Chapter 100: Shoulder to shoulder, suddenly passed away

Huguang Provincial Administration Commission, Huguang Provincial Capital.

Today is the second day of the fifth month, two days after the Mangzhong solar term, which is exactly the time for planting rice in the south and harvesting wheat in the north.

Huguang, which occupies 35% of the country's farmland and has over two million qing of cultivated land, in previous years at this time, the people had already started planting in full swing.

But this year is different, just because the weather is not beautiful—Huguang has had heavy rain for days this year, and for most of the fourth month, it was impossible to see the sun at all.

Especially in Yuezhou, Jingzhou, and other prefectures and counties, the embankments were breached year after year, so that recently the floods overflowed, and the people were trapped.

Measuring the length, no less than tens of thousands of qing of farmland were submerged.

The flood is overflowing; let alone planting, it will be delayed, and even the problem of disaster relief has to be considered.

"Assistant Commissioner Feng, this flood destroyed embankments and submerged fields, and the total length of damaged embankments exceeds one hundred thousand feet!"

"If the embankments are not repaired and the rice seedlings are not rescued, I fear it will lead to a major disaster later!"

The local officials of the defense road reported the cause of the flood to Assistant Commissioner Feng Shiyu urgently.

Recently, there have been floods in the province, and there are not a few places affected.

Embankments were breached and farmland submerged; if not handled in time, there will be less annexation and famine in the province.

But at such a critical time, all the high officials in the entire Huguang province who should come forward to coordinate this matter are indifferent.

Provincial Governor Zhao Xian closed his door and did not go out.

Provincial Administration Commissioner Chen Rui runs to the mine every day.

Even all the Assistant Commissioners and Assistant Commissioners don't know what they are busy with.

It was only today that the officials of the defense road managed to squat on the returning Assistant Commissioner Feng Shiyu.

Feng Shiyu remained silent for a long time before slowly opening his mouth: "Use the stolen redemption silver first; if it's not enough, deduct part of the part to be sent to the capital; repairing the embankment should be enough."

"I will talk to the Provincial Administration Commissioner about it."

Stolen redemption silver is the basis of local treasury storage, roughly 80% of the stolen redemption silver amount is sent to the stolen redemption treasury, and 20% enters the local Provincial Administration Commission or directly administered state treasury.

In the past few days, Huguang has been shaken, and the number of officials imprisoned for crimes is naturally not small, so the money in the stolen redemption treasury has risen.

However, this money is used, but it still has to be memorialized to the central government.

Provincial Administration Commissioner Chen Rui and Provincial Governor Zhao Xian are unable to protect themselves and don't want to manage this kind of thing at all.

After sending away the defense road, Feng Shiyu stood up and went to the back hall to find Chen Rui.

Just as he stepped into the back hall, before he saw anyone, he felt a wave of irritable emotion rushing toward him.

He looked up and saw Chen Rui sitting on the public hall, his clothes disheveled, looking quite decadent.

Feng Shiyu said cautiously: "Provincial Administration Commissioner, the defense road just came to talk about the recent flood, destroying embankments and submerging fields; the severity of the situation has reached the point where it must be handled!"

"He stated that he asked the Provincial Administration Commissioner to restrain slightly, otherwise, I fear the crime will be added!"

"My meaning is, it is better to act according to the urgency, first use the silver from the stolen redemption treasury to repair the embankments."

Recently, the government affairs of the Provincial Administration Commission have been somewhat desolate.

Feng Shiyu could only make the matter sound more serious, so that Chen Rui could pay attention to it.

After saying that, there was no sound in the public hall for a short while.

Provincial Administration Commissioner Chen Rui seemed not to notice and remained motionless.

After a long while.

Chen Rui finally looked at Feng Shiyu and muttered: "Feng Huazhi, count the time; the imperial envoy in the capital is probably already on the road."

Counting the time, the news has been in the capital for more than half a month.

No matter how slow the central government is, the imperial envoy should be on the road.

Chen Rui didn't listen to what Feng Shiyu said at all, just thinking about his official career and how it would end.

Feng Shiyu was silent for a moment, skipped the Huguang flood matter, and said: "It should be seven or eight days."

The road from North Zhili to Huguang is even further than to Nanzhili.

Chen Rui smiled bitterly and forced a smile: "Our official positions are probably only these seven or eight days; you still have the mood to care about the people's livelihood; I can't compare to your temperament."

Chen Rui naturally knows about the Huguang flood.

It's just that he has no heart to handle it anymore.

It is said that if you are a monk for one day, you hit the bell for one day; how many people can do it?

What Chen Rui loves is just the life of the officialdom; how can he have the leisure to look at the people under his feet.

Feng Shiyu saluted respectfully: "Provincial Administration Commissioner, it may not be the end of the road; as long as you and I clear up the Zhang Chucheng matter, it may not be impossible to rise again."

Dismissal is certain, but it is not without hope.

Chen Rui shook his head: "It's easy to say; I sit in this position, it's not that I want to clear it up, and I can easily clear it up."

Feng Shiyu suddenly looked up, took two steps forward, and said in a deep voice: "Isn't it because the Provincial Administration Commissioner is afraid of throwing the rat to avoid breaking the vessel!"

"These days, checking the mines, although people have been withdrawn and the furnaces have been extinguished, aren't the clues nakedly placed in front of us!?"

"If the Provincial Administration Commissioner wants to clear it up, why bother here and complain about himself!"

"Shouldn't you go directly to the Yueyang Prince's Prefecture!"

It's not a criminal case story; as long as the province wants to investigate the case, there is no case that cannot be broken.

A few mines were turned over, and it was clear who was mining in secret.

In the past, the province just didn't ask, but now once the vision is invested, the name of the Yueyang Prince's Prefecture cannot be hidden from anyone—as for whether it has anything to do with Zhang Chucheng and Tang Bin, just continue to investigate.

It's just that after investigating to this step, Chen Rui didn't dare to act.

Chen Rui remained silent.

What Feng Shiyu said, Chen Rui naturally understood.

It's just that this matter involves the imperial clan, so how could he dare to act rashly!

What if he investigated wrongly? How would the imperial clan resent him?

To take a step back, the Provincial Administration Commission doing the work of the Surveillance Commission, does it count as overstepping?

To take a step back, such a thing as burning an imperial envoy—once he really sits on it, is the Emperor grateful, or secretly resentful?

Even, since they dared to burn the imperial envoy, will they directly jump over the wall and raise a banner of rebellion!?

If it is really investigated clearly, the outcome may not be better than doing nothing.

Handing over the things in his hands directly to the imperial envoy can at least show an attitude and clear up a part.

Chen Rui waved his hand powerlessly: "Let the people below use the silver in the stolen redemption treasury; I will approve the slip for you later."

"Leave Zhu Yingyan of the Yueyang Prince's Prefecture to the imperial envoy to handle."

After saying that, he leaned his head on the chair and said nothing.

Feng Shiyu had advised several times in the past two days, and seeing Chen Rui's attitude, he was also helpless.

The former arched his hands and was about to leave.

Just at this moment.

A clerk walked in quickly, his expression slightly anxious.

Feng Shiyu immediately stopped his steps and cast a concerned look.

After the clerk stood still and saw that there were only two superiors in the hall, he hurriedly saluted and said: "Provincial Administration Commissioner, Assistant Commissioner, someone from below just told me..."

"Said that Provincial Governor Zhao Xian just ordered his personal guards, left the yamen, and personally went to the Regional Military Commission, invited the Regional Military Commissioner Zhan En, and went straight to Yuezhou Prefecture!"

Chen Rui stood up abruptly, his expression changed greatly: "Brought troops!?"

"Did they say what they went for!?"

His tone was urgent, and his face was flushed.

The clerk hurriedly replied: "Provincial Administration Commissioner, said they were going to Yuezhou to inspect military affairs, let all yamen and offices perform their own duties, and don't act rashly."

Feng Shiyu was also moved upon hearing this.

Inspect?

Brought personal guards, invited the Regional Military Commissioner, and could it be an inspection!?

I fear it was still for Zhang Chucheng's matter!

Chen Rui and Feng Shiyu looked at each other—Provincial Governor Zhao Xian probably also investigated to Yuezhou, so he rushed over, but... doing it to this extent, more anxious than them, his butt is probably even dirtier.

The former immediately stepped out and ordered: "Go, prepare the carriage and ceremonial guards; this office wants to go to Yuezhou Prefecture to inspect government!"

It's okay for everyone not to move, but since Provincial Governor Zhao Xian acted, he couldn't fall behind.

After saying that, he walked out quickly, and Assistant Commissioner Feng Shiyu followed closely.

After moving, outside the Provincial Administration Commission, and even the entire Wuchang Prefecture, it rained again.

On the official road from Wuchang to Yuezhou Prefecture, the rain was even heavier, hitting pedestrians and carriages, making a crackling sound.

The closer to Yuezhou Prefecture, the darker the sky.

Dark clouds covered the sky.

Regional Military Commissioner Zhan En sat in the carriage with a blue face, staring at Provincial Governor Zhao Xian in front of him.

The former said hatefully: "Provincial Governor Zhao, this official is also a second-rank high official of the imperial court! Dragging me forcibly like this, it is not me who is humiliated, it is the official body of the imperial court!"

He was working in the Regional Military Commission, and this Provincial Governor, who was usually elegant and moderate, but today was irritable and uneasy, rushed into his office, didn't even say two words, and directly dragged himself onto the carriage.

Not caring about the official body, and don't know what kind of madness he had!

Zhao Xian's face was elegant, although he was expressionless, he looked majestic without anger.

His tone was cold, word by word: "Official body?"

"The Regional Military Commissioner Zhan had better have nothing to do with the Yuezhou matter, otherwise, let alone the official body, the official life might be lost."

Zhan En's face changed; if it weren't for being in the carriage, he would have almost stood up in shock.

He said anxiously: "Provincial Governor Zhao, don't climb and pull randomly here! The matter of Zhang Chucheng and Tang Bin has nothing to do with me!"

The Yuezhou matter, Zhan En naturally understood what it referred to.

Don't know what kind of madness this Zhao Provincial Governor had, actually saying such nonsense!

Zhao Xian looked at Zhan En coldly: "Is that so?"

"Then on the day of the Yuezhou Guard, five thousand-household posts were patrolling the border, and all of them stopped; you don't know that either?"

Mining bandits?

Without the Yuezhou Guard letting them go, where would the mining bandits have the ability to attack the county office!

Zhan En also immediately realized it, his scalp numb.

He suppressed the throbbing in his heart and said with some surprise: "Is the Minister saying that the Yuezhou Guard intentionally indulged the bandits on that day!?"

Zhao Xian stared at Zhan En's reaction, impossible to miss a single bit.

Seeing that Zhan En didn't show any flaws, Zhao Xian opened his mouth again: "So Regional Military Commissioner Zhan doesn't know..."

He changed the subject: "I heard that the subordinates of the Regional Military Commissioner Zhan have close relations with the subordinates and eunuchs of the major prince's prefectures?"

Zhan En's heart sank, but he didn't show it on his face, shaking his head repeatedly: "The Minister's words are biased; the officials of the yamen need me to ask about public affairs, but private affairs, even if I am the Regional Military Commissioner, I have no right to ask; as for who they associate with, whether it is close or not, it is even less something I can care about."

Zhao Xian listened and nodded, no longer talking to him.

The carriage fell into silence for a while.

Zhan En looked at the heavy rain outside the window and the direction they were traveling, and said tentatively: "Is the Minister taking me to the Yuezhou Guard?"

Since Zhao Xian said the Yuezhou Guard was involved in Zhang Chucheng's matter, he must have mastered something.

At this moment, he went straight to Yuezhou, and the direction was too obvious.

Zhao Xian turned his head and looked at Zhan En, meaning hard to understand: "I am going to inspect the Yuezhou Guard, but..."

"Circuit Hai Yushi Shu Ao asked us to go somewhere else first, saying there is something to discuss."

Zhan En asked carefully: "Can the Minister speak clearly? Where else?"

Zhao Xian stared at Zhan En for a long time before spitting out four words: "Yueyang Prince's Prefecture."

Zhan En nodded thoughtfully and even ceremoniously bowed to Zhao Xian, ending this conversation.

Only the hand hidden in the sleeve trembled slightly.

Yuezhou Prefecture has been raining for days, and at this time it is still like a downpour.

The white rain jumped and hit the public hall of the prefecture office.

The plaque hanging high in the mirror was blurred by the smashing.

Under the plaque, Circuit Hai Yushi Shu Ao sat in the prefecture office.

Yuezhou Prefecture Prefect Zhong Chongwen sat below, and the Vice Prefect, Assistant Prefect, and Judge stood on both sides, not even given a place to sit.

Don't look at the Circuit Hai Yushi as a mere seventh-rank official.

But when he really played the official power, the fourth-rank Prefect didn't dare to breathe loudly, let alone the other minor officials.

The imperial court repeatedly ordered that Circuit Censors should not beat local officials without reason, but today it seems it doesn't count.

Shu Ao sat in the main hall, closing his eyes to rest, saying nothing.

The officials in the hall were trembling and at a loss.

This scene had been from morning until now.

Prefect Zhong Chongwen and his colleagues exchanged glances, communicating secretly.

Seemingly urging, seemingly requesting, Zhong Chongwen finally sighed and nodded.

He looked around at his colleagues in the hall, and the soldiers standing outside, not knowing where they were transferred from.

Zhong Chongwen looked at Shu Ao, who was sitting in his usual position, and said carefully: "Hai Yushi Shu, you said you had something to discuss and called us here; now that everyone has arrived, half a day has passed, do you have anything to say now?"

Although he was a Circuit Hai Yushi, not letting people leave to eat was one thing, but even going to the toilet had to be guarded, which was too much.

Circuit Hai Yushi Shu Ao slowly opened his eyes that were closed for rest and looked at the speaker.

Seeing it was the Prefect, he first nodded and smiled very politely, then comforted: "Prefect Zhong, stay calm; this official is still waiting for people from the Huguang Provincial Capital."

"When people arrive, everyone can leave."

He invited Provincial Governor Zhao Xian to Yueyang Prince's Prefecture to discuss, naturally he had to control the people in the prefecture office first.

It was to prevent leaking news, and also to prevent linking up and jumping over the wall.

Zhong Chongwen was powerless and was about to argue.

Just at this moment.

A commotion outside.

Prefect Zhong Chongwen, Vice Prefect, Assistant Prefect, and others, some turned their heads to look outside, some looked at each other.

The captain accompanying the circuit censor pressed the hilt of his sword, walked in, and whispered something in Shu Ao's ear.

Shu Ao hurriedly stood up and walked out in a hurry.

Just as he walked outside the prefecture office, he really saw the Provincial Governor's ceremonial guards.

Zhao Xian lifted the curtain and walked out, Shu Ao walked up quickly.

Both sides saluted each other.

The rain was pouring, even if the attendants on the left and right held umbrellas, it was inevitable to get the clothes wet.

But the two couldn't care less.

Zhao Xian held Shu Ao's arm and said urgently: "Hai Yushi Shu, how is the Yueyang Prince's Prefecture now?"

Shu Ao dared not be big, and hurriedly said: "I have sent people to watch the surroundings, not even a fly can fly out!"

Zhao Xian pursued: "What about the Yuezhou Guard? Is it foolproof!?"

At this time, Regional Military Commissioner Zhan En also bent over and walked out of the carriage, looking at Shu Ao upon hearing this.

Shu Ao nodded confidently: "General Liu Zhen arrived a step earlier than the Minister and has already gone to the Yuezhou Guard."

As the number one military official in the province, it was no problem for the General to suppress the Yuezhou Guard and not have trouble.

Zhao Xian let out a long breath.

This patrolling censor is much stronger than the trash of the Provincial Administration Commission and the eagle dogs of the Embroidered Uniform Guard battalion.

He looked up at the Yueyang Prince's Prefecture in the distance and snorted coldly.

Then he held Shu Ao's arm and walked quickly toward the Yueyang Prince's Prefecture.

Walking in front, he said: "Hai Yushi Shu, that mining bandit, is he really in the Yueyang Prince's Prefecture now!?"

Although the mining bandit Shi Chaofeng was beheaded, other leaders had escaped.

It was precisely because Shu Ao wrote a letter saying that going to the Yueyang Prince's Prefecture at this time could catch people and stolen goods, so he rushed over!

No way, the seal was stolen, he basically couldn't escape punishment for this matter, and it was impossible to sit and watch like Chen Rui.

If he didn't go all out to charge, I fear it wouldn't be as simple as dismissal.

Shu Ao nodded: "Absolutely no mistake!"

He didn't explain in detail how he found out; it was to prevent grabbing credit, just stop when it's enough.

Regional Military Commissioner Zhan En also followed half-pushed.

The two were talking, suddenly a few fast horses rushed through the rain curtain, neighing and running toward this side.

Before seeing who it was, only hearing Provincial Administration Commissioner Chen Rui's urgent voice, coming from afar: "Is there such a coincidence? Provincial Governor, Circuit Hai Yushi, Regional Military Commissioner, General, all gathered in Yuezhou?"

"I don't know what is so mobilizing, and I didn't know."

Chen Rui dismounted and walked quickly to the front of the few people.

He was dissatisfied with them, and his language even carried arrogance, calling himself this office.

If these people finished the matter before the imperial envoy came, and only he was missing, how would the central government look at him?

This is trapping himself in injustice!

Zhao Xian was too lazy to ignore him.

Circuit Hai Yushi Shu Ao stabbed him coldly: "The Provincial Administration Commissioner is in a high position and has heavy power, and government affairs are busy; how dare we disturb?"

Chen Rui held Zhang Chucheng and Tang Bin's manuscripts and refused to show them, which had long made him dissatisfied, so Shu Ao left out Chen Rui and didn't write a letter to invite him.

Assistant Commissioner Feng Shiyu, who followed Chen Rui, saluted one by one respectfully.

Curious: "Everyone is going to the Yueyang Prince's Prefecture? The province is inspecting government, checking that the province still owes the Yueyang Prince's Prefecture several months of salary silver."

"But now there is a flood, and the province's hands are tight, so I am going to explain the reason and delay it for a few months."

Reasons can always be found.

Anyway, as long as you follow, it counts as participating.

Zhao Xian snorted coldly and went first.

Circuit Hai Yushi Shu Ao's expression was cold, but he could only nod and instructed intimately: "It is a good thing that the Provincial Administration Commissioner and Assistant Commissioner are going together, but I fear the rain is heavy and the road is slippery, making the two fall."

After saying that, he turned and left.

Chen Rui ignored his sarcasm and followed silently, Assistant Commissioner Feng Shiyu followed closely.

Regional Military Commissioner Zhan En watched this scene silently and walked at the end.

Although the rain was heavy, it couldn't stop the footsteps of the few.

The location of the Yueyang Prince's Prefecture was also eye-catching enough, not fearing going to the wrong place.

Several high officials in the province walked for less than a quarter of an hour and arrived outside the Yueyang Prince's Prefecture.

Before the few came, the inside and outside of the Prince's Prefecture were only guarded by imperceptible dark lines.

After the few arrived, the soldiers surrounded the Prince's Prefecture tightly.

The accompanying minor officials hurriedly stepped forward to knock on the door, but were stopped by Provincial Governor Zhao Xian, who went up to knock on the door himself.

The big door opened in response, and a person dressed as a eunuch walked out, stunned to see the soldiers at the door: "You are...?"

Zhao Xian was not polite: "I am here to find your Prince's Prefecture's Assistant Regional Commander, Zhu Yingyan."

After all, he was an imperial relative who had not yet been convicted, so he gave some surface work.

Shu Ao, who was behind, also followed and nodded.

Chen Rui and Zhan En watched coldly.

That eunuch didn't know what he thought of, suddenly realized: "Oh, you got the news and came to attend the Assistant Regional Commander's funeral?"

"Everyone might as well report your identity, let this servant make a register first."

Knowing, just as his words fell.

Zhao Xian's expression changed greatly, Shu Ao opened his mouth in shock.

Chen Rui and Feng Shiyu looked at each other, frowning and not speaking.

Only Regional Military Commissioner Zhan En, who was standing behind, quietly let out a breath.

Zhao Xian grabbed the eunuch's collar: "What did you say!? What happened to Zhu Yingyan!?"

Facing Zhao Xian's reaction, the eunuch was at a loss.

Confused: "Yeah, Assistant Regional Commander, passed away last night!"

(End of chapter) ===== CHAPTER 101 =====

(End of chapter)