However, the people's resentment was growing. Xu Wei was a man who cared about the people and was deeply saddened by the death of his old friend. He had tolerated Wang Yuan's framing of loyal officials and selling official positions for personal gain, but when it came to the Zhou Shuqun incident, he could no longer tolerate it.
Zhou Shuqun was the former Vice Minister of the Ministry of War. Military officers generally followed Lu Jiaxue, but Zhou Shuqun was a rare member of the Qingliu Party. Later, he offended Wang Yuan and was demoted to the Guiyang Xuanwei Office as a chief. The mountain people in Guiyang were poor and fierce, often wandering around as bandits. Zhou Shuqun was a good official. After arriving there, he was both a local official and in charge of public security. He worked hard and finally gained the trust of the mountain people. The mountain people followed him to reclaim wasteland and build villages, and no longer engaged in kidnapping. Who would have thought that at this time the Guizhou Provincial Governor came and said that bandits should be killed. He collected 60% of the agricultural tax from these mountain people, and also imposed various heavy taxes on daily basis. Zhou Shuqun's repeated objections were in vain. The Provincial Governor was Wang Yuan's man. Wang Yuan wanted to deal with him, and no matter what he said, it was useless.
The villagers were enraged. Their hard-earned food had been plundered by these predators, who had become vicious bandits. Even Zhou Shuqun was resentful. This massive bandit force occupied Guiyang, killing many ordinary citizens and officials. Zhou Shuqun led his troops in a fierce resistance. Wang Yuan, however, seized the opportunity to submit a petition to the emperor, accusing Zhou Shuqun, the Guiyang envoy, of poor supervision and rampant corruption, which had left the banditry unchecked and exacerbated. He should be brought back to the capital, dismissed, and investigated. Seeing that the villagers were even capable of rebelling against the government, the emperor, in a rage, ordered Zhou Shuqun executed and his wife and children exiled two thousand miles away.
Zhou Shuqun was still leading his troops in a fierce resistance, protecting the civilians in the city. He was then placed in shackles. He wept bitterly with indignation, kneeling on the land that had cost him so much effort, unable to recover for a long time.
He was determined to be a good official, but he could not accomplish anything, and instead brought trouble to his wife and children. He committed suicide in Guiyang, and his body was sent back to the capital.
Those who hear this are heartbroken and cry! When Yi Ning heard about this incident, he was also indignant for a long time. Not to mention Xu Wei and the Qingliu Party, who were good friends with Zhou Shu.
If this incident involving Zhou Shuqun was indeed true, then Xu Wei, out of anger, would quickly begin planning how to deal with Wang Yuan. Meanwhile, Luo Shenyuan would gradually embark on his destiny and become the Prime Minister.
Yining took off the jade bracelet on her hand and placed it on the small table, then slowly exhaled.
Yi Ning guessed correctly. Xu Wei, the Minister of Revenue, Yang Ling and others were gathered in the study, and what they had just received was Zhou Shuqun's obituary and suicide note.
Seeing his cheerful teacher holding his friend's old belongings for the first time, Yang Ling's hands trembled and his eyes bulged. "Qiao Fang wrote to me last time, asking what crops to grow in the mountains and asking for advice on writing parallel prose..." Now he was looking at his suicide note.
Qiao Fang was Zhou Shuqun's pen name. Yang Ling consoled his teacher, but Xu Wei remained steadfast. "Give me a pen and paper. I want to make a petition. Loyal officials are being murdered, and my wife and children are suffering. I cannot sit idly by!"
The others were unable to persuade Xu Wei, and Yang Ling was helpless. In a panic, he turned around and asked the servants, "...Has Lord Luo arrived?"
"We've sent someone to invite him. Lord Luo isn't far away and should be here soon." The waiter replied quickly.
As he was speaking, the door curtain was drawn aside by a servant. A gust of cold wind rushed in, and Luo Shenyuan followed it into the house, where someone served him tea. He had already learned what had happened on the way, and as soon as he sat down, he said, "Teacher, please be patient. The rebellious bandits have killed so many people in Guiyang, and the emperor is furious. If you go to make a complaint on behalf of Lord Zhou now, you will only be implicated."
Xu Wei was so angry that he lost his mind and immediately said, "Even if he is implicated, I can't bear to see him being wronged like this! I have had enough of this miserable life!"
Luo Shenyuan knew Xu Wei's reaction. Feeling somewhat helpless, he continued, "If the Emperor had granted you death, it would be a relief. There would be no Qingliu Party left in the world. Once Lu Jiaxue and Wang Yuan gained control, they could harm anyone they wanted. The people would suffer, and no one would care for them. Once you die, I will certainly not care."
Xu Wei listened to his student's words for a long time, then suddenly burst into tears and choked up. Luo Shenyuan, in turn, breathed a sigh of relief. Xu Wei's feelings for his old friend were too deep.
As soon as he saw the letter, he knew something was wrong. Although Zhou Shuqun's situation was irreparable, he had to come and persuade Xu Wei first. Seeing the teacher crying, he knew that he had persuaded him, and said to the servants, "Prepare some water for washing his face."
You should wake up after washing your face.
*
It was already past two o'clock, and the servants had replaced the cold tea with hot tea. A white porcelain cup and saucer were gently placed on the rosewood. Lu Jiaxue glanced sideways and felt that there was something wrong with Wang Yuan. The tea sets and bowls in his household were all thin-walled white porcelain.
Wang Yuan was in his fifties, wearing a long purple silk gown. Because of his pale skin, he looked a bit like an immortal.
"The Protectorate can no longer withstand the banditry in Guiyang." Wang Yuan flicked the incense in the incense burner and then closed the lid. Incense mist wafted upward, filling the study with the scent of sandalwood.
Wang Yuan had known Lu Jiaxue for ten years. He was actually quite wary of him because he held military power. But at the same time, he wasn't wary of him because, despite his military power, he had no interest in government. Wang Yuan continued, "Zhou Shuqun committed suicide out of fear of punishment, leaving Guiyang without a military commander. Lord Lu, where do you think we should mobilize our troops?"
Lu Jiaxue snorted coldly.
The Protectorate and the Xuanwei Office were no match for a bunch of bandits; they were practically helping out. Wang Yuan was also a master at smoothing things over, never intervening when it wasn't his place, and now he was expected to clean up the mess?
Old man Wang Yuan was cruel and ruthless, having harmed Zhou Shuqun to this point. The Qingliu Party must be eager to bite him to death now. Thinking of this, he felt relieved. He took a sip from Wang Yuan's white porcelain teacup and said, "The Yunnan and Sichuan Generals dispatched troops the fastest. Sichuan General Song has experience fighting bandits, so he's the best."
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