jdhmnovel Chapter 644 This is practically the treatment of a favored son.
Chapter 644 This is practically the treatment of a favored son.
"That madman Yang really has arrived!"
As the saying goes, a man's reputation is like the shadow of a tree.
When Yang Shaofeng appeared in Laizhou Prefecture, the third prefect of Laizhou, Dong Huai'an, felt nothing but cursing and relief.
Fortunately, I am not like the two previous prefects who only knew how to make money, nor did I disregard the lives of the people.
Otherwise, Yang the Madman wouldn't have come to the government office with only a few followers, and I might not have had the chance to stand and talk to him.
However, this Yang the Madman truly lived up to his reputation. When he went out to do business and meet with his colleagues, he actually wore a brand new flying fish robe.
Tsk.
Even though they were all officials, if they had just received new official robes, they had to wear the old ones first and try not to wear the new ones.
As for official robes, as long as they are clean and tidy, that's fine.
It would be even better if there were two more patches above.
And what about Yang the Madman?
When he went out on official business, he didn't wear the proper court robes for a prince consort, but instead wore a brand-new flying fish robe. It seems that the rumors circulating in official circles about him, Yang Dianfeng, being audacious, reckless, and fond of luxury, are not unfounded at all.
As Dong Huai'an looked Yang Shaofeng up and down, Yang Shaofeng was also looking Dong Huai'an up and down.
He was in his forties, slender, and energetic, perfectly embodying the positive image of a civil official in film and television dramas.
Of course, none of the officials in the Central Plains Hall had a particularly bad image.
The only two people known for their scandals are Pang Tong and Zhong Kui. Pang Tong was not a proper official who came from the imperial examination system, and Zhong Kui never even held an official position for a single day.
The rest, even Qin Hui, who was known for his wickedness, were handsome men in their youth.
After both sides silently complained to each other and exchanged greetings with smiles, Yang Shaofeng took the lead in asking, "Prefect Dong, have you found any information during this period?"
Dong Huai'an composed himself, cupped his hands, and replied, "Your Highness, I have visited several counties and villages where children have gone missing during this period, but I have not obtained any reliable information."
Yang Shaofeng hummed in agreement and asked, "Have those people from those villages and communities never seen any unfamiliar faces?"
Dong Huai'an sighed helplessly and said, "I've seen them, but there are too many unfamiliar faces."
“Since I was transferred to the position of Prefect of Laizhou, I have been busy repairing roads, planting trees, and setting up workshops and schools. The people in various villages and communities have seen many craftsmen, laborers and even hard laborers repairing roads, building schools and workshops.”
At this point, Dong Huai'an sighed again and said, "Actually, this matter is also my fault."
“The villagers were either busy with spring plowing or were called to work on construction sites by their superiors, so they inevitably neglected the situation in their villages, which gave the villains an opportunity to take advantage of them.”
"Otherwise, even if we can't stop the cases of missing children from happening, at least dozens of children wouldn't have been abducted."
Yang Shaofeng nodded again and asked, "I heard that after the child abduction case, Prefect Dong ordered all the counties to mark the villages where the children went missing, intending to start by investigating the kidnappers' routes?"
Dong Huai'an's expression changed drastically, and he asked in a trembling voice, "Where did you hear that, Your Highness?"
Who?
Who leaked the news?
Yang Dianfeng has only been in Laizhou Prefecture for a short time, yet he knows that I intend to start by tracing the movements of the kidnappers.
Does that mean that the traffickers also knew about it?
Dong Huai'an looked at Yang Shaofeng with surprise and doubt and said, "It is true, but originally only I and a few county magistrates under Laizhou Prefecture knew about this. I didn't expect that the Prince Consort would also hear about it?"
Yang Shaofeng chuckled and said, "Prefect Dong, rest assured, although I have heard the news, it was not someone who deliberately leaked the information."
After a slight pause, Yang Shaofeng continued, "I am here in Laizhou Prefecture as the Governor of Eight Provinces and the Commander of the Embroidered Uniform Guard, so Prefect Dong need not worry about where this news came from."
Dong Huai'an immediately understood what was going on.
Even though I understand it, I still feel somewhat uneasy.
The information about Yang's madness came from the Embroidered Uniform Guard, and this information was known only to himself and the ten county magistrates under him.
So, whose spies are the Embroidered Uniform Guards?
Since there are spies from the Embroidered Uniform Guard, does that mean that someone has been bribed by the kidnappers?
Or, to put it another way, was Yang the Madman also aware of this official's embezzlement?
However, Yang Dianfeng's favor with the emperor was truly profound.
The emperor actually trusted the governor of eight provinces, who controlled most of the Ming Dynasty's territory, to be appointed as governor.
This can't just be described as being favored by the emperor; this is practically the treatment of a favored son.
Dong Huai'an was internally ranting and raving, his expression constantly shifting.
Yang Shaofeng glanced at Dong Huai'an and continued to ask, "Has Prefect Dong sent anyone to investigate those mines, workshops, temples, Taoist temples, and the like?"
Dong Huai'an was slightly taken aback, and replied, "The mines and workshops in Laizhou Prefecture are all run by the prefectural government and various county governments. They recruit people to work, just like the prince consort did in Dengzhou Prefecture. These lost children will never appear in those mines and workshops."
Since being transferred to Laizhou as prefect, Dong Huai'an first ordered a thorough investigation of all the mines, especially those that were connected to the previous prefect of Laizhou, Huo Lingyue.
The same applies to the existing workshops in Lai Chau.
I can't sleep soundly until I have people thoroughly investigate these mines and workshops.
While inwardly complaining, Dong Huai'an continued, "As for temples and Taoist monasteries, I haven't had anyone investigate them."
At this point, Dong Huai'an's eyes suddenly lit up, and he looked at Yang Shaofeng and asked, "Does Your Highness mean that someone is harvesting and mutilating animals?"
There are several interpretations of "采生折割".
One method involves deliberately breaking the limbs of children to create disabilities or "monsters," using this as a pretext to gain sympathy and obtain money from passersby.
One method involved cutting off limbs of living people and taking their ears, eyes, internal organs, etc., to mix with medicine in order to deceive patients.
Another practice was to mutilate living people to appease spirits and deities.
This involves the Buddhist and Taoist beliefs about virgin boys and girls.
Dong Huai'an hadn't initially considered the possibility of mutilation or mutilation.
After all, they are all children in their teens or so, which is already quite old.
However, after being reminded by Yang Shaofeng, Dong Huai'an unconsciously began to think in that direction as well.
However, Yang Shaofeng shook his head slightly and said, "I am not sure either, but I have some doubts about this."
After a slight pause, Yang Shaofeng added, "Right now, the most important thing is to figure out their route and see where they might go next."