Da Ming: Father, step aside, I'll be the prime minister!

Chapter 270 Righteousness Reaching the Sky and Sea (Pen Holder)

"Hai Ruxian! You're still trying to confuse the issue! A treacherous minister is already behind you, and instead of bringing him to justice, you're just beating around the bush. Have you started currying favor with the powerful and wealthy, and are you going to side with Zhang Shiyuan too?!"

Gu Weizhen's eyes were bloodshot, as if he wanted to rush up and tear Hai Rui apart.

But Hai Rui stood up straight, his eyes fixed straight ahead, his deep gaze fixed on the distance.

"Who is trying to confuse the public? Why is Zhang Shiyuan wrong and you all right? Why is implementing the new policies wrong and opposing them right?"

You all say the new policies are wrong, and that Zhang Shiyuan is evil, but you can't say where the mistakes are or where the evil lies.

Who is truly oppressing the people? Who is truly concerned about the livelihood of the people of Jiangnan? You have no say in this matter.

Hai Rui pointed to the students present.

"You well-read and wealthy people don't count for this."

He then looked at the villagers present, and behind them, the people of Nanjing, a vast and numerous crowd, numbering nearly several thousand.

"Only the people of Jiangnan have the final say!"

For a moment, everyone present fell silent. The people who had been instigating the disturbance seemed to have suddenly realized their mistake.

The onlookers outside were all discussing it animatedly.

"Yes, Hai Qingtian is right. Whether this new policy is good or not, no one else's opinion matters but ours."

“I almost got led astray by these scholars. I have an aunt who made a lot of money with that day's spinning machine.”

"Me too. After the new policy was implemented, there was less corvée labor and fire tax. Although it would be a loss to convert it into silver, it has really made things much easier in the long run."

Related comments began to emerge like mushrooms after rain.

The people have always had a good impression of Hai Rui, especially when he served as the governor of Yingtian and fought against Xu Jie, which made many ordinary people admire him even more.

He had set the tone for these scholars earlier, but they hadn't quite grasped the situation yet. Now, after thinking about it, he suddenly understood.

Seeing that the situation was not going well, a student immediately jumped out and pointed at Hai Rui, saying...

"Hai Ruxian, what right do you have to say such things? You've been holding a position without doing any work since you arrived in Yingtian."

But before he could finish speaking, a burly man immediately stepped forward.

"Shut up!"

The burly man, dressed in hemp clothing, possessed great strength and easily pushed the student to the ground.

"You madman! Do you even know what the punishment is for assaulting a student receiving government stipends?!"

The student who was pushed down was furious and glared at the big man.

The surrounding students were also filled with righteous indignation, but seeing the big man's size and strength, and having lost the support of the people, they dared not do anything rash.

"Hit you?" the burly man spat. "If it weren't for the presence of all you officials and Hai Qingtian, I would have beaten your rusty head to a pulp."

"You uncouth mountain brute, you've brought shame upon all civility! You've brought shame upon all civility!"

Some students looked heartbroken, as if they had suffered a great injustice.

But the Imperial Guards were watching them closely, and this big man was also very strong, so they naturally didn't dare to do anything rash, they could only shout a few words.

"You rude wretch! Where are the constables? Seize this madman at once!"

Other students chattered and shouted, like a flock of defeated ducks.

The yamen runners and imperial guards were too busy hating the student to care about anything else; they were already being lenient by not kicking him a couple of times.

They all turned to look at the man, a glimmer of hope appearing in their eyes, wishing that he would teach these students a lesson.

As long as no one dies, even if the man goes to jail, someone will still take good care of him; that is only natural.

This man seemed to have been to school for a few years; he spoke with great organization and carried a rustic air, exuding an air of righteousness.

Just listen to what he said.

"I saw injustice on the road! I've been watching the commotion for quite some time now! Although I'm not from Jiangnan, I've traveled here for a long time, and what I've seen and heard is quite different from what these people are saying."

Wherever I went, the disaster-stricken people all praised Lord Yin and Lord Hai, for they had both benefited from the new policies.

Furthermore, the method of 'loans' enabled countless disaster victims to regain their livelihoods, which was a meritorious act.

How come it's become an oppressive and tyrannical regime here?

These words left many illiterate people looking at each other in bewilderment, their eyes filled with confusion.

They initially thought that if they couldn't survive, it must be because the imperial court was rampant with corruption and the governor's office was corrupt and incompetent.

But judging from what this wandering knight said, it seems that this is not the case at all?

"Who are you? Dare to state your name!"

Gu Weizhen was trembling with anger, his teeth clenched. He had meticulously planned for today, but unexpected things kept happening. The victory that was about to be in his hands was completely ruined by this wandering knight. How could he not be angry?
These words carried a hint of revenge, but the wandering swordsman was not afraid at all. He straightened his chest, looked around, and spoke loudly.

"What is there to fear? I will not change my name or surname! I am your grandpa Wang Hai!"

"Bastard!"

Gu Weizhen never expected that an ordinary wandering swordsman would dare to speak so arrogantly.

But Wang Hai wasn't satisfied yet, and spat on the ground.

"You have the nerve to call yourselves well-read people? You've done all the bad things in the world. If it weren't for you colluding with the Japanese pirates and causing trouble all over Jiangnan, why would I be out here acting as a chivalrous knight?"

Now you have lost your conscience again, and have begun to distort the truth.

Wang Hai glared with his bull-like eyes and said, "In my opinion, the Duke of Jiangling and the Duke of Shiyuan in the court are both loyal ministers, but you and your master are the greatest traitors!"

These words struck a nerve with Gu Weizhen and the others.

"You wicked creature!" Gu Weizhen's hair and beard stood on end, and he trembled all over. "You must be one of Zhang Shiyuan's henchmen, here to cheer him on!"

The more agitated he became, the less convincing his words seemed.

"Hey! Lord Shiyuan is a man with the world in his heart. If I, Wang Hai, could gain his favor, I would go through fire and water for him. Unfortunately, I have nowhere to turn!"

Wang Hai shook his head with a mocking expression, revealing a set of white teeth, and said, "I've just been so frank, may I ask you, old scoundrel, if you dare to frankly reveal who's behind this?"

"What mastermind? You're spouting nonsense! I'll fight you to the death!"

To everyone's surprise, this "highly respected" village elder was rendered speechless by a mere wandering knight.

He was extremely excited and lunged forward as if to grab Wang Hai by the neck. Wang Hai was also agile and dodged to the side, then kicked him in the buttocks.

"Ouch~"

Gu Weizhen stumbled and broke two of his front teeth.

Wang Hai ignored his wailing and instead crossed his arms, looking at the throng of people around him and speaking.

"Fellow villagers, if you think my story is just one side of the story, you can go out and ask around to find out if that's really the case."

The Jiangnan Textile Bureau and the Governor's Office truly care about the common people; conversely, it is precisely these self-proclaimed upright scholars who are most adept at manipulating people's hearts.

He stretched out his hands again and addressed the Imperial Guards and their officers.

"My lords, I, Wang, was enraged today and made a move outside the governor's office. I am aware of my crime. You may take me into prison and deal with me according to the law."

Wang Hai then looked around at the students.

"However, these madmen dared to storm the governor's office and even attempted to assassinate Lord Hai. They must not be let off!" Wang Hai was clearly knowledgeable and spoke frankly and appropriately, leaving no room for criticism.

The Imperial Guard was taken aback for a moment, then gave Zhang Jianxiu an inquiring look. The latter nodded slightly. Now that the people's hearts were with him, he could no longer hold back. He waved his hand and said.

"Take them all down! Release them only after the perpetrators have been identified! Anyone who dares to resist will be killed without mercy!"

At the same time, the head constable of Yingtian Prefecture, with Yin Zhengmao's approval, also issued the same order.

The constables and imperial guards had been holding back their anger for a long time, and now that they had received the order, they acted like wild horses, quickly capturing all the students.

The students only had one mouth to speak, and now that they had lost the support of the people, they were naturally powerless to resist.

Even though Gu Weizhen was unwilling to give up, he was still shouting as he was being escorted by a member of the Imperial Guard.

"The court is corrupt and the country is on the verge of collapse! The people's hard-earned money has all gone into the pockets of treacherous officials! Where is the teaching of Confucius and Mencius? Where is the integrity and shame of the scholars?"

Seeing that no one paid attention to him, Gu Weizhen looked at the huge crowd in front of him again and roared.

"Fellow villagers! Do you still want to see these corrupt officials commit such atrocities? If we do not unite today, these corrupt officials will make us die without a burial place one day, and then our Great Ming Dynasty will be in danger!"

He then pointed to Hai Rui standing to the side and said.

"This person is most adept at seeking fame and reputation, using integrity to gain a reputation for honesty. He appears to be loyal and upright, but in reality, he has done all sorts of bad things behind the scenes, making him even more despicable than corrupt officials!"

Folks, open your eyes and look!

Gu Weizhen, with his hair disheveled, had almost finished talking, yet he still wanted to incite the people to cause trouble again.

But when the people looked at Hai Rui standing to the side, the scars on his arm were still shocking. Even though they were wrapped in gauze, his sleeves were still burned red.

Hai Rui's cheeks were sunken, making him appear very thin.

Looking at Gu Weizhen, he talked about being clear-headed and upholding propriety and integrity, but in reality, he was bloated and obese, looking exactly like a crazed fat pig.

It is obvious which is better and which is worse.

“Gu Xiangyue cheated me out of my land. Now that I have no land, I have no choice but to work for him.”

Suddenly, someone in the crowd spoke up, as if gathering their courage.

Immediately afterwards, an old man pounded the floor with his wooden cane and spoke emotionally.

"Foolish! Foolish indeed! You all only listen to one side of the story, but have forgotten how Hai Qingtian treated us in the past?"

"Hai Qingtian is the father and mother official of the people of Jiangnan!"

"Yes! If we're talking about faith, I only believe in Hai Qingtian, and I don't believe in anyone else!"

This incident caused a great stir, not only among the people in front of them but also among those who had gathered behind them, all of whom remembered Hai Rui, the upright official who had served the country and its people.

If Hai Rui is considered a corrupt and treacherous official, then were there any loyal and honest officials left in the Ming Dynasty?

More and more voices began to acknowledge Hai Rui's virtues, and more and more people recalled his good deeds. Looking at the official in the center of the crowd, who was injured but still stood in front of the people, I felt my eyes redden.

Many people seemed to have remembered something as well.

“I remember that a few days ago a theatrical troupe came to the village and performed a play called ‘Hai Gong’s Detective Case,’ which was really delightful. Now that I’ve seen Hai Gong, it is indeed true.”

"If you ask me, he's countless times more brilliant and powerful than the character in the play!"

"Hai Qingtian is our patriotic official, so of course I trust him!"

In no time, Hai Rui's name spread among the people.

This is not only due to the reputation Hai Rui has accumulated over the years, but also to the effects of the Xishan Theater's recent promotion in various places.

Telling the people how upright and capable Hai Rui was is certainly not intuitive enough. But by using storybooks and dramas, you can subtly educate them about Hai Rui in an entertaining and educational way.

Ironically, in this era, Hai Rui truly possessed such personal charisma that he could win the trust of everyone.

"Hai Qingtian!"

Seeing Hai Rui wounded, the people were all deeply moved and knelt down in unison before him. The scene of a large group of people kneeling in worship at the entrance of the governor's office was truly spectacular, and passersby couldn't help but sigh in admiration.

Zhang Jianxiu was utterly dumbfounded by what he saw.

He finally began to understand why his younger brother, Zhang Yunxiu, insisted on making Hai Rui his so-called role model.

This effect is absolutely amazing!

At this moment, the wandering knight Wang Hai was being held captive by two Imperial Guards, but the Imperial Guards barely exerted any force in the matter.

When Wang Hai looked up and saw this scene, he couldn't help but burst into a hearty laugh.

"I knew it! I knew it perfectly well! Everyone knows it perfectly well."

As he passed by Gu Weizhen, he was still very arrogant, pretending to walk by as if nothing had happened, and then he accidentally kicked Gu Weizhen again.

The latter's mouth was already full of blood, and now he had fallen down, making him look extremely disheveled.

"Wang Hai! Wang Hai!" Gu Weizhen's eyes were red, and he wanted to say something, but was slapped on the head by the Imperial Guard behind him.

"Be honest, the Vice Commissioner suspects you of assassinating a high-ranking official. Even if you have meritorious service, you cannot escape punishment!"

Wang Hai, on the other hand, watched the spectacle with an air of nonchalance, whistling as he followed the Imperial Guards into the governor's office.

Yin Zhengmao saw this and even felt a little envious, but he still walked towards Hai Rui, helped him up, and said with concern.

"Ruxian! Why are you suffering like this?"

He glanced at the other person's wounds again and sighed.

"Fortunately, the wound is not deep, but I'm afraid it might be poisoned. Come in with me quickly. A doctor recently arrived at Renmin Medical Clinic in the capital. It would be best if he took a look."

"Not yet."

Hai Rui, however, was stubborn. He looked at the people kneeling before him, his face remaining calm, but two lines of tears still streamed down his cheeks.

"I would be grateful if Brother Yangshi could lend me a hand."

Understanding Hai Rui's meaning, Yin Zhengmao sighed helplessly and said, "Fine, fine, I'm really afraid of you, Hai Rui."

As he spoke, he helped Hai Rui up to the top of the steps.

With Yin Zhengmao's assistance, Hai Rui was finally able to stand up straight.

Hai Rui looked down at the people present, took a deep breath, and spoke.

"Fellow villagers! Can you please listen to me, Hai Rui, once more!"

His voice wasn't loud, but it was incredibly penetrating.

In an instant, almost all the people present gradually quieted down, their eyes fixed intently on this upright and just official.

But then Hai Rui continued speaking loudly and earnestly.

"The so-called 'loan' method originated from Wang Anshi of the Song Dynasty, also known as the 'Green Sprouts Law' of that famous Wang Xiangong of the Song Dynasty. This law used the loom as a medium and offered very low interest rates."

Zhang Jianxiu, who was standing aside directing the Imperial Guards to arrest the criminals, was also stunned at this moment.

He looked at Hai Rui on the stage again, a hint of helplessness appearing on his lips.

Is this the Hai Bijia, Hai Gangfeng, and Hai Qingtian that everyone praises?
Compared to before, this gentleman no longer seems so pedantic or rigid.

(End of this chapter)