In the blink of an eye, on the fifteenth day of the agreement, and the half-moon limit has arrived today, I discussed with the governor Yang Ben'an, and the chief secretary sent people to divide into six inspection groups to go down to inspect, each group to check a house. He and I made it clear that if the inspection team did not find out the problem, or blamed Tang for it, the officials of the inspection team and the local officials would investigate and deal with it together.

At this point, I'm not worried at all that he's going to get bored. At that time, Yang Ben'an was in Beijing, and Zhang Juzheng, the first assistant, had a fierce dispute over clearing the land and increasing the tax burden, the main reason was that after he went to Shandong as governor, although the tax revenue did not decrease, because other provinces passed tax reform, especially the southern provinces, the tax increased greatly.

Since then, the inspector system has not stopped participating in Yang Ben'an's performance, but after the first assistant Zhang Juzheng talked to Yang Ben'an, he thought that the problem was not him, and Yang Ben'an's friend - Zhang Juzheng's political friend - the official department Shangshu Wang Guoguang also tried his best to protect him, so he took the initiative to ask Ying to go to Shandong to pilot the northern tax reform.

So he Yang Ben'an must be more attentive than me. When I came here to supervise him, I actually gave him a Shang Fang sword, which actually had nothing to do with me. So I can trust him as much as I can.

Now that the two sides have reached an agreement, there are no worries about work. I believe that he must know better than me about the progress I can find, so I don't need to say anything at all, just follow him, because except for Qufu and Jiaozhou, the contradictions in other places are not sharp, even if it is Linzi, which is more powerful in ricochet, take down a county official, at most change the prefect, and the problem will be solved, and this time, it happens to be the best opportunity to change people.

Another seven or eight days passed in a flash, and the results of the inspection team were also fed back, generally speaking, similar to what I had sent to the nine ghosts and political filial piety to investigate, I and Yang Ben'an discussed behind closed doors, and there was a general consensus of thought, so I ordered the officials of the prefectures and counties to wait in the front hall, and suddenly the noise was extraordinary, and there were those who were nervous to ask, those who laughed, those who exchanged their heads and ears, and those who were silent, all of which were recorded in the book one by one by the people we arranged in advance.

Yang Ben'an and I came in one after the other, and the room gradually changed from chaos to quiet, and most of us looked at us in the same posture, and we were very surprised, especially some "insiders", who were even more puzzled in their hearts - Lord Governor...... Didn't the governor say that this kid who came here was just an ornament and could be put on the shelf? Looking at your humble appearance, is this the advanced version of the overhead mode? Let the other party be happily placed in the dust in pleasure? The Governor is so clever! Xia Guan really admires!

There are also people who have a faint feeling in their hearts, as if they have a premonition that something is going to happen, but they can only watch quietly.

When the two of us humbly sat down with each other—the governor sat at the top, and I sat at the side, and the magistrates below bowed their hands before they sat down. Yang Ben'an looked at me, raised his hand to everyone, and motioned for me to speak. I raised my butt slightly from the stool, looked at him, stretched out my hands down, and signaled that it was still you Yang Ben'an smiled politely before he was ready to speak.

Looking at this impeccable etiquette, the smell that the quick-minded person had already perceived, suddenly there was a slight buzzing sound.

Yang Ben'an coughed lightly, stopped everyone's discussion, and said loudly: "Everyone, it has been more than twenty years since Lord Sun came to our province to supervise the Qingzhang land business with the will of the Holy Lord and the first assistant. On that day, it was stated that all prefectures and counties should step up the clean-up in accordance with the Zichuan model, and the assessment would be carried out in half a month. Half a month now, the assessment has been completed, and you all know the results, do you have any objections to this assessment? ”

All the officials said: "The assessment is fair, and there is no objection."

Yang Ben'an nodded, glanced at me, and continued to say to himself, after all, as the highest local governor, there are some things that he should not say.

I nodded, cleared my throat, and continued: "As Lord Yang said, this assessment is fair and just, and it basically reflects the progress of the current work. But whether there is moisture in it or not, the ranking is the clearest. And judging from the results alone, the neighboring states and counties have similar topography and cultural differences, but the progress is very different. Your Excellency, how should such a situation be determined? ”

Yang Ben'an twisted his beard and said in a deep voice: "Lord Sun asked well! In such cases, if there is a difference in ability, there should be rewards and punishments; But if it is deliberately done and selfish ......" he said, he paused, glanced at a few people, and said slowly: "That is to deceive the king, and it should be carefully investigated!"

As soon as this sentence came out, there were many people who felt sour under their feet, and the situation I said was actually not a minority, but some of the wall-riding faction had been watching and swaying, and some people felt that Governor Yang Ben'an's own attitude was very ambiguous. But listening to his meaning today, it is necessary to deal with it strictly! This...... What a reason!

Without waiting for them to think, I continued: "Your Excellency! Xiaguan also has a question, some places have small land, as we all know, but the land out of Qingzhang is larger than that vast place. According to the secret investigation of the lower officials, there are those who have a vast land, but they are corrupt and favoritistic, and they fill in the ancient tombs, hills, shoals, and stone forests into the scope, and there are also those who are greedy for public rewards. My lord, how should we deal with such a situation? ”

Yang Ben'an slapped the table and said in a deep voice: "In all these cases, please also ask Lord Sun to truthfully explain it in detail, write it into the chapter, I will stamp it and second, and submit it to the first assistant to make a decision!"

This sentence is like a huge *, which exploded in the hundreds of officials sitting below! The imaginary eyes are not opened, and there is only a cold reality. I quietly observed the hundreds of officials below, some of them were calm and had very indifferent faces, and some of them couldn't even sit still. So I decided to drop the last one* of the heavyweight.

I bowed my hand to Yang Ben'an and continued: "Your Excellency, in my opinion, please make a written explanation of the local Qingzhang land situation in all prefectures and counties, whether it is good or bad, we also have a comparison, and I can also refer to it when I write a chapter." It's set for tomorrow morning, right? ”

Yang Ben'an nodded and said, "It's all according to Lord Sun's opinion!"

When the meeting ended, some people walked down with their heads raised and their chests straight, some staggered, and some people kept looking back and looking at each step. I laughed in my heart, this is what I want.

After the hundred officials dispersed, Yang Ben'an looked at me and smiled: "Qilan, look, has this effect been achieved?"

I smiled and said, "My lord, tonight, let's wait."

At seven or eight o'clock in the evening, the Governor and I sat in my east wing, drinking the wine he had given me, and eating our supper unhurriedly. Just now, more than a dozen state and county magistrates have come to explain in person, and it is extremely embarrassing to see us together. But since they're all here, let's just say it.

As a result, all kinds of absurd reasons for not being absurd began to emerge one after another. Generally, when he heard two or three sentences, he sent him away and told him to go back and write a report as soon as possible, not to mention what he had or not. If it's not true, hum.

These people generally knelt on their knees when they listened to it, the Ming Dynasty judiciary was known for its harshness, if it failed the annual examination because of this matter, and then made some trouble, it would be three thousand miles or something...... Don't dare to think about it! So they all went tremblingly, and before leaving, I made sure that they brought the things they brought up, so that they would not be left behind.

It wasn't until nine o'clock that we waited for the first person we were waiting for - Wang Zeqing, the county magistrate of Qufu County. This man was of medium height, with coarse dark skin, bright eyes, and a slight beard, not like a county official, but like a farmer who had been farming for a long time.

He came up and arched his hand and said, "Two adults! The lower officials are polite! ”

I smiled and didn't speak, Yang Ben'an also smiled, but said, "Wang Zeqing, what are you doing here?"

Wang Zeqing said neither humbly nor arrogantly: "The lower official is here to resign!"

Yang Ben'an put down the teacup and said with a smile: "Why did you resign?"

Wang Zeqing said: "The lower officials are incompetent and can't handle the affairs of Qingzhang land in Qufu County, so they resign!"

Yang Ben'an smiled and pointed to the chair next to him and said, "Sit down and say."

Wang Zeqing thanked him, and Yang Ben'an smiled again: "I know how you are an official." Five years ago, you went to Yanggu County as a county lieutenant, and for two years, Yanggu County did not leave any roads and closed doors at night, and the people said that there was a Wang Tiger in Yanggu, and the young people did not dare to haunt it! ”

Wang Zeqing smiled innocently and arched his hand: "It's all raised by colleagues, and the people help!"

Yang Ben'an continued: "The year before last, you worked hard and moved to Wenshang County, and in two years, Wenshang paid 30% more taxes!" Wind comment: You are a good official who loves the people like a son! Why can't you do it when you get to Qufu, so you have to resign? ”

The smile on Wang Zeqing's face gradually disappeared, he lowered his head and pondered for a moment, then raised his head sharply and said: "Two adults, Wang is not talented, but he dares to do his best!" For this matter of clearing the land, I lost twelve pounds this year! I dare to say that sixty percent of the land in Qufu County is clear! But...... But ......" he couldn't go on.

I said: "However, Kong Shangxian is one family, and half of Qufu County's taxes are mixed with water!" Either pretend to lease land and avoid taxes, or sell land to others, which is also tax avoidance and harm the country. You can clean up the laws of the country, but you can't help this descendant of the saint! ”

Wang Zeqing opened his mouth and stammered, glanced at me, the official who "came to gild", and said with a fist: "My lord, Mingjian!" That's exactly what it means! ”

I waved my hand and said, "Wang Zeqing, people say that you are loyal and dare to act, since you dare to resign as an official, can you dare to do something big for the people and the country?"

Wang Zeqing stood up and said, "As long as it doesn't violate the law of the country, why wouldn't I, Wang someone?"

Yang Ben'an stroked his palms and said, "Okay! Come here! ”

Wang Zeqing leaned over, Yang Ben'an told him like this, Wang Zeqing was overjoyed and said, "Two adults! Wang Mou gave up this official uniform, and he will also complete the trust of the two adults! Leave! ”

After speaking, he arched his hand, turned around and left directly.

Yang Ben'an and I glanced at each other and smiled.

Later, Jiaozhou Governor Wu Benhua also came, and the situation was quite comparable, and he couldn't take care of it by Xue Bian. We said the same thing, Wu Benhua didn't say a word, insisted on making a military order, and went proudly!

Yang Ben'an and I have not been seen since then, and our plan has completed the first step. The play has been fully played, the pockets have been tied, and the rest is to invite you into the urn!