Chapter 293 Asking for Bribery
The brat with a lot of money...
Xu Junling, who bent over and straightened his buttocks to get out of the car, stiffened, feeling a sense of shame and grief and anger in his heart, but he just gritted his teeth, snorted coldly, and stepped out of the car.
I knew in my heart that this guy was deliberately talking nonsense, and if he broke his guard, it would actually go along with his intentions, so I simply dealt with him coldly.
In the carriage, Zhao Duan narrowed his eyes and watched the follower princess disappear, his eyes were clear, where could he have any charming thoughts?
"At this time, Shen Juan should also be staying."
He pressed his hand on his chest, hesitated for a moment and then took it back.
The princess had a sharp tongue, but the actual inn she prepared for him was still the upper room that started with the character "A".
Later, the people sent by the princess to inquire for information also sent back information one after another:
The imperial envoy and his party were arranged to live in a post house in the city.
In the afternoon, all the local officials gathered in the dojo and held a banquet to welcome the imperial envoy.
It is said that the imperial envoys rarely spoke during the banquet and were a cold and aloof group.
Most of the time, only the middle-aged censor named "Chen Hong" spoke.
After the banquet, the imperial envoy didn't even bother to deliver it, and did not show any dignity to the chief envoy Gao Lian and others.
This shocked all the gentry and wealthy people in the city who were also paying close attention and ordered people to inquire about the situation.
I was amazed and thought that I had seen a good show.
…
Outside the post house.
Censor Chen Hong personally escorted a group of local officials out, but the atmosphere was hardly harmonious.
"Chen Yushi, what is the attitude of the imperial envoy? Can you give me some advice? We would be very grateful."
The chief envoy, who had a refined demeanor and seemed to be the leader of Linfeng Dao, deliberately walked behind.
When he arrived near the gate of the post house, he deliberately waited for the other officials to go out, then stayed by himself and asked bitterly.
The autumn wind blows.
The old osmanthus trees planted for many years at the entrance of the post house cast a whirling shadow.
The green-robed censor and the red-robed chief envoy stood side by side, with no one around them.
"Master Fantai is joking. I can't say he can give you any advice. Although I am the deputy envoy, it is Imperial Envoy Zhao who made the decision when he came to Taicang. The best I can do is speculate."
The middle-aged censor, who was missing two teeth and drank a lot of wine at the reception banquet, was blushing and waved his hands repeatedly.
Pantai is the honorific title given to the chief envoy. According to the inspection envoy, it is called Niantai, and the prefect is called Futai.
These "Three Platforms" are the three giants of civil servants in Taicang City.
But at this moment, the dignified second-grade Gao Lian still didn't dare to trust this little censor.
Although Gao Lian drank a lot, his eyes moved at this moment and said: "We have lived here for a long time and don't know the temper of Imperial Envoy Zhao. Chen Yushi tried to figure it out, so we can cooperate easily. It would be better to finish what the saint told you as soon as possible.”
The middle-aged censor glanced at him and sighed:
"It's no wonder that the imperial envoy is displeased. How did you adults do it?
A few days ago, Beijing issued an order to teach you how to do it, but what happened? Both the prisoner and the witness disappeared. If His Majesty finds out, he will only I’m afraid I’d like to pluck the hair off your heads.”
Gao Lian looked sad and said bitterly:
"It was indeed an oversight on our part, but by the time we took action, the person was already gone.
I also implore Chen Yushi to report this matter to Your Majesty truthfully. Unless I wait with all my heart, it would be too late. "
The middle-aged censor did not agree or refuse. He just rolled up his sleeves and sighed: "It's too early to say this now. The most urgent task is to arrest the person and bring him to justice. In addition, my lord, tell me these things." , not counting, how your Majesty views you all depends on how Imperial Envoy Zhao responds."
Gao Lian said seriously: "We just can't figure out what the imperial envoy means..."
Chen Yushi, who served as the deputy to the imperial envoy, pondered for a moment, without looking at the chief envoy, but just glanced at an osmanthus flower falling above his head.
The fragrance of laurel trees lingers in the autumn.
The wind blew, and a bunch of flowers fell down, evenly sprinkled on the shoulders of the two official robes.
The censor put his hands in his sleeves and said softly:
"In my opinion, the imperial envoy generally means two things.
First, the letter of accusation has been delivered to the Metropolitan Procuratorate, alarming the saint.
Now that we are here to start a war, no matter whether the Taicang County magistrate can be found or whether he has committed corruption and theft of the country... the imperial envoy cannot come in vain.
We must find out something and catch some of the officials who committed the crime before we can report it to the Holy Father. Lord Fantai, do you understand? "
Do you understand?
It’s so clear...
He was born into a noble family in the south of the Yangtze River and worked his way up to the level of being a high-ranking envoy. How could he be considered a fool?
As soon as he heard it, he understood what Chen Hong meant:
You officials who are entrusted with the title should not think that just because the prisoner is missing, you can play the "dead without evidence" trick.
Mr. Zhao has made such a hard-working trip. If nothing is found, how will he explain to the Holy Emperor when he returns to Beijing? "The imperial envoy can rest assured on this point. Since the Taicang County magistrate has fled in fear of crime, there is no need to check any more evidence. The imperial envoy can only report to the saint, issue a sea arrest document, and arrest the criminal.
As for us, as the local chief officials in Linfeng, we have committed the crime of negligence and should be punished. I, Liu Yingcha, and Magistrate Sun will personally plead guilty to His Majesty and will not implicate the imperial envoys. "Gao Lian said in a deep voice, assuring him.
This was discussed long ago.
The imperial envoy is here. It would be too good to think that he would not bear any responsibility.
Gao Lian and others are blamed for an oversight.
Although it is painful, it is not fatal and is an acceptable result.
In this way, the imperial envoy does not need to work hard. He can easily complete the emperor's orders by just walking around and returning to the capital.
Gao Lian and other local officials took over the matter together, and all parties had an explanation.
Gao Lian said this because he hoped to reach a tacit agreement with Zhao Duan and adopt this version that everyone would be happy with.
At the expense of the Linfeng magistrate bearing a certain amount of punishment, this case was characterized as a personal act of the Taicang County Magistrate.
"Master Fantai, I have to remind you that the imperial envoy has not yet investigated. What do you mean by deciding the case in advance?" Chen Yushi glanced at him.
Gao Lian's eyelids twitched and he said calmly:
"The censor has misunderstood. I just feel that since the Taicang County magistrate has escaped, it is tantamount to pleading guilty and committing a crime."
Chen Yushi said quietly:
"It's okay for the Taicang County magistrate to plead guilty, but whether he is the only one involved in the corruption of the silver mine, or there are some accomplices, who are accomplices and who are not... This depends on the performance of your lords."
How about our performance?
Gao Lian hesitated for a moment, thought of a possibility, and said with a strange expression: "There are only two of us here. The censor might as well speak more clearly. The imperial envoy wants to..."
Chen Hong had an expression like "Do you think I'm really drunk?"
He raised his hand to dust the sweet-scented osmanthus flowers on his shoulders and asked an unexpected question:
"The imperial envoy is very dissatisfied with you. He is dissatisfied with the accommodation, the food, and even more dissatisfied with the inability to do things well... Please think about it carefully."
After saying that, the green-robed censor with silver teeth turned back to the post house.
After taking two steps, he thought of something and added: "Of course, what I said just now is just my personal speculation on the imperial envoy's thoughts. It is definitely not a message for the imperial envoy. Sir Fantai must not misunderstand it. ”
"..." Gao Lian was silent for a moment and slightly cupped his hands:
"Censor, walk slowly."
…
Taicang government office, in the three-person meeting hall.
"What? Did Chen Hong really say that?"
Sun Zhifu, who was dark and thin as iron, widened his eyes.
Staring at the leader of Linfeng who was sitting at the top, as calm as Mount Tai.
Gao Lian didn't say anything, just picked up the tea cup to moisten his throat.
Liu Yingcha, who was over sixty years old and already in his prime of hearing, looked a little unhappy:
"Is it possible that Imperial Envoy Zhao is dissatisfied with our reception?"
This is still euphemistic.
The three people present could not tell that Zhao Duan's intention in asking Chen Yushi to pass a message was clearly "asking for a bribe"!
The conversation under the sweet-scented osmanthus tree translates to the same meaning:
You local officials want to shift all the blame to a magistrate who fled in fear of crime, and only bear the punishment of negligence?
Yes, but what are the benefits of being an imperial envoy?
If you want this imperial envoy to help you "make a big deal out of a big deal", you won't be able to do it just by talking. You'll have to pay more!
Blatantly asking for a bribe... This was slightly beyond everyone's expectations.
Although, in order not to give Zhao Duan a chance to establish his power, today's reception strictly abided by the court's regulations and did not exceed the specifications...it was indeed a bit shabby.
But asking for money so nakedly is really...
"Haha, you are treating us like fat sheep,"
Magistrate Sun was a different kind of person in the officialdom. He had a generous character. He sneered, spread his hands and said:
"Do you really think you can make money by opening a silver mine? Anyway, none of that silver has ever fallen into the hands of our government.
This year the government office is in a tight financial situation, so I can't come up with anything to honor this imperial envoy. How about some of it slips through the fingers of the two adults? So that the imperial envoys can eat and drink? "
The old inspector frowned:
"Master Sun, don't say such nonsense. How can I, the Inspector General, have any money?"
Gao Lian, who was at the top, had no choice but to interrupt: "Okay, don't be angry. In my opinion, this is probably another strategy of the imperial envoy.
As far as I know, when Zhao Yan Wang first entered the imperial office, he also arrested a group of Beijing officials and let them out to ask for bribes. In the end, they were detained by the officials who paid the bribes.
What's more, how can the imperial envoy be a corrupt national thief? In my opinion, we should stay put and wait until the imperial envoy wants to investigate. "
In a secret letter sent by Prime Minister Li Yanfu, this was mentioned:
If the Zhao thief asks for a bribe, don't be fooled.
Magistrate Sun and Liu Yingcha looked at each other and nodded:
"That's fine."
Gao Lian thought for a while and then warned worriedly:
"Master Sun, you have to send someone to keep an eye on the silver mine. At this juncture, no suspicious person can be ignored. By the way, who is in charge there right now?"
"Taicang County Magistrate." Sun Xiaozhun said:
"Don't worry. I have given you the instructions three times in advance."
As he spoke, the hot-tempered Magistrate Sun couldn't help but cursed again: "Wang Chusheng, who suffered a thousand blows! He is really a beast. He was corrupt and made money. The person who caused the incident ran away, leaving a big scapegoat. I am a magistrate who has just been in office for a year. Am I wronged?
You have to serve Imperial Envoy Zhao carefully. A bunch of bastards! "
I don’t know who I am scolding with this sentence.
Gao Buzheng and Liu Biancha made their eyes look at their noses and their noses looked at their hearts, pretending not to hear anything.
The three of them are now grasshoppers on a rope, forced to stay together through thick and thin.
…
At night, inside the inn.
Xu Junling changed into a dress that was looser and did not highlight her figure. With a slim figure, she opened the door of the next door.
"Master Zhao, what are you writing?"
…
ps: I found that the plot design of this plot is a bit complicated. There is a lot of foreshadowing at the beginning, and it is not easy to write.
(End of chapter)