Guangzong Yaoming

Chapter 195 The Magistrate Driven Crazy

In Nanjing City, after receiving the imperial edict, Cheng Jing gave a speech to the Jinyiwei and the generals of the Shangzhiwei who stayed in the capital.

People had to be selected to go to the hometowns of many important officials, including two cabinet ministers.

"No other orders." Cheng Jing looked at them. "Choose the people and go straight ahead. There is no need to monitor or suppress anything. Each family will treat them well, but if anyone asks for bribes, it will ruin your majesty's plan."

Staring at these people, Cheng Jing knew their level.

What can be monitored? What can be suppressed? I don’t have that ability.

On the contrary, if there is a misunderstanding and it leads to things like soliciting bribes, surveillance, or taking advantage of one's power to bully others, that would be bad.

"If this mission is not done well, the imperial guards will be purged." Cheng Jing looked at them, "If there is anything you don't understand, ask first."

The emperor just sent out a group of mascots. Even if they had no abilities and didn't actually do anything, their effectiveness was extraordinary.

After all, they are nominally the emperor's personal guards.

Now the emperor is showing favor. Those who have already figured it out will naturally be the first to respond and implement preferential treatment. Those who originally wanted to fool around will also think twice after having these masters in their families.

No surveillance is better than surveillance.

In Zhejiang, Xie Tingzan has already taken office.

In Hangzhou, the governor's office had been initially decided. After Xie Tingzan received the new order to "investigate as soon as possible", he went to the governor's office and met with Wang Keshou, the governor of Zhejiang Province.

"Inspector, the order is clear. All provinces should investigate the gentry as soon as possible." Xie Tingzan said straight to the point, "How to investigate can be discussed, but many students and candidates are studying in other places. Shouldn't they be asked to write letters to recall them first?"

Wang Keshou had been frowning. After hearing what Xie Tingzan said, he just said, "It is the duty of the supervisor to examine the gentry. He can make the decision."

"We still need to write to the Education Department." Xie Tingzan said bluntly, "The results of the inspection must first be reported to the Inspector General for a decision, and secondly, reported to the Censorate and presented to the Emperor for review."

Wang Keshou sighed and said, "Then let's write it."

He was a Jinshi in the eighth year of Wanli. When he first entered the officialdom, he was the magistrate of Jinhua, Zhejiang. Later, he served as the director of the Ministry of Rites, the deputy minister, and the doctor. He was then sent to Ji'an, Jiangxi as the prefect. Last year, he was transferred from Shanxi to Zhejiang, where culture and education were more prosperous, as the governor. Who would have thought that the governor would be able to run his own office after this year?
Looking at the current situation, the examination will be held every three years. For the students and candidates who are still waiting to take the examination, it can be said that their academic career is closely related to their studies.

It just so happens that next year is the year for the Autumn Examination, and the year after is the year for the Ministry of Rites’ Joint Examination.

This means that in the year before each provincial examination, an investigation of the gentry would be conducted locally.

During this period of time, one cannot travel around for studies or miss inspections, and two, one cannot do anything inappropriate that would lead to punishment.

Otherwise, the provincial and metropolitan examinations will definitely be delayed.

Wang Keshou did not stop Xie Tingzan, as he also had a lot of things to do: the Imperial College was newly established and there would be examinations this year.

The Deputy Commissioner of Education is not so idle anymore.

Wang Keshou watched the young Xie Tingzan walk away briskly and thought to himself that this was a good thing.

Being busy is also a good excuse.

Because of the Imperial College examination and the assessment of gentry, Wang Keshou had received countless requests during this period.

After Xie Tingzan left, his master came over and said, "Dongweng, Deputy Envoy Chen sent another invitation card, inviting you to the banquet."

Wang Keshou asked in a troubled tone, "Is it because of those students again?"

"They didn't say that, but they mentioned that they had invited the Right Councillor, the prefect of Hangzhou, and the president of Wansong Academy."

"...It's another literary gathering, right?" Wang Keshou sighed again, "Then accept it first."

Chen Jingji has already moved out several of his colleagues, so it would be bad if he didn't go.

But Wang Keshou was well-known for his integrity and self-discipline, so he had to refuse their good intentions. The Imperial College selection could not have problems in the first few years.

As for the future...Wang Keshou will not always be the education commissioner in Zhejiang.

Xie Tingzan sent down the official document from the Office of the Superintendent of Education, and then said, "Let's go to Huzhou first and meet the four Wuxing masters!"

The so-called Four Sons of Wuxing were a retired official and three candidates who had not yet passed the imperial examination. All four were from Huzhou.

The leader among them was named Zang Maoxun, who became a Jinshi in the eighth year of Wanli. He served as a professor at Jingzhou Prefecture School, magistrate of Yiling, and doctoral student at Nanjing Imperial College. He resigned from his post after being impeached.

The scope of the gentry's investigation only included officials who were in office, retired normally, and enjoyed retirement treatment. Those who were dismissed or resigned after being impeached were not included.

Zang Maoxun often took his concubines and children out of the city for entertainment, and was therefore accused of indulging in sensual pleasures.

As for the other three of the Four Sons of Wuxing, there was Mao Kun’s second son, Mao Wei.

Zang Maoxun was from Changxing County, and the county magistrate Shu Baiqing visited him at his home.

"Mr. Gu Zhushan, can you please stop being so poetic lately?" Shu Baiqing was really embarrassed. "This year's volume of Jinling Society Collection, your masterpiece is full of literary talent and criticizes current social ills..."

Zang Maoxun interrupted him sarcastically: "Your Excellency, do you think this is indeed a problem?"

"...Oh!" Shu Baiqing said earnestly, "You are also a senior. What is the current situation in the officialdom? I have discussed with the two assistant officials and the schoolmaster. Among the seven village heads in Changxing County, you should have a seat. But in addition to the white grain..."

"The white grain has already been shipped!" Zang Maoxun's tone became sharper. "What else does the county magistrate want to do?"

Shu Baiqing was interrupted again and again, suppressing his anger: "The order is clear, why do you have to do this? Last year, the Xie family and..."

"The county magistrate is using the Xie and Wu families to warn us?" Zang Maoxun waved his hand and let the beautiful concubine who was serving tea leave. "Of the four sons of Wuxing, only three are left now! The 40 sons of the Yanzhou Mountain Public Office were convicted last year! Over the past so many years, the county magistrate has been in charge of the area. Didn't Brother Jiadeng and the Xie family help them out of danger?" "...The imperial envoy is investigating the case, and the governor is supervising the case. What can they do?"

"In that case, what else can we say? The county magistrate should give clear instructions. I will do what I can. If I can't do it, the county magistrate will ask."

After saying this, he sent the guest away with a stern face.

Shu Baiqing stood outside the Zang family's home, his hands clenched and trembling in his sleeves as he walked under the Jinshi archway.

In the end, they had to pay for labor service from the public bank, and after much persuasion, they were persuaded to transport the white grain.

Now they hope to lure them with the position of village head, and ask them to take the lead in expressing their stance on strictly enforcing preferential treatment and exemptions, and to surrender and return the stolen goods, but none of them respond well.

What's worse, he clearly told the tenants who had made contributions and made an effort to clear out the contributions.

It seems that they have been strictly implementing preferential treatment, but in addition to the land and people who donated, the proportion of land owned by their family members is even greater. And those who donated will not be exempted from corvée in the future, and there are already signs of unrest and delaying farming.

"You said, if I confessed my guilt last year and returned the silver as a gift, would His Majesty not blame me anymore?"

After returning to the county government office, he went to the backyard to find his master.

"… That's right, it's time to make amends."

"The Lord of the Palace said to sort out the criminal charges?"

"…The official document says this. It may seem like a strict order, but it actually encourages…"

Shu Boqing straightened his back and said, "Can this county be ruthless?"

The master was a little scared: "Master, I'm afraid they will reveal what happened in the past. And in the future, the filial piety, the village and the civil affairs..."

Shu Boqing's back bent a little more: "You won't blame me anymore, right?"

"...That's right." The master actually felt that it was hard to say. What if it was just the incident last year that was not blamed? What if something new was revealed and he was to be blamed?
"From now on, the village head should help manage the village affairs, right?"

"...We can only nominate one from among them."

Shu Baiqing's fists were so clenched that they hurt.

The enormous pressure from the emperor and the court, the province and the prefecture was finally pressed down to the county officials who were not clean to begin with.

“I heard that in many counties, people have already surrendered themselves, returned the stolen goods, and cleaned up their land.”

Shu Baiqing said this, but Changxing County had not yet done so.

The gentry in Changxing County seemed to be extremely united this year, and each of them was fearless.

Shu Baiqing knew that this was because of the bad consequences he had in the past and because he was too weak in front of them.

But what can he do since he has no one in the court?

"The Forty Scholars... The Four Scholars of Wuxing... The Jinling Poetry Society..." Shu Baiqing gritted his teeth.

The forty poets and writers reviewed by Wang Shizhen from Taicang, the four poets from Wuxing who sang in unison, and the Jinling Poetry Society who used poetry and prose to comment on current affairs. The gentry in the prosperous cultural and educational areas of Jiangnan, fellow students, fellow townsmen, and fellow subjects... Such a huge force, anyone in the court could be punished with a letter of criticism.

“Master…” The master was frightened when he saw his expression.

"Your Majesty said that he would protect the officials who work for you!" Shu Baiqing gritted his teeth and said, "So what if I don't show my filial piety in the future! I studied hard and passed the imperial examination to become an official. Why must I endure such humiliation? The ruler of a county..."

The lawyer felt that he had never felt bullied before and was quite carefree and happy.

Shu Boqing stared at him: "If you don't do your job well this year, how can you make up for it? You're about to lose your official hat, what kind of filial piety do you still want? Your Majesty can't let the county government starve to death, right? Give him more positions and raise his salaries. Your Majesty is a sympathetic emperor!"

"...Master, please keep your voice down..."

"Open the court! Open the court! Call all the clerks and servants to this county first!" Shu Baiqing was cornered and his voice became louder. "Go ahead and report the news! If there is a civil uprising, then there will be a civil uprising! If we can't suppress it, this county will petition to send its own soldiers! If you want to die, then die. Everyone in this county will die!"

The magistrate of Changxing seemed to be crazy. After scolding the six rooms and three shifts in the lobby of the county government office, he ran outside the government office and picked up a drumstick and started banging it hard, leaving the nearby people looking at each other in confusion.

"Listen up, people of Changxing: If you have grievances, redress them!" Shu Boqing threw down his drumstick and shouted, "Whoever you want to sue, come to the county government office and beat the drum to file a complaint! Sue the clerks, the gentry, or even me! You can sue anyone!"

He took off his official hat and said, "This county doesn't need this official hat anymore! But listen to me, tell me about this! From today on, I will judge your case impartially. No matter who is involved, I will never show any leniency!"

The magistrate of Changxing had a look in his eyes that looked like he was ready to devour someone, his face was flushed, and he looked like a madman.

But he walked into the county office holding his official hat and said, "Open the door of the county office! If there is a complaint, whoever tries to stop us will be prosecuted first! Clean up the jail, I'm going to sleep in it tonight!"

The magistrate had gone crazy. Of course, this explosive news spread quickly, but for the time being, many people were skeptical.

Mao Wei of the Mao family sneered after hearing this, but then frowned and ordered: "Go to Nanjing and ask my second brother. Also... send a letter to Hangzhou."

Mao Kun's second son is now serving as a doctor in the Nanjing Ministry of Works. Mao Wei feels that something is wrong.

Although the Mao family is in Gui'an County and not under the jurisdiction of Changxing, the attitude of the governor is not right.

The news that the magistrate of Changxing had gone mad spread to the southeast direction of Huzhou Prefecture and also to the northwest direction of Yingtian Prefecture.

Chen Youxue couldn't help laughing after hearing this, shook his head and said, "Forget it, I'll write a letter to make him feel more confident. But the truth of Changxing County has come to this... I need to send a letter to the Military Preparation Department."

Local officials who have finally managed to straighten their backs need to be encouraged.

You have always been weak and vulnerable, how can you take on such an important task? If you don't hit a few of them hard first, how can the others give in?
Do you really think that people in other prefectures, states, and counties are just after the ninth-rank official position of a village head?
(End of this chapter)