Jinyi Town Mountains and Rivers

Chapter 762 Zhang Kangchen

In the north of the city, the head of the Ritual System Department and the cabinet of the Ministry of Rites walked in the backyard of Zhang Kangchen's mansion.

He Liu stared at Zhang Kangchen.This is a middle-aged man in his forties, with a hulking back.His physique is not like that of a civil servant, but that of a general.

Twenty Jinyi guards stood in the middle of the courtyard.There is also a large iron pot in the courtyard.Below the iron pot was a pile of half-burned firewood.

In the iron pot, there is half a large seal, more than half of which has been melted.He Liu went up to observe carefully, and found that what Hong Lang said was wrong, it was not an iron seal, but a copper seal.

He Liu pointed to the copper seal and asked Zhang Kangchen, "Tell me! What is this?"

Zhang Kangchen said: "What's so strange about this. I don't have any hobbies on weekdays. I just like to cast copper seals and engrave characters for myself. A few days ago I carved a seal, but the characters were broken. I felt that it was a pity to lose this piece of copper, so I took it away." It melted."

He Liudao: "Oh? I don't know what characters you engraved on the seal? Don't it be the seven characters on the seal of Northwest Wang Bobai?"

Zhang Kangchen hurriedly said: "No! I engraved the eight characters of Wuhua Tianbao, outstanding people, outstanding people, and spirits."

He Liu picked up half of the large seal in the pot, the bottom of the seal had been melted away, and no handwriting could be seen.

At this time, Hong Lang brought over a file and handed it to He Liu.This file is Zhang Kangchen's file in Jinyiwei.

He Liu took the file and read: "Zhang Kangchen, Shandong Provincial Examination Juren in the first year of Wanli. Heh, you passed the Juren examination at the age of 16? You are really a child prodigy! Unfortunately, in the next two examinations, you failed in the second and second place. In the seventh year of Wanli, you, who lost confidence in the examination, went to the Ministry of Officials to register as a candidate. You were lucky. The bandits rebelled. The Liaodong Army sent a thousand troops to suppress it. You were exceptionally promoted to the county magistrate because of your meritorious service in raising food and grass. In the 11th year of Wanli, you moved left to the head of the Rites Department of the Ministry of Rites. In the 14nd year of Wanli, you were elected to the cabinet and walked for half a year. This year, you were elected again The cabinet has been in office for half a year. Is your resume correct?"

Zhang Kangchen said: "Yes. This resume is correct."

He Liu sighed: "There were rules in the Ming Dynasty, and it was difficult to raise people to the blue sky. Ordinary people, as officials, can only achieve the seventh rank in their lifetime. But at the age of 40, you became the head of the six departments of the sixth rank." It should be said that your official luck is not bad."

Zhang Kangchen said: "This is the emperor's great kindness to me as a courtier! I will definitely do my best to repay the emperor's kindness in my lifetime!"

But He Liu shook his head: "Oh, what I read just now is the bright file on the official face. The bottom of the Jinyiwei file is divided into two files, light and dark. I will read the dark file again! Zhang Kangchen is not recognized for his talent. He has complained to his colleagues many times. Those who passed the imperial examinations, those who passed the Jinshi examination, were promoted the fastest to be governors of a province, and those who were slow to be promoted were also fourth-rank magistrates. However, I have been working hard for 17 years, but I am only a small sixth-rank chief of the bureaucracy. The secretary is Qingshui Yamen!"

Zhang Kangchen said: "This, this is what you Jin Yiwei wrote indiscriminately. When did I say that?"

Hong Lang stood beside Hechi Zhang Kangchen: "You can't be wronged! Jin Yiwei monitors the words and deeds of all officials. All complaints made by officials on weekdays will be recorded on the bottom of the file!"

He Liu signaled Hong Lang to keep silent, and said: "The cabinet has elected Zhang Kangchen twice. Congratulations from colleagues. But Zhang Kangchen said: It's nothing more than because I was born strong. The elders in the cabinet think that I can carry heavy things Your subordinates! Treat me like an animal!"

Zhang Kangchen categorically denied: "Slander! When did I say such a thing?"

He Liudao: "Let me see when it is. Oh, it was the third day of February in the 22nd year of the Wanli calendar. You and your fellow countrymen at Yunxiang Restaurant, the official minister Wai Lang Yu Si'en, and Shuntian Prefecture Prime Minister Liang Lucai said it!"

Zhang Kangchen was dumbfounded!He has long heard that Jin Yiwei has supernatural powers.But he didn't expect that Jin Yiwei's supernatural powers are so powerful!Even when the officials said what and who they said to, they are all clearly recorded!
He Liu continued: "Zhang Kangchen said again: I was born as a Juren, and if an official is a sixth-rank master, he will be successful! I regret that I had suffered enough from the head hanging from the beam, the awl and the buttocks, so I didn't continue to participate in the competition. He went to the Ministry of Officials to hang his name."

Zhang Kangchen said: "It's true. I was too young at that time, and I acted recklessly. According to the rules of the court, if a candidate is registered in the Ministry of Officials, he can no longer participate in the examination. Thinking about it now, I regret it."

He Liu smiled and said: "Oh, it is human nature to regret. But two years ago, because you were disheartened about your career, you became obsessed with gambling. On the fifth day of March in the 22nd year of Wanli. You were in Zaiyang gambling house in the south of the city. I owe 1000 taels of silver to other gamblers at night. Is there such a thing?"

Zhang Kangchen said tremblingly, "Yes, there is such a thing."

He Liudao: "Don't be afraid. Although the Ming Dynasty clearly stipulates that officials are not allowed to participate in gambling. But it has been more than 200 years since Lord Hongwu founded the country. No one has paid attention to this rule for a long time. Beijing officials have nothing to do when they are free. Playing with money is also a common thing. I will not pursue you for this matter. I am just curious. The Yizhi Division is the Qingshui Yamen. Your income is only a limited salary. How did you pay off the 1000 taels of gambling debt? You know, the debts in the casino are all compound interest, interest rate."

Zhang Kangchen said hesitantly, "I, I sold the Susukada handed down from my ancestors."

He Liudao: "Oh? It's not recorded in the file. To sell land, there must be a written agreement. Do you still have the written agreement used for the sale at that time?"

Zhang Kangchen replied: "It's kept! It's in the big cabinet in my bedroom."

He Liu said to Hong Lang: "Go, bring the text agreement with Mr. Zhang, and I'll take a look."

Hong Lang followed Zhang Kangchen to the bedroom.

He Liu looked at the remaining half copper seal in the cauldron.He discovered that the handle of the copper seal was a strange beast!
And the golden seal of Bo worshiped the false Northwest King, and the handle of the seal is also a monster!
Reminiscing again, Xu Shinephew of Duanguzhai once told him that Zhu Ni showed that someone used the traitor gold seal two years ago.And Zhang Kangchen was transferred to the cabinet two years ago to be on duty for half a year.He Liu has already dared to conclude that this person is related to the theft of the gold seal!
Not long after, Hong Lang and Zhang Kangchen returned to the backyard.In Hong Lang's hand was a letter to sell the land.

He Liu took the document and looked at it, then shook his head and said, "I'm talking about Mr. Zhang, right? You owe 1000 taels of silver to the gambling house. But this document says that if you sell 450 acres of land, you will get 550 taels of silver." How did you pay back the remaining [-] taels?"

Zhang Kangchen said: "Ah, I will pay back the rest slowly!"

He Liu sneered: "Who are you coaxing? As I said just now, the debts in the gambling house are all profit and profit. If you pay it slowly, I'm afraid you still have it until now, and the 550 two will roll into tens of thousands. two!"

Zhang Kangchen's thinking was very quick, so he argued again: "Ah, I'm the imperial court's sixth-rank officer! How dare the gambling house use high profits to force me?"

(End of this chapter)