Looking at the empty official post, Wei Li couldn't help but sigh.
As a co-prefect of Gongchang Prefecture, he always kept the suffering of the people in his heart. He wanted to implement the various decisions of the court normally. He wanted to do what a co-president should do, save refugees and people in distress.
However, he is just a fellow intellectual.
The chief official of Gongchang Mansion is the prefect. Tongzhi is just an adjutant who assists the prefect.
In many things, he was helpless and even more powerless.
"Gongchang Mansion has a lot of problems. Where should I start talking about this?" Looking at Xiao Chen, Wei Li shook his head helplessly.
"If we don't talk about anything else, let's start with the unmanaged official post."
Staring at Wei Li, Xiao Chen said calmly.
"Okay, now that we have reached this point, I will report some things to the Imperial Envoy truthfully."
Wei Li moved his buttocks to the inside of the bunk, as if he had made up his mind.
"This official post originally had more than ten people busy in the kitchen and stables, each doing their own thing in an orderly manner. Before you came, the imperial envoy, when the adults from Dongchang first arrived, the prefect specially arranged them in the official post.
They entertained us well. Our prefect has always been very strong. This time, such a severe drought occurred in Gongchang, which exposed Gongchang's shortcomings in water conservancy. For fear of affecting his political performance, the prefect was unwilling to report truthfully to the court.
Because of the disaster, we tried every means to prevent people from Dongchang from going to Shouyang Town, where the disaster was most severe, for on-the-spot inspection."
"However, the people in Dongchang were too dedicated. They set out before dawn and went to Shouyang Town. They reported the situation to the capital truthfully. The prefect felt that he could not lose face, but when faced with the people in Dongchang, he
I didn't dare to complain easily, so in the name of assisting Shouyang Town in disaster relief, I transferred everyone in Guanyi. The purpose was to express my dissatisfaction."
Wei Li lowered his head and spoke slowly, word by word.
"So it turns out that the prefect is trying to show off to Dongchang." Xiao Chen sneered.
Then he added: "If I hadn't known that the emperor sent me to provide disaster relief, would Gongchang Mansion not have planned to open a warehouse to release grain and provide disaster relief first?"
"This, this shouldn't be right?" Wei Li hesitated for a moment, "Before, the prefect also said that this disaster relief is also an urgent matter."
"Who did you say that to? With you?"
"Xiaoguan was present at the time. But the magistrate did not say this to the magistrate, but to the chief minister of Shaanxi and Zhaomo who was stationed in Gongchang Mansion."
"The Chief Secretary of Shaanxi actually has officials stationed in Gongchang?" Xiao Chen couldn't help but laugh, "It seems like it's just a decoration at best. Where do these two officials live?"
Wei Li hurriedly replied: "Sir, we all live in Gongchang Mansion."
Xiao Chen stretched out his legs and slipped out of Datong Shop: "Is Wei Tongzhi busy with something now?"
"No, no." Wei Li's face was full of smiles.
"Take me to the government office, can you?" Xiao Chen smiled lightly.
"Now?" Wei Li hesitated.
"Why, is it inconvenient to go now?"
"No, no." Wei Li hurriedly waved his hand, "I am worried that the two Shaanxi Chief Secretary have already fallen asleep."
"Thousands of victims are waiting outside the city gate, starving and freezing. Can they sleep? Lead the way." Xiao Chen's tone could not help but rise a lot.
Wei Li no longer dared to refute, and hurriedly stood up and opened the door.
There is still a long way to go from the official post office to Gongchang Mansion Office. Wei Li walked in front, slowly leading the way without saying a word. Xiao Chen behind him had his hands behind his back and no expression on his face.
Half an hour later, the two arrived at the gate of the government office.
Two large fiery red lanterns, with candles inside flickering, illuminated the closed government office door.
Wei Li stepped forward and slapped the door continuously.
After half a day, a lazy voice came from inside: "Who is knocking on the door in the middle of the night?"
"I, Wei Li." Wei Li's face looked a little ugly for a moment.
It had only been dark when the yamen servant actually knocked on the door in the middle of the night.
Anyone can see how early the government office usually closes for rest.
There was a rustling sound from inside the door, and then there was another bang and the sound of the door latch being removed.
A head stuck out from inside: "Master Wei, why are you back to the government office so late?"
"Stop talking nonsense, the door is open." Wei Li said angrily.
The yamen officer was stunned, wondering why Mr. Wei was different from usual.
Looking up, he saw Xiao Chen behind Wei Li and opened the door completely with some confusion.
Turning around, Wei Li said respectfully to Xiao Chen: "My lord, please."
Then he looked at the confused yamen servant: "Go, inform Zheng Dushi and Zhang Zhaomo and ask them to come to the yamen hall."
"No need." Xiao Chen raised his left hand and waved, "Go directly to their residence."
Wei Li did not dare to refute at all, so he nodded and smiled at Xiao Chen, bowed and walked forward.
Gongchang Mansion has a large courtyard with five or six houses in total.
Opposite the gate is the government hall. The two buildings on both sides are where the government handles official business on a daily basis. The few houses behind are the residences of the government officials.
Two officials from the Shaanxi Chief Secretary stationed in Gongchang were placed in the house near the wall.
At this moment, on the table in the room, there were several plates of cold dishes, a plate of warm beef with soy sauce, and a fried gourd chicken.
The governor, Zheng Taiji, and Teruma Zhangfu were sitting opposite each other, each holding a wine bowl in their hands. They were already so drunk that their ears were red and their necks were thick.
"This time, the drought in Gongchang is a bit severe. If the imperial court comes to provide relief, I'm afraid the paper can't contain the fire." Mr. Zhang, who put his arms on the table, said nervously.
"We are not the chief officers of Gongchang, so what decisions can we make? If the people above us are easy to talk to, it won't be a big deal. If the people above us are very determined, we will have no choice but to push away the responsibilities altogether." Holding hands.
Zheng Taiji, the boss of the wine bowl, also had a solemn expression on his face.
"I think this matter may make a big fuss this time. I'm afraid that the Chief Secretary will also be implicated. If something happens to the Chief Secretary, we will definitely not get any good results."
"Oh, I just hope that the people who come from the imperial court this time can be settled with money." Zheng Taiji sighed.
"The prefect has gone to Dingxi, and the Marquis will definitely help him get through this difficulty. When the time comes, he should speak for us, right?"
"This time, he is in trouble, but he can still care about us? Too many people have been killed in Shouyang Town."
"By the way, I wonder how he dealt with the dead people near Gongchang?" Teruma Zhangfu lowered his voice.
"I heard that after the other people in the village were expelled, the bodies were buried on the spot. Nothing should happen." said the Governor Zheng Taiji.
"Oh, I have something on my mind. This wine is tasteless." Mr. Zhang raised his head, took half a bowl of soju from the table, and poured it all into his mouth.
"Bang bang, bang bang." There was a slight knock on the door.
"Who could it be?" Mr. Zhang looked at the governor Zheng Taiji opposite and asked in a low voice.
"The prefect is not here, so it should be the government officials."
Zhang Fu cleared his throat: "If you have any questions, we'll discuss it tomorrow. We've already rested."
"Bang," followed by a "crash", the door was kicked open, and Xiao Chen walked in slowly with his hands behind his back.
The door was kicked open, and the two of them were shocked.
When it became clear that Xiao Chen was wearing an ordinary school captain's uniform, the two of them immediately became furious.
"Where are you, the captain of the school? You kicked in the door so rudely, do you still have any rules in your eyes?"
Xiao Chen remained silent and slowly walked to the table. Looking at the food and wine on the table, he couldn't help but snorted: "Outside the city gate, there are thousands of hungry victims lying on the ground. You two are still alive."
It's quite nourishing, so forget it and don't go to provide porridge for disaster relief. You can eat seven or eight dishes and drink some wine. Are you representing the Chief Secretary of Shaanxi and coming to Gongchang Mansion to have a happy time?"
The two people, who were originally furious, were a little surprised when they heard Xiao Chen's words.
Who is this person? Why does he speak in a tone that does not sound like an ordinary school captain?
"Who are you?" They looked at Xiao Chen warily, and the two of them did not dare to get angry for a while.
"Who am I?" Xiao Chen laughed angrily, turned around and waved to the door: "Master Wei, come in and tell them who I am."
Outside the door, Wei Li, who was hunched over, nodded fawningly and walked into the room.
He crossed his arms and bowed to the two of them respectively: "Two gentlemen, this is the imperial envoy sent by the imperial court to Gongchang Mansion for disaster relief, Mr. Xiao Chenxiao, the purple-clothed captain of Dongchang."