Just when Zhang Xing, the commander of Gongchangwei, was struggling to do anything to ensure that the victims had food to eat, in a large courtyard on the outskirts of Gongchang Mansion, people were singing and dancing, as if they were living in a paradise on earth, which was incompatible with the drought disaster outside.
.
This yard does not occupy a large area, only about thirty acres of land.
A wall made of green bricks doesn't look particularly exaggerated.
Especially the five-foot-wide gate, which can just accommodate a carriage to pass through. It looks like an ordinary yard no matter what.
On the gate tower, there are three big characters written on the black plaque: "Qingxiang Zhai".
Simply understood from the literal meaning, this place is either a Buddhist place where people eat food and chant sutras, or it is an elegant hall where literati gather to enjoy flowers and recite poems.
In the middle of the courtyard is a large tile-roofed house with only one floor.
It is surrounded by two-story buildings all around the courtyard. Even if it is brightly lit all night, it cannot be seen from outside the courtyard.
However, this large tile-roofed house occupies a large area.
Not only is there a hall that is two feet wide and three feet long, but behind the hall, there are kitchens, guest rooms, and even at the end, there is a hut built indoors for men and women.
The style in the hall is completely different from the style outside.
The walls are painted white, and more than ten pillars are painted with bright red paint, making the entire hall look extremely festive.
The ground is paved with a red slate unique to Longxi. It is polished so smooth that the reflection of people can be clearly seen when standing on it.
Lanterns, ribbons, silks and satins, these luxurious decorations that change every year, not to mention, fill the entire hall.
On both sides of the hall, there are three solid wood tables with unique shapes, exquisite workmanship, and high-quality materials placed along the length. They look very grand.
At this moment, there are three tables on both sides, two of which are free. There is only one man sitting on the first table, holding a wine pot in one hand and a wine cup in the other, pouring and drinking.
From time to time, he raised his wine cup and saluted towards the top.
The direction where they were toasting was also the main seat of the hall. Looking around, there was not even a table.
However, a large red carpet with a radius of five or six feet was spread on the ground in a "gorgeous" way.
There is everything on the carpet. Fruits, fine wines, melon seeds and peanuts that have never been seen before, and all kinds of mouth-watering delicacies are spread out on almost half of the carpet.
A middle-aged man who looked to be in his early thirties, with delicate features and delicate skin, as handsome as a woman, was wearing a lavender robe, with his right hand bent to support his head, and he was lying lazily on the stall.
Although it is May, Gongchang is not very hot. Especially after the sun goes down, the overall temperature is very comfortable.
But at this moment, behind the man, a woman dressed as a maid was kneeling on her knees, holding a cattail leaf fan in her hand, shaking it gently at the man.
It doesn't seem to be cooling the fan, but driving away mosquitoes.
Next to the man, there was a charming woman in scantily clad clothes, holding an unknown fruit in her hand, peeling it off gently, turning around, smiling coquettishly, and stuffed the fruit into the man's mouth.
"Little Marquis, how does this tribute orange taste?" The woman coquettishly twisted her waist and leaned towards the man.
"Yes, sweet and sour." The man known as the Little Marquis laughed heartily and stretched out his hand to pull the woman into his arms.
The two people on the table next to them seemed to be used to this scene. They laughed, pretended not to see anything, and continued to pour themselves wine from the wine cups.
This young Marquis is none other than the youngest son of Dingxi Marquis, Wang Kuan, the prefect of Gongchang Prefecture.
As if he remembered something, Wang Kuan suddenly sat up, pushed the woman out of his arms, gave a kick, and turned to look at the man on the right: "Mr. Zheng, I asked you to give me a cloth last time."
The news that the Chief Secretary brought back the drought in Gongchang should have arrived in the capital, right?"
This Zheng Dushi, whose full name is Zheng Taiji, is the seventh rank Dushi of the Chief Secretary of Shaanxi Province who is responsible for sending and receiving documents.
The other man was the Chief Secretary of Shaanxi Province who was responsible for writing and excerpting documents.
It stands to reason that within a Chief Secretary, only one should be the Chief Secretary and the other should be the Chief Secretary.
However, the area under the jurisdiction of the Chief Secretary of Shaanxi is really quite large.
In addition, Gongchang has a special location. It is the throat of the imperial court in the northwest. The Gongchang Guard set up here by the imperial court has almost twice the strength of other guards. The Chief Secretary of Shaanxi has specially appointed a governor and a military officer.
, stationed in Gongchang Mansion, just to keep abreast of the actual situation in this remote Gongchang Mansion.
But how did the Chief Secretary of Shaanxi Province know that the two people he arranged were no different from deaf people and had already been bribed by Wang Kuan, the prefect of Gongchang.
The news reported to the Chief Secretary was all approved by Wang Kuan.
Hearing Wang Kuan suddenly ask about political affairs, Governor Zheng Taiji hurriedly put down his wine cup, folded his fists and bowed: "In this matter, when I returned to the Chief Secretary, I didn't dare to delay at all, so I ordered the general to
This news was reported to the Ministry of Revenue, and if the Ministry of Revenue had not delayed, the Emperor should have already known about it."
"There is a severe drought in the world. The court's taxes should be reduced or reduced. Why is the reply from the Ministry of Household Affairs so late? If the court does not reduce the taxes, the taxes collected this year will have to be paid in full." Wang Kuan muttered and stretched out his hand.
, and pulled the woman next to him into his arms again.
He seemed to be in a bad mood, so he raised his hand and put it on the other person's tender face, twisting it hard a few times.
Following his movements, several purple handprints appeared on the woman's face.
Even so, she seemed to have gotten used to it, and the woman still had a smile on her face, leaning against Wang Kuan's arms like a bird.
However, his body trembled slightly a few times.
Seeing the other person's face change instantly, Zheng Taiji felt a little guilty for a moment.
When he first arrived at Gongchang Mansion, like everyone else, his first impression of Wang Kuan was very good.
Diligent, eager to learn, and handsome.
A person in his forties looks similar to someone in his thirties.
The most important thing is that behind him is Ding Xihou, a father who is as stable as a mountain.
In addition, Wang Kuan always presented himself with a gentle and elegant image, and his words showed his concern for the sufferings of the people of Gongchang. He also built water conservancy projects, opened up wasteland and expanded land, and made many political achievements.
Therefore, in Zheng Taiji's heart, Wang Kuan is the most qualified prefect in the world, no one.
However, as their interactions became closer and closer, Zheng Taiji discovered that Wang Kuan was selfish, insidious, profit-seeking, and extremely hypocritical.
But these are not his biggest problems.
His biggest problem is that he has a bad temper and is moody, almost like a lunatic.
In this luxurious and luxurious hall, Zheng Taiji witnessed with his own eyes that Wang Kuan lost his temper for no reason and beat no less than ten maids to death.
After seeing the first maid beaten to death, Zheng Taiji was frightened and wanted to find an excuse to leave Gongchang.
But it's not that easy to get off the pirate ship.
Wang Kuan didn't say anything, he was still respectful to himself.
But after getting used to having good food, good clothes, and a lot of money to live on every day, Zheng Taiji's heart about leaving gradually relaxed.
Although, every time Wang Kuan got "sick", he always took it out on the maid and never directed it at himself.
But looking at his crazy behavior, Zheng Taiji couldn't help but feel furious.
If it weren't for the temptation of money that kept him from letting go, and he really wanted to leave, he was afraid that one day he would be influenced by Wang Kuan and become a "crazy devil".
"If the imperial court knew that there was a drought in Gongchang and the seeds could not be planted in the fields, then the tax would be exempted. However, I am worried that the Ministry of Revenue will send people down to check the truth." Zheng Taiji whispered, trying to lure Wang Kuan away.
attention.
"The capital is more than three thousand miles away from Gongchang. Just because of a trivial matter like drought, the Ministry of Revenue sent people to check?" Wang Kuan grinned disdainfully, "Even if they come, just settle it with money. I don't want to be there."
In the impression of the imperial court, the people of Gongchang are living a miserable life."
"It's okay to balance the money, but we can't embarrass the people in the Ministry of Revenue too much. How about sending some food to Shouyang Town tomorrow? I heard that people there have already died of hunger."
Zheng Taiji tried.
"What are you giving? If it doesn't rain today, am I the one who can make the decision? If it doesn't rain, it's a punishment from God. How dare I go against God?" As he said this, Wang Kuan picked up the hot water bottle on the stall.
He fell towards the woman next to him, "It's like this. It's obviously very painful, but you still have to endure it. Whoever puts it in front of you, I will be like God?"
"Hahaha, hahaha." Seeing the woman twisting and rolling under the water, Wang Kuan's devilish laughter stimulated the hearts of everyone present.
