Not long after, Bao Ke, Wu Junyong and Li Qi arrived and sat at the bottom of Du Zhongxiao. As soon as they arrived, six or seven people came in and sat down at another table. The one who came in behind was a second-rate person from Ye County, who was already waiting outside.

Zou Yuanwai said to Du Zhongxiao and several officials: "A few employees over there are doing all kinds of business in Ye County, and they are all big families. ”

Some of these people knew Li Qi and hurriedly got up to salute. After a while, they sat down.

The little maid standing at the door saw that everyone had arrived, and without waiting for orders, he brought wine and food up, and after a while, the two tables were full.

Du Zhongxiao looked at the dishes on the table coldly, all of which were all kinds of delicacies from the mountains and seas, and there were almost no ordinary dishes. I want to come to these big people to drink and feast, most of them are like this, and today is even more sumptuous. Banquet Yushi Zhongcheng, for these outsiders, it is probably enough for them to blow for a lifetime.

Zou Yuanwai whispered to Du Zhongxiao: "Xianggong, in a small place in Ye County, you can only use these things, don't be surprised." Tonight's wine is the best wine in Ye County, and I heard that it is a recipe bought in the capital. ”

Du Zhongxiao nodded: "You have a heart." But it's commonplace, gossiping, it's too expensive. ”

Zou Yuan was busy and didn't dare. He has seen a lot of the world, and although today is the most luxurious banquet in Qingfeng Building, Zou Yuanwai is still a little dissatisfied. Du Zhongxiao is the middle of the imperial history, and it is nothing to break the cost.

Du Zhongxiao raised his wine glass and said: "I returned to Beijing from Hequ Road and served as the Imperial History Zhongcheng. The saint attaches great importance to this case, and specially ordered me to go to Ye County to see what is happening here. Now that all the criminals have been arrested and brought to justice, it is just that everyone who asks Bao Ti and others to be more attentive and interrogated clearly. It's just that the Bai family's case has been interrogated clearly, what about the other cases? In the past few days in Yexian County, I have received many complaints from people who have surrendered themselves and all kinds of cases. Ladies and gentlemen, if you want to live and work in Ye County, the place must be peaceful. With so many cases, how can it be done? Officials from surrounding states and counties were transferred to check them all. In the following days, because of the investigation of the case, there may be incidents in the place, don't be surprised. ”

Zou Yuanwai hurriedly said: "Xianggong is dedicated to state affairs, and we should support it!" ”

A group of staff members toasted together and expressed their support.

Du Zhongxiao nodded: "Of course it's a good thing that you can understand it so well." Let's have a drink! ”

The people drank the wine and sat down. However, Du Zhongxiao's words just now embarrassed everyone, and the atmosphere was a little dull for a while.

Zou Yuanwai said to Bao Ke: "The investigation of the case is all about the punishment under investigation, say a few words, let everyone feel at ease." ”

Bao Ke got up, picked up his wine glass and said, "In the past few days, I have investigated the case in Ye County and learned about the local situation. Baiting Supervisor here, everything is fine on the Tiejian side, and Yexian is a little more chaotic. In the past, there were few officials in the county, and many things could not be managed, and there was a backlog of many cases. Zhongcheng specially came to Ye County to take a look at the situation here. After a few days, it seems that here in Ye County, it is really not optimistic. This time, I came to investigate the case in Ye County, and you will take care of it. ”

Both of them said that the situation in Ye County was not optimistic, and that many cases had been discovered in the past few days, and the atmosphere was a little tense for a while, so they did not speak.

Seeing that the atmosphere was wrong, Zou Yuan hurriedly said: "The people here tonight are all law-abiding and good citizens, and they will definitely not be implicated in the case." ”

Bao Ke said: "That's not necessarily. For example, outside of that Zhu member, some people complained that he forcibly occupied a private house, and the county government had nowhere to complain. There are several other members who are involved in various cases. Although there are no life lawsuits, there are really a lot of cases among the people tonight. ”

Hearing this, Zhu Yuanwai's face couldn't help but change, and he hurriedly got up and arched his hand: "Raise the punishment to the public, that private house-"

Du Zhongxiao waved his hand: "Bao Tixing is just a sentence, don't talk about the case tonight!" ”

Zhu Yuanwai listened, so he had to sit down, obviously unwilling on his face. As an employee who suddenly became rich, the house should have been expanded, and the surrounding neighbors did not cooperate, and used their power to let them leave, what is there? He is not like Jian Yuanwai, who secretly changed IOUs and forced people to die.

Looking at everyone's faces, Du Zhongxiao said: "To be honest, you are all big families in Ye County, and you are all rich and powerful. Here in Ye County, how many families like you are innocent, and there are no cases involved? However, you are not necessarily to blame. There are too few officials in Ye County, and the affairs of the people cannot be managed, so naturally disputes are frequent. ”

After listening to Du Zhongxiao, Zou Yuanwai secretly breathed a sigh of relief. The latter sentence admits the objective situation in Ye County, and listening to Du Zhongxiao's meaning is that he will not chase after him. Except for a few people, except for those who came tonight, there are more or less cases involved. If you chase after it, everyone will have a hard time.

Seeing that Du Zhongxiao no longer spoke, Zou Yuanwai hurriedly said: "Drinking, everyone drinking!" What a blessing we are to be able to be with the imperial history of the imperial court, as well as the punishment and drinking of this road! If you don't get drunk tonight, you won't go home, and you will wash the dust for your minister! ”

Everyone drank a glass of wine and did not mention those troubles for the time being. After three rounds of drinking, the atmosphere slowly relaxed.

gradually became familiar, and Zou Yuanwai was no longer so restrained when he spoke. After drinking a glass of wine with Du Zhongxiao, he whispered: "Xianggong, I don't hide it, in the past two days, the post house has received the case, and many people are worried. ”

Du Zhongxiao smiled: "What are you worried about? ”

Zou Yuanwai said: "The people here tonight are all big families in this county. It's the table over there, and they can't even say a word, and everyone has tens of thousands of family fortunes. are all such people, plus what the minister said just now, the county government didn't manage much in the past, and there were always people who got into trouble. ”

Du Zhongxiao said: "Then have you ever got into a case?" If not, it is really hard work for everyone. ”

Zou Yuanwai was a little embarrassed: "Don't hide it from the public, I've been thinking about it carefully these days, I shouldn't have any cases myself." However, when doing things in daily life, it is not good to say whether you have offended people or whether you have been hated by others. But the family is big and the business is big, and there are so many people in the family, it is not good to say whether they get involved in the case or not. To tell the truth, when the self-prince came, the outsiders in Ye County were worried. ”

Du Zhongxiao said: "Don't worry about this, as long as you can do business with peace of mind, you don't need to worry about some crooked methods." ”

Zou Yuanwai looked at Bao Ke on the side, but did not speak, obviously not believing Du Zhongxiao. In a few days, these outsiders also saw that it was Bao Ke who was trying the case in Ye County, and Du Zhongxiao just came to see it and did not participate in the trial.

Bao Ke drank a glass of wine and said, "Ye County's case, naturally listen to Du Zhongcheng. Zhongcheng should be strict, then it will be strict. If you want to loosen, then loose. ”

Zou Yuanwai's eyes lit up when he heard this, and he said to Du Zhongxiao: "Then Zhongcheng should be strict, or loose?" ”

Du Zhongxiao shook his head: "I don't want to be strict or loose, but what I ask is what I want." ”

Zou Yuanwai was stunned for a moment when he heard this, and then asked after a while: "Little stupid, I don't know what Zhongcheng means by this?" ”

Du Zhongxiao said: "Anyone who does business seriously, even if there are some small mistakes, as long as there are no losses, the past will pass." Even if there are consequences, as long as the compensation is immediate and there are no serious consequences, it can be let go. However, for those who bully others or have bad intentions, they must be severely punished! Looseness and strictness are the meaning of the imperial court's legislation. ”

Zou Yuanwai nodded and said, "We people are all doing business legally, even if there is a mistake, it is an unintentional mistake." ”

Bao Ke said: "That's not necessarily. I checked the letters I received these days, and I found that there were many outsiders, but they used their own power to oppress the people. Although there are no fatal lawsuits, there are many other small cases. ”

Zou Yuanwai said: "Is there any way? In the past, there were few people in the county government, and the other was controlled by locals, and those of us who came to do business from other towns were always excluded. There are many things that there really can't be done. ”

Du Zhongxiao said: "What you said is also the truth. How to decide the case after the sentence is raised, we will discuss it again. However, I can tell you that as long as you are not a person who bullies men and women in your daily life, you don't have to worry too much. ”

The soup man on the other side listened and let out a sigh: "Xianggong said so, we are relieved." To tell the truth, there are many places where outsiders come to Yexian to do business. Some cases were actually just trivial matters that had to be done at that time. ”

Zou Yuanwai nodded: "What Tang Yuanwai said is true." We are foreigners, and sometimes it is inevitable that the local natives will make things difficult and have to use some methods. ”

Du Zhongxiao nodded, did not speak, and drank with a few people. After drinking a few cups, he suddenly said: "Here in Ye County, in addition to you who make a lot of money, there should be some people who are powerful in the local area." For example, if there is a dispute in the place, find them, and a word can be peaceful. Did such a person come tonight? ”

Zou Yuanwai listened, was stunned for a while, and did not speak for a while.

In a place, where there is white, there is naturally black, and in the words of the previous life, there is a white way, and there is naturally a black way. Especially in Ye County, the governance ability of officials is insufficient, so naturally there is a mafia to fill the power vacuum. What really needs to be governed is not these outsiders, but those big men in the underworld.

Seeing Du Zhongxiao staring at him, Zou Yuanwai thought about it again and again, and said, "Since Xianggong asked, I will say it directly." The people who came tonight were all people who were doing business legally in Ye County, and there were no people like the public said. - Of course, it is true that someone is involved in the case, but it is a trivial matter. ”

Du Zhongxiao nodded: "You have to remember this sentence clearly." If it's as you said, then you don't have to worry. This time, Yexian County wants to govern those who control local forces, rather than those who do business legally. ”

Zou Yuanwai nodded heavily: "The little one understands." ”

Du Zhongxiao said to Bao Ke: "Tomorrow, officials from nearby states and counties will come, you investigate the case, focus on the local heroes, and don't spend too much energy on other cases." This time, Ye County will be rectified, and the local lawless heroes must be wiped out! ”

Bao Ke said yes.

Du Zhongxiao said: "As for the others, put them aside for the time being, and we'll talk about them later." ”

What Du Zhongxiao wants this time is to maintain local tranquility, not to crack down on these people who make money. He thought about it, but he could only divide it like this, so that Bao Ke and others could handle the case with a focus.

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