Qing Yao

Chapter 228 Advanced Methods
Zhao An, who always believed that officials should be harmonious, would naturally enforce the law selectively, giving Magistrate Zheng face. Otherwise, how could the idiom "officials protect each other" be demonstrated?

The problem is that Chen Gongren has been killed, all his illegal gains have been confiscated, and he has been labeled as the number one traitor in the report. So no matter how much influence Magistrate Zheng has, this matter cannot be resolved.

Fortunately, it's just Jiangdu County. If the prefect himself had come to intervene, the matter would have become truly troublesome.

Fortunately, the prefect had only just arrived in Yangzhou this year and had not yet established a network of local connections, so he didn't have much time to associate with the local idlers.

Moreover, the prefect was the descendant of a virtuous minister. Apart from accompanying General Fukang'an on his expedition to Taiwan, he had spent the rest of his time serving as an official in the capital and had not been influenced by the various negative social trends. Therefore, he should have been irreconcilably opposed to the local criminal gangs.

Zhao An guessed correctly.

Upon hearing that Zhao An, the Imperial Inspector in charge of transporting grain, had mobilized his troops to raid the city's illegal businesses and arrest many local ruffians, the Prefect was very pleased. He not only demanded that the Prefectural Government cooperate with the crackdown, but also gave a severe scolding to several officials who came to him to plead for the arrested individuals.

When the definite news came, it was said that the Green Standard Army had arrested the leaders of the Grand Canal gangs. These leaders were suspected by the Imperial Inspector of the Grand Canal Gangs of "plotting to overthrow the Qing Dynasty". Not only did the Prefect think the arrests were good, but even some of their protectors were so frightened by the charge that they dared not come forward to speak on their behalf.

The suspicion of "plotting to overthrow the Qing Dynasty" is very likely true. The canal gang did indeed gather a crowd to block the canal a while ago. Rumors say that the canal gang also fought with the soldiers of the canal transport government, and there were deaths on both sides.

They're fighting with government troops, what else could it be but a rebellion?
If it involves rebellion, no matter how good the friendship is, how much filial piety is shown, or how intertwined the interests are, one must wisely remain on the sidelines.

They dared not get even a speck of mud on their crotches, otherwise they would have mud stuck there and there would be no way to explain it away.

Moreover, no matter how you look at it, today's incident is a case of settling scores after the fact.

There's also the possibility that the Grand Canal Administration will be backing them up.

Who would be willing to offend the Grand Canal Transport Commissioner and the Imperial Censor for some material possessions?
Both of them were capable of submitting reports directly to the Emperor.

Therefore, unlike the commotion among the people of Yangzhou, the officialdom was surprisingly calm. Apart from the clueless Jiangdu County officials who came over to greet them, the other officials kept their distance.

Magistrate Zheng was understandably furious after being snubbed by Zhao An, but as a magistrate, he had no control over the Yangzhou Green Standard Army, let alone Zhao An, who held multiple positions. He could only slink back with a limp face.

Sitting in the sedan chair, he grew angrier and angrier, but he was at a loss and dared not reveal that Professor Zhao had accepted bribes, because the briber was him, and it was because of the prefectural examination.

If this gets out, it would be enough to constitute cheating in the imperial examinations. Given the old man's character, it might not be enough to wipe out the whole family, but execution with reprieve is a certainty.

Helpless, they could only swallow this loss in silence, but unexpectedly, another team came along the way.

It was the sedan chair of Ding Chengen, the magistrate of Ganquan County.

If the two meet on the road in Fukuo County, they will definitely stop their sedan chairs and get out to greet each other.

Magistrate Zheng first asked Magistrate Ding what he was doing.

Magistrate Ding said with a serious expression: "The yamen and the imperial censor have captured a group of rebels. The prefect has ordered this county to go and assist in the case. The case files will be reported to the court after the New Year. The prefect's intention is to make this case airtight. Anyone who has colluded with the rebels will be arrested, and anyone who dares to plead for the rebels will be punished for treason."

"."

Magistrate Zheng was completely bewildered.

At the prefectural school, following Zhao An's instructions, the Green Standard Army soldiers locked up hundreds of innocent bystanders caught in the fire at the city gate in a separate room, then made these innocent bystanders pay money to write confessions and go home.

Director Tong, representing the principal, threatened "Chi Yu," saying that if he didn't pay the fine and accept the punishment, he shouldn't even think about going home for the New Year.

Upon hearing this, the already terrified bystanders immediately confessed, accepted their punishment, and obediently paid their fines. After all, who wouldn't want to go home to their wife and children during the Lunar New Year?

However, a few stubborn individuals believed that they had not broken the law, that the officers and soldiers had no right to arrest them, and therefore they had no reason to pay money.

Perhaps it was because Director Tong and the other academic officers spoke so politely that these stubborn guys dared to question loudly. As a result, the commotion reached Zhao An, who frowned and came over to ask what had happened.

Director Tong hurriedly pointed to a man in his forties and said, "Sir, this man not only refuses to pay, but also says that the soldiers were wrong to arrest him, and we should compensate him."

"If you did nothing wrong, why were we allowed to go home after paying the money?"

Upon seeing a man dressed in the robes of a seventh-rank official, the group that had refused to pay, though still stubborn, clearly lost their momentum.

Zhao An glanced at the person Director Tong was pointing at and asked one of the academy staff members maintaining order, "Where was this person arrested?"

The staff member flipped through the register and said, "Sir, this person was arrested at Xiangchunlou."

"Oh, so that's the client."

Zhao An looked at the man again and noticed that he had a hint of official authority, the kind of air of a leader, at least at the section chief level. He couldn't help but ask the man his name.

The staff looked down again and said the registered name was Hu Youfang.

Upon hearing this, Zhao An suddenly shouted, "Hu Youfang!"

As a result, the middle-aged man who claimed to be named Hu Youfang took two seconds to react.

Having made up his mind, Zhao An casually ordered, "Send men to the prefectural government office, the salt administration office, the provincial governor's office. Have them come and identify this person from all the government offices in Yangzhou, big and small. I want to see which unit this Hu Youfang belongs to!"

After saying this, he stared at "Hu Youfang" and said, "The laws of the Great Qing Dynasty strictly prohibit officials from patronizing prostitutes outside. If I find out that you are an official, I will strip you of your official robes."

As soon as he finished speaking, Hu Youfang trembled and said, "I'll confess, I'll confess, I plead guilty and accept punishment!"

Zhao An snorted and gestured for the guy to go to the side and write a confession, then shifted his gaze to the second stubborn guy's face.

He was a young man in his twenties who was arrested at a gambling den.

"Sir, I am just an ordinary citizen. You don't need to investigate me. It's not that I don't want to pay, it's just that I have no money. If it really comes down to it, sir, you can just lock me up for a few days, as long as you give me food."

After hearing this, Zhao An casually waved his hand and said, "Notify his family to come over. If his parents are here, they should come. If his parents, wife, and children are all here, they should all come. When they come, explain the situation to his family. The purpose of arresting him is not to fine him, but to save him, educate him, and make him realize his mistake."

After saying that, the young man hesitated for a moment and decided it was better to accept the penalty and pay the money.

The others, seeing this, instantly sobered up and dared not argue anymore.

"Remember, everyone has a weakness. As long as you exploit their weakness, they will have to hand over the money obediently."

Zhao An whispered these words to Director Tong, feeling quite pleased with himself. He knew there were plenty of ways to deal with people who were unwilling to pay.

It's not really about the fine; we genuinely want to keep these people away from unhealthy things.

(End of this chapter)