Go back to ancient times to engage in sideline business

"Dongcheng gatekeeper Tang Zhong, are you convicted?"

Lin Zhixian sat on the grand teacher's chair and knocked the cup in his hand to the tea table, showing the majesty of his parents and officials.

Tang Zhong knelt on the cold floor and raised his head.

"I don't know why the adults want to condemn the villain?"

He was taken all the way to the county government office by the arresters, but the place where he was tried was not in the court, but in a side hall of the county government office.

As soon as he entered, the guards who were escorting all closed the door and retreated. Only Lin Zhixian and the master secretary standing aside were left in the side hall.

If something goes wrong, there must be a demon, Tang Zhong only thinks that they should have other plans.

"Still pretending to be garlic!"

Lin Zhixian slapped the tea table heavily, making the cups clank.

The master secretary hurriedly gave him a wink, beckoning him to speak.

"I heard that you have to go to Fuxing Restaurant once every ten days. Every time you go, you either close the door to have a secret conversation with shopkeeper Liu, or go directly to the backyard to avoid people's eyes and ears. We all have witnesses for these, do you recognize it?"

Tang Zhong still didn't know what they were planning, so he followed the master's words: "Where is the witness? Did you see it with your own eyes, or heard it with your own ears?"

Lin Zhixian: "Tang Zhong! Now I'm asking you alone, I'm giving you a chance, don't be ignorant!"

"Your Excellency, calm down, I'll come, I'll come..." The chief book suppressed Lin Zhixian's anger again, and continued to put on a red face.

He sighed softly, paced over, and slowly squatted down beside Tang Zhong.

As soon as he opened his mouth, there was a regretful tone: "Tang Zhong, you are the only hereditary gatekeeper in Qingjiang County, and even in the entire Yongning Mansion. You know, many ordinary people can't compete with a government servant even if they break their heads. Location."

"As for you, you are only [-] years old this year, and you are already a registered servant at the Dongcheng Gate. Of course, your father has contributed to this, but more of it is the grace from above, so you should cherish it!"

If it was in the past, Tang Zhong might still curry favor with the people in the yamen, trying to get away with it.

But now, after seeing how Linzhi County oppressed the people in the city, he hated these corrupt officials from the bottom of his heart.

"The villain is stupid, if you have something to say, you may as well speak up."

Seeing that there was no improvement after hinting for a long time, the master book snorted, shook off his sleeves and stood up, simply speaking.

"The magistrate of Lin thinks that you have contributed to the construction of the People's Square, and rented advertising space to increase revenue for the government, so I can give you a chance to redeem your crimes. As long as you tell the truth, which merchants in the city do you have dealings with?"

At this time, Lin Zhixian's face was full of complacency: "With your ability, if you say that you only deal with one restaurant for profit, I won't believe it!"

Only then did Tang Zhong understand.

It turned out that under the guise of lenient punishment, the two just wanted to induce him to name other merchants, so as to use this as an excuse to search for people's fat.

It's really a good plan!

The master secretary continued to speak earnestly: "People are high or low, and scholars, farmers, businessmen, and businessmen have always been the same. As an official, why do you have to sacrifice yourself to protect those lowly businessmen? Don't trample your own iron rice bowl!"

As the master said, people living in this dynasty were firmly welded to their respective positions by the framework of class identity.

Studying and becoming an official is the right way, but buying and selling is to seek profits, and it is the end of life.

However, have you ever thought that these merchants are also ordinary people, and they are also ordinary citizens who abide by the law.

What selfishness, what iron rice bowl!Ask him to sell shopkeeper Liu, Gao's father and son, and Blacksmith Wang for himself.

Can't do it!

"No businessman wants to collude with me!" Tang Zhong straightened his back, and replied affirmatively to Lin Zhixian who was ahead.

"It's just that I, as an official servant, go to Fuxing Restaurant to borrow money maliciously every ten days. The mule carts carrying vegetables in the restaurant pass by the east gate every day. If they don't give me any favors, I will rely on what I have." This little bit of power, forcibly detaining the driver, makes it impossible for them to open the door for business for a day!"

"what!"

The magistrate of Lin obviously didn't believe that someone actually took the charge on him!

"I advise you to think clearly before answering!"

Tang Zhong directly ignored the warnings in Lin Zhixian's words, and insisted: "The villain thinks very clearly, and every sentence is true. The magistrate has a wealth of money, and I will follow the example, and I have to take the initiative to learn to eat and get cards. ?”

"presumptuous!"

The teacup that was originally placed on the table fell down solidly at this moment and shattered into pieces by Tang Zhong's side.

"Stubborn! Wait until the trial, and see if you are still as stubborn as you are today! Someone, take it away!"

The yamen servants outside the door heard the order, quickly entered the door, grabbed Tang Zhong's shoulders from left to right, and pushed him down.

After a long time, the chief secretary observed Lin Zhixian's slightly calm face, and asked cautiously: "Do you want to arrest everyone from Fuxing Restaurant?"

Lin Zhixian rubbed his temples and waved his sleeves.

"Master Tongzhi is going to the county tomorrow. There is no reason for this matter, so let's let it go for now. After dealing with Master Tongzhi, I will drag you to the prison and be whipped regardless of the testimony. Be honest!"

"Then...the city gate guard surnamed Zhang waiting outside, what should we do?"

Lin Zhixian, who was already welling up with blood, felt his temples throbbing again when he heard this.

He was already worried enough when he heard that Master Tong Zhi, who was checking the accounts, had come down.Right now, Tang Zhong, who is in business, has not found any oil or water, and he is even more depressed.

All day long, why are there still countless small things to ask him to decide!

"You can figure it out! Don't let him run around and talk nonsense these days!"

The master secretary nodded, thinking that he had to find a secluded place in the backyard and lock up Lao Zhang for a few days.

"By the way, my lord, according to reports from the brothers in front, we have chased to the boundary of Yongning Mansion, and there is still no trace of Chen Yuanbao, is it..."

"Send more people to look for it!" Zhixian Lin only felt the veins on his forehead twitch violently, and habitually wanted to catch the teacup on the case and throw it on the ground.

I took a break from the left and right, and looked at the broken porcelain pieces on the ground by the door, which made me even more angry.

"Go! Send a few more teams out! Regardless of life or death, you must be captured by this official! If it breaks, this official will be promoted, and I want you to look good!"

"Yes yes yes!" The master handed over his hands and immediately ran out the door.

The county government prison is located next to the public kitchen, and Tang Zhong had to pass by the door countless times every time he came to pick up meals.

I never thought that one day, I would live in it myself.

Passing through the outer door, the light in the prison dimmed instantly.

Tang Zhong's eyes couldn't adapt, and he couldn't see the road under his feet clearly for a while, so he could only let the guards on both sides escort him to the depths of the prison.

The damp and rotten smell is mixed with a bit of musty smell, which gets thicker the further you go in.

Tang Zhong couldn't help but sneezed, the next moment he staggered and was pushed into a cell.

"That's it, go in!"

The jailer removed his chains, closed the cell door and left quickly.

But any normal person would not want to stay in such a dark and humid environment for a moment.

After his eyes had adapted to the surrounding environment, Tang Zhong walked to the prison pillar, looked at the county prison in front of him, and felt a trace of sadness in his heart.

The small cell he was in had a small window against the wall for ventilation.

In the large cell opposite, not only was it darker, but each cell was crowded and cramped, with at least a dozen people detained.

Among them, there are old men with gray hair and young people who are still childish.

But unlike what I imagined, there are no cries of grievances here one after another.

On the contrary, in the entire county prison, apart from the occasional laughter of the jailers coming from the door, the rest was deathly silence.

That's right, with such a parent who covers the sky with one hand, how can crying for grievances be more useful than money?

After gradually calming down, Tang Zhong only felt a little ridiculous.

It is said that the magistrate of Lin County loves money, so why not himself?

If it wasn't for the sake of earning more money, why would he be looking for side jobs everywhere, thinking every day when he would be able to get rich?

But when he thought about it carefully, he still couldn't learn from Linzhi County's behaviors that only cared about making money and disregarded morality.

Perhaps, this is the difference between him being able to sit high in the lobby and himself being imprisoned!

Guessing the words "a gentleman loves money and obtains it in a proper way", it is considered fart in Qingjiang County!

After kneeling for too long in the county government hall, Tang Zhong felt that his knees were still aching, so he found a dry pile of straw and sat down, straightened his legs and feet, and leaned the back of his head against the cold brick wall...

After an unknown amount of time, there was a clanging sound, and Tang Zhong woke up suddenly, only to realize that he had fallen asleep unknowingly.

Looking up through the prison pillar, I saw a jailer with a key hanging on his waist, walking quickly towards this side.

And behind him, there was another person following.

"Hutouer, why are you here?"

Tang Zhong was surprised and delighted, he never expected that the first person to visit him in prison was Hu Bingyi.

Hu Tou'er kept a straight face, and waited until the jailer finished leading the way back, then he gave him a gouged look: "You boy, are you really colluding with businessmen outside?"

Seeing that Tang Zhong was silent and didn't answer, he simply didn't mention it.

"Forget it, anyway, it's locked in now, so the reason doesn't matter anymore."

As he spoke, Hu Tou'er took out a bag of things from his bosom, and passed it through the prison post to Tang Zhong's hand.

"I've told Prisoner Duan to find you a cleaner cell. But the guards under Bao Qi will make things difficult for you."

"I know, there are only three children in your family, so I can't help you. Here are some scattered silver, you keep it with you, and if you encounter difficult jailers, take some out and send them away."

"This..." Tang Zhong never thought that Hu Tou'er would do so much for him, his heart felt sour, his throat tightened, and he didn't know what to say for a while.

"Don't be a mother-in-law like a woman! Take it away! It's agreed, you borrowed these, and after you come out, you have to deduct them from your salary!"

Hu Tou'er was aggressive, but at the end of his voice, there was still a slight tremor.

The two looked at each other speechlessly, not knowing what else to say in this situation.

After a while, it was Hu Tou'er who was unwilling: "Damn it, you usually have so many weird ideas in your mind, can't you think of a way to escape the prison for yourself?"

Escape from prison?

It is difficult for a strong dragon to overwhelm a local snake. If you want to fight for absolute authority in a region, you will only pay a double and heavy price.

He thought about it, whether it was Shan Jiuye, or the Yang family and the Qi family, they were not sure that they could save him.

Now, his life is not in danger, acting rashly will only harm others.

In a daze, Tang Zhong felt for his sleeve pocket as if he suddenly thought of something.

Immediately afterwards, he took out a ball of paper and handed it to Hu Tou'er.

"This is?"

"This is a draft of the calculation formula to check the dimensions of each part when I designed the donkey-powered boat."

Hu Tou'er only felt that his jaw was about to drop from shock.

"That donkey..."

His voice was too loud, so he held his breath and spoke again under his throat: "Some time ago, the donkey that caused a commotion in the city and won the award of Linzhi County was also made by you?"

Tang Zhong smiled wryly and said, "That's right!"

Early in the morning, at the gate of the west city of Qingjiang County, Lin Zhixian stood in the middle of the city gate, wearing an official uniform with ironing boards.

Behind him stood the third class of yamen servants in the yamen, who were also neatly tidied up and stood upright in several rows.

At about [-] o'clock, the horse team led a low-topped carriage and appeared on the official road ahead.

"Here we come! Quick! Bring the things up!"

After Lin Zhixian gave an order, the county magistrates and chief bookkeepers behind him brought out tea and snacks one after another, and stood on the left and right sides of him, waiting eagerly.

In the carriage that was driving towards the west city gate, the servant also stretched his neck.

I have heard a lot of strange things about Qingjiang County before, and I have long wanted to see what this small town looks like.

The boy lifted up the corner of the curtain, and before he could take a closer look at the city gate, he sat back in his seat with a puzzled face.

"There are a lot of people coming up ahead, as if they are here to greet you."

Liu Tongzhi raised his eyelids, and there was a trace of disdain under his slightly raised cheekbones.

"So what, they are just a group of flattering mediocre officials. The word is spread that no parking is allowed at the gate of the city, and they rush straight to the posthouse!"

The boy scratched the back of his head: "Are you just leaving them alone like this?"

"Let's just hang it out, Linzhi County should be a little bit self-aware!"

Outside the carriage, Lin Zhixian was holding his head up, and he had already raised his arms in advance. When Mr. Liu Tongzhi's carriage stopped, he bowed himself to salute.

Who would have thought that the horse team in front was going faster and faster, and they were about to pass through the city gate in the next moment, and they didn't even have the slightest intention to rein in.

It was too late to say that, Lin Zhixian quickly dodged away, only to feel that the heat from the horse's nose had already sprayed on his face.

With a clatter of horseshoes, the whole team galloped away from under the gate of the west city.

All of a sudden, there was dust flying under the west city gate, and the sound of coughing shook the sky.

When the dust settled, a layer of dust had accumulated on Linzhi County and everyone below the city tower.

Lin Zhixian angrily shook off the dust on his body, looked at the horse team going east, spat hard on the ground, and couldn't stop cursing inwardly: "The surname Liu, just wait for the official's order to come down, who will report to whom in the future?" Bowing and saluting, not necessarily!"

Almost at the same moment when Liu Tongzhi's car drove past the west city gate, a man in ragged clothes staggered and fell on the steps hundreds of miles away in front of the governor's office.

"Where is the beggar, get away, stay and go!"

The gate guard reprimanded a few times, but the people below the steps were silent.

"What's going on? He shouldn't have died at the door!"

Unable to see the man's face clearly, the guard fetched a stick from behind the door, thinking of using the stick to test it out, to see if he was dead or alive.

Just when the stick was about to fall on the man's chest, a muddy hand lifted up vigorously and firmly grasped the other end of the stick.

"Your Excellency! I have something important to do, please see the Governor!"

Linzhi County never imagined that this Liu Tongzhi from Yongning Mansion was more difficult to deal with than imagined.

A group of people arrived at the post house without even warming up the stools, so they urged the county government to box up the account books over the years one by one and send them over for inspection.

Even though Lin Zhixian was full of resentment in his heart, he did not dare to directly disobey.He only replied that in the backyard of the county government office, the wine and food had been prepared to welcome the wind, and he warmly invited Mr. Tongzhi to come and enjoy the honor.

The guard who didn't want to be sent to the post house was beaten twice by the guard under Tongzhi and rushed back, and asked by the way, when will the ledger be delivered.

Lin Zhixian felt that he was slapped in the face again, so he jumped up and beat the table angrily: "Fucking Liu Ruocun, you really don't take me seriously!"

"My lord, don't be angry, he is in a hurry to compete with you for time!"

The chief secretary helped Lin Zhixian back to the grand teacher's chair, and continued: "Master Liu has come to the door several times to urge him, doesn't he just know that there is not much time to embarrass us? My lord, don't be angry, the governor's yamen's order is already on the way. Just be patient for another day, when the time comes, you will be promoted to Liu Tongzhi's boss, and we will see who punishes whom!"

With one word to wake up the person in the dream, Lin Zhixian felt that his whole body was smooth when he looked back.

"Order to go down, the yamen will be closed these few days. If anyone comes to ask, just say that the official is busy with government affairs and has gone to the countryside to make inspections in person!"

The officer was ordered to step down, and Lin Zhixian got up slowly and walked to the door. Looking at the bright spring sun outside, he couldn't help but close his eyes and sincerely prayed: "I would like to ask the meritorious service in the sky to bless the special envoy of the governor's yamen, and come quickly." Come quickly!"

Perhaps it was Linzhi County's obsession with promotion that moved God.

After waiting behind closed doors for two consecutive days, at noon on the third day, his servants came to report that the cavalry team of special envoys from the governor's yamen had rested at the nearest post station outside the city and were riding towards Qingjiang County.

Linzhi County is like a bug after being stunned. It has finally survived the severe winter and can finally climb up the branches and regain its spirit.

"Come on, come here with a basin of clean water, I need to freshen up and go out to welcome the transfer order!"

Half an hour later, the closed gate of the county government suddenly opened, and the newly dressed Lin Zhixian walked in front, stepping across the threshold in a heroic manner, with a radiant face.

"Look, my lord! It's here! My little one congratulates you in advance!"

"Congratulations to Mr. Lin for his promotion!"

The officials behind him stepped out of the threshold one after another, all with joy on their faces, congratulating each other without stopping.

Lin Zhixian was already grinning from ear to ear. Seeing the leading envoy reining in his horse, he rolled up his sleeves, walked down the steps majestically, and walked in front of the envoy.

Liu, aren't you Heng?When the transfer order is announced, let's see who steps on whom!

"Lin Yue, magistrate of Qingjiang County, accept the order!"

Lin Zhixian helped the black gauze on the top of his head, bowed forward and spread his hands: "My subordinate Lin Yue, I will receive the order from the governor."

The special envoy shook his head solemnly and corrected: "Master Lin, this is not a transfer order, but a dismissal order!"

"What? What?"

"Order, immediately remove Lin Yue to the post of magistrate of Qingjiang County, and escort him to the governor's yamen for investigation. The authority of Qingjiang county magistrate will be in the hands of Liu Ruocun, the magistrate of Yongning Prefecture!"

The special envoy squeezed out a polite smile: "Lin Yue, take off the black yarn official robe and come with us!"

Several hours later, there was a sound of hurried footsteps in the prison of Qingjiang County.

It sounded like a group of people had come.

Tang Zhong opened his eyes from his drowsiness, and suddenly found that there were strange faces outside the cell, and there was an adult with a stern face and slightly high cheekbones among them.

He doesn't recognize the court clothes of this era, but it seems that the official rank should be higher than that of the county magistrate.

I only heard the first sentence uttered by this lord, which was surprisingly similar to the interrogation of Lin Zhixian a few days ago: "Tang Zhong, the gatekeeper of Dongcheng, are you guilty?"