The thirty-seventh time, the court judge comforts the tortured, Zha Liang peeks through the window
Seeing Kangxi's face turn red, Axiu hurriedly came over to persuade him, but Kangxi waved his hand and said: "I have told you before that you can't interfere in national affairs!" Xiaoxiu immediately blushed and retreated to the side. Sumara
The aunt pulled her away, and the two of them crouched down and retreated. Kangxi took a few steps to the entrance of the palace and sternly ordered: "Send an order to the Ministry of Punishment to escort Zhang Bonian's father to the wicker side immediately - order Zhang Bonian to come in and listen to me!"
Kangxi turned to Gao Shiqi again and said, "How kind I am to you, it's really chilling to think about it!"
Gao Shiqi was so shocked that he sweated all over his body and kowtowed to the ground: "It is true that Long live the blame, but everything the slave said is true. Zhang Bonian is indeed an upright official. How can the slave dare to be so crazy and lie to the master?"
"Shut up!" Kangxi shouted. He turned around and rummaged through the document shelf with shaking hands, trying to find the case file. He refuted Gao Shiqi on the spot. After searching for a long time, he realized that it had been transferred to the Ministry of Punishment, so he said sternly: "You protect him."
, how much money did you receive?”
Gao Shiqi was so determined that he raised his head and said loudly: "I never ask for money from others, I am a stranger to Zhang, and I don't accept his courtesy! I want to see you today, but also to give advice to the master. The master is going to patrol the south for his grand plan."
, it is not something that ordinary ministers can know. Even if there are unpleasant words, they should be laughed at. For such a big matter, a clear edict should be issued. Local officials should not take the opportunity to please the superiors and practice palace cultivation!"
"So, do you still have any objections to my southern tour?"
"My slave has not said that the master should not go on a southern tour!"
"Great Shun also visited the south!"
"Da Shun visited the south," Gao Shiqi said bravely, "I haven't heard of Cangwu building a palace!"
"Okay...you are good to me!" Kangxi was so angry that he had nothing to say. He walked around the palace like a millstone. When he saw Mu Zixu coming in, he asked, "What are you doing here?" Mu Zixu asked.
He bowed and replied: "Your Majesty, Zhang Bonian mentioned that he is waiting outside." Kangxi waved his hands in disgust and said, "Tell him to kneel in the rain first -" Before he finished speaking, Kangxi suddenly paused. Chuihuamen
Suddenly, there was a cry of pain outside, and everyone trembled. Wu Dan, the gatekeeper, strode in and said to Qian'er: "Zhang Bonian asked to see his master, and he is willing to die with just one word..." Kangxi was startled for a moment, and said coldly: "
Tell him to come in!"
Zhang Bonian was injured during the torture, so he walked in with his hands on the ground and his knees. The cold rain clung to his black cloth robe, and the remaining inch of white hair on his forehead was covered with water drops, shivering at the foot of the steps as if he was overwhelmed by the cold.
Shivering. Kangxi sneered and asked:
"Zhang Bonian, you are crying to see me, what do you have to say?"
"The guilty minister wants to know what kind of punishment the emperor will give." Zhang Bonian replied. His voice was loud and there was no fear at all.
"Xiao Li Jue." Kangxi said calmly, "You are a high official and are familiar with the national canons. Of course you know what it means."
"Hanging is not a capital punishment." Zhang Bonian kowtowed and said, "Please, Your Majesty, please forgive me and swear not to frown!"
"What?"
"...I just want to ask your Majesty one thing - my father is over eighty years old, please forgive me for the hardship of being sent to the garrison - I can die in peace..." Zhang Bonian's voice choked up. Kangxi snorted: "He followed your lead.
After using up all the power and blessings, and enjoying so much blessings from the people, why not take a few steps to eat?" Zhang Bonian fell to the ground and sobbed: "Please learn from the cave, my father has never taken half a thread from the people..."
Kangxi said with a livid face: "Are so many people falsely accusing them? From the Tai Fu, imperial envoys, to the common people." "Under severe punishment, why can't evidence be obtained, and why can't be demanded?" Zhang Bonian said sadly.
, "...Thunder, rain and dew are all your kindness. How to deal with it, I will have no complaints and die with no regrets. I have served you for many years, and I always pray that I will be open to you... Unfortunately, my house was ransacked, and only five taels of silver were found.
How can my father endure the garrison thousands of miles away..."
"Five taels!" Kangxi seemed to have heard thunder in the wilderness, his face turned pale, his lips trembled twice, he looked back at Gao Shiqi blankly, and asked with a slight stutter: "I...why didn't I see clearly...the list? Gao
, Gao Shiqi, what he said is really...really?"
Gao Shiqi couldn't tell whether he was sad, happy or ashamed. He choked with bitterness and couldn't answer. He only knocked his head twice and took out the copied list from his arms.
Gave it to Kangxi. Kangxi took it, his face became paler and gloomier. There were only a few lines of words on the light list of confiscation:
Two rooms are rented, and the rent will be paid until the twenty-fifth year of Kangxi's reign. The rent should be paid to the original landlord now, and the remaining money will be refunded one or two and a half cents; sundries such as pots, pans, spoons, cooking utensils, etc. can be exchanged for three cents of silver; bed covers, towels, and combs can be exchanged for two cents of silver.
Money; one tael and five cents of silver per ride in the bamboo sedan; there are also two bunches of green clam money and fifty cents.
Such a small piece of paper was stuck in a file that was more than a foot thick, but he had never read it! Tears blurred Kangxi's eyes, and the words on the paper became blurred. He took a step forward, as if he wanted to help the guilty minister up.
Suddenly he felt that he had no strength at all, and stopped again. He waved his hand and told Mu Zixu: "Help... help him come in..."
Zhang Bonian was brought in. He was sick and had a fever. His whole body was trembling, and the water on his body dripped into the ground. Kangxi sat back on the chair, and after a while he asked slowly: "Are you a salt merchant or a Longjiang merchant?"
Why is the money I collected not on the list?" Zhang Bonian had calmed down a lot and hurriedly kowtowed and said, "Salt traders are smuggling for private purposes, which is prohibited by national law. Xia Qitong of Jiangning Salt Road was not investigated for accepting bribes, and I once seized three thousand taels on my behalf.
Longjiang Guan Zhou used Zhongtong Tongyan Road and took a bribe of 10,000 taels, which was found out and intercepted by the officials. Sizhou and Zhili Prefecture were hit by floods, and Governor Ashan pledged to borrow money to provide disaster relief. Ashan transferred it and never returned it. For some reason, this picture
The IOU was actually lost after checking the vassal office - I have a hard time defending..."
"That being the case, why didn't you actually participate in Xia Qitong and Zhou Yongzhong?"
"Back to the Emperor." Zhang Bonian kowtowed and said, "I am in the third rank and am the acting governor. As a rule, memorials are presented by the Governor's Office on my behalf. I don't know whether they will be submitted to the imperial review."
"Gray!"
Nothing shocked Kangxi more than this. He didn't understand why Suo'etu and Mingzhu didn't know anything about such a big thing? Kangxi took a cup of tea and took a sip. He felt it was cold, so he poured it down and asked again:
"What's going on with Nanshi Tower?" Zhang Bonian asked: "I am guilty of negligence in this matter. The people in Jiangnan are not good, and the scholars must be taught the Holy Edict from time to time - but it is not to rebuild Nanshi Tower, but to build Nanshi Tower
A new Holy Oracle Hall was built on the old site - because the minister had just arrived, he only wanted to spend less money and failed to investigate the previous situation in detail..." Kangxi's face turned purple when he heard this, and he suppressed it and asked again: "I am sending an imperial envoy to go there.
Inquisitor, since you have been wronged and they can tell you all these things on your behalf, why don't you explain it to them face to face?"
"I did not meet the imperial envoy." Zhang Bonian said, "The interrogation was conducted by the governor-general's office. My father ordered me to endure the torture to the death and save my life to go to Beijing, which may allow the Lord to know the truth. So.
I went to the Ministry of Punishments to retract my confession, and refused to admit guilt even to the point of death. I asked the Holy Spirit to understand my plight."
"Torture?" Kangxi couldn't help but be horrified. He once told Yisang'a not to use torture. After a long time, he asked, "Is there anything about torture?"
Zhang Bonian really didn't understand why he had offended the two powerful ministers, and a group of people raised their hands to kill him! Thinking of this, he couldn't help but feel sad, and there was a sadness in his heart, and he sobbed: "Please... Lord... check it out...
...Injury examination..."
Kangxi didn't get up, he was already stunned. There were blood marks on Zhang Bonian's exposed neck and arms, and his injured leg, so there was no need to examine it carefully. After a long time, Kangxi gritted his teeth and said with a smile: "Good slave,
This is a good imperial envoy and a good governor!" After saying that, Huo Di jumped up, took off a sword from the wall, and shouted: "Where is Wu Dan?"
When Wu Dan heard this, he agreed loudly, strode in, raised his hands and asked, "What is the master's will?"
"Take this sword and go to the south of the Yangtze River quickly," Kangxi said grimly, "Immediately seize the imperial envoy Yi Sang'a, Governor Ge Li and other men and women come to Beijing, dare not obey the imperial edict and rectify the law on the spot!"
"twitter!"
Wu Dan took the sword and turned around to leave. Zhang Bonian took a few steps on his knees and hugged Kangxi's legs, pleading: "Long live the anger - long live the gullibility of people's words and the desire to punish ministers, and now they listen to the minister's words and start a big prison again, how rash!"
"
"Well, good!" Kangxi's eyes lit up and he said with admiration, "You are indeed worthy of a minister! Just to test your heart - Wu Dan rode a fast horse to the Ministry of Punishment to deliver the decree: pardon Bonian's old father -
I still want to meet this old gentleman!" Zhang Bonian couldn't bear it any longer and actually hid his face and cried bitterly. Gao Shiqi was shocked and saddened, and Kangxi was even more dejected. After a long time, Kangxi asked again: "Bo Nian
, why are you not allowed to build a palace in Longtan? Is it because the feng shui is not good?"
"I don't care about this matter, I have to report it." Zhang Bonian said, "Longtan is close to Mochou Lake. Although the scenery is beautiful, it is not easy to defend. Several palaces are close to each other, and the garrison flag camp is dozens of miles away.
, in case of emergency, it will be difficult to respond and protect the people. The Holy One is responsible for the world, and the ministers are responsible for the local affairs, so we have to pay more attention."
"Um."
"Now that the world has just reached peace, there have been rumors in recent years that the third prince Zhu sneaked into the south of the Yangtze River and was arrested by several prefects. They were all removed and transferred as soon as they had a clue. The culprit has not been found, which is very worrying!" Zhang Bonian said calmly. In fact, he himself failed this time
This is the root cause of such a big bad luck. He very much suspected that Yang Qilong was hiding in the Governor's Mansion, but now he was in a lawsuit with Ge Li, and it seemed like retaliation when he said it, so he said vaguely, "...for example, Longtan
There is a Pilu Monastery adjacent to it. In recent years, the incense has been booming, and there are so many tourists. It is a mixed bag. Two years ago, four eminent monks passed away while seated. This year, I am in prison. I don’t know what happened. This is also suspicious! Your Majesty.
You also like to travel incognito, so how can you put people at ease next to a place like this?"
Kangxi thought for a while and said with a smile: "The eminent monk promised to sit down for four years every two years. Isn't it child's play? Have you checked?" Zhang Bonian smiled bitterly and said: "How can I have time! I built the Xing Palace and built the academy before I finished it.
The imperial case... I only went to Pilu Court once to inspect it, and then I was relieved of my duties pending investigation." Kangxi thought about the strangeness of the matter and felt that it was unclear if he asked again, so he smiled and said: "I will surprise you today. Some things will be slow in the future.
Let’s be honest—your belongings, which are less than five taels, have been stolen, and you are too poor. Come on, give Zhang Bonian three hundred taels of silver!"
Kangxi stood at the foot of the steps and ordered people to carry a sedan to carry Zhang Bonian out. He also ordered Gao Shiqi to take Zhang Bonian and his son to the mansion so that they could live and die, and watched them go out in the drizzle.
Kangxi changed into plain clothes, and he and Mu Zixu each rode a horse, and left the Donghua Gate one after another. Seeing that Mu Zixu was silent, Kangxi turned around on the horse and said with a smile: "Zixu, you follow
Have you been with me for more than ten years?"
"Master," Mu Zixu bowed his head and replied, "This slave followed Brother Huchen to the dragon in the sixth year of Kangxi's reign."
"It's not easy. I have survived so many life-and-death situations." Kangxi said with great emotion, and smiled again: "I heard that you and Xiao Weizi got married? Xiao Weizi said it in his book, and you are as bored as a gourd.
,Are you afraid of eating your wedding wine?" Mu Zixu was startled, and said with a smile: "How dare I have such a big reputation? I thought it was my children's private matter, so I didn't dare to disturb my master." Kangxi smiled and said
"You, Xiao Weizi, Lang Ling, and Wu Dan are different from others. They are the people who came out with me. All big and small things are just jokes. Tell them to me and make the master laugh. They are also yours."
Zhongxin—are you still doing the job of patrolling the Yamen?"
The chief of the patrol yamen was the Admiral of the Nine Gates. Mu Zixu didn't know what Kangxi meant by asking this question, so he thought about it and replied: "The slave is in charge of Shanpu Camp. In the twelfth year of Kangxi's reign, he took over the Admiral of the Nine Gates, but he was acting, not
I went to the Yamen to do business, and now it is managed by Tong Guowei, a doctor in the Ministry of War..."
"Tong Guowei?" Kangxi reined in his horse, raised his head and thought for a moment, "He is the younger brother of the Empress Dowager Xiaokang. If you are in a small family, he is my serious uncle - what is this person like?" Mu Zixu smiled.
He said: "He is very cautious in doing things, because he is a relative and rarely interacts with others..." Kangxi rode forward, nodded and said: "Okay, in this position, if you know how to be careful, you are a good slave - I will promote him and transfer you.
How about being appointed as the chief envoy to Liangjiang and also in charge of the weaving industry in Jiangning?"
The chief envoy of Liangjiang was not a very big official, but he was in charge of the army and the people. He had very heavy powers. Although Jiangning Weaving was in charge of the Ministry of Internal Affairs, he dealt directly with the emperor. Although there was a legend that Mu Zixu was called the chief envoy for a long time.
However, Mu Zixu was still surprised to hear Kangxi say it on this occasion today, so he paused and replied: "The slave is someone trained by the emperor, and he is assigned to do all the errands. It's just that... the slave comes from a
The foolish young man was born as a horse thief. He followed the emperor and has never done any errands on his own. I'm afraid he has failed the emperor's trust."
Kangxi laughed loudly after hearing this: "Compared with Wei Dongting, you are more cautious than enterprising. Wei Dongting, I think he is too mature and cautious! Don't worry, don't worry! I will give you a salary, the same as that of Xiao Weizi! Go.
If you have many things to discuss with Wei Dongting, I will still take care of you!"
The Hubu Yamen is located at the northern entrance of Tieshizi Hutong, only a stone's throw away from the Ministry of War. There is a long line of official sedans lined up at the door. They are all from the provincial vassals' Yamen coming to Beijing to withdraw treasury money.
The monarch and his ministers dismounted at the T-shaped entrance. Mu Zixu saw the chaos of people coming and going in the hall, and smiled and said: "Master, when you come here, someone will definitely recognize you. It's better not to provoke them. I'm here."
We are familiar with each other, let's go in through the side door. If Fei Yanggu comes, he will definitely go to the Military and Political Department to file a salary lawsuit with them - find the right one!" Kangxi nodded with a smile, and came in one after another.
The yamen was very deep. Mu Zixu and Kangxi made many twists and turns, dodging people, until they reached a row of houses in the north. They saw an iron sign hanging at the entrance of the courtyard, which read: "Emperor Shi Zuzhang's Holy Edict: This place is a military hub."
, Civil and military officials without official documents are not allowed to enter!" A Goshiha had already come out, and when he saw it was Mu Zixu, he hurriedly saluted and said with a smile: "Hey! It's Mu Junmen! It's been a long time since I've been waiting for you, little one - come in quickly!"
"Are all the magistrates here?"
"One of the six officers was on a business trip yesterday," Ghoshha said with a smile, "and the remaining five are working for the Feijunmen. Please wait a moment while the younger one goes to report."
Mu Zixu looked back and saw Kangxi shaking his head, so he smiled and said: "You don't need your brother Xianqin'er, what kind of friendship do I have with Lao Fei? We are so different!" After that, he and Kangxi went into a quiet room.
In the courtyard of the Military and Political Affairs Department, the two of them walked along the corridor for a short distance, and then they heard someone talking in the custody room. Kangxi approached the window and looked through the window lattice, and saw four or five well-dressed officials with their backs to the window, giving Fei Yanggu
Reporting on the situation of military camps in various places, and looking at Feiyanggu again, I almost didn't laugh: Feiyanggu was wearing a crimson solid gauze robe, lying lazily on an easy chair, his face facing Kangxi, a man in his thirties, a
His face looked old and tired, and he said "hmm" with his eyes closed as if he was sleepy.
"... In Gubeikou, where Feijunmen is located, there are four thousand Chahar Mongolian surrender soldiers. According to the military settlement system, each person and each household should cultivate 20 acres, and contribute 1,500 kilograms of military grain annually. The annual payment should be reduced.
Six million kilograms of grain, now the Ministry of Revenue has reduced it to 400,000." Xiao Jizu, the chief officer, was probably refuting Feiyanggu's request for salary, and said, "Now that the military sect is saying that the Ministry of Revenue is unwilling to take care of it, the low-level officials will inevitably feel aggrieved...
…”
"Um."
"Should we report the current acres of farmland in each province to the army, so that we can have an idea?"
"Yes." Feiyang Gu only nodded.
"These are all published in the Di Di newspaper this year."
"Um."
Kangxi couldn't help but snicker: The boss was obviously impatient to repay Fei Yanggu, but he just said "hmm"! The boss swallowed helplessly and glanced at the sleepy-eyed first-class officer, first-class bodyguard, and commander of the army opposite him.
The commander quickly reported a long list of numbers: "...that's it. Please investigate carefully. The Ministry of Household Affairs is also on errands for the emperor. How dare you do anything deceptive?"
"It's over?"
"yes."
Fei Yanggu slowly sat up, put his hands on his knees, no longer sleepy, and said slowly: "I know you have difficulties in doing things here, but I am not here today to ask for pay. I want to be with Brother Guangdi."
Let’s have a deep talk. Where to use the troops in the northwest? No matter who is the commander-in-chief, the emperor must use me to garrison the troops in Gubeikou!" Seeing that he suddenly became so energetic, Kangxi was surprised to hear that what he said was reasonable, and couldn't help but nodded secretly. But
Hearing Feiyang Gu's change of tone, he added with a half-smile, "Brother Guangdi is busy, please tell me the situation, why don't you fight with me in the ring?"
After saying one sentence, the five people looked at each other in confusion. Xiao Jizu stood up, bowed, sat down again, and said with a blushing face: "Please give me a lesson, sir."
"Can't say Ming Xun." Fei Yanggu sneered, "The farmland in Zhili is 7,449,928 acres, the farmland in Shandong is 2,945,518 acres, and the farmland in Shanxi is 300 acres.
536,095 acres, Henan is 6,044,419 acres, Jiangsu is 2,586,978 acres, Anhui is..." He said
He talked about the details of the farmland in the 18 provinces. There were whole and small numbers, ranging from millions to one or two acres. There was no mistake. Not only Kangxi and the principals, but also Mu Zixu who was eavesdropping next to him.
I couldn't help but be speechless. "...not including my Gubeikou, the total is 94,673,01 acres. You missed 48,741,521 acres - I
But you said the whole number of the farmland there is actually 1,411 acres more. Chief Xiao, I am the general commanding the army. I should not be fussy with you like a woman - each of the four thousand surrendered soldiers has 500 jin each. You
It's a lot of money, but you don't know that every surrendering soldier is a person with a family. It's good if he can support himself. How do you expect to get food and salary? There are huge discrepancies here. It's not that you are confused, but you are unfair in your heart. You have to be like this
If the Gongun princes go to the front line to lead the troops in a war, they must mutiny!"
Although these words were spoken in a eloquent voice and were not stern, they made several officials sweat and could not refute a word. Upon hearing this, Kangxi tugged at the corner of Mu Zixu's clothes and turned around.
Let's go. After leaving the gate of the Military and Political Department, Mu Zixu asked: "Master, don't you want to see Fei Yanggu?"
"Have I seen this before?" Kangxi said with a smile, "If I want to go in, I can only see the clothes he is wearing and his etiquette. How can I see it in such detail!" (To be continued)