The Famous Detective of the Red Mansion - Chapter 83

Chapter 83: Sun Shaozong’s Office Invite People and Wang Ziteng to Build a Giant Ship in the Eastern Sea

The next morning, Sun Shaozong looked out through the crack of the door and found that there was another “tough guy” under the umbrella. He was sitting on the bench trembling. His long white beard could be used as a broomstick. He was shaking with a bamboo stick. At first glance, his bones were not very strong.

This was a sin!

Sun Shaozong sighed in silence, then turned around and told Zhao Zhongji, “Be extra attentive. If you see anything wrong, let the doctors go out for treatment!”

Zhao Zhongji nodded and bowed, and then he added, “If the doctor we asked can’t handle it, hurry and send them home. Even if we have to force them, we have to carry them back. We can’t let anyone die at our door!”

It’s not the same situation to die in front of an official’s door when complaining about injustice and to die at home after complaining about injustice. Therefore, there has been no shortage of cases of treating a dead person as a living person through the ages and announcing their death afterward.

However, Sun Shaozong could not be blamed for being cold-blooded.

After all, there were only a few unjust, false, and wrong cases such as the “intelligent child’s dismemberment case.” Almost all the relatives of those criminals outside the door deserve what they deserve. He couldn’t just ignore the justice of the country’s law just because a few old men and women cry, right?

If that’s the case, it’s time for the victim’s family to block the door!

After making a proper explanation, Sun Shaozong confirmed that the carriage had gone out ahead of schedule and was waiting at the old place. Sun Shaozong then climbed over the wall and escaped like a thief.

It was once again a silent trip. When they got to the gate of the government office, although some people were blocking the way and shouting their grievances, there were Yamen guards who were responsible for opening the road in front of them, so they didn’t have to worry about getting entangled by old men and women.

After entering the government office, Sun Shaozong was relieved. He first reported for the morning call and then walked to the criminal department.

As soon as he entered the gate of the criminal department, he saw a pile of things under the south wall. He called two small officials on duty to inquire about it, and it turned out that the “subsidies of the three hottest seasons” issued by the Imperial Court had arrived.

“Master.”

One of the petty officials complains casually, “The others are still fine. However, this year’s tea is really bad. I heard that the County Magistrate whined about the matter for a long time when he signed for it yesterday!”

Sun Shaozong has heard about this for a long time. This year, not only the Central Judicial Office but also the six ministries and five government offices were all old goods.

It was said that the new tea produced in the south was sold locally and used as military funds for the construction of warships. However, there was not much good tea in the north, and a few of them were of good quality, and they were all taken over by high-level officials. Naturally, there was nothing left for the lower-ranking officials.

“The Imperial Court also has its difficulties. As subjects, we should be more considerate.”

Sun Shaozong said a few bureaucratic cliches first, and then changed the subject and said, “But the brothers have worked hard in the past few months. Well, I still have some public funds left. I’ll ask Private Adviser Cheng to spend 200 silver taels later to buy some fresh tea for everyone.”

This so-called public fund was a small treasury built by Sun Shaozong, who put aside half of his reward money each time he solved cases.

If one were to study it carefully, in fact, it was he who used his own money to try to buy people’s hearts. It’s just that the money was fair and aboveboard, and others can’t learn easily.

And this was one of the important reasons why he could quickly seize power. It’s said that he only works for money, not to mention the petty officials who have no hope of promotion, right?

When the two petty officials on duty heard those words, they were naturally grateful.

Sun Shaozong waved his hand, initiating them to get busy with their work, and then unconsciously glanced at the five main rooms in the north of the courtyard. Only then did he head toward his courtyard in the east wing.

“Master.”

Cheng Rixing was sitting at a desk outside to sort out the files. When Sun Shaozong came in with his hand placed on his back, he hurriedly got up and said, “The official gazette last month was delivered. It’s on your desk. I just turned it over and glanced through it. It doesn’t seem to involve our Central Judicial Office.”

As the only official newspaper, the efficiency was not flattering. The Central Judicial Office was better. After all, it’s in the Capital, and it’s usually delayed for a few days. Many people in the state Capital only get to read this official gazette in the evenings, several months later.

“Okay.”

Sun Shaozong said okay, but his mind was not at all on this. He pointed to the official documents on Cheng Rixing’s desk and asked, “Did you submit the autumn judgement lists of Daxing County and Wanping County yesterday?”

“Not yet.”

Cheng Rixing hurriedly added, “I asked Inspector Zhou to ask about it. Daxing County is almost finished. However, I’m afraid that Wanping County will take some time.”

Damn!

These procrastinating old bureaucrats!

As early as three days ago, Sun Shaozong had already sorted out the autumn execution list for the government. However, according to practice, it was necessary to collect all the people from the lower counties before they could be submitted to the Ministry of Justice. Looking at this situation, he’s afraid that he would have to be a man who flips over his mansion wall for several days.

However, this was also due to his great fame. If Lieutenant Governor Liu was the host, those who wanted to block the door may not be able to find his residence.

After telling Cheng Rixing about buying tea, he went into the inner room, feeling a little unhappy, he made himself a cup of Xinyang Maojian tea and sat down on his desk.

He casually pulled through the official gazette on the table and found that a considerable part of it was devoted to introducing the plan of Wang Ziteng, the Inspector General of the nine provinces, to wantonly supervise the construction of warships and the expansion of the Navy and prepare to rely on strong military strength to complete his work in the first battle.

Was it a bit natural for a proper maritime guerrilla to rely on the method of encirclement and suppression by a large army?

As a half-hearted military fan, Sun Shaozong was not familiar with naval warfare, but he still felt that this plan was “too grand and inappropriate.” In particular, as a navy that has never been attached to importance, it has to squeeze a large amount of southeast taxes for several years in a row. In case the plan fails, the countercharge filed by the government in Court to fight back was probably not small.

He was eating carrots and thinking about the situation along the southeast coast, but he saw Cheng Rixing coming in from outside. He was a little worried and said, “Master, Steward Zhou of the Rongguo Mansion is asking for a meeting outside.”

After a pause, he lowered his voice again and said, “He seemed to be here for the autumn execution list!”

Sun Shaozong frowned when he heard this.

There were those who pleaded outside. Naturally, there was no shortage of those who used their connections and relationships behind their backs.

It’s just that, generally speaking, anyone who has a strong relationship in their family would not wait until the finalized of the “autumn execution” to clear things up. Therefore, recently, only a few families who have overrated themselves have come. Sun Shaozong didn’t even see them and ordered to drive them away.

But if the Rongguo Mansion were to come forward…

Sun Shaozong laid down the official gazette. After a moment’s meditation, he waved and said, “Invite him in.”

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“Master!”

Cheng Rixing looked out of the window, and his face flashed with struggle. At last, he said in a low voice, “Although Lieutenant Governor Liu is ill, there are still several of his informers in the Yamen. If you hook up a few who should not, I’m afraid that there will be a disaster. You are in a good situation at present, and you must not ruin your future for the sake of “relationship.”

He was originally recommended by Jia Zheng. He was supposed to side with the Rongguo Mansion. Seeing that he could say these words, he was clear-headed.

“I have a clear idea of this.”

Sun Shaozong helplessly spread out his hand and said, “I just went to their mansion a few days ago, how can I keep people out now? Invite Zhou Rui in first and ask him clearly.”