Confucian and Taoist scholar

Tang Hao's eyes were cold and he said to Zhang Yuan: "You threaten me in public and just want to walk away like this? You don't take me seriously, right?"

"You haven't taken Zhang seriously yet, so why should Zhang take you seriously? Who do you think you are?"

Zhang Yuan asked back, his attitude was also very arrogant.

Because in his eyes, Tang Hao was just relying on his father to be a river governor, so he went rampant in the countryside.

Zhang Yuan looked down on people like this from the bottom of his heart.

Even if the other party's power continues to fight, Zhang Yuan will not respect them.

Zhang Yuan is a student from a poor family, but also has the pride of a poor family.

"Presumptuous!"

Tang Hao was furious. He didn't expect that he would be looked down upon so much by a poor student. This had a great impact on his self-esteem, not to mention that he was in public.

"Humph!" Zhang Yuan raised his head high.

"Seeking death!"

Tang Hao's expression was a little ferocious, and his Wen Gong exuded a talent and power that enveloped Zhang Yuan.

"What are you going to do! In broad daylight, with the universe clear, are you going to fight with our scholars? "The Laws of the State of Yun" clearly stipulates that scholars are not allowed to fight privately!"

Zhang Yuan's expression changed greatly, and he was unwilling to sit still and wait for death, so he mobilized his talents and strength to resist.

"Bang!"

Zhang Yuan flew out as if he was hit by an invisible cow, fell to the ground and vomited blood.

Tang Hao is a juren!

"Master Zhang!"

Many people looked ashamed. Zhang Yuan stood up for the people, but he was treated like this by Tang Hao.

This makes many people feel guilty, but no one dares to stand up and accuse.

"You...you...lawless! Lawless!"

Zhang Yuan was so angry that he cursed. He didn't expect that Tang Hao would dare to treat him like this. Is there any way to do this!

"If you are not convinced, you can sue me to the Yamen."

"You..."

Only then did Zhang Yuan remember that the prefect Wang Yang was a disciple of the Eight Wise Kings.

Even if he went to the Yamen to file a complaint, Wang Yang could seek justice for him on the surface, but behind the scenes he could use various methods to delay the matter, and finally the matter would be settled.

Officials and officials protect each other since ancient times.

"Poof!"

Zhang Yuan was so angry that he vomited blood and fainted.

The whole place fell silent.

Tang Hao bowed his hands to everyone and said proudly: "Folks, the sand, gravel and cement used by our Hedao Mansion to build river embankments are all of the highest quality. I can assure you that Hedao Mansion will never dare to be greedy.

”

"If that's the case, why did the dam collapse?" a farmer asked.

"Presumptuous! How dare you question Mr. Tang!"

"You untouchable, you are so rude!"

"Don't you need a lesson?"

The soldiers roared, each of them looking very upright, which made everyone present feel extremely sick.

Tang Hao said: "It is no small matter that the river embankment was breached by the river water. Someone must want to frame our Hedao Mansion. Please give our Hedao Mansion some time. We will definitely investigate this matter to the end and give the villagers an explanation."<

/p>

Everyone was furious. On the surface, they were speaking in a high-sounding way, but in fact, they were just stalling for time.

If the Hedao Prefecture really wants to investigate, what kind of shit can they find out?

"Of course, if you can't trust our Hedao Mansion, you can also appeal to the Nanping Mansion Yamen." Tang Hao said with a smile.

"What about our crops? We only count on this harvest, what should we do?"

"When the truth is found out, it will be reported to the court and compensation will be paid." Tang Hao said with a smile.

Everyone looked at each other.

"Uncle, we can't believe this sweet talker surnamed Tang. He said that if he reports to the court for compensation, it will definitely go into their pockets. This is a delaying tactic."

"Hey... I can't help it. Who can stand up for us now?"

"We can go to the Hanyi Society. The leader of the society, Mr. Li Changsheng, is a man of merit and integrity. Only by asking him to appeal to the court can we punish these corrupt officials."

"That's right! We can go to Hanyi Club and tell Mr. Li about this."

There were whispers among the crowd, but in the end they had no choice but to disperse.

"Untouchable! Bah!"

Tang Hao looked at the villagers returning without success, with contempt and disdain on his face.

…………

March twenty-four.

Some scholars and common people came to Hanyishe and told Li Changsheng, Du Ning and others about the collapse of the Nanping River dam in the side room.

When they learned that Zhang Yuan stood up for the people but was beaten by Tang Hao, everyone in Hanyi Club was furious.

"That's unreasonable! This Tang Hao is simply lawless. He just doesn't take the initiative to redress the grievances of the people. He actually injured Zhang Yuan. The noble son of Hedao Mansion actually bullies others with his power!"

"The Hedao government is a little greedy, and we turned a blind eye, but we didn't expect that they used inferior materials to build the dam. Can this kind of thing be used?"

"Corrupt officials! They rely on officials to protect each other and cover the sky with their hands. If these people cannot be severely punished, where is the national law? Where is the justice of heaven!"

Many students were furious, while the farmers looked haggard.

"Bang!"

Du Ning slapped the desk and said angrily: "As a scholar and the son of Tang Hedu, Tang Hao not only beat Zhang Yuan, but also some unarmed common people. This kind of person is simply the scum of society. This matter

We, Hanyi Club, have decided to take charge!”

Li Changsheng also said: "Don't worry, everyone, Li will write a letter to the court right now, saying that he participated in the river governor's corruption and dereliction of duty, and he will definitely be removed from his hat!"

"Most of the people in the imperial court are officials from the Xian Wang Party. I'm afraid that water from afar cannot quench the thirst for nearness. If there are officials from the Xian Wang Party to suppress this matter, Brother Li's memorial will never reach the Sixth Department." Du Ning said calmly.

p>

Li Changsheng didn't believe it: "After all, I am also a scholar who passed the state examination. Who dares to stop me from giving a memorial? This will make me lose my reputation!"

"No one can stop Brother Li from submitting the memorial, but it is okay to temporarily forget where it fell. Moreover, even if Brother Li's memorial can be submitted to the Sixth Ministry and the emperor sends people to investigate the matter, the officials of the Xian Wang Party will obstruct it and try their best to

Delay it." Du Ning responded.

"Then what should we do? If this matter is delayed for a month or two, what will be found when the court sends people down? Even the day lily will be cold! I'm afraid that by then we will just lose some money, but we will still be

It got into the pocket of Hedao Mansion." Li Changsheng's face was very ugly.

"Oops! Something happened! Something happened again!"

Suddenly, another scholar came to the side room and said to everyone: "The river embankments in several counties under the jurisdiction of Nanping Prefecture have also collapsed. The river water not only destroyed the crops, but also washed away the houses built in the lower areas. More than a hundred people were injured."

The family is homeless."

"What!"

The whole audience was shocked!

In some counties and rivers under the jurisdiction of Nanping Prefecture, officials actually took advantage of them and ate up all the money sent by the imperial court to build dams!

The upper beam is not straight and the lower beam is crooked!

"Absurd! Absurd! Absurd!"

"From the capital city to the counties, the rivers in various places have been corrupted and violated the law, causing rivers to overflow and cause disasters!"

"If the crops are ruined, they can be planted again next year. If the family is gone, then that's okay!"

"Natural disasters and man-made disasters mean that natural disasters and man-made disasters come together!"

"Damn corrupt officials! Damn it! Damn it!"

Countless people's eyes are splitting and they are gnashing their teeth.

"Hedao Prefecture was so corrupt and perverted that the dams burst during the rainy season, rivers overflowed, crops were destroyed, and hundreds of households were left homeless. Whose fault is it? Hedao Prefecture's fault!"

Du Ning said loudly: "We must sue the Hedao government and let the Yamen investigate the matter thoroughly and give us justice!"

Li Changsheng said: "Didn't you say that the officials of the Xianwang Party will protect each other? Even if we sue Hedao Mansion, I'm afraid Wang Yang will shirk away in every possible way."

"Wang Yang is the local magistrate, and it is his duty to make decisions for the people. If he dares to protect the Hedao Prefecture, then he will also be liquidated. If I don't take off these people's hats, I will be a scholar in vain!"

After Du Ning finished speaking, he came to the desk and picked up a pen to write on the paper.

"What Mr. Du said is absolutely true. Wang Yang is our parent official. If such a big thing happens, who else can we turn to than him? If he doesn't make the decision for us, I will file a lawsuit with the Yamen in Suzhou!"

"Well said! If the Suzhou government doesn't care, we will go to the capital and file a complaint!"

The students were filled with anger and immediately drafted a petition to sue Hedao Prefecture to the Yamen first.

…………

Nanping Mansion Yamen.

"Master Tang, you are crazy!"

Wang Yang stood up and pointed at another man wearing official robes and said: "The three million taels of silver sent by the imperial court every year to build river embankments are used to build embankments on rivers in Nanping Prefecture and the nine counties under its jurisdiction.

, you actually stole nearly one million taels of silver on your own and used inferior materials to build river embankments."

"Now not only the river embankments in our Nanping Prefecture, but also the river embankments in several counties under our control have collapsed. If this matter gets bigger, you will be slandering the reputation of the Eight Wise Kings, in case the Eight Wise Kings are not selected.

Prince, our future is gone!"

"Mr. Tang, look at these reports from the county government, you are too greedy!"

The governor of Tang River also looked ugly and said: "Xiaguan has carefully calculated that most of the river banks in the nine counties under his rule are very solid. If the two million taels of silver are distributed, each county will receive an average of twenty

More than ten thousand taels of silver are enough for them to strengthen the river embankment. Logically speaking, this kind of thing is absolutely impossible."

"Bah!"

Wang Yang reprimanded: "The upper beam is not straight and the lower beam is crooked. Do you think you are the only one in Nanping Mansion who has enriched your own pocket? You can steal more than one million from three million taels of silver, but they dare to steal more than two hundred thousand taels."

I have spent hundreds of thousands of dollars in money, is the remaining money enough for me?"

"Presumptuous!"

"How dare they..."

Governor Tang He was furious, but as soon as the words came to his mouth, he lost his momentum and realized that he was not qualified to abuse those people.

"Master Wang, the matter has come to this, you must help the official. If you can't suppress this matter, the Eight Wise Kings may not be able to ascend to the throne of the crown prince. By then, your success in following the dragon will inevitably come to nothing. Here is

Five hundred thousand taels of silver, please accept it."

As Tang Hedu said this, he took out a large stack of hundreds of banknotes and placed them on the desk.