…
Fan Xian glanced at Su Wenmao. Su Wenmao took out another file from his robe. With a serious face, he began to read out the names one by one according to the names written on the paper.
"Zhang San, Li Si, Wang Ba, Long Jiu …"
Following the names of these minor characters being read out one by one, the faces of the dozen people in the group of treasurers immediately became deathly white. They didn't know if they were about to be beheaded like Master Xiao of the first workshop. A few of the more timid ones' legs trembled, and a large patch of their pants became wet.
Su Wenmao glanced at these people with disgust. He didn't understand why the commissioner was doing this. After swallowing, he said with a dark expression, "You can come out now. The imperial envoy has pardoned you of no crime. Tomorrow, he will write to the court to vouch for you."
Not guilty? He still had to write to the court? The treasurers who had been called out were immediately dumbfounded. They had thought it was hell. Who knew that it was heaven with cool spring water and 72 virgins?
Under the puzzled, suspicious, and jealous gazes of the treasurers around them, these dozen treasurers walked out of the crowd stupidly. They walked in front of Fan Xian and knelt down with a thud, thanking the imperial envoy, but they didn't understand why it was like this.
Fan Xian's face was filled with a warm smile. His two hands lifted the treasurers up. As he acted, he said in an even voice, "To be able to capture the true crimes of the three masters and know that there were so many illegal things among the treasurers, it is all because you placed righteousness above family and were wholeheartedly loyal to the court. Otherwise, I would not have known that the palace treasury would be in such a mess, nor would I have known that there were people who dared to incite a strike and make trouble. You have all done a service to the country, so I will not mistreat you."
The marketplace was immediately in an uproar. So these dozen treasurers were spies! Even the officials behind Fan Xian were dumbfounded. They thought to themselves, The imperial envoy had only been in the palace treasury for three days, how could he have developed so many spies? The reputation of being a secret agent of the Overwatch Council was indeed not false.
The treasurers knew that the dozen colleagues Fan Xian had asked to leave had secretly betrayed them. They couldn't help but fly into a rage. Although they didn't go forward to beat them, they began to curse them viciously. Filthy words flew through the air and burrowed into the ears of the spies.
Where were the spies and treasurers? They had originally loved Sir Fan junior to death, but now they hated him to death. Yes, they had secretly returned the treasury silver and secretly said a few things they had heard, but … it was not as serious as Sir Fan junior had said. They had only learned about the strike last night. Where would they have had the time to report it? As for Master Xiao and the other two masters … God, they just wanted to be a pretty fence-sitter. How would they dare offend the head of the treasurers?
These treasurers, who had been condemned by thousands of people, looked at each other. They wanted to cry but had no tears. Even if Fan Xian let them go today, he had publicly pointed out their shameless and betrayal in front of everyone. How could they face their 200 colleagues in the future? How could they face others?
Zhang San looked at Li Si. Wang Ba looked at Long Jiu. With sorrowful eyes, they asked, "You're also a spy?"
"Yes, we're also a spy."
What Fan Xian said next shocked the people in the workshop.
"Hmm, these 13 treasurers bravely exposed the abuses and have done the country a service. I have decided that from now on, they will be the deputy masters of the three workshops." Fan Xian smiled warmly and asked the deputy beside him, "Sir Ma, what do you think of this proposal?"
Deputy Ma Jie was still worried about how the palace treasury could produce normally and felt depressed. However, hearing these words, he still repeatedly nodded his head in agreement. In the depths of his heart, he felt great admiration for Fan Xian. This move was truly beautiful. Exposing the shameless faces of the spies of the treasurers. In the future, when the treasury was governed, these people would be used as claws and teeth. There was no need to worry that they would not be convinced. This was an artificial chasm drawn out among the treasurers. If today's matter could be concluded satisfactorily, it would be difficult for the treasurers in the future to come together again and become a class that could oppose the officials.
Suddenly, someone laughed coldly.
Everyone focused their eyes and saw it was the Second Workshop treasurer who was tied up and kneeling on the ground. They saw him laugh coldly and sorrowfully. "What a group of shameless people … Sir Fan, do you think you can rely on these people to keep the palace treasury running like before? I'm not threatening the court, but without the things in our heads, the palace treasury … probably won't last more than a few days! "
After these words were said, the atmosphere became strange again. Deputy Ma Jie wanted to move closer to Fan Xian's ear to plead for mercy, but he didn't know how to say it. The trusted aides of Xinyang among the officials of the transport company also began to openly think for the court while secretly cheering for the master. They all advised Fan Xian that everything should be done for the sake of the palace treasury's production. Killing this master Xiao was already enough of a lesson for the other party.
Fan Xian would not listen to these words. He only stared at the Second Workshop master and didn't speak for a moment.
That pair of sharp and clear eyes stared at the Second Workshop master until he could no longer bear it and slowly lowered his head.
At this moment, Fan Xian said angrily, "You're at death's door, and you still dare to threaten the court … treasurers? I'll tear off your underwear and put it on your face to see if what grows on your neck is a head or a butt! "
The imperial envoy's thunderous anger made the workshop fall into absolute silence.
Fan Xian swept his gaze across the treasurers and said with pity and anger in his disdain, "Do you really think you're so promising? Do you think the palace treasury is still the Ye family of the past? Don't you look at your little bit of ability and say other people are shameless people? What about you? Other than being greedy for silver, stealing materials to sell, embezzling hard-earned wages, and forcefully taking other people's wives, what else can you do? Shameless? If you were shameless, there wouldn't be today's matter! "
He turned and said angrily to the Second Workshop master, "You're very stubborn. The palace treasury can't do without you? Then tell me, how come the glass has become more and more muddy these years? How come the wine is so bland that it's about to give birth to a bird? The perfume has already stopped production for 10 years. Have you found a way yet? "
"Back then, you were also a servant of the Ye family, old man." Fan Xian's heart was pained and he opened his mouth to curse at the master. "How did you f * cking fall to this level? I'm about to f * cking die of anger! "
Everyone in the workshop shivered. Only now did the slow-witted people remember that there seemed to be a rumor. The angry imperial envoy in front of them was a descendant of the Ye family. F * cking, f * cking me? Whose mother would be angry?
(There is something I need to explain. Yesterday's chapter finished very comfortably. I thought to myself that no one would say the plot stopped halfway. In the end, there were still brothers and sisters who seriously criticized me. It is very difficult for me to be happy. Originally, yesterday's chapter should have ended when the deputy called for the palace treasury to go on strike. Furthermore, I was also very tired. However, I thought that being stuck halfway probably made everyone uncomfortable, so I wrote another 1,000 words. I thought about it, I thought about it, so I wrote another 1,000 words. The plot developed naturally, but there was a limit to how many words I could write each day. It was not purposely left there. Please understand Bravo … thinking about it from another perspective, it meant that the current plot was rather attractive. Haha, I comforted myself. Of course, this paragraph does not count. Oh right, my spirit is a little weak. I'll report this first.)
(To be continued, if you want to know what happens next, please go to WWW. CMFU. COM. There are more chapters. Support the author and support the original reading!)
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