Chapter 261: Belly hot and heart burning, entangled by vines and creepers

"... From the third year of Wanli to the fifth year of Wanli, during the two years that Zhang Zhan served as the magistrate of Xuzhou, he successively killed seven thug gangs, including Wang Hu and Liu Song, who had murder cases on their backs, and captured the 46 members of the 'Canal Patrol Team' in the gangs one by one, either exiling them to the army or punishing and dismissing them."

"He cumulatively investigated and concluded more than 120 backlogged lawsuits, criminal cases, and disputes."

"He impeached 15 officials of the Surveillance Commission."

"Later, he was impeached by the then-touring censor of Fengyang, Li Shidi, and stayed idle; he was recommended by the River Channel Superintendent Pan Jixun to rise again as the River Management Physician."

"Since Zhang Zhan served as River Management Physician, he has visited more than 600 households, impeached three River Management *zhushi* for cause, cleared out a number of subordinates, and personally led the laborers to rebuild the embankments from Peixian to Feng County."

"..."

"Besides the officialdom, Zhang Zhan's reputation among the people is also mixed."

"In these three years, whether it was repairing embankments and levying corvée, or opening sluice gates to release floods, he did it as soon as he said it, let them move as soon as he said it, without giving the wealthy or the small people any room for negotiation; the commoners on both sides of the Si River and the Grand Canal all said he was unreasonable."

"Only in Peixian is the reputation a little better."

"Because Zhang Zhan received everyone who visited and questioned every case; even outside his authority, he would hold the posture of a former magistrate, threatening the county magistrate Xiao Jiucheng to review grievances and overturn cases."

"Every month on the first and fifteenth, Zhang Zhan would lead the subordinates of the River Management *Yamen* to enlighten young children, help the elderly, sweep the streets, dig wells, and occasionally mediate neighborhood disputes when the opportunity arose."

"Over time, the local commoners said that if they were wronged, it was better to find the River Management *Yamen* than the County *Yamen*."

The benefits of having Embroidered Uniform Guard thousand-household and hundred-household offices spread across the two capitals and thirteen provinces were highlighted; Jiang Keqian had not left for long before he returned with the news the Emperor needed.

The group stood in an alley diagonally opposite Zhang Zhan's mansion, listening quietly to Jiang Keqian's report.

The first half was the official resume recorded in the books, and the second half was purely the folk reputation collected; the two reflected each other, vaguely outlining Zhang Zhan's image.

The most consistent personality trait from head to toe was his irritable temper.

During Zhang Zhan's tenure as magistrate of Xuzhou, whenever things didn't go his way, he would point at the noses of his subordinates and curse: "If you can do it, do it; if you can't, get out; if I can let you up, I can take you down."

When inspecting embankments, he would frequently expose the old bottom of his own *yamen*, opening his mouth and closing his mouth with "garbage project," "look at this tofu-dregs surface."

He would even frequently curse his colleagues in front of the commoners: "Don't look at these dog officials pretending to be honest; damn it, they are full of ghost water."

Perhaps it was precisely because of his irritability that Zhang Zhan could disregard the tacit understanding of officialdom and do many practical things.

Perhaps it was also because of this irritability that he was hated by those above and below, eventually leading to misfortune.

It's just that I don't know if it's worth it.

Out of this emotion, Sun Jigao looked at the deserted Zhang mansion diagonally opposite and frowned in confusion: "Physician Zhang at least did a lot of practical things, and Commander Jiang also said that some commoners felt grateful in their hearts; why is the Zhang mansion so deserted?"

It is said that the coffin is closed and the conclusion is drawn.

It stands to reason that as long as it is a good official, there should always be commoners who have received favors coming to cry at the funeral.

But the group had been standing in the alley for a while, yet they hadn't seen any guests coming to pay their respects on the seventh day.

It really didn't look like the treatment a local official who had done practical things should have.

"Zhang Zhan's coffin was sent back to his hometown in Henan a few days ago; since the time for condolences has passed, it is naturally deserted."

The person who said this was Jiang Keqian, and everyone looked over in confusion.

A grand funeral is not just about the splendor of entertaining the surrounding villages when burying; the condolences when passing away must also be splendid, otherwise it is unfilial descendants—customs are like this; otherwise, why do people sigh that it is easy to live but hard to die?

With the splendor of condoling a fifth-rank Physician, there should be at least a hundred people at the door and three *li* of wailing, and ten or eight days would not be enough.

But now it was only the seventh day of Zhang Zhan's death, and it had already been hastily finished, with the coffin sent back to his hometown, which was really not in line with human feelings.

Jiang Keqian saw that everyone was waiting for the following, and immediately explained: "On the day Zhang Physician had the accident, commoners gathered at the Zhang mansion, thousands of people came to pay their respects, and the wailing sounded to the sky."

"There were also village elders and chivalrous people who went to the County *Yamen* to request an order, saying that Physician Zhang might have been harmed by a conspiracy, and asked County Magistrate Xiao Jiucheng to arrest the driver and investigate the real murderer."

"County Magistrate Xiao Jiucheng reacted very quickly; after hearing the news, he immediately visited the Zhang mansion in person."

"Seeing that more and more commoners were gathering, Xiao Jiucheng claimed that the County *Yamen* had already sent constables to pursue the carriage driver and would definitely investigate the case, but before that, the commoners must not gather and cause trouble, otherwise it would harm Physician Zhang's posthumous reputation."

Jiang Keqian paused and continued euphemistically: "The reason was that the Shandong civil riots were happening at the beginning of the year, and the imperial court was strictly prohibiting and arresting."

"Now that the Emperor is passing through, once he knows that the commoners are gathering and causing trouble, he will inevitably send secret agents to suppress them, and even vent his anger on Physician Zhang."

"That night, Xiao Jiucheng led the commoners to burn paper and release lanterns to express their condolences, and then agreed with the Zhang family and the commoners to send Physician Zhang back to his roots as soon as possible."

"A few days ago, after the commoners sent him off for thirty *li* along the road, they dispersed; now only the descendants of the three branches who are tidying up the family property are left in the mansion, so it is naturally deserted."

Everyone heard this with strange expressions.

Although the Emperor is far away, it is still necessary to pay attention to avoiding the taboo of the respected; using the Emperor to stop the commoners from crying at night is a bit inappropriate.

Zhu Yijun clicked his tongue and felt quite speechless: "So it turns out that the Emperor is immoral and cannot tolerate the commoners mourning a capable official."

A decisive official, a car accident where only one person died, a driver carrying a fortune, a county *yamen* with an ambiguous attitude—the sense of déjà vu is really strong.

Sun Jigao stroked his beard and pondered for a moment, then euphemistically remonstrated: "It is common for local prefectures and counties to be taboo about commoners gathering; Xiao Jiucheng might have had this consideration, so he used empty words to intimidate them; there might not necessarily be any strange conspiracy."

Sun the top scholar still had integrity and would not casually suspect any colleague without evidence.

Zhu Yijun was noncommittal: "Let's go, let's go in and see."

The Emperor's words were followed by action, and as his voice fell, he took the lead.

Everyone hurriedly stopped discussing and followed closely behind.

An empty house has the benefits of an empty house; the Zhang mansion didn't even have a gatekeeper now, and the group strode over the foot-high threshold.

Bypassing the shadow wall, they saw that the courtyard still retained a bit of the sorrowful atmosphere of the white affair.

The reed mat shed in the open space of the courtyard had not yet been dismantled, and half a broken cymbal was discarded; the ashes of paper money were piled in the corner of the courtyard, occasionally drifting up with a burnt smell; the lattice doors of the side rooms and the main hall were removed and not reinstalled.

The previous mourning hall should have been set up in the main hall, and two benches were erected under the six-frame beam, which should be for stopping the coffin.

Under the beam, there was also a white cotton cloth horizontal plaque hanging, with the four characters "Sound and Appearance Remain" written on it.

A pair of funeral couplets hung on both sides.

Sun Jigao's habit as a man of letters was hard to change, and he couldn't help but chant softly: "The pine's character can naturally deceive the coldness of the snow; the bamboo's heart was originally not withered by the wind."

After savoring it for a moment, he showed a thoughtful expression.

According to Physician Zhang's official reputation, calling him pine-character and bamboo-heart is appropriate, but snow-cold and wind-withered are, after all, external disasters.

On an occasion where the coffin is closed and the conclusion is drawn, rhetorical devices and imagery are very serious matters and cannot be taken lightly.

Such sentences clearly carry praise for martyrdom.

When everyone was looking around, it also attracted the attention of the owner.

A middle-aged man dressed in fine linen and wrapped in a mourning cloth looked at the group with suspicion and greeted them: "Distinguished guests have arrived, Zhang Chi has failed to welcome you from afar."

Zhang Chi is Zhang Zhan's third son, left behind to tidy up luggage and sell family property.

Zhu Yijun wanted to help the person up, but only realized it halfway through, changing it to pressing his palms together: "This poor monk's Dharma name is Jinlun; passing through this place, I saw that your mansion was filled with resentment, with signs of containing anger and entering the soil, so I entered without notice."

Zhang Chi was, after all, a descendant of an official family, and his knowledge was not something that ordinary people could compare to; hearing the word "poor monk," he paused on the spot, and his face was almost written with the word "absurd."

He pursed his lips and looked up and down for a long time.

He immediately put away the politeness on his face and sneered: "Which family's young master are you? You don't learn well at a young age and come to my Zhang mansion to tease me; do you believe that Zhang will really help you shave your head now?"

A fake monk is a fake monk, but from the clothing and the magnificent temperament, he doesn't look like a Jianghu swindler.

Zhang Chi was still in the mourning period and didn't want to cause trouble with these uninvited guests, so he scolded and wanted to call the servants to drive people away.

Zhu Yijun remained motionless, only sighing unfathomably: "If you see me by color, if you seek me by sound, how can you see the Tathagata?"

The fake monk's ability to pretend was so good that Jiang Keqian took a step forward.

The latter looked cold and took out a degree certificate from his sleeve, showing it to Zhang Chi from a high position: "Dharma Master Jinlun is the reincarnation of past wisdom, a natural Buddha, who has seen through the vanity of the skin, abandoned the external path of shaving, and cannot be calculated by sound and color."

Reincarnation of past wisdom? Natural Buddha?

This serious appearance scared Zhang Chi for a moment, and he subconsciously took the degree certificate.

It was fine not to look, but it was terrible to look.

The degree certificate clearly stated: Great Protector of the Nation, Guardian of the Bao'an Temple, upholder of the Secret Teachings, Master of the Western Altar, Great Monk, Dharma name Jinlun, pardoned Dharma King, bestowed with python robes, brocade cassock, Dharma King crown, brown sedan chair, ceremonial guards, etc., and there were also the seals of the Emperor and the Ministry of Rites on it!

The more Zhang Chi looked, the more suspicious he became, checking the degree certificate for a while and examining the fake monk in front of him for a while.

The Great Protector of the Nation, Guardian of the Bao'an Temple, is a royal temple, a high monk of Tibetan Buddhism, Xingji Bandan, built by imperial decree in the first year of Zhengde; although it gradually declined after the Jiajing reform, it was still a thin camel that was bigger than a horse, and the two empress dowagers burned incense and worshipped Buddha every year.

The Dharma King is an even more incredible title; the imperial court canonized Tibetan monks in order: Lama, Chan Master, Great National Master, Western Heaven Buddha Son, and the highest is the Dharma King.

Since the founding of the dynasty, only three Dharma Kings have been canonized in the entire area outside the Great Wall!

Although the number of Tibetan monk Dharma Kings who surrendered to the interior is not limited, they are a few steps behind in status, but they can still be considered high monks of the Tantric sect!

However, if it is really a living Buddha reincarnation, then the age makes sense.

Zhang Chi held the degree certificate in his hands and turned it over and over, and his expression toward Zhu Yijun gradually became pious...

Sun Jigao on the side witnessed the whole process and couldn't help but spit secretly.

The Ministry of Rites has really learned to be bad, colluding with the Embroidered Uniform Guards, presumptuously guessing the Emperor's intentions, causing the Emperor to indulge in dressing up and playing in front of people.

If this continues, the Emperor will only pick up his ancestors' handicraft and act as a beggar.

Zhu Yijun was completely unaware of Sun the top scholar's belly-aching, only meeting Zhang Chi's gaze, and chanted in a low voice: "Not false cultivation, not belonging to gradual order, not light or dark, originally Buddha."

He opened his mouth and closed his mouth, either the "Diamond Sutra" or the "Platform Sutra," which was far higher than a Jianghu swindler.

Zhang Chi finally dispelled his doubts and bowed directly to the ground: "Believer Zhang Chi, respectfully invites the Living Buddha to chant scriptures and mantras to transcend my father!"

He prostrated himself, held the degree certificate above his head with both hands, and had an attitude of respecting the Buddha.

Zhu Yijun nodded lightly and reached out to help the person up: "This poor monk's transcendence does not chant scriptures or mantras, only needs to eliminate cause and effect, and the deceased will naturally go to rebirth."

"This poor monk heard that Physician Zhang was harmed by a traitor?"

Don't ask which causes and effects led to Zhang Zhan being wronged and buried, unable to transcend; just say it all, and the Great Monk has the final interpretation right.

The Zhang family seems to be straight-gutted; Zhang Zhan is no exception, and Zhang Chi is no exception.

The latter believed in the monk's identity and entered a state of knowing everything: "Alas, according to the current investigation, my father is 80% or 90% harmed by some unscrupulous colleagues."

"On the day my father went out, the River Management *Yamen* rented one from a private merchant on the grounds that the carriage was not available."

"However, the matter went bad here; not only was the carriage not inspected and stamped, but the driver was also a person who had always committed crimes."

"After the carriage overturned that day, my father and the accompanying subordinates scattered to hide, but the driver actually didn't stop the horses, rushed straight toward my father, and trampled back and forth..."

Mentioning the situation that day, Zhang Chi became more choked as he spoke.

Zhu Yijun pretended to pinch the formula on the side, wanting to pull out this part of the cause and effect for Zhang Zhan: "The cause and effect of the River Management *Yamen* is not small."

Zhang Chi gradually came back to his senses.

He loosened his clenched fists, barely wiped away the resentment on his face, and praised: "The Master's calculation is divine; the constable who handled the case also privately concluded this."

"It's a pity that the County *Yamen* has no right to investigate the River Management *Yamen*, so County Magistrate Xiao could only report to Xuzhou and ask the prefect to send a letter to the Xuzhou Hong Branch of the Water Department to coordinate the investigation."

The canal basin is divided into four sections, each with a Water Department Physician in charge; the Zhonghe Physician is stationed in Lüliang, managing the river channel from Xuzhou to Huaiyin and the two floods of Xuzhou and Lüliang, and later added the management of the Liao River.

The Zhonghe Water Department also set up the Xuzhou Hong Branch and the Lüliang Hong Branch, the former being the direct superior of the Peixian River Management *Yamen*.

Zhu Yijun observed his words and expressions and grabbed the answer first: "The cause and effect have not been eliminated; I think the coordination investigation has yielded nothing."

Zhang Chi nodded and replied gloomily: "Yes, three days ago, the prefectural *yamen* forwarded the official letter from the Xuzhou Hong Branch of the Water Department."

"Zhonghe Physician Li Minqing of the Water Department replied to the County *Yamen* that the relevant authorities had issued regulations to strictly order the inspection system for official vehicles and increase maintenance and patrols."

Speaking human language, it means that the relevant *yamens* have taken corresponding measures to strengthen the supervision of the safety certification and maintenance of official vehicles, better guaranteeing public safety.

As for Zhang Zhan's case, it was an ordinary car accident, so don't raise it too much, so as not to hurt the good relationship between the various *yamens*.

Zhu Yijun looked at the group of close ministers.

They were all mixed up in the imperial court, so how could they not taste the trickery in it?

A dignified fifth-rank Physician died, and it was enough to let the mere County *Yamen* bite the bullet and investigate; now that the prefectural *yamen* and the Water Department were using such wording, it would be strange if it could still be investigated.

Sun Jigao stroked his chin and suddenly realized: "No wonder the prefecture sent Physician Zhang back to his hometown in a coffin in a hurry three days ago."

Anyone who encounters this will be disheartened and want to end it early.

Zhang Chi heard this and lowered his head without speaking.

Zhu Yijun saw this and couldn't help but sigh in his heart; it might not be disheartened, perhaps he wanted to finish the miscellaneous things and then hit the south wall again?

He didn't explore this matter and changed direction to ask: "Has Physician Zhang had any deadly enemies in recent years? Please tell me, benefactor, and this poor monk will eliminate the cause and effect for him together."

With such a black hand, it couldn't be an opponent who appeared out of thin air.

However, the truth is this truth, but such a simple question made Zhang Chi show a difficult expression.

He hesitated for a moment and replied awkwardly: "My father has been an official for many years, and the colleagues he offended are countless."

Everyone was silent.

Zhang Chi thought for a moment and added: "The mansion has organized my father's drafts of memorials, copies of his conduct, poetry and prose collections over the years... The Holy Monk might be able to see the cause and effect of my father from them."

"Please follow me, everyone."

After speaking, he didn't wait for everyone to respond, and reached out to invite them to the backyard.

Zhu Yijun naturally followed the trend and followed. In the backyard, there were several boxes, and everyone saw female relatives and servants coming and going, moving family property from the side rooms.

Zhang Chi waved away the servants and reached out to push open the study.

"These boxes are all the summaries of my father's duties over the years, such as official administration, river engineering, disaster preparedness, and education."

The study was obviously the first to be tidied up, and Zhang Chi pointed to several boxes in the room to introduce to everyone: "These are some of my father's notes, talks, and miscellaneous thoughts; there are not many, totaling one box."

A man of letters' manuscripts are never afraid of seeing the light, only afraid of no one seeing them, so Zhang Chi was very frank in showing them to everyone.

Zhu Yijun picked up a volume of notes and flipped through it.

"Years approaching knowing the destiny, the life path is full of difficulties. In youth, I burned the lamp to continue the day; in the prime of life, I sharpened my integrity to serve the public. However, the higher the position, the steeper the path; the higher the position, the more the heart suffers. Three years of darkness and light, nine changes of spring and autumn, facing the situation of chaotic hemp during the day, facing the abyss of confusion at night. The soul is like a hanging thread, the form is like a withered wood."

Just one glance made Zhu Yijun unable to move his eyes away.

Looking at the ink, it has been some years, but it penetrates the paper, and one can almost see the staggering tragedy when Zhang Zhan wrote this word by word.

The Ming officialdom actually made a capable official suffer to this extent!?

"Despising the king's law, forming cliques; the virtuous are rejected, trapped like dry scales. The net is as dense as chaotic silk, hidden dangers lie like accumulated firewood. Sad! My body is trapped in the mud and I wash alone, trying to pull back the decadent waves but failing to return, my plain collar is not stained with black dust, my lonely heart faces the cold moon..."

Seeing halfway, Zhu Yijun couldn't bear to look down anymore.

Silently closed this note.

Zhang Chi on the side saw this and explained in a timely manner: "This was written by my father three years ago when he was dismissed."

"At that time, my father cried at home all day, blaming himself for being sorry for the Emperor, sorry for the elders and fellow villagers, losing the battle, and even repeatedly committing suicide for this."

"If it weren't for the grace of Governor Pan's reconstruction, I'm afraid he would have plunged into the Si River at that time."

Zhu Yijun heard this, and his heart felt more and more uncomfortable.

Zhang Chi only thought that the monk was compassionate, and didn't feel strange, just took the opportunity to point to the last few boxes and changed the topic: "These few are the drafts of my father's memorials."

"Some memorials were presented in a hurry, missing the original manuscript, and were copied after recollection, which is not much different."

"The people my father offended in his official career are probably all in it."

Zhu Yijun pressed his palms together and was about to say something.

Just then, a clamor sounded outside the courtyard, interrupting everyone's thoughts.

"I just told my nephew, don't be an outsider if you have anything to do; today uninvited guests came to the door to run wild, and you didn't even come to notify the County *Yamen*."

A voice full of official tone came from the front yard.

Judging by the lack of etiquette in shouting in someone else's house, it is obviously not a character to be trifled with.

Zhang Chi seemed very familiar with this voice, and he smiled apologetically at Zhu Yijun: "It's County Magistrate Xiao who is here; Holy Monk, please look slowly, I will go and come back."

After speaking, he hurriedly greeted the front yard.

Everyone in the study frowned and exchanged glances.

County Magistrate Xiao Jiucheng?

This fellow came a bit too fast.

Apparently, someone in the County *Yamen* was watching near the Zhang family, and as soon as they heard that people of unknown origin were visiting the Zhang mansion, they couldn't sit still immediately.

Watching so closely, it's impossible to say there's no problem.

Even Sun Jigao, who had spoken for Xiao Jiucheng before, was staring at the outside of the courtyard with suspicious eyes at this time.

But no matter what outsiders thought, when Zhang Chi and Xiao Jiucheng appeared in the courtyard together, the atmosphere was quite harmonious.

Zhang Chi and Xiao Jiucheng held each other's arms, the elder was kind, and the younger was respectful.

"Uncle misunderstood, how can there be any uninvited guests; it is my nephew who learned that a high monk was passing by, so I specially invited him to the door to chant scriptures and transcend my father."

I don't know what consideration it was, but Zhang Chi did not report the name of the Great Protector of the Nation, Guardian of the Bao'an Temple.

"Transcend? Previously, the County *Yamen* invited all the monks and Daoists in the city to transcend the old magistrate for several days together; why transcend again?"

Xiao Jiucheng was a Jinshi in the 32nd year of Jiajing, ranked 228th in the third class.

There is a reason why a dignified Jinshi became a county magistrate.

In March of the first year of Longqing, the touring censor of Sichuan, Li Tinglong, impeached Xiao Jiucheng for greed and incompetence, and the latter was demoted from Sichuan *Qianshi*.

In July of the fourth year of Longqing, the touring salt censor of the two Zhe, Wu Congxian, impeached Xiao Jiucheng for greed and incompetence when he was the deputy transport commissioner of the two Zhe, and he was demoted again.

In the second year of Wanli, Xiao Jiucheng served as the right judge of the Dali Temple, and because of corruption leading to the escape of prisoners, he was demoted again.

Three demotions in a row, a dignified Jinshi, was directly demoted to Peixian; Zhang Zhan, this junior, could even lecture Xiao Jiucheng like a son—but a stick produces a filial son; under Zhang Zhan's discipline, Xiao Jiucheng finally did not commit corruption again, and the two even cultivated some friendship.

Xiao Jiucheng grabbed Zhang Chi's arm and lowered his voice: "Nephew, hurry up and drive people away! You are looking for monks to transcend and visiting Daoists to summon souls all day long; is it because you have to make outsiders feel that the Zhang family has some unresolved resentment."

He is already over fifty this year, and he is already shaped like a gourd, with a waist and abdomen like a pot.

The failure of body management is accompanied by the laziness of demeanor; in the words of the local commoners, it is that the eyes are often blurred as if drunk, and the mouth is often stammering as if sleepy.

But at this moment, it was rare for him to open his eyes.

Zhang Chi barely squeezed out a smile and replied neither humble nor arrogant: "My father couldn't help when he was alive; is it against heaven's principles to want to do more filial piety after he died?"

Xiao Jiucheng saw this attitude and was so anxious that he almost stomped his feet.

His tone was urgent, and he hated: "You are not afraid of things, but I am afraid of things!"

"If you toss like this, let alone protect you brothers, I will have to explain myself in this matter!"

Zhang Chi heard this, and his heart moved.

He thought for a moment and confirmed to Xiao Jiucheng: "Something happened again?"

Xiao Jiucheng gritted his teeth, seemingly happy and sad: "It wasn't that you said the day before yesterday that you wanted to publish a collection of essays for the old magistrate before leaving; as a result, those scholars in the literary alliance were quite admiring after hearing the deeds, so they incited their classmates to pressure the Water Department."

Wherever you go, there is the style of that place; how can Nanzhili lack the figure of the literary public opinion.

Xiao Jiucheng lowered his voice even more: "I don't know how the literary alliance and the Water Department argued."

"Just this morning, the Water Department transferred the confession, saying that the driver was caught, pointing directly at the mastermind as the Cao *zhushi* of the Gutou Sluice!"

In the 20th year of Chenghua, the Si River began to set up a sluice management *zhushi*, one stationed at the Gutou Sluice in Peixian, and one in Jining.

After Zhang Zhan died, the Peixian River Management *Yamen* was temporarily managed by this Cao *zhushi*.

Zhang Chi's expression was shocked, and he hurriedly grabbed Xiao Jiucheng's wrist: "Then Uncle, why don't you hurry up and arrest people!?"

Xiao Jiucheng hurriedly shook him off, almost bringing a crying voice: "Oh, nephew, spare me; there is no such coincidence in the world!"

"Cao *zhushi* is probably waiting to commit suicide for fear of crime!"

"With this body of stinky water, as a small county magistrate, how can I afford to provoke it?"

"I have already reported it to the prefectural *yamen*, and now I am waiting to hand over this matter; nephew, don't make things difficult for me, okay?"

A fifth-rank Physician is killed as soon as he is killed, and a sixth-rank *zhushi* is abandoned as soon as he is abandoned; what is he, a seventh-rank county magistrate?

Official luck is not smooth, Xiao Jiucheng only thought that luck was not good, and now he has long been addicted to strange powers and chaos, only believing in the signs of hexagrams, and determined to protect himself.

Therefore, when he heard that the Zhang mansion had uninvited guests again, he didn't care about his face and hurriedly came to eliminate hidden dangers.

If any irrelevant characters were provoked, and twists and turns arose on flat ground, those big figures might mistakenly think that he, Xiao Jiucheng, was making trouble!

Zhang Chi heard this and was speechless.

Xiao Jiucheng is indeed slippery and afraid of things, but he has some incense friendship with his own family.

Now that even this uncle wants to stay out of it, it is really sighing.

Zhang Chi sighed: "Nephew dare not make things difficult for Uncle; the high monk is flipping through articles and memorials in the study, intending to sort out the cause and effect for my father and transcend him to rebirth."

This is the meaning of letting the servants drive people away.

Xiao Jiucheng couldn't help but breathe a sigh of relief, holding Zhang Chi's arm and walking toward the backyard: "Nephew, listen to my advice, don't see outsiders again, tidy up quickly, and go back to your hometown in Henan!"

The two had their own thoughts and did not speak.

However, when the two arrived at the study, they didn't see a few uninvited guests.

Only a female relative was tidying up the messed-up books.

"Husband and Uncle have been chatting for a long time; after the Holy Monk finished reading the memorials, he has already left."

The female relative was Zhang Chi's wife, and she didn't forget to salute Xiao Jiucheng after speaking.

Xiao Jiucheng scanned the room, secretly saying it was a pity; he originally wanted to kill the chicken to warn the monkey and warn Zhang Chi.

Zhang Chi also sighed in his heart; he deliberately didn't mention the fame of the Great Protector of the Nation, Guardian of the Bao'an Temple, and deliberately angered Xiao Jiucheng, just to use Xiao Jiucheng's rudeness to stimulate the Dharma King to intervene in this matter.

The two had the same thoughts, but unfortunately they were not on the same level.

Xiao Jiucheng didn't know that he was on the first floor, and still didn't forget to ask and check: "Did that demon monk cheat money? Did he say any evil words?"

Zhang looked at her husband and replied gently: "The Master has high cultivation, did not ask for money, only took a few memorials, saying that he wanted to find a place to practice and resolve the cause and effect for my father."

Xiao Jiucheng inexplicably raised a warning, frowned and asked: "Memorials? What memorials? Why ask for memorials?"

Zhang answered fluently without hiding: "They are all memorials that my father submitted to the Water Department this year, 'Memorial on Cutting Canal Labor and Canal Soldiers', 'Memorial on Investigating the Emptiness of Yongfu and Guangyun Granaries', 'Memorial on Corruption in Nineteen Embankments such as Feiyun Bridge, Jingshan, Chacheng, and Lijian', 'Memorial on the Laxity of River and Canal Systems'..."

Xiao Jiucheng was dumbfounded.

His teeth gradually began to tremble, and he tremblingly pointed at Zhang Chi: "The Water Department clearly withheld these memorials; where did you find them! How dare you show them to others at will; aren't you afraid that the Zhang family's incense will be cut off!?"

Zhang Chi's expression was calm: "My nephew copied them after recollection, which is not much different."

"Don't hide it from Uncle, the one just now is the Dharma King of the Great Protector of the Nation, Guardian of the Bao'an Temple, deeply trusted by the two empress dowagers; I advise Uncle not to think about recovering them."

"In addition, not only the literary alliance the other day, but also the Dharma King today, my nephew roughly calculated that I have already sent out more than ten memorials."

As long as the identity of the person coming to pay respects is not low, he doesn't mind copying one more.

After saying this, Zhang Chi stepped forward to hold Xiao Jiucheng and said earnestly: "Uncle, things are getting bigger and bigger, and they can't be thrown away; my father's grievances will come to light sooner or later; Uncle, hurry up and arrest Cao *zhushi* to pursue the case!"

Xiao Jiucheng grabbed Zhang Chi's collar and wanted to vent his anger.

Before his mouth opened, his eyes rolled, and he fainted on the spot.

At the same time.

A magnificent carriage, surrounded by soldiers, slowly drove away along the official road of Peixian.

The monarch and ministers in the carriage swayed.

Zhu Yijun rubbed his temples and threw the memorials to Sun Jigao: "Have the Ministry and the Tongzheng Office received these memorials?"

Sun Jigao had been a clerk in the Hanlin Academy for five or six years, and his business ability had long been cultivated.

He only looked at the name on the cover and shook his head.

Zhu Yijun got the confirmation and laughed in anger: "The Water Department dares to isolate the memorials; I want to see how many heads Li Minqing has!"

The River Management *Yamen* belongs to the Ministry of Works; memorials are generally presented to the Emperor by the Ministry of Works through the Water Department Branch, the Water Department Physician, and the Ministry of Works Water Department.

Now that the Emperor has lost his hearing, Li Minqing, the Physician of the Water Department Branch in the middle link, absolutely cannot escape the relationship.

Sun Jigao silently picked up the memorials and reminded: "I'm afraid it's not just the problem of the Water Department Branch."

How could a Water Department Physician have the qualification to isolate the Emperor?

If Zhang Zhan had been a little vigilant, he would have bypassed the Water Department and presented it to the central government through the touring censor.

However, speaking of the touring censor Li Shidi...

When Zhang Zhan was the magistrate of Xuzhou, he was impeached by the touring censor to retire.

Li Minqing, it seems, was promoted by the former touring governor Sun Piyang, who was in the same class as Li Shidi.

Sun Jigao felt more and more horrified as he thought about it.

The more Sun Jigao thought about it, the more horrified he felt.

In the past, it was an analogy, but this time it is really the food and clothing of millions of canal workers!

Zhu Yijun took a deep breath and let himself calm down.

He thought for a long time and finally ordered: "Let the Ke-Dao intervene in Zhang Zhan's case; don't say it's my meaning."

"Tell the Xuzhou Prefectural *Yamen* and the Xuzhou Water Storage Household Branch that I will inspect the Yongfu and Guangyun granaries the day after tomorrow; let them prepare to welcome the Emperor."

"Tell River Channel Superintendent Pan Jixun and Canal Transport Governor Hu Zhili not to wait in Huai'an; come to the Xuzhou temporary residence to see me immediately!"

"Henan Touring Governor Deng Yizan also come!"

After saying this, Zhu Yijun was still full of anger and slammed the carriage window: "If you can't govern the Yellow River, can't you govern you all!?" ===== CHAPTER 262 =====

After finishing this sentence, Zhu Yijun was still filled with rage and slammed the carriage window hard: "If I can't govern the Yellow River, can't I govern you lot!"