The First Gongsheng of Ming Dynasty

Chapter 278
Zhang Zhou and his party arrived outside the Xuanfu Township Office on May 27.

After hearing the news, Ma Zhongxi, governor of Xuanfu, led people out of the city to meet him in advance, and at the same time called thousands of city officials, soldiers and civilians to come out to greet him. Zhang Zhou was riding on a horse, and seeing this scene from a distance, he couldn't help frowning secretly.

Zhang Heling looked up at the gate of the city, and said with a look of sarcasm: "This guy surnamed Ma looks quite good."

On the left and right sides behind Zhang Zhou are the newly-appointed Chief of the Army Zhu Hui, the Duke of Baoguo, and Zhang Heling, the Deputy Chief of the Army.

The people around heard it and understood what Zhang Heling meant. The so-called "upper way" is to curry favor with others.

The Xuan Mansion is different from the general state capitals. This is a military fortress, and there are no prefectures and counties in Daming. This place was originally headed by the chief military officer, but after the establishment of the governor, the governor was the highest officer. Of course, Zhang Zhou was the Xuan manor. The general system, the official position is above the governor.

As the chief official in the city, Ma Zhongxi came out to welcome the new boss, and even mobilized the army and civilians to welcome him together, which seemed to be a good thing.

"The visitor is not kind..."

Zhu Hui had been in the officialdom for a long time, and he had also heard about Ma Zhongxi's personality, so he naturally didn't believe that Ma Zhongxi would fight to welcome Zhang Zhou.

"Hehe." Zhang Zhou was just laughing.

……

……

At the gate of the city, Zhang Zhou and his party got off their horses, but they saw a civil servant in his 50s in official uniform, with a righteous face on his face, who made people feel very difficult to get along with, walking towards him.

"Next Zhang Zhou." Zhang Zhou greeted first.

The other party also announced their names, it was Ma Zhongxi, and then the current generals of Xuanfu Town also came to announce their names one by one.

Except for Ma Zhongxi who flirted with Zhang Zhou, the rest of the people were very polite to Zhang Zhou.

"Zhang Zhou, I heard that you saw Ma Yi, a fugitive from Xuanfu Town, on your way here. Can you hand him over and let the official deal with him severely?"

After the ceremony, Ma Zhongxi was very rude to Zhang Zhou's dignitary.

Ma Yi went to "seek refuge" with Zhang Zhou, but Zhang Zhou neither escorted him to the capital, nor handed him over, nor even greeted him. From his point of view, it was obvious that Zhang Zhou was planning to protect Ma Yi.

That being the case, that is the enemy, so there is no need to show any affection.

When Zhang Heling heard this, he sneered and said, "Calling Shangguan by his first name, it turns out that Confucian officials are also so ignorant of the rules."

Obviously Zhang Heling has never been able to follow the wind to make the rudder, and when he sees something interesting, speaking it out through his mouth has no other effect other than fanning the flames.

Or in his opinion, he was afraid that things would be too small and not lively enough.

With what he said, the two sides really felt a little bit tense.

Zhang Zhou smiled and said, "What do you call this? Has Commander Ma been convicted?"

"Although he has not been convicted, the evidence is conclusive. Corruption and embezzlement of food and salaries, exploitation of common people, private recruitment of soldiers, private use of public equipment, and even false credit and concealment. Zhang, you were born as a Jinshi, and you should understand the rules of Ming Dynasty officialdom. You are guilty. The perpetrators must be dealt with strictly according to the law, and covering up is tantamount to complicity!"

Ma Zhongxi shot at Zhang Zhou with a rebellious appearance.

As soon as this remark came out, everyone around was very embarrassed.

Not to mention that Zhang Zhou had never met such a person with his boss, neither had anyone present.

Zhang Zhou thought to himself, you Ma Zhongxi is a mad dog, right?
However, based on Zhang Zhou's understanding of Ma Zhongxi in history, his past experience and what he has done, he can probably understand why this person can be so "hateful" or ignorant.

Ma Zhongxi's father, Ma Wei, used to be the chief historian in the Tang Dynasty's mansion. Because he offended the Tang Dynasty by admonishing him directly, he was imprisoned for questioning and sent to the capital, including the family members of the Ma family.

Only Ma Zhongxi was not detained at that time because he was young.

Later, Ma Zhongxi ran around for his father and family at a young age. First, he interceded with the inspector censor and ordered his family to release him. Then he was ordered by his mother to go to the capital to redress his father's grievances and make his father rehabilitated.

His childhood experience made him develop this character.

He looks honest and upright, but if he doesn’t know how to be flexible in the officialdom, he will suffer. During the Liuliu and Liuqi uprisings during the Zhengde period, Ma Zhongxi believed that the rebel army was born because of officials’ excessive expropriation. Sure enough, Gan Nian felt that he was an upright official, and he didn't even plunder his hometown... The final result was that after the rebellion, Ma Zhongxi was considered an accomplice of the rebel army, and finally died unjustly in prison...

Zhang Zhou was also thinking about it.

You said that when you become an official, you become an official, and you don't even know your position, so you have the nerve to accuse others?
"Oh." Zhang Zhou looked at the surrounding soldiers and civilians with a smile, and said with emotion, "Speaking of it, it is rare that so many local officials, gentry and common people came out to greet me. I am new to the officialdom, and I have done nothing in local governance. I am ashamed. "

Ma Zhongxi looked coldly at Zhang Zhouheng.

Probably saying, are you shameless?Can't you see that I asked someone to greet you just to put pressure on you in front of people?Ask you to hand over someone?You still think it's an honor?
Ma Zhongxi emphasized: "Zhang, I am asking you for the criminal.

Zhu Hui came over to smooth things over and said, "Zhang Zhitai is new here, can't we wait until we enter the city?"

Ma Zhongxi said: "Right and wrong, how can we be late? There are so many people present, and they are all waiting for the court to uphold justice. Could it be that Mr. Zhang, you want to go against the will of heaven?"

I rub!

Zhang Zhou thought to himself, these days I am the only one who talks about God's will to people, you old man is so bad, how dare you use God's will to suppress me?

Zhang Zhoudao: "Speaking of God's will, along the way I came, the drought around Xuanfu was severe. Even if it wasn't for thousands of miles away, I think the crops along the way are almost dying!"

Ma Zhongxi sneered: "It is precisely because some parents and officials do not think of the emperor's kindness, do not follow the way of heaven, harm the country and the people, corrupt and abuse the people, so that they are punished by heaven!"

Zhang Zhouxin said, what I want is your sentence.

Zhang Zhoudao: "I have just arrived here, and I have nothing to give to the people, but I have learned a little bit of Taoist Kung Fu. Two days later, I am going to open an altar outside the Xuanfu to pray for rain. Why don't we talk about it after praying for rain?" What about God's will?"

"you……"

Ma Zhongxi glared at Zhang Zhou.

Obviously, after he knew that Zhang Zhou accepted Ma Yi, he had already decided to tear himself apart with Zhang Zhou.

Historically, Ma Zhongxi was the governor of the Xuanfu for three years, and he also begged for his old age to return to the land in the 12th year of Hongzhi. Obviously he had already made preparations for retirement, so he would not give Zhang Zhou any more face.

I don't plan to hang out in the officialdom anymore, and I still need to look at the face of you, an emperor, and the former courtier?

You can show off your power in the capital, and even compete with cabinet ministers and ministers with sharp teeth in the court.

But when it comes to my horse, I won't show you any favors!
Otherwise, wouldn't I, Ma, be ashamed of my official voice?

When Zhu Hui heard Zhang Zhou's proposal, he intentionally expressed surprise and said loudly: "Mr. Zhang is the Immortal Master of Daming, and his immortal skills are unmatched by anyone. How generous is the Immortal Master to pray for rain for the people of the Xuan Mansion?" Going out must be a good story!"

Even when the Duke flattered Zhang Zhou, he was able to keep his face from blushing and his heart skipping beats, and the little words were slick.

This made Ma Zhongxi gnash his teeth even more.

Zhang Zhou also smiled and announced to the onlookers: "Everyone, I will open an altar here to pray for rain the day after tomorrow, and I hope you will come to witness together! I am here on the emperor's order. Shocking Di Yi also has the responsibility to appease the soldiers and civilians and educate the common people, all folks, please go back."

Zhang Zhou ignored Ma Zhongxi.

When dealing with the onlookers, Zhang Zhou seemed to be very experienced, and he was not stage fright at all. Instead, he seemed to go deep into the grassroots, and went to get close to ordinary people.

The common people have never seen such an official who is close to the people. They came out to watch the excitement. They wanted people, witnesses, and God’s punishment. Week pressure.

But a group of ordinary people who haven't even read a book, how can they understand that?

On the contrary, it was Zhang Zhou's closeness to the people, and Zhang Zhou's reputation of nagging, which made them feel more cordial.

"Master Zhang, can praying for rain make it rain?"

Some people are already asking loudly.

Zhang Zhoudao: "My countryman, you are such a good question, I can only say that I will do my best! If God really refuses to rain because there are corrupt officials in the local area, I have nothing to do. It depends on human effort!"

"It must rain, otherwise there will be no food harvest this year..."

"Yeah yeah!"

The people are all responding.

In their view, catching corrupt officials is still a trivial matter, and making their land productive is more important than anything else.

Ma Zhongxi saw that Zhang Zhou turned against customers, and actually went one step ahead of him to incite the people. He felt even more angry, and muttered: "Short-sighted!"

This is to hate the people for being deceived by Zhang Zhou's rhetoric.

You people, this official is making decisions for you, and I want to investigate and deal with corrupt officials. How could you be deceived by this person in order to make it rain?Besides, it rains when he says it rains?Who does he think he is?

……

……

Originally, the battle between old and new officials at the gate of the city had to be contested to find a result.

But because Ma Zhongxi mentioned God's will and Zhang Zhou mentioned praying for rain, the matter came to an end for the time being, and because Ma Yi followed Zhang Zhou into the city, it meant that Ma Yi did not flee privately. It is enough to report Zhang Zhou to the court for covering up criminals, and there is no need to fight Zhang Zhou to the death.

The official is older than him, but if he doesn't want to come, what can he do?

You can't send someone to the door to snatch it, can you?

Ma Yi herself is the commander-in-chief, and her status in the city is not low. If she really wants to get rough, it's not sure who will suffer, and an army mutiny is not impossible.

The soldiers and civilians entered the city.

Zhang Zhou was also alive and well. He did not ride a horse, a sedan chair, or a carriage when he entered the city.

"Fathers and folks, I am the new Xuanda President. All the surrounding affairs are under my control. If you have any injustices, you can come to me and I will redress for you. The day after tomorrow I will set up an altar at the gate of the city to pray for rain. Everyone Come and witness it!"

Zhang Zhou seemed to be afraid that the people along the way would not be able to hear him clearly, so he kept repeating himself.

He also took out a "speaker" made of simple paper tubes and spoke loudly to the people along the way.

Not only did he say it himself, but he also asked his personal followers, Jin Yiwei Qianhu Sun Shangqi and others to say it together.

Only then did Ma Zhongxi know who was the expert at inciting the emotions of the people.

I also saw what it means to fully mobilize the power of public opinion.

"Ma Zhongcheng, do you think the rain the day after tomorrow...can it fall?"

Seeing this scene, the subordinates around Ma Zhongxi even began to doubt life.

The newcomer Zhang Zhou is so famous, he said that he will pray for rain the day after tomorrow, if he is not sure, how can he be so sure to tell the people all over the city?But if the rain was really brought down by Zhang Zhouqi, wouldn't that mean that God's will was on Zhang Zhou's side?

Ma Zhongxi stood at the gate of the city and didn't intend to go in with him, so he gave the subordinate a sideways look.

The subordinate officials were dejected and dared not speak any more.

A general next to him said: "But I don't know how Zhang Zhitai is compared to the previous Liu Shilang. I heard that he uses soldiers like a god."

It was only now that Ma Zhongxi knew for the first time that Zhang Zhou had a very high status in the hearts of the soldiers of the Daming Frontier Army.

The "big man" who came to the Xuan Mansion before was Liu Daxia who was the left servant of the household department and came to the Xuan Mansion to manage the military pay two years ago in the tenth year of Hongzhi. After all, the mansion is not for war. Now that the imperial court has sent a Xuanda general, the whole army seems to want to fight with Zhang Zhou.

The anticipation in the eyes of the soldiers made Ma Zhongxi feel a headache and get angry just looking at it.

After all, since Yu Zijun in the 21st year of Chenghua, the imperial court has not set up the Xuanda general system for more than ten years, let alone prepare to send troops to suppress the situation with the Xuanda general system.

……

……

"Mr. Zhang, you are so powerful. With Ma Zhongcheng's aggressive appearance, he thought that today would end badly, that he would not even be able to enter the city."

After Zhang Zhou entered the city, he first stayed in the post house.

Zhang Lun followed Zhang Zhou like a follower, and he still admired Zhang Zhou.

There is no governor's mansion in the city, and Zhang Zhou will live in the governor's office in the future. Now Zhang Zhou and Ma Zhongxi are very unhappy, but it does not affect Zhang Zhou's sending someone to let Ma Zhongxi occupy the courtyard.

The kid Zhang Zhoubai glanced at him and said: "The general system does not agree with the governor, and we will manage affairs under the same roof in the future. What do you think is a good thing? Have you settled down?"

"No...they said there is no place for me to live in the General Military Mansion."

Zhang Lun was wronged.

He was brought here to study with Zhang Zhou, and he didn't have a military post on him, so naturally there was no way for him to be arranged by the General Military Mansion.

Zhang Zhoudao: "Then go downstairs and find a room to live in, and run errands for me in the future, won't it be too embarrassing for you?"

"No." Zhang Lun scratched his head, "That's what my grandfather asked me to do."

"It's good to know. I'll let you build the platform for praying for rain, bring a few people along, and create momentum by the way. You can also tell them that you are the son of the British government."

"Then... then there is no need."

Zhang Lun thought to himself.

You have a big face, so you are not afraid of losing it. I have a small face, so I'd better take it easy.

……

……

Ma Zhongxi was upset.

After going back, he was not polite, even if he wrote the memorial to the impeachment of Zhang Zhou, and sent it to the capital on a fast horse, he had a kind of energy to fight Zhang Zhou to the end.

From the Xuanfu to the capital, it took a day and a night for the fast horse to arrive.

The next morning, the memorial was already placed on Zhu Youtang's desk in Qianqing Palace.

"Ha ha."

After watching Ma Zhongxi's performance, Zhu Youtang was not angry at all, but smiled happily.

"Have you seen the cabinet?" Zhu Youtang asked.

"I have never closed Bai Yuge's department." Dai Yi replied.

This kind of border report is usually notified to the emperor first, and the emperor personally handles it. Often, the cabinet is not required to draft opinions. If the cabinet is really needed, the emperor will send it to the cabinet.

Zhu Youtang laughed and said, "I actually want to know the reaction of those courtiers when they saw this thing. Bingkuan's actions are really unexpected."

Dai Yi hesitated and said, "Mr. Zhang takes Ma Yi in, it doesn't seem to be appropriate, it's easy to prove it."

"Then what's the matter?" Zhu Youtang said, "Ma Yi's crime can only be determined by the three judges. Besides, it is the responsibility of the inspector censor to inquire about matters in the northwest. When will it be the governor's turn to convict the general? Isn't it for the border areas? Buried the introduction of the general's discord?"

"Yes."

Only then did Dai Yi know that although the emperor had previously given Ma Zhongxi the authority to investigate the case, he did not support Ma Zhongxi's investigation of the former general officer.

One is the head of the civil servants, and the other is the head of the military commanders.

You civil servants investigate military generals, who knows if there is any suspicion of avenging public revenge or abolishing public affairs due to private interests?
Zhu Youtang said with a serious face: "Is Bingkuan protecting Ma Yi? He is just maintaining justice in the Northwest Army! If the generals in the army can be investigated by the governor at any time, wouldn't everyone in the Northwest be in danger? ?Even if Ma Yi is really guilty, as long as it doesn't affect the safety of the army, he can still be forgiven."

After Dai Yi waited too long to monitor him, he smiled wryly in his heart.

Is this the emperor's desire to protect the interests of the generals in the Northwest?
If Zhang Zhou hadn't taken Ma Yi in, it is estimated that the emperor would not sit back and watch the corruption of the generals of the Northwest Army. It would be better to say...as long as Bingkuan needs him, I can accept it.

"Should it rain this time?" Zhu Youtang suddenly asked a question that Dai Yi and others couldn't answer.

Dai Yi asked: "Your Majesty, if you asked about Qi Yu, Mr. Zhang has already said that he has no such ability."

"He said no, so he didn't? Maybe he didn't want to take credit for it?" When Zhu Youtang asked, he and the eunuchs naturally thought of the past when the monarchs and ministers went to worship the sky and pray for rain together, and they pretended to be.

That time Zhu Youtang himself earned enough of his face.

Xiao Jing said with a determined face: "Mr. Zhang's words of praying for rain should not be false. Maybe Mr. Zhang knew that Xuan Mansion would rain that day? After all, Mr. Zhang also said that only when things happened recently, he had to be on the spot , to be sure."

"Not necessarily." Zhu Youtang continued to smile, "In a place so far away from Jianchangwei, wouldn't he just tell you that an earthquake would occur? Speaking of which, when he left this time, he didn't ask him to give more It’s a pity to say a few hexagrams.”

Xiao Jing wanted to say something, but Dai Yi glared at him and blocked Xiao Jing's mouth.

Dai Yi said to himself: "Then, Your Majesty, do you want to make an order to let Mr. Zhang do the math?"

"No need. If there is a major event, I believe Bing Kuan will tell Yu Zhen in advance. If he doesn't say it, it means that it is not, or it is not too important. Then there is no need to let him know the secret every time."

Zhu Youtang seemed to understand Zhang Zhou very well.

Probably also want to "slow and long flow".

If Zhang Zhou was allowed to spy on the secrets if nothing happened, and Zhang Zhou would be punished to belch early, then there would be no way for the emperor to ask someone to ask the secrets.

Keep Zhang Zhou, and ask again when there is a major event.

Without bothering Zhang Zhou, the emperor would feel that he was very benevolent and would not bother Bingkuan with everything.

(End of this chapter)