Chongzhen Wiretapping System

Chapter 295
From the capital to the south of the Yangtze River, although because of the winter, there are many sections of the Beijing Grand Canal that cannot be directly taken by boat, so the itinerary is slower.But generally speaking, no matter how slow it is, it will not be until the end of February in the 13th year of Chongzhen, and it will almost arrive in Jiangnan.

The reason for this is that many local officials did not dare to do anything to the patrol censor who was ordered to go out, but they should not be too simple if they want to embarrass them.

For example, if the livestock used suddenly looses up, it will delay the trip!Or the livestock that the post station can provide are either old, weak or sick, which will delay the journey!All these problems that Zhang Pu had never encountered before, but this time when he left Beijing, he encountered all the seemingly accidental situations.Even if he was an imperial envoy and had Dongchang servants by his side, there was nothing he could do in this situation.

Regarding this, Zhang Pu knew very well in his heart that the officials and gentry along the way were expressing their dissatisfaction with him.

In fact, if possible, he would not want to do it.It's just that I didn't expect that the self-directed and self-acted scene is still hanging in the air. I don't know if the damn Zhang Zonglie is dead or alive, as if he disappeared out of thin air.There is no news from Dongchang either.This made Zhang Pu always worried.

It was also because of this so-called assassination incident that these Dongchang fans regarded him very strictly.The superficial reason was to prevent him from being assassinated again.In this regard, Zhang Pu knew it bitterly, and could not object.It can't be said that the assassination is actually fake, I was not assassinated at all, you don't need such close protection!

When going to the toilet, there is Dongchang fanzi standing at the door; when sleeping, there is Dongchang fanzi guarding the base of the wall; no matter what you are doing, there is always Dongchang fanzi by your side. This feeling makes Zhang Pu really feel Like being held in custody.

But what made Zhang Pu a little strange was that Wu Changshi didn't know what he was thinking, but he didn't make any noise.No matter in the capital or on the road, they are all well-behaved.Could it be, he is really determined to do the errand assigned by the emperor, right?
If that's the case, it's fine, walk slowly on my side and let Wu Changshi do the work first.

If he succeeds, it means that those Jiangnan officials and gentry are still afraid of the law of the country and won't have much resistance.In this way, you can do it with confidence!
But if he doesn't go well, it means that it will be as difficult as imagined.Then I can't do things in a high-profile way!

Zhang Pu was thinking about this, when suddenly he heard the sound of horseshoes on the shore, and then a voice shouted loudly, as if it was Jin Yiwei, asking if this is his fleet?
Jiang Dong, the head of the Dongchang stall, happened to be at the bow of the boat, and saw that a Jinyiwei was indeed coming on a fast horse from the shore. After confirming that, he let the fleet dock, saying that there was something important to do.

When Jiang Dong heard this, he immediately told his subordinates to guard Zhang Pu, and then he let the boat approach the shore and shouted loudly: "If you have any questions, you may as well speak up!"

"Wu Xun's foot fell into the water. My lord said, let Jiang Baotou protect Zhang Xun's house, and nothing will happen."

The words of the Jin Yiwei on the shore immediately surprised Jiang Dong, and he hurriedly asked people to lean towards the shore at a faster speed, and at the same time asked: "What's the matter, will you fall into the water in such a cold day? Then what is going on with Xun Wu now?" ?”

Zhang Pu in the cabin also heard their conversation, and couldn't help being surprised: Why did Wu Changshi slip and fall into the water at this time?

In this kind of weather, even if he didn't drown, he would definitely freeze to death, right?Did he do it on purpose, or was he careless, or did someone harm him?
Thinking of this, Zhang Pu wanted to get out of the cabin in order to find out about this matter.

Immediately, two Dongchang officers, one on the left and one on the right, were on both sides of him and followed him out of the cabin.

"Although Wu Xunyan was rescued, he has a cold and a fever, and he is being treated in Yangzhou. I'm afraid he won't recover in the short term. He has written a memorial and sent it to the capital immediately."

Hearing this, Zhang Pu couldn't help guessing immediately, maybe this guy did it on purpose, right?He himself is a native of Jiangnan, although he is not very clear, but he probably knows water.With Jin Yiwei watching by his side, even if he doesn't know how to use water, he will definitely be rescued soon, but it's just such a cold weather?

When he thought of this, he felt a little colder on his body.He poked his head out to see the condition of the river.Unexpectedly, the two East Factory guards beside him had already heard the conversation. Seeing him like this, they were so frightened that they immediately stepped forward, grabbed him from left to right, and dragged him to the middle of the boat. stand.

Jiang Dong looked back at the situation, immediately frowned, and reminded in a cold voice: "Master Zhang, we are not good at water, if you fall into the water, it may be difficult to save you."

Zhang Pu had a ghost in his heart. Hearing the faint warning in these words, he subconsciously did not dare to refute, but replied: "There are so many mistakes and fall into the water, I think too much!"

After saying this, he didn't want to continue talking with Jiang Dong, so he asked loudly to the Jin Yiwei on the shore: "I don't know how Wu Xunyong fell into the water at that time?"

"It seems that poetry is very popular. I stood at the bow of the boat to recite poems and odes, and then the boat shook a few times suddenly, and Wu Xun fell down." The Jin Yiwei stopped when he saw the boat approaching the shore. He shouted loudly, and said in a normal voice, "The boatman said that there is a torrent here. My adults checked it, and it is true that the current is relatively fast. At that time, there happened to be a wind blowing again."

Just listening to this answer, Zhang Pu couldn't be sure that Wu Changshi fell into the water. What happened?So, he decided to visit him when he passed by Yangzhou Mansion, to find out what he said.

No matter what, with Wu Changshi's current situation, he definitely couldn't continue to do business!That is to say, Zhang Pu has to do what the emperor told him first.

Thinking of this, Zhang Pu couldn't help but feel a little tricky. If this really happened, he would have no precedents to refer to, so he could only cross the river by feeling the stones!
Checking the preferential exemption quota for officials and gentry and urging the payment of owed taxes, how to do it, to what extent, and so on, all depends on one's own improvisation!
Thinking about this matter, Zhang Pu couldn't help but wanted to scold Wu Changshi in his heart. Could it be that he also made up his mind to let himself go on errands first, and he watched from behind, as a reference for him, right?

If this is the case, then he must have done it on purpose when he fell into the water!

With that in mind, he soon arrived at Yangzhou Mansion.

According to the distribution of the emperor, this Yangzhou mansion is the mission of Zhang Pu's inspection.And Wu Changshi still has to go south, but he is staying here now, maybe he really wants to see how he can do business here!
Thinking of this, Zhang Pu wanted to find out more, whether this Wu Changshi did it on purpose or not!
Therefore, after Zhang Pu arrived in Yangzhou Mansion, he did not immediately put on a posture of checking the quota for the preferential treatment and exemption of officials and gentry, nor did he collect the owed taxes, and he didn't even ask for the local account books. He just went to visit Wu Changshi immediately.

Jiang Dong, as the head of the East Factory, mainly guards Zhang Pu's safety and monitors him not to play tricks.As for when and how to do things, he has no right to decide for Zhang Pu.In fact, he also wanted to see what was going on with that Wu Changshi?
So, they soon met Wu Changshi.

In fact, people heard his cough before seeing it.They can tell that it's a real cough, not a fake.

"Brother Wu Xian, how is your health?" Zhang Pu asked in a worried tone when he stepped into the threshold.

Wu Changshi heard it in the house, and quickly asked the maid to help him lean on the head of the bed. At the same time, he looked at Zhang Pu who was striding in, and said with a wry smile: "Brother Zhang, it's a bad year, I didn't expect to fall into the water. I got back to the boat in time, but I also fell ill. Ahem..."

As soon as he said this, he coughed again.Seeing this, the maid hurriedly took a handkerchief to catch the phlegm.

Zhang Pu was in his forties, so he had seen a lot, so he could tell that Wu Changshi was seriously ill.But that didn't dispel his suspicions.

He sat down on the stool in front of the bed, and after Wu Changshi finished coughing, he pretended to be concerned and asked: "It's so cold, why did my brother go to the bow of the boat, and why did he fall off the boat?"

Jiang Dong beside him listened, and also looked concerned, staring at Wu Changshi.If this guy is like Zhang Pu, he really doesn't want to punish those corrupt officials, but if he does this deliberately, he will be ruthless enough to compete with Zhang Pu.

"Oh, don't mention it!" Wu Changshi sighed and said after hearing this, "Isn't it a lot of troubles along the way?"

Zhang Pu didn't understand what he meant, but he nodded truthfully and said, "Yes!"

"So, little brother, I know in my heart that some people don't want you and me to go south." When Wu Changshi said this, his expression seemed to cheer up a little, and he raised his voice and said, "Your Majesty's order, we, as ministers, naturally have to do our best. Do it. What's more, the emperor has already made it clear to us that the two things we are going to do are of great importance. I have also made a promise before the imperial court that I will not hesitate to go through fire and water. Therefore, the younger brother remembered With all kinds of things on the road, I feel more and more that even if there is a mountain of swords and seas of fire ahead, I have to go through it without fear. I am full of pride in my heart, so I want to go to the bow of the boat to blow him in the cold wind, and write a few poems to express my heart, cough Keke..."

As soon as he said this, he coughed again, and coughed for a long time before he stopped.The maid next to him was too busy collecting phlegm and giving him warm water to drink, it was very busy for a while.

Although Zhang Pu didn't hear any flaws, he was unmoved in his heart. Seeing him healed, he pretended to admire and said, "Your brother really has a heart, and his talent is unparalleled. I know this as a brother. What masterpiece did you get? Brother, I believe that if the emperor knows about it, he will appreciate it very much."

When Wu Changshi heard this, he showed a trace of shame and said, "Oh, don't mention it. Before I thought of a good sentence, I didn't expect that the boat encountered a rapid current, and I fell off guard in a flash. My little brother almost lost his life." , even if there is a masterpiece, it will already scare the sky!"

"Oh, is that so?" Zhang Pu said in surprise after hearing this, "Brother Wei thought that when my virtuous brother played the emperor's performance, he would attach your poems to it as a token of his heart!"

There was a hint of irony in these words.Jiang Dong couldn't hear it, but Wu Changshi knew Zhang Pu very well, and he was not bad at learning, so he knew it right away.

He couldn't help cursing in his heart, but on the surface, he was still just like Zhang Pu, full of hypocrisy, and he didn't show it. He just said regretfully: "I really want to do what Brother Zhang said, but it's a pity that my brother was rejected Tortured by this disease, I feel groggy all day long, and I don’t have time to think about things at ease, cough, cough, cough..."

Zhang Pu stared at him. From the conversation just now, he still couldn't tell whether this guy fell into the water on purpose or for some other reason?
But one thing is clear, this guy is so ill now that he must not be able to leave.In this way, Lai is in Yangzhou, far away from his place of work, so he can just watch what he does?No matter what he was originally, at least judging from the results, this guy is definitely going to take advantage!

When he was thinking about it, Wu Changshi finished coughing, and suddenly he said to him with a trace of sincerity: "Although my younger brother didn't attach any poems to the report, although younger brother is sick, he still has the heart to do things, but he doesn't know when he will recover. If I go south to work again, I'm afraid it will delay the errand. Therefore, my younger brother proposed to the emperor that I want to change places with Brother Zhang, so that it will be convenient for me to start my errand immediately after my younger brother recovers from his illness!"

Hearing this, Zhang Pu couldn't help being a little suspicious again, what does he mean by this?He even took the initiative to change places with himself?You know, Yingtian Mansion, which I am in charge of, is the capital, with many officials and gentry, and it is definitely not easy to investigate. This guy will take the initiative to ask for such a place to be investigated?The sun, shouldn't it come out from the west?
The two of them have been together for many years, and they must know each other well.Although Zhang Pu heard Wu Changshi say this, he still didn't believe it, and felt that Wu Changshi's original intention must not be what he said on the surface.It's just that he has no proof.

He was thinking, and Wu Changshi was also staring at him. He probably guessed what he was thinking, and suddenly asked: "Brother Zhang, I was only thinking about myself, so I forgot to ask. I don't know if there is any assassin who assassinated Brother Zhang?" Find out, who is so bold?"

Upon hearing this, Zhang Pu felt a little embarrassed, and at the same time a little annoyed. Do you want to talk more?

But Jiang Dong was by his side, and he didn't dare to show it, so he had to put on an expression filled with righteous indignation, and said in a hateful voice: "When Brother Wei went south, the murderer hadn't been found. You don't know. , that knife only stabbed Brother Wei's leg, and thanks to this guy Jiang who arrived in time, otherwise, the consequences would be disastrous..."

Having said that, he doesn't want to mention this matter anymore.However, Wu Changshi caught up with this matter and asked about it, even asking about the details, more carefully than when Dongchang investigated the case before.

With Jiang Dong by his side, Zhang Pu couldn't evade, and he couldn't tell lies, but he couldn't tell the truth all of the time, which immediately made him feel very difficult, and he wished that Wu Changshi would die immediately!
(End of this chapter)