Compared with the prefect's yamen not far away, the façade of the Suzhou Bosi yamen is much more magnificent and glamorous. In fact, it is not only the gate here, but also the entire city of the Yamen occupies a much more delicate area and pattern than the ordinary Yamen, walking into it, people will feel that they are not entering a solemn yamen, but like entering the garden of a wealthy family.

Of course, this is a special arrangement made by the local government, in order to improve the specifications of the city in the hearts of people, especially businessmen, so that those foreign businessmen who come here to interact with the Ming official and communicate with each other have more confidence in the Ming Dynasty and promote more exchanges.

At this time, just outside the yamen of the city department of the carved railing, two scarlet-robed officials took several blue-robed subordinates to look at the end of the long street in front of them with a slightly uneasy expression, and from time to time, several people also glanced at each other, and saw expectations and worries in their eyes.

Although they knew that once the matter was reported, the imperial court would inevitably send a messenger to inquire and urge them to find out the truth and solve the problem as soon as possible, but after it was actually Jinyiwei's errand who should have reported that it was Jinyiwei's errand who came this time, these officials still felt uneasy and frightened. Jinyiwei is the most difficult yamen to deal with in the imperial court, even if their reputation has been much better in recent years, after all, it is not counted in the civil official system, and it is naturally quite difficult for local officials to get along with it. Moreover, once these brocade guards have the heart to rectify everyone and report their mistakes at will, the relevant officials in Suzhou City will not be able to eat and leave.

Therefore, when he learned the news, neither Xiao Wentong, the prefect of Suzhou, nor Tao Yong, the city boss, dared to slack off, and hurriedly ran to the yamen to welcome the other party's arrival.

Fortunately, Lu Zhen and his entourage did not let them wait too long, and after only a meal, the knights escorted the carriage along the long street and slowly came to the front of the city. As soon as they saw the posture of this team, the two officials guessed their identities, quickly dressed up, and led people down the steps with a smile on their faces, and greeted the general: "I don't know if the upper mission arrived in my Suzhou today, and the lower officials and others failed to go out of the city to greet them, and I hope that the upper mission will forgive me." As he spoke, he bowed humbly.

This is also because they know that they may have a handle in the hands of the other party to behave so humblely, otherwise with their official position, it is impossible for them to practice the etiquette of this subordinate to their boss until they know the identity of the comer.

After Lu Zhen sat in the carriage and saw these officials behaving like this, the corners of his mouth lifted, and then he bent down and got out of the car, walked to the front and back, and then grabbed the two Zhengyin officials: "The two adults are serious, but the official did not inform your place to greet you, so you are not wrong." ”

glanced at Lu Jin, who was only wearing an ordinary robe, and the two of them really couldn't see through the exact identity of this man who was younger than themselves. However, this is not the place to carefully interrogate his identity, so he said that he didn't dare, and said vaguely: "Then I will ask the upper secretary to enter the yamen of the city and then talk in detail." ”

"It's fine." Lu Zhen nodded: "When the official left Suzhou, this city was just a lonely yamen that no one cared about. I can't imagine that ten years later, this place has become so magnificent, which is really emotional. As he spoke, Lu Zhen had already stepped into the city.

When several officials heard him say this, their hearts suddenly moved, and their originally worried expressions finally relaxed. Looking at this person's attitude, it is obvious that he has a good impression of Suzhou, so it is easy to speak.

After sighing all the way along the flower-filled and purple garden path, everyone finally entered a flower hall made of bamboo. Subsequently, another person brought a bowl of green and fragrant tea, which was the local famous tea Biluochun in Jiangsu.

After taking a sip of tea and moistening his throat, the prefect Xiao Wentong asked tentatively: "Listening to what Shangcha said just now, it seems that it has a lot to do with my Suzhou City?" But I don't know if you are a native of Suzhou, or have you ever held an official position here? I don't dare to ask if the name of the poor is ......"

"This official Lu Jin, who is the commander of the Jinyi Guard, is this Suzhou person." Only then did Lu Jin smile and reveal his identity.

And after hearing him report to his home, several officials who were still sitting in the chairs were all shocked, and then they hurriedly stood up one after another, bowed to Lu Zhen again, and saluted: "It turned out that Wei Chengbo was here, and please forgive the officials and other rude crimes...... Everyone showed a look of sincere fear, which was much more sincere than just now.

It can be said that Lu Jin, who is the pride of the local area, is a legend in Suzhou, from the people in the official mansion to the peddlers and pawns, and he has a little respect for him. This is not only because his current status is extremely high and his power is still very great, but also because the move he advocated to open the sea has brought many benefits to the local area of Suzhou, which naturally makes people grateful.

Seeing these people like this, Lu Zhen smiled, put his hand in his hand and said, "You don't have to be polite, this official is not a person who pays too much attention to these." If that's the case, everyone seems to be too angry. ”

"Yes, yes, Uncle said yes." Everyone hurriedly responded, and then they all straightened up and returned to their seats to sit down, only this time they only had half of their farts on their chairs, and they didn't dare to be as casual as just now.

Lu Zhen didn't force them to relax completely, so he didn't break this point, but first praised a few words of changes in Suzhou over the years: "I really didn't expect it, it's only been a few years, and this place has changed a lot." Presumably, you are doing your best. ”

"My lord is overrated, and the lower officials are just doing their duty." Governor Xiao hurriedly said modestly.

And Tao Tiju continued: "Actually, if you really want to talk about it, it's still your credit." If you hadn't advocated the lifting of the sea ban, Suzhou would never have been in the situation we have today. ”

Lu Zhen smiled at them again, and then led the topic to the topic: "When it comes to opening the sea trade, you should have guessed the intention of this official's visit this time, right?" It is reported that since last year, the merchant ships that have gone out of China's southeast coast have been unable to return from time to time. ”

As soon as these words came out, the originally harmonious scene suddenly fell silent, and many officials showed panic on their faces, and a few even lowered their faces, not daring to look at Lu Jin. The smile on Tao Yong's face also became a little bitter: "The lower official is guilty." To tell you the truth, I haven't said anything about this until now......"

"Oh? What is the reason for this? Logically speaking, this sea trade is related to the lives of the people in the south of the Yangtze River, and our government should be extremely attentive, why has it been a long time, but there is still nothing? Although he didn't show much anger on his face, the next official still felt a lot of pressure.

After hesitating for a moment, Xiao Wentong said: "My lord, in fact, after a series of merchant ships went to sea last year and encountered accidents, the lower officials and others have already investigated this change. But in the end, there was no clue. Now it is no longer the same as at the beginning, the bandits at sea have long been swept away by the navy, and there are countries such as the Wa Kingdom that have maintained constant contacts with our Ming Dynasty to help maintain maritime security, and there has never been a matter of my Ming Dynasty being robbed by someone in the past few years.

"Moreover, this time the merchant ship accident was all gone and never returned, and at the beginning we all thought that we were only shipwrecked. It wasn't until one ship after another never came back that we knew something else was going on. ”

"Oh? I heard that almost all of the merchant ships involved in this accident were ships related to our government, but the civilian merchant ships had nothing to do? Lu Zhen asked again.

Tao Yong's face immediately showed a look of anger: "Yes, my lord, this is the most puzzling place. Generally speaking, if there is really an idea of bandits attacking merchant ships, they should also avoid our government ships. But this time it's good, it's completely upside down, and it's really incomprehensible. ”

"Maybe it's because the government's merchant ships have a better grasp of their movements." Lu Jin's heart turned a thought, and then he asked again: "Could it be that after all this time, you haven't even found any clues?" Even in the vast sea, as long as you look for it, you can always find something, right? ”

"My lord, in fact, Xia Guan and the others have sent people to the sea to look for them, but apart from the wreckage of some wrecked ships, they really haven't found any valuable clues. In addition, the only clue is that one of the people on the boat who had the accident was washed back to shore by the waves......"

"Oh? Are there any survivors? Hearing this, Lu Jin's spirit was lifted, "In this case, can't the reason be asked from his mouth?" ”

Bitter smiles appeared on the faces of several officials again, and finally Tao Yong said: "My lord, you don't know something, the shipwright named Li Tiezhu who came back from the sea alive has gone crazy after he came back. Moreover, when the officials questioned him about what happened, he actually said...... I actually said......"

"What he said, you don't have to say it!" Seeing that the other party was a little hesitant, Lu Zhen hurriedly asked.

Tao Yong sighed at this time: "He actually said that what kind of ghost did it, what kind of yellow hair, blue eyes and skeletons are in his mouth...... When asked again, he just kept shouting, and the lower officials really had no way to take him. ”

"Ghosts, blue eyes, skeletons......" After Lu Zhen repeated the other party's words, he shook his head unconsciously: "Do you also believe such nonsense?" ”

"But other than that, Xia Guan really can't let him say anything else, he obviously became so crazy because he was greatly frightened."

"In this case, you call someone and let the official meet him." Lu Zhen suddenly commanded.

As a person who has been educated by later generations, Lu Zhen has never believed in ghosts and gods, and in his opinion, most of this kind of thing is someone pretending to be a ghost. And if you want to find out the truth, you have to talk to Li Tiezhu, the only witness, in person......

@@@@@

Suddenly I found out that yesterday was actually another profiteer's festival, and then passers-by didn't buy anything. Now that I think about it, I feel that I have made 100 million by rounding it off. Well, a small goal was achieved...