Imperial Master of the Ming Dynasty

With the arrival of Jiang Xinghuo, the situation in Changzhou City had unknowingly reached a tense level in just one day.

Not only is Jiang Xinghuo sitting firmly in the Qingliang Temple with a radius of twenty acres, he is dispatching troops and generals while chatting and laughing, just waiting to close the net.

Even the fish in these nets never stopped struggling.

"I already know what you said."

Looking at the indifferent old man, Li Hu, the head catcher who came to claim credit, was slightly startled.

The little detective under his command just now pestered him to report the news that he saw the suspected murderer in the restaurant and the county government office in the morning. He also informed him that another group of suspicious people dressed as young masters and followers had entered the capital of Changzhou.

Therefore, Li Hu came excitedly to report to Ding Meixia, the governor of Changzhou Prefecture.

The old man didn't know whether he was pretending to be sophisticated or if he really had other sources of information, but his expression at this time was not surprising at all.

This couldn't help but make Li Hu feel depressed. Yao Gongzhi is dead, and now the person he needs to try his best to curry favor with in the officialdom is naturally the prefect Ding.

However, Ding Meixia did not completely let Li Hu get nothing. She still gave him an errand. The old man knocked down his tea cup and ordered in a hoarse voice: "Go and call me the eldest son of the Fan family."

The eldest man of the Fan family?

Hearing this, Li Hu was stunned, and suddenly understood something in his heart. He nodded in agreement and hurriedly left the study.

After a while, Fan Dalang was brought over.

Different from his younger brothers who are brave and fierce, although Fan Dalang is tall and handsome, he has a scholarly air. The cleanly starched Confucian shirt looks even more neat and tidy when he wears it, and he exudes an elegant temperament in every move he makes. .

If you hadn't seen it with your own eyes, no one would have imagined that this scholar-like man came from a family of rural bullies and had done so many unscrupulous bad things.

"The common people pay their respects to the prefect."

Fan Dalang walked into the room and bowed his hands towards Ding Meixia with a respectful and humble attitude, as if he was really an ordinary scholar.

However, the moment he raised his head and looked into Ding Meixia's cloudy eyes, a gloomy look suddenly appeared on his originally calm and calm face, and he immediately returned to normal.

However, that subtle change still could not escape Ding Mexia's eyes.

"Fan Dalang, do you know the purpose why I called you here today?" Ding Meixia asked hoarsely.

Hearing this, Fan Dalang shook his head and replied honestly: "The common people don't know."

Ding Meixia stood up tremblingly, reached out and took out the teapot, and filled him with a cup of hot tea.

"drink."

Just by picking up the teacup, Fan Dalang was already so hot that he almost dropped it. But at this moment, he had no choice but to bite the bullet and pour the hot tea down his throat in one breath.

"Ahem!"

The tea entered the abdomen, burning and tingling in the lungs.

Fan Dalang coughed violently and even choked to tears.

However, this look in Ding Meixia's eyes actually made him laugh out loud.

"Haha, hahaha."

Ding Meixia burst into laughter, as if she admired his embarrassment.

This situation made Fan Dalang feel even more angry.

However, Fan Dalang did not show any signs of it, but continued to maintain a submissive and obedient attitude with a low eyebrow, waiting for Ding Meixia's next instructions.

The wrinkles at the corners of the old man's eyes became deeper and deeper due to this emotional excitement.

After a while, when her smile gradually subsided, Ding Meixia stared at Fan Dalang. After a while, she continued to ask: "Fan Dalang, tell me the truth, have you ever wanted to take revenge?"

Such a direct inquiry made Fan Dalang stiffen for a moment, and then he slowly put down the teacup.

He turned his head, faced Ding Meixia's sharp gaze after the turbidity had faded, remained silent for a moment, and replied.

"The common people fled in a hurry. They don't know who killed the Fan family, and they don't know who the enemy mentioned by the magistrate is."

"Still pretending to be confused with me?!"

Ding Meixia snorted coldly.

"The common people can't understand what the prefect is saying." Fan Dalang shook his head.

"Haha, you are a smart person, I naturally understand what you are thinking."

Ding Meixia sneered and said: "In that case, you and I don't need to talk nonsense and go straight to the topic."

Ding Meixia said a name, and Fan Dalang's body shook violently.

"kill him."

Fan Dalang couldn't care about why the prefect and the magistrate were at a life-and-death situation with him even though they were strangers to each other. The only thing he was thinking about now was himself.

Fan Dalang said without hesitation: "The governor's team will enter the city this afternoon. It is difficult to succeed on the street, and even if I succeed, I will die."

The age spots between Ding Meixia's eyebrows seemed to be a little brighter.

"Then what if I tell you that he will not follow the team into the city, nor will he participate in the dust-cleansing banquet organized by Changzhou Mansion, but will act alone?"

Fan Dalang looked at the old man in surprise.

Ding Meixia smiled, then tremblingly on crutches, he pulled out a box from under the bed.

"Open it and take a look."

Fan Dalang took a breath and opened the box.

Inside is a military crossbow with the name of the craftsman obliterated. It is cocked with pedals and has great power within fifty steps. It is also equipped with three armor-piercing arrows.

"Master Prefect."

Fan Dalang raised his head and looked at the old man in front of him. He hesitated before asking a stupid question: "How come you have this thing?"

"Haha, there is a mezzanine inside. Everything you want is hidden in it."

Ding Meixia said, picked up the crutch again, knocked on the box twice, and continued: "You and I each get what we need, mutual benefit."

Opening the mezzanine, there was a thick pile of paper made of gold, square and square.

After reading these things and listening to Ding Meixia's words, Fan Dalang fell into a long silence.

He did not agree immediately, nor did he refuse, but fell into a weighing process.

Ding Meixia, who was watching this scene from the side, did not urge him.

"The common people obey."

Finally, Fan Dalang, tempted by the hatred of his family and the gold paper, gritted his teeth and said, "Please rest assured, sir, I will definitely make sure that he never returns."

Hearing this, Ding Meixia lifted her lips, revealed a strange smile, and said, "Then we'll see."

"You go down."

"The common people resign."

Fan Dalang carried the box and bowed, turned around and left. Before leaving, he suddenly stopped and glanced at the "Two Sleeves of Breeze" hanging in the study.

In that glance, there was a hint of hatred and resentment.

Ding Meixia lowered her eyes and said nothing. It wasn't until Fan Dalang left for a long time that he slowly withdrew his gaze and continued to drink tea.

A figure in black clothing appeared from behind the screen.

"This move."

Ding Meixia stared at the tea foam floating in the teacup, her expression looking quite relaxed.

"As long as Cao Song succeeds in arson, the leader Li Hu will lead a team to kill the arsonist on the spot in the name of arresting the arsonist. Naturally, there will be no way to investigate the matter of the granary. As for the assassination of the imperial master, the imperial master will be killed first. The Fan family is full, but the remnant of the Fan family saved up and bought a military crossbow that was leaked during the Jinghe period to take revenge. What does this have to do with us?"

"Does it mean that it is disadvantageous for us to protect the Imperial Guard? But the Imperial Guard did not die in the Changzhou government office. We officials from Changzhou Prefecture arranged three squads of government officials to protect him along the street. They all went out to greet the Imperial Guard and cleanse the Imperial Guard. The Imperial Guard himself was not here If something happens to a member of the governor's team who ran away alone, should we also be blamed?"

"The reason is not with Emperor Yongle. There is no reason to kill all the officials for no reason. Otherwise, everyone will be in danger. The most likely possibility is that Emperor Yongle was angry and dismissed or demoted us all. It is much better to continue fishing in another place, or to serve as an official and return to your hometown, than to be found out, beheaded, or exiled."

The black figure hesitated for a moment and then said: "But that military crossbow, if it is later found out that Fan Dalang is involved with us, we will be in trouble."

What he did not say was that although all traces of the military crossbows had been erased, a lot of ordnance was indeed lost inexplicably during the four years of Jingnan.

Maybe being able to afford the military crossbow itself is the trace.

Ding Meixia snorted coldly: "Trouble? Ha, so what? This is already the best way. The knife is placed on the neck. Is it possible that I have to wait to die?"

"Furthermore."

The old man said conspiratorially: "Even if we don't have Fan Dalang as a substitute, I ask you to do it. Kill the imperial envoy. This is not the first time that you, the White Lotus Sect, have done it. You weren't afraid at that time, so what are you afraid of now?"

The black figure was startled. During the Jianwen Dynasty, one of the imperial envoys who came to check the army rations was indeed killed suddenly.

"Having said that, Jiang Xinghuo is Emperor Yongle's favorite after all. It is said that the relationship between the two is extraordinary. Emperor Yongle regards him as a figure like Wolong, and Jiang Xinghuo himself is said to be a scholar of heaven and may have the ability to reach heaven. There is no fairy magic as rumored among the people, but it must not be treated as an ordinary person." The black figure said worriedly.

"Emperor, don't worry. As for Jiang Xinghuo?"

Ding Meixia smiled contemptuously and said nonchalantly, "He is a young scholar who can't even attack the students of the Imperial College. He is destined to fail. In Changzhou Prefecture, this old man has been running the territory for who knows how many years." Come on, what kind of waves can you make?"

"He thinks his whereabouts are so secret that no one can know? It's ridiculous. After leaving Qingliang Temple and leaving the protection of the group of monks, dead soldiers, and old soldiers, he can still come back alive?"

"Can"

"do not talk."

Ding Meixia waved her hand to interrupt his words, and said in a cold tone: "Find a few experts from the White Lotus Sect to make sure that killing Fan Dalang is foolproof. Just do as you are told."

The black figure hesitated to speak, which showed that Ding Meixia had a firm attitude. He finally chose to shut up and leave.

Until everyone disappeared, Ding Meixia was the only one left in the study. He still maintained his sitting posture and looked forward, as if he was lost in thought.

After a while, the old man's lips curved into a cruel arc, and he said faintly: "Jiang Xinghuo, you forced me to do all this."

"Changzhou's food account is not something you should touch."

——————

In the afternoon, the governor's team coming from the direction of Qingpingbo entered Changzhou City in a grand manner.

Mr. Song Li, the right minister of the Ministry of Rites and in charge of the flood control affairs in the south of the Yangtze River, was wearing a conspicuous scarlet robe and riding on a big white horse. He walked slowly in front, followed by hundreds of escort soldiers and a group of government officials and servants escorting all kinds of people. The supplies, as well as a considerable number of civilians carrying baggage and boxes, were vast and looked quite spectacular.

Such a formation was rarely seen even during the Jianwen Dynasty.

"Song Shilang, in front of us is the place where we will have a cleansing banquet. Please move to the east courtyard to rest for a while before eating."

How could Ding Meixia, the governor of Changzhou Prefecture, look like the gloomy and ruthless conspirator he was in the study?

Wearing a worn, patched but cleanly washed official robe, he smiled like a kind old man.

"In the evening, I will act as host on behalf of the Changzhou Prefecture and invite all my colleagues to gather together to welcome Mr. Song."

Song Li nodded, got off his horse, and followed Ding Meixia inside.

"Master Song, please come this way!"

Ding Meixia guided Song Li to a small building and opened the door.

The room is extremely elegant and tidy. The furniture in the room is bright in color and the furnishings are fresh and elegant. They are all made of good wood. There are several calligraphy and paintings hanging next to the windows. They all seem to be works by famous artists. They are not necessarily very expensive, but The writing is exquisite and elegant.

"What a great place!" Song Li smiled and nodded, admiring: "Prefect Ding is really thoughtful. It is so exquisite and unique that I am reluctant to leave."

"Master Song is so complimentary!" Ding Meixia said modestly.

The two chatted for a while, and Song Li sat at the table and drank tea.

Ding Meixia ordered the servants to serve wine, filled Song Li's wine glass, and said: "Sir, thanks to you, the problem of Qingpingbo has been solved. If not, today's banquet may not be possible and the people will suffer. I feel guilty! I will not thank you for your kindness. I will toast you three glasses later."

"Why are you being polite? It's just a little effort." Song Li said lightly.

"Sir Song, although the victims have been properly resettled, there are still many people who have been displaced and are missing. I beg you to lend a helping hand and give them some relief."

Ding Meixia suddenly said: "On behalf of all the common people in the mansion, I would like to thank Lord Song in advance!"

Song Li raised his eyebrows slightly, glanced at Ding Meixia, and asked lightly: "Have you ever thought about how you would help the disaster if you didn't have me?"

There was a hint of weirdness in Ding Meixia's kind smile.

"The lower official is old and stupid. He can only wait for the instructions from Master Song and Master Guoshi."

"Oh, by the way, where is the Imperial Master? I didn't see it."

PS: [Important reminder (there is no charge for this content)] Chapters 316 to 356 are about the rectification of officialdom and the suppression of rebellions in Jiangnan. They do not contain any theoretical knowledge. They are all practical content. If you are not interested, you can jump directly to Chapter 366. "Class" will contain theoretical knowledge content from now on.