I am Emperor Wanli

Chapter 763: Lord Hai has good intentions!
In the main hall of Tingyuxuan, there sat an elegant scholar, about fifty years old, with three wisps of beard. He was wearing a long shirt, a square scarf on his head, and tortoise-shell reading glasses, and was reading a play script.

He was none other than Wang Daokun, the governor of Zhejiang.

Behind him stood a man, about thirty years old, wearing a blue and green embroidered arrow robe and a straight hat, looking heroic and dashing.

Seeing the two reporters coming in, Wang Daokun put down the script in his hand, took off his reading glasses, waved his hand, and motioned the two reporters to sit down.

"Wenliang, Anyi, is the morning trial over?"

"To reply to the governor, it's over."

"Tell me, what did you review this morning?"

"Yes." The two reporters recounted the morning's trial in detail, with the tall and thin one giving the main narration and the slightly plump and shorter one supplementing.

Wang Daokun listened to the two reporters' stories quietly without saying a word. He stroked his beard, nodded, and said kindly, "Wenliang, Anyi, thank you for your hard work."

The two reporters quickly bowed and said, "You are too polite, Governor. This is what students should do."

"What do you journalists who are here to listen to this case think of this case?"

The two reporters looked at each other, and the tall and thin reporter said, "In reply to the governor, we feel that the case has been examined very clearly this morning. Yang Kaitai's business behavior is reasonable and legal, and at most his personal morality is flawed.

But the law is the law, and morality is morality; the two cannot be confused.”

Wang Daokun did not comment. He raised his right hand and said to the attendant standing at the door: "Take Wen Liang and An Yi downstairs for lunch."

"Yes."

After the two reporters left, Wang Daokun remained silent for several minutes, then suddenly turned around and asked the man standing behind him.

"Laws are laws, and morality is morality. They cannot be confused. Ziqi, the case has been tried to this point and the truth has been revealed. What do you think? Ziqi, sit down and talk."

The man was Hu Zongmei, the chief secretary of the Zhejiang governor.

He walked over to the seat below Wang Daokun, lifted his collar, and sat down leisurely.

"Mr. Taihan, I think this case is quite simple, and may not be as complicated as we previously thought."

"Simple? How is this case simple?"

"The reason why Mr. Hai sent this case to Shanghai for trial, now it seems, is actually very simple."

"How is it simple?"

"Mr. Wang, I have heard the emperor say that nothing can escape the sunlight. Even the smallest dust will be exposed in the sunlight."

"Nothing can escape the sunlight." Wang Daokun stroked his beard and nodded slowly, as if thinking about something. "After listening to their retelling of the court hearing this morning, I felt it firsthand and suddenly had a profound realization."

"Mr. Wang, what are your insights?"

"Shanghai is worthy of being the pioneer of the new era of Wanli. It always stands at the forefront of the times and leads the rolling tide. Jiangsu and Zhejiang are struggling to catch up, but they are still lagging behind and cannot catch up."

Hu Zongmei nodded repeatedly: "Mr. Wang is right. The Yang Kaitai case, after all, is because Shanghai's economic behavior is changing with each passing day. In order to make money, businessmen constantly improve their trading behavior. Others, seeing others making money, are jealous and want to follow suit. But they don't know the depth of the pond, so they dare to jump in recklessly. They are unwilling to be choked by the water and want to make up for it from others.

In this case, only the Huzhou Procuratorate and the Judicial Court in Shanghai were able to sense the changes in the times and business and deal with it calmly.

In other places, even if we were to come to Zhejiang to handle it, it would probably be a half-baked meal compared to the judicial personnel of Yangzhou County, Jiangsu."

Wang Daokun agreed: "That's right, we are all left behind in this rapid change. Either we are in a rush and at a loss, or we cling to the old and are blinded by the old.

According to the usual moral standards, Yang Kaitai's behavior was flawed and he would be condescendingly criticized by some moral gentlemen. "

Hu Zongmei replied: "Father, in the business behavior of the new era, Yang Kaitai is a man of integrity and justice. His actions are in line with normal business laws and ethics."

Wang Daokun looked at him and continued to ask, "Is that all?"

Hu Zongmei thought for a moment and replied, "Yang Kaitai's biggest problem is that he and Gou Shide did not sign a contract. If there was a contract in black and white, Yang Kaitai would not have ended up in such a mess."

"Although Shi Kang became a businessman, he still had the pedantic temperament of a Confucian scholar. In the new era of Wanli, all people were equal in all occupations. It was not shameful to be a businessman. If you paid taxes well, you could be awarded the rank of civil servant and enjoy the treatment of a nobleman.

But he still considered himself a Confucian scholar, and in his heart he was still a man of morality and righteousness. The emperor was right, the Ming Dynasty was booming in industry and commerce, and entered the commercial era.

In the commercial age, integrity is of course the top priority. It can no longer be constrained by morality, but must be constrained by laws to protect everyone's interests and ensure that good people who are honest and trustworthy do not suffer losses.

But what is the essence of the law? It is based on evidence!

We need a written contract, not a verbal agreement. That thing is like the morality that some gentlemen talk about. When it is beneficial to oneself, it is the law of nature, but when it is not beneficial to oneself, it must be changed according to the circumstances. "

Hu Zongmei nodded in agreement, "Mr. Wang is absolutely right. The outcome of the Yang Kaitai case can be roughly guessed. Gou Shide lost more than he gained."

Wang Daokun frowned when he heard this, "Shi Kang's skill of nourishing qi and calming the mind is still not perfect. I also think that there must be something hidden between him and that Gou Cai."

Hu Zongmei smiled faintly: "Mr. Wang, the orioles are singing on the island in the river. A beautiful lady is a good match for a gentleman. After all, Yang Shikang is also an ordinary man. It is inevitable that he will be moved by love at one time. Mr. Wang, don't be too demanding.

Moreover, ordinary people would hide their beautiful wives and concubines in the backyard, fearing that outsiders would see them. However, Gou Shide had asked Gou Cai to come to Shanghai with Yang Shikang for treatment early on, so maybe he had a conspiracy in mind.

In the court this morning, Gou Cai took the blame on himself. Everyone knows his intention. Mr. Wang, I have an unwelcome request. When Yang Shikang is cleared of all charges, please help him and make Yang Shikang and Cai happy. "

Wang Daokun snorted, "Let them be together!"

"Mr. Wang is not only a famous minister who governs Zhejiang, but also one of the most famous drama writers in the Ming Dynasty. In Mr. Wang's dramas, there are so many infatuated men and women, and so many stories of beautiful couples. Why is it that Mr. Wang is unwilling to fulfill a story that has gone through many twists and turns in reality?"

Wang Daokun stared at Hu Zongmei and suddenly chuckled a few times, "You are so good, Ziqi, you are trying to provoke me with words. Let's wait until the truth of Shi Kang's case comes out, and then we can talk about it. The good guys will be rewarded and the bad guys will be punished."

Hu Zongmei stood up and bowed to Wang Daokun. Li Sanjiang, who was working in the Huzhou Government Office, also listened to Qu Jinxian's detailed account of the morning's trial and was filled with emotion.

"Prefect, the prosecutors and judges of the Shanghai Procuratorate and Judicial Bureau have done a good job in defending and prosecuting. Yang Kaitai will soon be cleared of all charges."

Li Sanjiang waved his hands, "I know Yang Kaitai is safe. The prosecutors of the Huzhou Procuratorate and the Shanghai Procuratorate are willing to gamble their future for Yang Kaitai. I know they must have found sufficient evidence.

The emperor praised Huzhou and Shanghai as the places with the strongest commercial atmosphere in the Ming Dynasty, which have always stood at the forefront of the tide of the times and have always been pioneering and innovating new business models.

Most of the prosecutors in Luzhou and Shanghai are also talented people from the southeast. They are quick-witted and adaptable to the times. They have been tempered in the turbulent tide of Luzhou and Shanghai.

I believe their vision and ability are superior to those of the prosecutors in Yangzhou County, and winning this case is a foregone conclusion."

"I dare to ask, what did the prefect just sigh about?"

"Only now do I understand Lord Hai's good intentions."

"Does the prefect know about the medicine sold by Hai Gong Hulu?"

"Yes. It is indeed a good medicine that benefits the country and the people!"

Qu Jinxian blinked his eyes, not really understanding. But he knew that he couldn't ask any more questions about this topic, as this was not what a qualified subordinate should do.

"Governor, what should we do next?"

"Prepare to go to the capital! I can go to the capital with peace of mind now. You should also follow me to the capital. Assist me as soon as possible in the next two days and complete the handover with Zhang Tongzhi."

Qu Jinxian was delighted.

Rumor has it that Li Sanjiang might be retained to serve in the cabinet of the capital this time he comes to Beijing. As his chief secretary, there are generally two outcomes: one is to be recommended and sent to work in a county under Huzhou, or to go to another province to serve as a prefect.

Qu Jinxian's qualifications were still very shallow. If he were to be sent out at this time and continue to work his way up, he would most likely be stuck as a political councilor and a councillor, and his chances of crossing the chasm and being promoted to a provincial governor or governor-general would be very slim.

Therefore, Qu Jinxian would rather follow Li Sanjiang to Beijing and gain experience in a certain department of the cabinet for two or three years. By then, his qualifications would be high enough, and he would be sent out to participate in politics and have the opportunity to make breakthroughs.

"I would like to thank the governor for his support."

Qu Jinxian stood up, crossed his arms and bowed respectfully, and spoke respectfully.

Shu Youliang took Leon and Marcelo out of the Huzhou Administrative Court building, walked along the street for ten minutes, found a medium-sized restaurant, went in and found a table in a secluded corner of the hall.

Shu Youliang ordered a few dishes off the cuff, "Four dishes and one soup, two meat dishes and two vegetable dishes, and an egg drop and seaweed soup. This is the standard working meal of our Ming Dynasty, suitable for working gatherings of more than three officials and less than six people.

Sit down, Lao Lai, Lao Ma, both of you sit down. "

As Shu Youliang greeted them, he continued, "This standard was formulated by my master in Jiangsu, and then promoted to the military and political institutions of the Ming Dynasty by the Advisory Bureau."

Leon asked curiously, "Do Ming officials also have to be controlled when they eat?"

Shu Youliang laughed, "If you pay for the delicacies with your own money, no one will care how much you spend. But if you spend the court's money on food and drink, then they will care.

There are standards for food and accommodation when on business trips. During special times such as meetings or celebrations, officials’ gatherings are called working meals, which also have standards.

Eliminate waste and strictly prohibit eating and drinking with public funds. In this regard, our master is the most strict in Jiangsu, and it is also included in the assessment scope of the Central Assessment Law Committee. "

Leon became even more curious, “So the three of us are having a meal, is it also a working meal?”

"What a bullshit working meal! I am just my master's butler. I am not on the court payroll, not even a hired handyman. What a bullshit working meal we have.

I paid for it out of my own pocket! All the money I saved from my teeth."

Shu Youliang suddenly thought of something, his eyes lit up, and he looked up and down at Leon and Marcelo, "Yes, you two are foreign guests, and the entertainment expenses along the way will be summarized to the Honglu Temple and recorded in the account of the Protocol Department. It can be reimbursed!

No, I am not an official and have no right to represent the court to entertain you.

It’s a big loss.”

Shu Youliang kept saying he was losing money, but he directed the waiter to set the table for the three of them.

"It's been so long since you came to Ming Dynasty. Have you learned how to use chopsticks?"

Leon nodded, and Marcelo had a wry smile on his face, looking a little embarrassed.

“It’s too hard to learn to use chopsticks.”

After listening to Marcelo's complaints translated by Leon, Shu Youliang said mysteriously: "Of course it is difficult to learn to use chopsticks. The trick is to coordinate the wrist and fingers. If you can use chopsticks well, you will have a good foundation for practicing sword and calligraphy in the future.

If you can pick up the chopsticks well, you will soon become a master of swordsmanship and calligraphy."

Shu Youliang just said it casually, but Leon's eyes lit up and he translated the words. Marcelo's eyes also lit up and he looked down at the chopsticks in his hand, his eyes were shining.

Four dishes and a soup were served quickly.

"Let's eat! I'm starving." Shu Youliang called out and started eating quickly with the bowl in hand.

After a bowl of rice, Shu Youliang felt about six-tenths full. He scooped a bowl of seaweed and egg drop soup, brought it to his mouth, and gulped down half of it. Finally, he burped and put the bowl down.

When Leon and Marcelo had almost finished eating, Shu Youliang picked his teeth with a toothpick and asked, "Lao Lai, Lao Ma, what do you think of the trial this morning?"

Marcelo wiped his mouth with a cotton towel, his expression became very serious, and he answered.

(End of this chapter)