Eighth year of Chongzhen

Chapter 80 Difficulties
Chen Qiyu has been in the officialdom for a long time, and he is very clear about the ways of it. He didn't expect to get much from this group of selfish and greedy people, so after donating and losing, he greatly appreciated the generosity of the gentry and expressed that he would The use of the money and food donated by each person is posted and announced to the public, so that everyone's money is spent clearly, and the court will be played at the court to commend everyone's righteous deeds and other official words. Gao Da image fully affirmed, saying that he would closely unite with the governor and make due contributions to jointly build a rich and beautiful new Fengyang.

Everyone knew that it was a donation to help the people, but in fact it was just a gift to the governor. As for where the money and food went, they didn't care, as long as the governor remembered himself.

Chen Qiyu declined the banquet of the gentry on the grounds of being busy with business, and then everyone left Fuya, Li Qimei and Chen Liangmo stayed behind.

Chen Liangmo was in his thirties, a Jinshi in the second year of Chongzhen, and stayed in the court to observe politics in the Ministry of Officials. A year later, he was appointed as a household secretary. Occupying a high position, he is regarded as a representative figure of thorns by the elders of the court, and Chang Ziyu, another military officer known for his outspokenness, is called "Botai Shuangbi", and his reputation in the court is quite loud. Chongzhen appointed him to be an official in Fengyang, so he had the intention of inspecting and reusing him.

Chen Liangmo cupped his hands to Chen Qiyu, who was seated in the main seat, and said, "My lord Futai, the officials and your lord have been to Renfengyang one after another. I haven't fully understood the local public opinion and public opinion. Please tell me what to do next."

Chen Qiyu said with a smile: "I know nothing about Fengyang just like Mr. Chen. If you want to do a good job, you must first sharpen your tools. I think you need to make a personal investigation before making any plans; Mr. Li is in Fengyang. I have been in office for a long time, and I know the people here very well, so if you have any advice, you may as well say it bluntly, we are entrusted by the court to govern the side, we must work together and make some achievements together, so as to live up to the high expectations placed by the Holy Majesty!"

Li Qimei is a Jinshi of Tianqi for three years. She has been in the local prefectures and counties for a long time, and she is extremely smooth.He has an indifferent attitude towards Chen Qiyu's appointment. The successive governors of Fengyang have used this place as a springboard. The biggest duty during their tenure is to establish good relations with the local gentry, connect with each other, and weave their relationship network closer; as for the common people It doesn't matter whether it's life or death, whether the court's taxes are completed or not, as long as the relationship is right, someone in the court can speak for it, and after the three-year period expires, it's good to go elsewhere to make a fortune.

Li Qimei clasped his hands and said: "I have served in Fengyang Mansion for four years, and I know the customs and customs of this place well. The land is barren and the people are slippery and difficult to govern; the gentry is quite cooperative with the government's decrees. Mr. Futai As a matter of fact, if you want to make some political achievements, the lower officials feel that you need to keep in touch with the gentry who just donated and lost."

Chen Liangmo said with a sneer: "Master Li's words violate the responsibility of Fengyang's parents! I believe that being an official should benefit the people. If the government treats the people like thieves, the people will definitely treat the officials like bandits! What Master Li said The people of Fengyang are slippery and difficult to govern. Except for natural disasters, it is difficult to keep the suspicion of man-made disasters! There are groups of servants in the gentry's family, feasting and singing all day long, and none of the land under their names is included in the national treasury. Not only have to bear the disaster of natural disasters, but also bear the accumulated rent, under the heavy pressure, it is helpless to just flee to another place! If it is like the Shanshan area, under the bewitching of people with intentions, it is difficult to guarantee that even greater disasters will happen!"

Although the rank of the inspector censor is not high, he is responsible for supervising local officials and has the right to directly submit the book to the emperor.Chen Liangmo even dared to scold the elders, let alone a small magistrate?When he heard Li Qimei say that the people under him were slippery and difficult to manage, he immediately became angry. He was born in a poor family, lost his father when he was young, and his widowed mother relied on the servants of a wealthy family to pull him and his elder brother into adults. Chen Liangmo was smart and studious since he was a child, and his mother moved around Borrowing, living frugally for him to study and improve, until he won the Jinshi and became an official in the court.

His natural sympathy for the weak people, and the hardships he witnessed his mother since he was a child, made him have a natural hostility towards those so-called gentry. He believed that the people were simple and kind, as long as the local officials governed fairly, the people would be fed and clothed. Then they will not resist any decree of the imperial court, no matter whether it is reasonable or not.

Chen Liangmo's accusation made Li Qimei extremely embarrassed. Although he is a senior official of the fourth rank, he has no relationship with the censor of the seventh rank. Yes, he didn't know that if he refuted a few more words, Chen Liangmo would have been ready to pounce on him and beat him up.

Although Chen Qiyu was also dissatisfied with Li Qimei's reply, he did not want the conflict between the two to be made public. They are both officials of the imperial court, and it would lose the dignity of the imperial court if they publicly tore their faces. But there is no lack of reason. As an official, we must treat everyone equally, regardless of whether they are gentry or ordinary people. It is also something that the gentry of the court likes to see the common people live and work in peace and contentment. The two of you should stop arguing, and each should do his or her own responsibilities. Think of ways to reverse it as soon as possible. Fengyang situation!"

Chen Liangmo said: "The lower officials will do their best. Starting tomorrow, the lower officials will go to various counties to investigate public opinion and public opinion. If someone commits illegal acts in the name of the government, the lower officials will report to the imperial court to impeach him!"

Li Qimei cupped his hands and said: "Your Majesty Futai's words must be kept in mind. The government office still has official business. I want to go ahead and go back to the Yamen to handle official affairs. I wonder if Master Futai has any other orders?"

Chen Qiyu said with a smile: "Your residence, please go back. I also have to be busy. If there is anything to do, I will send someone to inform you."

Li Qimei got up and bowed to salute, then exited the governor's office, got into an official sedan chair and returned to the prefect's office.

After Li Qimei left, Chen Qiyu said, "Shiliang, how urgent are you just now? Li Qimei has been in Fengyang for a long time, and he is like a family member to the local gentry! Don't I know the key to it? The Holy One chose me to come here. Stability is true! The rest should not be rushed, it is advisable to take it slow!"

Chen Liangmo cupped his hands and said: "Futai, the officials are really not used to the words and deeds of such bureaucrats! The officials think that since they are reused by the sage, they should make bold moves and move forward bravely! How can we get rid of the old disadvantages and benefit the people? Like a hypocrite and a snake?"

Chen Qiyu sighed: "I also want to do something, but now the situation is turbulent, Fengyang has been ravaged by thieves, and the imperial mausoleum has been burned down; when people are in panic, making them feel at ease is the most important thing! Today The thieves and thieves are all wandering around the Central Plains. I judge their intentions. I am afraid that in the not-too-distant future, the thieves will invade Nanzhili again. Fengyang has no city walls to defend, and I am afraid it will be another catastrophe. !"

When Chen Liangmo was in charge of household affairs, he admired Chen Qiyu, who was the governor of the five provinces at the time. Although he felt sorry for his anticlimactic ending, it did not prevent him from admiring Chen Qiyu's strategy and tactics. Coming from the east, Chen Liangmo did not have the slightest doubt, he believed in Chen Qiyu's analysis and judgment.

He cupped his hands and said, "What is Futai's plan? If the bandits come to Fengyang again, it may be difficult to resist with only the soldiers of the local guards. If the big gentry know the news in advance, they will flee with their families and flee elsewhere. What should the people do?" ?Once they are coerced into their gang, the bandits will become more powerful, and the whole of Nanzhili may suffer disaster!"

Chen Qiyu said: "There is no other way but to attract troops to reject them. I have already sent a letter to the Nanjing Ministry of War, requesting Nanjing to send troops to help. I originally wanted to recruit people to build water conservancy projects, open up wasteland and fields, and let the ruler The common people can eat more food to fill their stomachs, but now it seems that it will be put on hold for a while.”

Chen Liangmo said: "What is Futai's intention?"

"Let's sharpen our guns before the battle. This official plans to use the money and rations raised this time, as well as the government's inventory of silver, plus the thousands of taels of silver brought by my family, to recruit troops and train soldiers, so as to relieve future dangers!"

Chen Liangmo shook his head and said: "The bandits are close at hand, and I'm afraid it will be too late to train troops in Futai. How can the newly recruited soldiers have combat power in a hurry? The lower officials think that the official army should be the main one; the lower officials think that it is better to explain to the holy In this matter, I believe that with the wisdom of the Holy One, he will make a decision on his own!"

It's not that Chen Qiyu never thought of going to Chongzhen to explain his judgment, but when he thought that he had been favored by the emperor and directly lifted himself from prison to a high position like a governor, it was difficult for him to repay this kindness.When he came to Fengyang, he immediately reached out to the emperor for money, food, and soldiers before he had achieved an inch of merit. This made his self-esteem unacceptable, and it made the emperor think that he was useless. His ambition was not limited to a governor. Putting an end to the affairs of the king and gaining fame before and after his life, Xin Jiaxuan's words are exactly the direction of his efforts.

(End of this chapter)