"Okay, that's it for tonight!" As he said that, the old emperor waved his hand a little tiredly: "Let's all go down and have a rest! We'll leave tomorrow and check out the next village!"

"yes!"

In fact, if you look further down, what will you see? In addition to disappointment, you are still disappointed. What you saw and heard gave the old emperor a feeling of despair and even numbness.

Even though the old emperor had been mentally prepared for a long time and had no intention of seeing any peaceful and prosperous or bright world, when he truly faced the world that once made the old emperor extremely proud and heard and witnessed the situations that had been ignored and paralyzed for a long time, the old emperor

My heart was confused.

If we say that at first, the old emperor carried out this private visit with a punitive or even atonement mentality because of the construction of Taikang Palace.

But after actually doing this, he couldn't help but find that compared to the construction of Taikang Palace itself, the large-scale construction projects and the waste of people and money were just superficial, and the current grassroots operating rules and order of the Han Dynasty reflected in them were even more shocking.

.

As the supreme leader of the Han Empire, he was even more angry and unwilling.

Angry that at the far end of the imperial power's tentacles, another system prevailed that was beyond its control. What was even more terrifying was that the imperial court had to rely on such a system to manage the common people, and even regarded it as national rule.

An important supplement, even though the system itself is eroding imperial power and undermining governance.

The unwillingness lies in the fact that the old emperor was once so high-spirited and arrogant, and he once said boldly and dared to teach the sun and the moon to change the sky. However, after decades of imperial dominance and repeated setbacks, looking back, it seems that nothing has changed.

If it had been ten years earlier, with the pride of the old emperor, I am afraid that his heart would have been broken. But now, in his sixtieth year, he is very old. He just walked in silence. After reading, no one knows what he is thinking.

What.

It is probably close to the plains, the transportation is not that difficult, and the connections with the outside of the hillock are relatively frequent. In fact, the nine villages are not as closed-off and poor as the old emperor and the others saw. As they walk along the hillock, the farther they go, the farther they go.

The deeper I went, the more villages I saw, and I discovered that the situation in the nine villages could even be described as good.

The encounters are similar. It is absolutely impossible to have a face-to-face contact and conversation without revealing your identity. The further you go, the more xenophobic and cold your attitude becomes. However, like the case in Jiucun, where the villagers organized the use of force to expel them, it is no longer possible.

Did not happen.

Of course, the old emperor noticed these anomalies, but he did not expose them. He just followed the same pattern, arrested people and interrogated them, and carried out this special private visit to the end.

When he walked eastward for more than 40 miles along the ridge to the fifth village and asked about the seventh farmer, the old emperor was no longer interested in walking any further. The people's livelihood and conditions behind him were more difficult than the last, and those local tycoons

The evil gentry's methods are worse than the last. Compared with this, the Shi family in Jiu Village can build a "virtuous gentry" memorial arch.

After walking around the Langgang area in the south, he did not give up on the plain area in the north. This time, the old emperor did not "dislike" it anymore, and seemed to hope that the "good" conditions of the plains could comfort his heart.

Heart.

However, things were counterproductive. Of course, the overall situation in the plain areas was better, but that was only because the basic conditions were better, and the people were more tolerant of exploitation, but the severity of the hardships they encountered was the same.

At the same time, the northern plains with better water and soil conditions are where the really big landowners gather. The situation of land annexation is more serious, there are fewer self-cultivators, and personal dependence is more severe.

In the past, let alone this situation, even if such a trend appeared, the old emperor would hate it deeply and couldn't help but get angry. But this time, the old emperor endured it.

Until May 24th, the old emperor came to Luoshan County in a public capacity. In the county government office, he summoned all the officials and important officials who had fled abroad. He did not give any lectures and only asked everyone to do one thing.

, memorize the "Commandments" written by Meng Chang in his early years.

Twenty-four words, ninety-six words, is not too difficult for most officials. Soon some people memorized it by heart, but they were not finished yet. They were even forced by the old emperor to recite it, which lasted for a day and a night. It is said that

, from morning to night, all night long, the Luoshan County government office was filled with the sound of reciting the "Commandments", which could still be heard from across the alley.

Until everyone was hungry and most of them had repeated the reading mechanically, the old emperor finally appeared. He was not too verbose, but simply and seriously mentioned Meng Chang's story, and came to a conclusion. When Meng Chang

When he forgot the "Admonitions" that he personally composed, Meng Shu was destined to fall and perish.

After the old emperor left, all the Luoshan County officials present were frightened and broke into cold sweats.

At the head of Luoshan North City, standing by the earthen city wall, touching the solid parapet, the old emperor raised his head and looked north. Under the night, behind him were the lights in the small city. To the north, there was a dark wilderness with dense forests.

I can vaguely feel the sound of the Huai River running eastward. It must be an illusion. After all, the Huai River is difficult to level, and there is still a certain distance between the county seat and the river bank.

"Wang Qinruo!" After his eyes were in a trance for a while, the old emperor gently called Wang Qinruo, who was at his side.

"I'm here!" Wang Qinruo responded respectfully.

Although his position was still only that of a small ninth-grade chief registrar, Wang Qinruo knew that his life and official career had undergone earth-shaking changes.

Accompanying the king for a period of time in the past period has made Wang Qinruo's whole temperament seem to have been sublimated. Now, every move he makes is more like a close minister of the imperial court, rather than a country bumpkin from a "humble" background.

People's adaptability in this area is obviously very strong, as if they were born to eat this kind of rice.

"I will leave this Luoshan County to you! You will be the magistrate of Luoshan County!" the old emperor said.

When Wang Qinruo heard the words, there were ripples in his heart, but there was an embarrassed expression on his face. Seeing this, the old emperor asked: "What, do you think the official is too young?"

"How dare you, a humble minister?" Wang Qinruo said quickly: "I am grateful to your Majesty for your removal. However, I am in a humble position and have a low position. If I am promoted by leaps and bounds, I fear that people will be dissatisfied and will arouse criticism!"

Hearing what he said, the old emperor didn't even look at him, but said in a cold tone: "Is this what you said? Are you, Wang Qinruo, someone who is afraid of criticism? How can an honest man do those little tricks?"

After several consecutive questions, Wang Qinruo's expression changed drastically. He couldn't help but bow down, buried his head deeply, and said with a shudder: "I am scared!"

The old emperor's face looked very indifferent, and his tone was even more steady, and he said: "It is understandable that those who strive to make progress will do their own thing. I don't care what purpose you had before, I only look at the future.

The people's livelihood and sentiment in Luoshan are not optimistic and are in urgent need of change. I put you in Luoshan County to see your performance!

You have also seen the problems in this county before and after the inspection. I will give you two years. Within two years, Luoshan will be governed. You will be promoted to take charge of Shenzhou. Otherwise, go home to study and farm the fields!

Also, the cure I want is a radical cure, do you understand?"

After thinking for a moment, Wang Qinruo prostrated again and responded with great solemnity: "I will do my best to live up to your Majesty's expectations!"

"Stay back!" After explaining, the old emperor waved to Wang Qinruo and continued to look out at the summer night with only scattered lights outside the city.

Wang Qinruo, who walked down the city, still looked like he was neither happy with things nor sad with himself. After returning to his home, he finally couldn't hold back anymore. He couldn't restrain his excitement on his face. He stuffed his sleeves into his mouth and went crazy.

He smiled, even though his face turned red.

After a long time, he calmed down, and his deep eyes became even brighter.

At this moment, it means that he really made the right bet and succeeded! A seventh-grade county magistrate is naturally not Wang Qinruo's pursuit, but with this experience, it can save him ten years, or even more. For a man who is obsessed with

For those in the official career, ten years is of great significance.

If you can reach the position of the chief official of Zhongzhou in your early thirties, then you can definitely describe it as a promising future. At this age and rank, you are no worse than those powerful people born with golden keys.

Therefore, Wang Qinruo was not at all intimidated by the old emperor's final threat. On the contrary, he was full of determination.

In Wang Qinruo's eyes at this time, there was no trace of cowardice or retreat, only courage to move forward. Anyone who stood in the way of his progressive career would be mercilessly destroyed.

Regarding this aspect, Wang Qinruo has already made plans. Simply bringing Luoshan County out of chaos, abolishing the exorbitant taxes and restoring calm is not the way to go. And Wang Qinruo also understood what the old emperor really cared about.

In his mind, what was actively bursting out at this time were one after another methods to suppress the powerful people in the country, especially the local tyrants and evil gentry.

The difficulty of governing local clans with powerful powers must be viewed in the long term. If it is only at a certain node, not to mention some small village tyrants, even the real aristocratic families, nobles and royal relatives cannot withstand the violent attacks from the powerful.

, it just depends on whether those in power are willing to take action.

At least at this time, Wang Qinruo was determined and unstoppable.
Chapter completed!