In late autumn, the lotus flower in the moat "withered through the mist, most of the lotus stems are bare on the water surface, and occasionally some half-remnant lotus leaves are still on the stems, shivering with the autumn wind blowing.

At the gate of the city, the people who went in and out, the merchants and travelers carried the cage and the burden, and the soldiers guarding the city gate were afraid of the wind, and they had already hidden under the city gate, lazily basking in the oblique sunlight, where the wind could not blow, and then there was a touch of yellow sunshine, and it felt still a little warm.

By the moat, there are women washing clothes, a smooth clear stone slab obliquely into the water, the wooden pestle "tom" pounding the clothes, although it is not yet winter, but the river is very cold, hands have been frozen red.

Occasionally, a ripple will be startled by the sound of beating clothes, turn over and jump out of the water, splashing a few waves. The fish here are very big, because the lotus and fish and shrimp in the moat are not allowed to be hunted, so this section of the river around the city has become a paradise for fish and shrimp, as long as they do not swim across the border to other places, they can basically enjoy their old age in peace, but a few months ago the Yellow River burst its banks, and it was also flooded here, and the lotus flowers were destroyed so badly, not only the effect of autumn frost, but also the result of flooding. "Boom! Boom! ”

The gong sounded, and the officials holding the signs of "Silence" and "Avoidance" patrolled the streets came, and the people who were entering the city hurriedly stepped aside, and the woman who was beating her clothes by the river put her hand on the canopy and looked at the gate of the city.

The surname of Kaocheng Zhixian is poetry, called Shi Xiaohan, a Jinshi of Hongwu for 27 years, and he has been a Kaocheng Zhixian for seven years. This person doesn't have much ability, after he arrived, Kaocheng didn't see much change, but it didn't get worse, this person is also an honest official, he can only be said to be a well-kept official, and his reputation among the people is not bad.

At this time, Shi Xiaohan was sitting in the sedan chair, with a slight head and a slight beryllium, still thinking about the prefect's summons.

Kaocheng County belongs to the Guide, and the prefect of the Guide, which is Sun Guanghe. Shizhi County is not flattering, and the relationship with this Sun Zhifu is very light, and there are few ordinary contacts, but two days ago, Sun Zhifu suddenly sent someone to summon Shizhi County did not dare to hurry, arranged the county affairs, and hurried to Guide Mansion, Sun Zhifu was hospitable, invited him to a banquet, and also said during the banquet that he was an honest and capable official, and he should have been promoted or moved to a better county government only because the four-year Jingjing had affected the officials' examinations, which made him sit in the examination for seven years, and the prefect planned to recommend him to at least one rich county.

If Governor Sun really does it, this companion is really easy to do, because Zhou Wenze, the in-law of Governor Sun's mansion, is the secretary of the Ministry of Meritorious Service. Don't look at the official is not big, the real power is not small, the four fat differences recognized by the imperial court are the Ministry of Officials Wenxuan Division, the Ministry of Officials Examination Division, the Military Department of the Military Department, and the Military Department of the Military Department. Among the four chief officials of the yamen, the energy is really amazing.

But Shizhi County is not a confidant of Sun Zhifu, how could this great good thing fall on his head for no reason? At that time, Shizhi County felt that there was something strange in it, and sure enough, yesterday the Henan Provincial Supervision Imperial Envoy accompanied the Henan Patrol Envoy of the Metropolitan Procuratorate to summon him and Sun Zhifu, this summons, not to ask about political achievements, not to ask about integrity, only to ask about the Yellow River two months ago, Shizhi County knew in his heart.

The flooding of the Yellow River is half a natural disaster and half a **. It is said that it is a natural disaster, because when the rain is too sufficient, the water of the Yellow River is indeed too fierce, and in the past four years, the southern army and the northern army have fought fiercely, and the imperial court has not made much effort in river management. Said to be **, this time the Yellow River flooded, in fact, the flood is not particularly fierce than in previous years, with the annual allocation of the imperial court to call the servants to make up for it, in fact, it can cope with the past.

However, the money allocated by the household department every year for river control, through the hands of Sun Zhifu, fell into Kaocheng County, only 30% of the ten percent are good, he Shi Xiaohan has a clear conscience, this money is not greedy, all used to control the river, but such a little money is obviously not enough, as a result, after a few years, the embankment has not been repaired, and finally something happened this year.

As soon as the flood occurred, he wrote to ask for tax reduction and relief, in fact, the Yongle New Dynasty has just been in charge, and the official affairs of the Jianwen Dynasty are still in the process of taking over, and many old things have faults.

But.......

Shizhi County sighed secretly, the prefect was too greedy, and he had reaped a lot of benefits in the past few years, but now the people have suffered a disaster, as a parent official, anyway, it is generous to the court, why can't he report it according to the truth, reduce taxes, and reduce the burden on the people? As an official, you can't benefit one party, and you shouldn't do something worse for the people, right?

However, this Sun Guanghe has been a prefect of Germany for many years, and he already has the capital to be promoted. For the sake of his political achievements, this water was concealed and not reported, so that many people's fields were destroyed, and they had to be forced to pay grain, but they could not pay it, so they had to leave their homes and become beggars.

This year's water chronicle did not cause too serious losses, but because of Governor Sun's own selfishness, the damage of the flood was multiplied. Although Shizhi County was dissatisfied with this, he didn't dare to say it in front of Governor Sun.

He didn't take Governor Sun's promise to him very seriously, although he didn't dare to claim to be a good official for the benefit of one party, but he didn't want to form a party with a corrupt official like Governor Sun. What he is afraid of is that there are people in the court of the Sun Governor's Mansion, if the Metropolitan Inspectorate can't bring down the Sun Governor's Mansion, or only the Sun Governor's Mansion, he, the seven-rank main hall, will not be able to do it in the future.

And the imperial envoy of Henan Province and the special envoy of Beijing came to investigate the case, and he wanted to ask the prefect Sun directly, and summoned him, or asked in front of the prefect Sun, which was clearly to exonerate Sun, the prefect, where did he still have the courage to expose, forced to helpless, had to say a lot of words against his will, but looking back, his heart was worried, it was not about it, but now he was forcibly dragged into the whirlpool by Sun, the prefect, once the court really strictly investigated the case, he also avoided being implicated, is not extremely wronged?

Shizhi County thought about it, struggled in his heart, wanted to report, and was worried about being suppressed. I don't bolt it, and I am worried about being implicated. Seeing that he had entered the city gate, the prefect of the poem sighed and said, "That's it, they have all come back, and they still want to do so much!" Let's get by......", "Lord Prefectural is back!" ”

The guard of honor is walking, suddenly someone in front of the road, Shizhi County opened the sedan curtain to see, but it is the old master Wang of Shenghua Academy, this person is not only erudite and talented, but also is a famous local gentry in Kaocheng, among the students he has taught, there have been a lot of lifts, show talents, his son is now the imperial envoy of the imperial court. For such a character, Shizhi County does not dare to hold it up, he wants to govern the place, and the support of such local strong figures is indispensable, Shizhi County hurriedly got off the sedan chair and said with a smile: "Master Wang is invited." ”

Old Master Wang said with a smile: "The county lord came back just right, I have a friend who has traveled here from Beijing, and the old man is about to set up a banquet to entertain him, only one elegant guest is missing, it is better to meet by chance, the county lord, go to my house to sit down." ”

Shizhi County hurriedly said: "No, no, no, Master Wang, Benguanzhou has come back from Guide Mansion..."

Master Wang was willing to follow him, waved his hand to the guard of honor and said: "You go back to the county office, the county lord will go to my house to eat and drink, and I will send the county lord back when I go back." ”

Mr. Wang is a local clan, and the head of the three classes of officials is his nephew, how dare he not follow, listened to the shouting, and then led the guard of honor back to the county government, the county order is full of heart, where is the heart to eat and drink, but the old master Wang is full of interest, pull him away, Shizhi County is helpless, so he has to go back with him with a wry smile.

Old Master Wang took him back to his home, and then instructed his family: "Quickly invite my friend from Beijing to come out and meet the county lord." ”

Shixian Ling smiled bitterly: "Old Master Wang, this official really has no intention of eating wine today." ”

Old Master Wang smiled mysteriously: "Lord County, did you really meet you by chance today?" Hehe, the old man is waiting for you to come back, this friend from Beijing, you see it, there are only benefits, and the old man will not harm you. ”

When Shixian heard the order, he got up in his sleep: "This friend that Old Master Wang said is ...... the official. Do you know? "From today onwards, don't you recognize it?"

With the voice, a thin man of about forty years of age walked into the living room, his sharp eyes fell on him, like an eagle falcon.

Shixian Ling said suspiciously: "What are the feet?" ”

The man smiled and said, "I'm here to save your life!" ”

Shixian Ling's eyes shrank, and he said in a deep voice: "How do you say this?" ”

The man said calmly: "When the official arrived in the examination city, he made a secret visit, and knew that you were an official and honest, so I wanted to pull you along." The poetry county order, the city of Kaocheng is flooded, the disaster is reported up, the court has not replied for a long time, the people are displaced, and there are many complaints, why can't you send a letter to urge it? Do you think you have fulfilled your responsibilities by reporting it? This is self-deception! "This officer? You are ......",

Old Master Wang said solemnly: "This is Lord Chen Yingchen, the imperial envoy of the left capital of the Metropolitan Procuratorate!" ”

Shixian Ling exclaimed "ah", and Chen Yinglang said: "The water is not big this year, why is the test city alone?" The report of the disaster was submitted to the Beijing Division, but there was no reply for a long time, the gentry of Kaocheng asked again and again, and you also repeatedly sent a document to ask the Guide Mansion, how did Sun Guanghe answer, how to suppress, human evidence, physical evidence, and official letters, the official has arrived, and you still refuse to hand it over? "This ......"

Chen Ying said sharply: "Shi Xiaohan, you are the shepherd of the Kaocheng side, but you want to stay out of the matter, isn't it wishful thinking!" Or, you are in cahoots with the prefect Sun, and see if the official can rectify you! Or, you boldly expose it, and the official will call the shots for you! Sun Guanghe is now entangled with the envoy sent by the official to search for the envoy and the imperial envoy sent by the official, this is your only chance to get rid of your guilt, don't make a mistake! ”

When the poetry county order heard it, his face was as pale as ...... paper.

At the same time, the capital, the letter post division.

Wu Youdao, the deputy imperial envoy of the capital, took someone to carefully read the whole book, and suddenly, he turned to the recital of Kaocheng County's Ling Shi Xiaohan to report the disaster, Wu Youdao's eyes lit up, and he looked at it carefully, this letter had been transferred to the General Administration Department the next day after it was received by the Xinyi Division, and there was a painting signed by the General Administration Department on it. Wu Youdao smiled slightly, put the whole scroll together, stuffed it into his sleeve, and smiled at the manager of the Xinyi Division: "This volume of the whole notebook, the official took it first, and when the matter is over, I will return it to your Xinyi Division." ”

General Administration, Imperial Envoy Huang Zhen led a few people to check the search directory of the official letter uploaded and sent for the whole record one by one, Zhang Antai was like an ant on a hot pot, although his face was pretending to be calm, his heart was like pouring boiling water, and he was so anxious that he panicked. But he has no choice, pretending to be accidentally lost or negligent in reporting, and it can be said that he is careless, and he doesn't dare to change the tomb to Puzi.

Besides, it's useless for him to change it, the Xinyi Division has their Tongzheng Division's acceptance and signature, and his hand can't reach for the Xinyi Division. However, before he had the evidence, no one wanted to offend him, after all, the General Administration Department was not a yamen to be messed with, Wu Youdao's old slippery head ran to check the Xinyi Division, and left the General Administration Division to the Huang Imperial Envoy.

He had already signaled several times openly and secretly, but this bastard surnamed Huang didn't know whether he was deliberately pretending to be stupid or really didn't understand, and he was not moved by the benefits he promised at all, whose power did this old bastard fight to, and dare not take him in his eyes?

"Yang Xu?"

Zhang Antai suddenly thought of Yang Xu's treat, and the Metropolitan Procuratorate invited three people, Chen Ying, Wu Youdao, and Huang Zhen. Chen Ying is the imperial envoy of the left capital, Wu Youdao is the deputy imperial envoy, these two people are counted, but there are thirteen imperial envoys and imperial envoys in Beijing in the Imperial Procuratorate, these ordinary imperial envoys are no less than 100 people in total, Yang Xu invited a Huang Zhen ...... alone, he is Yang Xu's person?

After figuring out this joint, Zhang Antai died of his heart, how can he win him over, and how much can he benefit Huang Zhen from the Auxiliary Guogong? Zhang Antai stomped his feet, turned around and walked out.

Huang Zhenawe was holding a handover catalog, his eyelids twitched slightly, he glanced at his back and smiled coldly, and his eyes were fixed on a record of a certain Fengyue Day on the file, Huang Zhen had already found what he was looking for, and he deliberately tortured people in this slow manner, that is, he was patient, and Zhang Antai really couldn't hold his breath.

Watching Zhang Antai go out, Huang Zhencai said slowly: "Here, the person who received the Kaocheng County Order is Su Xiaopu, the governor of Tongzheng, where is this person?" Call him and ask him about the whereabouts of this piece! ”

Wang Lesi, who experienced the general affairs department, hurriedly replied: "Oh, Su Xiaopu's mother is seriously ill and has already taken leave and returned to her hometown?" ”

Huang Zhen smiled slightly and asked, "Oh? When did you leave? ”

"Uh... Unfortunately, I just took a leave yesterday! ”

Huang Zhen said strangely: "Yesterday? Hehe, how can you say that it's not a coincidence, it's a coincidence! ”

Wang Cheng was speechless, and Huang Zhen asked again: "This Su Xiaopu, where is your hometown?" ”

Wang Cheng hurriedly said: "Yunnan Chuhua Mansion!" ”

"Tut-tut, it's far enough."

Huang Zhen sighed, stood up, and ordered with a smile to his people: "Let's go, let's go to the Ministry of Officials to find out if this Su Xiaopu's hometown is Yunnan Chuxiong Mansion!" ”

Wang was shocked! hurriedly said: "Oh, Governor Su's hometown is Fenghua County, Ningbo Prefecture, but... I heard Governor Su say that he has now moved to Chuxiong, Yunnan. ”

Huang Zhen nodded, and said slowly: "You haven't moved out of our Ming realm, right?" ”

Wang Cheng smiled dryly: "Imperial Envoy Huang said that he was joking, of course... Didn't move out of the Ming realm. ”

Huang Zhen led the way and said: "Cheng, as long as you haven't left our Ming realm, you won't be afraid that you won't be able to find it!" ”

He rolled the handover book, carried it behind him, and twisted his ass like a proud duck

Zhou Lize said angrily in the Ministry of Meritorious Examination, "Master Zhang, why are you so uncontrollable, Yang Xu is clearly knocking on the mountain and shaking the tiger, at this time, why did you still come to see me?" ”

Zhang Antai said angrily: "What if I don't come to you?" It was for your sake of face that I pressed this letter for your in-laws. Originally, the affairs of a third-class county, when the new dynasty was first established, there were many things, and it was not necessary to go to heaven to listen. But Bi just let him Yang Xu know, and now that he has found out my head, how can I not be in a hurry? ”

Zhou Lize suddenly said: "Confused! You're confused! Isn't that Su Xiaopu already solved? This clue is broken here, he Yang Xu has great ability, and he can't find your head! You just bite Wang Xiaopu to death, what can he do to you? ”

Zhang Antai sneered: "My Lord Zhou, what you said is light, I am doing something for you, otherwise it is really not easy for Yang Xu to catch me." Yes, Su Xiaopu's line is broken, but what about Kaocheng? Chen Ying's mad dog is the master who bites people and doesn't withdraw his mouth, if he has the evidence of your good in-laws, I'm afraid that he won't be able to pull you out? If you, Lord Zhou, enter the prison of Jinyiwei, I don't believe that your mouth is stronger than Jinyiwei's torture instrument, and at that time, can you not recruit me? Once this line breaks out, can I still tell you about the chapter? ”

Zhou Lize said categorically: "Don't worry, my in-laws have been running the Guide Mansion for many years, and Chen Ying sent a personal unfamiliar search to make it useful, can he find a way?" It is not allowed to rely on the envoy of Henan Province. This Henan Provincial Imperial Envoy, but he has already fed my in-laws, and he doesn't contribute at this time, when will he contribute? With him by his side, the people sent by Chen Ying couldn't toss any tricks! ”

Zhang Antai insisted: "I'm not afraid of 10,000, I'm afraid of what happens, if something really happens, it's too late to say anything." In my opinion, you should talk to that person, please think of a way! ”

Zhou Lize hesitated for a moment, sighed and said, "Okay, you go back first, and I'll see him in a while!" ”

On the Fuguo Mansion, Xiao Sixun was riding a wooden horse vigorously in the flower hall, Yang Xu crossed Erlang's legs, held a cup of tea, and stood next to Zuo Dan. It's getting more and more interesting, staring at him, demonic... It's about to take shape! ”