Chapter 306: One person dominates the group
“Don’t dare to say it’s an advice, I just know a thing or two.”
Gao Lian smiled slightly, with a calm and calm posture, showing the calmness of the top leader: "The silver mine case is extremely serious. As a chief minister, I also attach great importance to it. Haha, even from selfish reasons , I also want to find out the truth as soon as possible, so that I, Liu Yingcha, Magistrate Sun, and even the officials and gentry of the entire Taicang Prefecture can be cleared."
With just one word, everyone present was included as a whole.
Zhao Duan also took out the silk next to him, wiped his hands, and said slowly:
"Since Gao Fantai is looking forward to it, he should avoid suspicion."
Gao Lian sighed: "Why don't I know this? It's just that although Masters Liu and Sun and I have not been able to intervene in affairs these days, we have also heard some rumors and changes in the city, and some rumors have slandered the imperial envoy. His words are nothing to worry about.
However, it has actually led to people asking for their lives, and I, a senior officer, cannot turn a blind eye. "
Too good to turn a blind eye!
First gather the local officials present as a whole, point out their hostile relationship with me, and then attack them on the grounds of the common people... I'll let you know the tricks...
The smile on Zhao Duan's face faded and he said calmly: "Master Gao, you don't have to be so cloudy. I don't like to beat around the bush. What do you want to say? You might as well say it directly. Just as it happens, I'm also curious about this group of people. Why did the people have the courage to surround the post house? "
Gao Lian pretended to be helpless and spoke sincerely, but pressed forward step by step: "Master Zhao has misunderstood. Gao has no other thoughts. He only cares about His Majesty's country, country and country. If Master Zhao wants to open the skylight, it's okay. Make it clear.
The case of silver mining was caused by the county magistrate Wang Chusheng. The matter has been concluded. Gao thought that the most urgent task was to arrest Wang Chusheng. However, Mr. Zhao has not taken any action these days. Instead, he has launched an investigation into the yamen of Taicang Prefecture, which has caused people's hearts to rise. In panic, the officials' minds were wandering.
A fair-minded man like Magistrate Sun was suspended from office due to suspicion, so the people under his rule asked for help... Mr. Zhao, this matter is extremely inappropriate! "
As soon as these words came out, it was as if a switch was turned on.
For a time, in the entire hall, all the officials seemed to have made an appointment, and they all spoke their voices to second the proposal.
"What Lord Fantai said is absolutely true. This Wang Chusheng has escaped, so he should be held captive. There is no reason to target us."
"Prefect Sun's behavior as an official has been witnessed by all. As soon as the news of his suspension came out, things started to go haywire underneath."
"...The hearts of the people in the city are floating, we can't continue..."
It seemed like a vegetable market, a mess.
Officials from different yamen made speeches one after another, voicing their grievances. They were nothing more than making a fuss about the two points of "people's initiative" and "officials' changing hearts".
Even many gentry expressed their dissatisfaction.
There is a strong intention to blame Zhao Duan for the recent turmoil in the city.
In the commotion, Zhao Duan was the only one with an expressionless face.
Xu Junling, who was sitting next to him, glanced at him with pity and a bit of "gloating", as if to say:
I warned you before that the other side will fight back.
The scene in this hall seemed to have been planned in advance. Zhao Duan used the crab feast as an opportunity to clarify the rumors and speak frankly.
Local officials took the opportunity as an opportunity to counterattack.
Carrying the emotions that had been brewing for the past few days, taking today as an opportunity, after Gao Lian took the lead in firing, these people were ready to attack in groups.
As if:
If you continue to hold on, you will force our entire Taicang Mansion to show you!
And if the structure of the imperial court is paralyzed in a single government, Zhao Duan cannot bear the responsibility.
Conspiracy!
Forced into the palace!
At this moment, although it was far inferior, Zhao Duan actually felt as if the empress had faced thousands of rebels at the Xuanwu Gate in the past.
Forced into the palace... it is not just a military coup involving swords, blood and fire, but it can also be a drama that does not see the smoke and blood and only stays in words, but is still very powerful.
"grown ups……"
Next to him, the censor Chen Hongrao was used to seeing big winds and waves, and he was also sweating on his forehead - he was worried that Zhao Duan would go his own way and cause chaos in the place. After returning to Beijing, facing the civil and military impeachment of the Manchu Dynasty, the empress would most likely throw him out as a "deputy imperial envoy" in order to protect her face and calm the anger of the courtiers.
Even the captains in Jinyi standing behind Zhao Duan, who were not seated but acting as bodyguards, looked nervous.
However, in the face of this storm, Zhao Duan was like a dark rock, unmoving despite the turbulent sea.
His right hand, which was placed on the table, was tapping gently, as if silently counting the time.
Suddenly, the neighing of a horse was heard outside the chrysanthemum stage.
Then, a petty official ran in in a panic, his face turned pale, his forehead was sweating, and he almost kicked off his boots:
"No...it's not good..."
In an instant, the siege against Zhao Duan in the hall stopped for a short time.
Gao Lian turned his head and looked, his brows furrowed, feeling intense uneasiness:
"What happened? Are you panicking?"
The clerk almost screamed: "Soldiers...those soldiers are arresting people in the city!...The city gate guards and the official officials of the Yamen have also been controlled!"
What?
Like a stone, smashed into the lake.
At this moment, disbelief surged from the hearts of all the officials.
Along with intense doubts.
"What soldiers? Where did the soldiers come from?!"
The inspector Liu Ji stood up suddenly:
"Whose order? Who asked them to——"
Halfway through what he said, the old man seemed to wake up suddenly, suddenly turned his head and looked at someone in the hall.
The soldiers in the city...except for the small number of defenders in charge of the city gates, there are only some government servants who are not "official servants"...and there are only the two hundred cavalry stationed in the post house and transferred by Zhao Duan. .
"It's you!"
At this moment, Gao Lian and others also reacted and looked at the host in horror.
I saw Zhao Duan, who had just been silent and greeted everyone's verbal criticism, with a calm face, and the corners of his mouth slowly raised, about to say something. Suddenly, someone broke in from outside the hospital again.
This time, it was Gao Lian who brought servants from home.
The servants of the Gao family rushed in in a panic, almost crying: "Master, a group of soldiers broke into our house and sealed it. The maids and servants were all tied up, and a seal was posted on the door. I'm here The outside world was spared..."
Gao Lian was shocked, and real anger surged on his elegant and fair face, as if he had torn off his polite coat and stared at him:
"Zhao! Big! Man!"
These three words were almost chewed and spat out.
"What do you mean?!"
Gao Lian shouted in anger, raised his finger and pointed at him, saying angrily:
"Without any knowledge, we mobilized troops and horses and captured them all at my home. What happened? What did I commit? Although you are an imperial envoy, I am also a temporary envoy! According to the laws of Yu, you Never had such power!"
At this moment, he looked particularly angry and lost his temper.
The others were not much better either. Liu Ji, the inspector, had a sinking look on his face and said:
"Mr. Zhao, I am responsible for the inspection. I will truthfully report to the imperial court what you did today and tell the emperor! If you can't come up with a convincing explanation today, even if you are an imperial envoy, if you act like this, it will be according to the law of the imperial court. I won’t tolerate you either!”
From the beginning of the banquet, he had been extremely silent. Sun Xiaozhun, who was very different from his usual firecracker personality, also stood up, stared at Zhao Duan meaningfully, and said:
"Master Zhao, Taicang is a place under the jurisdiction of my government. Please give me an explanation."
explain!
At this moment, the faces of the Taicang officials who had just laid siege and exerted pressure and almost forced the palace were filled with shock and anger.
To be more precise, they use anger to cover up their inner panic.
A group of civil servants, no matter how sharp their bloodless knives are, will still be cowardly in the face of real cavalry and the threat of violence from military men.
Along with it, there is also strong confusion.
Wang Chusheng has disappeared, and all clues have been cut off. Do you really want to use those unwritten "grey incomes" in official circles as evidence to convict us?
Even Chen Yushi and Xu Junling looked over in shock. Neither of them knew about this move.
"My lords, please be patient."
Zhao Duan stood up in front of everyone, his face as bright as a spring breeze, and slowly stood up, wiping his fingers that were stained with crab roe.
He took a step and slowly stepped out of the seat, and came to the center where everyone gathered around the banquet.
Very amazing.
With his movement, all the noise stopped.
People closed their mouths and breathed heavily. All eyes were fixed on this famous, red and purple upstart and powerful official.
The situation is reversed.
From being attacked by a group just now, to now being able to suppress the entire audience by one person.
He didn't even do anything at all, he just waited for the news from outside.
"If you want an explanation, I will give you an explanation." Zhao Duan paced slowly, his voice steady and powerful.
After saying this, he suddenly looked outside the open lobby.
In an instant, everyone's eyes followed him and turned to the golden autumn chrysanthemums in the courtyard, as gorgeous as the sea.
Then, the sound of iron hooves came in the wind, and those with sharp eyes saw a flag that was higher than the wall in a corner of the yard approaching.
"Open the door!"
A low shout was accompanied by exclamations from the guards guarding the courtyard.
"boom!"
The gate of Juhuatai Garden was torn open by a huge force, and the autumn wind swept in.
Outside the door, there were three people standing impressively. At the end of the head was Yuan Xingjun, who was serving as the background, carrying a flag and riding a horse.
In front of him was a frail-looking scholar who covered his face with a silk scarf. He stood with his hands tied, very inconspicuous.
Further forward, there is a royal gold medal shadow guard dressed as a Jianghu man, wearing a bamboo hat, a long sword on his back, and most of his face covered by a bronze mask.
The armor-clad woman was carrying a heavy bag in her hand, and walked straight through the chrysanthemum sea to Zhao Duan in full view of everyone.
She raised her head and looked at Zhao Duan, who was standing with his hands behind his hands and looking at her curiously. She compared the portraits and cupped his fists in his hands:
"Master Zhao, my subordinates have sent the prisoner."
Plop!
While speaking, the sack in his hand fell to the ground, and the mouth of the sack opened on its own.
Rolling out of it was a rich middle-aged man with bloody wounds all over his body, his face pale from torture, and he was tied into rice dumplings with cowhide rope.
Wang Chusheng, the magistrate of Taicang County, was originally in a coma. He fell and suddenly woke up. He looked ahead in confusion and fear, and his pupils suddenly narrowed.
"This is the explanation I give you,"
Zhao Duan looked around at everyone, half-smiling but not smiling:
"Is it enough?"
There was silence.
(End of chapter)