Chapter 521 I don’t take any money from the people, but I want all the gentry’s money from the people. Although I have just experienced a arduous battle to defend the city, perhaps it was because of the news of the arrival of reinforcements that inspired the morale of the military and civilians in the city.
In short, Zhao Duan walked out of the government office through the side door and walked on the main street of the city, and found that the city was still in charge of order.
But the bustling streets in the past were much deserted. Although some of the shops along the street were still open, most of them had "closed" signs.
Zhao Shande looked at the noble young master who was unknown, but he was still a little confused.
I failed to ask for the prefect to meet the prefect, but such a handsome young man came out from the depths of the government office. He kept saying that he was ordered to ask for food from me, but he was very secretive about his identity.
When did such a person exist in the government office?
Zhao Shande didn't know, but the ancient social animals who had been struggling at the grassroots level for half their lives had a good eye. Although he didn't know Zhao Duan's identity, he just looked at his aura in his every move and knew that his identity was definitely not simple.
Is it the son of the prefect?
Zhao Shande speculated that he was not qualified to meet the relatives of the governor, so he could only guess randomly.
"Only the two of us?" Zhao Duan asked with a smile.
Zhao Shande was stunned for a moment and hurriedly said, "There are still a few soldiers waiting at the street intersection near the Lu family."
Then he mustered up the courage to test, "Don't the sir?"
Zhao Duan glanced at the cautious and cautious yamen official, and his smile was a bit meaningful:
"Well, I've been here for a while. Have you entered the yamen that inherited the position of your father, or have you been admitted?"
Zhao Shande straightened his back slightly: "I passed the scholar when I was young and was fortunate to be appreciated by the county magistrate. I started as a clerk in the county government office... It has been twenty years since then..." Zhao Duan's eyes were slightly warm, and he saw his shadow in this official with the same surname.
The same is from the bottom, and the similar growth path is that the officials in the feudal dynasty are divided into "frequent ranks". Officials and officials are clearly distinguished from each other.
As he walked, he chatted with him, and Zhao Shande became more and more surprised because he discovered that the young master had a wide range of knowledge and noble character in his words and conversations. He seemed to have a famous family, but he was very familiar with the daily life of lower-level officials.
If you put aside this layer of skin and just look at the sophistication in your words and your grasp of the ecology of the lower officialdom, you will be even more "slick" than him, an old scholar.
When did such a person appear in the yamen?
As they were talking, they had walked outside a very large house in the city.
In a small shop at the intersection of the street, four soldiers hurriedly stood up and walked out, looking at Zhao Duan in surprise. "This is appointed by the prefect." Zhao Shande explained that in front of several big-headed soldiers, he also raised his "official power":
"Follow me to collect the food immediately."
Several soldiers at the bottom did not dare to neglect, so they hurriedly bowed their heads and bowed, and the group walked towards the main entrance of the Lu family mansion again. "Don't worry, go knock on the door first." Zhao Duan said with a smile.
Zhao Shande nodded with his teeth, straightened his back, went up the steps in three or two steps, and knocked on the door knocker.
With a "creak", the tall courtyard gate of Lu Mansion pulled a crack open, and a butler looked like a housekeeper walked out, frowned, and said patiently:
"Everyone said that there is no excess rice and grain in the mansion. You can go and collect it elsewhere."
As he said, he was about to close the door, with a cold attitude, as if he had dealt with the grain supervisor many times.
"Slow down!" Zhao Shande was anxious, with a stern face and said sternly: "I am the grain supervisor under the tent of the Xumi Xue envoy. I am ordered to come and urge the military rations according to law..."
He could not guess the identity of the noble son behind him, and wanted to show it to prevent the prefect from leaving the bad impression of "ineffective work".
The manager of the Lu Mansion sarcastically said: "Zhao Shande, I really acted as an arrow. In the past, as you were, I couldn't even enter the gate of our Lu Mansion. Don't talk too much. I'm giving you this tiger-skinned face. Get out of here quickly." Zhao Shande had a sudden inspiration and shouted with a stern face: "Do you know that Governor Zhao has entered the city! Do you think it's the same as before? Ha, do you really think I'm easy to control? Don't you think, why did the magistrate ordered me to collect your Lu family?"
The housekeeper was stunned for a moment, looked him up and down, and suddenly smiled:
"Zhao Shande, don't you still want to get rid of Governor Zhao's tiger skin? Do you really think that the surname of Zhao is just because of the relationship? I know your details very well. Don't scare people with Governor Zhao.
Today, you might as well put it here, let alone you. Even if the governor in the capital comes, my Lu family said the same thing, want food? No!"
Zhao Shande's mind was exposed, and he was timid and turned his head bitterly to look at the noble son behind him.
I thought you saw it. It’s not that I’m not doing anything well, but that the Lu family is too domineering.
We are not afraid and have no ability to suppress others with power.
Zhao Duan's expression was a little strange. He looked at him with a smile on his eyes. He sighed softly, stepped forward and said seriously: "It's a matter of whether the Lu family has grain or not, but it's too domineering to block the grain supervisor appointed by the court and never let him in."
The manager of the Lu family, who was about to close the door, frowned:
"Who are you? I would like to advise you to avoid any matters that have nothing to do with you."
He couldn't figure out Zhao Duan's identity, but he saw that he was not wearing an official robe and was with an old official like Zhao Shande, so he didn't take it seriously-
How could a person with a real identity be with such a small person who has been with him for many years but is still just a clerk in the yamen?
Zhao Duan's smile did not diminish, but with one hand, he grabbed half of the courtyard door: "What if I insist on taking care of it?"
The manager of the Lu family was dazzled and was approached by this man.
I was shocked and subconsciously wanted to close the door, but I was shocked to find that the gentle and gentle young master Bai Jing was extremely powerful. I blocked it with my hands, and the door was not moving at all.
"Come here, someone makes a fuss—"
As soon as he shouted halfway, he flew backwards into the yard like a cannonball. "How long hasn't anyone shouted in front of me?" Zhao Duan slowly withdrew his hand, feeling a little nostalgic.
Step past the threshold and said casually, "Come on."
Zhao Shande and the four soldiers behind him were shocked and realized that the young master was actually a warrior.
However, the old official was not surprised, only frightened, and his soul was rising. He realized something was wrong:
The prefect would never send someone to bring him a fight.
I am afraid that I have been cheated?
But before he could think about it, he gritted his teeth and followed.
…
As the largest family in the city, the Lu family has an extremely grand mansion, with a full five-in-one courtyard and a very well-decorated yard.
Zhao Duan walked leisurely in the courtyard and walked into the atrium, which had already alarmed the large group of Lu's servants, maids and guards. "Who dares to cause trouble?!" As soon as Zhao Duan entered the atrium, he saw three young men driving out with swords and swords in the distance. The guard behind him was also carrying sticks, and he was fierce. "These are three young men of the Lu family." The old official reminded in a low voice.
The three of them belong to the third generation of the Lu family. They are not old, and the eldest son is only in his thirties. The youngest son is just a half-year-old boy.
Zhao Du'an stood still, calm and said lightly: "The imperial court's grain supervision officer came to Lu's mansion to collect military rations and ask the person who can make decisions to come."
The second son of the Lu family laughed in anger, picked up the sword in his hand, pointed at Zhao Du'an's nose, and cursed: "Are you blind? Don't know where this is?"
The eldest son beside him frowned, vaguely feeling that this "grain supervisor" looks familiar, but he can't remember it.
Zhao Duan's tone was lightly said: "Faced with the court officials, holding a sharp knife, is the Lu family going to rebel?"
The eldest son of the Lu family also lowered his face, raised his hand and pressed his second brother's arm holding the knife, and then said: "This 'grain supervisor' cannot be said randomly. Even if the prefect Sun came to my house, he would be polite.
I don’t know what misunderstanding happened, but since the court wants food, it shouldn’t be the method to hit people and rob, right? What is the difference between acting like this and the rebels? Are you not afraid of corruption of laws? "
Zhao Duan was too lazy to talk nonsense with a group of "little brats" and said lightly: "You are not qualified to talk to me, and ask the people who can make decisions to come." "
"Where did the grain supervisor come from? I don't know that the sky is high and the earth is thick? Take it for me! If you forcefully break into a private house and send it to the government office, you have something to say! "The second young master with a hot personality said angrily.
A group of guards in advance made a move to surround him.
Zhao Duan stood with his hands behind his back, his eyelids drooped slightly, and the smile at the corners of his mouth disappeared little by little.
Just as he was about to take action, an old, anxious angrily shout came from behind the crowd. "Stop it all for me!"
The members of the Lu family suddenly decided, turned their heads and looked at them, and saw an old man with white hair and white hair in loose silk clothes, and was not angry, rushing over with his shoes and almost running!
Because of being too anxious, my shoes were lost, with barefoots! "Grandfather?" The three young men were stunned and hurriedly saluted.
"Head of the family!" Many guards hurriedly bowed their heads and made way for the road. "It's the old lady of the Lu family. This person has rarely appeared in recent years. Why did he come out..." Zhao Shande was stunned for a moment, then showed a relieved look, and leaned against Zhao Duan and said: "Fortunately, it seems that the old lady of the Lu family still knows the importance and cares about the prefect. He knows that there is a prefect and the court behind us, so he dare not do anything randomly..."
Everyone thought that the old lady was considering the overall situation and the face of the big people in the city, so he came out to scold and block the small conflict below.
However, when Old Lady Lu saw Zhao Duan standing in the atrium, his calm expression changed completely.
I was just a little stunned. The old lady who was the one who was the most powerful clan in Taicang Prefecture City, who could be at the top of the entire Linfengdao clan, ran over with a pale face.
In the eyes of the crowd, his knees softened, and he knelt in front of Zhao Duan with a thud, his forehead hit the ground, and said in a trembling voice: "I don't know that the lord is coming, and the unfilial descendants are young and ignorant. I beg you to forgive me!"
Silence.
There is silence.
In the entire mansion, needles can be heard at once.
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Zhao Du'an's sleeves were already hovering quietly, and the flying knife that was not triggered slowly fell asleep, and the slightly swelling sea of qi returned to calm.
He smiled and looked down at the white-haired old man on the ground without a smile:
"Do you remember me?"
The old lady of the Lu family said justice:
"Last autumn, when the prefect held a banquet, I was fortunate to be the last seat and saw the face of the adults."
Zhao Duan nodded slightly, and had some impression of the old man, but it was not clear. He sighed:
"I just arrived in Taicang today, so I came to visit my house. However, the descendants of the Lu family were very powerful and the people in the government took it seriously. When I was in Beijing, I had never seen such a grand family."
The old lady's forehead was sweating coldly, and the white-haired old man suddenly turned his head and stared at the three young masters with anger: "Don't you kneel down yet?!"
The three young masters of the Lu family were still confused at this moment, and they didn't understand what was going on. Only when they scolded him, they threw down their weapons like children who did something wrong and knelt in a row beside the old lady.
Zhao Duan looked calm, and suddenly grabbed with one hand, and spit out suction from the palm of his hand. A stone bench suddenly rotated in the air not far from the courtyard, flew towards him with a bang, landing on the ground.
This is the palm technique he learned from Lao Xu in the mortal realm.
Zhao Duan lifted his hem, sat down on the stone bench, pointed at the second young master, and said to the old official beside him: "Go and ask, do you know what we are here for?" Zhao Shande was irritated from the moment the old lady knelt down.
I was called and it seemed that I had come back to life, but my heart was pounding like a drum, and my mind was dizzy. How could I know that I had met an amazing big man?
Take a deep breath, he walked tremblingly to the second young master of the Lu family who was kneeling on the ground, deliberately avoiding the direction of his kneeling, looked at Zhao Duan carefully before asking:
"Do you know what we are here for?"
"..." The arrogant and domineering second young master was stunned and shook his head: "No...I don't know."
The big man who made his grandfather so scared came... He couldn't think of what the other party was about.
As for urging food...jokes, just ask the servants for such small matters. How could such a big shot ask about it personally? Still come to collect it?
He is not stupid.
"Palm the mouth." Zhao Duan ordered lightly.
Zhao Shande was stunned, widened his eyes, looked at Zhao Duan, and then looked at the second young master, his whole body was half soft.
On the contrary, Old Lady Lu gave him an "encouraging" look and signaled him to take action. Zhao Shandecai was frightened and slapped him in the face.
I beat the young master of the Lu family... It's okay... The old official looked at his hands and couldn't believe it.
Zhao Duan said calmly, "Come to collect food. Do you know?"
He glanced at the rest of the people kneeling on the ground.
The eldest son and the third son were both excited and hurriedly said, "Come and collect the food."
Zhao Duan nodded with satisfaction: "Ask him, do you know why you punish you?"
Zhao Shande looked at the second son and repeated the question.
The second young master felt the hot face, and did not dare to be arrogant at all. He carefully tentatively said: "Because we are disrespectful to the lord?" "Palm the mouth." Zhao Duan had no expression on his face and added: "Power force." Zhao Shande felt a stream of energy and blood surged into his heart. He was a little excited inexplicably. He spitted in his palm, and slapped again!
This time I was very hard, and the second young master's mind was buzzing.
"Because you don't pay the food." Zhao Duan replied lightly, his eyes swept over the remaining people: "Do you understand?"
The eldest and third sons shivered and said in unison: "Because we don't pay the food!"
The second young master with a high cheek: "..."
Zhao Duan nodded, and was about to speak when he saw the second young master of the Lu family trembled so much that he realized that he would be beaten if he answered.
Zhao Duan suddenly smiled and looked at the old lady: "So, do you know what to do?"
The white-haired old man hurriedly said:
"The Lu family generals cooperated with the Lord to quell the rebellion! Now that the imperial reinforcements have entered the city, people eat horses and chew them. Such a huge expense, relying solely on the exhausted money in the government office will inevitably not support the imperial government to mobilize troops. People in the city should be called on to raise funds for rice, grain, silver, and various materials to be used for military needs!"
The old lady said it smoother and smoother, and he already understood:
Governor Zhao arrived with tens of thousands of troops from two battalions. The next step of suppressing the rebellion will inevitably be a huge expense. Today, when he came to the Lu family, he wanted his Lu family to set an example.
The old man smiled and said, "I understand how to do the donation. I will not let the adults return empty-handed. According to the old rules, the court will raise funds. The gentry in the city will take the lead and the people will follow.
After the incident, the gentry will return the donation and the people will share the accounts.
However, it is a major event to quell the rebellion, and the Governor Zhao personally led the troops. I will make his own decisions and represent the gentry in the city. I am willing to hand over the whole people all over the city. Not only that, my Lu family will also present generous gifts to the adults..."
Halfway through hearing this, Zhao Duan was slightly stunned.
Hearing the second half, the smile on his face disappeared little by little, and his eyes became dangerous.
He raised his hand and interrupted the old lady, with a quiet tone:
"You don't seem to understand, or have made something wrong."
The old lady of the Lu family was stunned: "Please give me some advice?"
Zhao Duan sat on the stone bench, leaning forward slightly, his face approached a little, and his eyes were facing each other. He stretched out his hands, spread out his palms, and shook his left palm, his voice softly: "I don't want the people's part, I don't want it, you are not allowed to ask for it, just keep it in the people's hands."
He withdrew his left hand, his right palm suddenly clenched, and he fisted:
"As for the gentry's part... I! All! I want it!"
The old lady of the Lu family was stunned.
Zhao Duan's voice continued to echo in his ears: "Not only that, I want you to go to Tongchuan all the gentry and wealthy families in the city. Tonight I will hold a banquet at the Lu family and invite everyone to raise funds. Whoever dares not come will bear the consequences!"
(The end of this chapter)