Chapter 196
196 First arrival at the Dao state
“Old master, Daozhou city is just up ahead. I can see that there are quite a few people at the resting point with their flags fluttering in the wind. It seems like the officials of Daozhou city are here to welcome old master.”
The rumbling carriage was moving on the official road. Zheng, who was driving the carriage in front, lifted the curtain in front of the carriage and said to Xia Pingan, who was in the carriage.
“Got it. Let’s stop at the resting point in front.” Xia Pingan ordered.
Zheng nodded and continued driving.
Xia Pingan looked at Han Yu’s ” on the crafty sycophants ” in her hands with great interest.
This Han Yu’s essay was indeed excellent. Even if he wrote this essay to scold him, this ” on a traitor ” was also written flawlessly. This ” on a traitor ” was based on various references, Sutras, and classics, from ” Yi ” to ” Shangshu “. Han Yu picked a few words and scolded him thoroughly, leaving him with nothing to say.
Seeing that Xia ping ‘an was reading Han Yu’s article, Xue Yue, who was also sitting in the carriage, couldn’t hold it in anymore. Xuanji, Han Yu wrote’ on the treacherous officials ‘and ridiculed teacher for being a useless admonisher. This time, the treacherous Prime Minister Pei Yanling framed Lord Lu. Everyone in the court knows that Lord Lu is innocent, but only teacher dares to stand up for Lord Lu and denounce the treacherous Prime Minister. I wonder where Han Yu’s face will be this time? ”
Xia ping ‘an smiled. Xue Yue, you’re too straightforward and hot-tempered. No one is perfect. I’ve been a Remonstrant for many years and I’ve never spoken a word. Han Yu couldn’t stand it, so it’s normal for him to write an article to scold me. Han Yu’s article is very well-written, you should learn from him!
Why didn’t teacher refute Han Yu back then? ”
there are things to do and things not to do. You have to remember that an admonisher is like a sword. When you meet someone who doesn’t like to sharpen the sword, this sword is used often, so the sword isn’t sharp. How can you cut through the thorns at the critical moment? as an admonisher official, I risked my life to admonish the Emperor so that he won’t do anything stupid, that Lu Zhi and the others won’t be harmed by Pei Yanling, and that His Majesty won’t become a fatuous ruler who kills loyal officials in vain!
“Teacher, then who will be the one sharpening the sword?”
“Taizong likes to sharpen his sword, and Wei Zheng’s edge appears!” Xia Pingan said.
Xue Yue seemed to have realized something, but he still looked angry. the whole world knows that the treacherous Minister Pei Yanling is cunning and obsequious. He’s incompetent and good at tricking people. When the treacherous Minister was DU’s emissary, he only made some books and accounts to fool Your Majesty. The Treasury of the Imperial court did not increase at all, but Your Majesty thought that he was good at financial management. He promoted and put him in important positions. That treacherous Minister should be killed and demoted. Teacher went all out to write a letter to impeach the treacherous Minister. Does your Majesty still not wake up to the truth? ”
Xia ping ‘an looked at Xue Yue and thought to herself, ” Xue Yue’s temper is really straightforward. If I hadn’t kept him by my side to teach him from time to time, Xue Yue would probably have been convicted for his words and be demoted to the border.
He didn’t know if he would gain more divine power after successfully merging with the realm Pearl since he had changed Xue Yue’s fate.
Other than his student, Xue Yue, Zheng, who was currently driving the carriage as his servant, was also long dead according to the historical records.
Zheng’s encounter was probably the most vexing thing in Yangcheng’s life. Zheng had originally been a loyal and moral person, but because he had no money to bury his father, Yangcheng had lived in seclusion in summer sun Mountain. After helping him bury his father, Zheng had been willing to become a slave and serve Yangcheng. However, Yangcheng was loyal and didn’t want to repay his kindness, only treating Zheng as a student. He had even taught Zheng to read, the Book of Songs, and the culture of the nation. However, Zheng really wasn’t the material for reading, and in the end, he felt that he had let down Yangcheng’s teachings. He was so ashamed that he hung himself.
Zheng ke’s death was also the most vexing matter in the Lord of Yangcheng’s life. When Zheng ke died, the Lord of Yangcheng attended his funeral and even took off his clothes to beg for forgiveness in Zheng ke’s mourning hall. He had the servants beside him whip him with brambles to atone for their sins.
After merging with this realm Pearl, Xia ping ‘an naturally wouldn’t let the tragedy of the past happen again. After helping Zheng Zha bury his father in Mount summer sun, Xia ping’ an took Zheng in and let him follow by her side as a servant. He didn’t study and only did work. Zheng Zha really did his best, and was still alive and kicking even now.
There were actually two difficulties in integrating this realm Pearl. One was that after being recruited by the Imperial court in yang city, he knew when to risk his life to admonish and get the opportunity to be demoted to the Dao state. The second was that after being demoted to the Dao state, he knew what to do to relieve the suffering of the people in the Dao state.
The illusionary child summoned by this realm Pearl should be related to the dwarf that the people of the Dao state offered to the Imperial court.
……
It didn’t take long for the carriage to arrive at the resting point. All of the officials of Daozhou city, including the flag bearer, had gathered there, numbering over a hundred people to welcome the arrival of the new provincial governor.
As soon as Xia ping ‘an got off the carriage, he took out his seal and revealed his identity. The officials in Dao state city welcomed Xia ping’ an and made way for him, preparing to return to Dao state city.
Sitting in the carriage, Xia ping ‘an was already thinking about where to start when he arrived in Daozhou. The matter of paying tribute was no small matter and involved various interests. The officials under him and the observers above him might all be involved. Since the Yang Emperor of the Sui Dynasty, Daozhou had been paying Tributes to the midgets. The figurines of the midgets in the Tang Dynasty all came from Daozhou. In the words of later generations, the midgets had formed an industry chain in Daozhou. Many people were promoted and rich through paying Tributes to the midgets. It was going to cut off many people’s road to promotion and wealth.
The officials and honor guards who were welcoming Xia ping ‘an walked on the official road in an awe-inspiring manner, attracting the attention of the common people along the way.
In less than an hour, Xia Pingan’s carriage arrived at the East Gate of Daozhou city with the officials.
After walking for such a long time with the scorching sun above their heads, the flag bearers were all listless, but they were barely able to keep their spirits up.
Just as the convoy was about to enter the city, a woman suddenly rushed out from the side of the city gate. She knelt down in front of the guards of honor and cried loudly, ” I’ve been wronged. Please give me justice, provincial governor!
Watching such a situation happening the moment the new provincial governor entered the city, all the other officials who were welcoming Xia Pingan turned green at once.
where did this audacious woman come from? drag bi an away! an official on horseback shouted coldly and was about to order the woman to be dragged away from the city gate.
hold on, Zhenzhen. the curtain of the carriage was lifted, and Xia Pingan had already gotten off the carriage. He directly passed by the officials and flag bearer and came to the place where the wronged woman was kneeling. He sized her up.
The woman kneeling on the ground was in her twenties. She was wearing a coarse linen dress, her hands and face were rough, and her face was covered in dust. She was probably a peasant woman from a village near Daozhou city. She had probably been waiting here for a long time.
“I’m the new provincial governor of Daozhou province, Yangcheng. The entire Daozhou province is under my rule!” Xia ping ‘an looked at the commoners who were watching the commotion and said loudly. Then, she reached out to support the woman, ” what injustice do you have? why are you blocking the way? you can stand up and talk about it!
I, Madam he, beg you to give me justice, my Lord! the woman who was kneeling on the ground didn’t get up at all. Instead, she kept kowtowing and wailing. Her forehead hit the dusty ground, and it was blue and covered with dust. my child was just one year old when he was taken away. My Lord, please help me get my child back. Wuwuwuwu, if I don’t have a child, I don’t want to live anymore. Wuwuwuwu!
“According to the laws of the Tang Empire, those who abduct or sell people as slaves will be strangled; For the troops, they travel three thousand miles. As the children of your concubines, you’ll be apprenticed for three years. Who dares to abduct children in my Dao state? tell me, and I’ll make the decision for you. I’d like to see who in this Dao state city has the guts to do so!” Xia Pingan roughly knew who did it, but he still loudly recited the law of the Tang Empire in a righteous manner, causing a commotion among the surrounding commoners.
“My child was taken away by that man and a few constables!” The civilian woman raised her head and pointed at one of the officials standing behind Xia Pingan.
Xia Pingan turned around and looked at the officials of Daozhou city.
There were many officials who came to welcome him today. They were all from the provincial governor’s office. There were the Deputy Ministers, the chief censors, the military affairs officers, the military officers, the military officers, the judicial officers, and other officials from the six Cao’s offices. There were also some minor officials.
The person that the civilian woman was pointing at was the director of the governor’s mansion. The director’s position was to count the population. In Xia ping ‘an’s eyes, he was just a small official. However, in the eyes of ordinary people, such a small official was also an important figure.
The Dao Prefecture city’s steward was a man who looked like a pig. He was in his thirties and had swollen eyes and dark circles under his eyes. His head was full of fat, and he was sweating profusely and panting heavily. When they were at the resting point earlier, the steward had introduced himself. Xia Pingan still remembered this man. His name was Wang Qi.
Seeing the woman pointing at him and the provincial governor’s gaze on him, the Minister of State Wang Qi’s expression changed. He was so scared that he quivered all over and broke out in a cold sweat. He hurriedly explained, ” please be clear, provincial governor. I’ve never abducted any children!
“Then why did she point you out?” Xia ping ‘an asked calmly, ” are you saying that she has falsely accused you? if she has, I can also make the decision for you and clear your name by punishing her!
it’s you! Ten days ago, you came to my house with a few constables and took my child away. You even injured me with a metal ruler and pushed me to the ground. I would recognize you even if you turned into ashes. The neighbors around my house can be my witness. the woman looked at the steward and gritted her teeth. She wiped her tears and tore open her clothes in front of everyone, revealing a bruise on her shoulder. please take a look, my Lord. These are the marks left behind by that person when he hit me with the iron ruler. My poor husband died of illness when my child was just one month old, and now they’re coming to snatch my child away. God, what sin have I committed, why do they have to do this to me?”
The commoner’s wife cried on the ground. Her voice was sorrowful, causing the surrounding people to look at her with sympathetic eyes. Many of the women who were watching almost cried when they heard this.
And with this commotion, the number of people at the city gate suddenly increased. In the blink of an eye, there were three layers of people surrounding them.
this … This … This … This … This … This … This … This … This … This … This … This … This … This … This … This … This … This … This … This … This … This … This … This … This … This … This … This … This … This … This … This … This … This … This … This … This … This …
where the great Tang is, under the emperor’s heaven and earth, is a place of reason. Where I am, is the court. There is no need to go to the Yamen to talk about reason! Xia ping ‘an said loudly, his voice filled with killing intent and righteousness. His words caused the countless surrounding commoners to be jolted. if you have anything to say, you can say it now. In front of the countless citizens of Dao state city, you have to explain it clearly. If you don’t explain it clearly, I will immediately take your head for the crime of kidnapping!
Upon hearing Xia Pingan’s words, the Minister of State, Wang Qi, gritted his teeth and lowered his head to explain, ” Sir, Sir, Sir, I didn’t abduct anyone. I was just preparing Tributes for Your Majesty!
He actually brought out the Emperor and Tributes?
Xia ping ‘an had been staring at Wang Qi’s expression the entire time. When he saw Wang Qi’s expression, Xia ping’ an sneered in his heart. You actually want to use the Emperor and the tributes to pressure me? in front of so many people, it’s fine if you don’t mention the Emperor and the tributes, but if you say it now, you’re just courting death. You probably don’t know how you got into the Imperial scholar examination.
Since when did the Tang Empire offer Tributes to children? I just came to Chang ‘an, so why didn’t I know? ” Xia Pingan asked.
this Suan ni, this Suan ni child, and the young children naturally can not be used as Tributes, but the dwarf figurines can. My Lord, you should have seen those dwarf figurines in Chang ‘an city, right? those dwarf figurines were trained by those children. This is the local Tributes of our Dao state city! This Wang Qi actually hid needles in cotton and wanted to counter-attack him.
“Oh, really?” Xia Pingan smiled. so, you admit that you’ve snatched this woman’s child? ”
“My Lord, we’re not snatching, we’re collecting Tributes!” Wang Qi continued to argue.
Xia Pingan asked the woman who had complained, ” he took your child away. Did he give you money and silk? ”
The woman shook her head, ” no, these people snatch children. They always snatch Yingluo away.
Hearing this, Xia Pingan’s face turned cold. She pointed at the Minister of Justice, Wang Qi, and said, ” men, arrest this criminal!
The officials and bailiffs who had welcomed Xia ping ‘an looked at each other. For a moment, they looked at each other but did not move.
Xia ping ‘an looked at the Daozhou city’s Registrar and bailiff. disobeying the provincial governor’s orders is equivalent to rebellion. Why? in front of the public of Daozhou city, are you two going to rebel like him? ”
The Registrar of the provincial governor’s office was in charge of supervising the six Cao’s Army, while the head of the bailiffs took direct orders from the provincial governor. Hearing Xia Pingan mention the crime of rebellion, the two officials shuddered and immediately ordered their bailiffs to Pin Wang Qi down on the ground.
“Milord, I refuse to accept this! You can’t take me! I’m collecting Tributes for the Imperial court! I didn’t commit any crime! I didn’t commit any crime!”
“According to the laws of the Imperial court, the contributions of the counties will be based on local produce and the price is silk. The number of Tributes can not exceed 50, and the market will be filled with official items. if there’s an addition, it’s also reduced to rent and tax. You said that you’re taking people away to offer Tributes. Then let me ask you, where’s the compensation that the court gave to those who offered Tributes? why didn’t it go to the commoner’s hands? Those who dare to invade and compensate His Majesty’s Tributes will also be sentenced to death!”
Wang Qi’s face instantly changed,”this bi an, this bi an!”
Wang Qi couldn’t say anything, because the so-called compensation for the people had already been taken, so how could it be given out? and to take so much of the court’s compensation was also a capital crime.
“You keep saying that you abduct children to offer Tributes, but the court rules that the price of local Tributes can not exceed 50 horses. At the same time, it also rules that the government must compensate the tributes for their losses. You abduct children without reducing the rent or paying silk. You keep saying that this is for His Majesty and the Imperial court, but in reality, you’re using His Majesty’s name to do such a beastly thing, deceiving the upper and lower, causing His Majesty and the Imperial court to be at odds with the people of the state, causing them to be separated from their children, and also slandering the reputation of His Majesty and the Imperial court. You deserve to be punished for your crimes!”
Xia ping ‘an pointed at the Minister of State, Wang Qi, and said, ” as an official of the Imperial court, you knowingly broke the law, so your crime is doubled. Men, immediately beat this bastard to death here and give the people of Dao state an explanation!
The bailiffs holding down Wang Qi hesitated for a moment, but they still pressed Wang Qi to the ground and struck him with their batons, causing him to scream in pain.
In the beginning, the bailiffs didn’t dare to use too much strength, and their hands and feet were tied.
Xue Yue, this Wang Qi has committed many evil deeds. Check if he has any accomplices in the provincial governor’s office when you get back! Xia ping ‘an said directly to Xue Yue, who was next to her.
“Yes, my Lord!” Xue Yue replied.
Upon hearing this, the expressions of some of the officials around changed again. The bailiffs immediately increased their strength by 10% and began to hit with all their might.
Wang Qi, who was still screaming a moment ago, only had the strength to groan after a few cries. In the end, Wang Qi didn’t even have the strength to groan. He was completely silent.
In front of all the people of Daozhou city, Xia ping ‘an had just arrived in Daozhou city, and he had already flogged an evil official to death at the city gate, shocking all the officials of the provincial governor’s office.
When Wang Qi was being beaten up, more and more people gathered around to watch the show. In the blink of an eye, thousands of people had gathered at the gate of Dao state.
After hundreds of hits, Wang Qi’s back was completely broken. His nose and mouth were bleeding, and he was no longer breathing. He was like a piece of rotten meat.
The bailiffs who were beating him stopped. The military officer from the provincial governor’s manor came forward to check, and then reported to Xia Pingan in a trembling voice, ” reporting to Your Excellency, Wang Qi has already flogged Lao Ai to death.
drag her away and let her take a walk, ” Xia Pingan ordered.
……
Qing Tian, Qing Tian is here! Master Qing Tian is here! an old man cried out excitedly when the surrounding people saw this.
provincial governor, please seek justice for us! countless citizens began to shout.
“My Lord, my child has also been taken away by them.” In the crowd, someone knelt down again,”please save my poor child.”
my Lord, please save our people! Our people are suffering! more and more people knelt down at the city gate, crying.