On the second day after coming to Ezhou, Tang Ning sent out all the officials he brought.

There are many types of official assessments, each of them is responsible for one item, and the results will be available in a maximum of two days, after which the final rating will be given based on the results of the comprehensive investigation of these people.

The assessment results are divided into three grades and nine levels, from the top, upper, middle, and upper and lower ......, to the lower, lower, middle, and lower, a total of nine levels, the upper and lower are promoted or rewarded, and the lower are removed or reduced.

As far as the officials are concerned, as long as the local officials do not make any major mistakes, they can be evaluated above the middle and upper levels, and the officials will not be rewarded or punished, and the officials will also be idle.

In the evaluation of the Jiangnan states, there are few unqualified people, even if they know that there are a lot of tricks in some aspects, but considering many factors, the officials of the Ministry will turn a blind eye.

In terms of population, Ezhou is located in the south of the Yangtze River, with abundant products, no war, no big fluctuations, and good social order.

The most important thing in the assessment of Jiangnan officials is naturally taxation.

In addition to agricultural taxes, Ezhou also has commercial taxes and mining taxes.

Especially the mining tax, Ezhou is rich in copper mines, and the mining tax accounts for a large part of the total tax revenue.

After arranging these, he walked out of the room and happened to see Yu Shi Zhongcheng.

Tang Ning looked at him and said, "Lord Qi, remember to pack your things tonight, and we'll leave tomorrow." ”

Yu Shi Zhongcheng looked at him and said in surprise: "Where to go?" ”

Tang Ning glanced at him and said, "Naturally, I went to the next state, isn't it enough for Lord Qi and Yu to catch up with the old people?" ”

There are still many state cities like Ezhou in Jiangnan, if he delays each one for two days, when will he be able to see ......, and when will he be able to find those thieves?

Yu Shi Zhongcheng looked at him, and a suspicious look appeared on his face.

Tang Ning's performance in Ezhou was so calm, and the calmness made him feel incredible.

thought that he would seize the handle of Ezhou and make a big fuss, but he didn't do anything, and he let go of some obviously problematic places.

If it was in previous years, he might not have thought much about it, but this time, His Majesty has changed the candidate for going to Jiangnan many times, and he chose Tang Ning, if you want to say that he came to Jiangnan for no other purpose, he won't believe it.

And his real purpose is not difficult to guess.

Although Jiangnan is rich and also provides a large amount of tax silver for the imperial court, this is only relative, and the vast majority of the silver taels still flow into the hands of the wealthy families and gentry in Jiangnan, and the imperial court has been thinking of this money for a long time.

"I know." He looked at Tang Ning, and his heart secretly rose on guard, and he turned around and walked out of the station.

A moment later, the Assassin's House.

Yu Tingshi looked at him and said in surprise: "He's leaving tomorrow?" ”

"Believe in him and you'll be finished." Yu Shi Zhongcheng sneered and said, "He just asked you to relax your vigilance, I'm afraid that you have already launched an action in secret." ”

Yu Tingshi's face showed a sudden look, and said: "I see, the two people he sent have already gone to the copper mine......

Yu Shi Zhongcheng looked at him and asked, "Is there a problem with the copper mine?" ”

Yu Tingshi smiled and said: "How can there be a problem with the copper mine, it is all ill-intentioned to say that there is a problem with the copper mine, over the years, these ill-intentioned people have no good end......

……

"My lord, my subordinates and Wang Zhanggu went to the official treasury today to see ......"

Tang Ning was tidying up in the room while listening to a report from a certain Zhanggu.

Tang Ning looked at him and asked casually, "Is there a problem with business taxes?" ”

"It's all the same old problem." The little official nodded, and said embarrassedly: "These gentry and wealthy families engaged in business in Jiangnan collude with the government to conceal half of the goods and not report them, so that they only need to pay half of the commercial tax, they have been like this for many years, if the imperial court wants to levy it, the officials sent over will not end well......"

These things, in fact, Tang Ning heard about it when he was in the household department, Jiangnan has a lot of ministers in the court to support him, and he makes a big fuss about taxes, which can be called rampant, these years are natural disasters and wars, the treasury is empty, Chen Huang is full of silver, and these wealthy gentry in Jiangnan are rich one by one......

However, in Tang Ning's view, this is just that the imperial court's methods are not tough enough.

Any wealthy family, any scholarly family, is not worth mentioning in front of the state apparatus, but the court is unwilling to pay the price of the chaos in the court, Jiangnan has close ties with some officials in the court, and it will affect the whole body, once the chaos is over, it will not be so easy to settle down.

Even Emperor Chen didn't want to do something, he naturally didn't want to provoke.

After listening to the palm solid's words, he just waved his hand and said, "Go and pack your things, and leave tomorrow." ”

Na Zhanggu suddenly relieved his heart, he had also heard of the reputation of this Tang Lord, and he was worried that he would be desperate and delusional to intervene in the affairs of Jiangnan, causing misfortune and affecting them, but he didn't expect him to know the severity, it seems that they should not be too tired in the next part of their journey.

After all, it is difficult for a strong dragon to suppress the head snake, and in this Jiangnan, they are still honest and careful.

Tang Ning packed up his things and was about to go out to see the scenery of Ezhou, when suddenly a small official ran in from outside the door and said in a panic: "Lord Tang, it's not good, something happened to Xu Zhanggu......

Xu Zhanggu was one of the two petty officials sent by Tang Ning to check the mining tax in Ezhou, and he was fine when he left, but at the moment he was lying on the bed, unconscious, and although his head was wrapped in gauze, there was still a trace of blood oozing.

Tang Ning looked at the other person next to the bed with a calm face, and asked, "What's the matter?" ”

The little official who went with him said in a panic: "Lord Hui, when my subordinates and Xu Zhanggu came back from the mine, a falling rock suddenly fell from the mountain and hit Xu Zhanggu......"

A white-bearded old man beside the bed withdrew his fingers from Xu Zhanggu's wrist, shook his head and said, "The old man has already given him an injection, if he can wake up at this time tomorrow, then it is not a big problem, if he can't wake up at this time tomorrow, maybe he will never wake up......"

After the doctor left, Tang Ning looked at the little official and asked, "Is there a problem with the copper mine?" ”

The little official gritted his teeth and said: "Lord Hui, Ezhou has been withholding and concealing mining taxes for many years, and the officials have always turned a blind eye to this, and this time they made a move against Xu Zhanggu, it must be a warning to us......"

As soon as he finished speaking, another voice came from outside.

Ezhou Thorn Shi walked in from the outside and asked with a concerned face, "I heard that an adult was injured, how is the situation?" ”

Tang Ning said calmly: "Whether there is any danger of life or not, we will only know tomorrow." ”

"Why did you ...... so carelessly" Yu Tingshi sighed with some regret, looked at Tang Ning again, and said: "I heard that Lord Tang is leaving tomorrow, it's a pity, this official still wants to do a few more days of landlord friendship......

"Since Master Yu is so enthusiastic...... Tang Ning looked at him and said with a smile: "Then the official will stay for a few more days." ”

The expression on Yu Tingshi's face froze, and after a while, he laughed twice and said: "Although this official also wants to stay with Lord Tang for a few more days, but the official affairs of the imperial court cannot be delayed, Lord Tang can leave with confidence, this lord, just stay in Ezhou to recuperate......"

Tang Ning shook his head and said, "Lord Yu's sincerity, this official can't live up to ......."