The Ming Dynasty took an unconventional approach

The problems in Jiangnan are very serious. The young emperor has sent many imperial censors to the south over the years, but the censors who went there either died or failed to find any problems.

The emperor and his court officials knew very well how those who died died and how those who came back alive came back alive.

Just don't point it out.

The anti-Wang case and the Ping Xue Pan case revealed three major problems in Jiangnan, but that was only three. There are countless more problems that have not been revealed.

Even the emperor himself didn't know.

He asked Xue Shao to go because he wanted Xue Shao to gamble his life.

With Xue Shao's intelligence and wisdom, this trip to Jiangnan would not be fruitless;
But he was only a seventh-rank official, and the rank of any county magistrate in Jiangnan was not lower than his. Apart from the title of being ordered to inspect, he had no advantages at all.

This is the beginning of hell.

Pan Yun frowned. After all, they were allies, and he couldn't bear to see him in trouble, so he asked, "Has he set off now?"

Pan Hong said: "The imperial decree was issued yesterday. Since he is an inspecting censor and still a Beijing official, he does not need to leave the capital immediately. However, he will have to leave the capital within three days. I estimate that if he does not leave today, he will have to leave tomorrow."

Pan Yun hesitated for a moment and said, "I'll send him some amulets."

Pan Hong nodded: "Go ahead. I was able to redress my wrongdoing this time thanks to him."

The case was at a stalemate at the time, and Pan Hongdu was prepared to stay in the capital for a few years as a criminal, but then the Yang Ji case broke out.

Pan Hong was confused at first. According to the case report from the Dali Temple, Yang Ji had been committing illegal acts for many years. Why didn't he commit the crime earlier or later, but chose to do it at this time?
After observing for a few days and learning about the overwhelming impeachment of Prime Minister Yang in the court, Pan Hong realized that the Qingliu people were angry that Yang Shiqi helped the emperor and indulged Wang Zhen, so they targeted Yang Shiqi.

Pan Hong said self-deprecatingly: "Apart from the officials of the Jiangnan faction, it is Wang Zhen's party that is impeaching Prime Minister Yang. In factional struggles, there are no eternal enemies, only eternal interests. You see, they were once angry that Prime Minister Yang helped Wang Zhen suppress them, and used this as an excuse to say that Prime Minister Yang was derelict in his duty and was a traitor, but now, they are on the same side as Wang Zhen."

Pan Hong said sadly: "In this case, what are they?"

Everyone was silent.

Pan Hong looked at them tenderly and said in a gentle voice: "I hope that you will not fall into such a vicious circle in the future. You can learn from Xue Shao and be objective about the matter rather than the person..."

He paused and said, "Although it will be a bit hard, at least I can have a clear conscience. If it is too hard, I will resign and retire.

Although our family is not wealthy, we have a house and a field, so we can still survive. Don’t do anything that will make you feel guilty.”

Pan Yun and her two brothers agreed obediently.

Pan Yun: "From what father said, in addition to the Jiangnan clique and Wang Zhen's clique, there are many other officials. What do they mean?"

"Some, like Xue Xuan and Xue Shao, were not interested in the person but the issue, and wrote to the emperor to punish Yang Ji according to the law. Others watched the situation unfold and said nothing."

Pan Yun: "Who is in the majority?"

Pan Hong paused for a moment and then said, "Most people are silent."

He sighed and said, "So the officials who proposed to punish Yang Ji according to the law have little influence and are seen as members of the Jiangnan faction and Wang Zhen's party. The reputation of Xue Xuan and his nephew in the court is now... very bad."

"Xue Xuan was reinstated, but was stripped of his position again after just one day. Lu Lin, a student of Prime Minister Yang, once ridiculed Xue Shao in front of Your Majesty for being ungrateful. Prime Minister Yang helped him to redress his injustice, but now he..."

Pan Jun raised his eyebrows, not worried: "What did Xue Shao say?"

"Xue Shao said nothing. The key to this matter is not Xue Shao, but Your Majesty," Pan Hong said. "It was also after that that the Emperor asked Xue Shao to inspect Jiangnan."

Seeing their worried faces, Yin Song said, "Don't worry, Xue Xuan and his nephew are not worried, so why are you worried? At most, you can resign and stop working in the officialdom, and you won't be bound by this." He said, "You just can't let go, you have too many concerns. The world doesn't need you to be an official, it's just a job, if you can't do it, don't do it. The emperor can't force you to be an official, right?"

"Yes, Dad, you are now rehabilitated and a free man," Pan Yun patted his chest and said, "If you don't want to be an official anymore, come back to your hometown and I will support you!"

Pan Hong was pleased: "My son is very capable. You have been supporting the family for a long time. In the past few years, it is thanks to you that you sent money and things to Datong."

Pan Hong then remembered to ask: "Did you come to eat early in the morning? Dad made you a bowl of noodles?"

Pan Yue immediately praised: "My little sister wants to try the noodles made by Dad. In recent years, Dad's cooking skills have become better and better. We all love to eat the noodles he makes."

Pan Yun swallowed his words and changed his tone, "Okay, I'll try Dad's cooking."

Compared with the liveliness and warmth of Yin's residence, the house that Xue Shao rented was much quieter.

Quiet, but also warm.

Xue Xuan lightly tapped the books in the box, frowned, turned around and said to his nephew, "There is also Xie Yingfang's "Bianhuobian". Didn't you write to me last time saying that you saw it in the capital?"

Xue Shao, who was sorting out the manuscript, paused and said without raising his head: "It's too expensive, so my nephew didn't buy it, but I read it through and memorized it. Do you want to read it?"

He pulled out a stack of sewn manuscripts from under the bookcase and handed it to Xue Xuan.

Xue Xuan was silent for a moment, then he took it, flipped through it and asked, "How expensive is it?"

"Five ounces and eight cents."

Xue Xuan frowned: "It's a bit expensive, but you can afford it, right?"

Xi Jin, who was standing by, said quickly, "Second Master, the young master gave all his money to Taoist Pan, and he only had enough money for a meal."

Xue Xuan had a complicated expression: "Shao'er, although I have taught you since childhood not to indulge in money, fame and gain, there is no need to treat money as dirt. To do good things, you must take care of yourself first."

Xue Shao said confidently: "I took good care of myself. This book was what my uncle wanted to buy."

The implication is that he didn't want to buy it, he just flipped through it on the spot and memorized it, so there was no need to buy it.

Xue Xuan opened his mouth and nodded after a while: "You are right, you did a great job."

After thinking for a while, Xue Xuan asked, "Is the book still there?"

Xue Shao: "Maybe it's still there. That person left the book in the bookstore for consignment. You can go and ask him."

Xue Xuan stretched out his hand to him and said, "Give me five taels of silver."

Xue Shao looked at his hand, and after a moment of silence, he shook his head: "Second Uncle, after deducting the travel expenses for your return home, we only have seven taels left, and I still have to go to Jiangnan."

Xue Xuan: "You are ordered to tour the south. There are post stations along the way to provide you with accommodation and food. If you don't have enough money, you can earn it later. With your ability, making money is not a problem."

Xue Shao sighed: "But my reputation is not good now. Not only can my calligraphy and paintings not be sold, but no one wants my articles either."

Xue Xuan: "Then go out of the capital and earn some money. People outside the capital certainly don't know about your ungratefulness. You can still make some money with the reputation of being the second-class Jinshi."

Xue Shao took out the money slowly. He wanted to argue for himself again: "Second Uncle, I want to visit Prime Minister Yang before leaving Beijing..." (End of this chapter)