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Three people were lying in the dark room. At this moment, the midday sun shone in from the small vent, bringing a little light into the room, but it could not dispel the strange musty smell in the room.
This room is inside the Suzhou prison. Gao Fu had just been beaten up by two of his cellmates because they disliked him. In prison, the reason for beating people is actually very simple: the strong bully the weak, and the weak bully the weaker. This has been the case since ancient times. It will not become civilized just because human civilization has developed.
After the two men found satisfaction in Gao Fu, they went to their beds to rest, leaving Gao Fu still wondering why he had suffered such a fate.
Gao Fu was a scholar, but scholars did not necessarily have the opportunity to become a scholar. Later, Gao Fu inherited his family business and became a sea merchant. He was rescued by the Spaniards in a shipwreck and drifted in the Western Ocean for seven years. When he returned to his hometown some time ago, his home was in ruins. Because of a dispute over land, he offended the local bully and squire, and was eventually framed for spreading rumors and thrown into prison. The books he brought from overseas became evidence of his spreading rumors.
What a pity for all those books! Gao Fu sighed inwardly. Then he heard the sound of footsteps and a yamen runner came over and said to Gao Fu, "Gao Fu, get up quickly! You're unlucky today! The prefect is personally trying your case. I tell you, the prefect is the famous Tang Dashan in Changzhou. He might just help you solve this case."
Gao Fu was from Suzhou, and Suzhou people knew very little about what was happening in Changzhou. Gao Fu had not been back from overseas for very long, and had even spent some time in prison, so he had never heard of the name of the great philanthropist Tang.
"Brother Huang, wasn't the prefect of Suzhou Wu? How come it became Prefect Tang?" Gao Fu's case of spreading false rumors and misleading the public was decided by the former prefect of Suzhou, Wu. However, before Wu could decide the case, Tang Tang took office as the new prefect of Suzhou, so Gao Fu didn't know about it.
"It's okay to tell you. Our former Suzhou prefect Wu has been appointed as prefect elsewhere. The new prefect is surnamed Tang. I heard he is from Changzhou. He used to be a general. He was kind and charitable and was known as a great philanthropist in Changzhou. Later, the emperor showed special favor and awarded Mr. Tang a Jinshi degree to be the prefect of Suzhou, Gao Fu, maybe your luck will turn this time." The yamen runner's surname was Huang. He was a chatterbox all the time, and now he couldn't help showing off in front of Gao Fu.
"If this matter can be resolved, then I will thank God. I will not forget Brother Huang's kindness." Gao Fu is not a rigid scholar. He not only has talent in his mind, but also has the shrewdness of a businessman. After the yamen runner Huang opened the prison door, he did not forget to thank the yamen runner Huang when he came out.
Gao Fu was taken to the lobby, where a man with a ferocious face was sitting. Gao Fu looked at him secretly, and found that the man was also looking at him, Gao Fu. A cold look flashed in his eyes, which made Gao Fu feel a little flustered, and he could not help but lower his head.
"Are you Gao Fu?" The person sitting in the hall was Tang Lu. This was his first time trying a case since he became the prefect. To be honest, he didn't know much about the procedures for trying cases in this era. However, with the guidance of a legal advisor, even the dumbest official would know how to try a case. Therefore, among officials such as county magistrates and prefects, there were not many who truly understood the law.
"Yes, your Excellency, I am Gao Fu." Gao Fu knelt down with a glimmer of hope in his heart.
"Are these books all yours?" Tang Chen picked up a few books on the table and threw them in front of Gao Fu.
Gao Fu took a look and realized that these books were exactly what he had brought from the Westerners. "Yes, sir."
Gao Fu replied briefly. Seeing these books, he felt sad again. Tang Chen's eyes twitched and he asked, "How did you get these books? Can you tell me about it?"
When Gao Fujian asked about the origin of the book, he did not hide anything and told how he went out to sea to do business, how he encountered a storm at sea, how he was later rescued by the Spaniards, how he followed those Spaniards to the West, how he stayed in the West for seven years, made some money, and then returned to the Ming Dynasty.
Although Gao Fu's lecture was simple, it took him half an hour. Tang Qi let him talk without interrupting him. After Gao Fu finished speaking, he said, "If that's the case, then how many Western languages do you understand now?"
"Yes, sir, I understand the Western languages of the four countries. Those books are all works by Westerners. I brought them back with the intention of translating them." Gao Fu nodded and defended himself a little.
"Well, so you are very familiar with Western places?" Tang Lu touched his short beard and asked after a moment of hesitation.
"In the past seven years, I have traveled to more than a dozen Western countries. Although I don't know them very well, I have a general idea of the situation." Gao Fu said this with a little confidence, and puffed out his chest.
"Well, your subordinates are in need of someone who understands the situation in the West. You are requested to serve as your special envoy to Western countries in the future. Are you willing?" Tang Qi saw that Gao Fu was fluent in Western languages of several countries. He thought that he was an unexpected talent and naturally wanted to recruit him, so he asked.
"I am willing to serve Lord Tang." How could he not be willing? Gao Fu thought to himself, if he was not willing, he would have to continue staying in prison in the future.
Seeing that Gao Fu agreed to work for him, Tang Qi, under the guidance of his lawyer, turned the case over for Gao Fu in court, released Gao Fu, and asked him to go home and sort out his family affairs first. In order to win Gao Fu's heart, Tang Qi ordered his men to convict the bully squire who had competed with Gao Fu for land, arrested him and beat him up in prison to vent Gao Fu's anger.
When Gao Fu returned home, the whole family was overjoyed. Later, thanks to Tang Qi's help, they recovered the land that had been occupied by the bully squire. Gao Fu's family was naturally grateful to Tang Qi. When Gao Fu's elderly father learned that Gao Fu was going to work for Tang Daqingtian, he told his son not to forget Tang Daqingtian's kindness.
After Tang Lu took office as the prefect of Suzhou, although he was a scholar who was granted the title of Jinshi and was looked down upon by those old men, Tang Lu was now considered an old man after all. With this identity, some old men who wanted to find their origins were willing to come and work under Tang Lu, and Liu Rushi's reputation as a talented woman gradually became famous in the old man circle.
For example, Fang Yizhi, one of the Four Young Masters of Jiangnan, joined the name of Tang Qie. At that time, the name of the Four Young Masters of Jiangnan had not yet been established. People like Hou Fangyu and Mao Pijiang were not very old, and Fang Yizhi had not yet become famous. However, Fang Yizhi was really talented, unlike Hou Fangyu and Mao Pijiang, who became famous by hooking up with Li Xiangjun and Dong Xiaowan.
Originally, the Fang family had business dealings with the Tang family caravan. Once, when Fang Yizhi's father brought him to visit Tang Qi, Tang Qi saw that he was very talented and invited him to work under him. Fang Yizhi's father was a very far-sighted man and immediately agreed to let his son work under Tang Qi.
Fang Yizhi's talent mainly lies in Confucianism, so Tang Qi temporarily let him be his staff. As the governor of a place, he naturally has to flatter the officials under him. These people with a Confucian background naturally have to attend social gatherings with their friends. When Tang Qi is free, he will take Fang Yizhi, Liu Rushi and others to attend these gatherings with their friends.
Without mentioning the past grudges between Tang Qi and his people, it can be said that after Huang Taiji was defeated by Tang Qi, he also worked hard to become stronger, and sent a large number of spies to find out the situation between Ming Dynasty and Tang Qi. When Emperor Chongzhen wanted to move against Tang Qi, Huang Taiji also got the information, but the back and forth time was long. When Huang Taiji wanted to take the opportunity to attack Tang Qi, Tang Qi had already settled the matter.
Huang Taiji hated and feared Tang Qi the most and wanted to get rid of Tang Qi. Naturally, Huang Taiji was unwilling to let this matter pass like this. After thinking about it, Huang Taiji came up with a counter-espionage plan.
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