Early the next morning, a large group of people spontaneously gathered at the county government office of Chun'an County, and complained with tears in their eyes about the barbaric acts of the servants last night.

"Please make the decision for us! Last night, an errand officer forcibly broke into my house and forcibly took my father away. ”

"Lord Prefectural, can I give my grandmother one last ride? Please......"

"My mother, she's not sick at all, why are you taking her away?"

"According to the ritual law, the body should be parked for seven days before being buried, but the servants are ......"

In the county office, there were officials who came in to report.

"Gift...... I know the county lord, someone is gathering outside the county office to make trouble! ”

"What? Come out with me. ”

When Hai Rui heard this, his face was full of surprise, and then he walked out of the county government under the leadership of the officials.

Seeing Hai Rui come out, the people who had gathered outside the county government before all knelt down and kept complaining to him about their grievances, but Hai Rui just stood there coldly, expressionless.

"Are you done? When you're done, let's leave! Hai Rui sighed and spoke.

"Why didn't the magistrate avenge us? Punish the wicked officials? "There was a voice from the crowd.

"Because I gave this order, if you want justice, come and ask the official for it! In addition, from now on, if there are still people in Chun'an County who dare to park their bodies without permission and cover up the sick, this official will not spare them, and will be severely punished in accordance with the laws of the Ming Dynasty! Hai Rui said that, and then turned around and returned to the county office.

Seeing that the magistrate was angry, those who gathered immediately dispersed, and did not dare to mention this issue again, for fear that the next person to suffer would be himself.

"Alas!" When Hai Rui returned to the county office, he sighed.

"The people will understand your suffering." Seeing that her husband was sullen, Hai Rui's wife, Wang, stepped forward, poured him a cup of tea, and spoke comfortingly.

"I hope so." Hai Rui sighed and responded.

In the next few days, under the harsh measures of the government, no family in the entire Chun'an County dared to park the corpses without permission and cover up the sick, and the city was gradually enveloped by a smell of quicklime mixed with burning wormwood, and the number of infected people was greatly reduced.

"Report to the county lord, the number of patients in the camp outside the city has been greatly reduced, and Dr. Zhao also said that according to past experience, the epidemic will soon pass!"

The chief secretary of the county government knocked on Hai Rui's door and made a report, his tone full of joy.

"Well, follow this later, and send the news to the Governor's Palace."

"Yes."

……

In the Governor's Mansion of Zhejiang, Hu Zongxian sat on the upper seat, turned his gaze to everyone, and said loudly: "You have done a good job!" In the past few days, on my way back to Zhejiang, I heard about the outbreak of the epidemic in the two counties below, but I didn't expect it to be controlled so quickly. ”

Immediately afterwards, Hu Zongxian turned his gaze to his staff Xu Wei and praised: "Chief Wen, you have worked hard these days, and the affairs of the entire Governor's Mansion have been pressed on you alone. ”

Xu Wei arched his hand to Hu Zongxian and said: "Your Excellency, you don't dare to take credit for it, the reason why you can have this achievement depends on the careful cooperation and hard work of all the adults!" I just did what I could. ”

"Chief Wen doesn't have to be too modest, the officials of the Governor's Mansion large and small recognize your ability, saying that you are very clever and can make quick decisions in everything without making mistakes or omissions!"

"Your Excellency the Governor has won the prize." Xu Wei replied respectfully, then stopped speaking and stood aside.

"Oh, by the way, who proposed the outbreak of the epidemic in Chun'an and Jiande counties this time, and the next response measures of the government?"

"Your Excellency Governor, it's Hai Rui, the new magistrate of Chun'an." Zheng Michang paused for a moment and spoke.

"Hai Jui? Is it the last time he knelt in front of the Governor's Palace with the victims of the disaster, saying that he wanted to seek justice from me? Hu Zongxian thought for a moment and then spoke.

"That's right, this is the man! I heard that some people in Chun'an County also set up a shrine for him. He Maocai, who was on the side, also added.

"This Hai Rui is a bit interesting, I, Hu Zongxian, have been an official for so many years, and it's the first time I've seen this kind of person, it's weird!" After Hu Zongxian sighed a few words, he picked up the teacup on the table and took a sip.

"Okay, it's okay to call you over today, if you don't have anything to do, just disperse!"

"Yes, Lord Governor, I'll take my leave!"

Soon, the people in the hall were almost gone, leaving only Hu Zongxian and Xu Wei.

Hu Zongxian turned his gaze to his staff and asked, "Is there anything you want to tell me?" ”

Xu Wei bowed slightly to Hu Zongxian and said unhurriedly: "Your Excellency, I want to resign from the position of staff member of the Governor's Palace. ”

"Why, aren't you doing a pretty good job?" Hu Zongxian couldn't help frowning when he saw that his highly valued staff member said this, and then asked.

"Your Excellency Governor, I want to participate in the township test in August this year, and I also want to be like you, my lord, to serve as an official and benefit the people! In this way, there will be no regrets in this life. Xu Wei's voice was not loud, but his tone was unprecedentedly firm.

"Alas, Chief! This officialdom is not as you imagined, the water in it is deep, a small wave can swallow you, far less comfortable as you are a staff member of the Governor's Palace. ”

"Your Excellency, you have made up your mind! Please don't persuade me again. Xu Wei interrupted what Hu Zongxian wanted to say next, and said in a deep voice.

"Well, since you have made up your mind, I will not stop you again! When you want to come back, let me know, there will always be a place for you in the Doge's Palace. Hu Zongxian looked at his right-hand man and spoke.

"Thank you, Governor, I'm going to retire in the next place!" Xu Wei said, and bowed away.

"Hmm."

……

In the room, Zheng Michang and He Maocai gathered together to drink, and the table was full of all kinds of delicacies.

"Come on, drink, we two won't get drunk tonight!"

"Here, cheers."

"!"

After three rounds of wine and five flavors of food, He Maocai's face suddenly turned red, and his tongue began to knot: "Brother, you... You don't know, I've been scared all this time. ”

"Oh, what can scare you, brother?" Zheng Michang was also drunk at this time, put down the wine glass, and asked with interest.

"Let me tell you, didn't they send someone to deliver the news to us before, so that we don't take any action for the time being?"

"I know about this, what's wrong?"

"That Kaifeng Mansion Yin didn't listen to the advice, and wanted to work with others to do something about this year's salt tax, and before that, Yan Ge Lao had warned everyone again and again!"

He Maocai said, drank all the wine in the cup, and continued: "The incident of Kaifeng Mansion Yin was reported by his subordinates, and after the imperial court sent someone to verify, he was quickly raided and ended up with a ruined family!" ”

"It is said that Xiao Ge Lao has a list there, as long as that list has your name on it, then you won't live long!"

"Huh, so mysterious?" Perhaps because he was drunk, Zheng Michang was a little delirious at this time and exclaimed.

"Really, where do you want to go? Do you think that the list of Xiao Ge Lao is the book of life and death! I mean, the elder of the small pavilion has our handle in his hands, and as long as we show the slightest disobedience, we will die without a place to bury. He Maocai showed a look of reproach on his face, and after glancing at Zheng Michang, he explained.

"Oh, it's not a book of life and death!" After listening to He Maocai's explanation, Zheng Michang suddenly realized.

"Forget it, I won't tell you this, drink!"

"Here, cheers."

(End of chapter)