Guangzong Yaoming

Chapter 153: Nanjing’s Landlord Friendship

The Qinhuai River flows through the outer city of Nanjing. The Stone City Gate faces Mochou Lake and has always been extremely prosperous.

The two Japanese ships caused a sensation when they appeared outside Dinghuai Gate. The people of Nanjing City felt relieved after seeing the naval officers and soldiers on the ships.

When Zhang Yi rushed to Zhuqiao, he met Chen Lin and the servants who had come from the north gate of the imperial city.

"Mr. Pingyi, I heard that the navy drove two Japanese ships into Mochou Lake. What on earth is going on..."

He gave his servant a look and told him to stop talking.

"I'm new here, so I should be familiar with the water conditions of the Yangtze River. I'll also escort the two boats hidden by the Cheng family."

Chen Lin's calm words made Zhang Yi's heart surge with emotion.

Damn... The Cheng family actually still keeps these two boats. How does Geng Dingli do his job?
"It seems that the big case has been solved." Zhang Yi had a smile on his face. "The thieves are rampant. I wonder where the Cheng family hid the boat?"

"Jingjiang." Chen Lin did not hide it from him, and also smiled, "When I arrived, Chief Xie and the Jingjiang County Magistrate, who went south with the Grand Secretary of Justice, were both there. Chief Xie said that County Magistrate Tong was a student of Lord Zhang. It seems that County Magistrate Tong really kept his mouth shut. Chief Xie has been in Jingjiang for more than a month, and Lord Zhang doesn't know either."

"…Since the imperial envoy has issued a secret order, County Magistrate Tong should obey it. How can he sacrifice public affairs for personal gain?" Zhang Yi asked as he walked with him, "I wonder what the purpose of bringing the Japanese ship back to Nanjing is?"

"Then I don't know." Chen Lin asked, "Where is Lord Zhang going?"

"Oh, there's something going on at home, I'll go back for a while."

"I heard that Lord Zhang's house is in Wulongtan near Beimen Bridge, so let's go together. Is there any urgent matter at home? If not, I have just arrived in Nanjing and I still have a lot of things I want to ask Lord Zhang."

"…It's not an urgent matter."

Zhang Yi was hesitant. He wanted to know the situation from the servants as soon as possible, but Chen Lin's friendly attitude made him feel that it would not be disadvantageous to him.

Anyway, we can also find out from Chen Lin what changes have taken place in the garrison meeting.

So they walked slowly westward. Chen Lin did consult some officials in the yamen who needed to be liaised with regarding many affairs of the Yangtze River Navy, and Zhang Yi also asked about the garrison office meeting.

"Eunuch Cheng has been ordered to guard Nanjing, and the main thing is to ask Duke Wei and me to be more careful. Although the Japanese pirates are in disguise, we can't take it lightly."

"What about Counselor Hao?"

Chen Lin looked at the stone city gate not far ahead and the Chaotian Palace nearby, then saluted Zhang Yi with a smile.

"Let's say goodbye here. The Japanese ship was seized by Geng Dingli's navy and sold to the Cheng family. Counselor Hao is in charge of the shipping administration, so he can't escape the responsibility. It's reasonable for the imperial envoy to summon him for questioning. I think he has arrived outside the Taiping Gate by now."

After saying that, he went west to the outside of Taiping Gate, and Zhang Yi turned north.

"Master... Lord Hao has been stripped of his official hat and uniform!"

The servant then reported what he had seen, and Zhang Yi's face turned gloomy.

It's still just about the case of the Japanese pirates robbing grain.

The Cheng family actually left behind the Japanese ship, so Hao Jie naturally couldn't escape the connection.

When we were coming back from Junzhou in Xiangyang Prefecture, did the Jinyiwei find out whether the Japanese ships were still there and where they were hiding?

When Mr. Xiao went south, he also brought with him a director from the Ministry of Justice in Beijing. Why didn't anyone from Huai'an or Yangzhou report this situation?
"... Go prepare some good wine and food for tonight."

Zhang Yi remained calm and arranged the servants.

Since the imperial envoy has arrived in Nanjing, he should invite Ye Xianggao, Zhao Canlu and others to show his hospitality.

We must know how far this case will be investigated. Now we have the criminals, the masterminds, and the officials who failed to supervise. Is that enough?
……

At the southwest dock of Jingjiang County, Xie Tingzan, dressed in casual clothes, smiled and returned the greeting to Jingjiang County Magistrate Tong Anguo.

"Fu Ning, you don't have to be so polite. I'm really sorry for bothering you for the past month. I also want to thank you for keeping your mouth shut."

"No, no, it's my duty." Tong Anguo bowed again, "Brother Yueke's reputation for speaking out is well known in Jiangnan. Since I have received the order from the imperial envoy, I naturally don't want to interfere. It's unfair for Brother Yueke to live a hard life in that farm. I had the honor of meeting you the other day, but I couldn't ask for your advice until these two days. It's really a pity that we met too late."

He didn't know how he had managed to get through this period of time.

The Japanese pirates' grain robbery case that shocked Beijing, the damn Cheng family actually hid the Japanese ships back in Jingjiang.

Xie Tingzan came to see him in plain clothes and showed his certificate of appointment and the secret letter from the imperial envoy. Of course, Tong Anguo could only pretend that everything was normal.

No matter who comes from where or what they want to know, it’s all right.

Are you kidding me? Do you dare to get involved in such a big case? God knows whether the daring Cheng family has used Jingjiang as a base for many years to carry out other robberies near the intersection of the Yangtze River and the Grand Canal?
Tong Anguo knew that there were some, but he had just turned a blind eye to them and even accepted a lot of tributes.

Now that we have put in a lot of effort to make secret arrangements, it should be considered as making up for our mistakes, right?
"Brother Yue Ke, I hope you can say nice things to me in front of the imperial envoy." Before leaving, Tong Anguo could no longer be reserved, "I am just a county magistrate, I have the will but not the ability!" "Don't worry, Fu Ning."

Xie Tingzan was thinking about the attentive hospitality he had received in Jingjiang over the past two days after Pingyi Bo had taken the people and boats away.

They are all sixth-rank officials, except that he followed the imperial envoy south and is a Beijing official.

The most important thing is that Tong Anguo felt uneasy.

"We say goodbye now. I hope to return to the capital someday, or we may meet somewhere else." Xie Tingzan bowed and boarded the boat.

I don’t know what the current situation of Nanjing City is like. How is Wang Dewan doing as the inspector of Yingtian?

He had a leisurely time for the past month or so, just waiting under the service of the servants arranged by Tong Anguo to guard the Cheng family's farm and not allow anyone to leave.

I did hear a lot of interesting stories about Jiangnan.

It also allowed him to know the tip of the iceberg of the real situation in the local area, which was beyond his previous experience as an official in the capital.

Now I can understand Xiao Daheng and Shen Yikuan a little bit.

When Xie Tingzan was chosen to go south with Mr. Xiao, he was very surprised at first. He just understood that he might need to use his friendship with Wang Dewan to make some concessions.

Unexpectedly, he was given some credit.

It's amazing! After Your Majesty ascended the throne, Shen Yikuan and Xiao Daheng seemed to have changed their personalities and gradually became more courageous in taking on responsibilities.

As the boat sailed on the Yangtze River, Xie Tingzan had some vague guesses.

I'm afraid I will have to stay in Nanjing to serve as an official for a while.

So, could it be that Mr. Xiao wanted to kick this subordinate who always talks back to him to Nanjing?

Xie Tingzan crossed the river with mixed feelings, and when he arrived in Jiangyin, he had already changed into his official robe.

The journey was smooth and smooth. When we arrived in Nanjing City smoothly, it was already dusk the next day.

After finding his way to the Ministry of Justice in Nanjing, he naturally had to report to Mr. Xiao first.

After learning that the person was not there, he went all the way to Zhang's house in Wulongtan.

After giving his name and waiting for a while, he was respectfully invited in by the doorman and led to the main hall in the front yard.

Xie Tingzan was stunned for a moment, then he saluted to Xiao Daheng and said, "I am here to report."

"Thank you for your hard work." Xiao Daheng nodded and looked at Zhang Yi, "This is the head of the Shanxi Qingli Division of the Beijing Ministry of Justice. Thank you Tingzan. Sir Zhang, please add another set of bowls and chopsticks."

"Nice to meet you." Zhang Yi greeted and made arrangements.

After a round of greetings, Xie Tingzan sat aside. Looking around, he was the only one in a green robe at the two accompanying tables, and they were all above the fourth rank.

It can be seen that the officials in Nanjing, even the fifth-rank doctors, were not qualified to come.

Zhang Yi invited officials from Nanjing to host a banquet for the three judicial officials from Beijing, but the event only took place today.

There is no way, they said they were busy interrogating Hao Jie these two days.

Fortunately, only Hao Jie was interrogated and no one else was implicated.

"It is Jiangnan's fault that you have caused trouble for your majesty and made you three work so hard. Oh, and Master Xie." Zhang Yi raised his glass again, "I hope the three imperial envoys will bear with us and say a few good words to you in front of the emperor. Fortunately, the big case has been solved. The three imperial envoys and Master Xie have eliminated the thieves for the country. Jiangnan will live in peace from now on. On behalf of Jiangnan, I would like to toast to you four!"

Xie Tingzan, who was sitting at the other table, inevitably became the focus of the table. He felt that the ministers at the table were all looking at him in a flattering manner, smiling awkwardly, but also holding up their glasses of wine.

Just as Xie Tingzan put his hand on the wine glass, he heard Xiao Daheng say, "The case has not been solved yet. I heard that all the wise men above the fourth rank in Nanjing have come, so we can't refuse. I am ashamed to drink this glass of wine."

"...Hasn't it been solved yet?" Zhang Yi looked at him and asked slowly.

"It has not been solved yet." Although Xiao Daheng was sitting, he did not look at Zhang Yi, but looked at Ye Xianggao and others who stood up from the same table. "The three courts in Nanjing also know that the case is complicated and is far from being solved."

"...Is there any other story behind this case?" Zhang Yi looked at Zhao Canlu and others, but saw that they did not look at him, but lowered their heads.

Xiao Daheng smiled, picked up his wine glass and stood up: "It's the three of us, oh, and Yue Ke, the four of us will toast to our colleagues in Nanjing. We are under the emperor's order and have no choice. We have found out how the Cheng family in Jiangyou could pretend to be Japanese pirates to intercept grain and kill transport soldiers, but you are all important figures in Nanjing, so you naturally know that we can't use a sentence of "they are so audacious" to dispel the emperor's suspicion."

He looked at Zhang Yi and asked with bright eyes: "If your majesty asks: Mr. Xiao, they dare to do this just for a few ships of grain, who are you fooling? Mr. Zhang, if you are incompetent, how should you answer?"

The main hall of the Zhang family's private residence was completely silent. Zhang Yi held the cup in his hand and said slowly after a long while: "Yes..."

(End of this chapter)