Chapter 49 Why should I be afraid of Jin Yiwei?
When County Magistrate Zhou saw Mao Xiang walking in, he quickly stood up to greet him, "Brother Mao, it's been seven years since we said goodbye in the capital!"
"I wonder if this visit to Funing County is for business? Or is it just for fun?"
Mao Xiang cupped his hands and said with a smile: "How about if it's business? What if it's for fun?"
Magistrate Zhou smiled and said, "If it's for business, I will naturally assist you with all my strength. If it's for fun, I have to fulfill my friendship as a landlord and have fun with Brother Mao. Only in this way can I repay your kindness in helping!"
"Haha, Brother Zhou is really interested!" When he came to Funing County, he encountered obstacles one after another. After hearing Magistrate Zhou's words, his depression eased a little.
"Why are you still standing here? Hurry up and serve tea to the distinguished guests!" Magistrate Zhou said to the master.
"Yes, yes, sir, please wait a moment, two distinguished guests!" The master reacted and quickly left to prepare tea.
After a while, the two parties sat down and the tea was made.
"To be honest, Brother Zhou, my visit this time is actually on business, to investigate a major case!" Mao Xiang took a sip of hot tea and said slowly.
Magistrate Zhou's face tightened, "Brother Mao, are you from Jinyiwei?"
"Oh." Mao Xiang was a little surprised and asked with a smile: "Our Jinyiwei has only been established for more than a year, but we actually have such a great reputation?"
Magistrate Zhou hurriedly said: "Looking at the name of Jin Yiwei in the whole of Beizhili and Shandong, who doesn't know who doesn't know it?!"
Hearing this, Mao Xiang was very satisfied. It seemed that Jin Yiwei's efforts over the past year were not in vain!With such a prestigious reputation, why not be able to intimidate hundreds of officials and accomplish anything? "Brother Zhou, don't be afraid. I'm not here to target you." Mao Xiang knew very well that with the reputation of Jin Yiwei, he would definitely frighten Magistrate Zhou, so he comforted him first and then asked slowly.
"afraid!?"
Magistrate Zhou was stunned and asked: "Why should I be afraid of the Jin Yiwei?"
Forehead. This made Mao Xiang stunned, and asked tentatively: "Brother Zhou, aren't you afraid of the Jinyi Guards? His Majesty personally ordered the formation to supervise all officials!"
Magistrate Zhou smiled and shook his head, "Brother Mao, the Jinyiwei arrested so many people in Beizhili, but not only were they released later, but all those arrested were promoted. Now the officialdom of Beizhili is full of people." It is said that Jin Yiwei is a lucky star, and if he is caught by Jin Yiwei, it means that he will be promoted, and I hope Jin Yiwei comes to visit!"
"Brother Mao, I have been the county magistrate for seven years. Whether I can be promoted this year depends entirely on you!"
After saying that, Magistrate Zhou stretched out his hand and said expectantly: "Brother Mao, how about you arrest me now?"
Forehead. "Brother Zhou, don't be ridiculous, I'm serious." Mao Xiang said angrily.
"Brother Mao, I'm serious too!" County Magistrate Zhou thought for a while and said with a smile: "Don't be in a hurry to catch me. I will cooperate with you to get the job done first, and then I will take you to the heaven and earth to play, etc. Let’s talk after you have fun.”
"But when you arrest someone, you must consider me! It's been seven years, and I haven't been promoted in seven years!"
Mao Xiang did not give up and continued: "Brother Zhou, the Jinyiwei commander directly drives the guards, patrols and arrests, and is in charge of the prisons. He specializes in investigating injustice and lawlessness of officials at all levels and the rumors. He will report everything. Once he is arrested by the Jinyiwei, Are you really not afraid of life and death?"
Magistrate Zhou nodded, "I was really scared at first, but I heard that Jinyiwei's recruitment tests test the skills of making fried chicken and grilled fish, so why not just fried chicken or grilled fish? There is nothing to be afraid of. I guess If you are caught, you will have to eat fried chicken and grilled fish every day, don’t mention it. I especially like to eat these two things.”
puff--
Mao Xiang almost spit out all the tea he it, let's not talk about this topic again, otherwise he will definitely vomit blood later!
"Brother Zhou, let's not talk about grilled fish and fried chicken, okay?" Mao Xiang quickly changed the subject, "I have something to ask Brother Zhou."
"Brother Mao, please tell me. As long as I know something, I will tell you everything!" Magistrate Zhou said, patting his chest.
Mao Xiang stopped talking and asked directly: "When I came to Funing County, I heard some people say that Yong'an Prefecture will carry out a 'work-for-relief' decree. Why have I never heard of this? "
"Is there something fishy about this?"
Magistrate Zhou was holding the teacup in his hand. After hearing this question again, he slowly put the teacup down and said with a smile: "I didn't expect Brother Mao to be interested in this matter."
"Work-for-relief is indeed proposed by the prefect, and has been implemented in the entire Yong'an Prefecture. According to the prefect's plan, 1000 million taels of silver will be invested!"
puff--
This time Mao Xiang couldn't hold it back any longer and spit out the tea in his mouth.
"1000 million silver?!"
If he remembered correctly, the total tax revenue of the entire Ming Dynasty last year was only 1000 million taels of silver. Your Yong'an Prefecture is only one of more than 100 state capitals in the Ming Dynasty, and it is also one of the northernmost and poorest state capitals. Even if Even if every person and every ant in Yong'an Mansion is sold, it won't be enough for 1000 million taels of silver, right?
Even if this is not a fantasy, it is still the talk of an idiot! The key is that some people still believe it! ! Mao Xiang regained his serious expression and said, "County Magistrate Zhou, please stop joking!"
"Brother Mao, I'm really not joking!" Magistrate Zhou smiled helplessly, "Actually, I didn't believe it at first, but the prefect can conjure up money every time like a magic trick."
"The county road between Kaiping County and Funing County is about to be completed, and the county road between other counties in Yong'an Prefecture is also under planning. A large number of blacksmiths, carpenters, and bricklayers are being recruited. You should have seen them when you came to the county office. , send someone!"
Mao Xiang nodded slowly. He had naturally seen what County Magistrate Zhou said with his own eyes.
But the question remains, where did these 1000 million come from?
"Brother Zhou, I heard from the people that when you work at the construction sites recommended by the government, you can eat rice porridge, steamed buns and pickles every day? Is this true?" Mao Xiang continued to ask.
"That's nonsense!" Magistrate Zhou shook his head.
"I'm just saying, who is so rich that the workers they hire eat rice porridge, steamed buns, and pickles every day." Mao Xiang seemed to have found a balance in his heart.
"Um, Brother Mao, that's not what I mean. What I want to say is that I work at the construction site recommended by the Yong'an government. In addition to rice porridge, steamed buns, and pickles, there are also white rice, cabbage and boiled meat slices. I can eat it every two or three days. !" Magistrate Zhou said angrily: "To say that we only eat rice porridge and steamed buns is absolutely slander and nonsense."
"Uh" Mao Xiang didn't want to speak at all. The food here was even better than those of the Jin Yiwei.
"Brother Zhou, do you really not know how Magistrate Ouyang gets the money for road construction, building houses, and the people's wages?" Mao Xiang asked anxiously.
Magistrate Zhou thought for a while and then said: "Prefect Ouyang seems to have issued something called Yong'an bonds in some exchange in Kaiping County. Officials and ordinary people can buy it with money. After a certain time, Gains can be made!”
(End of this chapter)