Ming Dynasty 1566

Chapter 64

Mrs. Hai: "Yes." Then she hurriedly walked to her bedroom.

Haimu stared blankly at the open courtyard gate.

Zhao Zhenji came to meet Hu Zongxian who had just returned to Hangzhou from Beijing in the back hall of the Yamen of the Governor of Zhejiang Province in Hangzhou.

"I said how many people are you going to sink into this muddy pit in Zhejiang?" Zhao Zhenji stood up with an unhappy expression on his face, "At this time, I will be involved too! Ruzhen, who is not easy to recommend, you have to recommend to the emperor Me?" He said, staring at Hu Zongxian closely.

Hu Zongxian looked thinner and darker than when we met last time. At this time, he sat in front of the chair in the middle and slowly looked at Zhao Zhenji: "If you say I recommended it, then it is I who recommended it."

Zhao Zhenji: "You are the governor of Zhejiang Province, and the deputy governor of Zhejiang Province. If the emperor doesn't ask you, who do you ask?"

"I said, even if I recommended it!" Hu Zongxian did not argue with him, and his expression became serious, "Since you are here, what are you going to do?"

Zhao Zhenji: "I should ask you this. You moved me from Yingtian to here, what do you want me to do?"

Hu Zongxian sighed: "I can do whatever I want. Zheng Michang and He Maocai will not fall to this point. Meng Jing, not only me, but no one in the cabinet knew about your transfer to Zhejiang. This is the arbitrariness of the Holy Spirit. The heart of heaven has always been unpredictable, and you still don't understand this?"

Zhao Zhenji looked at him closely, and then he believed it a little bit, and immediately fell silent.

Hu Zongxian: "Take two sides to everything. Zhejiang is a mess now, and you will fall into it if it is not done well. If it is done well? You, Zhao Mengjing, may join the cabinet to worship! Your Majesty is preparing for the next cabinet Find someone to choose."

Zhao Zhenji's eyes lit up for a moment, and she immediately restrained herself: "I don't think so! Merits and demerits have always gone together, I don't seek meritorious deeds, no deeds are blessings."

"No fault is merit." Hu Zongxian followed up his words, "Meng Jing, hurry up and count Shen Yishi's family property according to the imperial edict, thoroughly investigate the bribes of Zhejiang officialdom, and confiscate all of them and turn them over to the treasury. This is merit."

"Confiscate Shen Yishi's family property and hand it over to the state treasury?" Zhao Zhenji looked at Hu Zongxian suspiciously, "Shen Yishi's family property will be sold to others, don't you know?"

"Is there such a thing?" Hu Zongxian stood up abruptly, "Didn't the edict clearly state that Shen Yishi's family property that had been confiscated should be handed over to the state treasury? How could there be such a thing as reselling it to others!"

Zhao Zhenji examined it: "Really didn't the Ministry know anything about this beforehand?"

Hu Zongxian: "Nonsense! I left the capital seven days ago and only came back last night. Where did I find out?"

Zhao Zhenji's expression became serious: "It seems that I really blamed you..."

Hu Zongxian immediately heard that there was something in his words: "Speak clearly and I will listen."

Zhao Zhenji: "You are involved in the matter of reselling Shen Yishi's family property."

Hu Zongxian: "Is it involved?"

Zhao Zhenji: "Do you know where the businessmen who took over Shen Yishi's family property are from? They are all from Huizhou, Guizhou, and some of them are from Jixi, and they are still close friends with you."

Hu Zongxian immediately changed his face, and stood up suddenly: "Bastard! How dare they do this!"

Zhao Zhenji: "It seems that Zheng Michang and He Maocai knew that the matter had gotten worse, and they wanted to save it in their dreams. So they came up with this idea of ​​buying Shen Yishi's family wealth, thinking that as long as they can quickly get some money for you to fight the war, At the same time, the 50 bolts of silk that the palace will sell to Western merchants have been assembled this year, and they can escape this catastrophe by handing over to the emperor. It’s just a dog jumping over the wall. The weaving bureau happens to use this matchmaker The fire is on your head."

Hu Zongxian looked out the window with his hands behind his back.It took a long time before he opened his mouth and said: "You are the governor of India, the contract signed by Zheng Michang should be annulled immediately. My fellow countrymen told them to go back immediately!"

Zhao Zhenji: "Of course the contract signed by Zheng Michang will be annulled. But what if Gui Xiangyi signed the contract with the Yamen of the Weaving Bureau?"

Hu Zongxian was startled again, and slowly turned around to look at Zhao Zhenji.

Zhao Zhenji: "Eunuch Yang called all of you to the Weaving Bureau early in the morning."

Hu Zongxian was stunned for a while, and his expression became very gloomy again: "You know my situation. I can work for the court for a day. Meng Jing, the emperor sent you to Zhejiang at this time. What does the emperor want you to do? I understand. The emperor intends to fill the shortfall in the national treasury. They used to use the name of the emperor to collect money, and now they are still using the name of the emperor to transfer the property that should be handed over to the national treasury to the Weaving Bureau. No distinction between family and country is the fatal problem of my Ming Dynasty. Disadvantages! Meng Jing, you are a Neo Confucianist, and you are ordered to be in danger. You must report this matter to the emperor."

Zhao Zhenji pondered there again, and after a while: "Ruzhen, you don't mind asking me a question."

Hu Zongxian: "Just ask."

Zhao Zhenji: "You are the governor of Zhejiang Province. You know all these things. Why don't you go to the school? You have seen the emperor twice this year. Why don't you report to the emperor in person?"

These two sentences really stopped Hu Zongxian, he was silent, but Zhao Zhenji stared at him closely.

I don't know how long after being silent, Hu Zongxian finally raised his head and stared at Zhao Zhenji: "Zhao Mengjing, if you ask me like this, do you suspect that I will use you as a weapon, or are you worried that if you go to school, you will take the blame for me?"

Zhao Zhenji was a little embarrassed, looked away, and waved his hand: "If you say that, then pretend I didn't ask."

Hu Zongxian: "Since the question is about this, I will answer you. At the beginning of the year, rice was changed to mulberry. I did not go to the sparse. You know what happened after I went to the sparse. Because from the emperor, down to the various ministries of the court, and You colleagues all regard me, Hu Zongxian, as the old man of Yan Ge. The same thing, some people can say it, and some people can't. In this matter, it is public if you are not fair, and I am selfless and selfish. This is the reason you Naturally understand. Now you ask me this, because you are worried that I will implicate you. In this case, let’s pretend that we have never been in contact for 20 years. You can still involve my fellow villagers. You sell Shen Yishi’s property to them that is!"

These words made Zhao Zhenji's face flushed, and she stood there for a long time.

"I, Zhao Zhenji, am not that kind of person!" Zhao Zhenji blushed, knowing that she could no longer remain silent, and her voice became agitated, "If you want to deal with the affairs of the court, of course I will. It’s up to us to intervene, and what to do in the end is up to us. Let’s say that your fellow countrymen have been summoned by Eunuch Yang. If the Weaving Bureau must force them to take over Shen Yishi’s family property, it will be difficult to tell if you are involved.”

"I don't argue." Hu Zongxian's expression has calmed down again, "Meng Jing, the edict is for you, and you understand the situation, whether Shen Yishi's family property should be sold, especially whether it should be sold to my few Fellow countryman, it is your duty to argue with the court of Shangshu. Qi Jiguang’s army report is here, and there will be several bloody battles with Japanese pirates. I will return to the barracks in the afternoon. The battle is imminent. I hope you will send me the military supplies of the guest armies from Jiangxi, Anhui, and Fujian in time." He stood up this time and walked out the door.

"Ruzhen!" Zhao Zhenji quickly stopped him.

Hu Zongxian turned his head and looked at Zhao Zhenji quietly.

Zhao Zhenji looked a little sad and excited: "No one knows you, Hu Ruzhen. After all, we have been close friends for 20 years. Regardless of our friendship, for the sake of national affairs and to let you focus on suppressing the Japanese pirates in front, I will also deliver military supplies for you, and I will also help you. I will free those fellow countrymen for you. The national treasury is short of money, and I will find a way to raise money. The Weaving Bureau must sell Shen Yishi's workshop to other businessmen, unless there is an order from Ming or the cabinet. Otherwise, I will Shangshu, I will fight."

There was light in Hu Zongxian's eyes again, and he was moved by his statement: "Meng Jing, there is hardly a foot of pure land in the thousands of miles of our Ming Dynasty, and it depends on you ministers of Confucianism to support the building. Those who are good at planning the country It’s like cooking fresh food. The affairs in Zhejiang are intricate. Zheng Michang, He Maocai, and many other officials are all involved in the court and the palace. You must endure it. The Zhejiang Bureau depends entirely on you now!"

Zhao Zhenji: "Annihilation against the Japanese is a major military and national issue, and Zhou Yafu is indispensable in the Xiliu camp! You can rest assured that it is the case. The top is for state affairs, and the bottom is for the friendship between you and me. I know what to do."

As the boss, Hu Zongxian gave Zhao Zhenji a deep bow at this moment: "Then please!"

Zhao Zhenji hurriedly bowed back: "What is righteous is what is due! Take care of the hall!"

Five Anhui merchants were treated as honored guests and sat in front of the chairs by the window. On the coffee table beside them was not only tea, but also several plates of fresh and dried fruits.

The five covenant books, in duplicate, with a total of ten pages, are neatly laid out on the desk at this time. Not only are the signatures and stamps of Zheng Michang, He Maocai and other businessmen on each covenant book, but they are also neatly stamped on the top. The two big seals of Zhejiang governor's yamen and chief envoy's yamen are written.

Sitting upright in front of the case, Yang Jinshui casually picked up a contract to read it, put it down again, and said to the accompanying eunuch standing beside him, "These contracts are all in the archives."

The accompanying eunuch immediately put the ten covenant books in a pile into the cabinet by the wall, and then locked the cabinet door.

Several Huizhou merchants were stunned immediately and looked at each other.

The old Huizhou merchant said: "Eunuch Yang, it seems that you should have signed this contract and stamped it with the big seal of the Weaving Bureau Yamen and left a copy for us."

Yang Jinshui's face became serious: "I signed the contract? How can I sign such a contract? How can the Weaving Bureau stamp such a contract?"

Several Anhui merchants were even more confused and looked at him together.

"Where are you!" Yang Jinshui dragged his voice, and then looked at them coldly, "Good business is not done in Anhui, and I have to go to Hangzhou to take this muddy water! Let me tell you, Zheng Michang and He Maocai yesterday They have been arrested at night according to the imperial decree!"

Yang Jinshui's cold and high-pitched voice poured into the ears of several Anhui merchants, like a three-nine-day cold wind, or like ice water poured from the top of the sky, freezing them all there.

The old Hui merchant was excited: "Eunuch Yang, we are all law-abiding businessmen, so we don't know the important affairs of the court and the government. Since Mr. Zheng and Mr. He committed the Qing case, we voluntarily withdraw the contract we signed with them."

"Do you think this is shopping for a temple fair?" Yang Jinshui looked at them sideways, "Buy if you say you want to buy, or withdraw if you say you want to withdraw?"

Several businessmen looked at each other.

Yang Jinshui: "This is the Qin case! No one involved can escape!"

The faces of several businessmen changed, and the four looked at the old Huizhou businessman together.

The old Huizhou merchant: "We really didn't know that Mr. Zheng and Mr. He committed the Qin case. Mr. Yang, don't look at the monk's face or the Buddha's face, but for the sake of my family, Hu Butang, let us go back." knelt down.

The four Anhui merchants also knelt down.

"What are you doing?" Yang Jinshui looked at them, "What are you doing? You signed the contract with Zheng Michang and He Maocai. Whether you pursue it or not depends on the imperial court's will. Please, I might as well ask Hu Butang. He is the governor of Zhezhi, and his official is older than me. You kneel here, let Hu Butang know, and think that I am making trouble with him. Are you still not up? Well, then you kneel here." Said Then he simply sat down on the chair.

The middle-aged Hui merchant pleaded: "Eunuch Yang, Hu Butang didn't know that we were invited by Zheng Michang and the others. You always know, Eunuch Yang. If you don't speak for us, we will have no way to survive. We are not ignorant people, whenever Eunuch Yang has any expenses, we will do our best to help." Several people fell down while talking.

At this time, the eunuch brought the bowl of tea to Yang Jinshui. Yang Jinshui took the bowl, took a sip, and turned his eyes to the Huizhou merchants who were still kneeling there: "For what you just said, I think I can’t help you.” At this point, he placed the teacup cover on the teacup loudly, and handed it to the eunuch who followed him: “Give me the expenses? A joke. My expenses are all the expenses of the palace, and I want you to follow suit.” What's the matter? To be honest, did you secretly pay Zheng Michang and He Maocai? Otherwise, why would they reduce [-] horses to [-] horses? They even changed the annual [-] horses in the tribute palace to two Ten thousand horses? What a joke, they dare to cut the annual tribute in the palace without authorization! I am too lazy to talk about it. You can save these words and talk to my family, Hu Butang."

At this time, the five Huizhou merchants were scared out of their wits by Yang Jinshui, and kowtowed desperately:
"Eunuch, we are wronged!"

"For God's sake, we really didn't pay Zheng Michang and He Maocai!"

"Eunuch Yang, you always want to avenge our grievances!"

"Okay!" Yang Jinshui drank.Several Huizhou merchants were immediately dumbfounded.

Yang Jinshui slowed down his tone: "It's your own bad luck to be involved in this muddy water. Now you have implicated Hu Butang. I have to discuss with the new governor Zhao if I can help you. Come on, let’s go, you can’t leave now, so stay with me first. But if I can find a way for you, I will try my best to do it for Hu Butang’s face.”

The five Huizhou merchants kowtowed together: "Thank you, Mr. Yang! Thank you, Mr. Yang!"

Yang Jinshui winked at the accompanying eunuch, and walked out.

Zhao Zhenji began to fulfill his promise to Hu Zongxian, and when he returned to the governor's office, he immediately interrogated Zheng Michang and He Maocai in the second hall to recover the stolen money and urgently raise military pay.

The four royal guards are the natural jurors, two sitting on each side.The resident eunuchs themselves had the secret mission of the palace to supervise the local government, not to mention that this case involved the Weaving Bureau, and Yang Jinshui naturally participated in the jury.

To prevent collusion, criminals like this have always been interrogated separately.The first one to bring to the hall was Zheng Michang.

It was a common practice in the official circles of the Ming Dynasty that before the criminals were interrogated and reported to the holy court, the interrogators still treated them with courtesy.It is said that the chances of Ming officials being convicted are too high. Even if they are not guilty, they may be chained overnight after false accusations and framing.It is difficult to guarantee that today's questioning of officials will be tomorrow's criminals, and today's courtesy to others will leave room for others to treat themselves with courtesy tomorrow.Therefore, before Zheng Michang was escorted into the hall by two team officers, he had already gone to the chain, and a stool was placed in the center of the hall for him to sit down.

Zheng Michang's demeanor surprised several interrogators.In the past, this person was famous in official circles for being shy and shy and shirking responsibility, but today he seemed to be a different person, Xu Bu walked up the hall, bowed deeply to Zhao Zhenji and Yang Jinshui above, and then bowed their hands to Jin Yiwei on both sides He sat down quietly on the stool and closed his eyes.

Zhao Zhenji and Yang Jinshui couldn't help but glanced at each other, and then the four Jin Yiwei also looked at each other.

"Zheng Michang." Zhao Zhenji called him.

"The criminal is here." Zheng Michang still closed his eyes.

Zhao Zhenji: "You have heard the imperial decree. You have served as a chief envoy in Zhejiang for three years and as a governor for nearly a year. How much bribes did Shen Yishi give you in these four years, and how much money did you take in Shen Yishi's workshop? , it’s best to admit it all ourselves. We can report it to the court and the emperor. Do you understand what I mean?”

Zheng Michang still closed his eyes: "Master Zhao, there are four other imperial envoys, you can check how much money I, Zheng Michang, took from Shen Yishi."

Zhao Zhenji: "Of course we will investigate. Now is your chance. The "Da Ming Law" contains clear texts, and the sentencing for what you confess and what you find out are very different."

"Then I want to say that I didn't take Shen Yishi's money?" Zheng Michang opened his eyes.

Several people were startled.

The four Jin Yiwei immediately showed sneers on their faces, but they didn't answer because the interrogator was Zhao Zhenji.

Zhao Zhenji also sneered: "Master Zheng, are you a Jinshi in the 21st year of Jiajing?"

Zheng Michang: "Ten years of cold windows, I have failed the teachings of the sages."

Zhao Zhenji: "I won't tell you about the sage Kong today, nor about the sage Meng. I have a famous saying, Mr. Zheng has naturally read it, that is 'the sky net is restored, and it is not lost'!"

Zheng Michang: "I have fallen into the sky net, I have nothing to say." After saying this, he closed his eyes again, and did not speak again.

There was silence in the hall.

Zhao Zhenji suddenly asked loudly to the hall: "When will Hai Rui, the county magistrate of Chun'an, arrive?"

The book office who was sitting in front of the short table in the lobby immediately stood up and said, "Return to Mr. Zhongcheng, the envoy should have been delivered early this morning. If it is fast, it will arrive tonight."

(End of this chapter)