Squad leader Zhou looked left and right, and then pulled Mao Wenzhi to a corner where no one was around. Only then did he say in a low voice, "I've spent a lot of effort to inquire, but unfortunately, nobody knows what crime the Warden Daren has committed. I heard that it's an arrest warrant from the Ministry of Justice of Nanjing, and it may also involve a big shot in the capital. It's really strange, how could the Warden have any connection with a big shot in the capital? "
Mao Wenzhi said, "My eldest brother can't do anything outrageous!"
Squad leader Zhou said with a wry smile, "I know, do you think I don't trust the Warden's character? Let's take a step back and say that even if the Warden Daren was really corrupt and had no regard for human life, with his official position, he shouldn't have alarmed the important people in the capital. The Nanjing Ministry of Justice also can't directly intervene in this matter. It should be the Guiyang Patrol Imperial Censor or the Imperial Censorate Yamen coming forward. "
Mao Wenzhi stared at him and said, "Then tell me, is my eldest brother's life in danger? If it's just losing his position, it's not a big deal. "
"This …"
Squad leader Zhou's face twisted into a bun, and he said with a bitter face, "Old Mao, this matter … Alas, let me tell you, even the County Magistrate has never encountered such a thing. Just now Arrester Su asked him, and the County Magistrate was also at a loss. I don't know what crime Lord Ye has committed, and how the court will deal with it. "
Outside the Gourd County prison, a constable who volunteered to accompany Sister Sun to visit the prison said with an ugly expression, "Gao Xiaoliu, with our friendship, you can't even give me this little face?"
The jailer said apologetically, "Brother Luo, I'm really sorry, this is the County Magistrate's order. Lord Ye has committed a serious crime, and no one is allowed to see him. I'm just following orders, I don't dare to disobey the County Magistrate's order."
Constable Luo said unhappily, "Come on, it's fine if you say this to others, but to me too? In prison, you can cover the sky with one hand. As long as you want to do something, what can't you do? Just lead us in quietly. As long as you and I don't say anything, how will County Magistrate Xu find out? "
Gao Xiaoliu shook his head and said, "If you don't want people to know, then don't do it. I still have to rely on this to support my family. County Magistrate Xu has said that if anyone dares to allow others to meet Yeh Dianshi, they will be treated as accomplices. I'm really sorry."
Little Sister Taiyang often went to the county government office to deliver soup to Ye Xiaotian. Many bailiffs and bailiffs in the county government office had a crush on this beautiful little girl from the Miao family, and Bailiff Luo was one of them. Therefore, he specially accompanied her to the prison today, thinking that he could use his reputation to let her in to see Ye Xiaotian. Who would have thought that he would be able to let her in to see Ye Xiaotian?
Constable Luo said to Sister Sun in shame, "I'm useless, I'm sorry, Sister Sun. Let's go."
Sister Sun remembered Hua Yunfei's order not to force their way in. Just as she was about to leave with Constable Luo, Gao Xiaoliu suddenly said, "Wait!"
Constable Luo turned around and said coldly, "What?"
Gao Xiaoliu looked up and down at Sister Sun and said with a smile, "Sister Sun, right? Nice, nice name, and even more beautiful. What's your relationship with Yeh Dianshi? "
Constable Luo's anger subsided when he saw this, and he said to Sister Sun with a cold face, "Let's go!"
"Don't be in such a hurry."
Gao Xiaoliu said with a cheeky smile, "Sister Sun, although I can't let you in to see Yeh Dianshi, and I don't know what crime Yeh Dianshi has committed, but when County Magistrate Xu escorted Yeh Dianshi to prison, he said a few words to Yeh Dianshi. I was beside him at that time, and I only heard one sentence, but it was also the most important sentence. Do you want to know?"
Sister Sun's eyes lit up. Ignoring his slightly lecherous gaze, she hurriedly asked, "What did he say?"
At that time, Xu Boyi had arrested Ye Xiaotian and personally escorted him to prison. After locking Ye Xiaotian in a separate cell that was not adjacent to the other cells, he finally couldn't hold back his smugness anymore. He dismissed his subordinates and said to Ye Xiaotian, "Yeh Dianshi, for the past year or so, you've been the most famous person in Gourd County. However, a person's luck will run out one day, and now, your luck has finally come to an end."
Until now, Ye Xiaotian was still confused about why he was arrested. However, looking at Xu Boyi's excited expression, he had a vague feeling that this matter must have something to do with Xu Boyi. Ye Xiaotian calmed himself down and said calmly, "My arrest and imprisonment, is it related to you?"
Xu Boyi didn't answer, but he couldn't help but burst into wild laughter.
Ye Xiaotian sighed and muttered to himself, "Looking at your behavior, it should be you who schemed against me."
Xu Boyi's expression turned ferocious as he said, "Before I took office, someone once told me a sentence. She said, 'In the officialdom, there are only two kinds of people. One is to be stepped on by others, and if you don't want to be stepped on by others, you have to step on others.' Do you really think that after you humiliated me on the Rain Worship Platform, I will admit defeat and willingly be stepped on by you? "
Xu Boyi took a step forward. Recalling the humiliation he suffered that day, he was so agitated that he couldn't control himself. With a trembling voice, he roared, "This time, you're dead for sure!"
At that time, Gao Xiaoliu was standing in the prison cell. Although he had moved away, Xu Boyi's roar was too loud for him to hear clearly. However, he didn't hear what Ye Xiaotian said next. At that time, Ye Xiaotian's expression didn't change at all. He only let out a light breath and bowed deeply to Xu Boyi. He said word by word, "Thank you for your teachings. I will remember this sentence!"
Xu Boyi was startled. The calmness revealed in Ye Xiaotian's words made him instinctively feel danger. His hair stood on end, but he calmed down immediately and sneered, "So what if you remember it? Do you still have a chance? Hahaha … "
Xu Boyi threw his head back and laughed wildly as he walked out of the prison.
When Sister Sun heard Gao Xiaoliu's words, "This time, you're dead for sure!" She couldn't help but feel anxious. She nodded to Gao Xiaoliu and said, "Thank you!" Then she turned around and left. She wanted to rush back to the mountain as soon as possible to discuss a countermeasure with Hua Yunfei.
However, Gao Xiaoliu called out to her again, "Sister Sun, I'm afraid that Yeh Dianshi won't be able to escape this time. Judging from County Magistrate Xu's tone, it's inevitable that he will lose his life and have his possessions confiscated. You're so young and beautiful, why must you live and die with the Ye family? I haven't married yet. I don't care what your previous status in the Ye family was. As long as you're willing … I'll marry you so that you can escape this calamity and have someone to rely on for the rest of your life! "
Constable Luo was furious when he heard this. Although he liked Sister Sun and had a crush on her, it was only a secret admiration. How could he dare to reveal his feelings in the slightest? Now that Yeh Dianshi had just been sent to prison and his crimes were still unclear, someone was already thinking about his woman?
Constable Luo's face was ashen. He rolled up his sleeves and rushed forward, cursing, "Gao Xiaoliu, are you a f * cking human or a beast in human skin? I'll teach you a lesson today!"
"What are you doing? What are you trying to do?" Gao Xiaoliu's body was small and skinny. He couldn't be compared to Constable Luo's big build. If Constable Luo really wanted to beat him up, he wouldn't be his match. He was so scared that he kept retreating.
"Brother Luo, forget it!" Little Sister Taiyang pulled Constable Luo back. Although she was petite and exquisite, it was impossible for her to pull Constable Luo, but her little hand only gently tugged on Constable Luo's sleeve, and Constable Luo obediently stood still, very docile and obedient.
Younger Sister Taiyang turned her eyes and looked at Gao Xiaoliu 'er. She said with a faint smile, "Thank you for your reminder, Brother Xiaoliu. If the Ye Clan is really in trouble, I will consider your words carefully."
She pursed her pretty petal-like lips and took out an embroidered pouch from her belt. She handed it to Gao Xiaoliu and said, "Brother Xiaoliu, I don't have anything to thank you for telling me such an important piece of information. I embroidered this pouch myself, so I'm giving it to you as a token of my appreciation."
What did it mean for a girl to give her pouch to a man? Gao Xiaoliu was so happy that his body became lighter. He took the pouch and smelled the faint fragrance coming from it. If it wasn't for Constable Luo standing next to him, he would have already pounced on Sister Sun and kissed her.
"Brother Luo, let's go."
Little Sister Taiyang's eyes flickered slightly toward Gao Xiaoliu before she walked out. Constable Luo saw that she had given Gao Xiaoliu a gift, and it was such an ambiguous one at that, so he thought that she was prepared to go their separate ways in the face of trouble. He felt disdain for her and treated Sister Sun coldly.
…
Zhang Juzheng sat in his study with a thick goose down cushion. He pondered for a long time before picking up his brush and writing, "The provincial levy will benefit the farmers and the merchants. … The Light Pass City will benefit the farmers and the merchants!"
After writing the full text, he carefully checked it again to make sure that there were no mistakes or omissions. Then he gently closed the memorial and called out, "Come, send this to the palace immediately!"
Since Zhang Juzheng took over the government, his biggest reform for the officials was the examination method. For the people, it was the "One Whip Law" and "Clear the Fields". The "One Whip Law" and "Clear the Fields" did not have any practical effect on reducing the burden on the people. This was because the "One Whip Law" was actually a reform of the tax system. It converted all kinds of taxes into money to be calculated.
Moreover, this was not Zhang Juzheng's invention. It had already been implemented in some places. Because it was effective, he pushed it to the whole country. This made it much more convenient for the court, but it also added to the burden on the people.
As for the "Clear the Fields", although it cleared the private land of many landlords and nobles, forcing them to pay taxes according to the regulations, they could quickly come up with a countermeasure to shift the burden to the farmers and tenants. However, for the court, the tax revenue had greatly increased.
At this time, the Taipu Temple had more than four million taels of silver. The Taicang also had more than four million taels of silver. The Taicang's grain reserves could be used for ten years. It could be said that the national treasury was full. Therefore, Zhang Juzheng submitted a memorial requesting that the provinces be exempted from the debt of money and grain accumulated since the first year of Longqing be exempted. This was a genuine benefit to the people.
In addition, although Zhang Juzheng was from the Confucian school, he was still a famous minister of the state and a famous Prime Minister of the Ming Dynasty. He was more practical and had always disapproved of "emphasizing agriculture and belittling commerce." He believed that agriculture and commerce should be given equal attention. Therefore, he specially proposed a few measures to protect and encourage commerce, which he submitted to the Emperor for promulgation.
After writing this memorial, he could not support himself anymore. He had a serious hemorrhoid. It was difficult for him to walk, and sitting for a long time was extremely painful. He stood up and gently twisted his waist. He was about to go for a walk in the garden when the old housekeeper quietly came in. He whispered a few words to him and presented a list of gifts with both hands.
Zhang Juzheng shook his head and laughed in spite of himself. He called out Qi Jiguang's courtesy name and said, "This Yuan Jing, I don't know what other things he has gathered for me." Opening the list, he only swept his eyes over the rare treasures and beautiful silk and embroidered objects. When he saw the three words "rub the navel", his eyes brightened.
Zhang Juzheng was diligent in his official duties every day. In addition, he was old and sickly, so his appetite was affected. He ate a hundred dishes, but he still found it difficult to eat. He could not find anything that could stimulate his appetite. But there was one hobby that grew stronger with age, and that was beauty. The Grand Secretary was never tired of it.
Over the years, beautiful women from all over the country flooded the rear courtyard. There were no less than several hundred of them. The Grand Secretary did not mind having too many. It was just that he was old, and his body was weak and sickly. He could handle state affairs skillfully and easily, but he often had trouble pacifying the rear courtyard. As a result, he had a special liking for all kinds of supportive drugs.
Last time, Qi Shuai had gifted him a type of "rub the navel". After using it, the effects were quite good. He only mentioned it casually, but unexpectedly, Qi Shuai remembered it and sent him another jar this time. Grand Secretary Zhang stroked his beard and nodded his head with a smile. His gaze swept down again, and he was immediately delighted.
Below, there was also a mention of gifting a beautiful concubine. He also specially mentioned that this beautiful concubine was not bought with money. It was because her family had suffered misfortune and she was desperate. When she heard that it was to serve a famous minister of the present age, she happily agreed. This woman was well-educated and polite. She was gentle and virtuous. He hoped that with her serving on his pillow and taking care of his daily life, the Grand Secretary would be able to focus on state affairs and bring more blessings to the common people.
Zhang Jiangling shook his head and said with a smile, "This Yuan Jing … bring that woman over. This old man wants to see her!"
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