Chapter 42 Jie Jie Jie!
Hangzhou, as the only direct-controlled prefecture in the Liangzhe region, is of great significance.
When Chu Hong got off the merchant ship and looked at the busy river bank, he knew that Hangzhou was as prosperous as the commercially prosperous Yangzhou.
Chu Hong nodded slightly, and took a quick look at the scenery of Hangzhou. The dark blue river water was sparkling, and the white marks formed by the waves on the river surface were like fluttering ribbons. In the distance, the green mountains were like dark green, and the mountains were shrouded in clouds and mist, which was elegant and fresh.
not bad!
Not long after, several officials in green official robes came trotting over, led by servants.
"Your humble servant, Chen Qi, the magistrate of Hangzhou, greets His Excellency the prefect."
"Your humble servant Wei Lin from the Hangzhou Experience Office greets the prefect."
"I'm a lower official."
Just these individuals?
Where is the Tongzhi of Hangzhou?
There was a hint of dissatisfaction in Chu Hong's peaceful eyes, but he smiled elegantly and casually, looking very happy.
More than a dozen high-ranking officials in Hangzhou were very nervous, sweating profusely and looking away.
Early this morning, a small boat came to inform the prefect when he would arrive at the shore, so they all came here early to wait. The co-prefect has not come yet, and has not sent anyone to keep an eye on him, so it doesn't seem like there was any important matter that delayed him.
The prefect of Hangzhou has not been decided yet, and now the highest official, the Tongzhi, did not come to welcome the new prefect to take office. This is abnormal no matter how you look at it.
If it wasn't accidental, then it must have been intentional.
Many officials held their breath. They couldn't help but welcome him, so they had no choice but to go ahead and do it.
For a moment, the atmosphere was a little solemn.
"Haha, thank you for your help. I will definitely host a banquet for you all when I am settled down."
Chu Hong smiled gently, as if he did not notice the absence of Tongzhi.
"Don't dare."
"My lord please!"
"Ha ha!"
Many officials felt relieved, no matter whether they really didn't care or not, the disaster would fall on the head of the Tongzhi anyway, and as long as they didn't suffer, it would be fine. They immediately stepped forward to help move the gifts, and the group walked towards the prefectural government talking and laughing.
"I am sorry to trouble you all today."
"No trouble, no trouble, it's our duty as an official."
"Your Excellency has come a long way, and I'm sure you must be exhausted from the journey. We won't bother you any more."
"Alright, alright."
"Goodbye, sir."
Chu Hong looked at the departing figures of the crowd elegantly and calmly. When they walked away, his elegant expression dimmed a little.
"Bumu, go check and see what's going on with Ma Ziyi, the Tongzhi of Hangzhou."
Chu Hong's heart, which had been calm until now, was slightly shaken. Are all the big families in Hangzhou so crazy?
As one of the representatives of the local big families in Hangzhou, is Ma Ziyi so arrogant?
Not following the rules!
Unbecoming!
This local big family in Hangzhou is too unruly. They act like landlords and local tyrants, without any of the spirit and style of a big family.
Scholars value their reputation very much, and even when they fail in political struggles, they will "retire voluntarily."
In Yangzhou, even if this senior official does not cooperate, he will at most put you on a high pedestal and give you no real power, but at least you will still have some dignity.
This Hangzhou. Let’s not talk about it!
Chu Hong never thought the trip to Hangzhou was easy, but he didn't think it was difficult either.
As a direct-controlled prefecture, Hangzhou has significant political significance, and naturally there are many large families in the local area. If I remember correctly, the current Silver and Green Guanglu Doctor Li Ming is the highest-ranking official among the major families in Hangzhou.
Yinqing Guanglu Dafu is a honorary position of the third grade.
It’s definitely high, but that’s it.
As a disciple of the Prime Minister, the top scholar, and a descendant of a prominent family in Jiangnan, it is no exaggeration to say that even if Li Ming, the Silver and Green Guanglu Doctor, came to Hangzhou in person, as the host and the local boss, he would have to toast Chu Hong in a proper manner when he met him.
Moreover, even without Han Zhang as his teacher, Chu Hong's current rank is not much inferior to that of Yinqing Guanglu Doctor, and the combined strength of all the major families in Yangzhou is not much different from that of the major families in Hangzhou.
The Silver and Green Guanglu Doctor was just a nominal position of the third grade. According to the practice of the Great Zhou Dynasty to increase one level of salary before retirement, Chu Hong would be higher than Li Ming even if he just lay down and gain experience in the future.
Not to mention, Chu Hong's second grandfather was promoted to a powerful official of the fourth rank some time ago, and his father Chu Yu is also a powerful official of the fifth rank.
The top figures in Hangzhou are on the decline, while the top figures in Yangzhou are on the rise.
It’s not certain who is afraid of whom?
Chu Hong knew clearly that the four major families in Hangzhou were on the decline.
Forty years ago, the highest-ranking official among the major families in Hangzhou could be traced back to the Minister of the Ministry of Revenue. As a second-rank boss, he was one of the most prominent figures in the world.
Now, from a third-rank official position which is still a nominal one, he is almost falling into the ranks of high-ranking officials in Bianliang. He has fallen so much.
Moreover, compared with the big families in Yangzhou, the big families in Hangzhou do not have much control over Hangzhou.
The magistrate of Yangzhou was at most a fifth rank official, and the high-ranking officials who came out of the big families in Yangzhou were far higher than those of the fifth rank. Naturally, the magistrate of Yangzhou could not influence the layout and development of the big families.
Hangzhou is different. It is the administrative center of the Liangzhe area. There are countless high-ranking officials. Even Yan Fu, the governor of the second rank, lives in Hangzhou.
From the second rank, what does this mean?
The highest official position in the Hanlin Academy, which was coveted by scholars all over the world, was only the third rank, and the six ministers were only the second rank. The governor was a real frontier official, and even in Bianjing, he was a top official. With such people in Hangzhou, the control of the Hangzhou clans over the small officials in Hangzhou was doomed to be very low, and the Hangzhou clans were doomed to not dare to spread their roots.
Having said so much, in one sentence, the advantage is mine!
Chu Hong really didn't expect that Ma Ziyi would dare to give him the cold shoulder in public.
Among the three chief officials in Hangzhou, the prefect was promoted and the assistant magistrate was transferred. Only Ma Ziyi, the assistant magistrate, was left. He was the host among the chief officials in Hangzhou. At least he had to come to welcome the new prefect, right?
This has been a long-standing unspoken rule, and also one of the sources of apparent respectability.
Not only do subordinates welcome superiors, sometimes superiors also welcome subordinates. This is a way of giving each other face.
As a result, not only did Ma Ziyi not come, but the servant didn't even leave a message to say hello.
Chu Hong understood that this matter was either a big family in Hangzhou trying to intimidate others, or someone was instigating it.
It would be fine if it was just a show of force, but it would be difficult if someone was instigating it.
However, this is unlikely to be just a simple warning.
Chu Hong will not overestimate himself, but he will not underestimate himself either.
Where do the four major families in Hangzhou get the confidence to intimidate the prime minister's disciples?
That means someone is running it.
But if I remember correctly, Yan Fu, the governor of Liangzhe, is Shen Ge Lao's man. He is over 70 years old, and the two of them are not in the same race, so there is no need for him to target me.
Bian Jing had a teacher to keep him in check. As the prime minister in charge of three of the six ministries, namely the Ministry of Rites, the Ministry of Works and the Ministry of Justice, it was theoretically impossible for Lord Shen to, and he dared not, shake Master Han's position.
After all, there were only two favorite ministers in the civil service, one was Han Zhang and the other was Wang Qinruo.
That Lord Shen is almost reaching retirement age, how dare he do anything rash?
Chu Hong made some guesses and rationally felt that it was unlikely to be something related to Lord Shen.
However, speculation is just speculation, and Chu Hong's inner vigilance has been raised.
High-end games have their own ways of playing, and low-end games have their own ways of playing. If the strong players in high-end games cannot adapt to low-end games, they may fail.
For example, assassination, poisoning and other such methods.
These methods are taboo in Bian Jing and are not allowed to be used. If there is any clue that they are discovered, the imperial guards will be dispatched immediately.
This kind of shady tactics was also what the civil officials in Bian Jing resisted the most.
The more you have, the more you fear and reject this practice.
But it is different in other places. Although these methods are also expressly prohibited, there are actually many derivatives of them.
Horse bandits, water bandits, and enemies chasing after them
Chu Hong frowned slightly. He was not afraid of political struggles at all. The only thing he was afraid of was tricks.
That kind of thing is really hard to guard against.
"Sanqi, send someone to Yangzhou and ask the family elders in Yangzhou to gather hundreds of men who used to be minor officials to come to Hangzhou, and bring a hundred people with martial arts skills above the standard."
"promise!"
Chu Hong gently picked up a cup of tea and started drinking it. No matter if there was someone behind this or not, since this kind of thing had happened, it could not be resolved peacefully.
If Yan Fu is involved in this matter, then Yan Fu will be punished!
If the old man from the Shen family is involved in this matter, the worst that can happen is that he will be transferred to a safe place and endure for six or seven years. When my uncle ascends the throne, he will directly confiscate their property, exterminate their entire clan, and kill all nine generations of their family!
After Sanqi and Bumu left, Chu Hong gently closed the windows and doors. A bright light flashed, and a palm-sized iron block of strange shape appeared in his hand.
This is the truth!
This is also a device for equality among all living beings!
Chu Hong looked into the distance. Being qualified to be the Tongzhi of Hangzhou, this Ma Ziyi must not be a stupid person.
If he were alone and had no one to rely on, Ma Ziyi would never dare to do this.
Even Li Ming, the Silver and Green Guanglu Doctor, would never dare to do so.
Chu Hong believed that Ma Ziyi would definitely not be able to defeat him in a political fight. They had already fought in the peak competition, so why should he be afraid of this little Karami?
The power of the prime minister's disciples is too great, and Lord Shen's influence is far from spreading throughout Jiangsu and Zhejiang.
His reputation had long been known throughout the world. As long as he spread the word that he needed people, many Hangzhou officials would surely come to him for help, and it would be only a matter of time before a political struggle broke out and Ma Ziyi was overthrown.
However, this is too time-consuming and too susceptible to external influences.
Ma Ziyi is backed by several major families in Hangzhou. If one wants to defeat Ma Ziyi without resorting to the efforts of a powerful figure like the Prime Minister who is above the prefectures and counties, it will take at least three months.
Not only do they have to slowly support their own people, but they also have to frustrate Ma Ziyi's authority, alienate several major families, and make them realize that it is not worth it for Ma Ziyi, so that they will slowly bow their heads.
And this is the result without being affected by any external factors.
It's really too slow.
It’s too troublesome, too troublesome!
Chu Hong also knew that several major families in Hangzhou might want to live in peace with him while maintaining their own interests, and the two sides were not so tense.
This is also the best result on the surface.
However, there is no need to consider these, and they are no longer important.
Because he has taken a fancy to Hangzhou and he wants this place!
Hangzhou is a nice place with outstanding people and beautiful scenery. It is a place where people with virtue live!
Chu Hong smiled gently. Since he was afraid of the outside moves, he could just take the initiative to use them.
If the Tongzhi died quietly, wouldn't Hangzhou be in chaos?
Now that the Tongzhi of Hangzhou has died, things have become much easier.
In times of turmoil, some things are much easier to observe!
Who would have thought that the real murderer was the prefect who was not even familiar with official duties?
What, you dare to doubt?
Are you doubting Chu Zifeng, the direct disciple of the Prime Minister, the current doctor, the prefect of Hangzhou, the doctor of the Ministry of Rites, and the world-renowned "Phoenix of Jiangnan"?
Are you really suspicious, or are you trying to stir up party disputes, or do you want to disrupt the world?
Shouldn’t the real murderer be Ma Ziyi’s competitors, the other three major families in Hangzhou?
Jie Jie Jie!
Ahem, you can’t laugh like that. How could the upright Chu Zifeng laugh so hypocritically?
(End of this chapter)