Ming Dynasty: My Father Zhang Juzheng

Chapter 196 Zhao Wenshan

Today is the day Zhao Wenshan formally sues Han San.

Lu Shude has put a lot of effort into preparing for today.

He specially built a high platform in an open space outside Yangwei Hutong, not far from the governor's office, so that more people could watch.

At the same time, he also sent invitations to officials from various prefectures in Shandong to come and support him.

In short, it can be summed up in one sentence: make it as big as possible and cripple Han San, the watchdog, in one go!

At the beginning of the day, at the foot of the high platform in Yangwei Hutong, there was already a crowd of people and a lot of noise.

Looking around, it was a sea of ​​black. The three layers inside and three layers outside were filled with students from various prefectures in Shandong, and there was no way to get through.

There are ten small tables on the platform, each with a small umbrella behind it for sun protection.

Because it is not time yet, Shandong provincial-level officials have not arrived yet.

Taking advantage of this gap, the students in the audience gathered in groups of three or five and started talking loudly.

“Humph, we heard that Han San was just a small flag of the Jinyiwei in the tenth year of Wanli. In just three years, he climbed up from a small flag to a town governor. If he didn’t do anything dirty during this period, we’ll twist his head off!” The crowd stepped to the southeast, and a student who looked like an angry young man threw a fist first.

"Brother Ziyu's words make sense," someone beside him nodded, and then echoed, "We also heard that after Han San became the governor, he distributed regulations to these minions every month."

"We have to arrest so many people every day and extort so much money every day. Anyone who completes the task will be promoted and become rich, and rise to the top. If anyone fails to complete the task, hehe, then just wait for the consequences."

"No way! If so, wouldn't that mean many good people would be wrongly accused?" A questioning voice rang out.

"Well, the Jinyiwei and the Dongchang are just like them, they are all lackeys, who cares if you are wronged or not?"

"That's right! The Jinyiwei and the Dongchang are just a bunch of bad guys who dig holes and breed maggots. In my opinion, the Jinyiwei and the Dongchang should have been abolished long ago. I am a court of gentlemen, can't I rule this world?!"

Everyone was arguing loudly.

"Governor Lu is here!" A loud shout passed through the rolling crowd, from one end of the crowded street to the square in front of the street, immediately causing a commotion.

Most of these students have never seen an official of this level.

I came here today partly out of blind obedience and partly because I wanted to show my face so that these high-ranking officials would remember me.

When they heard that the governor had arrived, they all stretched their necks and looked sideways.

Soon, four generals riding on chestnut horses rode out, leading more than fifty sword-wielding guards behind them.

As soon as they entered the edge of the square, the Guafu flags were blown apart and the yellow sunshade umbrellas were moved to both sides.

A large warm sedan chair with a pea green brocade fence and carried by eight people was shown.

The whole square suddenly became silent.

All eyes were directed towards the warm sedan.

As soon as the sedan stopped, a tall guard stepped forward and gently lifted the curtain. A majestic cough sounded first, and then a fat old man in his fifties, wearing official robes, poked his head out from inside.

"Greetings to Governor Lu!" The students outside clasped their fists in unison and bowed respectfully.

"Okay, okay, please don't be polite." Lu Shude smiled and acted like a kind elder. He walked forward and greeted the enthusiastic students.

As soon as he came here.

The governor of Shandong Province was followed by the Anchashi.

They got off their sedan chairs and walked onto the high platform. According to the Ming Dynasty system, the local areas were governed by the three departments.

They are the Provincial Administration Commission for Political Affairs, the Military Affairs Commission for Military Affairs, and the Criminal Law Commission for Criminal Affairs.

The governor is a Beijing official who hunts for the emperor and is not included in this list.

The governor of Shandong was Zhang Chucheng, 56 years old this year, and a person under Zhang Juzheng. Logically speaking, he should not have participated in this "big show".

When Lu Shude saw her coming today, he felt a little nervous.

The two of them were sitting next to each other, so when they met, they couldn't help but greet each other. Lu Shude laughed first: "Brother Chu Shan, today's matter involves the relatives of the prime minister, you can't bend the law for personal gain."

In terms of age, Zhang Chucheng is one year older than Lu Shude.

If we talk about it according to rank, the governor is an official of the second rank.

Lu Shude was a third-rank minister and the governor of Shandong.

Even though the Beijing officials were one level higher than the people they met, the two were on the same level. Lu Shude took the initiative and wanted to gain the upper hand in momentum.

Zhang Chucheng just smiled dryly without saying anything. Suddenly, a gleam of light flashed in his cloudy eyes.

His behavior immediately made Lu Shude confused.

I thought to myself: Could this guy have some other trump card? This shouldn't be the case. With so many people talking about this, even Zhang Juzheng would have to retreat. How could he turn the tables?
As long as Zhao Wenshan handed over the complaint, he would be sure to accept Han San, the dog.

Lu Shude thought to himself and cast his eyes to the skinny old man on the right. He saw that he was drooping his head, slightly closing his eyes, and pretending to be at peace with the world.

Shaking his head, Lu Shude sat up straight and looked at the audience.

I don't know how long it took, but I heard a commotion from the audience. Then, a student in blue clothes, surrounded by the crowd, walked up the corridor to the stage.

Lu Shude stood up suddenly and stared at Zhao Wenshan.

She didn't sit back until he came up to her.

On the high platform, Zhao Wenshan first glanced at the students below, then quickly turned around and bowed to the officials on the platform: "Student Zhao Wenshan, greetings to the governor, greetings to all the seniors."

The official on the stage nodded slightly.

Neither humble nor arrogant, but rather has some bearing.

In fact, Zhao Wenshan had rehearsed this scene countless times in his mind. Today, his movements were smooth and natural, and it was naturally pleasing to the eye.

Lu Shude slammed the table and asked righteously, "Zhao Wenshan, if you have any grievances, just tell me!"

"Yes." Zhao Wenshan clasped his fists and took out a bloody petition from his arms.

Both on and off the stage, the atmosphere suddenly became tense.

In an instant, Zhao Wenshan became the focus of the whole audience. For him, this was an opportunity, a great opportunity to become famous and rise to prominence.

Thinking about his bright future, Zhao Wenshan's Adam's apple moved, he swallowed hard, and read aloud: "Zhao Wenshan, a student from Jinan Prefecture, sued the Kong family in Qufu for ignoring the law of the country, coveting other people's land, and killing people."

"On September 5, the 11th year of the Wanli reign, the Kong family seized 50 mu of land from the Li family. The eldest son of the Li family resisted but was beaten to death by Kong and the Qufu County Court. On September 17, the 11th year of the Wanli reign, the Kong family forcibly assigned corvée labor and embezzled the labor silver issued by the court, which aroused civil unrest. In the summer of the 13th year of the Wanli reign, the Kong family seized the land of more than 500 households under their command."

Silence. Deathly silence, echoing in the crowded square.

When Zhao Wenshan finished reading, he straightened up, handed the petition over, and said, "I have finished reading."

(End of this chapter)