The cause of the case is that in the 18th year of Chenghua, that is, at the turn of spring and summer last year, there was no rain for several months, many fields were deserted and dried up, and the crops could not be stocked and withered, but this was nothing, Suzhou. The government has always been prosperous, with abundant grain storage and equipment, and the famine for several months can still be overcome.
This time, not only the fields could not be cultivated at all, but even the houses were submerged. The flood did not recede for a long time, which led to the spread of the plague.
At that time, the court asked Suzhou Prefecture to open a warehouse for disaster relief, and ordered the Southern Zhili Patrol to assist in the inspection. After a winter, the situation should have improved.
However, according to the rules, after this incident, the court has to send another censor to conduct inspections and report the disaster relief results. This is to prevent local officials from colluding with each other to deceive the court, which is also the righteousness.
But at this moment, there was a koan case—
The Southern Zhili patrol followed the censor and the magistrate of Wujiang successively and impeached the other party.
The Southern Zhili inspector Yang Ji impeached the Wujiang county magistrate Chen Luan for his ineffective disaster relief. The Wujiang magistrate retorted that he had done his best, but the money and food allocated above were not enough, and it was difficult for a clever woman to cook without rice.
The two insisted on their own words and refused to give in to each other. The imperial court ordered Hu Wenzao, the prefect of Suzhou, to make a statement, but Hu Wenzao said that he did not know it. Food, in theory, should be enough for disaster relief.
It's just that his defense is too pale and weak, and it can't prove his innocence. On the contrary, it makes the court feel that he is shifting the blame.
However, it is difficult to see the truth based on these remarks alone.
The matter has come to this point, and the censors of the Southern Zhili, the magistrates of Wujiang, and the prefects of Suzhou hold their own opinions, making it impossible to judge.
After the cabinet's deliberation, the emperor's approval was requested, and the cabinet finally decided that the imperial censor should send a censor to Suzhou to inspect the disaster, and take the time to clarify the right and wrong.
Taking advantage of this opportunity, Qiu Jun, the imperial envoy of Youdu, recommended Tang Fan, and there were many of them who wanted to keep the younger disciples away from the whirlpool of the capital and temporarily avoid the limelight.
Now that Tang Fan is already struggling to make a difference in the capital, it's also a waste of time. It might be better to walk outside, maybe there will be a turning point.
This matter was quickly approved by Emperor Chenghua. Perhaps in his opinion, Tang Fan's expertise was still in solving cases, not lecturing the prince, so now there is a problem with unsolved cases in the local area, no need to remind others, the first thing the emperor thought of Tang Fan.
For Tang Fan, this is a good thing and a bad thing.
The good thing is that even the emperor has to admit that he is a capable official. Unlike other mediocre officials who can be replaced at any time, Tang Fan is really useful.
The downside is that the emperor's impression of him has been fixed. Ability does not equal virtuousness. Those who can govern the country and bring peace to the world still need ministers with both ability and virtue. That is to say, when today Zi is in power, Tang Fan will not be able to enter the cabinet for one day.
But then again, Tang Fan wasn't the only one who was so unlucky.
Nowadays, many people have been released or dismissed because they were against the Wandang, or they could not stand the domineering of the Wandang. Tang Fan is just one of them. There is not much more than him, and there is not much less than him, just because of him. It has broken Wan Dang several times in succession, which made the other party want to use him for surgery.
Compared with his family's worries and resentment, Tang Fan himself was quite open to it. With a will, he packed up and prepared to leave Beijing and go south.
However, there was a small accident on this trip, that is, the one who accompanied Tang Fan out of Beijing and escorted him along the way was not Suizhou, who used to be inseparable, or even any familiar face that Jinyiwei was used to working with.
Many people know that Tang Fan and Beizhen Fusi have a good relationship, but some people just don't want to see Tang Fan and Jin Yiwei get too close, so this time they came out with Tang Fan, but Dongchang two A fan, euphemistically called the protection of followers, but as to whether it is protection or surveillance, only God knows.
On the day of departure, Tang Fan took Qian San'er to the gate of the city early. Who knew that he was waiting left and right, the sky was bright, and even the teahouse next to him was open for business, and there was still no one in the East Factory.
Tang Fan always knew that these uncles were big, but he didn't expect the other party to be so big. With Shang Ming's support, he didn't even pay attention to the emperor.
There was nothing he could do at the moment, so he went to the tea house to order a cup of tea and waited while eating.
With great difficulty, the two talents from Dongchang are long overdue.
When the other party saw Tang Fan, he hurriedly stepped forward and saluted, with a smile on his face: "I don't know if your lord will arrive early, I'll be late, and I hope you will forgive me!"
Tang Fan smiled slightly: "You are not late, I am early."
The two looked at each other, they could have come over long ago, but they ate breakfast not far from the city gate. They ate for half an hour. They expected Tang Fan to get angry because of this, but he actually endured it.
"My lord is magnanimous, and my subordinates are grateful!" The two of them said gratefully.
"After I leave the capital, I'm on the imperial errand, so naturally I have to help each other. You two don't have to be polite to me, but when we meet for the first time, we have to get acquainted with each other!"
Both of them should be, and they introduced themselves. One is Zeng Pei and the other is Wu Zong.
This so-called fan service, full-time arrest and interrogation, is the most common type of job in the East Factory.
When they came, Tang Fan was in no hurry, and invited them to sit down and have a cup of tea, and then had lunch before leaving.
This time, the two of them couldn't sit still, and repeatedly urged Tang Fan to go on the road, and repeatedly accused them of being late, saying that they should not have been late.
That's when Tang Fan asked people to bring the horses and prepare to go on the road.
At this moment, someone called him from behind, and Tang Fan looked back, but saw Pang Qi, the deputy Qianhu of Jinyiwei, galloping on his horse. He was almost in front of the Chaliao, and he was about to stop.
Pang Qi didn't look at Zeng Pei and Wu Zong, but invited Tang Fan aside.
"Fortunately, I caught up, Master Tang, this is what my eldest brother asked me to give it to you!"
He handed over an item: "This is a token. After you arrive at Suzhou Mansion, if you have anything to do, you can go to the Jinyi Guards Center in Wu County for help."
Tang Fan was startled and couldn't help but ask, "Where's your eldest brother, why didn't he come?"
I don't know why, since Tang Fan's jade pendant was taken away by Suizhou, the other party's attitude has not been as good as before, showing a coldness that makes Tang Fan confused.
However, during this time, not only Tang Fan was busy defending himself, but Sui Zhou was also busy. Although the two were under the same roof, they were not as close as before.
To say that this is human nature is to be cheap. At first, Suizhou was pressing hard, but Tang Fan retreated step by step. Now that they have completely let go, Master Tang is rather disappointed.
Just like this time, after Tang Fan's departure from Beijing was settled, Suizhou didn't say anything, not even mention it, as if he didn't care at all. Tang Fan also asked him if he was going with him, but he said now Many people know that Tang Fan and Jin Yiwei have a good personal relationship. In order to avoid suspicion, the emperor will definitely not agree to Jin Yiwei going south this time.
Having said that, it is rare and unpleasant to see no one even seeing a goodbye now.
Pang Qi cupped his hands and said, "Big brother was ordered to go to Beijing Camp today, and I have to go out through another door. I'm running out of time, so I won't come to see you off. Let me come here on my behalf, and please take care of Mr. Tang all the way!"
Next to him, Qian San'er couldn't help but mutter: "Lord Sui has been so busy lately, I can't even see you a few times!"
Tang Fan concealed the strange feeling in his heart, ignored Qian San'er, and only smiled at Pang Qi: "Thank you for making this trip!"
Although he looked at Zeng Pei and Wu Zong's impatient expressions, Tang Fan slowed down his tone and followed Pang Qi to the side, until Wu Zong couldn't help but urged: "Sir, it's time for us to go, the time waits for no one. , I have to go to Tongzhou to take a boat!"
He made him wait before, but now he knew that Shi Chen was waiting for no one, Tang Fan laughed to himself, but he knew that Zeng Pei and Wu Zong were here to block him, so he didn't say anything, just nodded: "Let's go then. stop."
After saying goodbye to Pang Qi, the four went out of the city and rushed all the way to Tongzhou, and took a boat south from the canal.
Water travel is not only faster than land travel, but also smoother. If you go by land, you have to stop to avoid the rain when it rains, but you can continue to move forward on the water without hindering the journey.
Tang Fan and the others served the imperial messenger, and naturally they also used the official boat, a two-story official boat, where Tang Fan and the others lived, as well as boatmen and others, and they were spacious. Tang Fan's room was exactly the same as Zeng Pei's room. They are on both ends of the second floor, so you don't need to walk in front of the other's room to get in and out. It just so happens that the three of them are at odds with each other, which saves you the pain of having to face each other every day.
The boat travels down the river, and the speed is incomparable with the land route. Qian Saner rarely set foot on the fireworks field in the south. The curtain, especially the people on both sides of the strait, occasionally see peasant girls holding clothes and washing by the river, in groups of three or five, laughing and laughing, with soft body, light clothes, bright colors, completely different from the bright and bold rouge in the north, Qian San'er sees It's all gone, and the eyeballs don't turn.
When we arrived at the Yangzhou area, just as night fell and it was not suitable for boats, the official boats moored on the shore, and together with other large and small civilian boats, they departed after the night.
The sky will be dark, and there are still little girls selling flowers on the shore.
When Tang Fan heard it, he asked Qian San'er to call the little girl onto the boat. The other party was about the same age as A-Dong. Seeing this official boat, he guessed a little about Tang Fan's identities and said with a smile: "Sir, do you want to buy flowers? I just picked these flowers today. It's boring to look at the water and trees along the way. It's better to buy two and keep them in the house. It's fragrant!"
She was articulate, with a soft and sweet accent, which stunned Qian San'er.
Tang Fan asked, "Is this Jiang Hua?"
The little girl snorted: "It's Jiang Hua, this flower is fragrant, sir, can you smell it?"
After that, she raised the basket and brought it closer.
In fact, there is no need for the little girl's action, the ginger flower has a strong fragrance, and you can smell the tangy fragrance just by getting closer.
But maybe for Qian San'er next to him, it's a bit of a taste of self-intoxication.
Tang Fan smiled and said, "Listen to your accent, are you from Suzhou?"
Little girl: "Yes!"
Tang Fan: "Then why did you come to Yangzhou, isn't Suzhou bad?"
The little girl frowned slightly, seemingly embarrassed.
Tang Fan immediately said, "I bought this basket of flowers. How much?"
The little girl immediately raised her eyebrows and smiled: "Not much, just ten dollars!"
Tang Fan: "San'er, give her fifteen coins."
The little girl's watery eyes widened, as if she was wondering how she had come across a bad guy.
Tang Fan smiled and said, "Don't be afraid, I'm going to Suzhou, and I don't know much about it, so I just have a few questions to ask you."
The little girl released her doubts, took the money from Qian San'er, and said crisply, "What's your question, sir?"
Tang Fan said, "Suzhou is such a good place, why did you come to Yangzhou instead of Suzhou?"
The little girl said: "My home is right on the edge of Taihu Lake. Last year, there was a drought, then a flood, and everyone in my family died. My grandfather brought me to Yangzhou to seek refuge with my relatives. My relatives were not rich, so I came out to sell some flowers. , help grandpa earn a living!"
Tang Fan arrived: "Where is your home in Suzhou?"
Little girl: "Wujiang."
Tang Fan asked, "Wujiang floods are serious? Has it not improved yet, your grandfather never thought of taking you back to take a look?"
The little girl shook her head, her eyes darkened: "My family is starving to death, and I was almost sold by my father. It was my grandfather who kept me from selling me. My grandfather and I were doing well in Yangzhou. , not going back."
Tang Fan asked some more questions related to the disaster, but the other party was young and didn't know much, so he could only talk about what he saw along the way.
According to her, Wujiang was really miserable last year. After the flood, there were also porridge farms set up by the government in Wujiang, but there were too many people and few porridges, and the supply soon exceeded the demand. In order to snatch the thin porridge and water to eat, there were even many murders. Many people did not have porridge to drink, and they caught up with the next plague, death and disease. After the winter of last year, the trend of the spread of the plague finally improved, but the weather was cold again, and the displaced people suddenly froze again. Many people died of starvation, and many families gradually used up their previous grain storage, and the situation became worse. Some people sold their children if they could not survive, and some even cooked their children directly. to eat.
Hearing this passage, not only Qian San'er was horrified, but Tang Fan's eyebrows moved as well, showing a faint expression of anger.
"Is what you said true?"
The little girl bit her lower lip: "Fu knows, my grandfather said about cannibalism, but it's true that Dad wanted to sell me, I heard it with my own ears."
Tang Fan asked, "What about now, is Wujiang better now?"
The little girl shook her head and kept saying that Fu knew, Fu knew.
She hasn't gone back since she came out with her grandfather, so naturally she doesn't know.
Tang Fan didn't bother, and after asking a few more questions, he let her go.
As soon as the little girl left, Qian San'er couldn't help but say, "Sir, Wu Jiang..."
Tang Fan raised his hand slightly, signaling him not to speak.
Qian San'er was immediately alert and turned her head to see that Zeng Pei and Wu Zong had been standing beside them.
"It's rare to spend the night outside the city of Yangzhou, why don't you two go into the city to see the excitement?" Tang Fan greeted them with a smile.
Zeng Pei smiled and said, "Master Tang is very leisurely. This flower is pretty tight, but the color is a little duller."
Tang Fan smiled and handed the basket to Qian San'er: "I want it to be both fragrant and beautiful. There is no such thing as the best of both worlds in this world, as long as it can account for one, it is not bad."
Zeng Pei let out a haha: "Master Tang is a scholar, and opening his mouth is a big truth. We are naturally incomparable to rough people, but the situation in Suzhou is not familiar to the adults, and there are some things that the subordinates still think about talking to the adults first. Say, lest the adults take a detour and hit a wall."
Tang Fan stretched out his hand and made a gesture of invitation: "Brother Zeng can speak directly if he has something to say."
Zeng Pei said: "Your Excellency, do you know how to investigate this case in Suzhou?"
Tang Fan raised his eyebrows: "Can you two teach me?"
Zeng Pei said with a smile: "Look at what the lord said, how can we teach the lord! This case has already been attended by the imperial censor, so there must be no major mistakes, and now the court has asked the lord and me to wait for a review, but it is just a matter of Just go through the motions and ask for a result. The Susong area has been prosperous since ancient times, and it is also heavily taxed by the state. If there is too much trouble, the court’s face will be dull, I wonder if the adults can understand the meaning of this subordinate’s words?”
Although Zeng Pei and Wu Zong are called Tang Fan's subordinates and are responsible for protecting him, they think that they have Dongchang's backing. eyes.
They have long heard that Tang Fan is called the imperial commission to go on patrol, but in fact it is like a situation of exile, and they do not believe that he dares to oppose the Dongchang factory. The meaning is to remind Tang Fan that the water is deep here, don't look around, lest it be difficult to clean up in the end and offend those who shouldn't be offended.
Tang Fan smiled slightly: "Thank you two brothers for their kind words, but I don't know something."
Zeng Pei: "Sir, please speak."
Tang Fan: "Do you mean to walk through the motions, or is it the will of the imperial court?"
Zeng Pei was speechless for a moment, his face darkened slightly: "What do you mean by this, sir?"
Tang Fan said leisurely: "If it is the court's will, I will naturally follow it, but I don't understand it. The meaning of Your Majesty and the court is for me to go over and find out why the meaning of the words will change when I come to the two of you. Well, could it be that His Majesty gave another secret order to the East Factory?"
Zeng Pei said angrily: "We kindly remind the adults, how come the adults misinterpret our good intentions everywhere!"
Tang Fan chuckled: "Of course I understand the good intentions of the two of you. But if you understand the truth, naturally you have to say that the two are for my own good, and if you don't understand the truth, don't you think that the two of you are blocking me from handling the case? Spreading out the reputation of Shang Changgong, I'm afraid that there will be all harm and no benefit. The two of you have done bad things with good intentions, but you will cause trouble for your factory."
From the time they were in the capital, Zeng Pei and the others had intentionally tried to give Tang Fan a slap in the face, but it was counterproductive, and instead, they were thrown out by Tang Fan.
After getting along along the way, they also discovered that this Yushi Tang was very difficult to deal with, even more difficult to deal with than those who only knew how to scold them to death in the past.
This person speaks and acts both softly and hard, and he doesn't know how to turn against you, making it impossible for people to provoke faults.
It's no wonder that his own company regarded him as a key target and ordered them to pay close attention.
I thought that the other party judged the situation, at least it was more interesting than those hard-core people, knowing that some things should not be messed up, and some people should not be offended, but now it seems that they are still ridiculously wrong. In fact, the bones are exactly the same, just more cunning!
The author has something to say:
small theater:
Qian San'er: The next notice is up to me, up to me!
Author Meow: OK, OK, you say you say...
Qian San'er: When Master Tang goes to the south of the Yangtze River, he will encounter many things, the most important, the most important, yes!
Crowd:
Qian San'er: Sui Da Da is going to have a real rival in love, this time he will bring, hold, hehe!
Wei Mao: Oh, you are finished.