On the Avenue.

Chapter 271 You are old
Sun Yisheng originally planned to go straight to Gongtianfu Yamen. After all, Gongtianfu was responsible for the governance of the Xijing area, and Chen Shi wanted Gongtianfu to apologize. But then he thought: "If this matter gets out of hand, it will be Master Chen who will suffer! This is a capital crime! Notify Master Chen Tang first!"

He immediately ran towards the Ministry of Revenue, but at the same time he turned, the inspector who followed them to the Guangjiku ran towards the Gongtian Prefecture.

Sun Yisheng's heart sank, and he was unable to stop the other party.

"This is Xijing after all. If we were in the wilderness, we could just kill him..."

He was shocked by his own thoughts. He had always been law-abiding, so why did he suddenly have such an idea?
"I didn't meet any bad people along the way, so how did I become a bad person?"

Without giving it much thought, he rushed to the Ministry of Revenue.

On the other side, in Gongtian Prefecture, Xia Jiuge, the prefect of Gongtian Prefecture, was discussing matters with Gao Zhihuan, the prefectural chancellor, Yan Qian, the governor, and Gu Dangli, the assistant judge. At this time, the inspector of Guangji Treasury rushed over and shouted, "Prefect, there's something wrong with Guangji Treasury!"

Xia Jiuge smiled at everyone else, as if he had known about this beforehand.

The judge Gu Dangli said with a smile: "The prefect is indeed very smart!"

Everyone praised him and stroked their beards.

The inspector of Guangjiku was surprised to see that no one was in a hurry at all.

The prefect Xia Jiuge said with a smile, "Don't be impatient, take your time. You should have told the Ministry of Revenue about the incident at Guangjiku. Why did you bring it to me?"

The inspector bowed and told the story of how Ma Zongzhou and others went to Guangjiku, were beaten up by the new ambassador of Guangjiku, and were hung on the dragon head rocket.

Everyone laughed, Gao Zhihuan said with a smile: "I'm sorry for nephew Ma. When the matter is resolved, we must promote him well."

The prefect Xia Jiuge ordered the governor to ask the inspector to leave. The governor led the inspector to a secluded place outside the government office, secretly gave him a few taels of silver, and said with a smile: "Your Excellency has done a good job."

The inspector thanked him and left.

The prefect Xia Jiuge laughed and said, "The new experience, training and training of Gongtian Prefecture, a group of 16 people, just took office, and followed my handwritten order to go to Guangjiku to collect fire guns, swords and other weapons for service. However, they were beaten and lynched by the new ambassador of Guangjiku, and tied to rockets to send them to the sky. Is this a serious crime?"

Everyone laughed and said, "Big! Of course it's big!"

Prefect Xia Jiuge said, "But it's not big enough. Lord Yan, go over there and let him beat you up and tie you to the rocket."

Yan Qian was the governor, a fifth-rank official. Hearing this, he realized that the prefect wanted to kill Chen Shi, so he smiled and said, "Okay! I'll go over there!"

The prefect Xia Jiuge asked, "Do you know how to do it?"

Yan Qian smiled and said, "When I arrived at the place, I did not tell him who I was, nor did I show him the emperor's handwritten order. I just asked him to release the man. If he did not release the man, I would insult him. He is only a thirteen-year-old child, so he would naturally not be able to resist and attack me."

The prefect Xia Jiuge said sternly, "Don't fight back. I'm worried that your cultivation is too high and you might kill him."

Yan Qian smiled and said, "I will endure it." After that, he left in a heroic manner.

The prefect Xia Jiuge waited for a quarter of an hour before he stood up and said with a smile, "We can go now."

Officials of all ranks in Gongtian Prefecture stood up and followed Xia Jiuge out of the government office. Xia Jiuge boarded the carriage, and everyone else also boarded the carriages or horses and headed towards Guangjiku.

On the other side, Sun Yisheng had already hurriedly informed Chen Tang, the Right Assistant Minister of the Ministry of Revenue. When Chen Tang heard what he said, his face darkened: "Chen Shi has fallen into the trap! The other party's purpose is to make him hurt someone. He is still too young and not calm enough."

Sun Yisheng asked: "What should we do now?"

Chen Tang pondered for a moment and said, "Go to Sandaokou Hutong on Chang'an Street. After entering the hutong, find the fourth Tingyu Tower. Go upstairs to the second room. Knock on the door. Be polite. Bend your body and say outside the door that your son Xiaoshi is in danger. Go and rescue him quickly. Remember, don't wait for the door to open. If you open the door before speaking, it will be easy to get into trouble. Also, leave immediately after speaking, and don't meet the people living inside."

Sun Yisheng was slightly startled: "Son?"

Chen Tang said: "Don't ask too many questions, just do it."

Sun Yisheng wrote it down and said, "Sir, what about you?"

Chen Tang continued to look through the documents in the eight warehouses and four storehouses of the Ministry of Revenue, and said calmly: "I'll wait for a while and block the governor of Gongtian Prefecture on the road."

Sun Yisheng left in a hurry and headed straight for the outer city. Soon he arrived at Sandaokou Hutong on Chang'an Street.

He found the place Chen Tang mentioned, went upstairs, came to the second room, knocked on the door, and repeated what Chen Tang had taught him.

A voice came from inside: "My son Xiao Shi? Haha, did Chen Tang teach you that?"

Sun Yisheng didn't dare to speak, and was about to go downstairs. At this time, the voice in the room behind him said lazily: "I'm not going."

Sun Yisheng was stunned, his heart went cold, and he said in a lost voice: "You're not going?"

"Don't go."

The voice in the room was very straightforward, saying, "My brother wants to use me, but how can I let him scheme against me? I won't go."

Sun Yisheng's forehead was covered with cold sweat. He hurried downstairs and thought to himself, "He won't go, he won't go... Who else can Lord Chen go to?"

After a stick of incense, Chen Tang put down his pen, closed the document, washed the ink, wiped his hands, and then walked out of the Ministry of Revenue.

A moment later, he happened to meet the motorcade of the prefect Xia Jiuge.

"It turns out to be Master Chen Tang!"

Xia Jiuge's voice was quite surprised. He ordered the driver to stop the car, opened the window, and asked with a smile, "Master Chen, where are you going?"

Chen Tang said, "Something went wrong at Guangjiku. I'll go take a look."

Xia Jiuge smiled and said, "I also heard that something happened in Guangjiku. Several of my Gongtianfu's officers were captured in Guangjiku. I'm going to take a look. Since we're going the same way, why don't you go with me, Lord Chen?"

Chen Tang said cheerfully: "It is better to obey than to be respectful."

Xia Jiuge invited him to get in the carriage, and the two of them sat in the carriage, facing each other.

Xia Jiuge broke the silence and said with a smile: "Master Chen is a young man, but he has already served as the Right Assistant Minister of the Ministry of Revenue, a third-rank official. Even the prefect of Gongtian in this prefecture is only a third-rank official. Master Chen is not from a noble family, so it is rare for him to achieve this."

Chen Tang said: "It's not that Tang has any talent, but it's my duty. I have to be cautious and not slack off. The court saw that I am dedicated and diligent, so they appointed me as the right minister."

Xia Jiuge smiled slightly and said, "It's the end of the third-rank official."

Chen Tang said: "I don't understand."

Xia Jiuge said leisurely: "Without wealth, without background, and not relying on any noble family, being a third-rank official is already the limit for everyone. To go up further, you need the background of a thirteenth noble family. Lord Chen, you have reached the top of your career as an official."

Chen Tang looked at his nose and his heart without saying anything.

Xia Jiuge looked out the window and said, "You should have asked someone to rescue your son, right? You deliberately didn't go to Guangjiku first, just to wait for me here, to delay for a while, so that the person who asked for help could be ready. But Lord Chen, have you ever thought that the target is not your son?"

Chen Tang raised his eyes, looked at him, and said, "I don't understand." Xia Jiuge said calmly, "You are in charge of eight warehouses and four storehouses in the position of Right Assistant Minister, including the dispatch of silver and money, grain and supplies, gunpowder and firearms, disaster relief and military pay for fifty provinces in Xiniu and Xinzhou. I don't know how many people depend on you to survive, but you are too unsociable. You are like a nail, nailed to the position of Right Assistant Minister, and you can't move. A tree that is moved will die, a person who is moved will live, if you don't move, then you will have to move."

He looked Chen Tang straight in the eyes and said, "You don't accept money or beauty. If you don't accept it, how can others accept it? How can the Shangshu accept it? I don't know how many people are eyeing your position, and they can't wait for you to step down."

He leaned back lightly and said, "Whether your son lives or dies today depends on whether you move your seat or not."

Chen Tang was silent for a moment, and said, "The court uses me because I have a bottom line. I am in the Ministry of Revenue, and the Ming Dynasty's money and grain will not collapse. Therefore, the cabinet, the three officials, the six ministries, the East Factory, the Five Camps, the Divine Machine, and the Divine Hub are all very confident. It was not their idea to move me away."

He looked directly into Xia Jiuge's eyes and whispered, "So, whose idea was it?"

The two looked at each other for a moment, and Xia Jiuge smiled and said, "After becoming the top scholar, you will need to control money, food, supplies, gunpowder and firearms."

Chen Tang asked, "Sir, you want me to give up the position of Right Vice Minister of the Ministry of Revenue?"

Xia Jiuge smiled slightly and said, "The young master admires you very much and says that you are a capable minister who can govern the country. He is upright and will not touch you. But we think that you need to give up your position. Lord Chen, you give up the position of Right Assistant Minister and retire to your hometown. Your son will also leave Xijing safely and go back to Xinxiang with you."

He looked out the window and said, "I don't give you much time to think about it. Go to Guangjiku and get off the bus. If you don't move, I can collect your body."

Chen Tang's face was as calm as an ancient well, without any ripples.

Finally, the Gongtianfu convoy arrived outside the Guangji Warehouse and stopped.

Xia Jiuge looked at the motionless Chen Tang, raised his eyebrows, and said with a smile: "Master Chen is indeed cruel and ruthless."

He stood up, and Chen Tang stood up and walked in front of him, saying, "I'll open the door for you, sir."

Xia Jiuge's eyes made contact with his, and he snorted and got off the carriage.

Chen Tang got out of the car behind him and closed the door.

A group of officials from Gongtian Prefecture came up behind the two men, and the government servants and soldiers came quickly with murderous intent, surrounding the gate of Guangjiku.

Outside the gate of Guangjiku, a cannon was pushed out. A two-meter-long dragon-head rocket was placed on the cannon. Ma Zongzhou, Zhou Qianying and others rode on the rocket and were tied up. Many people were beaten unconscious, but the few who were awake were cursing and some were begging for mercy.

Zhizhong Yan Qian was also beaten black and blue. While he severely rebuked Ambassador Chen Shi for his actions, he secretly gave a thumbs up to Xia Jiuge and others who were walking towards him.

Xia Jiuge glanced back at Chen Tang, his face suddenly turned cold, and he said in a deep voice: "Guangjiku Ambassador Chen Shi, you want this government to come and apologize to you, do you know that you have violated the king's law and your crime is unforgivable?"

The prefectural chancellor Gao Zhihuan stepped forward and shouted, "How dare you touch the imperial officials of Gongtian Prefecture! These imperial officials came to get their weapons with the prefect's handwritten instructions, but you beat them so badly that they were even hung on rockets! You are lawless!"

Zhizhong Yan Qian shouted, "My lords, save me!"

The officials of Gongtian Prefecture came forward to take a closer look and were shocked, saying, "It was the governor Yan Qian!" "Why was Yan Qian also beaten?" "You are guilty of a heinous crime, how dare you hang Yan Qian on a rocket!"

Gao Zhihuan was furious and said in a stern voice: "Master Yan Qian, the governor, is a fifth-rank official. He came here to question me on the orders of the prefect. How dare you do this to him!"

The officials in Gongtian Prefecture were outraged and clamored to arrest Chen Shi and punish him.

Chen Shi looked around and shouted, "Why are you barking like a dog? Shut up!"

After hearing this, even the prefect Xia Jiuge was furious and shouted, "Bandit, he is really a bandit! Come, arrest him for me!"

Sun Yisheng hurried over, walked quickly to Chen Tang's side, shook his head gently, and whispered: "Sir, the person in the room does not want to come."

Chen Tang was shocked and looked at Xia Jiuge's back with a complicated expression. He hesitated for a moment and immediately walked towards Xia Jiuge.

The runners and soldiers of Gongtian Prefecture formed their own battle formations, and were about to surround them with murderous intent. Suddenly, a sharp voice shouted, "Stop! Stop!"

When the prefect Xia Jiuge saw the person coming, he was slightly shocked. He hurried forward and bowed, saying, "Brother, why are you here?"

The person who spoke was Xia Canghai, the Minister of Rites, who was also a cabinet scholar and the face of the Xia family in the court. He glanced at him coldly, walked quickly towards Chen Shi, and laughed, "Master Chen just took office today, and I didn't expect such an unpleasant thing to happen. This matter was originally a misunderstanding."

Xia Jiuge was stunned, and hurried forward and said: "Brother, this person is lawless..."

Xia Canghai glanced back at him, his eyes stern, his voice almost jumping out from between his teeth: "You bet on the young master, don't bet on the entire Xia family! You don't want to be the prefect anymore, go back!"

Xia Jiuge's head was buzzing and his heart was cold, but he saw Xia Canghai smiling. He didn't look at him, but greeted Chen Shi, talking and laughing.

At this time, another cabinet minister came over and laughed, "Master Chen is in office for the first day. I came here in a hurry and didn't buy any gifts. I came empty-handed. Please forgive me!"

Gao Zhihuan was surprised and delighted, and hurried forward and said, "Brother, Chen Shi has committed a crime..."

Gao Quan walked towards Chen Shi with a smile on his face, but his eyes were extremely cold when he looked over. Gao Zhihuan was shocked and cold sweat broke out on his forehead.

Gao Quan laughed loudly and bowed to Chen Shi, saying, "Congratulations, congratulations!"

Another cabinet minister, Yan Shuhe, also came over with a smile on his face, congratulating Chen Shi on his new post. He did not even glance at Zhizhong Yan Qian, who was tied to a rocket, and only focused on greeting Chen Shi.

Sun Yisheng stared at the scene blankly, walked to Chen Tang, and whispered, "Sir, is this young master Chen the young master?"

Chen Tang frowned: "He is my son, definitely not that young master."

Sun Yisheng murmured, "Then why did Master Chen ask these cabinet ministers to come here and distance himself from the major families?"

Chen Tang was also very puzzled and asked, "You have been to Xinxiang. Do you know something that I don't know?"

Sun Yisheng shook his head, suddenly remembering something, and said, "Old lady Wuzhu from Huangpo Village was very rude to him."

Chen Tang said: "Old Lady Wuzhu is not inferior to anyone."

At this time, the three cabinet officials finished their greetings and said goodbye to Chen Shi, saying repeatedly, "Little Master Chen, please stay. You don't need to see me off."

Chen Shi did not see him off.

Sun Yisheng whispered, "Sir, it seems that Master Chen's official position is higher than your Right Assistant Minister!"

Chen Tang snorted.

Xia Canghai walked towards the prefect Xia Jiuge, smiling, and said softly: "My Xia family can support you, but we will not support you completely, and we will not offend another taboo because of this. Jiuge, you are not young anymore, you should retire and return home."

Xia Jiuge lowered his head, tears in his eyes.

He is in the prime of life and doesn't look old at all.

However, for the Xia family, he is already old and is not suitable to continue sitting in the position of Gongtian Prefecture Governor.

(End of this chapter)