My father is Jiajing

The next day, on the streets of Suzhou.

"Little Blackie, not very tall, but with a black heart and black hands, he blocks other people's doors, smashes other people's bowls, and forces husbands to death to steal other people's wives."

A group of ignorant yet happy children were jumping and singing new nursery rhymes on the street.

As for where these nursery rhymes came from and who made them up, no one could find the source for a while.

At the same time, while these nursery rhymes were being sung in the streets, idle men in street teahouses were sitting together, vividly telling the absurd story of "Hai Rui forcing innocent people to death and forcibly taking women."

It seemed that from that day on, Hai Rui became a rat crossing the street that everyone wanted to kill. Whether they were naive children or idlers in the market, they all thought so.

Moreover, in the taverns with a lot of traffic, the walls of the taverns were covered with portraits that vilified Hai Rui, who knew not since when.

Hai Rui in these portraits is portrayed as sarcastic and mean, looking just like a corrupt official who has succeeded in his career.

Suzhou Prefecture Government Office.

Hai Rui looked at the mountain of complaints in front of him, his face as gloomy as water, anger flickering in his eyes.

It can be seen that Hai Rui was completely enraged.

Hai Rui asked himself, he was an official who worked diligently, he could not say that he was 100% selfless, but at least he had never done anything to oppress the people.

But now the people in the Jiangnan region are spreading such legends and rumors about him, as if Hai Rui has become an unforgivable corrupt official and a big bad guy!
"Master, why don't we just quit?"

Hai Rui's old servant Hai An looked at Hai Rui's face carefully and felt very distressed.

Just the things Hai'an heard and saw during this period were enough to make him feel frightened.

These people attacked and slandered Hai Rui without any discrimination, without distinguishing right from wrong or good from evil, which made Hai An feel very uncomfortable.

You have to know that during the years he followed and served Hai Rui, he would not replace Hai Rui's clothes with new ones unless they were worn out to the point where they could not be any older.

Moreover, even though the salary and subsidies given by the court in recent years were enough for Hai Rui to live a well-off life, Hai Rui would still anonymously donate the extra money to the Jishan Hall or the county elementary school to help poor people and children who could not afford to go to school.

But such an honest and good person has been ruined like this just because he investigated Dong Fen’s case. If this cannot be cleared up in the future, he will bear this infamy for generations to come!

Hai Rui turned around and looked at Hai An who was worried about him. He took a deep breath, adjusted his mood, and then said, "Justice is in the hearts of the people. The people are just temporarily deceived. As long as I act uprightly, why should I be afraid of these evil spirits!"

"But.",

Hai An was about to speak but stopped himself, and could not help but say: "Lord Gao sent a letter this morning saying that the Governor's Office has received more than 30 impeachment petitions against you, and they want to jointly impeach you."

Hai Rui's eyes narrowed when he heard this. He then looked at Hai An and said, "Don't worry about it. If they want to sue, let them sue. Now as long as I can sort out Dong Fen's case, the truth will naturally come to light. By then, the people will definitely not do this again."

Hai An felt very uncomfortable seeing Hai Rui being so persistent.

Then he said, "Master, the old lady has been so angry that she has become sick. And I also heard that hundreds of people blocked the road in Nanjing to cry out for justice, saying that they want Gao Ge Lao to make a decision for them and severely punish the corrupt official Hai Rui."

Hai Rui immediately stood up excitedly, "What did you say? My mother is sick? When did it happen?"

Hai An said, "The letter was delivered early this morning."

Hai Rui immediately said anxiously: "Prepare the horses! I want to go see my mother!"

Hai Rui is a filial son, and no one else can shake Hai Rui's heart in the slightest, but his mother is different.

He was raised by his mother alone since he was a child.

Now that his mother has been with him, she has not enjoyed much happiness, but has suffered so much. Hai Rui feels guilty.

Hai Rui hurriedly left the yamen and rode his horse towards the alley where his old mother lived.

When Hai Rui was arranging accommodation for his mother, he insisted on not taking advantage of the government. He used his own money to rent a small courtyard in Nanjing to settle his family.

Just when Hai Rui hurried home to visit his mother.

Zhang Juzheng, who was in Wuxi, was currently discussing recent events with Yan Maoqing.

"Zhangbudang, the situation is not good."

Yan Maoqing wiped the sweat from his forehead and looked at Zhang Juzheng nervously.

Although they were both ministers of the same rank, Yan Maoqing was still very conscious in front of Zhang Juzheng. He never put on airs, but always maintained a subordinate attitude in front of Zhang Juzheng.

It was as if Zhang Juzheng was his boss.

Zhang Juzheng glanced at Yan Maoqing who came hurriedly, picked up a cup of tea, and took a sip of water helplessly.

He originally wanted to take action against the Gu family in Wuxi, but unfortunately he was not as brave as Hai Rui and was unable to arrest them directly.

Now that there was a commotion in Suzhou, Zhang Juzheng felt very sorry for Hai Rui.

Yan Maoqing said excitedly: "Minister, there is also a commotion in Wuxi. This morning, a mob attacked the government office, injured three police officers, and smashed the lobby!"

Zhang Juzheng couldn't help but get angry when he heard this. He suppressed his anger and asked, "Can you find out who is the mastermind behind this?"

Yan Maoqing shook his head helplessly and sighed, "They were all arrested and interrogated. They were all ignorant people who attacked the government office after being bewitched by rumors on the street."

Zhang Juzheng slammed the table in anger, "It's really lawless! Who is the ruler of Jiangnan?"

Yan Maoqing shrank his head. He had been in a panic recently. Many people had been making trouble about his past, and many people had also been impeaching him for the crimes he committed during the salt inspection.

But those "sins" were all praised by Emperor Jiajing.

You should know that the salt tax collected by the previous chief inspector of salt throughout the year was not even a fraction of what Yan Maoqing collected during his salt inspection.

Now, someone brought up these things and Yan Maoqing was really panicked.

He was very worried that the matter would get out of hand, and that Emperor Jiajing and Prince Yu would turn against him and equate him with Yan Shifan again.

If that were the case, he would be miserable.

Therefore, at this time, Yan Maoqing also shrank his neck and continued to speak to Zhang Juzheng in a low voice: "Minister, this morning, Eunuch Feng sent someone to tell us that the Qian family and the Gu family have raised 300,000 taels of silver and are preparing to go to the capital to sue us for doing evil in Jiangnan, disturbing the local area, bullying the gentry, and oppressing the good."

"Three hundred thousand taels?"

Zhang Juzheng's eyes sparkled, and he laughed, "What a big move! It seems they are determined to go against the court."

Zhang Juzheng stood up and paced around the room, thinking about his next plan.

Zhang Juzheng looked at Yan Maoqing and said, "Minister Yan, you continue to investigate the Ministry of Revenue. Make sure to find out all the corrupt officials and the informants. This matter is not only related to our success or failure, but also to your life! Do you understand? Let me go meet these 'righteous people'!"

Yan Maoqing immediately replied excitedly: "I understand!"

Then Yan Maoqing hesitated and said nervously: "Minister, it would be too dangerous for you to go there yourself. It would be better to wait for Hai Zhongcheng."

Zhang Juzheng waved his hand and said, "No need!"

Zhang Juzheng took a deep breath and said, "Gangfeng is busy enough in Suzhou. Besides, I am not made of clay. If I still act like a coward at this time, it will only disappoint the prince and make people look down on me!"

Zhang Juzheng also mustered up unprecedented courage at this moment. He was also going to stand up and help Hai Rui share the firepower.

Otherwise, he won't be able to get over the hurdle in his heart!
In Wuxi, a group of "angry people" gathered in front of the government office and shouted. The leader was a muscular man with a face full of flesh. He waved a stick in his hand and shouted: "Let the dog official Zhang Juzheng come out! Return my family's land! My family has been planting it well for generations, but when he came to measure it, he said it was the official's land. Isn't this robbery?!"

More and more people gathered here, and their emotions became more and more excited.

Their emotions are like a bomb that will explode at any moment!

At this time, suddenly, someone in the crowd shouted excitedly: "Smash this damn government office!"

Then dozens of stones flew out instantly as if they were voice-controlled, and smashed towards the gate of the yamen!

And at this moment, the door of the yamen suddenly opened!

Zhang Juzheng encountered dozens of stones flying towards him and was immediately shocked!
Fortunately, the guards around him were well prepared and immediately used a wooden shield to help Zhang Juzheng block the attack of the stones!

After experiencing such a dangerous scene, Zhang Juzheng's face suddenly became as gloomy as water!

Zhang Juzheng shouted coldly, "Get out of the way!"

The people outside were also frightened when they saw the yamen gate wide open, and they were also afraid that someone would be killed.

Fortunately, it was blocked at the critical moment.

The guard held a wooden shield in his hand, pressed his knife with one hand and stepped aside, looking at the crowd cautiously.

Zhang Juzheng flicked his clothes, stepped over the threshold and walked out alone.

He glanced at everyone and suppressed his anger.

"Fellow fellows!"

Zhang Juzheng first greeted him, then continued, "I came to Wuxi on the order of the emperor to investigate the Dong Fen case. The land I measured was obtained from the account books of the Dong mansion. If there is anything inappropriate, I hope you will forgive me. When the Dong case is settled, the land will belong to whoever it belongs to. The court will never take advantage of you!"

After hearing what Zhang Juzheng said, the leading strong man was stunned for a moment, and then he shouted excitedly: "Stop talking nonsense! You officials are here to rob us people's land! What Dong's case? I think you are just greedy for our people's land!"

Zhang Juzheng looked at this man with neither anger nor joy.

Zhang Juzheng said calmly, "My fellow villager, may I ask what your name is and how many acres of land do you have?"

The strong man was speechless for a moment, hesitating: "My name is Gu Qi, my family has ten acres of land"

"Haha, so your last name is Gu too. Let me see how your family treats your family."

Zhang Juzheng looked at Gu Qi and nodded, then he instructed the people around him, "Come here, bring the fish scale book."

A clerk immediately brought over a thick book.

Zhang Juzheng stood in front of the government gate and watched everyone flipping through the books in public: "There is a family surnamed Gu in Wuxi who owns ten acres of land. It's here."

Zhang Juzheng found out Gu Qi's information.

Zhang Juzheng looked up at Gu Qi and said, "Gu Qi, I will rent ten mu of Gu's land for 12 shi per year. Is that right?"

Gu Qi's face suddenly changed when he heard this, and he asked excitedly: "How did you know?"

Zhang Juzheng laughed, closed the fish scale book in his hand, and then said to Gu Qi: "Because this is the truth! You are not a self-cultivating farmer at all, but a tenant of the Gu family and other powerful people! The government is now measuring the land to investigate the Dong Fen case, one of the reasons is to make you pay less unfair rent, but you work for those who exploit you? How can this be justified?"

As soon as Zhang Juzheng finished speaking, the crowd began to stir, and some people whispered, "Mr. Zhang is right!"

"We ordinary people farm just to have something to eat to survive. Now that someone is in charge, what else do we want?"

Seeing that the situation was not good, Gu Qi's eyes flashed with a fierce light, and he suddenly took out a dagger from his arms: "Brothers, don't listen to his nonsense! Come on! Our Gu family is a kind family! He is trying to sow discord!"

After saying that, Gu Qi was about to attack Zhang Juzheng.

"Protect Zhangbudang!"

The guard holding a shield and a knife beside Zhang Juzheng shouted and immediately protected Zhang Juzheng behind him. Then he drew out the long knife in his hand and instantly cut off the wrist of the attacking Gu Qi!

Gu Qi screamed in pain and dropped the dagger in his hand.

At this time, Zhang Juzheng stood up again with a dark face, "Attacking the imperial official! Capture him!"

The crowd of common people who were watching the fun, as well as those who came with Gu Qi, saw that the situation was not good and immediately fled in all directions. They did not expect that Gu Qi would go crazy at this time. He was really going to kill people!

After Zhang Juzheng had Gu Qi arrested, he turned around with a gloomy face and went straight back into the yamen.

At this time Yan Maoqing also came over, he didn't expect it to be so dangerous!

First he almost crushed Zhang Juzheng to death, and then he attacked with a knife!

When did the folk customs of Jiangnan become so tough?

"Is the minister all right?"

Yan Maoqing looked at Zhang Juzheng cautiously.

Zhang Juzheng's face was gloomy. "Immediately investigate the Nanjing Ministry of Revenue! Do not let any suspicious person go!"

Yan Maoqing shrank his head and said quickly, "Yes, sir!"

Inside the Nanjing East Factory Yamen, Feng Bao was leisurely sipping a cup of this year's new tea.

Feng Bao, who has been in Nanjing for some time now, has finally developed that aura of authority without even getting angry, and looks a bit like an "old ancestor".

"Godfather."

A young eunuch respectfully handed over a secret report, "The Qian family, the Gu family, and the Zhao family have sent another five thousand taels of silver, saying that they are honoring you."

Feng Bao didn't even raise his eyelids: "Go back."

The young eunuch was stunned, and asked uncertainly: "Retreat?"

"fool!"

Feng Bao suddenly opened his eyes, "Why did the prince send us here? To help Gao Ge Lao and the others! If we accept money from them now, won't we be courting death?"

The young eunuch knelt down in fear: "My son is stupid, godfather is right to teach him a lesson!"

Feng Bao snorted coldly and ignored the little eunuch. He picked up another secret report - this was the memorial he was going to send to the capital.

It records in detail how the gentry in the south of the Yangtze River instigated civil unrest, slandered honest officials, and provided evidence of their bribery of court officials.

"Mr. Hai, Mr. Hai, you really stirred up a hornet's nest this time."

Feng Bao sighed in his heart. He didn't expect things would become so serious all of a sudden!
Feng Bao then dipped his pen in ink and added a line of small characters at the end of the secret report: "Your Majesty, please understand: Hai Rui is upright and Zhang Juzheng is calm, both are pillars of the country. The gentry in Jiangnan formed a clique to resist the law, and their intentions are punishable."

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