Chapter 395 The Troublemaker Duo
The imperial prison courtyard planted with locust trees.

Xu Wei finally met Zhu Qi.

When he saw Zhu Qi, Xu Wei couldn't help but frown slightly.

He always felt that people like Zhu Qi carried a smell of blood wherever they went.

It's the kind of bloody smell that can't be washed away even if you wash it a hundred times.

Zhu Qi just glanced over the slight change in Xu Wei's expression and didn't take it to heart.

He bowed and smiled and asked, "Mr. Xu, are you here at this time to ask about the Battle of Changping and the White Lotus Sect's assistance to the Mongols infiltrating?"

Xu Wei shook his head quickly, and then explained: "According to the rules, we also know that this case has been handed over to the Jinyiwei, and it is inconvenient for us to ask about the details. But my guest and I are the chief adjutants of the Changping Public Security Bureau. Today, we are also ordered by the chief to see if the Jinyiwei needs our help and help."

Zhu Qi also smiled at this answer.

It is true that he is a member of the Imperial Guard, but as long as one is human, there are always some things that are inevitable.

The rules should be followed, but there are also human feelings outside the rules.

Since Xu Wei said so, let's bring the matter to the official level.

Zhu Qi could also speak calmly: "A lot of people involved in the case have been arrested these days, and the case will soon be solved. But..."

Xu Wei frowned immediately: "But are you in trouble?"

Zhu Qi smiled, then looked around, took a step forward, and whispered, "If the guests are interested, they can place a few pieces in Xuanfu and Yanqing Prefecture this time."

After saying this, Zhu Qi returned to his original position.

Xu Wei narrowed his eyes, pondered for a moment, and clasped his hands towards Zhu Qi, "Seventh Master, you have worked hard. When this case is concluded, don't forget that there is a celebratory drink waiting for you and your brothers in Changping."

Zhu Qi also smiled and bowed in return.

Then, under Xu Wei's gaze, he turned around and returned to the dark and gloomy imperial prison.

Xu Wei watched Zhu Qi disappear into the darkness of the imperial prison, and a smile appeared on his face.

He didn't stay for long and turned away.

When Xu Wei rushed back to Yan's house and found Yan Shaoting.

Yan Shaoting was accompanying Sister Lu as they walked around their yard.

"I see the same scenery every day. It's so boring."

Lu Wenyan pouted and complained about the yard at the back of her house.

Yan Shaoting smiled and said, "Just wait a few days and go back to Changping. Zhou Yunyi said that this year is a rare good year. This year's summer grain harvest is already a bumper harvest, and I think there will be good news about the autumn grain soon."

Lu Wenyan glared at Yan Shaoting with dissatisfaction, but did not say anything.

Unable to figure out his eldest sister's thoughts, Yan Shaoting could only look for help to Yunniang who was accompanying him.

As for this, Yunniang could only respond with a puzzled look.

At this time, Lu Wenyan snorted and said, "Don't look at Yunniang. She is not a worm in my stomach."

Yan Shaoting immediately patted his chest and said, "What do you want, my lady? Just tell me, and I will definitely do it for you!"

Lu Wenyan glanced at the man who was talking nonsense and said, "Then I want to go south with my husband. Will he agree?"

Without waiting for Yan Shaoting to speak.

Lu Wenyan added: "I've heard that the scenery in Jiangnan is very charming, but I've never been there."

Yan Shaoting blinked, not reacting at all: "Why are you talking about going south?"

Lu Wenyan reached out and pinched Yan Shaoting's waist: "If I don't ask again, will my husband abandon us and secretly run away to the south to be an official?"

Yan Shaoting immediately stood firm: "Madam, please understand! This is absolutely not true!"

Lu Wenyan sighed helplessly: "My husband wants to go south to serve as an official, how can I stop him? But it's a thousand miles away, and then the letters home will be thousands of miles away..."

Yan Shaoting hurriedly comforted her, "Going south is still a long shot. We have to wait until the baby is born and after the Chinese New Year before we may have a chance to get the emperor's approval."

Lu Wenyan could only nod in response to this explanation.

She also knew in her heart that since her man had chosen this path, he would inevitably have to leave the capital to serve as an official.

Especially for the Yan family.

Although it seems that he has the momentum to reach the highest position in the court, it is impossible for the court to be popular forever.

If you don’t advance, you will retreat. This is the eternal truth!
After all, it's just the worry and reluctance in my heart.

Xu Wei, who had rushed back a long time ago, saw the opportunity and hurried forward: "Madam, don't worry, if the time is right, I will also find an opportunity to go south with you."

Lu Wenyan looked at Xu Wei who was walking over and pushed Yan Shaoting.

"Mr. Xu is back, you guys go and discuss matters."

As she spoke, Lu Wenyan had already reached out and grabbed Yunniang's wrist.

She was now feeling heavier and more uneasy.

Yan Shaoting glanced at his elder sister and thought that it would be better to send her to Changping as soon as possible. After all, Changping was big enough and there were more people and things to do there, which could still distract his elder sister.

Then the two of them returned to the front house from the back house.

Xu Wei also explained the news he had just received from Zhu Qi.

Yan Shaoting thought silently: "So, there are traitors in Xuanfu and Yanqing Prefecture. I'm afraid Zhu Qi and his men are going to take this opportunity to catch them all in one fell swoop."

Xu Wei nodded: "If it is according to what Zhu Qi said, then this is the only possibility. Maybe the government over there doesn't know the details, but they are inevitably guilty of connivance. With the court fighting to this point, they will definitely not be able to escape."

Yan Shaoting pondered for a moment, his fingers tapping on the table out of habit.

After a cup of tea.

Yan Shaoting spoke again: "Since we have decided to go there in person, let's take this opportunity to arrange all the affairs in the court before leaving Beijing."

Xu Wei immediately understood: "Can we find a day to invite Ru Mo, Yuan Yu and the others to come home?"

Rumo is the courtesy name of Shen Shixing.

Yuanyu is the pen name of Wang Xijue.

Yan Shaoting nodded: "Counting the days, it's time for them to be promoted, and the others can also be sent to other places to serve as officials. It's time to talk to them about their plans for the future."

Xu Wei responded and kept this in mind.

Then he chuckled.

Without waiting for Yan Shaoting to ask.

Xu Wei smiled and said, "If you go south next year, you will have to deal with Zhang Juzheng and Hai Rui again. I'm afraid the south will be even more exciting by then."

When Yan Shaoting saw Xu Wei mention these two people, he also smiled.

"They have been in the south recently, causing a lot of trouble and making everyone there feel uneasy?"

……

"Brother Gangfeng!"

"Do you know what people are saying about you and me now?"

"Shit stirrer!"

"People outside are saying that you and I are the stinking troublemakers!"

Suzhou Prefecture Grain Supervisory Office.

Zhang Juzheng looked at Hai Rui, who had finally been caught by him and brought into the grain supervision office, with a dark face, venting his dissatisfaction and anger in his heart. However, Hai Rui ran to Zhang Juzheng, poured himself a cup of tea under his gaze, and drank it without changing his expression.

Zhang Juzheng rolled his eyes.

He felt that before he left Beijing, he seemed to have planned everything out, but he had overlooked Hai Rui, the biggest destabilizing factor.

In front of this guy, I am always the one who gives me a headache, while he can act as if nothing happened even if there is a landslide and an earth-shattering.

Hai Rui slowly drank half a cup of tea before putting it down and looking at Zhang Juzheng.

His face was darker than before.

The new official robe he wore when he took the post of Yingtian Governor had already become very worn out.

But Hai Rui obviously didn't care about this at all.

He glanced at Zhang Juzheng and said slowly, "Is this how Governor Zhang talks to his superiors?"

Hearing this, Zhang Juzheng felt so choked up that he almost choked.

But what Hai Rui said was exactly the truth.

Although he was the Governor-General and Minister of Maritime Affairs, he held the title of Right Censor-in-Chief of the Censorate, while Hai Rui was the Governor-General of Yingtian and held the title of Left Censor-in-Chief of the Censorate.

Although both of them held the rank of fourth rank.

However, the power held by Hai Rui, the Governor of Yingtian, was greater than that held by himself, the Governor-General and Minister of the Navy.

Whether it was the jurisdiction of the navy or the supervision of the construction of naval warships, or the increase in silk production in the southeast or the opening of the sea, it was all inseparable from the control of the Yingtian Governor's Office.

If Hai Rui really got angry, he could cut off the food supply to his grain supervision office with just one word.

At this moment, Zhang Juzheng could only keep his anger and annoyance in his heart, but he couldn't show it.

He could only persuade him kindly: "Brother Gangfeng, you are magnanimous. If you want to survey the land under the jurisdiction of the Yingtian Governor, rectify the commercial taxes, and check the population, you can do it yourself. Why do you have to drag me, the one who manages the sea, into this?"

Hai Rui's expression remained calm: "Since Governor Zhang also knows that I am the official in charge of the sea, then of course I have to take action."

Zhang Juzheng was suddenly speechless.

You said it yourself, aren't these two different things?

But Hai Rui still wanted Zhang Juzheng to work hard, so he softened his tone and explained: "The various ministries and offices in Nanjing are kept like those in the capital, and there are too many aspects involved. So since I took office, I have not stayed there for a few days. But since the court has appointed me as the governor of Yingtian, I have to continue to do my job."

Zhang Juzheng immediately said, "Brother Gangfeng, I won't stop you from doing what you want to do, but I am only the Governor-General of Maritime Affairs. Your affairs as the Governor of Yingtian have nothing to do with my office as the Governor-General of Maritime Affairs."

"Who said it's irrelevant?"

Hai Rui curled his lips, but his eyes were fixed on Zhang Juzheng: "Since the court has appointed you as the governor of maritime affairs, you also have the power to command the navy. I also heard that after you took office, you brought a letter written by Yan Binke to Governor Xu and General Qi."

Zhang Juzheng's heart suddenly trembled, he smelled something bad.

really.

Hai Rui then said, "If I want to do something, I will definitely be opposed by the local government and the gentry who benefited from it. Although the court allowed me to supervise military affairs, these local garrisons must have been too connected to the local areas over the years. If I can have the navy under your command, and then connect with Governor Xu's tax and military office, then even if the locals resist, I will be able to deal with it calmly."

Only then did Zhang Juzheng understand why Hai Rui was determined to drag him into the water at all costs.

He was hoping that I could take the blame for him!

Once he really used the navy, he would be actually involved in the struggle between Hai Rui and the various prefectures under the jurisdiction of the Yingtian Governor.

"impossible!"

"The Emperor and the court have ordered me to be the governor of maritime affairs, to ensure that our navy warships can spread their power overseas as soon as possible, to ensure smooth overseas trade, and to increase revenue for the court."

"What Brother Gangfeng said is absolutely impossible!"

Zhang Juzheng immediately refused.

This Hai Rui expected me to do things for him.

I just want to eat shit!

Hai Rui was not annoyed, but asked calmly, "Really?"

Zhang Juzheng immediately raised his head and chest and said: "Absolutely impossible!"

Hai Rui shook his head, sighed, and stood up. "Originally, I wanted to check the land in the two prefectures of Susong again. This time, I must find out which families are occupying the land in the two prefectures, and whether the people have become tenants of the big families. If it is done properly, we can redefine the land tax, find out the population of the two prefectures, and try to merge the land tax and other taxes of the two prefectures into one..."

Having said this, Hai Rui suddenly stopped talking.

He even pretended to leave.

Seeing that Zhang Juzheng had not reacted yet.

Hai Rui really swung his sleeves and walked out of the room leisurely.

So Zhang Juzheng was left alone in the room.

Behind the desk.

Zhang Juzheng frowned, his mind still constantly thinking about what Hai Rui had just said.

He really had not expected that when Hai Rui was surveying the land and population, as well as commercial taxes in the prefectures and counties under the jurisdiction of the Yingtian Governor, he actually had such a grand plan.

Measure the land and check the population.

It has a completely different meaning from clarifying who owns the land and who owns the people.

Quietly.

It seemed as if a restless hand had grown in Zhang Juzheng's heart, scratching it constantly.

In particular, he still clearly remembered what Hai Rui said at the end, that he wanted to try to merge various taxes including the land tax into one.

Zhang Juzheng thought of more things.

at last.

Zhang Juzheng stood up and looked outside the empty door.

A trace of panic flashed across his face, and he rushed out without caring anything.

"Brother Gangfeng!"

"Brother Gangfeng!"

"I was confused just now!"

"Brother Gangfeng, please stay..."

With anxious shouts, Zhang Juzheng ran all the way out. When he rushed to the grain supervision office, he finally stopped panting.

Hai Rui was seen sitting on the steps in front of the yamen with his butt sticking out, regardless of his official status, chatting with a passerby.

Hearing the footsteps behind him, the man quickly turned around.

Then he stood up with a nervous look on his face, retreated to the street, and said with a bow: "Master Hai, please take care of yourself. We ordinary people are counting on Master Hai to make everyone live a good life."

Talking.

The people seemed to be afraid of Zhang Juzheng and fled quickly.

Hai Rui then turned around and looked at Zhang Juzheng, whose forehead was already oozing with sweat, with a smile on his face.

His smile seemed to have some kind of magic.

"Brother, have you really thought it through?"

…………

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(End of this chapter)