Chapter 100 Six Questions from Hai Rui
Well known.

Hu Zongxian, the Governor-General of Zhejiang and the Governor of Zhejiang, was a disciple of Yan Song, the chief minister of the Ming Dynasty Cabinet.

Also well known.

Qi Jiguang was Hu Zongxian's most capable general in the fight against the Japanese invaders.

and so.

Qi Jiguang was also Yan Song's man.

and so.

Qi Jiguang was also a member of the Yan Party.

The logical relationship forms a closed loop.

If Qi Jiguang was not a member of Yan's party, then why did Yan Shaoting propose in front of the emperor to use the property of the Zhejiang Provincial Governor, Provincial Surveillance Commissioner and other criminal officials to confiscate and send the property to the anti-Japanese army to be used as military pay and military supplies?

Yan Song's eyes swept across Gao Gong's face.

Old Yan knew very well that the reason why Gao Gong made such a big fuss about this issue was to make Qi Jiguang an anti-Japanese general who was not worthy of his reputation.

Once Qi Jiguang became a person who did not live up to his reputation.

Then all the praises that Zhejiang Dao gave to Qi Jiguang in the past were false.

And these are all false.

Then using Qi Jiguang's Yan family would shake national security in military and national affairs.

Yan Song said slowly, "Since the number reported by the Ministry of War is different from what is being spread outside, let's have someone check it out. What do you think, Lord Xu?"

Old Yan looked at Xu Jie, who was sitting in the second seat in Wenyuan Pavilion.

Xu Jie has recently become more transparent in the cabinet.

At this moment, Xu Jie also lowered his head, thinking about his own affairs.

Counting the days, Yan Maoqing, the Left Vice-Chief Censor of the Censorate, should have reached the border of Lianghuai by this time.

I don’t know whether Yan Maoqing will inspect the salt first or check the commercial taxes in the southeast first.

Hearing the Prime Minister's call of his name, Xu Jie slowly raised his head.

He looked at the Prime Minister and then glanced at Gao Gong.

in fact.

Xu Jie had no time to care about the anti-Japanese army in Zhejiang Province.

It is enough to have Gao Gong in the cabinet keeping an eye on the Yan family every day.

"Since Lord Yan wants to investigate, then send someone to investigate. It will only take some time."

After agreeing, Xu Jie lowered his head again, ignoring Gao Gong who was standing beside him with a puzzled look in his eyes.

It's just a matter of whether more or fewer people die.

It does not cost the court any money.

Why bother to delve into it.

Gao Gong stared, exhaled a few breaths angrily, and then turned his head.

I probably can’t stay in Wenyuan Pavilion anymore!
Yan Song smiled and looked at Gao Gong: "Mr. Su, since Lord Xu also said that we can check it out, I think why not let Hai Rui check it out?"

Gao Gong was a little surprised and turned to look at the Prime Minister.

"Hai Rui?"

……

"Hai Rui!"

Hu Zongxian looked at Hai Rui who was standing in front of him like a wooden stake, and finally he could only shake his head and sigh helplessly.

The main hall of the Zhejiang Provincial Governor's Office.

As usual, Hai Rui was wearing the tattered official robe that had been washed countless times and had a dark face.

He raised his arms, revealing his hands full of wrinkles and cracks, with black mud stuck between his nails.

"Minister, do you really think that the Southeast matter is over?"

Hu Zongxian took off the black hat on his head, gently placed it on the official table beside him, and looked at Hai Rui.

"You are a person who, to use a common saying, has long been known to the public, like thunder in one's ears.

I heard that you were coming to the yamen to look for me today, so I moved all the case files and documents away, and specially found a complete collection of Tang poetry, waiting for you here.

I searched for an hour and found a song for you and one for me."

Hai Rui pursed his lips and nodded after a while: "Your Highness, I would like to hear the details."

Hu Zongxian smiled and said, "I found this for you, Hai Gangfeng. It's a poem written by Gao Shi when he was a county magistrate." Hai Rui bowed slightly and nodded, pretending to listen attentively.

Hu Zongxian's deep voice had already echoed in the court.

"I was born in Mengzhuye, a fisherman and woodcutter, and I have lived a leisurely life.

I can sing wildly in the grass and marshes, but I would rather be an official in the dust.

It is said that there is nothing to do in a small town, but all public affairs have their deadlines.

When I greet the officials, I want to leave, but when I whip the common people, it makes me sad. "

Hai Rui's eyebrows twitched slightly, and he shook his official robes lightly, clasping his hands together and bowing, "Mr. Minister, thank you for your compliment. I just wonder which poem you found for me?"

Hu Zongxian shook his head, hoping that Hai Rui would understand his good intentions today.

He spoke in a low voice and recited the poem written by Cen Shen that he had found for him today.

"I have served the king for thousands of miles and have nothing to ask for."

"I know the hardships of the frontier, but I don't care about my wife."

Hu Zongxian finished reading slowly, looked at Hai Rui with a sullen face, and smiled slightly: "These four sentences can show my intentions."

Hai Rui's heart moved.

He had been an official in Zhejiang for a long time and knew Hu Zongxian's character as a person and an official.

only……

Hai Rui once again clasped his hands together, then nodded and bowed.

"Minister, I just want to know the truth. If you can't answer it, I want to go somewhere. Can you agree?"

Seeing that Hai Rui bowed, but his attitude remained as calm as a pen holder, Hu Zongxian could only shake his head helplessly.

"where?"

Hai Rui said, "Songjiang Prefecture and Suzhou Prefecture. There has been a lot of corruption in the southeast this time. General Qi is seeking a decisive battle with the Japanese pirates at the front. I know that the Ministry does not want Zhejiang Province to have any more trouble at this time.

But Suzhou Prefecture and Songjiang Prefecture are different. The last time I was promoted to the position of Censor of the Censorate, I was in charge of investigating the land in the two prefectures. However, I had to stop temporarily due to various reasons.

I now want to find out why those cotton farmers dared to do that and how much land in the two prefectures was concealed.

When the war in Zhejiang is over, I will return to Zhejiang and continue investigating the affairs of Zheng Michang, He Maocai, Li Xuan, and...Shen Yishi."

After thinking for many days, Hai Rui finally told everyone everything he had planned.

Hu Zongxian frowned.

He knew exactly what Hai Rui wanted to investigate.

But Hai Rui didn't understand what he would face.

Hu Zongxian closed the book of Tang poetry at hand and patted it gently: "You think too highly of yourself. You are an upright person who dares to speak out and resist superiors.

But if you really want to resist, who can a mere censor like you defeat?

In Suzhou, Songjiang and Zhejiang, you can do something to shock the court, but that's because there are people behind you who want to shock the court.

Then go to Suzhou and Songjiang Prefectures, who can you shock by yourself?

You can’t refuse what the emperor wants to use.

You can’t protect what the emperor doesn’t need.”

Hai Rui, however, got stubborn and asked, "The minister said that there is someone behind me who wants to shake up the court. Who is this person? Who is the person that the minister said the emperor wants to use? Who is the person that the emperor doesn't want to use?"

Outside the Governor's Office.

got windy.

A strange wind blew into the front yard, raising a thousand layers of dust.

Hu Zongxian sighed again: "Some things are not as heavy as four ounces if they are not weighed, but once they are weighed, they weigh a thousand pounds. Hai Rui, you have been an official for many years, do you understand what I mean?"

Hai Rui's eyes narrowed slightly, but he shook his head and said, "I don't understand. I only know that even the peddlers on the street always pay fair prices when selling goods to people."

Hu Zongxian's brows tightened.

"What if I don't let you go?"

Hai Rui also responded: "I am the Censor of the Metropolitan Censorate and the Deputy Magistrate of the Southern Zhili Provincial Governor's Office. I am currently in Zhejiang Province and I am following the Emperor's orders. Now that the Emperor's business is over, I will return to Southern Zhili."

Hu Zongxian only felt a twitching between his eyebrows.

"I am the Governor-General of Zhejiang, so I can order you to stay in Zhejiang."

Hai Rui continued with undiminished aggression and said, "Then I will dare to ask Hu Bu Tangliu about this matter!"

(End of this chapter)