I, Jiajing, successfully cultivated immortality

In fact, Zhao Zhenji's heart is not as peaceful as it seems on the surface.

Zhao Zhenji knew very well that his next behavior was tantamount to throwing a huge boulder into a calm lake, which would definitely cause an uproar.

And these waves, if you are not careful, will splash on yourself.

After all, what he is going to do next is to have the Yuan family’s property in Jiaxing confiscated!

And this incident will undoubtedly push him to the forefront. At the same time, the fragile nerves of those wealthy gentry and landlords will be stirred up again.

As a supervisory censor, Zhao Zhenji naturally knew a lot of inside information.

For example, in order to make up for the deficit in the treasury, the imperial court killed all the smuggling families along the southeast coast on charges of treason with the Japanese!

All the huge amounts of property confiscated from the smuggling families on the southeast coast were confiscated into the national treasury.

Later, Japanese pirates reappeared in the neighboring province of Fujian. Hu Zongxian received the emperor's order and personally led troops to fight against them.

In the process of suppressing the Japanese, some local gentry and landowners with bad records were also charged with collaborating with the Japanese. They were plowed back and forth by the army, and all the wealth gained was handed over to the national treasury by Hu Zongxian.

Since then, the treasury has become increasingly full.

In this process, because the court had great righteousness at hand, no one among the gentry and landlords dared to stand up in public to raise objections. At most, they could only complain a few words in private.

No one wants to get involved with people who are promiscuous with Japan, because if they are not careful, they will end up being executed.

Although the reasons given by the court were justifiable after the incident, the court's behavior of directly ordering the army to raid their homes without saying a word still cast a considerable shadow on the gentry and landlords, making them feel insecure.

After all, no one wants to think that it will be their turn next.

……

After several generations of accumulation, the Yuan family in Jiaxing gradually became the leading landowner in Zhejiang. Not only that, they also relied on bribing high-ranking officials to accumulate many connections in the court.

In the Ming Dynasty, landowners who owned five to six hundred acres of land were considered wealthy and famous in neighboring states and counties.

Further up, it is not within the reach of ordinary people, and this group of people are either high-ranking officials in temples or aristocratic families that have been passed down for generations.

The energy possessed by these people is unimaginable. Some of them can even directly participate in the formulation of imperial policies and restrain land annexation. There is no doubt that they are doing harm to them.

As vested interests, how can these people watch their interests being harmed?

Therefore, these people will find ways to counter the imperial policy, including but not limited to overt and covert disobedience, deliberate delay, deliberate expansion, instigating the people to make trouble, and even uniting to force the emperor to palace.

However, because Jiajing had a glorious record in the Great Ceremony Controversy, these people did not dare to go so far as to force the palace.

"Oh, in order for me, Zhao Zhenji, to be able to successfully enter the cabinet in the future, I'd better make it harder for you!"

Zhao Zhenji thought so, and immediately came back to his senses. He glanced at Zheng Michang and He Maocai in front of him, and said in a deep voice: "You two will be personally responsible for the matter of confiscating the house!"

As soon as Zhao Zhenji finished speaking, Zheng Michang and He Maocai, who were waiting aside, had faces full of ecstasy.

Even if Zhao Zhenji didn't say anything, they would take the initiative to ask Zhao Zhenji for help.

On the one hand, it was to get the account books from the Yuan family and destroy the evidence. On the other hand, it was to use this matter to show more of his face in front of the emperor and increase his sense of presence.

After that, Zheng Mi Chang came to his senses, lowered his head, and responded in a deep voice: "As ordered, Lord Governor, I will definitely handle this matter properly. If there is anything wrong, I am willing to report it to you!" "

Seeing this, He Maocai on the side also followed Zheng Michang's footsteps and issued a military order.

Hearing this, Zhao Zhenji glanced at the two of them meaningfully, and said slowly: "You know, His Majesty is watching this matter. You have to handle it well, do you understand?"

Zheng and He had been immersed in official circles for many years, so they couldn't understand the meaning of Zhao Zhenji's words.

In their opinion, what Zhao Zhenji wanted to express was very clear.

Those are your things. I can turn a blind eye, but I can never interfere with the matter of ransacking your home.

After receiving the message conveyed by Zhao Zhenji, Zheng Michang and He Maocai looked at each other, then lowered their heads and said in unison: "Yes, Lord Governor!"

After Zhao Zhenji heard this, he nodded slightly, waved his hand, and said: "Okay, let's stay here for now, you can go down and get ready!"

After Zhao Zhenji finished speaking, he planned to leave, but Zheng Michang and He Maocai still stood there with no intention of leaving.

Seeing this situation, Zhao Zhenji had a look of doubt on his face, glanced at the two of them, and then asked: "Do you have anything else?"

Hearing this, Zheng Michang thought about it for a moment, raised his head and looked in the direction of Zhao Zhenji, and said cautiously: "Sir Governor, can I use the soldiers from the guard station this time?"

When Zheng Michang said this, he paused for a moment and continued: "In addition, Jiaxing Mansion also needs to be careful, in case the news accidentally leaks..."

After Zhao Zhenji heard this, he pondered for a moment and then gave instructions: "For this operation, I authorize you to use the guardsmen. In addition, there is no need to ask Jiaxing Prefecture to cooperate, just use the people here!"

When Zheng Michang heard this, he immediately looked stern and responded in a deep voice: "Yes, Lord Governor!"

"Okay, if nothing happens, you two can leave!"

"Yes, Lord Governor, I will resign immediately!"

After Zheng Michang and He Maocai bowed to Zhao Zhenji, they left the meeting hall of the Governor's Mansion without any hesitation.

Looking at the two people leaving, an inexplicable look appeared on Zhao Zhenji's face, and he sighed secretly.

"Perhaps Hu Zongxian's ability to successfully enter the cabinet and sit in the position of Minister of Civil Affairs has a lot to do with his previous efforts to make up for the shortfall in the national treasury!"

……

After walking out of the Governor's Mansion, Zheng Michang stopped He Maocai and said in a deep voice: "Old He, did you hear clearly what the governor just said? We have to handle this matter beautifully! "

He Maocai saw the expression on Zheng Michang's face and said nonchalantly: "Okay, Lao Zheng, don't be so surprised. This is not the first time we have done something like ransacking a house. Naturally, the proportions can be properly grasped!"

Seeing that Zheng Michang was still a little worried, He Maocai continued to comfort him: "Don't worry, those involved will be trustworthy people. Besides, with those guardsmen here, what can happen?"

"Old Zheng, in my opinion, you are just too nervous!"

He Maocai's words dispelled Zheng Michang's worries. Then, he shook his head and said slowly: "Well, it seems that I am indeed overthinking!"

After that, Zheng Michang seemed to suddenly remember something, and lowered his voice and said: "By the way, don't forget to give the order, and then put a few more charges on their heads!"

He Maocai heard this and looked confident. After turning his eyes in a circle, he responded: "Well, this is natural. Lao Zheng, what do you think of the crime of hiding weapons secretly with the intention of treason?"

Hearing this, Zheng Michang thought for a moment and agreed with He Maocai's idea: "Well, that's right. In this way, even if the imperial court issues an edict of amnesty to the world, it will not help!"

"Okay, don't waste time, hurry back to the government office and gather all our people!"

"Ah."

After that, Zheng Michang and He Maocai took their sedan chairs and returned to the government office. At the same time, the order to mobilize the guardsmen was also conveyed to the Governor's Mansion.

On the school field, the guard commander Liu Zhongxin looked at the solemn and neatly arranged soldiers in the audience, his face full of excitement that could not be concealed.

After all, this is a beautiful job of confiscating a house!

Immediately, Liu Zhongxin calmed down, glanced at the soldiers in the audience, and said in a deep voice.

"Everyone, not long ago, the Governor's Mansion issued an order. Let's set off with Mr. Zheng and Mr. He to the Yuan family in Jiaxing!"

As soon as Liu Zhongxin finished speaking, the soldiers in the audience immediately cheered up and cheered.

Seeing this situation, Liu Zhongxin looked away from the soldiers and said in a deep voice: "Quiet!"

Liu Zhongxin's voice was not loud, but as if there was some kind of magic power, many soldiers in the audience suddenly became quiet.

After that, Liu Zhongxin organized the words in his mind. After coughing twice, he described the precautions: "When the time comes, everyone..."

……

Ever since Zhao Zhenji announced the verdict of Yuan Kui, the young master of the Yuan family, in public, the Yuan family in Jiaxing has been shrouded in a layer of haze.

After all, the reason why Yuan Kui, the young master of the Yuan family, dared to be so unscrupulous and arrogant was because of the power the Yuan family had and the connections he had accumulated in the court.

When the people saw that Yuan Kui was so arrogant and domineering and had never been punished, they naturally feared the Yuan family.

Yuan Kui, the young master of the Yuan family, was sentenced to eighty canes and seven years of imprisonment by the newly appointed governor of Zhejiang, Zhao Zhenji.

Only then did the people discover that the Yuan family in Jiaxing, who were usually in awe, was nothing more than this.

Since then, the halo surrounding the Yuan family has gradually begun to fade.

Two days passed in the blink of an eye, Jiaxing, the Yuan family.

In the room, after hearing the report from the housekeeper, Yuan Yongyu, the head of the Yuan family, couldn't help but became furious. He slammed the table and said in a deep voice: "How dare these bastards do such little tricks in front of me!"

After that, Yuan Yongyu turned around, looked in the direction of the housekeeper, and said in a deep voice: "Go and send someone to inform the shopkeepers that the end of the year is coming soon. If the accounts are not reconciled by then, sir, I will Cut them alive and go!"

"Yes, sir, let's do it now!"

Seeing Yuan Yongyu's anger, the housekeeper didn't dare to show any signs of neglect. After responding, he quickly left the room.

After the housekeeper left the room, Yuan Yongyu sat back on the chair and pressed his temple with one hand.

Everything that had happened recently made him feel exhausted.

First, Yuan Kui was sentenced to eighty sticks and seven years of imprisonment by the government, and then the person he sent to deliver money to Zhao Zhenji did not even see his face. But now, the shopkeepers of business houses in various places, seeing that the situation is not good, plan to secretly tamper with the accounts.

"Hey, I don't know how my Yuan family has offended this Zhao Zhenji. Why do you insist on staring at my Yuan family?"

Yuan Yongyu thought of this, his face was full of depression.

In his opinion, all the recent troubles were caused by Zhao Zhenji, the governor of Zhejiang who had just taken office.

“It’s better when Governor Hu is here!”

After saying this with emotion, Yuan Yongyu picked up the teacup on the table and took a sip.

At this moment, a servant entered the room with silent steps.

After entering the room, the servant immediately leaned down, looked in the direction of Yuan Yongyu, and respectfully reported: "Master, the young master wants to see you!"

When Yuan Yongyu heard this, he waved his hand and said: "Well, let him come in!"

"Yes, sir!"

After responding, the servant immediately walked away. Not long after, Yuan Cheng, the eldest young master of the Yuan family, stepped into the room.

After Yuan Cheng entered the room, without any hesitation, he immediately bowed in the direction of Yuan Yongyu and said, "My child has seen his father!"

"Well, Cheng'er is here, sit down!"

After Yuan Yongyu heard this, he nodded slightly, pointed to the empty seat aside, and said this.

"Thank you father!"

After Yuan Cheng responded, he sat down on the empty seat next to him. Not long after he sat down, he heard Yuan Yongyu's voice ringing in his ears: "Cheng'er, how is the situation in the capital?"

After Yuan Cheng heard this, he thought about it for a moment and said slowly: "Father, my son has followed your instructions and used our connections in the capital to impeach the two corrupt officials Zheng Michang and He Maocai!"

When Yuan Cheng said this, he shook his head, with a look of helplessness on his face: "But there is no news about the memorial we submitted, and there is no feedback. My child guessed that it must have been suppressed by someone! "

After Yuan Yongyu learned the news, his face was full of indignation, and he said with emotion: "It's true that officials protect each other, these dog officials!"

After that, Yuan Yongyu turned around and told Yuan Cheng solemnly: "Cheng'er, you are now a candidate. When the imperial court holds an encore next year, you will officially enter the official career. It’s dangerous, you must be more careful!”

Hearing this, Yuan Cheng was about to say something when he heard rapid footsteps coming from outside the door.

Not long after, the housekeeper ran into the room out of breath and reported: "Old... Master, something big... is going bad. There is news that many people from the government suddenly appeared outside the city. It looks like he’s coming for us!”

"What did you say!"

When Yuan Yongyu heard what the butler said, he stood up from his seat suddenly. At this moment, his expression was extremely ugly, and his face was full of shock that could not be concealed.

After all, not long ago, Zhao Zhenji, the governor of Zhejiang, announced in public that he would thoroughly investigate the relationship between the Yuan family and those merchants.

"Master, this news is absolutely true and not half false. What should we do next!"

Seeing that Yuan Yongyu didn't respond at all, the housekeeper kept urging him with a look of anxiety on his face.

Yuan Cheng on the side turned pale and trembled when he saw this situation. After all, he had never seen such a scene before.

Then, Yuan Yongyu came back to his senses, looked in the direction of the housekeeper, and said in a deep voice: "Take a few people to the government office immediately and tell Mr. Wang the news. Go, go quickly!"

"Yes, sir, let's go right now!"

After the housekeeper responded, he didn't dare to hesitate at all and left the room as quickly as possible. After all, this was a matter of life and death!

After the housekeeper left, Yuan Cheng on the side mustered up the courage to look in the direction of Yuan Yongyu and asked cautiously: "Father...Father, is something going to happen?"

Yuan Yongyu took in the expression on Yuan Cheng's face, shook his head, and said slowly: "I hope so!"

……

On the other side, Jiaxing Mansion Office is in the backyard.

At this moment, Wang Yongxian, the prefect of Jiaxing, was lying down on a chair quite comfortably. There were several maids beside him feeding peeled grapes to his mouth from time to time.

"Glow-in-the-dark cup of fine grape wine. If you want to drink Pipa, please hurry up..."

After reciting a poem while shaking his head, Wang Yongxian stood up from his chair and moved his limbs.

He was a Jinshi in the sixth year of Jiajing reign and had been in Zhejiang Province as the prefect of Jiaxing for several years.

When he first took office, Wang Yongxian also wanted to make a difference.

However, he soon discovered that the complicated relationships between the local powerful landowners were far beyond what he, the outsider Jiaxing prefect, could shake.

After weighing the pros and cons, Wang Yongxian quickly joined in, adhering to the principle of joining if he couldn't beat him.

Since the powerful landowners headed by the Yuan family had provided too many benefits, he gradually became content with his comfort and gave up the ideals he had when he first took office.

In order to make more money, he began to collude with these powerful local landowners, encouraging the people to pay taxes and donations.

He even turned a blind eye to the powerful landowners who used various means to annex the people's land.

Even if there is a lawsuit between the two parties, whoever gives more money will win.

"I can't get promoted anyway, so why not take this opportunity to enjoy yourself? Life is short!"

After Wang Yongxian finished his emotion, he picked up the teacup on the table and took a sip.

At this moment, I heard a rush of footsteps outside. After a while, I saw a subordinate official walking in and reporting respectfully.

"Sir, the housekeeper of the Yuan family in Jiaxing is outside asking for an audience. He said he has something extremely important!"

When Wang Yongxian heard this, he frowned slightly. After pondering for a moment, he gave instructions: "Well, I know, let him come in!"

"Yes, my lord!"

Upon hearing this, the subordinate official bowed his hand to Wang Yongxian and walked away immediately.

Looking at the back of the subordinate official leaving, Wang Yongxian raised his eyebrows and said to himself: "Could there be some trouble again?"

In recent years, Wang Yongxian has collected a lot of money from the Yuan family, and after collecting money, he naturally has to do things, so he often wipes the Yuan family's butt.

However, at this sensitive moment, he did not want to have anything to do with the Yuan family, so he declined the Yuan family's request to invite him to the banquet.

Not long after, under the guidance of the former subordinate official, the housekeeper of the Yuan family entered the backyard of the government office.

Then, the housekeeper of the Yuan Mansion came to Wang Yongxian with an anxious look on his face.

"Master Wang, my master asked me to inform you that many unidentified people suddenly appeared outside the city!"

"What, this happened? Why didn't I receive the news?"

After learning the news from the butler, Wang Yongxian suddenly stood up from his seat, with a look of surprise and uncertainty on his face.

"Could it be Japanese pirates... No, no, the Japanese pirates have been wiped out long ago!"

At this moment, a guard came to Wang Yongxian with hurried steps and whispered a few words in a low voice.

After that, Wang Yongxian was seen looking panicked and lost his voice: "What, the people here are Zheng Michang and He Maocai, why are they two here, and they are bringing the guards with them!"

After the words fell, Wang Yongxian's eyes rolled. Thinking about the recent situation in Zhejiang, he had already noticed that something was wrong.

"Zheng Michang and He Maocai are probably here for the Yuan family in Jiaxing. No, I have to quickly acquit myself and make meritorious deeds!"

Wang Yongxian thought of this, but his eyes unconsciously looked in the direction of the housekeeper.

After noticing Wang Yongxian's gaze, the housekeeper couldn't help but panic. He could vaguely feel that Wang Yongxian's gaze on him had changed.

Just when he was about to find an excuse to leave, Wang Yongxian came to his senses, pointed his index finger in the direction of the housekeeper, and said in a deep voice: "Come here, I will tie up this accomplice who helped the Yuan family and harmed the people. !”

"Yes, my lord!"

After responding, the guards on the side stepped forward and firmly controlled the housekeeper.

When the housekeeper saw this situation, he immediately panicked. He knew very well that Wang Yongxian planned to use himself as a surrender certificate.

Although he knew that he would die next, the butler still refused to give up his last hope. He tried for a long time to break free from the hands of the guards, but to no avail.

"Master Wang, what are you doing? Aren't you afraid of my master..."

However, before the housekeeper could finish his words, Wang Yongxian gave him a slap on the head: "Shut up, you are an accomplice who helps the tyrants do evil and harms the people. I will seek justice for the people of Jiaxing today!"

"Come here, take this scourge of helping the tyrants with you, and go with me to greet Mr. Zheng and Mr. He!"

"As you command, my lord!"

After that, Wang Yongxian arranged his official uniform, took the guards from the government office, and went out to greet Zheng Michang and He Maocai. (End of chapter)