I, Jiajing, successfully cultivated immortality

Three days passed in the blink of an eye, and after traveling day and night, Hai Rui finally arrived in Jinan Prefecture, Shandong Province.

Early in the morning, Cao Feng, the governor of Shandong, led all the local officials to greet him, for fear of any neglect.

Not only that, the streets are also full of patrolling soldiers, and ordinary people are ordered to stay at home and not to go to the streets at will.

Although they had been waiting for a long time, there was no sign of impatience on the faces of many officials present.

After all, the Hai Rui sent by the imperial court is holding their black hat in his hand.

For the sake of secrecy, Cao Feng asked his staff to let the wind out, saying that the purpose of Hai Rui's visit to Shandong this time was to thoroughly investigate the corruption of local officials.

After all, with the background of the Hai Rui Inspectorate, the whole thing is completely justified.

As soon as the news came out, officials of all sizes in Shandong panicked, and they had no time to think about other things. They began to ask people around to find out about Hai Rui's origin.

After those officials inquired about Hai Rui's brilliant achievements through various channels, they panicked. After all, this is the ultimate ruthless person who dares not to give face to the strict party and Qingliu at the same time!

After Cao Feng released this smoke bomb, the development of the matter did not go beyond his expectations, and those officials no longer entangled in the real purpose of Hai Rui's trip to Shandong.

After all, no matter what, things like a thorough investigation of corruption are better believed than nothing.

If you unfortunately become that unlucky guy, it will be too late to regret, even if you have the means to reach the sky, it will not help.

While Cao Feng was still thinking about what kind of posture he should take to face Hai Rui, Liu Zhengzhong, the governor of Shandong, was restless.

He raised his head from time to time to observe the expression on Cao Feng's face, which was full of hesitation.

After a while, as if he had made up his mind, he summoned up his courage, came to Cao Feng, and said in a low voice.

"My lord governor, do you know who this Hai Rui is from?"

When Cao Feng heard the words, he immediately came back to his senses, took a panoramic view of the expression on Liu Zhengzhong's face, sighed, and explained unhurriedly.

"Well, I'm not too clear about this matter. It is said that someone handed over the impeachment memorial to the Procuratorate. After reading the impeachment memorial, His Majesty was furious and immediately sent this Hai Rui to investigate the matter thoroughly!"

After Liu Zhengzhong got the news from Cao Feng, his face was full of horror, and he immediately lost his voice.

"Ah, what, who is it..."

However, before Liu Zhengzhong finished speaking, a guard hurried up to Cao Feng and whispered a few words.

Cao Feng nodded after listening to the guard's report, then turned around and announced to the surrounding officials.

"Everyone cheer up, Mr. Du Yushi sent by the imperial court will arrive soon!"

Cao Feng's voice fell, and not long after, a carriage was gradually approaching the direction of the crowd under the escort of a large number of guards.

Soon, the carriage stopped not far from the crowd, and Hai Rui got off the carriage with the support of the guards.

Seeing this, Cao Feng on the side hurried forward, cupped his hands, bowed and said, "Your Majesty, Governor of Shandong, Cao Feng, I have seen you!"

After Cao Feng, the officials behind him also bowed and said: "I have seen you, sir!"

When Hai Rui heard the words, a little smile appeared on his face, and he responded, "This time, I am following His Majesty's order to rush to Shandong to investigate the case. If there is any offense on the way, I hope you forgive me!"

As soon as Hai Rui's words fell, Cao Feng responded without hesitation: "Where is it? Since your lord came here on His Majesty's order, I should fully cooperate with you!"

After exchanging pleasantries, Cao Feng introduced the officials around him to Hai Rui one by one.

"My lord, this is Liu Zhengzhong, the chief envoy of Shandong!"

Seeing that Hai Rui's eyes fell on him, Liu Zhengzhong immediately lowered his head in fear, and said in response, "Your Excellency, I have seen you!"

Upon hearing this, Hai Rui nodded imperceptibly, and immediately looked away from Liu Zhengzhong.

After Liu Zhengzhong, the chief envoy of Shandong, Cao Feng introduced Chen Wan, the procurator of Shandong, and Zhang Yuan, the commander of the capital, to Hai Rui.

Among them, Hai Rui's eyes stayed on the commander Zhang Yuan the longest.

After that, Cao Feng came back to his senses and made a gesture of invitation to Hai Rui.

Immediately, Hai Rui and Cao Feng were at the front of the team, followed by officials from all over Shandong, big and small.

Hai Rui didn't exchange too many pleasantries, and immediately got straight to the point: "Master Cao must be very clear in his heart, what is the purpose of this trip?"

When Cao Feng heard the words, without the slightest hesitation, he responded immediately: "Your Excellency, don't worry, the lower official has already made preparations before this. Please also go to the government office with the lower official!"

"Ah."

After that, Hai Rui and Cao Feng boarded the sedan chairs that had been prepared and headed towards the direction of the government office.

……

As soon as the two of them entered the government office, Cao Feng stopped, turned around and reported to Hai Rui.

"My lord, please come over with me, the files about the White Lotus Sect are all prepared in the study!"

"Ah."

When Hai Rui heard the words, he responded insignificantly, and then, led by Cao Feng, came to the study in the government office.

After entering the study, Cao Feng pointed to the file on the desk, which was almost as tall as a person, and reported to Hai Rui.

"My lord, all the files related to the White Lotus Sect are here!"

"Your Majesty Cao!"

After Hai Rui finished speaking, he immediately went to the desk, picked up a file, and began to look through it.

The content recorded in the dossier is the general scope of activities of the local White Lotus Sect, as well as the serious crimes it committed.

After reading the contents, Hai Rui put the file in his hand back to its original place, and immediately asked Cao Feng.

"This official is new here, and I really don't know much about the situation of the local White Lotus Sect. I hope you will give me some advice."

"Where is that, my lord is too serious!"

After that, Cao Feng restrained the expression of sincerity and fear on his face, and began to describe the specific situation of the local White Lotus Sect to Hai Rui.

"My lord, you don't know something. In Shandong, there has always been a tradition of believing in the White Lotus Sect. It has been like this since the Hongwu and Yongle years!"

"It is precisely because of this that no matter how strict the government promulgates, it cannot prevent those ordinary people from believing in the White Lotus Sect!"

"But believe in the White Lotus Sect, can you please it?"

"Those ordinary people who believe in the White Lotus Sect will all end up being cheated out of their family property, and then ruthlessly abandoned after being squeezed out of the last bit of use value!"

"What's more, those innocent people were even incited by those damned White Lotus followers to fight against the government and even rebel!"

When Cao Feng said this, his eyes were full of sadness, and after a pause, he continued.

"At present, the White Lotus Sect is becoming more and more rampant in Shandong. Their lairs are mainly in Yidu, Putai and other places. It is conservatively estimated that their followers number in the thousands. Not to mention, even Jinan Prefecture has Many ordinary people are secretly believing in the White Lotus Sect!"

"Because most of their believers are ordinary people, generally speaking, the White Lotus Sect holds gatherings at night, and at dawn, they all disperse."

"In addition, the Bailian believers in Yidu, Putai and other places preached everywhere in the name of Tang Sai'er. They claimed that they were Tang Sai'er's disciples, and they came to save the common people from suffering!"

After Hai Rui listened to Cao Feng's introduction, combined with the contents recorded in the dossiers about the White Lotus Sect that he had seen earlier, he had a general understanding of the current situation.

Especially when Cao Feng mentioned that those Bailian believers were preaching in the name of Tang Saier, Hai Rui frowned and his face was full of seriousness.

After that, Hai Rui turned his gaze to Cao Feng, couldn't hold back his inner curiosity, and asked instead: "Since there is a tradition of believing in the White Lotus Sect in the local area, didn't the previous governors think about doing something?" measures?"

After listening to Hai Rui's doubts, Cao Feng sighed helplessly, and immediately responded.

"Oh, why not, it's just that none of the measures they have taken have worked. Those people still do their own thing and don't listen to the government's advice at all!"

When Cao Feng said this, he turned to Hai Rui as if he suddenly remembered something.

"By the way, my lord, before this, I was lucky enough to capture a few members of the White Lotus Cult. Maybe you can learn something from them?"

When Hai Rui heard this, his face was also full of curiosity: "Oh, members of the White Lotus Cult?"

Seeing that Hai Rui was interested in this, Cao Fengdang summoned his subordinates and ordered, "You guys, hurry up and bring those White Lotus disciples you caught earlier to me!"

As soon as Cao Feng's words fell, those subordinates responded repeatedly.

"Yes, Lord Governor!"

Not long after, the guards of the government office escorted all the disciples of the Bailian Cult that Cao Feng was talking about.

When those people were escorted up, the coarse linen clothes they were wearing had already become tattered. Not only that, but there were also large and small scars all over their bodies, and there were still bruises that had not disappeared for a long time in the eye sockets. green.

As soon as those people were escorted to Hai Rui and Cao Feng, they couldn't help crying: "My lord, I was wronged!"

"That's right, we are not White Lotus believers at all. We are just farmers in the suburbs. At that time, those officials took us into prison without saying a word, and then..."

However, Cao Feng coldly interrupted those people before they finished speaking: "Hmph, you dare to be stubborn when you are about to die, why don't you hurry up and tell all the news about the White Lotus Sect that you know!"

"In this way, it will save a lot of pain, otherwise, don't blame me for being cruel!"

After Cao Feng's words fell, the officials who were waiting at the side couldn't help showing annoyed expressions on their faces, and they made a gesture to step forward to teach them a lesson, but before they could make a move, they were stopped by Hai Rui's words .

"and many more!"

Seeing Hai Rui's words, those officials could only retreat to the side angrily.

Hai Rui came to these people, bent down, and asked.

"Is what you just said true?"

Seeing that someone was willing to stand up for themselves, the faces of those few people suddenly showed the expression of the rest of their lives, and immediately kowtowed on the ground, and couldn't help saying: "My lord, what the little one said just now is absolutely true, we all Live by farming!"

"Three days ago, a team of officials came from nowhere, and without saying a word, they labeled us as white lotus believers. After that, we were all imprisoned in the prison of the government, where we suffered a lot. torture!"

"My lord, please decide for us, we are really not white lotus followers!"

Hai Rui observed from the expressions and demeanor of these people, and he believed their words to [-]%.

After that, Hai Rui came back to his senses, and immediately ordered to those kneeling on the ground, "In that case, stretch out your hands and have a look!"

Faced with Hai Rui's request, those people naturally did not dare to disobey, and immediately ordered to spread their palms, and anxiously waited for the final decision.

After carefully observing their palms, Hai Rui immediately turned his gaze to Cao Feng who was aside, and said.

"Master Cao, come over and take a look. These people's hands are extremely rough. It can be seen that they are caused by long-term farming."

"What's more, there are still mud residues between their fingers, combined with their previous statements, I feel that they are indeed innocent!"

Seeing Hai Rui's words, Cao Feng couldn't help softening his attitude. He laughed sarcastically and said, "Since your lord thinks they are innocent, then I will just let them go!"

Seeing this situation, Hai Rui glanced at Cao Feng, and said unhurriedly, "Your Majesty Cao, you might as well call the officials who were in charge of this matter. After a confrontation, the truth will naturally come to light!"

"After all, this is "killing the good and pretending to be meritorious"!"

After Hai Rui finished speaking, he deliberately prolonged his tone, the meaning contained in the words was self-evident.

Cao Feng naturally understood the meaning contained in Hai Rui's words, and saw that he called the previous subordinate who was in charge of this matter and gave instructions.

"Immediately call all the officials who were in charge of this matter to me. I have something to confirm with them!"

Seeing this situation, the subordinate felt a "thump" in his heart, and immediately he didn't dare to stay any longer, so he conveyed Cao Feng's order.

Soon, the officials who were in charge of this matter became pale with fright after learning of this order.

"It's over, it's over, the governor knows about it, what should we do?"

"Hey, now that things are up to now, we can only take one step at a time!"

With such thoughts in mind, those officials had no choice but to bite the bullet and come to the government office, but soon, in the face of the hard facts, they had to admit that they had framed innocent people.

After learning the ins and outs of the matter, Cao Feng was furious, and immediately ordered his subordinates to take down these officials on the spot and put them in prison to wait for their punishment!
After dealing with those official errands, the matter has come to an end for the time being. Cao Feng turned his gaze to Hai Rui, his face full of gratitude.

"Thank you for your advice, my lord. If it wasn't for my lord's sharp eyesight, I might have wronged a good man!"

Hearing this, Hai Rui didn't seem to care about it. He waved his hand, looked away from Cao Feng, and said slowly, "It's okay, since this matter is over, let's discuss it carefully next time. How to deal with these White Lotus Sect!"

"Yes, my lord!" (End of this chapter)