A powerful minister of the Song Dynasty

Chapter 306 Three Drums of Injustice Knocked in One Day

"Yes, there are serious public security problems, tax arrears, and perhaps even collusion between insiders and outsiders to embezzle public funds."

Song Xuan's casual remark immediately put Fan Zhongyan into deep thought.

This is something Song Xuan specifically sought out today.

In short, the public security situation in Kaifeng County is very serious.

Not to mention that many powerful and influential people lived in Kaifeng County.

When Fan Zhongyan was serving as an official in the countryside, he did not encounter so many problems all at once.

Fan Zhongyan was at most good at judging cases; he still couldn't collect all the taxes, but he always had a reason for the flood.

After he built the dike, he became a wealthy county magistrate and no longer owed the imperial court any taxes.

Otherwise, how could the local people have built a shrine for Fan Zhongyan and named it Fan Gong Dike?
Now, Song Xuan is about to take control of a county with a population of over 500,000 right from the start.

Above him was the Prefect of Kaifeng, who was watching him closely, ready to bare his fangs at any moment.

Below them were all sorts of powerful figures from the capital, deliberately making things difficult for them behind their backs.

Everyone wanted to haul the government's money into their own cellars, so how could they possibly send money out of their cellars?

"So, do you have any ideas?"

Fan Zhongyan thought he should speak to Song Xuan and offer some assistance.

He knew that Song Xuan always had his own ideas.

But this is the capital, and many people are watching him, fearing that Song Xuan might do something out of line.

"I plan to win over the people in the county government first, and then find an opportunity to recruit some more people. I am not qualified to command the Xiangjun and the Imperial Guards."

"Otherwise, with such a large population gathered in Kaifeng County, it would be like throwing a stone into the sea if three hundred people rushed in."

Fan Zhongyan nodded:
“These officials are very slick. We only serve for two or three years before leaving, but most of them can stay for a lifetime.”

The channels for advancement for officials were almost completely blocked.

If you want to become a clerk in one of the Six Ministries, who knows how long you'll have to wait in line.

Moreover, the Song Dynasty already had a surplus of officials; where would they find extra positions to prepare for these even larger numbers of clerks?
Since the imperial examination system was greatly developed, becoming an official has become a one-way street!
"So it's impossible for them not to be greedy for money."

Fan Zhongyan stroked his beard and sighed:
"Besides being dragged down, they are also affected by the environment. Even those who are not greedy will be ostracized."

"How do you plan to win them over?"

"The initial idea was to make money for the county government and then reward them to motivate them."

Song Xuan had one more thing he didn't say: he wanted to create a new interest group under his leadership.

He knew that Fan Zhongyan couldn't stand such words.

Zhang Fangping nodded.

Although he served as the emperor's secretary, he would eventually be transferred to a local post as an official.

He can use all of this experience.

"As far as I know, the official salary in Kaifeng County is not much. If you use your own salary to subsidize them, that is not a long-term solution."

As the county magistrate, Fan Zhongyan naturally wanted to reward his subordinates and get them to do his work.

He didn't reject this kind of thing; it was just one of the rules of officialdom.

Otherwise, with the meager salary of a clerk, it would be difficult to support a family.

If you, as an official, refuse to contribute money, you are encouraging them to engage in corrupt and illegal activities.

The Song Dynasty implemented a policy of high salaries to encourage integrity, but this was limited to high-ranking officials.

Annual salary starts at at least two million.

The salaries of low-ranking officials are not high.

People like Song Xuan held two official positions with nominal salaries, one was a legitimate official post, and received a combined salary from all three.

His salary as a county magistrate of the lowest rank was barely enough to support his family of five, who lived comfortably in the capital city of Tokyo.

The county magistrate's salary was equivalent to a monthly salary of 15,000 yuan today. Song Xuan didn't have to pay for the rent, and the imperial court provided him with fabric for making new clothes, firewood for cooking, salt, and so on.

This salary is enough for Song Xuan and his wife to eat out every day, not to mention that he also has two nominal positions where he can receive higher salaries.

Officials in the central government received salaries.

As for the lowest-ranking clerks, they received no salary.

This is because the Song Dynasty regarded officials as one of the ways in which the people served the country.

Actually.

Or perhaps the Song Dynasty simply didn't have enough budget to pay the salaries of these people.

It is conceivable that corruption among officials in the Song Dynasty was very widespread.

Their way of supporting themselves is to gradually exploit the people.

However, due to the system of high salaries for high-ranking officials to prevent corruption, corruption in the Northern Song Dynasty did not spread on a large scale from the bottom up.

Even those officials who dared to bribe their superiors were immediately dismissed.

They have no salary, no future, so "making money" is the only path left for them.

"They outnumber us and have the power to do many things."

Fan Zhongyan had no clue how to solve this problem for the time being.

Within the county government, the ratio of one official to twenty clerks was 1:20.

However, in counties like Kaifeng, where the population is extremely poor, this proportion continues to rise.

“People with a little wealth in the local area are willing to become clerks, but in the capital city of Tokyo, even those with a little wealth are unwilling to become clerks.”

"They are of low status and have to work for twenty years before they have a chance. Very few will be granted the titles of county lieutenant or registrar. The highest rank they can attain is the eighth grade."

Fan Zhongyan couldn't help but sigh and say:
"If the imperial court were to issue them salaries again, it would be an enormous expense. Where would the money come from?"

Song Xuan remained silent.

The current income and expenditure of the Song Dynasty court are extremely unreasonable.

Most of the taxes collected were used to pay the salaries of officials.

If there's even a minor disaster in the area, the money won't be enough.

As a beneficiary of the existing system, Song Xuan was also enjoying the benefits in a roundabout way.

Don't assume that high salaries for integrity mean those officials aren't short of money.

They are more willing to spend money.

Wang Tai once complained that his father, Wang Dan, had married off his daughter, which led to the family's poverty.

"Dean, but the imperial court isn't paying them, so they still need to live!"

Zhang Fangping asked in astonishment:

"Does the imperial court think these officials are just destined to starve?"

Fan Zhongyan stroked his beard.

Since it was corvée labor, it meant working for the imperial court for free.

It's just that the period of corvée labor was a bit longer.

Or rather, Fan Zhongyan used a method of drowning to answer Zhang Fangping's question.

Song Xuan, however, picked up the conversation and smiled:
"When I interacted with these officials in Songcheng, I simply treated them to meals, gave them money, and showed them face. That's how I made some friends."

“The county government now operates on the backs of local power like mine. They are willing to help me. As long as I don’t rebel, I still have some say in the local area.”

"However, there are now people in Tokyo who are more powerful than me and who are in charge of controlling them."

“I will have to pay a considerable price to get them to work for me.”

Zhang Fangping nodded.

These are all based on Twelfth Brother's personal experiences.

If I were a county magistrate, I might not be able to figure it out myself.

Fan Zhongyan sighed slightly at Song Xuan's blunt words.

Although he didn't want to hear it, that was the truth.

Some things don't cease to exist just because you don't want to hear them.

"By the way, Twelve, did they raise any money for you?"

“I heard about it, but I refused. Instead, I spread the word that I would treat them to a meal, and declared that not everyone is qualified to treat me.”

Fan Zhongyan nodded:
"That's a good start. You can do this if you're not short of money, but ordinary officials probably don't have that kind of power."

Many people spend a lot of money on their studies, and when they first become officials, they will not have the same rank and salary as Song Xuan.

"These officials not only did not receive salaries, but also had to bear many burdens, such as the expenses for welcoming and seeing off officials passing through, their food, lodging and entertainment, and the expenses for preparing gifts for officials' birthdays."

"It can be said that a county magistrate and others have to pool their money to pay for everything they need daily."

“If you don’t let them contribute money, I think if you put yourself in their shoes, they will be willing to cooperate with you in the long run.”

Although Fan Zhongyan sympathized with these people, he still spoke bluntly:

"If you find that they have embezzled money or oppressed the people, you can give them a chance if it is not serious. If they commit the same offense repeatedly, you must punish them severely to make an example of them."

"Thank you, Dean. I will handle it."

Song Xuan thought for a moment before carefully reminding him:
"Dean, you must be extremely careful when you go out to inspect the project tomorrow."

"Liu Congde is very arrogant, and he might use some tricks to push you into the river and cause an accident."

Fan Zhongyan nodded cautiously.

He also had this concern. Judging from today's grand court assembly alone, Liu Congde was extremely arrogant, especially with the Empress Dowager's favoritism.

He dared to embezzle even royal artifacts and funds from the Yellow River project; what else wouldn't he dare to do?

"Twelfth Brother, do you think that even if the truth is found out, the First Lady will punish Liu Congde?"

Song Xuan took a sip of tea and chuckled:
"I guess it'll be difficult. You won't even be able to get any evidence. Just kill the witnesses."

Fan Zhongyan's expression shifted for a long time before he finally sighed.

He is now unsure whether Empress Dowager Liu is truly preparing to emulate Lü Wu.
Fan Zhongyan had no concrete evidence, and he couldn't say such things, otherwise it would be considered sowing discord within the imperial family.

After a while, Fan Zhongyan took his leave, saying he needed to go home and think things over.

Song Xuan and his companion saw him off at the door, standing outside to watch him leave.

"Twelfth Brother, given the Dean's temperament, I'm afraid it will be difficult for him to gain a foothold in the imperial court."

"It's alright. Perhaps when the dean goes to serve as an official in another place, he can benefit the local people."

"Here, all I do is rack my brains and exert myself, and I can't accomplish anything or bring down those who do evil. All I do is worry and ruin my health."

Song Xuan put his hands behind his back and smiled:

"Unlike me, I just love to fight with people!"

"Hahaha."

Zhang Fangping laughed heartily, eagerly anticipating Song Xuan's political achievements to prove his abilities.

Day two.

Song Xuan went to the county government office alone to continue reviewing the case files and familiarizing himself with the situation in Kaifeng County.

Wang Bao and Xu Xianchun pulled a cart full of copper coins and went directly to the garrison.

The office building had just opened, but it was already packed with guests.

The workers in the office building were very tired.

Since Song Xuan booked the entire venue, business was booming yesterday, with people queuing up even late into the night.

It was still incredibly popular this morning.

Fortunately, the shopkeeper said he would give them a tip.

Xu Xianchun, sitting on the donkey cart, directly instructed the waiter to call out the manager of Banlou.

"I did not know that it was the attendant of the top scholar Song who had come. I have failed to greet you properly."

Snapped.

Xu Xianchun immediately gave the shopkeeper a lash with his whip:

"Hey, you surnamed Ban, do you not take my Twelfth Son seriously?"

Manager Ban covered his face, his eyes filled with disbelief.

He had never suffered such humiliation in all his time in Tokyo.

Seeing that there was something interesting to watch, people immediately gathered around.

Especially Banlou, which is one of the seventy-two official stores.

Why did you hit me?

Despite the crowd, Xu Xianchun remained unfazed and continued to speak menacingly:

"Shierlang asked you to come to his house to settle the bill, why didn't you come?"

"Do you really think our Twelfth Master is freeloading off you?"

Wang Bao stood aside without saying a word.

Song Xuan had told him that with his size, he could just stand aside and be considered an expert without saying a word.

Hsu Hsien-chun is a natural at playing villains.

The shopkeeper's face stung with pain. Despite his immense resentment, he said aloud:
"I was just so busy I forgot."

"Bullshit, I think you just don't respect my Twelfth Brother."

Xu Xianchun pointed at him with the whip and said:

"Do you think you're worthy of having a top scholar who passed all three imperial examinations write poems for you?"

"My young master said he would rather be poor like a beggar than have a villain tarnish his poetry!"

"The money is all here now, count it immediately, or don't blame me for being impolite."

Manager Ban felt a chill run down his spine; the crux of the problem lay there.

He truly didn't want to accept the money; he wanted to use it as an apology to Song Xuan.

He thought it was nothing, but in Song Xuan's eyes, you just wanted to manipulate me.

Manager Ban gently patted his face and quickly apologized:

"I truly have no such intention."

"Count the money!"

Xu Xianchun simply said coldly, "Don't force me to say it a second time."

When Manager Ban saw Xu Xianchun's words and then saw the burly man standing next to him, he immediately chickened out and hurriedly called out all the shop assistants to count the money in front of everyone.

Li Junyou had nothing to do and spent his days wandering around Tokyo City like a chicken.

Seeing that there was some excitement, they naturally asked, "What exactly happened?"

"I see."

Wang Yufeng also laughed a few times: "How dare he bring up such a thing with Scholar Song?"

"Yes."

Li Junyou, who is now related to Song Xuan, immediately said loudly:

"I think the manager of this restaurant should be replaced. He doesn't know his place and how he humiliated Scholar Song."

"Yes."

"I've heard that Scholar Song is a righteous man who treats his subordinates to meals out of his own pocket. He was only invited here by County Magistrate Ban through a family connection."

"As it turns out, the manager of Banlou is incompetent and may have even ruined Ban County Lieutenant's future."

As the shopkeeper listened to the gossip, his face flushed even more.

I don't know whether I'm embarrassed or annoyed!
Wang Yufeng didn't dare to tell anyone about his brother-in-law's affairs, but that didn't stop him from being somewhat afraid of Song Xuan, this "local tyrant"!
Liu Congde was clueless, but Wang Yufeng was.

Otherwise, he wouldn't have taken the initiative to pay the bill at Sun Yang's restaurant and apologize to Song Xuan.

Wang Yufeng knew clearly that Empress Dowager Liu would gradually grow old and that the new emperor would assume power.

The Song Dynasty was still under the rule of the Zhao family.

Therefore, after learning that Liu Congde was so "reckless," Wang Yufeng had the idea of ​​jumping off the boat.

Don't get away with not getting much benefit, but end up committing a crime punishable by the extermination of your entire family.

After all, Liu Congde's wife's family was the Wang family!

"Scholar Song has a really tough temper."

Wang Yufeng said with great emotion:
"Luckily I listened to my brother's advice that day, otherwise I would have offended him for no reason."

Why would the two of us brothers say such things?

Li Junyou waved his fan:
“I heard that Scholar Song goes to the stalls outside the county government office for lunch. Let’s go over there for a stroll and catch up with him.”

"Yes, yes, that's exactly what I was thinking too."

Wang Yufeng felt that he was very suitable to communicate with Song Xuan.

Once everyone has become acquainted, it will be easier for me to "jump off the pirate ship" in the future!
People who were about to line up for food immediately dispersed upon hearing this.

Those waiting for lunch inside the classroom building were also called out and came out, cursing a few times as they did so, saying they almost got tricked by you!
In the blink of an eye, the classroom building was deserted.

He left only a large number of copper coins in front of his group of men.

"Humph."

Xu Xianchun didn't even glance at him, told Wang Bao to get in the car, and left directly.

Manager Ban nearly lost his footing and collapsed into the arms of his waiter.

The news of Song Xuan hosting a banquet for his subordinates and causing such a scene at the training camp quickly spread.

Many people are condemning Banlou for being reckless and courting death.

In particular, many legitimate stores and other small shops are seizing the opportunity to attack Banlou.

Seventy-two legitimate stores, and countless others, all want to snatch the business that belongs to Banlou and take it over to their own.

Business warfare is just that simple and unpretentious.

If you make a mistake, they have to publicize it a lot. If your reputation is bad, no one will go there anymore.

Every family that can be eliminated is a family that is safest!
The manager of Banlou has managed to squander such a good hand.

Look at how the Sun Yang flagship store operates!
Scholars, farmers, industry and commerce.

Song Xuan was an outstanding scholar; how dare you, a mere merchant, make demands of him?
County Lieutenant Ban Feng was trying to perform well, and when he overheard their conversation during his patrol, he naturally had someone tell him what was going on.

After listening to the whole story, Ban Feng slammed his fist on the tea stall table in a vicious rage:
"That old dog, I made him go to the big shot's house to apologize and take the money away this morning. He's sensible, there's still a chance to make amends!"

Zhang, the head constable, was also filled with indignation.

After all, everyone had a good time eating and drinking that night, and the innkeeper actually dared to come over and ask Master Song to write a poem for him.

Who wouldn't be angry after hearing that?
"They don't give face to the county magistrate, nor to the high-ranking official. They can forget about working here from now on."

Ban Feng clenched his fists and squinted his eyes.

He was terrified that this incident would cause him to lose Song Xuan's trust.

"Has the commercial tax for Banlou been paid in full?"

"I'm not entirely sure, but logically speaking, it's likely that not all of them have been paid. We'll have to wait for the household registration department and others to compile the accounts."

These people all knew that the falsified accounts made by the household registration office had not fooled the high-ranking official.

Everyone's waiting to see them make a fool of themselves!
Why did they have to eat alone?

"it is good."

Ban Feng had a plan in mind. When the official announced the collection of taxes, he would then make his move, especially targeting Ban Lou.

Although we are only distant relatives in name, you absolutely cannot ruin my future!

Ban Feng knew that Song Xuan was doing this because he wanted to make a big splash so he could climb the ranks in the future.

Anyone who dares to trip him up or hold him back will be kicked out.

If you help him or give him assistance, he and his entire family will surely rise to prominence.

Ban Feng knew exactly what to choose.

In the county government office.

Song Xuan was talking to Geng Fu about spreading rumors, which could be done on a small scale.

After they return from inspecting the Yellow River project, distribute the materials on a large scale and mention the nursery rhyme along the way.

Geng Fu said he understood, that he remembered the details Song Xuan had given him, and then left.

Xu Xianchun and Wang Bao returned to report. Song Xuan said he understood and that Wang Bao could be even more arrogant next time. He added that Wang Bao should just maintain his expert demeanor and there was no need for further comment.

Xu Xianchun was very excited.

Wang Bao didn't care; he just wanted to do everything Song Xuan asked him to do.

Mu Xiu walked listlessly down the street in Tokyo.

He used to be an official, but a few days ago he became a criminal and was demoted to Chizhou.

Now he is almost fifty years old. He fled back to the capital on his way there and only then went to Kaifeng Prefecture to beat the drum and appeal for justice.

As a result, the government ignored it.

Prefect Chen Yaozuo of Kaifeng did not care.

It was because of Qin Ying's jealousy that Chen Yaozuo instigated others to falsely accuse him, which led to Chen Yaozuo's demotion.

In fact, Lü Yijian felt that Mu Xiu had a certain reputation and wanted to befriend him, and secretly hinted that he should visit him.

But Mushroom refused to go.

After all, in Lü Yijian's words, I've already hinted to you that if you don't ask me for help, how can I help you?

Disheartened, Mu Xiu decided to return to Chizhou first and come back after a general amnesty was granted.

According to the court's policy, perhaps a general amnesty will be granted on the Empress Dowager's birthday.

As Mu Xiu walked along the road, he overheard people talking about how Song Xuan had spent 280 or 290 strings of cash to host a dinner for his subordinates.

As a result, he was "humiliated" by the shopkeeper of Banlou.

Mu Xiu had actually had a similar experience. When Zhang Zhibai, the then Vice Chancellor, was serving as an official in the local area, a wealthy man funded the repair of a Buddhist temple, and Zhang Zhibai asked Mu Xiu to write the inscription.

However, the name of that hero was not included in the written record.

Haoshi then sent people to deliver gold and silver to Muxiu.

Although Mu Xiu was poor, he refused and simply threw the silver away.

"If I go to Song Xuan to seek justice, will he help me?"

Mu Xiu was conflicted, but he and Song Xuan were on different paths!
In his view, Song Xuan's Romance of the Three Kingdoms praised Liu Bei and belittled Cao Cao.

Of course, this is also the current mainstream view, with Cao Cao being regarded as a usurper and a traitor, and the trend of belittling Cao Cao is becoming increasingly intense.

Song Xuan's Romance of the Three Kingdoms resonated with the mainstream ideology of the Song Dynasty.

However, when Mu Xiu served as an official in Bozhou, he wrote a record specifically for the temple of Emperor Wu of Wei, praising Cao Cao extensively.

He's definitely a Cao Cao fan.

As a result, his article was considered to have "tarnished history."

At this moment, Mu Xiu was truly at his wit's end, but then he remembered that Song Xuan dared to insult the Prefect of Kaifeng in the street for the sake of his friend.

He then decided to suppress his disagreement with Cao Cao and try to talk to Song Xuan about it.

So they struck the grievance drum with a resounding thud.

This was the first time Song Xuan had ever heard someone beat a drum after he became the county magistrate.

He put down his teacup, went outside, and saw Qi Lecheng running quickly to report.

If the drum is beaten, then the court must be convened.

Song Xuan, dressed in his official robes, entered the main hall.

A powerful shout rang out.

Mu Xiu was brought up and immediately revealed his identity.

He was falsely accused and exiled to Chizhou, but he was still an official and did not kneel down to reply.

Song Xuan's expression changed, and for a moment he was still wondering if Chen Yaozuo had deliberately sent someone to cause him trouble.

County Magistrate Zhou and Registrar Zheng were both by his side.

So that Song Xuan wouldn't be unaware of the proper procedures for this trial.

"This matter was decided by the Kaifeng Prefecture. How can you come to my Kaifeng County to appeal for justice?"

In response to Song Xuan's question, Mu Xiu recounted what he had seen and heard on the street.

She also mentioned that she had had a similar experience, so she wanted to give it a try.

Listening to Mu Xiu's words, Song Xuan thought he was out of his mind.

When people spend money to build temples, bridges, and roads, isn't it all just to leave a name for themselves?

But you, this "literary master," deliberately don't write other people's names.

That person thought you wanted a tip, so he very considerately handed it over, but you not only didn't add your name, you also humiliated him.

Our situations are quite different!
Song Xuan looked at Zhou Derong beside him:
“County Magistrate Zhou, you have a lot of experience, but do you know what to do in this kind of situation?”

Zhou Derong had never seen anything like this before!

However, the fact that the Kaifeng government refused to accept the case indicates that the evidence was conclusive.

He's just making empty promises; even if we wanted to help, it wouldn't make a difference.

So let him get lost and go to Chizhou to be an official.

Listening to Zhou Derong's analysis, Song Xuan nodded slightly and then asked Zheng Zhubu if he had heard of it.

Both of them said they had never encountered such a difficult case before.

Seeing Song Xuan asking questions from all sides, Mu Xiu felt extremely helpless.

I was indeed wronged.

It seems there really is no one in the world who can help me.

Is it really true that you have to bribe someone to get things done in officialdom?

Unfortunately, he didn't have a single penny on him, so even if he went to Chizhou, he would have to beg his way there.

After all, he escaped back on his own.

Song Xuan slammed the gavel down, and the crowd once again became imposing.

Mu Xiu didn't understand Song Xuan's meaning either.

"Military Advisor Mu, I cannot handle this case of injustice."

"I knew it."

Mu Xiu wanted to turn around and leave, but then he heard Song Xuan say:

"However, I have a way I can teach you."

This is a good opportunity to put a bad word to Chen Yaozi, the Prefect of Kaifeng.

Today he went with Lao Fan and others to inspect the Yellow River project outside the city, which will surely catch him off guard.

It also allows us to find out whether Mu Xiu was deliberately sent by Chen Yaozuo to cause trouble.

Mu Xiu glanced at Song Xuan, then immediately bowed and said:
"I hope Magistrate Song will be kind enough to offer his guidance."

Song Xuan stood up and slowly walked down the hall:
"First of all, as a county magistrate, I am not qualified to overturn cases judged by the Kaifeng Prefecture."

"Because I don't have any case files or anything, and you don't have any evidence to overturn the case."

"I can't possibly send a letter to Kaifeng Prefecture to request the documents just because of your explanation; that's not an option."

"But you can go and beat the Dengwen Drum, and the people of Dali Temple will receive you according to the rules, and the emperor will also personally intervene."

"Only when orders come down from above can I access your case file and help you seek justice. If you are truly innocent, you can go and knock on it."

"If you're just being unreasonable, I'll arrest you. Who told you to run away from Chizhou on your own? That's an even bigger crime!"

After listening to Song Xuan's suggestion, Mu Xiu also fell into deep thought about his own plan to strike the Dengwen Drum.

Moreover, Song Xuan had no intention of letting himself leave quietly.

If he catches me, my punishment will be more severe, and I'm afraid I won't be staying in Chizhou anymore.

Mu Xiu was still thinking that if things didn't work out, he would visit his mother again and then obediently go to Chizhou.

Now, listening to Song Xuan's words, they have no choice but to agree, whether they like it or not.

"Magistrate Song, why bother?"

"Since you've come to me for help, I'll naturally help you find a solution."

Song Xuan had a smile on his face:

“I heard from Clerk Zheng that you are completely useless as an official. At your age, you have no chance to climb the ranks, and you disdain it.”

"So in my opinion, it would be better to go to the Imperial College or Yingtian Academy to teach and educate people."

"Especially at Yingtian Academy, the teachers are treated very well."

"At least you can ensure your elderly mother has enough to eat and wear, and she won't have to worry about not being able to afford medical treatment when she gets sick in her old age, or even not being able to afford a burial. How can that show your filial piety?"

"Most importantly, the most skilled doctor in the world, Dr. Wang, is also there. If your elderly mother is sick, she can receive the closest treatment. It is your best option at present."

Mu Xiu was indeed tempted.

"Can't I just go now?"

“No.” Song Xuan stood with his hands behind his back.

"You are now a guilty man. If you don't clear your name, what will those students think?"

"When they enter officialdom in the future, they will also be influenced by you."

"Besides, someone like you is not suited for officialdom, but is very suitable for scholarship. Wouldn't it be faster to spread the classical Chinese ideas of Han Yu and Liu Zongyuan to more students through your own influence than to spread them on your own?"

Song Xuan stared at the dumbfounded Mu Xiu:
"Don't forget, Yingtian Academy is now the number one academy in the Song Dynasty. If you go too late, you may not get the opportunity to teach and educate people."

To be honest, Mu Xiu was deeply moved.

How long will it take to spread the ideas of Han Yu and Liu Zongyuan throughout the world if I rely solely on self-publishing?
If one could use Yingtian Academy, not only could one realize one's life ideals, but one could also secure a livelihood.

How can I remain unmoved?
Song Xuan waved his hand again:

"Someone, bring Military Advisor Mu a cup of tea and let him think it over."

"If you've thought it through, give him the paper and pen, and after you beat the petition drum, you can submit the petition. The official will read it personally."

"Here."

After Song Xuan finished speaking, he told everyone to disperse.

Before he even left, Mu Xiu immediately asked for paper and pen.

Song Xuan is right. The only opportunity and the only way out have been found, so how can we not seize the opportunity?

Not to be missed.

Seeing that County Lieutenant Ban Feng had rushed back, Song Xuan instructed him to accompany Mu Xiu to beat the Dengwen Drum later.

Ban Feng stood there, completely stunned.

"My lord, can we just beat the petition drum whenever we want?"

"Military Advisor Mu has struck the drum three times today to plead his case; how can I not lend a hand?"

Song Xuan waved his hand:
"If he doesn't dare to knock, then you should arrest him and throw him in jail. Don't let him escape; he's a criminal."

Upon hearing this, Ban Feng immediately felt reassured and quickly responded:

"Here."

Mu Qing was going all out; he hadn't expected things to escalate this much.

Now, so that his mother can live a comfortable old age, he is willing to teach at Yingtian Academy.

He must clear his name of the injustice done to him.

He absolutely had to beat the petition drum.

After dealing with this matter, Song Xuan went back to review the case files and quickly learned about the situation in Kaifeng County.

Even if today's incident doesn't lead to Chen Yaozuo's dismissal, it can still serve as a test to see what happens to him.

It would be great to cut off a few of his left and right arms.

……

Emperor Zhao Zhen, who was ill in the palace.

He lay on the bed, trying to process the fact that he was not Liu E's biological son.

Zhao Zhen even harbored resentment in his heart.

It wasn't just directed at Empress Liu, but also at his father, the Emperor.

Is there really a father who would betray his own son for the sake of a woman?
If he were an ordinary person, it wouldn't matter, but he was the emperor of a country.

Zhao Zhen knew his father was unreliable, but he never expected his father to be this unreliable!
While Zhao Zhen was grieving alone...

Zhang Maoze came over to ask for instructions, saying that someone had struck the Dengwen Drum.

Once the drum for petitioning is sounded, an audience with the emperor is mandatory unless the emperor is dead.

This is a fine tradition.

"Playing drums?"

Emperor Zhao Zhen had not heard anyone beat the Dengwen Drum for a long time.

"Correct."

After listening carefully, Zhao Zhen, despite being ill, received Mu Xiu.

He had heard of Mu Xiu before.

Although he was only a minor official, he was quite famous among scholars.

He greatly praised the articles of Han Yu and Liu Zongyuan, and even paid for the publication of their articles into a book at his own expense, in order to oppose the ornate literary style of the Five Dynasties and the early Song Dynasty.

Ouyang Xiu and others were all influenced by him.

This explains why Mu Xiu, despite serving as an official for so many years, remained penniless and ultimately died in poverty.

Zhao Zhen and several prime ministers listened to Mu Xiu's story and looked at his petition.

Lü Yijian had actually hinted at it to Mu Xiu, but he didn't take it seriously.

As Mu Xiu's former superior, Vice Prime Minister Zhang Zhibai would not refuse to help him if he were willing to humble himself and come to him for help.

A flash of anger crossed Wang Zeng's face: "You mean you went to the Kaifeng Prefecture to bang on the grievance drum, and they wouldn't see you?"

"Indeed."

Mu Xiu then suggested that he strike the grievance drum controlled by Song Xuan, since Song Xuan had no right to do so, but Mu Xiu recommended that he strike the petition drum instead.

If the imperial court orders him to handle the case, then he can legally review the case files.

Lu Yijian explained that Chen Yaozuo, the prefect of Kaifeng, had gone to inspect the dike.

"Could it be that all the prefectural judges in Kaifeng are dead?"

Furthermore, Mu Xiu accused one of the prefectural judges of Kaifeng of framing him, and it seems that these officials should all be punished for protecting each other.

No one said anything after Wang Zeng spoke.

"There must be something fishy about this."

Zhang Zhibai mentioned, "Your Majesty, we should still send someone to investigate."

Zhao Zhen looked at Wang Zeng:

"Your Excellency Wang, please make the decision. I am feeling quite tired today and have no energy to muster."

"Here."

Wang Zeng responded, but he was more concerned about the emperor's health and quickly inquired whether the imperial physician had been summoned.

The imperial physician said it was due to overexertion and that they needed more rest, which calmed them down.

After all, the Emperor had been married for three years without having any children, and everyone was quite concerned about his health.

In addition, there was an Empress Dowager with the talent of "Lu Wu" by his side.

Many conspiracy theories will unconsciously emerge.

After Wang Zeng asked the emperor to go back and rest, he directly assigned Ding Du, Song Shou, and Zhang Zhibai to participate, with Song Xuan assisting them.

Only in this way can we thoroughly investigate these people in Kaifeng Prefecture and prevent them from protecting each other.

Wang Zeng was aware of Mu Xiu's reputation; they had belittled officials without reporting it, but he had done it himself, which naturally angered him.

In fact, Lü Yijian had seen the documents concerning Mu Xiu's case, and he had them withheld, waiting for Mu Xiu to come to him.

He never expected things to turn out this way.

Even Lü Yijian couldn't understand why Mu Xiu chose to beat the grievance drum in Kaifeng County instead of the one in Kaifeng Prefecture, since beating the grievance drum there was useless. Was it because he saw the conflict between the two of them as an opportunity?

Empress Liu also sent people to inquire about the matter, and found that the Dengwen Drum had not been beaten for a long time.

When she learned the whole story, she couldn't figure it out for a while. Was this Song Xuan's conspiracy?

However, he understood that Mu Xiu was innocent.

Otherwise, the people of Kaifeng Prefecture would have taken action!

"Your Majesty, what about this matter?"

"Don't worry about him."

Liu E is currently very upset and irritable because of Liu Congde's matter.

She had no intention of cleaning up Chen Yaozuo's mess.

One by one, they committed offenses, and she, as the Empress Dowager, had to clean them up. She never saw these people working hard for her, the Empress Dowager, on ordinary days.

Moreover, she had long harbored the idea of ​​giving the Chen brothers a warning.

Since someone else has already done it, she plans to wait and see.

County Commandant Ban Feng returned with his men, and the man named Mu Xiu did indeed go and beat the petition drum.

After this matter was reported to Song Xuan, he simply waved his hand and said he knew.

"Just go, everyone knows I have a grudge against Prefect Chen anyway."

"The imperial court will never entrust this matter to me under any circumstances."

Song Xuan looked at the dossier and said, "The court is also afraid that I will take this opportunity to retaliate against them."

"But they have absolutely underestimated me, Song Xuan. I have always upheld the law impartially. How could I possibly seek revenge for personal reasons?"

"Yes Yes Yes."

County Commandant Ban Feng did not think that Song Xuan was talking about Mu Xiu, but rather that he was using Mu Xiu's name to talk about Ban Lou.

In Ban Feng's view, Master Song would not seek personal revenge, but would retaliate directly!

He doesn't bother with finding excuses for saying one thing to someone's face and another behind their back.

The classroom building is like that.

"Please rest assured, my lord, the incident at Banlou will never happen again."

Song Xuan put down the dossier in his hand, glanced at Ban Feng with a fawning smile on his face, smiled back, and told Ban Feng to go and rest.

"Thank you, sir."

Just as Ban Feng was about to leave, he saw Mu Xiu returning.

He didn't stand on ceremony; after sitting down, he poured himself a cup of cold tea and drank it down in large gulps.

Only then did he bow to Song Xuan:
"I am very grateful for Scholar Song's help today."

"Hahaha."

Song Xuan waved his hand casually:

"Actually, I also have my own selfish motives. Dean Zhang has asked me to help him find a few famous teachers in Tokyo to take back with him."

"What channels do I have?"

"It was Dean Fan who found the great scholar Sun Shi to teach, and I certainly didn't want to fall behind. Seeing Military Advisor Mu today, I feel like I've hit the jackpot."

Mu Xiu was quite surprised by Song Xuan's explanation.

"Even the great scholar Sun wants to go there to teach?"

"Of course, this matter cannot be faked, but the imperial court has not yet approved it, and Sun Daru is still applying for retirement."

"Great, that's wonderful."

Mu Xiu's face was full of joy.

With a contemporary Confucian scholar in charge, he can not only teach and spread the teachings of Han Yu and Liu Zongyuan, but also discuss them with contemporary Confucian scholars. Why not?
Mu Xiu couldn't help but start dancing around.

After a while, he remembered his business.

"By the way, Scholar Song, I've received news that the investigation into my case will be conducted jointly by Zhang Zhibai, Song Shou, Ding Du, and you."

Song Xuan then slowly stood up, unable to hide the smile on his lips:
"Military Advisor Mu, you're not lying to me, are you!"

"Am I involved in this joint investigation?"

(End of this chapter)