Chapter 1522: Truly Handling Affairs

Yan Shifan's move caused huge trouble, which Yan Song and his son never expected.

The Embroidered Uniform Guards and the Eastern Depot seemed to have gone crazy, constantly self-investigating internally, and also questioning and checking everyone in the palace one by one, determined to clarify everyone's full relationships.

This caused panic inside and outside, and there was no festive atmosphere for the New Year at all. In such chaos, before the New Year, Yan Song submitted a memorial to resign, but Jiajing kept it and did not approve.

After the New Year, on the 15th of the first lunar month, Censor Zou Yinglong submitted a memorial impeaching Yan Song and his son Yan Shifan. That day, Yan Shifan was imprisoned...

"So this is the famous Imperial Prison."

Qi Dazhu looked around curiously, "Third Master, it feels no different from the prison in our Chun'an, just bigger than our prison."

Zhu Qi laughed: "The prison in your county at most holds some minor officials from the county office. This Imperial Prison of our Northern Internal Security Division holds big figures."

"I actually think these big figures are no different from the minor officials in our county." Qi Dazhu muttered.

Wang Yan, strolling with his hands behind his back, nodded with satisfaction: "You are right. Dazhu has improved. The people in this Imperial Prison are the same as those below. They are all treacherous thieves who are not loyal to the sovereign, do not love the people, and only think of themselves, having no sovereign, father, or country.

The only difference is that they have caused more evil and embezzled more money than those below. But this cannot be said to be worse than those below; after all, it's just that those below couldn't get up, not that they couldn't do worse things."

Zhu Qi shook his head: "I know that you sold your family property just to become an official and earn silver. If you didn't do that with them, how could you earn silver? It's just a matter of quantity."

"Look, Seventh Master, you have forgotten all about those good days in Chun'an. Who did the brothers eat and drink with every day? A meal cost at least two taels of silver, and eating three or four meals a day for three months, that's six or seven hundred taels of silver. If I took this money, who could say anything? Even if it went to the Imperial Court, His Majesty wouldn't even take a second look."

Wang Yan sighed, "It's still Hai Rui's fault, that Great Magistrate. He was in such a hurry to deal with the wealthy families that he cut off my supply. As a result, His Majesty gave me silver to eat and drink well, but instead, it fed his whole family until they were ruddy and full of spirit."

Zhu Qi laughed: "That's true. I forgot all about that. At that time, the brothers did eat and drink well, mainly because you trained the cooks well. Hai Rui is actually clear about everything, but he is just stubborn."

"He is upright in his conduct. If others spent my silver, they really couldn't find fault, as it was all rewarded by His Majesty."

"The Great Magistrate is usually very serious, but when he is with Third Master, there is no way. Everyone says that Third Master is the one who governs the Great Magistrate." Qi Dazhu giggled.

Wang Yan glanced at him: "In Chun'an, there is no one I cannot govern."

Chatting and laughing, several people walked into the depths of the prison.

The smell inside was not very good; the damp, urine-like smell made people uncomfortable.

It was in such an environment that Wang Yan saw Yan Shifan, who was disheveled and dejected, locked in the prison.

"Oh my, isn't this the famous Junior Cabinet Minister? How did you end up in this state?" Wang Yan directly mocked him to his face.

"A tiger falling on the plains is bullied by dogs. Does a dog bastard like you also come to see the grandfather's joke?"

"Junior Cabinet Minister, your memory is really bad. It's only been a few days, and your brain has been locked into water? When you weren't being disciplined, I also slapped your mouth in public. Now that I'm here, it's just to see your joke and make you feel uncomfortable.

Oh, right, there's one more thing. Your wife, concubines, and daughter will probably all be sent to the Music Bureau. I estimate that in a few days, I will be promoted, and then I will go to the Music Bureau to have a good time."

"Damn bastard!" Yan Shifan cursed, ran over, and grabbed the wood of the cage, "Dog bastard, you have done all kinds of evil and will not die well! Zhu Qi! Is this a place where anyone can come in? I want to see His Majesty! I want to see His Majesty! Wronged! I am wronged!"

Zhu Qi ignored Yan Shifan's roar and turned to look at Wang Yan: "The people who come here all say that; once they are tortured, they confess everything like beans."

He sighed again and looked at Yan Shifan with some regret, "It's just that His Majesty misses old feelings and didn't give us an order to investigate strictly, otherwise, I would guarantee you would be worse than dead."

"Hmph, success or failure is just a matter of time!"

"Damn bastard, still talking about success or failure, whose world are you fighting for?"

Wang Yan kicked out, and only a cracking sound was heard, and one of Yan Shifan's legs was kicked and broken.

Yan Shifan screamed, then lay on his back on the ground, rolling in pain.

"Dog bastard, you won't die well! Won't die well!"

Yan Shifan's voice was extremely shrill; it was truly heartbreaking to see and tear-jerking to hear...

Wang Yan looked at Zhu Qi: "Seventh Master, is there any trouble?"

Seeing Wang Yan's satisfied look, Zhu Qi was speechless. Damn bastard, you've already done it, so what are you asking?

He said with some exhaustion: "If it were someone else, there would definitely be trouble, but in your case, there is no problem. At most, I, Zhu Qi, broke the rules, brought an outsider into the Imperial Prison, and got a beating; it's no big deal."

"How can that be?" Wang Yan said, "Dazhu and I are also criminal suspects of our Northern Internal Security Division. Isn't it just that we were brought here to investigate the Japanese pirate situation? It is only natural for us brothers to enter and exit the Imperial Prison. This Yan Shifan is dog-natured and hasn't changed; seeing me pass by, he lunged over to launch an attack. In my panic, I gave him a kick and broke his dog leg. Look, isn't this just finishing the errand."

Zhu Qi was amazed: "Brother Wang, you are still the high one."

"Nonsense! Lawless! Audacious! Deceiving the Emperor!" Yan Shifan felt even more uncomfortable listening to this, rolling in pain while cursing.

"Aren't you talking about what you did?" Wang Yan shook his head helplessly, "How can a person be shameless to this point? Alright, Seventh Master, take me to see Zheng Bichang and He Maocai. They are my superiors; coming here once without visiting them would be too inappropriate."

The matter of converting rice to mulberry is not over yet. Now a series of things are all continuations of converting rice to mulberry, and Zheng Bichang and He Maocai are not dead yet. But they won't live long; it is said they will be executed after autumn this year.

"Kicked all three of their legs? He is quite vengeful."

In the Jade Purity Palace, Jiajing heard the process of the matter and said, "He also has resentment toward Zhen."

Lu Fang hurriedly took over: "Master, Wang Yan is angry about the destruction of the dikes to flood the fields, not taking the lives of the commoners as lives. This is Yan Shifan's audacity, and the Zheng Bichang and He Maocai below caused it. They have no sovereign, father, or country, and are guilty of heinous crimes. Master was also kept in the dark. As for the subsequent matters... Wang Yan is a sensible person and a practical one; he can understand His Majesty's painstaking efforts."

"You are speaking well for him."

"He prescribed a good prescription. Master has been eating and drinking well recently. The slave's biggest thing is to take good care of Master. He makes Your Majesty feel good, so shouldn't the slave speak for him?"

"That is true. Zhen has been eating comfortably and sleeping peacefully recently." Jiajing nodded with a smile, "Did you give him the silver?"

"The slave is thinking of going in a while. Yan Shifan has been taken down, and Yan Song is also going to return to his hometown. Their intention to use Wang Yan and Qi Dazhu as rafts to target Prince Yu is out of the question. Wang Yan and Qi Dazhu are innocent. Wang Yan is a capable person, so he shouldn't be idle. Should Master arrange an errand for him?"

Jiajing hummed. He knew Lu Fang was simply reminding him of this matter. Since Wang Yan survived the assassination and has already started to overthrow Yan, he should naturally arrange for Wang Yan, who is thoughtful. If he is left idle for too long, and Wang Yan is so young, it is inevitable that he will have resentment, and it would not be good if the sovereign and subject are separated.

After deep thought, Jiajing said: "Where do you think he should be arranged?"

"Wang Yan is thoughtful, and Master also values him, so he certainly cannot be sent away. The slave remembers that last time he came to the palace, the slave said he was suitable for the Ministry of Works, but Your Majesty said his rank was low and no one would listen to him, so it is most suitable to be a chief official, where he can let go of his hands and feet."

Lu Fang did not make a suggestion, but just repeated Jiajing's words earlier. Yan Song is about to go down, and there is no one thoughtful. At present, the most thoughtful one is Wang Yan, who can make Jiajing happy, so he should definitely be nearby and can be summoned at any time.

Looking at it this way, there are not many choices.

Jiajing thought again: "Zhen remembers that there was heavy snow before the New Year, causing a snow disaster. The Daxing County Magistrate was ineffective in disaster relief. How to deal with it hasn't been taken care of yet?"

"Back to Master, exactly. The Daxing County Magistrate is Yan Shifan..."

Hearing this, there was no need to hear more. Jiajing waved his hand and interrupted Lu Fang: "Investigate and deal with this person, and let Wang Yan be the county magistrate. Zhen wants to see what kind of appearance he can govern Zhen's capital into."

"Master, Wang Yan is afraid it will be difficult to handle. He has no say in the capital, and he has difficulty handling things outside the capital, so it is not easy..."

"Li Shen of the Tang Dynasty has a poem: 'Spring planting one grain of millet, autumn harvest ten thousand seeds. There is no idle land in the four seas, yet farmers still starve to death.' Where in this world is there an easy thing? Didn't he also write a poem himself, saying something about 'a thousand grinds and ten thousand strikes, still strong and tough, let the east, west, south, and north winds blow.' I heard that as soon as this poem came out, it was widely praised by the pure officials. Then let's see if he, the pure official who wants to be the master for the people, can withstand the east, west, south, and north winds."

Lu Fang laughed: "Master, the pure officials praised Hai Rui. This poem was written by Wang Yan and sent to Hai Rui. I heard that Wang Yan personally made a fan, painted a bamboo and stone picture on the fan face, and wrote such a bamboo and stone poem. Hai Rui treasures it very much.

The pure officials have no good words for Wang Yan. There are censors impeaching him, saying that he does not follow the etiquette and actually wears underwear at the gate of the county office to sunbathe in broad daylight..."

These are all absurd things Wang Yan has done, and Jiajing loves to hear them.

Mainly because Wang Yan is too unconventional, too free and easy, without any dignity of an official in front of the commoners, destroying the prestige of the Imperial Court, even if it is the pure officials, they are unwilling to see these things.

There are also other messy things like beating people on the street, forced buying and selling, etc.

After laughing, Jiajing said: "If Wang Yan can stand firm, I'm afraid there will be no lack of excitement in the future, hahaha..."

Lu Fang echoed: "Master has heaven's favor. If he still can't stand firm, then it is truly a waste of holy grace, and he can't blame anyone else."

In the afternoon, Wang Yan was sunbathing on the lounge chair again, when two eunuchs opened the door, and Eunuch Lu walked in with his hands behind his back.

Wang Yan seemed to get off the lounge chair in a panic, looking a bit embarrassed.

"Oh my, Eunuch Lu, why did you come in person?"

"Why did I come? Have you forgotten what you did so quickly?"

Wang Yan complained: "His Majesty is about to overthrow Yan; how big a deal is it that I kicked their legs?"

"No matter what, Yan Song has followed His Majesty for decades, and Yan Shifan has also made contributions to the country. It is not good to do too much. Otherwise, if His Majesty gets the reputation of being mean and ungrateful, can you bear this responsibility?"

"Your subordinate cannot bear it, but your subordinate can handle affairs. Whoever dares to talk nonsense, as long as His Majesty gives an order, your subordinate will go and seize people and raid their homes."

"Young, why is the killing intent so heavy? In many cases, killing cannot solve the problem." Lu Fang shook his head with a smile.

"Eunuch, it is precisely because your subordinate is a young man that I must have such a ruthlessness; otherwise, how can I do things? How can I suppress people? If there were no such things, your subordinate would have been pitted to death in Chun'an. When the Xin'an River broke its dikes, that bastard Chang Boxi wanted to take your subordinate to take the blame. If your subordinate hadn't been decisive at that time, beating and scolding them to suppress them, the grass on your subordinate's grave would be three feet high by now."

"Alright, after saying two sentences, you are back to Chun'an again."

Lu Fang seemed dissatisfied, then said, "I came here for two things."

Wang Yan bowed respectfully and didn't speak.

"First, the Ministry of Works bought a batch of cement, paid in cash with the palace, and some big families in the capital also bought cement to build houses. In addition, officials and imperial relatives in the capital saw that His Majesty used white glass here, and they all placed orders, making the workshop busy. It really earned a lot of silver. His Majesty remembers that you are gluttonous and have no family property, so after the New Year, he rewards you with 10,000 taels of silver to spend."

"Long live, long live, long live my Emperor."

"Wait, don't rush to kowtow." Lu Fang stopped Wang Yan and said, "This second thing is that His Majesty remembers you are a loyal subject who does practical things and is willing to be the master for the commoners. This time, being escorted to the capital also wronged you. You definitely can't go back to Chun'an, so stay in the capital and serve as the Daxing County Magistrate."

Wang Yan widened his eyes: "Eunuch Lu, did your subordinate hear wrong? Daxing County Magistrate?"

"You didn't hear wrong; it is the Daxing County Magistrate." Lu Fang was satisfied with Wang Yan's attitude, "The so-called 'don't doubt the person you use, don't use the person you doubt.' Although you are young and this position is indeed too high, but 'not sticking to one pattern to lower talents,' if you have ability, you must have the opportunity to display it. His Majesty has high hopes for you; you must not fail the holy grace."

"Yes! Long live, long live, long live my Emperor!"

This time Wang Yan really kowtowed.

Daxing County is a county attached to the capital, and its jurisdiction is the area east of the central axis of the capital. Because of the special nature of the capital county, the rank of the county magistrate is the sixth rank. And Wang Yan was only a ninth-rank Registrar, directly crossing six levels.

To put it another way, it is from a member of the Chun'an County Standing Committee directly to the district party secretary of Daxing, from deputy division level directly to the main department level, and it is still a department with real power. And the real power content is far higher than that of a department head. After all, he is an official of this period, and he truly holds the power of life and death. Wang Yan can also directly contact the first and second in command of the General Office, and can directly see the Emperor in an emergency.

The key point is that Wang Yan is just a young man who has just turned twenty.

In any political ecosystem with a stable political system, such a thing is almost impossible to happen. It seems that the founders were all in their twenties or thirties and held great power to the top, but when it stabilized, they had to wait for seniority. Even if the family has a background, they have to be thirty to enter the hall, unlike Wang Yan who reached this point at twenty.

It can be seen that Wang Yan is very favored by Jiajing.

It can also be seen that the silver was not spent in vain; he sent a great source of wealth to Jiajing, allowing him to continue to be extravagant, and he really handled affairs for people...

?? Daily thanks to the great brothers who tip, vote for monthly tickets, recommendation tickets, and silently read the book for their strong support! ===== CHAPTER 1523 =====

?? Daily thanks to the good brothers who tip, vote for monthly tickets, recommendation tickets, and silently read the book for their strong support!