The Red Book of Iron was itself something that was above the law. This was true even in the Song Dynasty, which valued civil officials over military officials. In other dynasties, the Red Book of Iron was tantamount to a death warrant.
During the Tang Dynasty, more than half of the meritorious officials who were awarded the Red Book and Iron Certificate died of unnatural causes. This is even more true of the Ming Dynasty. I have always believed that Zhu Yuanzhang was a tyrant. He granted many Red Books and Iron Certificates, but only a few of them met with a good end.
On the surface, this golden medal of immunity from death signifies the emperor's extreme trust in you and his unparalleled favor. In reality, it's a reassurance given by the emperor, fearing that your position of power might lead to ulterior motives. If this trust goes beyond the bounds, the emperor will strike back and execute you.
The most feared thing for a minister is the emperor's suspicion of you. Once the emperor becomes suspicious of you, it is tantamount to sentencing you to death.
Furthermore, even if the emperor is kind and benevolent, if a descendant of the emperor who has received the imperial seal becomes unworthy and commits evil, then there will be no one to punish him.
"Your Majesty, should we go find County Magistrate Zhang?" Cao Dongsheng asked from the side.
Zhao Huan shook his head: "No need, let's continue south and set off early tomorrow morning."
When Chen Jiaoniang returned to Pang County, Zhao Huan and his group had already left. She seemed like a different person after returning, warm and welcoming, greeting everyone she met.
In fact, her aggressive and rude nature was forced upon her by life. If it weren't for her husband, she wouldn't have become a shrew.
Shen Jiaoniang vaguely guessed Zhao Huan's identity and wanted to go to the inn to express her gratitude in person. However, when she arrived at the inn, the innkeeper told her that the gang had left many days ago.
Shen Jiaoniang had no choice but to go home, taking her several packets of medicine and two boxes of high-quality ginseng.
But when she returned home, she was stunned to see a large group of officials demolishing her house. What was even more terrible was that the leader was none other than Jia San.
"Jia San! You damn bastard!" Shen Jiaoniang threw away the gun, grabbed a wooden stick and rushed over.
Jia San was so frightened that he tried to dodge: "My aunt, what are you doing?"
"What are you doing? What are you doing? How did I offend you? You want to tear down my house!" Chen Jiaoniang said angrily while holding a stick.
Jia San was so frightened that he kowtowed repeatedly: "My dear aunt, who has the guts to demolish your house? Not to mention Fang County, even the prefect of Yingchang City wouldn't dare to do it."
This is the truth, no matter who it is. If anyone dares to demolish the Chai family's house, if Chen Jiaoniang takes the red book and iron certificate to the capital to file a complaint, she can enter the palace unimpeded.
"Then what are you doing!" Shen Jiaoniang stared.
Jia San hurriedly smiled and said, "This is my uncle's order to build a new house for your family. I heard it was an order from higher up."
Shen Jiaoniang's eyes widened even more. She couldn't believe that there was such a good thing in the world: "Where is my husband?"
Jia San pointed in the direction of the county government office: "I have been invited to the county government office a long time ago. You will live there for the next few days. When your new house is built, you can move in. Five thousand strings of cash." Jia San stretched out five fingers.
Shen Jiaoniang was puzzled: "What five thousand strings of cash?"
Jia San's breathing became rapid. "What about allocating five thousand strings of cash to build a mansion specifically for your family? I guarantee it will be a hundred times more luxurious than Zhou Paopi's!"
Shen Jiaoniang threw away the stick, grabbed her herbs and ran to the county government office.
Zhang Sanpai, the magistrate of Pang County, was a skinny scholar. Apart from a pair of bright eyes, he looked like he could be blown down by a gust of wind at any moment.
"Zhang County Magistrate, what happened to my house? Where is my husband?" Shen Jiaoniang started shouting as soon as she entered the county government office.
Fortunately, Shen Jiaoniang was quite respectful to County Magistrate Zhang and did not expose his hot temper.
Zhang Sanpai made a gesture of invitation: "Chen Jiaoniang, you have come at the right time. I just happened to discuss something with you. Chai Dazhong is in the backyard room and is being taken care of by the servants. You don't have to worry."
"What are you doing? What's going on with our house?" Shen Jiaoniang put down the medicine in her hand.
"The man who gave you the fan is the current emperor. His Majesty has ordered the court to allocate special funds to build a new house for your family, and His Majesty has also personally granted your family fifty acres of good farmland."
Even though Shen Jiaoniang had guessed a little, she was still shocked and almost fainted: "What? Fifty acres!"
Zhang Sanpai nodded and said, "Fifty acres of paddy fields, and your Chai family doesn't have to pay taxes. However, the imperial court will have to take back your family's red seal and iron certificate. His Majesty has decreed that there will no longer be any red seal and iron certificate in the Song Dynasty."
Chen Jiaoniang's joy was beyond words. She said happily, "Take the iron plate away quickly. It will be a disaster sooner or later. It would be better if your court took it back. But your Majesty has done us such a great favor. We really have no way to repay him."
Zhang Sanpai smiled and said, "Your Majesty, I have never had the chance to see you. You are lucky."
…
Zhao Huan and others immediately left Yingchang Prefecture and headed south.
There were no more injustices along the way, which made Zhao Huan very bored. This was not the same as the incognito visit he had imagined.
Zhao Huan believed that an incognito visit meant catching a corrupt official, beating him up, and then dismissing him from his post and investigating him.
However, along the way, he passed through two states and four counties and did not encounter any corrupt officials who were extremely unpopular with the people.
One day, several people came to Caizhou City. The farther away from the capital, the less prosperous it was.
Caizhou West City is a very large market, and Nangong Lian'er insisted on going to the market to watch the fun.
The group had nothing to do, so they followed him.
After the Jin Dynasty was destroyed, the Song Dynasty's domestic horse problem was solved. In the southwest corner of the market was a horse market, where horses, cattle, and various livestock were sold.
"Let's go to the horse market to see if there are any good horses." Zhao Huan walked in front with a folding fan in his hand.
Nangong Lian'er, dressed in red, with a fair complexion so stunning she was unparalleled, drawing countless passersby to gaze upon her. Young men envied and yearned, hoping this stunning young woman would catch their eye. Young girls felt ashamed of themselves, envious of their own incomparable beauty. The elderly wondered how such a beautiful girl could exist.
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