Chapter 76: Shanxi People’s Contemporary (1)

Su Shun lived in Taiyuan for four days. As Wu Yan said, the Shanxi officialdom knew that he was a minister who was highly valued by the emperor. This demotion was just caused by the emperor's anger. When the emperor's anger disappeared, he would definitely return to the temple when he remembered his benefits.

When he was in Beijing, it was difficult for officials at all levels in the province to come rashly to ask for a meeting or to establish relationships. Now that he has arrived in the province, there is naturally no such difficulty. Therefore, within a few days, he has been in constant contact with each other, and it seems that he is more stylish than the newly appointed governor of a province.

Among them, the nearby towers and towers, especially the county magistrates of Fengtai, Gaoping, Yangcheng, Lingchuan and Qinshui under the jurisdiction of Zezhou Prefecture, were the most proud. They could communicate with each other and send greetings on the grounds of reporting to their direct superiors to the Chen Prefecture's jurisdiction and civil affairs.

The jurisdiction of Zezhou Prefecture is all famous poor and weak counties in Shanxi Province. It’s okay to be poor and weak. Public security is also a headache: According to Zheng Zibai, the magistrate of Qinshui County, the Ding households in the county are headed by Bai, Yang and Sheng, and the rest of the small surnames are also small, but there are very few. And between the big surname and the big surname, the small surname and the small surname, and the small surname and the big surname, they are often fighting and gathering people to kill and killing. It would be fine if it was a year of flourishing, especially in the years of drought and flood, it belonged to several acres of paddy fields, and death and injuries often occurred.

When Sushun heard this, he stopped Zheng Zibai's words, "I don't understand what Guixian said. Is there no conclusion on the water fields? Isn't it written clearly on the land deed?"

Zheng Zibai smiled bitterly and bowed, "I don't know that the land under Zezhou has been under the jurisdiction of the country for a year, especially in July and August, when the yellow sand covers the sky and does not look at the objects, even if there are some circles that are demarcated, they are all washed away, so they are always a matter of land and are endless."

Su Shun nodded and expressed his understanding, "Guixian, you continue to talk."

"Yes. For land disputes, the endless armed struggles were caused by the Yongle period of the previous dynasty. He first accused the officials. However, according to the county annals of the previous Ming Dynasty, all the previous ranks could not be judged. Seeing that the people could not taste it, they accused themselves of revenge. They killed their brothers, killed their fathers, and some of them took their anger on people of the same clan, so that they have formed an unresolved hatred. They often fought each other on Dingday, and they would not be separated from death."

"It's so fierce that the county doesn't know how to find everyone from each surname to come out?"

"Why don't you look for it? When I first took office, I invited the heads of the three surnames in the county to the hall, and the county's classics and the history of the county were preached in public. From now on, if there are any dissatisfactions in the same clan and the same clan, they will be reported to the government for advice. If there are any private revenge, they will be severely punished without asking for the first follower."

"This is right. Do they dare not listen?"

"It's not going to be wrong if you don't listen, but," Zheng Zibai was speechless for a moment. Su Shun saw something else. He waved his hand with a smile and said, "Guixian only cares about what happened in the past. Su doesn't care about everything in the past, but only looks at his future ethics."

Zheng Zibai was very grateful and thought to himself that the emperor loved so much. It was indeed a perfect relationship and it was not obscure at the moment. He started talking about it-.

There is a family in Qinshui County, whose surname is Bai, who gave birth to a son and a daughter, and his daughter was named Aigu. Although she was from a poor family, Aigu was a famous beauty in the county, with her name name Zhao Shuxin in the Tong County.

Zhao Shuxin was addicted to gambling rogues, and Ai Gu repeatedly advised her not to change. Less than three months after the family, she lost all the things that the woman had been dowed, and made Bai's body look unfinished. In the cold winter, she could only wrap her body in a straw mat to keep warm.

Bai's brother pityed her sister for her poor poverty, gave her a quilt and made her a chat. Unexpectedly, after Zhao Shuxin returned home, he pulled up the quilt and took it out to pawn it. Bai insisted not to give it to him. Zhao Shuxin beat Bai and injured him and lay on the ground, angrily and noisy. Zhao Shuxin was on the whim and chopped off his wife's head with a grass-cutting knife. After verification in the county, he was killed and stalked, and asked to stalk the marquis.

Zheng Zibai thought that Zhao Shuxin's plot was cruel and a gambling bandit was also a fact, so he sent the book to the governor's yamen. Wu Yan thought that killing his wife for some reason would be delayed as usual, so he refuted his official duties.

As a result, it caused an uproar in Qinshui County. Most of the people in Jin Province are poor people and many are illiterate, but they always understand the principle of killing people to pay for their lives. Now Zhao Shuxin killed his wife and cut off his head, and actually made a remission?

They did not think that the court's laws and regulations were shown, but they just thought that Zhao Shuxin was not dead, and that there was no natural law. Naturally, if Zheng Zibai guaranteed that even if there was a public security case in the county, if the county would handle it impartially, it would be a fart. The Bai family's eldest son gathered together the young and strong clans. When he arrived at the Zhao family, Zhao Shuxin was in a prison and had no choice but to vent his brothers and sisters. With a shout, everyone took action and beat Zhao Shuxin to death.

Zhao Shuxin's old father was away. After returning home, he saw that his family was broken and his family was destroyed. He wanted to find a rope to break himself. He felt dissatisfied. Even if he died, he would have to die. After his daughter avenged him, he died. However, the Zhao family was a small surname in the county and could not provoke the Bai clan members who had a great family and great career, so he had to seek other small surnames and help.

The clans next to the county also felt that it was not impossible for the Bai family to seek revenge, but they were implicated and even the childish children were too cruel. So they all contributed money and efforts, either participating in it, or recruiting outside, and fighting in an armed manner.

Su Shun listened and thought to himself. He had been in the Ministry of Justice for many years and knew that his husband killed his wife for some reason. He should indeed be delayed in the laws and regulations. However, the laws and regulations are unclear. Is it possible that those who are cruel like Zhao Shuxin are also in a way that can be relieved? It seems that if he wants to solve the problem of civilian fighting in Qinshui County, he can only make a fuss about this matter. "Well, I understand. So what is the situation now?"

Zheng Zibai smiled bitterly and said, "All this happens, the wind of armed fighting is endless, but it is much lighter than the previous year."

"Oh? What?"

"Sir, think about it, if you continue to fight each other like this, you will die three times today, and five times tomorrow. In less than a month, I am afraid that all the young and middle-aged men in the county will die, right?" Zheng Zibai explained to him, "So if someone dies, they will summarize the number first, and use the remaining numbers to request the government to make compensation-"

Seeing Su Shun's expression of some unknown reason, he explained to him immediately, "For example, six people died in the Bai family and eight people died in the Zhao family, the Zhao family would report to the government for the extra compensation of the two."

Sushun immediately understood, but another problem emerged, "There are more than ten people who died alone? Can't the county be present to stop it?"

"During the armed battle, there are often more than a hundred people. If they go to obstruct the situation, the Yashishi will arrive. The officers are worried that they will be affected by the disaster of the fish and dare not go forward. They can only wait until the two surnames end before they dare to come forward."

"Then, what's going on in the past few days? When you arrived in Taiyuan, won't anyone in the county take this opportunity to start an armed battle?"

"Please rest assured in this section. Recently, there have been fewer armed battles between each other. Especially after the beginning of this year, in order to compete for water sources in the county, the Bai family and the Sheng family fought, with more than a hundred casualties. After the two sides ended, the compensation matters were complicated. Huye deliberately delayed the handling and never closed the case. As long as such a thing is not settled, it is difficult for the fight to happen again."

Su Shun heard it was both novel and funny. Why did there be such a custom under the Qing Dynasty? "Then, wouldn't the family members be willing to let go?"

"Yes, the people of the people mostly follow the bribes of the clan leader for such matters. As long as they can get money, even though they know that the murderer is free from justice, their families will no longer ask. When Bei Zi took office, he once passed the trial of the family and replied, "The case has been settled, why should I ask again?" Bei Zi had no choice but to let him go."

Su Shun thought for a while, nodded and said, "I understand. I will deal with this matter after I take office." After that, he turned around and asked the other person sitting aside, "Is there any difference between Yangcheng County and Gui County under the jurisdiction of Qinshui County? Or is there any other difficulties?"

Yangcheng County Magistrate is Chen Zhongyuan, whose courtesy name is Liquan. When Shangguan asked, he smiled bitterly, "There is no such thing as the people fighting against each other in small counties. However, there is another section, which is the land, money and food. Over the years, it has caused the brain to be damaged. You see, the Beizhi is only forty-three years old this year..."

"Don't complain to me." Sushun waved his hand hard and interrupted him, "Say whatever you have. Today we are here, we will brainstorm and work together to solve the problem. What's going on?"

Before Chen Zhongyuan finished his words, he interrupted him in public, and he felt very unhappy. However, although the other party was nominally the head of a government, he actually didn't even dare to provoke the governor, let alone a small county magistrate. He had to press down on his unhappiness and talk to him. In fact, not only did he, but the five counties under Zezhou Prefecture, were only troublesome to the civil customs and security of Qinshui County, but the other four counties were just the opposite - they were just worried about money, grain and taxes, and the storage of local officials in each county was less than 60% of the regular amount - there was a reason for this.

It turns out that the private transactions of land are not allowed (that is, they do not have the approval and review of the government's functional departments). The grain books published in the yamen are all false names, and some are even the names of people from the Ming Dynasty! If someone really goes to the county government and asks for the right way to handle the matter, it will be considered a strange thing.

If the government wants to verify the case, there must be all kinds of major problems with the fighter and resisting arrest. It can only rely on the slightest writing written by the clerk, which is considered as evidence. As for whom a certain land is now practiced, it is impossible to know. Naturally, when the local taxes were collected over the years, it was all based on the head of the county clan, and the clerks were vague and perfunctory and supported each other.

Su Shun's eyebrows frowned deeply, "Did no one come up with a solution to such a thing over the years?"

"If you say no, it would be aggrieved by the past; if you say there is, how could you reach the current state of sorrow and peace of hardships?"

"How do you say this?"

"In fact, all the prefects have wanted to change all the chaos in the government in the past. Just like in the eleventh year of Daoguang, the prefect of Zezhou Prefecture Han Baoe intended to purify the customs and conditions of the people. He even personally brought the soldiers guarding the city of Fucheng to Qinshui County and rushed to the scene of the village fighting. It was also true that Lord Han had such a disaster. Unfortunately, he was injured by a rash arrow and hit his left shoulder. The soldiers guarding the city of the city saw the surging people's feelings, and actually left Lord Han and fled on their own." Zheng Zibai sighed repeatedly, "From then, until the Lord took office, no more prefect has been to Qinshui County."

Su Shun nodded with a funny look and said, "If I didn't listen to what Brother Zimo said, I really don't know. There is such a group of fierce people in Jin Province, which is only a thousand miles away from the capital! Hey! I know now, although it is surprising, it is not a bad thing."

Seeing that everyone was confused, Su Shun smiled at it, "I know now. It is better to discuss the solution with you than to come to Shanxi in the future. After hearing this, I don't know how angry you will be! So I said, it may be a good thing!"

"Sir, the emperor is coming to Shanxi?"

"This matter is not something we can discuss." Su Shun looked around and his tone gradually became colder. "We should do our duty well. If there is really one day in the future, we will not be embarrassed when we arrive at the master." After saying that, he asked, "What else? What are the bad policies in the people's livelihood in each county? Let's talk about them one by one?"

Zheng Zibai paused for a while, and several people shook their heads in secret: "When I say that, all of the above are all accumulated over the years, and there is nothing else except that."

Sushun knew that they were not sincere, but there was no need to hurry at this time. There was still time left on the left. He stood up, "I understand. Guixian should ask you to go back to Guanyi to rest. Two days later, we will start our journey together and arrive at Qinshui County first. Let's see, will the great unruly people dare to fight against the court?" As he said that, he picked up the teacup on the table.

The servant who was standing at the door saw his every move and sang loudly when he saw this: "Send the guest!"

Zheng Zibai and others stood up and said goodbye. Sushun gave him a few steps. Everyone repeatedly asked the master to stay. Sushun didn't force him, but he hunched and turned around and went back.

When he returned to the hall, he asked Li Ciming and Gao Xinxie who had been sitting aside: "Ai Bo, Bi Mei, what do you two think?"

The two of them didn't say anything for a moment, and each thought for a while, Gao Xinxie raised his head first, "I don't know if I have a certain idea in my heart?"

"I can't say that I am sure of my opinion, but since the emperor sent me to Shanxi, I have to do the job seriously. I don't know about Shanxi affairs in Beijing, and there is still an excuse to shirk it. Now that I know, I must not let it go!"

Li Ciming and Gao Xinxie didn't know that the emperor was acting with him when he was demoted. They just thought that he did not think of honor and disgrace. They were very kind to the ancient gentleman to advance and retreat. They looked at him very proudly, "Sir, you have the intention to contribute to the country. Do students dare not do your best?" Li Ciming said, "In my opinion, the various bad policies under Zezhou Prefecture are in more than one section of civilian fighting in Qinshui County. Why not start from this point first!"

"Well, I think so too." Su Shun replied, "Ai Bo, please draft two memorials. One is to take over in the province, thank you for your gratitude, and the other is to ask the emperor. I want to ask for a special order to execute the invisible bastard named Zhao Shuxin in Qinshui County!"

Gao Xinxie frowned secretly. He just sent the emperor out of Beijing, but he actually asked a special order to execute the criminals who had been approved by the Ministry of Justice. From this point of view, Lord Judeng has been depressed for many days and has rarely had a hole in venting. He has to return to his domineering old view in Beijing. I just don’t know if this approach will offend people in Shanxi?

The memorial was written, because the Sushun people were in the provincial capital, and they could not bring them to the capital by the payment of the capital, so they had to be sent by the governor Wu Yan to do it. Wu Yan had no other words and agreed happily.

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On April 29, Shanxi's transfer to Beijing and sent the memorial to the Nei Memorial Office. Soon, it was submitted to the emperor's desk and reported to Chen to the province. Thank you for your gratitude was just some common words. The emperor put it aside and picked up the "Report on the Incident of the Elimination of Zhao Shuxin, a gambling bandit in Shanxi, who harmed his wife to raise gambling funds and read it.

In the memorial, Sushun talked about what Zheng Zibai said, the process of the Zhao Shuxin case, and the surging people in Qinshui County caused by the incident, private revenge, which led to Zhao Shuxin's brother and sister being beaten to death by innocently, and finally said: "The slave is stupid and thinks that although there are mercy in the court's law, it is designed for those who are still consciences. For example, Zhao Shuxin's methods are cruel, and he only wants to raise gambling funds, and he will use a guillotine to kill his wife's life... How can such a person who is deprived of conscience be tolerate it?'

The emperor pondered for a moment, and was secretly happy in his heart. Su Shun was indeed worthy of being the capable person who picked up and pulled them up with all his strength. However, this courage and courage to break old customs and habits were very exciting among the dull bannermen in the hall. However, this matter was just that he heard Zheng Zibai's words and had not even been to the palace for formal inspection. Why did he ask for a special order to kill someone? Thinking of this, the emperor raised his lips slightly: A confused slave! He was about to give a few instructions, but he put it down again. Don't hurry up and wait until he met with the Military Affairs Office.

He folded the memorial and put it aside. The emperor landed his feet on the ground, stood up, and walked a few steps in the hall where mountains are high and water are long and shady and windy: "Liufu? When is it now?"

"It's past the time to speak to the emperor."

"I ordered people to prepare the imperial boat, and I will go to Qianhai."

"Zhe." Liu Fu agreed and knelt down and asked for an order, "Your Majesty, do you want to know how many masters and empresses?"

"You go and see if you are having lunch, there is no need." The emperor added, "Go to Changchun Bookstore, pass the imperial edict, suspend the homework this afternoon, let the eldest prince and the others come together, and let the prince Gong come together."

"Yes." Liu Fu turned around and asked Yang Saner to go to Changchun Bookstore to inform Weng Xincun, Zhou Zupei and a few others. On this side, his brain turned quickly. If the emperor summoned him to visit the front and back sea of ​​the Old Summer Palace, everyone would like to see him, let alone be able to go with the emperor? In comparison, what is the point of having a meal? However, if the emperor does not inform anyone, the emperor has no clear letter. Except for the queen's harem, the other few people have to think about who gave him more rewards on weekdays!
Chapter completed!