Rule the Ming Dynasty Alone

The new Lianghuai salt inspector is named Zhang Lushan, an official who sounds upright just by his name.

Because when he served as the supervisory censor in Guangdong and Jiangxi, he did not talk about personal affairs with other officials and handled all cases impartially, so he was nicknamed the Iron-faced Censor.

When the Ministry of Civil Affairs was redrafting the important position of the Salt Censor of the Huaihe River, this iron-faced censor came into the sight of the officials of the Ministry of Civil Affairs, and Zhang Hushan finally defeated several other candidates for the position.

Since Yangzhou Prefecture was not under the jurisdiction of Governor Yingtian, the Lianghuai Salt Patrol Censor was the official with the most binding influence on the Lianghuai Capital Transfer Envoy Si Yamen. The Liangzhun Governor Censor was the most typical representative of low status and power.

Since Zhang Hushan took office, he has indeed adhered to the principle that officials should be separated from others. He did not pay attention to officials such as Li Zhiqing, the transfer envoy to the Huaidu, but focused on supervising salt here.

It's just that for many things, we can't just look at the appearance, but we must look through the appearance to see the essence.

In the salt administration system, a huge network of interests has already been formed. Naturally, there are already strategies to deal with the low-ranking and powerful Lianghuai Salt Patrol Censor.

In fact, before the transfer order came down, people from the Lianghuai Chamber of Commerce took the initiative to find Zhang Hushan and brought with them a lot of money.

Faced with such a generous bribe, and the fact that he was told that if he disagreed, he would miss out on his position as the censor of salt inspection in the Huaihe River, he finally chose to compromise.

In fact, after experiencing the ascetic life for so many years, and because he didn't think he could earn more in the future than he did now, he decided to reward himself well.

After arriving, the Huai salt merchants had already prepared the mansion and beauties, allowing Zhang Hushan to start a decadent life.

Although Zhang Hushan did not have public contact with Li Zhiqing and others in order to avoid suspicion, he had met several times in private, and the two sides could be said to have met each other late.

Now someone wants to sue the Taizhou branch under the Lianghuai Capital Transfer Envoy Department. Zhang Hushan is distressed that he has not been able to show his value since he took office, but he does not want to be a helper in a timely manner.

Zhang Hushan's mentality was completely different at this time. It was time to reward himself for his years of hard work. Dang Ji called Gou Huowang into the hall for questioning.

The little Zaohu Gou Huowang pays homage to Master Qingtian! Gou Huowang came to this shabby court hall and immediately knelt down and worshiped in a formal manner.

Zhang Hushan is a middle-aged man in his early forties, fair-skinned, somewhat handsome, with a goatee, and exudes a lot of official authority.

Although he is still wearing the official uniform of the seventh rank, he has been in the officialdom for many years. As long as he leaves the post of Salt Patrol Censor normally this time, he will at least wear the official uniform of the fourth rank.

The most promising officials in the Ming Dynasty were Hanlin officials, but many officials were envious of Kedaoyan officials who could be promoted to seven levels in a row. They would get a big jump after completing their official positions.

The best place to be a Kedao official is to be a governor, followed by serving as a Jingqing in a non-liubu yamen, but the vast majority of officials are promoted to participate in the politics of a province.

Since participating in politics in a province was a leisure of the third rank, he was actually disliked by the officials of the Ministry of Science and Technology, so it was described as the promotion of an official to the seventh level, the power will be greatly reduced.

Zhang Hushan naturally did not aspire to participate in politics. He looked at the honest middle-aged man in front of him and asked calmly: Gou Huowang, do you want to sue the Taizhou branch?

That's right. Every word of the civilian's confession is true. Please take a closer look! Gou Huowang didn't know whether the other party was loyal or traitorous, so he immediately emphasized.

Since ancient times, the people have not fought against the officials, but now Gou Huowang not only sued the Taizhou Branch Office, but was also charged with shrinking his rope to hide the salt fields. If it weren't for Wang Yue's support behind him, he wouldn't have dared to do this even if he had a hundred courages.

It is precisely because of this confidence that Gou Huowang changed his previous habit of being afraid of officials, and now he is very calm and calm in the face of this superior salt patrol censor.

Zhang Hushan couldn't help but sneer in his heart, and asked with a stern expression of justice: Is there any solid evidence for the crime you accused the Taizhou branch?

Master Qingtian, you only need to go and take a test and you will know that the ambassadors and general managers used this method to steal the salt and profits of the imperial court! Gou Huowang was stunned for a moment, and then said with great certainty.

Zhang Hushan actually didn't know whether this problem really existed, so he said calmly: Apart from this, do you have any other evidence?

Sir, this matter is not a secret in the salt field. If you go down and ask, you will know that the real evidence is on the salt field! Gou Huowang naturally couldn't produce the real evidence, so he said very sincerely.

The evidence was only for murder and arson, but to check whether the salt field was as hidden as he said, take the field register to the salt field and compare it. It will be clearly visible.

Wang Yu and Hu Jun accompanied the trial. Although they felt that Gou Huowang's words were a bit confusing, they did not think there was any problem and could not help but turn to look at the iron-faced censor.

All it takes is this iron-faced censor to show his previous courage and re-measure the salt fields at the Taizhou branch, and then the matter of shrinking ropes and hiding fields can be revealed to the world.

If that time comes, the shortcomings of the salt policy will be exposed, and his grandfather Wang Yue can hold Shang Fang's horse-killing sword and chop off the head of the salt officer involved.

Snapped!

Zhang Hushan snorted coldly, then slapped the crowd hard and said: I don't need you to come here to judge the case! You are so bold and cunning! You dare to fabricate the story of the Taizhou branch with no evidence. Do you know what you should do? What crime?

Mr. Qingtian, everything the common people said is true. Several salt fields under the Taizhou branch are shrinking their ropes to hide their fields. Please take a closer look! Gou Huowang was stunned for a moment, and immediately said that he was wronged.

Although he knew that it was unwise for the people to sue an official, even if the official in front of him was known as the iron-faced censor, facing Zhang Hushan accusing him of fabricating things made him unable to accept this statement no matter what.

Zhang Hushan looked at Gou Huowang coldly, and said with an unselfish tone: This is simply full of nonsense! Someone, give this man fifty big sticks with a cane to set an example!

Sir, are you too hasty in judging the law like this? Wang Yu and Hu Jun accompanied Gou Huowang. Seeing that the iron-faced censor was so confused, they immediately stood up and stopped him loudly.

Zhang Hushan saw that Wang Yu's skin was dark and did not look like a scholar, so he looked very disdainful and asked: Does the court know what crime you should be punished for by roaring like this? Do you have a reputation?

This... the common people have no merit, but the judgment just made by your Excellency is too hasty, and the common people are dissatisfied! Wang Yu knew that he had made a mistake, so he argued with reason.

Not convinced?

Faced with Wang Yu's doubts, Zhang Hushan immediately snorted angrily and laughed.

He found that he had been too tolerant to these untouchables earlier, and now that he was already the Salt Patrol Censor, these people actually dared to challenge his authority.

If I had to bear the wretchedness in the past because of my future, but now that I am a low-ranking and powerful Salt Patrol Censor, why should I still be irritated by these common people?

Hu Jun saw the reaction of the iron-faced censor in the hall and couldn't help but sigh secretly.

After all, they were still too young. They just heard about some of Zhang Hushan's glorious deeds and saw that Zhang Hushan really had no contact with Li Zhiqing and other officials, so they thought that Zhang Hushan was really a good official who could judge cases impartially.

It's just very possible that the prince used Gou Huowang to throw stones to ask for directions, and Zhang Hushan's true colors were revealed as expected.

Zhang Hushan took the gavel tree and slapped it hard, and said as if it was a verdict: Come here, take down this roaring man in the court, with fifty sticks, retreat!

I?

Wang Yu pointed at the bridge of his nose in great surprise, never expecting that this iron-faced censor would even beat him, and his inner faith suddenly collapsed at this moment.

The official in front of me may have been a stern censor before, but when he came to Yangzhou to serve as the salt inspector, he may have already colluded with the salt officials.

Judging from this person's reaction, the reason why he could still insist on official ethics in the past was because those people didn't give him enough, and he wasn't worth that much.

It's just that now that Zhang Hushan got the lucrative position of Salt Patrol Censor, he naturally wanted to collude with Li Zhiqing and the gang of corrupt officials, so as to make more money back.

In the end, Wang Yu's enlightenment came too late, but he was escorted to the gate of Lianghuai Patrol Salt Censor along with Gou Huowang, where he was punished with fifty slabs.

Snapped! Snapped! Snapped!

The board was raised high, and then fell heavily, hitting Wang Yu and Gou Huowang's buttocks, causing their skin to rip open, and Wang Yu was even beaten until he screamed.

ah!

Huh?

After Gou Huowang received two blows, he found that the executioner seemed to have suddenly lost his strength.

Naturally, it could not be the conscience of the Yamen who discovered it, but Wang Yue had given instructions in advance, so Hu Jun had already stuffed a piece of silver into the Yamen who were to be executed in advance.

After the Yamen received the money, and Zhang Hushan was not imprisoned here, he only perfunctoryly dealt with two boards, and then basically treated him with dignity.

However, Wang Yu was not so lucky. Since he did not give money to the government officials, he ended up with nothing but a weak body. He crawled there crying for his father and mother, and he hated Zhang Hushan deeply.

Zhang Hushan naturally did not take Wang Yu's resentment to heart. As if he had done a very beautiful thing, when he returned to the signing room, he had someone send a small note to Li Zhiqing: See you at the same place.

The Lianghuai Salt Patrol Censor Yamen, also known as the Salt Patrol Inspectorate, is located on the east side of the Xincheng River (Xiao Qinhuai River), while the Yangzhou Yamen, Jiangdu County Yamen, and Lianghuaidu Transfer Envoy Si Yamen are all on the west side.

As night falls, the entire city of Yangzhou lights up.

The Little Qinhuai River runs from the north to the south of the city. There are many brothels and restaurants on both sides of the city, and boats and boats ripple on this wide river.

The side entrance of Lianghuai Patrol Salt Censor Yamen is connected to the Xiao Qinhuai River. Since Zhang Hushan took office, a small boat will sail to a certain boat almost every night.

Zhang Hushan's resume is in Guangdong and Jiangxi. Although the economy of these two places is not too bad, it is really incomparable with Jiangnan, and it is even more different from Yangzhou.

There are brightly lit night scenes on both sides of the strait, young women are playing music in the boat, and fine wine and rare delicacies are placed on the table. If this is not paradise, what kind of country is it?

Zhang Hushan is enjoying his current life and is intoxicated by the wine and the night view.

Li Zhiqing led two people to the boat. After the two people announced their homes, the four of them could be said to have a happy chat here.

Zhang Hushan actually did not live in the Yamen of the Lianghuai Patrol Salt Censor, but lived in a house donated by Li Zhiqing.

When getting off the ship, the shipowner said that he had forgotten something, and then took out a box of gold and silver from the ship. Naturally, this box was a gift from the two officials of the Taizhou Branch.

Zhang Hushan saw a whole box of gold and silver and found that one day of being an official in Yangzhou was already longer than the entire term in Guangdong and Jiangxi.

Husband, you are back! Zhang Hushan walked into the room slightly drunk, and welcomed a beautiful Jiangnan woman inside.

Zhang Hushan looked at his current life and knew that he had finally come to the end of his hardships. The hardships endured in Guangdong and Jiangxi, the fatigue endured in Guangdong and Jiangxi, have now been repaid tenfold in Yangzhou.

But in the bright lights of Yangzhou City, a thunder and lightning flashed in the eastern night sky.

Just when Zhang Hushan was feeling proud of his choice, the matter regarding Gou Huowang was not over yet. The Yangzhou Yamen also received a complaint.

The person who sued was still very angry, but the crime was no longer to sue Taizhou branch Yin Tian, ​​but to protect the Taizhou branch Yin Tian by Zhang Hushan, the censor of the salt patrol.

Yang Mingyuan, the prefect of Yangzhou, naturally chose to protect his own people, and immediately asked as usual: Gou Huowang, do you have any evidence?

Your Excellency, the butt of the common people is proof. Zhang Hushan tortured the common people yesterday, and many people saw it! Gou Huowang pointed to his injured butt and answered truthfully.

Magistrate Yang naturally knew that Gou Huowang was beaten by Zhang Hushan, but he said in a deep voice: I want to ask you if you have any solid evidence about Yin Tian's matter?

Sir, the people are not suing Yintian now, they are suing Zhang Hushan for shielding the Taizhou branch! Zhang Huoshan asserted that the people were framed without measuring the salt field, and slapped the people without asking whether they were innocent. What is this if not officials protecting each other? Gou Huowang said. It was a matter of avoiding Magistrate Yang, which seemed reasonable and authentic.

Yes, this is indeed official-official protection!

Even if what Gou Huowang said is false, it still needs to be verified!

Haha... I beat the person without even checking. It's clear that he is protecting the Taizhou branch!

…

After the instigation of Wang Yu and others, hundreds of people gathered in the hall to watch. After learning the cause and effect of the incident, they also expressed their support one after another.

In fact, Zhang Hushan did act too hastily. If he had not been eager to please Li Zhiqing and other officials with his actions and tortured Gou Huowang with a cane, he would not have given Gou Huowang a chance to talk.

Now that Gou Huowang is holding Zhang Huoshan's stick punishment, Zhang Hushan really cannot explain it clearly, and the iron-faced censor he has always been proud of may be destroyed in one day.

When the Yangzhou prefect saw the excitement among the people watching, he immediately clapped his hands and said: Quiet!

mighty!

Twelve burly Zaoban yamen officers pounded the long sticks of water, fire and wood in their hands against the blue brick floor, shouting in a orderly and mighty voice.

When the people in the hall heard this numbing sound, they had to keep their mouths shut obediently, but in their hearts they secretly decided to help Gou Huowang make the matter bigger.

Magistrate Yang naturally felt for Yanguan, and immediately said in a deep voice: The fire is strong, Zhang Yushi knows that there is no possibility of shrinking his rope and hiding his land, so it is reasonable to punish you!

Master Fu, even if the villain is making a false accusation, it still needs to be verified! Zhang Huoshan didn't verify it at all, so he protected the Taizhou branch by taking advantage of the common people. Doesn't this count as officials protecting each other? Gou Huowang insisted that Zhang Hushan did not verify the matter, and continued to explain. His name is Qu Dao.

Yes, that's too hasty!

How can there be such a treatment? It's obviously officials protecting each other!

I thought I had a tough-faced censor here, but it turned out to be the same person!

…

When the people in the hall heard Gou Huowang's defense, they immediately stood firmly on Gou Huowang's side, and resolutely pointed the finger at the new salt inspector Zhang Lushan.

Magistrate Yang heard that all the people in the hall were on Gou Huowang's side, but he gritted his teeth, held the gavel tree and slapped it hard: I see that you are clearly a troublemaker looking for trouble, and I am too lazy to talk to you! Come here, beat this person with fifty big sticks and drive him out of the government office, and don't allow him to come back to submit the petition again!

this……

The people in the hall felt chilled when they saw that Gou Huowang was about to get beaten up again.

Although they had already known that the Yangzhou officialdom was protected by officials, judging from the performances of Magistrate Yang and Zhang Hushan, the salt censor of the Huaihe River Patrol yesterday, it was undoubtedly completely confirmed.

Snapped! Snapped! Snapped!

Since Magistrate Yang was present to supervise the torture, Gou Huowang was beaten several times even though Hu Jun had already stuffed his money with him, causing Gou Huowang to scream in agony.

I didn't believe it at first, but now I do!

It seems that Zaohu was right!

Shrinking the rope to hide the field? These corrupt officials really do anything to make money!

…

But this turmoil is not over yet. Thanks to Gou Huowang's astonishing move, a Zaohu family sued Zhang Hushan, the salt patrol censor, for shielding the Taizhou branch, which became a hot topic nowadays.

What, that kitchen owner didn't give up?

Haha... That petition was ghostwritten by my friend!

My dear, this Zaohu is going to break the heavens!

…

The matter was not over yet. It was reported that Gou Huowang once again found someone to write a new complaint, and the new charge was that the Yangzhou prefect was shielding the salt inspector Zhang Hushan and shielding the Taizhou branch.

Although it sounds like a mouthful, the fierce Gou Huowang not only pointed the finger at the Taizhou branch and the salt inspection censor Zhang Hushan, but now he is also suing the Yangzhou prefect who hit him.

Just when everyone was not optimistic about Gou Huowang, a breaking news came from Songjiang Mansion: Although the imperial envoy Wang Yue was found and seriously injured, he would arrive in Yangzhou Mansion in the near future.

Gou Huowang must be dealt with in advance, and he must not be allowed to collide with the imperial envoy! Li Zhiqing realized that a number of people would die if the Taizhou branch's shrinking ropes and hidden fields were revealed, so he immediately issued a death order.

The officials who had not taken Gou Huowang seriously at first panicked. If Gou Huowang brought the matter to the point where the king had his head beheaded, how could they get any good results?

Because of this, they immediately thought of getting rid of Gou Huowang, but they sent people to the inn where Gou Huowang was staying, but in vain.