The prefect was very active, and on the same day, he sent officials to spread the word everywhere, summoning some well-known local gentry inside and outside the city.

Two days later, Governor Li met with the local gentry in the lobby of the government, and about twenty or thirty people gathered together, which was enough to represent the public opinion in Gusu City.

As a local magistrate, the prefect ranks at the fourth rank and is not low, and most of the locals have to sell face, and most of the invitees can only come happily.

After a few singing and cheering, Governor Li appeared on the public seat, and Cai Kongmu, who had been expelled from the Qincha Mansion, stood beside the prefect.

I only heard Governor Li's heavy cough, and said to everyone: "I summoned everyone here because I heard that Fang Qincha was determined to raise taxes, and Mintian and Mentan Silver were among them. All of them are local celebrities, and they have always relied on them when they are in government, so I don't know what they think about this? ”

A short and fat gentleman asked, "How did Taishou know about such news?" Governor Li pointed to Cai Fu beside him, "This is Cai Kongmu, the attaché of the Qin Mission, and he can testify." ”

Cai Fu had to take a step forward and said to everyone: "This is indeed the case"

But Cai Kongmu was only halfway through speaking, and Governor Li immediately took over and continued: "What this official said must be true, if you are not a little sure, how can this official dare to drive all your fathers and elders to discuss here?" Fang Qincha was ordered to collect money and grain, but at present, it seems that there is no other way to do it, and he insists on raising taxes. ”

Cai Fu glanced at Governor Li a few times, but didn't say anything. The tax increase is just a matter of chasing after the wind, how can it be taken as a fact by Governor Li's mansion, and it is even a little misleading to the people.

What is this a profit and wisdom? Or do you just want to render it that way on purpose?

After Governor Li finished speaking, the gentry in the hall believed it for eight or nine points. Probably because Suzhou Mansion is really a piece of fat. It is not a new thing for the imperial court to harvest profits, and the most widely circulated story is to kill Shen Wansan. Therefore, everyone is not afraid to speculate on the imperial court with the greatest malice.

Tax hikes are simple and crude, but they are also straightforward and effective. It is very likely that a young and vigorous Chin Cha will use this method.

What's more, since the arrival of the Qin Cha, there have been rumors in Suzhou Mansion and even the entire Jiangnan, but this Qin Cha has never explained or refuted the rumors. What does this mean? It shows that Lord Qincha is not without thoughts, and it is likely that he is simply testing the people through rumors.

After understanding the current situation, someone in the crowd immediately echoed: "Li Taishou can't be the master of the matter, I will wait for the court to be the book!" ”

Governor Li responded: "The people's hearts are like this, how dare this official be attached to others? Fight this black veil, and you can't ignore the evil. ”

Cai Kongmu watched coldly. What he saw and heard made him secretly frightened. What he was shocked was not that this group of people wanted to jointly write a letter to criticize Lord Qincha, but that this meeting was exactly what Lord Qincha expected.

In the opinion of Cai Kongmu, who knows the inside story, Li Taishou is indeed a little too active, and what he does seems to be taking advantage of the opportunity to coerce public opinion to create his own anti-harsh political image.

And because Lord Fang was sent by the imperial court to collect taxes, he was naturally unpopular and became a deliberately set target. But the strange thing is that Lord Fang has always been very cooperative with this target, and he doesn't know what kind of medicine is sold in the gourd.

Pressed Cai Kongmu's mind was not expressed. Someone in the hall doubted: "From the current point of view, I haven't seen any actual actions of the Qin Cha, so we have gone too far by waiting for a big fanfare?" ”

But someone else came forward to explain. "From all indications, it is clear that this Lord Qincha is not a good person, and I am afraid that he will definitely carry out harsh government and try his best to loot. However, according to the system, the collection of autumn grain began in October. It's only early August, and it's too early for Qin Cha to make a move. Therefore, he can only blempty and make arrangements in advance.

Wait until October. It's time to make a big move! You should know the truth of taking precautions, and instead of being caught off guard at that time, how to take precautions? ”

So everyone had nothing to say, and then someone took the initiative to ask for help, splashed ink and wrote a statement of feelings, and the pen went to the dragon and snake for a while. After others saw it, they applauded several times, and then signed one after another.

Since the time of Taizu, the dynasty has always established the political correctness of unimpeded speech, and the court generally does not blame the people unless they deliberately discuss sensitive affairs.

For these gentry and wealthy families, there is basically no risk in jointly writing a letter to express their dissatisfaction with the Qincha, and it is a matter of why not do it, and it is unlikely that the court will be condemned for this.

Therefore, they did not have any psychological burden, and easily accepted the proposal of the letter. Even if it's white, it's not white.

Of course, Governor Li will not mix with the people, he will play separately, and by the way, he will also call on the county to go up together.

People with a little political sense will know that the Suzhou government officials and the people sent the letter to the imperial court at the same time, and when combined, the effect is not just as simple as one plus one.

The sparseness of officials is the attitude of the local government, and the people's writing is the public opinion. When the two are viewed separately, in the eyes of the high-ranking court, it is likely to be insignificant, it is nothing more than someone else complaining, and it does not represent the mainstream attitude of the local government.

But when the local government and public opinion are combined, the influence increases exponentially. At this time, it is no longer a complaint of individual people, but an attitude that can represent the mainstream, so the court must pay attention to it.

Of course, Cai Kongmu also understood the above truth, so he looked at the farce in the hall of the mansion worriedly, and couldn't help but worry about Lord Fang in his heart.

Previously, Lord Fang asked Cai Kongmu to stage a bitter plan, and then asked him to come to the prefect to offer advice, and vigorously encouraged the prefect to propose a letter, Cai Kongmu felt that this plan was not very successful.

What official can be so stupid that he doesn't even understand the truth of protecting officials? But Cai Kongmu didn't expect that what Master Fang said had become true, and Governor Li really encouraged everyone to read the book together.

Now that this is the case, what should Master Fang do?

Judging from Cai Kongmu's political experience, all those who jointly protested against impeachment by the local government and the gentry were to the point of resentment and anger. The protagonist of this kind of thing is either a rebellious minister and thief who brings disaster to the country and the people, or a thief who harms one party.

Unless there is the unconditional support of the Son of Heaven, most of such people will not end well, Fang Yingwu has a bit of a background, but it has not yet reached the point where he can be strongly supported by the Son of Heaven? He is not a courtier of the Son of Heaven, nor is he a eunuch.

But this situation seems to have been brought about by Lord Fang's efforts, and after looking at the whole process, how can you look at it like you are looking for a dead end, Cai Kongmu is insightful about the world, but at this time, he can't understand it, and he is confused.

Is it Lord Fang who has everything under control and secretly has a back hand, or is he self-defeating and difficult to ride a tiger? (To be continued......)

PS: The second update!