Guide to traveling through the Northern Song Dynasty

"Prefect, villagers are gathering outside the city, and they are stopped by the soldiers guarding the city!"

Jiang E hurriedly ran inside.

Nie Wen put down his brush: "How many people are here?"

Jiang E said: "There are more than a thousand people, and more villagers are coming here after hearing the news."

Nie Wen stood up calmly and walked out slowly.

This matter can be big or small. If it can be suppressed, there will be no risk. If it gets bigger, it will alarm the court.

Isn't Nie Wen afraid?

He can't make the decision even if he is afraid.

This is the provincial capital, not just the prefectural capital.

The officials of the three divisions of Huainan Province are all here. What can a small prefecture governor do?

He was not good in his previous life, and he is a county magistrate in this life. He did evil in his previous life, and he is a county magistrate in the suburbs. He is full of evil and is a provincial capital in the suburbs.

"Full of evil" refers to Nie Wen.

When encountering any major events, he can't make the decision at all, but he has to take the blame if there is a mistake.

Nie Wen sent people to post notices all over Chuzhou Prefecture, not only for the officials to see, nor for the common people to see. It was posted for provincial officials to see!

Want me to take the blame?

I will just make this pot bigger and cover all the officials of the three divisions.

Jiang E had already run to the inner door of the government hall, but found that the prefect Nie Wen did not come. Turning his head, he saw Nie Wen standing in front of the stone pavilion, with his hands behind his back observing the words engraved on the stone.

"Prefect, it's almost too late!" Jiang E hurried back to urge.

Nie Wen read the commandments and said: "Your salary is the blood and sweat of the people; it is easy to abuse the people, but it is hard to deceive God. Do you know the origin of these sixteen words?"

Jiang E said: "Of course I know, but the situation outside the city is extremely urgent..."

"Some people are more anxious than us," Nie Wen said with a smile, "They usually turn a blind eye, and even ignore my notices. Some people think that the matter is not a big deal, and some people are happy to see it get bigger. I am the one who bears the responsibility, and if I take a step back, they will bear the responsibility."

Hearing this, Jiang E was even more anxious: "But you are the prefect. There was a civil riot in Chuzhou Prefecture, and you are the first one to be held accountable!"

Nie Wen walked slowly to the lobby, rolled up his sleeves and said: "Don't be afraid! I was born as an imperial censor. I was promoted to a civil official after uncovering a case. I was very cool when I was an imperial censor. I pulled down dozens of officials. In recent years, I have become more and more uncomfortable. I have been constrained in everything I do. I just want to expose the affairs of Chuzhou Prefecture."

Jiang E was stunned.

Nie Wen said: "After the matter here is over, if I can still be an official, I will ask to be transferred to Anxi or Jiaozhi. Those two places have been recovered not long ago, and the court needs to open up the situation. I can be more relaxed when I am an official there. Or, just transfer to Dali. Don't be afraid, I still have some old friends and will consider your future."

"Why is it so?" Jiang E sighed.

Nie Wen said, "You don't understand. The water here is muddy. Li Ge Lao... has been the prime minister for too long. I don't know how many people are looking forward to his resignation. Some bastards have always wanted to use me as a gun. I can poke a hole in the sky with this gun."

Involving court disputes?

Jiang E didn't dare to speak any more.

Nie Wen smiled and said, "Don't think that the life of the prefect of Chuzhou is frustrating. In fact, it is a lucrative job. If I were promoted normally, would I be able to get this official position? It's nothing more than that they see that I am a censor, and they know that I have a straight character and can't tolerate any sand in my eyes. They also want to use this incident to win over my mentor and old friends behind me."

Jiang E walked silently behind Nie Wen like a young wife, his head buzzing and he had lost the ability to think.

Walking on the street, they met officials from the Provincial Administration Department.

The two provincial governors were riding horses, and the other officials were riding cars, riding horses, and running fast.

And the officials of the Provincial Administration Department had already led the officials to the city gate.

As for the general and the commander-in-chief, they have already arrived at the military camps inside and outside the city, and directly dispatched troops to prevent the matter from getting out of hand.

The city gates were closed, and the soldiers climbed the city walls.

General Li Jiang angrily scolded the archers: "You can't draw your bow without orders. What if it shoots?"

The archers on the city wall loosened their bowstrings one after another.

Li Jiang was born a salt smuggler and went to Li Bao in Bazhou. He has a long history and average ability. Because of his dirty hands and feet, he was once punished.

In general, the problem is not big.

The real big problem is the commander-in-chief Guo Xiong outside the city.

Guo Xiong is not only responsible for the recruitment, training, and demobilization of soldiers in the province, but also for the anti-smuggling and catching thefts - he only manages the anti-smuggling and catching thefts in the countryside, and he is not responsible for the urban areas. And if the scale of the bandits is too large, they will be handed over to the general for handling.

The gangsters under Li Xiaojian's protection often intercept canal merchant ships to extort money. This matter is also within Guo Xiong's authority and responsibility. He has never seriously investigated it, so he naturally received benefits.

"All dispersed, do you still want to rebel?"

At this moment, Guo Xiong led his troops from the military camp outside the city and angrily rebuked the villagers who gathered to petition.

The army was coming, and many villagers were afraid. Even some baojia leaders were scared and subconsciously stepped back to go home.

Tao Dingan, who initiated and linked the petition, stepped forward and clasped his fists and said: "Sir, we are not here to rebel. We are just ordinary farmers. The government posted a notice saying that no money will be collected, but sent people to urge for the exemption money. The country folks are short-sighted and don't know what's going on, so we came to the provincial capital to ask."

Guo Xiong asked: "Are you the leader?"

Tao Dingan said: "I was entrusted by the villagers to come forward to ask whether the exemption money will be collected..."

"Those who lead the trouble will be arrested first!"

Guo Xiong was too lazy to say anything and directly asked the soldiers to arrest people.

Seeing the soldiers taking action, most of the villagers were frightened and fled, and scattered through the gaps deliberately left by the army.

But there were also 20 or 30 people who were quite courageous and stepped forward to protect Tao Dingan.

Guo Xiong said: "Catch all those who stand out!"

These 20 or 30 people were quickly pinned down and their hands were tied behind their backs with ropes.

"Why are you tying me up?"

"We are here to ask for the exemption money, and we want to see the prefect!"

"The prefect used the seal on the notice, and it was clearly written that no money would be collected from the people. Why doesn't he keep his word?"

"Is the prefect still in charge of Chuzhou Prefecture?"

"..."

A group of civil servants stood on the city tower, frowning at the farce outside the city.

Of course, some people looked normal.

"Open the city gate." Nie Wen said to the soldiers stationed at the city gate.

General Li Jiang walked over quickly and scolded: "Why are you still standing there?"

The city gate opened, Nie Wen walked out with his hands behind his back, and Guo Xiong was escorting the people over.

Nie Wen stopped at the gate: "Guo Duzhi, I ordered the notice to be posted, and these people came to ask me. They didn't steal, rob, or carry weapons, and the place where they gathered was in the city. You have no reason to arrest them, and you have no power to arrest them."

Guo Xiong was a little angry and questioned: "This is not only the prefectural city, but also the provincial capital! You are just the prefect. If there is a mess, can you afford it?"

Nie Wen pointed at the arrested people: "These are all people under my rule. I believe they are not bad people. If there is a mess, I will bear all the blame."

Guo Xiong did not speak, but stood there and stared at Nie Wen.

Nie Wen was too lazy to pay attention to him, and turned back to look at the officials standing on the city wall.

Right Governor Zhang Su came downstairs first and said, "Take them to the Governor's Office."

Soon, Censor Huang Shilian also showed up and said, "I think it's just some misunderstandings. Take them to the Censor's Office for questioning. Once the misunderstandings are resolved, they will all be released home."

Nie Wen said, "There may be other hidden stories about the exemption money, most of which are not misunderstandings."

"It must be some clerks who made a mistake. Most of them are illiterate." Huang Shilian said.

Zhang Su walked further outside the city and bowed to the tower: "This matter is serious. Please let Governor Yang make the decision."

Left Governor Yang An, who had not expressed his opinion, now glanced back and forth between Zhang Su and Nie Wen, as if he wanted to know whether the two had gotten involved.

Other officials such as councilors, councilors, judges, and Cao Yuan all stepped back half a step, obviously not wanting to get involved. Or, they didn't know how big the matter would get, so they planned to wait and see before expressing their opinions.

Feng Liang, the deputy envoy and academic official, also retreated at this moment, but his expression was filled with fear.

Left Governor Yang An has become the center of attention. He was forced to say: "Take them all to the Censorate to inquire about the reasons."

Right Governor Zhang Su asked: "If there is a criminal case, it should be taken to the Censorate. But these people are just confused about the government order. Since our two governors are here, shouldn't they be taken to the Governorate? Why treat them as criminals without asking the reason?"

Yang An said calmly: "Then take them to the Governorate."

Suddenly, Yan Tao, dressed in cloth, walked out from the corner of the wing outside the city, holding the official badge of the censor and said loudly: "Yan Tao, the Supervisory Office, has been ordered to inspect Huainan. Please allow me to listen in the Governorate."

Yang An finally changed his face, but he regained his composure in an instant, bowed and said: "Yan Yushi, please."

Nie Wen smiled, as if meeting an old friend, and asked casually: "Are you the only one?"

Yan Tao said: "There are six, scattered all over Huainan."

The two walked side by side.

After entering the city, Nie Wen whispered: "If you make great achievements this time, don't follow my example and transfer to a civil official. It's very uncomfortable, and everything is beyond my control."

Yan Tao pouted: "Are you involved with that Zhang Su?"

"That bastard has been trying to get me out of trouble," Nie Wen said, "I was really depressed, so I took the opportunity to stir up trouble while conquering Dali. Whatever happens, I am at most responsible for negligence, and at most I will be demoted one level."

Yan Tao smiled and said: "You have offended those people, and in the future It will be difficult to get promoted."

"It doesn't matter. If you can't get promoted, then don't get promoted. The most important thing is to have a clear mind," Nie Wen said, "We came from the Inspectorate, so why are we afraid of offending people? Even if I am transferred to a civil official, I dare to stand up straight and do my work!"

Yan Tao said, "There may be a big quarrel in the court."

"It is estimated that there will be no quarrel," Nie Wen said, "This matter is more like a test. Li Gelao is still trusted by the government, and that person... has retired for many years."