Youzhou, Fanyang.
It was extremely lively outside the city, with officials standing full of people, waiting for the arrival of the new governor.
Most of these officials are also newcomers.
This change not only affected the newly acquired counties, but also affected counties like Youzhou that had surrendered to the general for a long time. The administrative scope was changed and the officials were also changed.
It was a complete overhaul, not just limited to the newly acquired land.
The county magistrate stood at the front. Compared with those behind him, his expression was particularly calm and not at all panicky.
The county magistrate is not young, has a fine beard, and does not talk to the people around him.
But behind him, the county magistrate, the chief registrar, and even several important officials were chattering non-stop at the moment.
They all looked a little scared.
The county magistrate even whispered: "The governor visited various counties this time and has dismissed six officials and more than ten officials."
"You must not be careless."
County magistrate Cao Shi seemed quite confident. He smiled and said: "County Magistrate, don't worry too much. Although we are not better than you, we all graduated from school and were among the best in our studies."
The county magistrate hurriedly shook his head, "There are many people who were deposed and questioned by the governor's office who were more powerful than us. There was one who ranked second in last year's assessment. They were all caught by him and sent directly to Pingcheng for disposal."
"The governor has always been strict, strict in enforcing the law, and has no mercy."
"Are you sure there is nothing wrong with your subordinates? If you have made any mistakes, tell me now. There is still a chance to make amends. If the governor himself finds out, he will be beaten half to death and then sent to Pingcheng.
You may not be able to reach Pingcheng alive! But you have to think clearly!!"
Hearing the words of the county magistrate, Prison Xiaoshi trembled, as if he remembered something.
His strange behavior quickly attracted the attention of the county magistrate. The magistrate frowned and quickly held the other party's hand, "Zhao Jun, what do you want here?"
"Don't take your own life!"
The expressions of several people around him also changed greatly, and they all looked at him. Prison Xiaoshi took a deep breath, looked around, and said in a low voice: "Not long ago, a member of the Lu family was caught wandering around drunk. Someone came to see me.
It was said that he was a relative of Duke Lu in the imperial court, and he asked me to do a small favor and release him. I thought it was not a big deal in the first place, and it was just a fine and detention, so I took the decision to release him."
The county magistrate quickly asked: "Have you ever received any bribes?!"
"No, no."
"Are you sure you didn't take a bribe?"
Yu Xiaoshi's lips trembled, "It's just some tea leaves, just a small box of tea leaves. I swear, there's nothing else, just some small tea leaves. I think the Lu family is a wealthy local family, and many of their family members are good at it."
If I become an official in Taiwan, I will”
The county magistrate suddenly became a little uneasy.
He looked at the magistrate in front of him and gritted his teeth, "You, did you learn this in the classroom? Collect bribes and release people without permission?"
Prison Xiaoshi looked flustered, "I really don't know, I just..."
"Okay! Thank you for informing me in time!"
The county magistrate interrupted him and walked to the magistrate's side in a few steps.
Magistrate Zhang squinted his eyes with a contented look on his face. The magistrate told him what had just happened in a low voice. Magistrate Zhang opened his eyes and glanced at him, "Let him go privately?"
"good."
"Mr. Zhang, why don't you arrest the person first? It's better for us to arrest and interrogate the person ourselves than to be discovered by the governor. If the governor comes to interrogate us, then we will be unlucky too."
Looking at the worried county magistrate, the magistrate shook his head slightly.
"If it is suspected of other people, then forget it, but if this matter is related to the Lu family, it is best to find a way to hide it."
"Hide it? Why?"
Magistrate Zhang stared at the official road in the distance and said coldly: "Gongji, the governor, hates local powerful people and doesn't even want to see the powerful people. In his eyes, powerful people and powerful people are the same. There is no difference. He is here."
After arriving in Youzhou, he took care of all the big families with good reputations and asked him to seize the Lu family. If he dared to lead people to massacre the Lu family, what will we do in the future??"
The county magistrate wiped his sweat and said, "But if the governor himself finds out"
"No problem."
"Go tell them and let them pretend that nothing happened. Don't let the governor find any chance."
"only"
The county magistrate didn't quite understand the county magistrate's approach, but he could only go back and make an announcement.
A line of people slowly appeared in the distance, and a group of knights were seen approaching.
There were hundreds of knights, and many of them were well-armed warriors. The leader was wearing armor, and there were heads hanging on the sides of the horses.
The officials immediately bowed and bowed.
The war horse came all the way to the official, and the war horse's breath sprayed on the county magistrate.
Tang Yong jumped down from his horse, his posture agile.
Tang Yong seemed to be a civil servant, but in fact he started out as a military officer. When he was young, he served as a foreign soldier for Gao Huan, served as a political official with Gao Cheng, and fought with Gao Yang. Among a group of Han literati, his style was the most unusual.
Like a Han Chinese official.
After all, he once beat up the Xianbei people who were not doing things well in the court, so he was a true barbarian scholar-official, the opposite of Tiangang.
Tang Yong attached great importance to people's livelihood. In the past, he often advised the emperor to reduce corvee labor and reduce the number of hunting in the city. When he was sent to serve as an official several times, he killed powerful people and was merciless. The people felt that he was fair.
.
He was tall, and when he looked at the many officials who were kneeling and worshiping, his eyes swept over them one by one. No matter who he was staring at, they felt a little uneasy.
"Get up."
Magistrate Zhang stood up and looked at Tang Yong gently.
"The Governor, us"
"Don't talk nonsense, Su Xiang!"
A military officer hurriedly stepped forward and said, "Prince Governor!"
"Keep an eye on these officials, don't allow any of them to leave, and take them to the official office."
Tang Yong then looked at the county magistrate, "You stay and follow me to check around."
"only!"
Tang Yong nodded slightly towards the military officer. The military officer understood what he meant, and the two groups separated at the gate of the city.
Magistrate Zhang rode a horse and followed Tang Yong. The two of them wandered around the cultivated land outside the city. Tang Yong inspected the cultivated land, then inspected the houses in the countryside, and asked the sergeants to bring a few farmers randomly.
, asked about the situation.
These peasants were extremely restrained in front of Tang Yong and trembled when they spoke.
"I am the governor of Youzhou. I am here to investigate injustices among the people on behalf of the general. If you have any injustice, you can tell me and I will protect you and prevent others from taking revenge."
"Young Governor, I have never been wronged."
"Oh? The place is so clear and clear? Haven't the rich people ever bullied you?"
"Well, kids from rich families basically don't come to a place like this."
"What about the officials?"
“It happened many years ago”
"good."
The governor of the Tang Dynasty asked one by one. Finally, he stopped pretending and asked: "Have the local powerful families ever bullied the people around them? Do you know about such a thing?"
Magistrate Zhang stood aside and shook his head.
Seeing the Tang governor questioning many people, Magistrate Zhang stepped forward and whispered: "Tang Gong, the Lu family, the ancestral family here, has people working around the general. They know the law and know the law."
How can you behave like a normal person and behave like a common man?"
"Besides, these are all wealthy families. They are different from those powerful people in the countryside who pass down their family through poems and books."
"Tang Gong is also from a wealthy family. Why does he have so much ill will towards them?"
Upon hearing Magistrate Zhang's inquiry, Tang Yong slowly turned around. He stared at Magistrate Zhang and grinned, "The world has been in turmoil for hundreds of years, and the reason is these sages who passed down the poems and books that you mentioned."
"You ask me why I am so malicious?"
"Back when Gao Changgong didn't come here, 70% to 80% of the officials and land here belonged to the Lu family, right?"
"I have no idea."
"I don't know why you interrupted? You are so concerned about the Lu family. Could it be that you took bribes from them?"
"Never."
While Tang Yong was talking to him, the military officer who had just been there hurriedly chased him on horseback and handed the document in his hand to Tang Yong respectfully.
Tang Yong lowered his head, looked at it for a moment, and then laughed.
"Tea, let me go?"
Magistrate Zhang suddenly clenched his fist.
"The Governor"
"Magistrate Zhang, things are different now. The county magistrate is the county magistrate, and the county magistrate is the magistrate. Do you think you can lead the whole city to fight against me with just one word?"
Magistrate Zhang frowned and said seriously: "I think Mr. Tang is really not suitable to be the governor."
"Oh? Why?"
"Tang Gong was prejudiced against the rich and ruthless, making everyone in Youzhou panic."
Tang Yong shook his head. He slowed down his horse and walked side by side with Magistrate Zhang. The two of them walked towards the county government office. As he walked, he said: "Youzhou has the most wealthy families in the whole north."
It’s a state.”
"Why do you think the general asked me to come here?"
"Did you send me here to drink tea and eat meat with the rich people here?"
Magistrate Zhang shook his head, "There are many talented people among these big families, and all of them are talented people who can assist the generals. What will you gain by tossing them like this? In the end, it will just be ruined."
"If he is truly a talented person and is innocent, can I still frame him?"
Tang Yong asked seriously: "I'm just looking for evidence of their crimes, why do you say I'm deliberately targeting them?"
"Is their evidence of guilt false?"
“It’s just a small mistake”
"Small mistake?!"
Tang Yong's voice suddenly increased, and he said angrily: "Breaking the law is breaking the law. Can small mistakes be treated as non-existent?"
"Officials in the past did not dare to control these people and allowed them to violate laws and disciplines. But once I want to investigate them, it becomes a target?! Isn't it only condoning that means not targeting?"
"Your prison officer accepts gifts from others and releases prisoners privately. Do you think this is a small matter?"
"When you knew about this, you still dared to instigate your subordinates to conceal it, and you wanted to continue to indulge the rich family!"
"Are you worthy of being a county magistrate?"
"Someone, get it for me!!"
Tang Yong said, but he did not need the soldiers to take action. He stretched out his hand and pushed the county magistrate to the ground.
The county magistrate fell off his horse, his face was disgraced and his dignity was completely lost. The soldiers on both sides stepped forward and directly pinned him into the ground with their backhands. Magistrate Zhang struggled and became even more angry.
"Tang Yong!! You cool official!!"
"I will never let you go!"
"You won't let me go? Intimidating the governor, do you know what the crime is?"
"How much benefit has the Lu family given you?!"
Tang Yong's voice became louder and louder. Magistrate Zhang could no longer maintain his original demeanor. He struggled to raise his head, "Cruel official! Traitor! Do you have to cause chaos in Youzhou?"
"There's chaos in Youzhou? Without you, how can there be chaos?"
"This guy insulted the governor. According to the law, the rod will be twenty!"
The soldier immediately took off the magistrate's shirt and prepared to beat him, but then the magistrate shouted: "You can't be rude to me!"
"I am the uncle of the general! The general is my nephew!!"
Tang Yong laughed and looked to his left and right, "This is the first time I've heard that a general has such an uncle."
Zhang Qianxiong raised his head and shouted: "The general's biological mother is my sister!"
"She's my biological sister!"
He looked to his left and right, "Do you think I'm bluffing?"
"During the reign of Emperor Shenwu! Empress Dowager Lou personally acted as a matchmaker and betrothed my sister to the governor Liu Taozhi! I gave birth to Liu Taozi!"
"Let's see who dares to attack me!!"
Hearing Zhang Qianxiong's words, the soldiers on both sides were stunned. Even the soldiers who were holding him down subconsciously let go of their hands at this moment.
There was some fear on their faces.
Let them beat the princes and kings, they will not hesitate, but if it is really the elder of the general,
Zhang Qianxiong finally stood up. He looked at Tang Yong angrily, "You are a cruel official. You keep claiming to be for the people, but in fact it is just because of your own likes and dislikes. You were born in a poor country, and your family was in ruins when you were young. You hate these things.
If they are better than you, I just want to target them and cause trouble for them. I will definitely tell the truth to the general if I take action against them on the pretext of trivial matters."
Tang Yong narrowed his eyes. He didn't know who the general's mother was.
But when he heard the man in front of him swear so confidently, he somewhat believed the other person's words.
"I have never said that what I do is for the people. I only seek justice. Under the law, whether it is a common people or a wealthy family, those who offend should be punished, and those who have made meritorious deeds should be rewarded."
"Only justice can rule the world."
"But most of you who come from wealthy families despise the law and cannot tolerate justice."
"I don't care if you are the general's uncle or anything else. Even if the general's father is here today, hiding criminals, I will still punish him!!"
"Someone is coming! Take action!!"
"Who dares?!"
Zhang Qianxiong scolded him again. The soldiers were very confused, not daring to take action or retreat.
Tang Yong burst out laughing. He jumped off the horse and rubbed his fists. "It just so happens that I haven't tortured myself for a long time."
When Tang Yong led the scarred county magistrate back to the official office, the officials were almost frightened.
Several people couldn't wait to tell all the mistakes they made when they were young.
Tang Yong met them one by one and asked them about relevant matters.
Afterwards, Tang Yong ordered people to break into Lu's house and seize the people.
Under Liu Taozi's command, the power of the big clan almost no longer exists. Their strength comes from order. Under the rules, they are extremely powerful and have the force to maintain their basic security.
But in Liu Taozi's place, it can't be said that there are no rules, but there are no rules like the ones they want. Liu Taozi doesn't care what they say about himself, nor does he care about the hearts of the people. When it comes to force, their force is not at all
The rivals of these warriors at the frontier.
Tang Yong began to make every effort to thoroughly investigate several local wealthy families and many powerful people in the countryside.
Anyone who dares to disobey will be killed on the spot and his head will be cut off as a military honor.
The brutality of his actions is frightening.
In the county government hall, Tang Yong was sitting in the upper position, and the officials were standing very upright, without squinting.
The soldier stood at the entrance, holding a sharp knife and staring into the distance.
Tang Yong looked seriously at the officials sitting on both sides.
"Since you haven't broken the law, you don't have to be afraid of me."
"I'm just a rough man. I went out to fight with Emperor Shenwu when I was young. I haven't read too many books, so I can't designate an excellent system and arrange qualified officials like other governors. However, I am familiar with the law and know
What is justice.”
"If any of you has made political achievements, I will definitely write a letter to Xingtai personally and issue a reward. If anyone breaks the law, I will definitely deal with it without mercy."
"I will not interfere in local affairs and leave them to you to take care of. However, if anyone dares to mess up the government, neglect the government, or even practice bad government, then don't blame me for being ruthless."
Tang Yong said and looked at the county magistrate not far away.
"You are a good person. You do not collude with the county magistrate. I have seen your past political achievements and they are also very good."
The county magistrate was not happy at all at this moment, his face was pale and his hands were trembling all the time.
When he was taken out alone for questioning, he hesitated and told the truth.
But who would have thought that the county magistrate turned out to be the uncle of the general.
Now the news has spread throughout the city.
The county magistrate was scared to death.
Of course, the governor of the Tang Dynasty was not that afraid. After all, he was an important minister, but what about himself?
What should I do if someone wants to take revenge on me in the future? Will the general tolerate me?
Thinking of this, the county magistrate only felt that the future was bleak, and he was afraid that he would have to deal with this matter in his life.
After Tang Yong left, the county town returned to its original appearance.
The county magistrate sat in the house, looking into the distance reluctantly.
The house is empty.
Not long ago, he called his younger brother over and asked him to take his wife and daughter elsewhere so that they could live in seclusion to avoid being implicated by him.
Now, he is the only one left in this courtyard, and even the servants in the family have been dismissed.
At this moment, a knight suddenly broke in.
The knight was wearing armor and looked majestic.
"Where is County Magistrate Li?"
"Why don't you come out to greet me?"
The county magistrate hurriedly got up and bowed to see him.
The knight took out the document and threw it to him.
"This is a promotion order from Xingtai. The general values ​​you very much and has personally rewarded you with a fine horse and a letter. The general asked you to reply to him every year in the future and tell the truth about the local affairs."
The county magistrate trembled all over and took the letter, then knelt down and raised the letter above his head.
"I kneel down to thank the General Tianen!!"
ps: Yong's government is quite harsh, but he suppresses powerful people and is very reasonable in public affairs.
Sikong was engaged in the long-term career of Zhonglang, and Taiwei Ji joined the army in Pingtao and violated the money limit for recruiting officials. Each of Yong carried a staff of thirty, and he was the prime minister of the Qi Dynasty. There were no Lao Tat court officials. So, it was a big surprise.
—"Book of Northern Qi: Biography of Tang Yong"
I can't write about all ten governors, otherwise it will be too watery. However, I will consider a similar round in the future, with titles similar to these two chapters. From time to time, I will intersperse the main line and write down the governance styles of several governors.
Chapter completed!