Why Does Mr. Xie Favor Me? Chapter 45
byChapter 45 Lantai’s Refutation
What should you do if your leader gets angry?Kneel quickly and have a cool posture.
Xie Nanqiao’s article citing classics caused an uproar, and Sun Tao was criticized to pieces.
In desperation, he personally cut off his last room for maneuver.
Several Tiandu officials sent by Hucao tried to read out laws and explain the new policy when they were surrounded by villagers armed with sticks and hatchets in the richest township in Guangling County.
However, there were men with fierce eyes mixed in the crowd. They were obviously not farmers with their backs to the sky and their faces to the loess.The conflict broke out after a sharp whistle. Stones and wooden sticks were thrown like raindrops. A young scribe suffered a bloody head injury and fainted on the spot.Several escorts drew their swords one after another, but were instantly overwhelmed by more people.
In the chaos, someone shouted: “The government is grabbing land!”
“Fight with them and keep our ancestral property!”
When the news was sent to Danyang, the report already contained shocking figures. One Dutian official died and three were injured, two government officials died in the line of duty, and several villagers who caused trouble were killed on the spot. At least five people were found among the corpses carrying military-style short blades, which were definitely not owned by ordinary farmers.
“This is not a civil uprising.” Xie Heng pressed the urgent report on the case, his voice as cold as a knife tempered with ice, “This is a group of local powerful people, armed to resist the law, and attack and kill imperial officials.”
In the hall, Bai Ce’s face was livid, Li Yuanjing’s brows were deeply furrowed, and even Xu Shuhuai’s usual half-smile on his lips had disappeared.
“Where is Sun Tao?” Li Yuanjing asked.
“The emergency report stated that Governor Sun was shocked and saddened by the news. He went to the scene to comfort him and arrested dozens of culprits.”
Bai Ce read the follow-up report, his tone full of sarcasm, “But those people on the list are just rogues, and the real instigators have long since disappeared.”
“He is acting, and he is also trying to distance himself.” Xu Shuhuai snapped closed the folding fan, “Taking himself out and characterizing the situation as civil unrest is at best mishandling, rather than condoning rebellion. The real powerful people behind the scenes are not moving at all.”
Xie Heng stood up and walked to the hanging map. His eyes fell on Guang Ling’s position and he tapped his finger lightly: “Sun Tao is a chess piece and a barrier. It’s not difficult to move him, but the wall behind him is difficult.”
It is a powerful network entrenched in Guangling and even the entire southeast. It is one of the roots of the Wang family and a natural ally of all those who are dissatisfied with the New Deal.The attack instigated by Sun Tao was a naked temptation and provocation.
“Baice,” Xie Heng didn’t look back, “take your people immediately and go to Guangling in person with my warrant. Examine all the casualties, especially the bodies of the troublemakers, and check in detail the identities and sources of weapons. I want to know about the culprits arrested by Sun Tao.Whoever instigates them will get their money and food.Finally, they will directly contact the local small and medium-sized landowners and tenant farmers who may be harmed, and preach the details of the new deal to dismantle them.Remember, you are here to investigate the case and appease the people, not to accuse Sun Tao.”
“Yes!” Bai Ce accepted the order solemnly.
“Old Li,” Xie Heng turned to the old official, “You are going to investigate the fake land deed case in Guangling. Is it related to this attack? Are the manors with the most hidden fields found to be the ones causing the most trouble this time?”
Li Yuanjing’s eyes flashed: “I will check immediately! If there is any connection, it is irrefutable proof!”
Everyone followed the order and left. Xie Heng sat alone at the desk, pressing his fingertips on the twitching sun.This was no longer just a dispute over land and taxes, but had evolved into a blatant military challenge to the imperial authority.
If the situation is handled slightly wrong, it may cause greater turmoil and even give the Northern Dynasty an opportunity to take advantage of it.
However, storms never come from just one direction.
Almost at the same time as the bloodshed in Guangling, an undercurrent began to surge against those around Xie Heng.
Xu Shuhuai was the first to bear the brunt. His mother’s family came from a wealthy businessman’s family. In his early years, he traveled around the world and acted informally. In the eyes of scholars who valued family status and reputation, he was an outlier.Now he holds the position of Chief Agriculture Officer and is in charge of the branch in Danyang. He has the power to inspect business, taxation and water transportation, which touches the interests of countless people.
Soon, various rumors spread among the scholar circles in Guzang and Danyang.
“I heard that Xu Shuhuai used to hang out with merchants in the market in his early years. He was engaged in a lowly business, and he had to compare every penny with his money. He smelled like copper. Now he is able to control the expenditure and inspect hundreds of officials? Isn’t he the most evil person in the world?”
“More than that! This person has a dissolute style. He often goes to singing houses and restaurants, and associates with actors and prostitutes. It is a disgrace to gentlemen! Xie Pushe uses such people, which shows that he is not careful in employing people, or he may have ulterior motives!”
What’s more, he wrote several fierce articles discussing the Qing Dynasty and began to circulate them privately. He pointed out that Xu Shuhuai, the son of a merchant, had evil intentions and exploited business travelers based on his ability to observe closely, and was actually a traitor to the country.
These articles were quickly handed over to the Yushitai by interested people, and even placed on the desks of several veteran ministers who always regarded themselves as clean-blooded.
Pressure came one after another. First, the censor heard about the impeachment of Xu Shuhuai at the censor’s desk. Then, at the court meeting, officials questioned him in court. How could merchants be allowed to manage such an important department?
Xu Shuhuai was still waving his fan, with a smile on his lips, as if those malicious looks and words didn’t exist.
But Xie Heng knew that suspicious peepers began to appear outside his room, and some even threw filth at him on his way home.An unsigned threatening letter was stuffed into the crack of the door. There were only four blood-red words on it: “Those who collect money will die.”
The emperor also felt the pressure of public opinion in the palace.He needs to maintain the apparent balance of discussion in the court.Finally, a Wen edict was issued: Xu Shuhuai, the great agriculture minister, has worked hard and meritoriously. He will return to Guzang today to report on his duties. He will be appointed elsewhere.
Bright and dark tones are actually driving away.
When Xu Shuhuai received the edict, he was checking the last batch of doubtful accounts for the Qingjiang water transport.He read the edict quietly for a long time, then suddenly chuckled and threw the edict on the case.
“That’s fine,” he said to the envoy who came to deliver the order. “My country is prosperous. I haven’t been back for a long time. I just want to go and listen to music.”
He walked very casually, carrying only a small baggage, and the folding fan that never left his body was inserted into his waist.When he was about to leave the gate of Danyang Government Office, he looked back at the direction where Xie Heng was on duty, put away his usual playful smile, bowed his head far away, turned around and disappeared into the flow of people on the street.
Xie Heng stood in front of the window, watching his leaving figure, and clenched his fists.He knew that Xu Shuhuai’s departure was a clear defeat for the New Deal on the battlefield of public opinion, and also a successful clipping of the opponent’s wings.
Immediately afterwards, the pressure fell on Xie Nanqiao.
Cao, an old doctor from the ancestral department who was known for his adherence to ancient etiquette, formally presented to the emperor. He spoke more than a thousand words, the core of which was only one sentence: “It is the ancient system for women not to interfere with foreign affairs. Nowadays, the Xie family’s daughter comes in and out of the government office, reviews official documents, and interferes in the government affairs. In fact, she is a hen who is in charge of the morning affairs and confuses the general order. Please give your majesty an edict and order her to return home and abide by women’s ethics, so as to set the record straight.”
This memorial immediately stirred up a stir, and supporters believed that what the old doctor said was correct.Although the opponents felt that Xie Nanqiao was talented, they could not publicly refute the thousand-year-old adage that women do not predict foreign affairs. Most people watched indifferently to see how the Xie family responded.
When Xie Nanqiao heard the news while on duty, she was revising an article on how to prevent the confiscation of property from inadvertently injuring tenant farmers in the New Deal. The tip of her pen trembled slightly. She was not panicked or angry, and continued to do what she should do.
That night, Xie Heng came to her residence, and the brother and sister sat opposite each other under the lamp.
“Nan Qiao,” Xie Heng said, his voice a little deep, “What do you think about this matter?”
Xie Nanqiao raised his clear eyes: “Brother, have I done anything to disgrace the court or the people?”
“No.” Xie Heng answered without hesitation, “You did a good job, better than many men.”
“That’s okay.” Xie Nanqiao smiled slightly, and there was a kind of flexible power in that smile. “Etiquette is designed for people, not people. It is not a prisoner of etiquette. In ancient times, Ban Zhao continued the “Book of Han”, Mrs. Wei passed down calligraphy, Mulan joined the army on behalf of her father, how can men and women be divided after serving the country?”
Xie Heng stared at her, with relief and pride in his eyes, but more solemnly: “Having said that, everyone in the court is talking about gold. The old doctor represents the huge old force of etiquette. If you resist, I’m afraid it will damage your reputation and put the Xie family at the forefront.”
“Brother already has a plan?” Xie Nanqiao asked keenly.
Xie Heng pondered for a moment: “Tomorrow, I will take you into the palace to meet the queen.”
The next day, after Xie Nanqiao paid homage to the emperor, she presented a handwritten volume of “Records of Talented Women of the Past Dynasties Serving the Country”, which not only listed Ban Zhao, Cai Yan and other great literary and historical figures, she spoke sincerely and acted calmly. She not only said that she participated in government affairs to help her brother relieve his worries and serve the court, but had no political ambitions, she also cited classics and evidence to prove that women who are talented should also be useful in the world.
The queen came from a scholarly family and was talented and learned, but she was trapped in the palace.She read Xie Nanqiao’s article carefully and listened to her eloquent talk, with appreciation in her eyes.More importantly, the emperor needed Xie Heng to implement the new policy, and the queen also needed to weigh the delicate relationship between the harem and the court.
The Queen spoke gently: “Ms. Xie is extremely talented and loyal. It is also a good story for a woman to be talented, assist her brother, organize documents, consult and provide suggestions. Your Majesty and the court are at the time of employment, how can you follow the old practice and bury talents? However, the government affairs of the foreign court are not women’s duties after all. It is better for Mme. Xie to live behind the scenes and devote herself to assisting. It is not suitable to be too public to avoid material criticism.”
These words were cleverly said. They not only affirmed Xie Nanqiao’s talents and contributions, gave her the name to continue to stay with Xie Heng to assist her, but also delineated the boundaries behind the scenes and appeased the old officials of etiquette and law.A storm was temporarily subsided in this compromise way.
But everyone knows that the controversy has not disappeared, it has just been suppressed.Xie Nanqiao’s name has since been closely tied to the controversy over Si Chen. Everything she does will be scrutinized with a magnifying glass and measured by more stringent standards of women’s ethics.
When all the pressure piled up on Xie Heng’s desk, another piece of more obscure but more fatal news came from Guzang.
Zheng Yu, the clan nephew of Concubine Zheng who was newly promoted to minister, seemed to have inadvertently lamented to the emperor while serving in front of the emperor: “Danyang’s new policy is vigorous and vigorous, which is a good thing. It’s just that the subordinates heard about it, so when they implemented it, they were a little anxious. Although the Guangling incident, althoughIt is said that the people are disorderly and lawless, but it has also caused complaints among the people, which may damage your Majesty’s reputation of benevolence and caring for the people.There are also hundreds of thousands of refugees in the military settlement in the north. Although it is a resettlement method, if it is not managed well or is taken advantage of by interested people, I am just worried about the stability of the country.”
This was said lightly, like pure worry, but it accurately hit the two most sensitive points of the emperor. One was the damage to the reputation of benevolence, and the other was the possible changes in the gathering of refugees.Especially the latter, combined with the armed attack that just occurred in Guangling, is even more alarmist.
The emperor did not express his position, but after the day’s memorial was over, the emperor sat alone in the imperial study for a long time.
When the news reached Xiao Jue’s ears, he was inspecting the newly established refugee settlement near Guangling.After the bloody incident in Guangling, the atmosphere in the surrounding counties and counties was tense, and rumors spread. At a manor near Guangling, the Wang family even secretly encouraged some servants and tenant farmers who did not know the truth to gather and cause trouble in the name of unfair government land use and seizure of people’s property. Although the scale was small, it had the tendency to ignite a bigger fire.
Local officials were timid and failed to suppress the situation.Xiao Jue received a secret report that there was a shadow of the Wang family behind the manor, and the backbone of the so-called civil unrest was all disguised as a private group of the Wang family.
Xie Heng has also been worried about this recently, and Xiao Jue wants to share the pressure with him.Without any hesitation, he personally ordered a battalion of elite cavalry, galloped through the starry night, and surrounded the civil unrest with thunderous force before it spread.
He directly ordered the attack without any persuasion or negotiation.With swords and swords shadowing, blood and fire intertwined, half an hour later, the so-called rebels were completely defeated, the leader was beheaded on the spot, and the rest dispersed.
The action was swift and swift, and hidden dangers were nipped in the bud.But Xiao Jue used the army to suppress the people, even though they were people in disguise.The most important thing is that he did not ask the court or Xie Heng for instructions in advance.
When Xie Heng received the battle report in Danyang, his shock was followed by overwhelming anger.
“Nonsense! Who gave him the power to mobilize the army to suppress local affairs? Even if it is a disguise of the Wang family, it should be investigated by the local government, or the court should make a decision. He is a military general interfering in politics! He is abusing his force! He is handing the knife into the hands of those people, allowing them to attack the New Deal justifiably. If he attacks him, he also attacks me!”
In anger, Xie Heng rushed to Xiao Jue’s military camp overnight.
Inside the Chinese military tent, the lights were brightly lit.Xiao Jue took off his armor and only wore his middle coat, as if he had known he would come.
“Why do you make your own decisions?” Xie Heng stared at him, his voice was very low, but it was like a storm was brewing.
Xiao Jue lowered his eyes and said softly: “The situation is critical and there is no room for hesitation. Guangling is bleeding. If chaos is allowed to spread here, the New Deal will be difficult to implement in the southeast, and your situation will be even more difficult.”
“Who allowed you to make your own decisions?” Xie Heng stepped closer, his eyes blazing with anger. “Do you know what I will say now? I will say that you, Xiao Jue, are self-respecting, use weapons without permission, and harm the people! How will all the people who hate you and me to the core impeach you? What will Your Majesty think? It is taboo for an emperor for a military general to interfere in politics!”
“I know.” Xiao Jue raised his head and looked at him with a heavy gaze, “But if we had waited for the court to argue and the local officials to prevaricate, the trouble would have been big. By then, more people would have died, and your new policy would have been even more passive. I will suppress it as quickly as possible, and I will bear all the infamy.”
“Can you carry it?!” Xie Heng said sternly, his chest heaving violently, and he suddenly raised his hand, as if he wanted to slap him.
Xiao Jue didn’t dodge, he even raised his face slightly, closed his eyes, and waited for the possible slap.It was a complete trust and a complete acceptance of fate.
But the expected pain never came.
Xie Heng’s hand stopped in mid-air, trembling violently. He looked at Xiao Jue with his eyes closed and waiting, her bloodless lips pressed tightly against his.This slap cannot fall no matter what.
The anger that filled his heart was suddenly replaced by a weaker pain.He dropped his hand, shoulders slumping slightly for a moment as he turned around.
Xiao Jue opened his eyes and looked at Xie Heng’s straight but tight back.He silently lifted up his clothes and knelt on the cold ground.
“It’s my fault.” Xiao Jue’s voice was low and hoarse. “It was my recklessness and I gave others the leverage. I will bear all the consequences alone. I will submit a plea form tomorrow and ask for punishment. I will never implicate you and the New Deal.”
Xie Heng did not look back, nor did he let him get up.He just leaned on the table and lowered his head, his back facing Xiao Jue who was kneeling on the ground.
After a long time, Xie Heng spoke slowly, his voice extremely tired and heavy: “I’m sorry, I’m too tired. Please get up.”
He couldn’t bear it after all.
“You need to write a confession form, but I will teach you how to write it.” Xie Heng turned around, his face regained its usual calmness, but the tiredness and pain deep in his eyes lingered, “This matter is not over yet, you and I must be prepared to deal with the worst situation.”
Xiao Jue stood up and wanted to hold his hand but didn’t dare. She could only look at him deeply and wanted to say something, but in the end, she could only form one word: “Okay.”