Yang Ling's face was flushed from drinking and he staggered out of the Zhang Residence. Zhang Mao and Jiang Bin supported him on his left and right. The three of them were talking and laughing as if they had been good brothers for many years.
When Song Ai saw Yang Ling's silly smile, she couldn't help but get angry. For the past few days, Yang Ling had been drinking and receiving gifts every day. Where did he look like the wise and mighty General Yang?
Lady Song pouted and turned her head away resentfully. However, Liu Bangchao praised, "General Song, look at our High Duke. He's so handsome even when he's drunk. He has the demeanor of a general. If I was half as handsome as High Duke, how many girls would be infatuated with me?"
Song Ai rolled her eyes and muttered, "Idiot."
Liu Bangchao rubbed his hands and chuckled, "That's not free food. That's giving face. What status do you have as a High Duke? Do you think anyone can just invite him? Eunuch Liang said this is being approachable! "
Song Ai spat in annoyance. She couldn't be bothered with this unreasonable person anymore.
When Zhang Mao escorted Yang Ling to the carriage, the housekeeper immediately came over with a brocade box. Zhang Mao took it and placed it on the shaft of the carriage with a smile. He patted it lightly and said, "This is just a small gift. I hope High Duke will accept it!"
Yang Ling lifted the brocade box and tested its weight. Then, he pushed it to the side of the sedan with a smile. He stood unsteadily and said, "Ah, Brother Zhang is too polite. Uh … we're all good brothers. Hahaha, then it would be impolite for me to refuse. Oh right, Brother Jiang, come … come back to the residence with me. We'll drink again tonight, hahaha … "
When Jiang Bin heard the High Duke's invitation, he felt honored. Although he was worried about the beauty in prison, he couldn't ignore the High Duke's invitation. He excitedly called for his warhorse and followed Yang Ling back to the residence with two bodyguards.
When Yang Ling returned to the Temporary Residence, the guards escorted him into the house. Having completed her mission, Song Ai left with a straight face without saying goodbye. Yang Ling looked at her back and chuckled.
This girl was interesting. She had a straightforward personality and was very clear about her likes and dislikes. If she was dissatisfied, she would immediately show it on her face. It was really interesting to see her sulking. Anyway, her task was only to protect his safety. She might not be able to do these conspiracies well. Looking at her cute angry face, Yang Ling didn't want to tell her.
Yang Ling staggered into the study. Jiang Bin saw that he was floating and hurriedly said, "High Duke, do you want to have a cup of tea and sleep first?"
Yang Ling's body suddenly stopped swaying. He slowly straightened his body, and when he turned around again, his expression was solemn. His face was still ruddy, but the drunkenness in his eyes had completely disappeared. Yang Ling's sharp gaze was fixed on Jiang Bin. In a deep voice, he said, "Bazhou's You Ji General Jiang Bin, kneel and listen to the decree."
Jiang Bin was startled. He abruptly raised his head to look at Yang Ling. Seeing that he didn't have the slightest expression of a drunken banter, he couldn't help but be shocked. He hurriedly lifted his robe and knelt down. Bowing, he said, "This general awaits the decree!"
…
Jiang Bin left the Imperial Envoy Temporary Residence and stood silently in front of the door for a moment. Suddenly, he looked up to the sky and laughed. Then, he flipped over and closed the door. In a clear voice, he said, "Let's go! To the Bazhou Prison! "
Jiang Bin was a person who didn't care about the most important things. Jiang Bin didn't feel that it was difficult for Yang Ling to personally instruct him on an extremely important matter. He only felt that this was a good opportunity for him to make a name for himself. Not only did he not feel the slightest pressure, but he was also unusually happy.
No matter how corrupt the bureaucrats in Bazhou were, how shady they were, and how vast the network of relationships was, this brave man didn't care about them at all. Whether you were literate or military, he was just a pair of sabers. A simple person's way of dealing with complicated problems was also very simple. If it was another person, he might be thinking about how to meticulously complete the task given by Yang Ling at this moment. However, Jiang Bin's mind was only thinking about how to make a meteoric rise after the task was completed. Feeling full of ambition, he wanted to go to the prison to meet that enchanting beauty.
The reason why Yang Ling chose him was because he had just arrived in Bazhou and had nothing to do with the Bazhou officialdom. He was the most reliable person. Moreover, he was the Guerrilla Warfare General of Bazhou and controlled the largest military force in the area. Yang Ling could not complete his military plan with only Song Ai's one thousand men and horses. He also had to allocate a large portion of them to ensure his own safety. His thunderous strike needed a person who controlled a large number of troops and was absolutely obedient to his orders, unaffected by the officials in Bazhou. Jiang Bin was undoubtedly the best candidate.
Yang Ling sat behind the table and watched Jiang Bin leave. Immediately, a person flashed out from behind the screen and walked to the front of the table. He bowed to him and said, "Student Mu Jing pays his respects to the High Duke!"
Yang Ling quickly stood up and supported him. He smiled and said, "Sit, sit, don't stand on ceremony. Has Scholar Mu just returned from Gu 'an?"
After this period of treatment, Mu Jing's leg that was broken by the four demon monks had basically recovered, but he still walked with a slight limp. However, the scars on his face could not be healed no matter how skilled a doctor was. The originally elegant Scholar Mu now had a face full of scars and bulging muscles, making him look extremely ferocious.
Mu Jing respectfully said, "Yes, I was originally rushing back to Bazhou to inform you of the news. I did not expect to bump into Zhang Zhong's convoy on the way. As expected, he could not hold it in and rushed to Gu 'an."
Yang Ling smiled and said, "Of course. For a local tyrant like him, he has developed an arrogant personality. Whoever dares to challenge his authority, he will not wait even for a moment. How can Prefect Hua handle it?"
Mu Jing hurriedly said, "Don't worry, Master Hua is an honest official and hates evil. He has always had a good reputation in Gu 'an. It's just that he was not appreciated by his superiors. He has been a Prefect for ten years and has never been promoted. This time, with the High Duke's support, Master Hua has made up his mind to help the High Duke get rid of these scourges for Bazhou."
Yang Ling shook his head and said, "All the officials in Bazhou are rotten to the core. Most of the officials in important positions are corrupted. Wouldn't it be a joke for me to rely on these corrupt officials to fight against corruption? If we follow the proper path to investigate, all the officials in Bazhou will retaliate at the same time. If we catch one to protect the others, they will all submit memorials to resist and hide evidence from each other. With Liu Jin as the mediator, it will be difficult to succeed.
Therefore, to break through this matter, we must start with the officials in Bazhou. However, we cannot make use of the officials. I cannot and cannot change the officials in Bazhou and investigate them one by one. In that case, we can only send out a surprise attack. However, it is not easy to send out this surprise attack. I am worried that the people in Bazhou are already afraid of the officials under the oppression of the officials. They may not dare to rebel against Zhang Zhong. "
Mu Jing said solemnly, "Don't worry, Your Excellency. I have already told my family to spread the news that Officer Ai was tortured and sucked dry by that cruel official Zhang Zhong and forced his whole family to hang themselves. Now all the rich people in Gu 'an are in a panic. They think that Zhang Zhong is about to step down from his position and is going to plunder and kill these rich people.
In addition, the tax collectors that Zhang Zhong sent out have imposed exorbitant taxes, forcing the small businessmen in Gu 'an to be unable to survive. The taxes have increased several times and the prices of goods have increased accordingly. The people in Gu' an have accumulated a lot of resentment because of this. Since ancient times, the people in Bazhou have worshiped martial arts and their customs are swift and fierce. Now that the situation is on the verge of breaking out, when I call out to you, Your Excellency will definitely respond. "
Yang Ling heaved a sigh of relief and said, "I hope so. You guys go ahead and do what you want. Even if you make a big mess, I will support you. I want to take advantage of this storm and take advantage of the situation to set off a storm. I will completely clean up the corruption in Bazhou's officialdom and return a clear sky to the people! "
※ ※ ※
Zhang Pipi has arrived in Gu 'an!
As soon as Zhang Zhong's ceremonial procession entered the East Gate, the news swept across the entire Gu 'an county. Like a whirlwind, the few shops that were still doing business closed down and closed down. The people with a little bit of money stayed at home, claiming that they were ill and did not even dare to step out of their doors. The poor complained, the rich were even more afraid. Everyone was trembling with fear, not knowing what Zhang Pipi was going to do by personally coming to Gu' an.
The local tax collector leader, Mo Dan Jiu, and his men happily welcomed their master into the city. Their horsewhips unceremoniously lashed on the people who were fleeing in panic. Everywhere they passed was desolate and the cold wind rustled. This winter seemed to be even colder.
Mo Dan Jiu was riding on a tall black mule with a proud expression. He loudly said to Zhang Pipi, "Gonggong, you came at the right time. The unruly people of Gu 'an are really too arrogant. Each and every one of them refused to pay taxes. Even Gu' an's local magistrate, Hua Yu, is supporting them. This lowly one's words carry little weight. Without gonggong's presence, this lowly one is really unable to control the situation."
Zhang Zhong sat in the carriage with the curtain lifted. His face was full of murderous intent as he looked at the desolate streets. He sneered and said, "Hua Yu? Hua Yu is nothing. Go to the tax office first. Tell Gu 'an district's Qiao Yushu to come see me immediately! "
In the tax office, the county magistrate of Gu 'an district, Qiao Yushu, was standing respectfully in the hall. Because he had run into the tax office, the fat on his body was still trembling. His mouth was huffing and puffing out white smoke. He wiped the sweat from his forehead and chin. He stammered, "This lowly official has come late. I hope gonggong will forgive me."
"Humph, humph," Zhang Zhong sneered. He flicked his sleeve and reprimanded, "Whether you come or not doesn't matter. Let me ask you, Qiao daren has been governing Gu 'an for more than two years, right?"
Qiao Yushu smiled apologetically and said, "Yes, yes, yes. Please remember gonggong. This lowly official took office in the sixth month of the eighteenth year of Hongzhi."
Zhang Zhong put on a stern face and said, "It's been almost three years. You've been an official for one term, governing a region. You haven't achieved anything. Nowadays, the imperial court can evaluate officials at any time. This … you know, right?"
"Yes, yes, yes, this lowly official knows." Qiao Yushu panicked. He only knew how to bow his head and say yes. He was afraid of Zhang Zhong's prestige and didn't dare to raise his head to look at him.
"Eunuch Liu gave an order last year. The position of the Garrison is the same as the highest administrative official in the area. Therefore, not only do I have the authority to control you, I can also impeach you if you are mediocre and have no achievements. Do you know that?"
"Yes, yes, this lowly official knows!"
"I have received Eunuch Liu's decree. The Emperor is filial and wants to build Xuanming Palace for the Empress Dowager. He is still short of one hundred thousand taels of silver. Eunuch Liu gave this task to me, to Bazhou. This shows his trust in me and the glory of Bazhou. If I can't even do this well, then I will be disrespecting the Emperor and Eunuch Liu. It will not look good on my family. The officials of Bazhou will also appear incompetent. Do you know that? "
"Yes, yes, yes, this lowly official knows!"
"Bang!" An inkstone was smashed into pieces by Qiao Yushu's feet. The ink splashed all over his boots and robe.
Zhang Zhong frowned and shouted sternly, "What do you know! Right now, Gu 'an is the place where you are the most incompetent. As the parent official of Bazhou, you allowed Hua Yu to side with the unruly commoners and refuse to pay taxes. We are going to impeach you and make you lose your position and go to prison. Do you understand? "
"Yes, yes, yes, this lowly official knows …" Qiao Yushu suddenly realized something when he heard this. He immediately knelt on the ground and howled, "Ah! Ah ~ ~ Ah! Eunuch, this lowly official knows his mistake. "
Zhang Zhong was shocked by his howling like a pig being slaughtered. "I was just scaring you. Why did you howl so badly?"
He didn't know that when Qiao Yushu heard that he was going to be fired, he knelt anxiously. In addition, he had studied hard for more than twenty years and his eyesight wasn't good. When he knelt, he accidentally knelt on the broken inkstone and it hurt his heart.
Qiao Yushu was a mediocre official with no achievements. He didn't have any achievements, but he wasn't greedy. Every day, he just guarded the county yamen. He didn't object to anyone's orders. As long as the official was higher than him, he wouldn't object. He never hindered Zhang Zhong's government orders.
Therefore, Zhang Zhong was actually quite satisfied with this County Magistrate Qiao. After all, he found a like-minded corrupt official to guard Gu An. Zhang Zhong had to loosen his fingers and give him some benefits. This Mister Qiao Yushu was just a decoration in the county yamen. His existence was the same as not having one, so he wasn't annoying.
Zhang Zhong glared at County Magistrate Qiao who was kneeling there and grimacing in pain. He said, "You are the parent official of a county. Why did you allow Hua Yu to make things difficult for us again and again? With this thing obstructing us, the people of Gu An won't pay taxes. What about the imperial court? What are you doing as a county magistrate? "
Qiao Yushu said with a bitter face, "Eunuch, this lowly official … has only been transferred to Gu An for two years. Hua Yu has already been an official here for more than twenty years. Just his current position alone is a full ten years. His colleagues and friends are everywhere. This lowly official doesn't have the slightest bit of dirt on County Magistrate Qiao. This lowly official can't control him even if I wanted to."
Zhang Zhong said disdainfully, "What a useless piece of trash! I knew that you were incompetent. That's why I personally came to Gu An to oversee this county for you. The unruly people must be punished, and the taxes must be collected. Look at you. You're as fat as a pig. It's purely because you ate too much swill. From today onwards, you better run more diligently. Lead the county magistrate's staff and cooperate with the tax office to start collecting taxes in the whole of Gu An! "
"Yes, yes, yes. This lowly official understands!"
"You …" Faced with such a useless person who only knew how to respond, Zhang Zhong was at his wit's end, "One hundred thousand taels is not a small amount. It would take more than ten carts to transport it. Are you confident that you can collect it within one and a half months?"
"Yes, yes, yes. This lowly official … uh … please advise me." Qiao Yushu endured the pain in his knees and wiped away the cold sweat on his forehead. He finally changed his words.
Zhang Zhong lost his temper and could only helplessly say, "The city tax must be doubled. Those who dare to refuse to pay the tax will be arrested and thrown into prison! Merchants, peddlers, peddlers, no one will be spared. Other than that, you can also collect taxes for entering the city, exiting the city, sand market, civilian town, labor tax, military tax, toilet cart tax, and the people building the Xuanming Palace for the Empress Dowager. It's only right and proper. Add on a filial piety tax … "
Qiao Yushu's head was spinning as he listened, and he could only nod his head in agreement. Zhang Zhong finished in one breath, then waved his hand and said, "You may leave. This Garrison Commander will personally oversee this matter. These taxes will be implemented immediately, and must be collected in full within one and a half months.
Qiao Yushu felt as if he was pardoned. He quickly kowtowed and scrambled out of the room.
Mo Dan Jiu unwillingly said, "Eunuch, just call that fat pig Qiao Yushu over and scold him? That surnamed Hua doesn't even put you in his eyes. You can't let him off easily. "
Zhang Zhong sinisterly smiled and said, "He dares to go against us. Of course, we can't let him off easily. Send a memorial to ask Eunuch Liu to dismiss him? Hmph! That will be letting him off lightly. This surnamed Hua, we will punish him as a warning to others. Let's see who dares to go against us in the future! "
He waved his hand and Mo Dan Jiu immediately listened to Zhang Zhong's instructions. Then, he smiled and said, "Hahahaha, eunuch's plan is divine. Brilliant! Truly brilliant! This lowly official will do it immediately! "
* * *
The Prefectural Magistrate was in charge of the Prefectural Magistrate. The Prefectural Magistrate of Shun Tian Prefecture was a Lower Class Six Prefectural Magistrate. The other Prefectural Magistrates were Upper Class Seven Prefectural Magistrates. Their positions were equivalent to the current Head of the Court, Captain of the Criminal Police, and Head of the Auditing Bureau.
In fact, for a small county, it was enough to set up a Patrol Department. There was no need to set up a Prefectural Magistrate. This was an official set up in a relatively large city or prefecture. However, due to the poor public security in Bazhou, a few counties had set up Prefectural Magistrates to strengthen the local public security.
Hua Yu was managed by County Magistrate Qiao in name. However, his rank was not lower than Qiao Yushu's and he had more experience than Qiao Yushu. Qiao Yushu naturally could not do anything to him. At this moment, the Prefectural Magistrate Hua was sitting in the hall with his eyebrows tightly knitted as he listened to the complaints of a few squires and commoners.
Zhang Zhong's arrival in Gu 'an had boosted the prestige of the tax collectors. Coupled with County Magistrate Qiao's evil deeds, Gu' an was filled with tyrannical tax collectors. Zhang Zhong had originally planned to extort all the wealthy squires in Bazhou in the name of gold mining. When Liu Jin ordered him to gather the silver to build the Xuanming Palace, Zhang Zhong became even more aggressive.
This amount of silver was justifiable for him to extort. If he really caused a big trouble, Liu Jin would certainly help him bear the responsibility. Therefore, Zhang Zhong did not want to use the money he extorted in the name of mining. Instead, he came up with a variety of different kinds of taxes to fill the gap. However, at the same time, his' gold mining 'campaign was still ongoing.
This made the commoners in Gu 'an even worse. The first month had not yet come out, but there was already a gloomy atmosphere. The poor commoners were worried about how they would survive. The wealthy squires and landlords were even more afraid. They were afraid that they would be forced into a corner. Seeing Zhang Zhong's men carrying shovels and pickaxes around their houses all day long, no one knew when they would become the second Ai Jing. The strong psychological fear had almost driven them crazy.
"My Lord, we went to beg County Magistrate Qiao, but he said that this is the law of the imperial court and that he is only following orders. We complained about the commoners' suffering, but this county magistrate only said 'yes, yes, yes, I know'. He refused to help us. Now, the commoners in Gu 'an are unable to survive. Lord Qiao, you have been a Prefectural Magistrate for ten years. You are highly respected and deeply supported by the commoners. We can only rely on you."
Hua Yu was an awe-inspiring burly man. He had broad shoulders, a tall stature, and thick eyebrows. These eyebrows were commonly known as sling eyebrows. They looked extremely fierce and did not look like a good person. However, Hua Yu was a good official who enforced the law impartially and was incorruptible.
Under the situation where Bazhou was full of corrupt officials, he was still able to stay in Gu 'an. He had not been ostracized and suppressed to the point of losing his position. It was truly an anomaly. It was unknown whether those corrupt officials still had a conscience or they still had a shred of guilt in their hearts. They could not bear to see the only upright official in Bazhou disappear. That was why they sent a puppet county magistrate, Qiao Yushu, to be his partner.
A squire said, "If the commoners have any complaints about the exorbitant taxes, they will immediately be captured and brought to the tax office for interrogation. Gu 'an has become hell on earth. My Lord, you cannot sit back and do nothing."
Hua Yu smiled bitterly and said, "Fellow villagers and elders, I have already written a report on this matter and presented it to the Imperial Inspector, Master Ji. I hope that Master Ji can make a decision for the people and present this matter to the Emperor as soon as possible. Perhaps … the calamity of the commoners in Bazhou can be solved …"
"My Lord, the local Imperial Inspector has long been bribed by Zhang Zhong. Once he arrived in Bazhou, he openly stayed in Zhang Zhong's residence. Who doesn't know about this? Will he be able to present your report to the Emperor?"
"Then … what can I do?" Hua Yu helplessly spread out his hands. Looking at the dejected looks of the people, Imperial Inspector Hua's eyes flashed. He purposely muttered, "Duke Wei, Yang Ling, is a very upright official. He treats the commoners very well.
I heard that when he was in Jiangnan, the commoners were bewitched by Eunuch Mo and attacked the Imperial Envoy Palace. They almost beat the Duke to death. After the Duke found out the truth, not only did he not blame the commoners, he severely punished a few eunuchs who were corrupt and oppressing the commoners. If this matter … "
Just as he said this, the door was pushed open with a bang. Hua Yu looked up in astonishment, only to see the big drum that was placed in front of the yamen's door had somehow fallen from its shelf and was rolling right in front of the door.
Following that, a white horse appeared in front of the door. On the horse was a middle-aged man with a white face and no facial hair. He wore a new blue eunuch robe and walked in with a murderous aura. Behind him were six or seven people, all of them riding on horses. Behind them came a large number of tax laborers armed with water and fire rods, whips and iron chains.
The patrol officers, Bing Yong and Ding Zhuang who heard the noise were all stunned by the man's power and stood there in shock. No one dared to step forward to stop him. They saw the eunuch on the white horse slightly bent his waist as he rode in. He only straightened his back after entering the courtyard. He looked around and said coldly, "Gu An Imperial Inspector Hua Yu, who is it? Tell him to come see me! "
A patrol officer mustered up his courage and shouted, "Who are you? How dare you barge into the yamen on a horse and look down on the imperial court!"
"Swoosh!" The Patrol Inspector hadn't finished speaking when the shadow of a whip flashed before his eyes. He didn't even have the time to dodge when his shoulder was struck fiercely by the whip, causing his robe to split open and his flesh to split open. It was so painful that the Patrol Inspector let out a shrill cry and staggered back two steps. He said furiously, "Audacious! You actually dare to attack an officer?"
Zhang Zhong smiled sinisterly and slowly put away the colorful snakeskin whip. Mo Dan Jiu, who was beside him, laughed sarcastically, "Official? What is an official? Our Eunuch Zhang is the highest official in Bazhou. Are you blind? Shouldn't you be whipped for barging into the yamen on a horse? Our Eunuch Zhang is here. Ask him Official Hua to come out and enforce the law! "
Hua Yu was obviously sitting in the main hall, but they ignored him and shouted arrogantly as if they did not see him. Hua Yu secretly gave a look to a patrol officer standing by the door. This was his trusted brother. The patrol officer understood and immediately retreated and slipped out from the side corridor.
Hua Yu dusted off his robe and stood up. He walked straight out of the main hall and bowed. He said in a neither servile nor overbearing manner, "This lowly official Hua Yu greets Eunuch Zhang."
Zhang Zhong's subordinates immediately shouted, "How dare you not kneel in front of Eunuch Zhang. You are just a minor seventh-rank official. How dare you!"
Hua Yu smiled and asked in a clear voice, "May I know what rank Eunuch Zhang is?"
Hearing this, the tax collectors were stunned. Eunuchs did not have high ranks. The great eunuchs of the Ming Dynasty, such as Wang Zhen, Liu Jin, and even the nine-thousand-year-old Wei Zhongxian, were only fourth-rank internal court eunuchs. Although their power was boundless, the Grand Secretaries of the Imperial Cabinet were subservient when they saw them, the six ministries and nine ministers had to kneel when they saw them, and the local officials were proud to be their godson or disciple. They were shameless enough to be servants, but that was not the system of the imperial court.
Zhang Zhong was only an eighth-rank eunuch sent by the Department of Rites. In terms of rank, he was even lower than Hua Yu. If they were to really compare who should salute who, Zhang Zhong would have to get off his horse and bow to Hua Yu first. Zhang Zhong's face reddened and he became angry from embarrassment. He said, "I am not here to discuss rank with you, Eunuch Hua. I am trusted by the Emperor and have been given the position of Bazhou's Garrison. I have been loyal to the Emperor and spared no effort in carrying out his duties. But you, Tax Collector Hua, have accepted bribes from the unruly people. You have repeatedly obstructed the tax collectors from carrying out their duties and prevented my people from prospecting for mines. I ask you, do you know your crime? "
Hua Yu said calmly, "Eunuch Zhang, whoever accuses me of accepting bribes should produce a witness and material evidence. It will be easier to talk when there is concrete evidence. As for obstructing the tax collectors from carrying out their duties, where did this come from? The imperial court's taxes are publicly announced. Those tax collectors have come up with all sorts of excuses and the taxes they collect are not within the imperial court's system. It is obvious that they are abusing their authority for personal gain. If the people are disturbed, they should report it to the authorities. This is my duty as an official to pacify the people. As for digging for gold … "
Hua Yu sneered and said with a hidden meaning: "Since ancient times, it has never been heard of to dig to the bottom of the houses of the common people. What's more, these so-called prospectors have specially picked the houses of the rich and powerful to dig for gold. Every time they dig, even if there isn't gold, they will definitely find gold. As the Gu An Imperial Magistrate, it is my duty to maintain the peace and order of the region. How can I ignore it?"
Zhang Zhong also laughed sinisterly and said, "Flowery words are only to absolve yourself. You want witnesses and material evidence before you are willing to bow your head and admit your guilt? Come on … "
Mo Dan Jiu immediately called out to the people behind him and shouted, "Bring the witnesses here!"
Immediately, the sound of shackles could be heard. A dozen or so people with tattered clothes and bruises all over their bodies were pushed forward by the tax collectors. With Mo Dan Jiu's order, they knelt on the ground one by one.
Mo Dan Jiu pointed at Hua Yu and shouted, "Tell me, did Hua Yu accept your money? Did he stand up for you and obstruct the tax collectors from carrying out their duties?"
"Slap!" An old man trembled in pain from the slap. He trembled with fear and said, "Yes … yes, Hua Yu, he … no, no, it was Dog Officer Hua. He accepted my family's ten silver taels and said that he would allow me to enter the city to sell chickens without paying taxes. If anyone wants to collect taxes, he will stand up for me …"
Hua Yu already knew that these people would think of ways to deal with him, but he didn't expect that they would use such a despicable method. The chickens raised by the commoners couldn't even be sold for one silver tael, so why would anyone pay ten silver taels as a bribe?
With the old man taking the lead, under the coercion of the whip, the other commoners closed their eyes and started to talk nonsense according to Mo Dan Jiu's words. They talked about how Hua Yu had taken a fancy to his wife and shamelessly asked to accompany him for a night to guarantee his family's safety. They talked about how much money Hua Yu had extorted from his charcoal shop and how much tax had been evaded under Hua Yu's protection. Hua Yu initially wanted to defend himself, but the more he heard, the more he felt it was ridiculous. Zhang Zhong was clearly framing him, so no matter what he said, it would be useless. He could only stand there and sneer without saying anything.
These people were all peddlers. Because they didn't have money to pay taxes or because they tried to escape, they were captured by the tax collectors and tortured. They were ordered to harm Hua Yu. These commoners were tortured and forced to confess, so they could only be manipulated.
Zhang Zhong sat upright on his horse, listening to the commoners talking at the same time, he sneered and said: "We already have a witness, as for the material evidence, we will naturally have to search your mansion. Come, take Hua Yu down and search the entire mansion! "
Immediately, two tax collectors who used to be scoundrels rushed forward excitedly. They shook off the ropes and tied Hua Yu up tightly. These people were usually scoundrels under Hua Yu's command, but now they can actually treat a Magistrate Judge as a prisoner and do whatever he wants. They really couldn't contain their joy.
A few angry patrol officers wanted to rescue the Magistrate Judge, but were stopped by Magistrate Hua's stern eyes. The tax collectors were ten times more efficient than Magistrate Hua's Patrol Bailiffs. After a short while, they came back excitedly with the legendary "dirty things" in their hands.
Zhang Zhong dismounted from his horse and swaggered into the hall. He sat down behind the table and slammed the gavel on the table. He shouted, "Come on, bring the criminal Hua Yu here. Hua Yu, do you admit to your crimes? "
Hua Yu was forcefully dragged into the hall and pinned to the ground. He proudly raised his head and sneered: "I admit to my crimes!"
Zhang Zhong sneered and said: "The witness and the material evidence are here, and you still dare to be so stubborn? Come, beat him until he admits to his crimes!"
"I will do it!" Mo Dan Jiu spat on his palm and snatched a water fire stick from a tax collector's hand. He swung the stick in a circle and hit Hua Yu with it. Today, they were looking for an excuse to beat Hua Tui Guan to death in the court. They wanted to establish their authority so that no one in Gu An would dare to resist them.
Hua Yu gave a muffled groan, gritted his teeth and did not say a word, but his body could not help but twitch uncontrollably. The surrounding patrol officers and soldiers were all spitting fire from their eyes, but Hua Yu knew that the time is not right yet, he must endure this hardship and not allow his men to resist, so he hissed in a breath of cold air, laughed heartily and said: "Good, satisfying, again!"
"Pa!" Another hit. Hua Yu's forehead was covered with sweat. His muscles tightened. Suddenly, he shouted: "Little bastard, are you not full yet? Take out all your strength and give your Grandpa Hua a good beating! Ha ha ha ha … "
* * *
Scholar Mu stood on a desk in the county school and roared, "Everyone, something bad has happened. Magistrate Hua, in order to protect us, the common people, did not allow the tax collectors to collect taxes and oppress the good. Now, Zhang Pipi has tortured a few common people and forced them to confess, accusing Magistrate Hua of corruption. He is now exerting his power in the magistrate's office and wants to beat Magistrate Hua to death!"
The students in the county school were in an uproar. Hua Yu was an honest and upright official who enforced the law impartially. He had always been respected by the villagers. Especially the students who could enter the county school, they were all from wealthy families. Everyone was afraid to follow in Ai Jing's footsteps. Magistrate Hua was their only hope. Now that they heard that Zhang Zhong was going to kill him, they immediately panicked.
Scholar Mu raised his voice and said, "Brothers, we can't just sit and watch Zhang Zhong kill a loyal man like this. In my humble opinion, we should immediately go and see Zhang Zhong and explain to him that we must protect the people's will and not act recklessly. If Magistrate Hua is killed by a traitor, he will no longer have any scruples. I am afraid that all of you will die without a burial place! "
"Good! Brother Mu is right. I will go with you. Let's go talk to Zhang Zhong! "Someone below the stage shouted. In a short while, the whole county school was like boiling water. Even the two venerable old masters waved their rulers and went to the streets.
The petition team was shouting slogans as they walked. When the people who heard the news heard that Imperial Magistrate Hua was going to be beaten to death and that Zhang Pipi was going to drain Gu 'an dry, they immediately responded. More and more people joined in, and the slogans were getting more and more intense. It was unknown when someone took the lead, but the slogans had already changed from' Release Imperial Magistrate Hua, return Gu 'an's peace' to 'Kill Zhang Pipi, chase away the tax official dog'.
Soon, the petition group of a few dozen students turned into a huge troop of more than two thousand people. They were waving hoes, wooden sticks, and forks, holding stones, tiles, and broken bricks in their hands. Their simple and honest faces were replaced by the ferociousness of anger. They marched towards the House of Prime Minister, and a civil uprising broke out …
In Bazhou Prefecture, Yang Ling sat with his legs crossed, sipping his tea.
Unfortunately, it would be great if there was someone to massage his shoulders. Yang Ling turned around regretfully and saw Song Ai looking straight ahead with a cold expression. He immediately dispelled this rotten idea. If he were to trouble her to massage him, he would probably beat himself up until he vomited blood.
Fan Mo Li smiled and said, "Duke, this is a pair of dragon and phoenix jade vases. It is said to be from the Zhenguan period of the Tang Dynasty. It is worth at least five thousand taels of silver. Take a look."
Yang Ling took one and looked at it. The jade was warm and smooth, and the carvings were gorgeous and bold. As for whether it was worth money or not, he could not tell. In any case, it was to stall for time. Yang Ling gently placed it on the table and said, "Big Cudgel, take a look."
Once Zhizhou Fan saw Big Cudgel's figure, he couldn't help but grin, "With this appearance, he … knows how to appraise antiques?"
He saw Big Cudgel pick up the dragon and phoenix jade vase. He looked at it horizontally, vertically, and then closed one eye to look inside the vase. Then, he raised his hand and slapped the vase twice. Zhizhou Fan was shocked.
Big Cudgel finished looking and shook his head regretfully. He put the jade vase on the table. Suddenly, he saw a black jar with a big mouth and a round belly. He couldn't help but smile and pick it up, praising, "That vase isn't much. This is good. Duke, take a look at this jar …"
Big Cudgel bent his finger and flicked it twice. The jar made a clear sound of metal and stone. It was very pleasant to listen to, "This jar is a good thing."
Zhizhou Fan showed a look of surprise. This boor's method of appraising antiques was very amateurish. So … so he really was an expert. This jar looked unremarkable, but it was an antique from the Warring States Period. It was a rare treasure that was hard to find. Zhizhou Fan had coveted this jar for a long time. He had originally wanted to put it in an inconspicuous place and randomly introduce it. He would wait for Yang Ling to send someone to buy it when it was time to auction it off. Now …
Zhizhou Fan could only bear the pain and go forward to explain the age, origin, and approximate value of this jar. When Yang Ling heard that its value was more than six times that of the dragon and phoenix jade vase, he couldn't help but exclaim, "It really is a good thing!"
Yang Ling looked at Big Cudgel Liu and couldn't help but think, "Is this guy really stupid or pretending to be stupid? I said he's stupid, but from time to time he would say shocking things. I really don't understand him. "
Big Cudgel Liu heard that the thing he had his eyes on was indeed a good thing. He couldn't help but open his mouth and laugh, "I said, that pair of broken vases are beautiful, but they can at most hold two peach blossoms. Any more and they won't be able to fit in. This jar is still better. No matter what, it can hold at least five or six pounds of salted vegetables!"
"Pu!" Yang Ling spat out a mouthful of tea. Zhizhou Fan couldn't dodge in time, and a lot of tea splashed onto his official robe. Yang Ling choked and coughed. He made hand gestures, but he couldn't say any words of apology. Behind him, Song Ai was already giggling. Official Fan angrily shook his robe, but he didn't dare to say any disrespectful words.
At this moment, a servant ran into the storeroom, gasping for breath. He knelt on the ground with a thud. His forehead was full of sweat. Gasping for breath, he said, "Zhizhou Daren, in order to stabilize the people, thousands of commoners rushed into the Pushing Official Mansion. Tax Collector Mo Danjiu and a dozen others couldn't escape in time and were beaten to death by the mob. They were dismembered with farm tools. It was a horrible sight.
The guard, Eunuch Zhang, escaped back to the Tax Revenue Office. The mob attacked the Tax Revenue Office and took away the people who resisted taxes. The doors, windows, sedans, tables, chairs, and sundries were all burned down. The Treasurer, Staff Attendants, and the others were all beaten to death. They were on the verge of death. Now … "
Hearing this, Zhizhou Fan's heart jumped. He stamped his feet and said, "What about Eunuch Zhang? Where is Eunuch Zhang now?"
"Eunuch Zhang brought people to escape to Bazhou. The mob chased after them with bamboo poles and tiles. When they reached Xin Village, Eunuch Zhang was caught by the mob. He could only take refuge in the village and occupy a large house in the middle of the town. They are in a deadlock with the mob. This lowly one is … County Zhizhou Qiao sent soldiers to ask for help."
Fan Mo Li was also dumbfounded when he heard this. A mob had actually rebelled under his rule. This … If the Imperial Court were to investigate … There was also Eunuch Zhang. If something happened to Eunuch Zhang, what would he do? Thinking of this, Zhizhou Fan was as anxious as a mosquito on a hot pan.
Yang Ling coughed and said to Zhizhou Fan, "Official Fan, what are you panicking for? Eunuch Zhang is in danger. We have to send people to rescue him. Thousands of mobs … it seems we can only let Jiang Youji take action. What do you think? "
"Yes, yes, yes!" Fan Mo was enlightened and quickly said, "Many thanks for Duke's reminder. This lowly official will send someone to invite Jiang Youji over for a discussion. Advisor, immediately send someone to the barracks to invite Official Jiang over. "
The advisor hurriedly said, "Master, Jiang Youji is in the city. He's been going to the prison frequently these past two days. An hour ago, he asked for a note from this lowly one and went to the prison."
Zhizhou Fan was taken aback. "He's a General You Ji, not a Prefect. Why would he go to the prison? Could it be that he has a friend or relative who committed a crime and is going to visit him? " He didn't have time to think carefully at this moment. He anxiously stamped his foot and said, "That's even better. Hurry, hurry. Go personally and invite Jiang Youji back for this official."
Yang Ling leisurely raised his teacup and smiled faintly. "I think we should call it a day. Official Fan's official duties are more important. You should attend to other matters first."
Fan Mo felt as if he had been pardoned from a great crime. He hurriedly apologized and left.
A faint smile appeared on Yang Ling's lips. It was time for Jiang Bin to take action. Then, these corrupt officials would be like moths flying into a flame …
Thinking of this, Yang Ling raised his teacup to his lips. With a tilt of his head, he drained the cup in one gulp.
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