mtlumby2d Chapter 295: Raiding the Jin Family
Chapter 295: Raiding the Jin Family
The person who announced the decree was not a eunuch, but an imperial envoy. The court appointed him at an unknown time, and he was specifically responsible for inspecting the disaster and taking charge of the overall situation.
The imperial commissioner's surname was Zhou, his given name was Fang, and his courtesy name was Xuqiu. He was a member of the Ministry of Justice. He was always cold and ruthless in his style of doing things. Although his official position was not high, he was highly regarded by the Regent, and this time he was appointed as the imperial commissioner as an exception.
This imperial envoy sounds powerful, but it is indeed a job that offends people. The local areas and the capital are interdependent, and anyone who can keep a local official in his position must have connections in the capital.
Lord Zhou read out the imperial edict, which said that County Magistrate Chen was promoted to the rank of Shaoqing of the Taichang Temple, a fourth-grade position, for his meritorious service in disaster relief, and was to take up the post that day.
This is a high promotion. Compared with the seventh-rank county magistrate, the Shaoqing of Taichang Temple is of the fourth rank and a Beijing official. One cannot get this position without a certain background.
"Master Chen, congratulations. Please accept my order."
"I accept your order and thank you."
County Magistrate Chen was very excited. He thought he would have to stay in the position for many years, but unexpectedly he was promoted. The emperor, no, the regent was so wise.
But he couldn't let go of the disaster in the county, and asked, "Sir Zhou, I'm going to Beijing to take up my post, what should I do with Qinghe County?"
Imperial Envoy Zhou said, "You don't need to worry. I will temporarily serve as the county magistrate until the court appoints a new county magistrate. Sir Chen, take a good rest. You have been so worried and tired for so many days. You have worked hard."
County Magistrate Chen was deeply moved that Imperial Envoy Zhou was so kind to him.
As long as the lawyer is thoughtful, it seems that he has been promoted, but what does the Taichang Temple do?
He was the official in charge of rituals, music and sacrifices at the imperial court. It seemed like a high position, but he had no real power and not much benefits. In terms of freedom and benefits, he was not as good as a county official.
Unfortunately, Lord Chen couldn't see through it. He thought he had been promoted and that his day would finally come.
Once you arrive in the capital, you just have to follow the routine and do some trivial things, and you will only be a Shaoqing in your lifetime.
If he is lucky enough to wait until his boss retires, he will only be a temple official, a third-rank official, and will not be able to enter the power center of the court.
However, considering County Magistrate Chen's abilities, he is quite suitable for this job. He is serious, honest and fair in his work, but lacks strategy and decisiveness, and has no ambition, so he is suitable for this kind of unskillful job.
"Congratulations, sir. Congratulations, sir. Please share this good news with your wife as soon as possible."
"Yes, go and tell Madam Zhou, Sir, I will do my best to be a good host and welcome you."
"No, I have something important to do. Gather all the officers and guards and follow me."
County Magistrate Chen was shocked: "What is Lord Zhou going to do?"
"Search his property. Jin Changsheng controls grain prices, monopolizes grain, and makes a fortune from disasters. Isn't it worth confiscating the property of such a person?"
Only then did County Magistrate Chen realize that the Imperial Envoy was not being kind to him at all, but thought he was in the way, so he went to search his house himself.
But things had come to this point, and County Magistrate Chen had no choice but to cooperate and watch Lord Zhou lead a group of officers and soldiers to search the house.
The lawyer looked at him with sympathy. He didn't seize such an opportunity to make a fortune. He must be regretting it now, right?
"Humph, confiscating property and exterminating a clan is detrimental to one's virtue. I don't want the money. Who knows if this imperial envoy is a clean person?"
The master didn't expect that he would still make amends for himself now. Thinking about the many years he had worked under him, his life was so hard. It would be tearful to talk about it.
"Mr. Dong, you have been promoted. I also want to go home and take a look. So I will not follow you. Mr. Dong, take care."
County Magistrate Chen: "What do you mean? Are you leaving me? I have been promoted to become an official in Beijing. I will have a bright future. If you leave now, you will definitely regret it in the future."
The master asked: "Are you going to give me a raise?"
This is definitely not possible. County Magistrate Chen shook his head and said, "I don't even know how much my salary is, how can I promise you this?
You don't look at my potential, but only at my salary. Isn't that too mercenary?"
The master wanted to part ways in peace, but he was so childish. The master couldn't help but retort to him: "Am I a mercenary? Because if I don't have money, I will starve, let alone support my family.
Look at me, I've followed you for so many years, but I can't even afford a warm cotton robe. If you are willing to endure hardship, don't be stingy with your subordinates. Look at everyone else, they are all living like disaster victims.
When you left, I wonder how many people set off firecrackers to celebrate.
Following a master like you is really unlucky for eight lifetimes."
"You, you actually said that to me?"
"I'm telling you the truth, otherwise you're just deceiving yourself. You must have met a noble person who promoted you to a lowly position, and made you a junior official. That's all you'll live like for the rest of your life. And you still think you're so great. I don't know where your confidence comes from."
After the lawyer finished speaking, he turned around and left. I didn't want to argue with him anymore. This guy has a hole in his brain.
It was Mrs. Chen who heard about it and gave him fifty taels of silver for travel expenses, which was also a compensation for helping County Magistrate Chen for so many years.
The lawyer was very grateful. It was really unfair for such a good woman like Madam Chen to be with him.
However, from now on, County Magistrate Chen will have an undemanding position and will not be the top leader. With the support of the Minister of Temple, he will not do anything reckless. I hope Madam Chen's life will be better.
……
Just as the Jin family had placed Mr. Jin's coffin, the government came to their door. Lord Zhou held up the imperial sword and personally searched the entire Jin family.
The account books in the study and the grain in several warehouses of the Jin family were cleared out, and all the members of the Jin family were escorted back to Beijing for interrogation, or at least exiled.
The Jin family is finished.
When the grain merchants saw that someone from the imperial court had come, they did not dare to make any moves and started selling their grain. Losing money was better than losing their lives.
The situation developed too quickly. In just one day, Qinghe County changed drastically.
Shen Nanzhi sat in the teahouse, and looked at the jubilant people on the street and the dejected Jin family with Shen Huai'en. He felt an indescribable complex emotion. Is this the end of it?
"What are you thinking about? The Imperial Envoy will take care of it, so you don't have to worry. Lord Chen has been promoted, and Madam Chen no longer has to live a hard life. The Jin family has also collapsed, and Qinghe County will usher in a new world. Are you interested in buying some land?"
The topic changed too quickly. Shen Nanzhi asked, "Buy land? I have more than a hundred acres of land, which is enough. What do I need so much land for?"
The output in her space has not been consumed yet, but she has no intention of buying so much land. In her opinion, farming is not profitable. The country regulates grain prices, and she has never heard anyone say that farming can make you rich.
Shen Huai'en said: "The Jin family has been confiscated, and a large amount of land under his name will be auctioned by the government. Are you willing to miss this piece of fat meat?
I've calculated the accounts for you. The income from your 100 acres of land this year is not small. If you plant 1,000 acres or 10,000 acres, you will be a big landlord. Those officials will have to be polite to you. In a disaster year, having food is the most important thing."