Chapter 66 Lao Hu, Do You Want to Improve?
Can I borrow a few heads?!

When Hu Zongxian heard this, his heart skipped a beat and he felt something was wrong.

But before he could turn around and leave.

Bang.

He had been pulled into the Yan Mansion by Yan Shaoting, and the doorman had quickly closed the door of the Yan Mansion tightly.

Can't leave.

I have walked into a tiger's den!
Hu Zongxian felt a sense of alarm in his heart.

However, no matter how alert Hu Zongxian was, Yan Shaoting had already led this weightlifter from the southeastern half of the Ming Dynasty into the front hall of Yan's mansion.

The lackey Yan Hu hurried forward and poured tea and water for Hu Butang.

"This is the Mingqian Longjing tea sent by Hangzhou this year. I hope you guys can try it and see if it suits your taste."

Yan Shaoting looked at Hu Zongxian with a serious expression and spoke softly.

Only now did he have the chance to tidy up his clothes.

Hu Zongxian took the opportunity of drinking tea to glance at Yan Shaoting who was tidying up his clothes.

Seeing this, Hu Zongxian felt more suspicious and puzzled.

It was obvious that the eldest son of the Yan family had already rested at home. When he heard that I would be visiting the capital today, he was in such a hurry that he didn't even put on his clothes and shoes. He was afraid that I would leave, so he rushed to the gate of the mansion to stop me.

This reminded Hu Zongxian of the incident during the Three Kingdoms period when Cao Mengde welcomed Xu You barefoot.

However, Xu You was later beheaded because he repeatedly spoke wildly and angered Cao Cao.

Are you Xu You?

Could this young upstart in the court be Cao Cao?
Hu Zongxian had endless guesses in his mind.

Yan Shaoting tidied his clothes a little, then held the teacup and looked curiously at Hu Butang, whom he met for the first time.

He smiled and said softly, "You have traveled all the way north, and you have worked hard for the country. It is very hard."

This is just a polite remark.

Hu Zongxian put down his teacup and looked at Yan Shaoting: "Thank you for your praise, it is our duty to serve the country."

Yan Shaoting smiled and said, "This time, I was entrusted by His Majesty to take charge of all the affairs in the southeast. However, I am in the capital and have not gone south. When the minister returns to Zhejiang, I will have to trouble him with many matters."

Hu Zongxian's heart sank again: "What the tutor said before... The destruction of the Xin'an River levee caused disasters in several counties on both sides of the river, with hundreds of thousands of victims. As the governor-general of Zhejiang and the governor of Zhejiang, I have no choice but to take responsibility and cannot escape the blame.

The Imperial Tutor is now carrying out missions in Zhejiang and other places under the Emperor's order. I will never refuse any mission."

Seeing Hu Zongxian make a promise.

Yan Shaoting shut his mouth.

He placed the teacup on the table and gently turned the Chenghua Chicken Cup in his hand.

Lao Hu was recalled to the capital this time. Firstly, the Taoist priest wanted to ask Lao Hu in person about the situation in Zhejiang. Secondly, Lao Hu needed to explain the personnel affairs in Zhejiang to the emperor himself.

On this point, it is impossible for the Taoist priest to completely believe the news sent to Xiyuan by the imperial court.

Just like this time, Yang Jinshui also set off for Beijing from Zhejiang at the same time as Lao Hu.

After a while.

Yan Shaoting just said: "Minister, you know the situation in Zhejiang best. The Xin'an River levee was a man-made disaster, not a natural disaster. Now that the disaster is underway and the victims are in dire straits, and the treacherous officials have not been punished, it is not the time to determine what crimes you have committed."

When Hu Zongxian heard what Yan Shaoting said, he finally felt relieved.

What he feared most was that Yan Shaoting, the eldest son of the Yan family, would forcefully attribute the destruction of the Xin'an River dike to a natural disaster.

Hu Zongxian stood up and saluted, saying, "It was a man-made disaster. That is why, before I was summoned back to Beijing this time, after the Xin'an River embankment was destroyed, the chief officials of Hangzhou and other prefectures and counties were executed.

This time, another imperial tutor sent a letter to Zhejiang, ordering Zhejiang to use work instead of relief, borrow the stored grain from merchants to help the people, and suppress and prevent the gentry and wealthy businessmen from buying the land of the victims at low prices.

In this way, the people affected by the disaster in Zhejiang can avoid being exploited after the disaster.

I am the chief official of Zhejiang and I should have been responsible for Your Majesty's administration, but this incident happened. If it weren't for my tutor, I'm afraid the situation in Zhejiang would have been even more difficult.

Here, Hu Zongxian, on behalf of the disaster victims in Zhejiang, expresses his gratitude to the tutor for his compassion for the people! "

After finishing speaking, Hu Zongxian shook his robe lightly, stood up and walked into the hall, bowed respectfully to Yan Shaoting.

He was a second-rank official in the Ming Dynasty and a frontier governor.

However, he had no grudge at all and simply saluted Yan Shaoting, whose official rank was much lower than his.

Yan Shaoting quickly stood up, walked forward to help Hu Zongxian up, and helped him sit back on the chair beside him.

Yan Shaoting's eyes were deep. He had never expected that Lao Hu would be so straightforward.

He smiled and said, "I should be the one to thank you, Minister. If you hadn't been in Zhejiang, I'm afraid Zhejiang would have been in complete chaos right now."

This is true.

Without Hu Zongxian in charge of Zhejiang, Zheng Michang, He Maocai and his gang would have made the people of Zhejiang live in misery long ago.

It’s a pity that the Hangzhou prefect Ma Ningyuan was eventually beheaded by Lao Hu.

Although Ma Ningyuan was a bit stupid and had no concern for the people but only the emperor's orders, it was understandable that he was beheaded and he deserved it, but it is a pity that he should have had a bright future but ended up like this.

Hu Zongxian's expression eased a little: "I just hope that this time, everything in Zhejiang can be settled smoothly, and the people can have a chance to breathe."

Yan Shaoting said: "This is also the reason why I stayed in the hall tonight."

Hu Zongxian looked curious.

He knew that the current Zhejiang affairs were handled by Yan Shaoting. However, he still didn't know what the young man, who had just heard of the name of Little Yan, was planning.

Hu Zongxian asked tentatively, "The tutor asked to borrow a few heads earlier. Was it for this matter?"

"Yes."

Yan Shaoting nodded in acknowledgment, but then shook his head and said, "But not entirely."

Hu Zongxian asked curiously, "I'd like to hear more details."

According to his own speculation, he would probably be punished by the emperor for the affairs of Zhejiang Province this time, but he would still have to continue to take charge of the affairs of Zhejiang Province in the future.

Yan Shaoting is now in charge of several major events in Zhejiang. If he can figure out the other party's intentions now, he will be able to handle it better in Zhejiang Province when the time comes.

Yan Shaoting narrowed his eyes: "The destruction of the Xin'an River embankment has resulted in the destruction of countless fertile fields on both sides of the river, and hundreds of thousands of victims. This is a man-made disaster. Although the Ministry has executed Hangzhou prefect Ma Ningyuan and others, is this man-made disaster really over?

Ma Ningyuan was just a prefect. How could he really dare to commit such a heinous crime privately?

In my opinion, we need to chop off a few more heads of people in Zhejiang Province."

Hu Zongxian tightened his hands hidden in his sleeves.

At this moment, hidden in his sleeve was the document written by his student Ma Ningyuan before he was beheaded, regarding the causes and consequences of the destruction of the Xin'an River dike.

Hu Zongxian said in a low voice: "Who does Yan Shidu want to execute?"

Old Hu couldn't help but have countless fantasies and speculations in his mind.

Although this was only the first time they met, this young Lord Yan in front of him gave him a completely different feeling from the young Lord, or even Lord Yan.

"Zhejiang Provincial Governor Zheng Michang."

"He Maocai, the Provincial Inspector of the Zhejiang Provincial Criminal Court."

Yan Shaoting spoke calmly and directly named Zheng Michang and He Maocai as the two people to be killed in front of Hu Zongxian.

Hu Zongxian was immediately stunned.

He really had never thought that Yan Shaoting would be so courageous that he would kill the governor and the censor as soon as he opened his mouth.

Although Hu Zongxian agreed with this, he still said, "The promotion, appointment, dismissal, punishment and reward of local officials are all decided by the emperor..."

This is not something that he or Yan Shaoting can do just because they want to.

Yan Shaoting leaned back and pressed his fingers on the rim of the cup.

"Hu Butang passed the imperial examination in the 17th year of Jiajing and was initially appointed as a county magistrate. He successively served as an imperial censor in Xuanfu and Datong to rectify military discipline and stabilize border defense. He also inspected Zhejiang to rectify the army and fight against Japanese pirates. Up to now, Butang has been an official in the court for 24 years. He has always been an official in the local area and has a lot of experience.

The Ming Dynasty is plagued by barbarians in the north and Japanese pirates in the south. The court's administration is in chaos and taxation is struggling. Now is the time when the court needs people.

I wonder if Hu Bu Tang has any further ideas?"

(End of this chapter)