Chapter 109 Section 109 Carefully Discover New Problems

Dai Li is about fifty years old, with a few messy beards, a razor-sharp face, thick eyebrows and big eyes, and he licks his lips with his tongue when he doesn't speak. He always looks like he hasn't eaten enough and keeps savoring.New boots, cloth coat, dressed fairly neatly. Zeng Guofan said with a smile, "I don't know what you can teach me when you come to my house?" Dai Li stood up and said, "Dai Li came to the mansion this time to thank Mr. Zeng for his kindness in helping Brother Yu get out of the sea of ​​suffering." Zeng Guofan was taken aback by the words, and said: "Hiding the real situation of the students and falsely reporting the resumes of the students is really an act of deceiving the court! There is nothing wrong with the Ministry's official participation in you. I hope you can do your own thing, be a good person, and try your best. Make a comeback and serve the imperial court."

Dai Li smiled and said, "Your Excellency misunderstood Dai's meaning. Your Excellency enforces the law impartially, and there is nothing wrong with it. Dai Li is really here to thank you! Dai was born in the Imperial Academy and has been an official in the Ministry of Rites. Every day What a joy to sing poems and write essays with a group of old friends besides running errands! But ever since he was released from the position of magistrate of Wanping County, Dai has never dared to straighten his back to handle cases and be a man. After two years, he was like walking dead , Sometimes I don’t even know who I am. Didn’t your lord notice that Dai Li has a hunchback? When he was working in the Ministry of Rites, Dai Li’s body was straighter than a bowstring!”

Zeng Guofan became strange and couldn't help asking: "You are a dignified sixth-rank Jing County, and you work for the court. How did you become like this?" Dai Li said: "My lord has been an official in the capital for a long time, how do you know the difficulties of being a county in the capital? There are more than 20 squires in Wanping who were granted the title of Marquis and Boss, and there are three or four who are still alive. Which one has entered the county government office?" Dai Li dare not stand up and speak! There are countless people like Rongfa with military merits. Dai Li is terrified in the county government every day. These subjects can kill Dai Li at any time! Your Excellency Why, you have relieved Brother Yu of this burden, isn't it a great kindness? Dai is not a person if he doesn't come to say thank you? Dai has to return to his hometown several times, the emperor forbids it! I am about to set off to return home. The mountains and rivers of Shanxi are never missing in my dreams. Ye Luo returned to her roots, and finally saved her life and returned home. Fortunately, fortunately!"

Zeng Guofan rushed to the door and shouted "serve tea", then turned around and said, "The head of the Ministry never expected that there would be such difficulties in being a Jingxian County! Dai Li, I am really sorry for you, brother. I don't know which brother took over the Jingxian County. Missing points?" Dai Li said: "This is a matter of the royal family, and it has nothing to do with Dai Li. However, in the prefectures and counties of Shun and Feng Er prefectures, non-competent people cannot be promoted. The birthplace of the royal family, how do you care about it? Your Excellency has investigated the case of Shuntian Mansion, don’t you know what it’s like? I can’t remember it more clearly. When you were old, you were just promoted to a second-rank cabinet bachelor. Before you finished the case, you were downgraded to fourth-rank. It’s been a few days Down three levels, what a pain!"

Li Bao came in with two cups of tea. After putting them down, he nodded at Dai Li, said "Tea please", and went out. Dai Li stood up at this moment and said: "Mr. Dai still needs to go back to pack her luggage, so I won't disturb your lord's rest. Please leave this time for Mr. Dai." Zeng Guofan sincerely asked to stay: "If you come, you will be safe, so what's the problem if you leave Beijing one day later? My brother is a free man now, so he can stretch his waist and play in the capital for two days. Let's see who dares to do anything!" After hearing this, Dai Li really sat down again, his whole body really relaxed a lot, and his conversation became naturally smoother.He stuck out his tongue and licked his lips and said, "Thank you for your reminder. If your lord is not too annoying, brother Yu will bother you for a while. I wonder if you have dinner before? How about brother Yu asking you to eat big dishes?"

Zeng Guofan secretly said, "What a free and easy Dai Li", but said in his mouth: "It's been too long for dinner, so I don't need to bother my dear friend. There is still something unclear in this department, and I have to ask my dear friend for advice. I remember that this department has just been appointed to act as an agent. When I was the Minister of Criminal Affairs, when I summarized the major cases in Shuntian Mansion throughout the year, there was a case in Wanping County, which left a deep impression on me, and it still lingers in my mind." Dai Li didn't wait for Zeng Guofan to finish his sentence, he smiled and said, "If it wasn't for Dai Li's amnesia, what my lord is talking about is the case of embezzlement of public funds by the county magistrate Wang Zhengfu."

"Exactly!" Zeng Guofan interjected, "It seems that he embezzled public funds, then took power by force, raped a dumb girl under his subordinates, was caught by the porter, and was taken to the government. Beheaded. According to the laws of the Qing Dynasty, the headquarters felt that the sentence was too heavy, so it was changed to three thousand li exile." Dai Li leaned forward and asked, "May I ask my lord, does your lord know Wang Zhengfu?" Zeng Guofan said: "The main hall doesn't know Wang Zhengfu, but he went to the Ministry of Officials to check his case files. Wang Zhengfu is also a person who came from the second list, and he entered the office earlier than you and me. What the main hall has always been unable to let go of is that, How could Wang Zhengfu, a man in his fifties, be willing to put his own future and life at risk for a dumb girl, and do such abnormal things. Another thing that surprised the Motobutang, the Motobutang checked Wang Zhengfu's resume , when Wang Zhengfu left Beijing, he sacrificed wine from the fourth-rank Guozijian, and when he was released to Shuntian Mansion, he was a missing member of the fourth-rank mansion. , when the case happened, he became a seventh-rank magistrate of Wanping County! Dare Wang Zhengfu’s fame be donated? Others are getting bigger and bigger when they become officials, but why is his official status getting smaller and smaller?”

Dai Li said: "Your Excellency can really tell jokes. Wang Zhengfu not only writes well, but his official position is as clear as water and as clear as a mirror. Well, Dai Li has been nagging for a long time, and Your Excellency should also rest." After speaking, Stand up energetically. Zeng Guofan said: "This department is about to chat with my dear friend for a while. This department has a few words to ask you. Wang Zhengfu's case, but you tried it?" Dai Li stood up and said: "Wang Zhengfu is my direct subordinate and has been my Shangxian. How can I decide the case? I should evade it as a rule. From the beginning to the end, it was all directly reviewed by the Shuntian Mansion Hall. I even You can't even rely on it. Wang Zhengfu is so lucky! Didn't your lord change his mind, isn't he doomed?"

"From my dear friend's tone, could it be that Wang Zhengfu has been wronged? Why is he not Beijing Control?" "I heard that Wang Zhengfu was also prosecuted in Beijing, but because of the solid evidence, he was dismissed by the Ministry of Punishment." "The servant of the Ministry of Punishment is in charge of the Ministry, why haven't you seen his Beijing Control?" Dai Li laughed and said, "My lord, you really should take a break. You keep asking me, who am I going to ask? Dai Li has to leave." After speaking, he gave a deep salute and strode out with his back straight.

Zeng Guofan had no choice but to yell out the door: "See off the guests!" This day was originally a statutory holiday of the Qing court, but Zeng Guofan still came to the Ministry of Punishment in a sedan chair after dinner.As soon as he entered the criminal department, the officer on duty was taken aback: "My lord, why did you come to work today?" Zeng Guofan smiled, and said as he walked towards the office, "It is said that Master Li Wen'an is coming to see me." The officer on duty replied: "Master Li has returned to his hometown to recuperate for many days, and now he is the acting doctor of Lord Hong Xiang."

Zeng Guofan said: "Then pass it on to Lord Hong." Zeng Guofan sat down and saw more than a dozen case files from newspapers from various places on the desk. He couldn't help talking to himself: "Well, there are many cases due to natural disasters and man-made disasters." Hong Xiang walked in at this time, and the officer on duty was busy making tea for Zeng Guofan. As soon as Zeng Guofan saw Hong Xiang, he said, "Master Hong, I'm sorry to trouble you to bring Wang Zhengfu's Beijing control papers from Wanping County. The Headquarters wants to have a look." Hong Xiang lowered his hand and replied: "My lord, the Beijing control papers of Wang Zhengfu's criminals came during my lord's visit to Shanxi. On the day I arrived, I was dismissed and presented to the chief minister. The chief minister turned to the sky to read the judgment file submitted by the Shuntian mansion. I decided that Wang Zhengfu's case was judged fairly and clearly by the Shuntian Mansion, not to mention that your lord has changed the original sentence of beheading to exile, and Wang Zhengfu wants to be prosecuted by Beijing, which is a nonsense act, so I dismissed it and returned it." Zeng Guofan pondered for a while and said: "Lord Hong, I'm sorry to bother you to give the Shuntian Mansion the injunction to expropriate Wang Zhengfu's original status in Beijing. Do it now. Let's go." Hong Xiang was stunned for a moment, and said: "My lord, Wang Zhengfu's Beijing control has been refuted by the chief criminal officer, and it seems unreasonable for the Ministry of Punishment to issue a petition for a call. My lord, there must be a reason to be dismissed before handling it." Zeng Guofan thought for a while, and said: "The main hall is filling up the laws and regulations of the Qing Dynasty, so let's mark the summary data for use." Hong Xiang promised, "I'll follow your lord's instructions," and walked out. The duty officer came in with tea.Zeng Guofan waited for him to put down the tea, and asked, "What's wrong with Mr. Li Wen'an?" The officer on duty replied respectfully: "Responding to my lord's words, on the second day after your lord left Beijing, lord Li caught a cold and asked for leave for three consecutive days. Later, he got on the Taoist scripture to ask for an official post to recuperate his illness, saying that he He is old and weak, and his mother is sick. If he is not filial, he will lose his chance. The emperor was moved by Mr. Li's filial piety, so he gave him half a year's leave. Mr. Li only left a house for Li Hanlin, and the rest of the houses They were all sold, and they left Beijing and returned to Anhui with their family members in a few days, and the officials wanted to see Master Li off, but they didn’t catch up. Judging by Master Li’s appearance, he is really planning to retire.” Zeng Guofan waved his hands without saying a word, and the duty officer Nuonuo withdrew. Zeng Guofan picked up the tea bowl and took a sip, then suddenly gave a wry smile. This Li Wen'an is really a cunning old man!Guotai Minan, sickness has never been reported, every day is the first to go to the office, and always the last to leave, conscientious and conscientious, lest someone accidentally offend the superiors and get some punishment.But now, with natural disasters and bandits, the national treasury is deficient, and they can make a living without an official status.More than half of the officials in Beijing have already returned home on leave, so Li Wen'an also decided to get rid of Wusha and run away.Li Wen'an said how cunning and cunning! "My lord!" A voice called out Zeng Guofan, but it turned out to be Hong Xiang. Hong Xiang lowered his hands and said, "The message has been sent out according to your lord's order. According to the normal calculation, you will be back tomorrow. My lord, I want to ask for leave for a while." Zeng Guofan smiled and said: "Master Hong, as a doctor, you don't have to be so cautious. Some things can also be done by the duty officer, so why do you have to do it yourself?" Hong Xiang said: "My lord doesn't know something. Of course I have to bother the officer on duty for some things, but this matter has to be done by the officer himself, so it may not be possible. Cough!" As he spoke, he let out a long and heavy sigh. Zeng Guofan said: "If you dare, Master Hong, what's bothering you?" Hong Xiang said: "You don't have to hide my lord, I have a relative. It has been two months since I introduced him to Beijing, and I haven't been close yet. My relative goes to the Ministry of Officials to wait for letters every day, but the Ministry of Officials keeps us waiting every day." That's right. I asked an acquaintance from the Ministry of Officials to inquire yesterday. It turns out that the introduction of an official now requires a payment of three hundred taels of silver. My relative has been in Beijing for two months and is at the end of his rope. How can I get this money? What? So I asked me to find a familiar bank to borrow money. I am going to take a leave of absence from an official to do this." Zeng Guofan was taken aback by Hong Xiang's words, and he couldn't help but ask: "The purpose of the introduction is to commend good officials, why do you have to pay first? This really puzzles the Benbutang. I think of the time when the Benbutang was a good scholar in the Imperial Academy. , did not send gold or silver, although it was delayed for half a year, the official department introduced it as usual? Master Hong, don’t let it be an excuse for your relative to go to some other way?” Hong Xiang said: "Responding to my lord's words, this relative of the lower official is an extremely honest person both as a man and as an official. He has served two terms as a magistrate in Hubei, but he still doesn't have much luggage. Seeing that he is a poor official, the governor's office Let him go to Beijing to discuss excellence, and prepare to promote him to a higher level. When he heard that he was going to leave his post and come to Beijing to introduce him, the people in the city suddenly made a fuss to send him off, and only a dozen of them were accepted by Wanmin Umbrella. Cough! My lord, you Lao Nai is a good scholar who will leave the museum after his term expires, and the officials will have to introduce him sooner or later. My relative is introduced by promotion, it's different!" Upon hearing this, Zeng Guofan took two steps away from the case, thought for a while, and said: "This is a rare and good official. Master Hong, you should go to the bank quickly. Living in the capital as a guest is too expensive, and he has no savings like him." How did you get the man! Introduced one day earlier and returned to Ren sooner. Master Hong, the Ministry wants to ask his name again." Hong Xiang replied: "Master Xie, his name is Yan Qing, and his name is Yuren." Then he turned and walked out. Zeng Guofan spread out eight lines of paper here, and began to write while thinking.He wanted to present to the emperor what he had heard from Hong Xiang.If the official department does this, the heart of the official will be cold! After returning home, he thought over some words and sentences in the booklet before transcribing it.The title of the zhezi is: "Officials should not collect silver zhe for introducing officials".