Su Ziji was not a new Jinshi with no experience. When he went to the southwest, he even competed with eunuchs, imperial envoys, and marshals. It can be said that the top figures representing the three types of court forces had all been admitted to Su Ziji.
This lesson allowed Su Ziji to adapt to working together in the officialdom in advance.
After just a moment, he discovered that although Qi Hongxin looked polite to him, there was a trace of contempt in his eyes, which was obviously a bit contemptuous.
"Perhaps because he has met me twice, he thinks that I am afraid of the locust plague and the loss of money, so he has been reluctant to report it."
Su Ziji thought of this and said directly: "Master Qi, when I come to see you this time, in addition to reading out the decree and reporting to the government office, I also have an important matter to discuss with you."
"Is Master Su referring to the locust extermination?" Qi Hongxin picked up the tea cup and took a sip. After putting it down, he asked calmly.
Obviously, he didn't believe that Su Ziji had anything important to say to him.
Su Ziji didn't mind and took out the rolled paper from his sleeve.
Seeing his action, Qi Hongxin reluctantly became a little more interested. He stared at Su Ziji, spread out a roll of yellow paper, and handed it to him: "Master Qi, please take a look."
What's this?
Qi Hongxin, who was just a little curious at first, took the hand and took a look. The next moment he raised his head sharply, like a cat that saw a mouse, his eyes were sharply locked on Su Ziji and asked: "Master Su, what is this?"
In ancient times, this kind of mine map was a secret. If the person in front of me hadn't been a new Jinshi, the acting Fu Cheng, he would have taken it immediately.
"Master Qi, you should have noticed that this is the mining map in Shun'an Prefecture!" Su Ziji explained seriously: "It is marked with black ink on the top, indicating that it is a mining area registered with the government, and the red pen marks
With..."
"Is it a private mine?" Qi Hongxin answered.
"Exactly! These are private mines." Su Ziji nodded.
It’s actually a private mine?
After Qi Hongxin came to Shun'an Prefecture, he had the idea of mining because of his losses. He specifically looked at the distribution map of all the mines under the government's control. It was basically consistent with what was marked in black on the mine map, but he didn't.
I thought that private mines have been hidden so much.
His face gradually turned ugly, but in contrast, his eyes became brighter and brighter.
"It's not convenient here, go over there! Please explain this mine map to me in detail!" They are sitting on a small table with various things on it, for fear that this precious mine map will be soaked by the tea, and
This was obviously a confidential matter, so Qi Hongxin hurriedly called Su Ziji to the study.
Su Ziji followed Shanruliu and spent about a stick of incense explaining the annotations on the mine map and the power table to Qi Hongxin.
After hearing that there were gold mines in these black mines, Qi Hongxin was filled with surprise and surprise.
After thinking about his previous guesses about Su Ziji, his face turned red.
"Master Su, it is I who judge the gentleman's belly with a villain's heart!" He stood up and bowed his head to the ground towards Su Ziji.
"Why did Mr. Qi say this? The lower official was frightened!" Su Ziji hurriedly helped him up: "Since you and I are both new to Shun'an Mansion, facing the current predicament in the manor, what should we think about is how to find a solution.
Come with the money and nip the locust plague in the bud. Not to mention that the official has not felt the other details. Even if there are, they are just trivial matters. They are not important in the face of the people's livelihood."
"Mr. Su is worthy of being the number one scholar in the new subject. He is indeed very clear-sighted. He is much better than those people who only know how to do it every day and just go about their lives." Fortunately, Qi Hongxin was happy and paid attention to his words.
Otherwise, he would accuse others of being a loser in front of Su Ziji.
No wonder he was mean. In fact, compared with Su Ziji, the newly arrived acting county magistrate, everyone else was reduced to dust.
As a new prefect like him who is being watched before he even arrives, it will be difficult for him to secretly investigate things.
But are other officials, especially the county magistrates where the mining areas are located, really unaware and unaware of the black mines within their jurisdiction?
If you really don't know anything, it's not an injustice to curse you.
"Hey, Qi is so ashamed. Mr. Su, you have only been here for a short period of time, but you have found out the news clearly. If you hadn't come here, I might still have been kept in the dark by them!"
Qi Hongxin showed murderous intent when he thought that there were so many black mines hidden in Shun'an Mansion.
Su Ziji sighed: "Although we have figured out the situation, it is very difficult to take back these private mines. The intelligence of the lower officials and the intervention of the gentry are not small."
"Even among the three major gangs, there are still people supporting them, it's not spontaneous."
"Moreover, the three major gangs are local snakes, and they have a large number of people. They have been operating for many years, and there may be higher support behind them. It will not be easy to deal with them in one fell swoop."
Qi Hongxin listened for a while and realized that he was not stupid. He naturally thought of this, but in order to get money to control the locusts, he even gave up his face. He had already ordered the killing of fifty-three people before, so he had already realized it.
, then he looked up to the sky and laughed.
After laughing, he said to Su Ziji: "Before you took office, someone might have told you that you would not sin against a wealthy family."
"We can't talk about this dynasty, but the previous dynasty. The government has the responsibility to split up the huge houses. The ten hectares plaque is hung in the county, the hundred hectares plaque is hung in the province, and the thousand hectares plaque is hung in the household department."
"It is said to the outside world that the government has given plaques to show praise, but in fact, if the plaques are put up, ten hectares of plaques will only be returned, while those with hundreds of hectares will disappear in a few years."
"Even the prime minister of the prince's palace only has ten thousand acres (one hundred hectares). How can the people have a thousand acres?"
"Or maybe someone secretly warned you that the gentry are all the same, and if you offend one, you offend them all."
Qi Hongxin's expression was full of contempt: "I want you to know that even officials who have been favored by the emperor for a long time are not monolithic, let alone the gentry?"
"The magistrate of the county is broken, and the governor of the family is exterminated. Why do I need to compromise with these people? I immediately mobilize my troops and annihilate these so-called three gangs in one fell swoop."
"We already have a map of the mine. I want to know where it is. They are just a group of gangsters. How difficult is it to wipe them all out? Mr. Su, just wait until I take back the private mine!"
Seeing that Qi Hongxin was full of murderous intent and did not shy away from such ferocity even in front of himself, Su Ziji couldn't help but be speechless and thought to himself: "It seems that Qi Hongxin has completely let go after killing fifty-three people."
"But it's good this way. Qi Hongxin plans to lead the county soldiers to encircle and suppress him. He doesn't have to worry about it, he doesn't have to be such a bad person, and he doesn't have to let Zeng Nian really spend so much effort on it."
"I just have something else to do."
Thinking of this, Su Ziji said to Qi Hongxin: "In that case, I would like to congratulate you on your success. However, you have many things to do. Once they are taken back, please leave the handling of these private mines to me."
After hearing this, Qi Hongxin was a little suspicious again.
Naturally, there is a lot of money in the mineral business, but Qi Hongxin had misunderstood Su Ziji before, and it was difficult to refuse now. After hearing Su Ziji's offer, it might not be inappropriate to leave this matter to Su Ziji.
As a county magistrate, it is within the scope of his duties to do this, and Su Ziji arrived later than him, so he does not have to worry about being too involved with local forces. The most important thing is that Su Ziji secretly visited the mine map and the forces.
To find out clearly, you also need to pay attention to the etiquette of reciprocity.