Chapter 101 Meng Huaiyan's Trip to Jiangnan
Chapter 101 Meng Huaiyan's Trip to Jiangnan
Since the incident involving the Right Chancellor's wife, the Eldest Princess has become somewhat wary.
Since Shen Tang's death, her son's temperament has become increasingly unpredictable, and he is no longer the person she could control at the time.
If she forces him to marry, he is truly capable of turning a joyous occasion into a tragic one.
The princess was depressed and had several big arguments with him, but Meng Huaiyan just watched her get angry each time without saying a word.
After this happened repeatedly, the princess grew cold-hearted, and the relationship between mother and son reached a freezing point. Apart from occasional greetings, they seemed to be strangers living in the same mansion, not mother and son.
During the reign of the new emperor, Meng Huaiyan worked with him to rectify the court, weaken local power, and reclaim imperial authority.
We must crack down on corruption in the imperial court, eliminate deep-seated problems, vigorously promote the performance evaluation system for officials, and remove officials who hold positions without performing their duties.
The new emperor was both kind and strict, working tirelessly day and night, and under his leadership, the Great Liang Dynasty flourished.
In the fifth year of the Tianxi reign, it was time for the annual assessment of officials. The emperor appointed Meng Huaiyan as an imperial envoy and sent him to Jiangnan to assess local officials and supervise local governance.
This kind of thing didn't require Meng Huaiyan to personally intervene; the emperor had his own selfish motives.
Although Meng Huaiyan didn't show any outward signs of distress after his wife's death, Meng Huaiyan had known him for so many years and had noticed some clues.
Under his leadership, the Meng family has reached an unprecedented level of status in recent years, and has also established a solid foundation in the imperial court.
In recent years, he personally mentored Meng Huaili, imparting all his knowledge and skills to him with painstaking effort and without reservation, and even bringing him into the public eye.
This move doesn't seem to be just about introducing talent to him; it seems more like it's about cultivating the next head of the Meng family.
Beneath his calm and composed exterior, the emperor keenly sensed a hint of suicidal intent in him.
Thinking of this, the emperor's brows twitched involuntarily. Meng Huaili was good, but compared to him, he was still far inferior. He did not want to lose such a good general for nothing.
I've heard that the scenery in Jiangnan is beautiful, so this assessment will be a good opportunity for him to leave the capital and relax.
Meng Huaiyan frowned upon hearing the emperor's arrangement. Jiangnan was no less than a thousand miles from the capital, and if he were to go there, it would take at least three months, which was exactly what he needed most right now.
Meng Huaili is already very hardworking and intelligent compared to his peers, but he still feels it's not enough. He wants him to grow up quickly so that he can take over the heavy responsibility of the Meng family.
It has been almost five years since Shen Tang passed away; it has been far too long.
He was afraid that if too much time passed, she and the child would stop waiting for him.
Meng Huaiyan tried to refuse, but the emperor wouldn't listen to him, saying, "My mind is made up, my dear minister, there's no need for you to say anything more." He shut him down.
Meng Huaiyan had no choice but to agree.
Meng Huaiyan traveled by water, chartering an entire boat and heading straight for Jiangnan without stopping along the way. In about twenty days, he arrived in Jiangnan.
Upon receiving the news, the officials from Jiangnan were waiting at the dock early in the morning.
Upon seeing Meng Huaiyan disembark, they all stepped forward and bowed, saying, "Greetings to Lord Meng."
Meng Huaiyan returned the greeting, saying, "No need for such formalities, esteemed gentlemen."
Governor-General Yang Chengqing stepped forward and said to Meng Huaiyan, "Lord Meng, you must be tired from your journey. I have prepared delicious food and lodging for you. Please do me the honor of coming."
Meng Huaiyan waved his hand: "Thank you for your kindness, Lord Yang, but I am not here to drink and make merry. Please take me directly to the yamen to handle official business."
I had long heard that Meng Huaiyan was diligent and hardworking, working day and night. Now that I see him traveling for more than half a month and going straight to work without rest after getting off the ship, it seems that the rumors are indeed true.
Yang Chengqing and the other officials exchanged silent glances, secretly relieved that they had prepared the case files and account books in advance, otherwise they might have been punished for negligence.
Yang Chengqing bowed and said, "Yes, Lord Meng, please follow me."
When Meng Huaiyan was handling official business, he worked day and night. Seeing his superior doing so, his subordinates wished they could be split in two and did not dare to complain at all.
Yang Chengqing was an upright and honest official who governed strictly. Under his leadership, the chaotic state of officialdom in Jiangnan had long since disappeared.
However, it is still impossible to prevent officials from engaging in corruption, bribery, and abuse of power for personal gain in places that cannot be seen. After Meng Huaiyan found the evidence, he immediately imprisoned several officials.
When other local officials heard about Meng Huaiyan's iron-fisted methods, those who were guilty were so frightened that they couldn't sleep at night.
Meng Huaiyan inspected the area along the way and soon arrived at the southern part of the city.
Upon receiving the news, He Shizhang, the prefect of Nancheng, waited at the city gate early in the morning. After picking up Meng Huaiyan, he took him directly to the prefectural government office.
The case files and account books had been prepared long ago, and Meng Huaiyan and his subordinates were carefully reviewing and examining them.
He Shizhang stood below the hall, waiting for instructions and questions.
Although he believed that he had been an honest and upright official for so many years and had a clear conscience, he still couldn't help but feel anxious and uneasy when he looked at Meng Huaiyan's expressionless face.
I don't know how much time passed, but suddenly a clerk came to the door to announce that a case had been filed at the yamen.
Upon hearing the commotion, Meng Huaiyan said to He Shizhang, "Lord He, please handle any cases you have. I'm not in a hurry."
He Shizhang quickly bowed and said, "Yes, if Lord Meng sends someone to find me, I will take my leave now."
Meng Huaiyan nodded, then lowered his head to continue reading the case file.
He Shizhang left the room and asked the clerk, "What case is it?"
The clerk said, "Sir, it's that Zhao Ergou again."
He Shizhang frowned. He remembered that Zhao Ergou had only been released for less than two months. How could he have caused trouble again?
Does he really think his government office is a vegetable market?!
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
