jdhmnovel Chapter 529 The officials of our Great Ming Dynasty are truly formidable!
Chapter 529 The officials of our Great Ming Dynasty are truly formidable!
The famous decadent writer Yan Ke once said that people's slacking off is not the same.
Before Yang Shaofeng abandoned his post in Ningyang County, he had walked all over the county on foot. He knew the situation of every household in and around the city like the back of his hand.
Before Yang Shaofeng abandoned Dengzhou Prefecture, he personally visited every county and, together with the county magistrates, investigated the situation in each county.
Even after the event was launched, Yang Shaofeng was still fully aware of the situation in Ningyang County and Dengzhou Prefecture.
Pang Zhen's tanking was a genuine tanking.
Official business?
Let the county magistrate and the registrar do what they can.
complaint?
We will not accept any petitions submitted outside of the designated notice date, nor will we accept any petitions that appear unreasonable. We will pass the petitions on to someone else if we can resolve them.
All you need to do is show up on time every day and make sure no one can find any mistakes.
Therefore, when Pang Zhen was awakened by the loud thumping of the grievance drum and had to change into his official robes to come to the main hall to hear the case, he was completely devastated.
The one who struck the grievance drum was Wang Xiuniang, a shrew who had been expelled from the county government twice in a row.
However, the yamen runners who should have been lined up on both sides of the main hall were not all present.
Pang Zhen grew angrier the more he thought about it, both angry that Wang had beaten the grievance drum and angry that these yamen runners didn't take him, a seventh-rank county magistrate, seriously at all.
"You shrew, you shrew!"
"I've already told you, if you can't find your son, then take your time looking. You come here to sue Master Hu, do you think Master Hu can conjure him up for you?"
After reprimanding Wang Xiuniang, Pang Zhen turned his attention to Emperor Zhu and Yang Shaofeng.
Are you her relatives or neighbors?
"Take this shrew back immediately and keep a close watch on her."
"If you continue to let her cause trouble, I will have you all flogged twenty times!"
As Pang Zhen finished speaking, both Emperor Zhu and Yang Shaofeng were stunned.
Emperor Zhu could hardly believe that the man before him was actually a seventh-rank county magistrate selected by the Ministry of Personnel from Jiangnan to Shandong.
Yang Shaofeng simply couldn't believe that this guy in front of him didn't even have the slightest bit of discernment? How on earth did he become a seventh-rank county magistrate?
Just as Emperor Zhu and Yang Shaofeng were stunned, the yamen runners who had been beaten up by the guards of the Prince Consort's mansion finally helped each other into the main hall.
The head constable shouted, "Sir! These scoundrels, whoever they are, beat up all of us brothers! They're trying to rebel!"
The other constables chimed in, all saying, "Sir, you must do us justice!"
"Master, have them arrested immediately!"
"..."
Pang Zhen glanced at the bailiffs, then at Emperor Zhu and Yang Shaofeng, and suddenly grabbed the gavel and slammed it down, shouting, "Guards! Arrest these troublemakers!"
As Pang Zhen finished speaking, several guards from the Imperial Son-in-Law's residence stepped forward to block Emperor Zhu and Yang Shaofeng, while the yamen runners who had been shouting wildly took a step back.
Yang Shaofeng reached out and tugged at Emperor Zhu's sleeve, whispering, "Father-in-law, the officials of our Great Ming Dynasty are truly formidable!"
The Emperor Zhu, who was on the verge of exploding, suddenly calmed down after Yang Shaofeng said something.
Correct.
That bastard is right, the officials of our Ming Dynasty are really damn powerful.
If all county magistrates in the world were like Magistrate Pang in front of us, what way would ordinary people have to survive?
If the common people have no way to survive, then what is the emperor?
A sovereign and father to all people?
How dare we call ourselves the sovereign of all people? We're just a damn fool who sits by and watches corrupt officials harm the common people!
Emperor Zhu sighed heavily, turned to the guards of the Imperial Son-in-Law's residence, and ordered, "Go and arrest this corrupt official, strip him of his official hat and robes, and escort him to the capital for trial."
Pang Zhen was immediately alarmed.
咱？
Remove the official hat and robe?
To be escorted to the capital for trial?
Just as Pang Zhen was filled with doubt and surprise, Yang Shaofeng reached out and stopped the guards of the Imperial Son-in-Law's residence.
"Laizhou Prefecture has an Imperial Censorate. What exactly did this corrupt official do? Should he be beheaded, strangled, or exiled? These questions should be asked by the Imperial Censorate before being sent to the Ministry of Justice. How can you arrest people so arbitrarily?"
The Emperor Zhu's anger, which had just subsided, suddenly flared up again.
Yang Shaofeng looked Emperor Zhu up and down, then continued, "Moreover, in what capacity did you issue the order? You were neither wearing a dragon robe nor carrying a royal decree, so how could you order the arrest of court officials?"
As soon as Yang Shaofeng finished speaking, Pang Zhen slumped into a chair.
Finished!
Everything's fucking ruined!
Today, I actually had the emperor arrested!
This official is truly too ambitious!
Emperor Zhu glared at Yang Shaofeng and shouted, "You bastard, whose side are you on?"
Seeing that Old Deng was on the verge of exploding, Yang Shaofeng did not dare to provoke him any further. Instead, he instructed Lame Wu: "Have someone send His Majesty's dragon robe and my court robe over here. Have someone come and help His Majesty change. Also, send over fifty personal guards."
Limpy Wu hurriedly accepted the order and left. Pang Zhen finally came to his senses and scrambled towards Emperor Zhu.
"His Majesty!"
Pang Zhen didn't dare to raise his head, and knelt on the ground, crying out, "Your subject, Pang Zhen, the magistrate of Yexian County, pays his respects to Your Majesty! May Your Majesty be in good health!"
Emperor Zhu chuckled and looked at Pang Zhen, saying, "Our Ankang?"
"With corrupt officials like you who disregard the lives of ordinary people, how can we live in peace and tranquility?"
"Will we be safe and sound just because you write 'Peace and prosperity for the nation' in your memorials?"
Pang Zhen dared not respond, but Yang Shaofeng chuckled and said, "Father-in-law, please calm down. Don't let such a corrupt official upset your health; it's not worth it."
Emperor Zhu glared at Yang Shaofeng and angrily cursed, "You're no better than me!"
Yang Shaofeng gave an awkward laugh.
Old Deng is probably having his period; I won't stoop to his level.
However, Emperor Zhu showed no intention of letting Yang Shaofeng off the hook.
"Go and preside over the court to hear the case. Today we'll see how you act as a county magistrate."
Yang Shaofeng pointed to his own nose and asked, "Me?"
Seeing Emperor Zhu nod, Yang Shaofeng immediately perked up.
When I was in Ningyang County, I had never tried a case like this. The only one was Chen Er's levirate marriage case, which ended rather anticlimactically.
Later, when he became the prefect of Dengzhou, he had even less opportunity to hear cases, since the ten county magistrates of Dengzhou were not incompetent.
Now I can finally indulge in being a righteous and just official!
Yang Shaofeng chuckled, strode to the desk in the main hall of the county government, plopped down in a chair, and then grabbed the gavel and slammed it down.
"Ms. Wang, hand over your complaint!"