The farmer leading the way was Hai Rui.
He had been transferred from the position of Jiaoyu in Nanping, Fujian, to Chun'an. This recommendation came from the Qingliu faction, and his primary objective in Chun'an was disaster relief. More than four months had passed since the disaster struck in summer. The floodwaters had submerged the farmlands, and the water had yet to drain. Not only were the rice seedlings delayed, but even planting mulberry saplings had become extremely tight. The situation was dire, and a major catastrophe could easily erupt.
However, in these past few months, people eager to buy good farmland at low prices had been like fish in a flowing river, with new arrivals constantly replacing those who left. Some were pure merchants, while others were close associates of Zheng Bichang and He Maocai in disguise.
Hai Rui politely sent away the former, but he did not hesitate to arrest the latter. In the past few months, four or five people had been imprisoned in Chun'an's jail, and Zheng Bichang and He Maocai, in their apprehension, had been powerless to do anything!
Unexpectedly, today, Hai Rui returned with the disaster-stricken farmers, only to be confronted with an unbearable scene—someone had arrived with soldiers and money, intending to buy land?
If this is not tolerated, what is?
This is going too far!
He Maocai had already been brought to justice, so this person must be a close associate of Zheng Bichang or some other influential figure. With so much silver brought here, was this person planning to buy out the land of tens of thousands of disaster victims? Wouldn't this force a catastrophe?
Hai Rui glanced back. The farmers, densely packed, numbered at least five to six hundred, and they had been steadily gathering behind him. Though these unfortunate souls were filled with fear and sorrow, their gazes were now firm, all fixed on him, filled with trust!
Hai Rui was instantly moved, his eyes welling up with tears—
These people looked to him like orphaned children looking to their parents... How could he fail them? They had already suffered disaster, and still, people came to push them to the brink? If they sold their land to survive the famine, what would happen in the future? Wouldn't they become tenant farmers? And if another famine struck, wouldn't they have to sell themselves into servitude? As their parent official, how could he stand by and do nothing? No matter how powerful this richly dressed middle-aged man was, he had to resist with all his might today. Even if it meant sacrificing everything, he had to protect the lifeline of these disaster victims!
With this thought,
Hai Rui's righteous indignation turned into grief and fury, and he exuded a fearless courage, shouting loudly:
"Who are you? What are you doing here?!"
As his voice fell,
The entire scene fell into silence.
Everyone turned their gaze to Jin Timing.
The atmosphere in the entire venue instantly froze once more.
...
Jin Timing was greatly intimidated. He looked left and right, wanting to seek help from Zhu Mo, but dared not speak. Trembling, he replied, "You... you... I, I am..."
He had always been a dissolute young man and did not know Hai Rui. Now, facing such a major event, he was completely at a loss.
Indeed,
Before he finished speaking,
Someone in the crowd shouted, "He is Zheng Bichang's nephew!"
Wow!
The entire scene erupted into a commotion. The disaster victims soon became panicked, and many cried out—
"They're going to forcibly buy our land!"
"They've brought soldiers! They don't want us to live!"
"Zheng Bichang wants to forcibly buy our land!"
"Forcibly buying disaster victims' land!"
"Our villagers can't live anymore!"
"We're dead this time!"
"Lord Hai! You must uphold justice for us!"
"..."
It should be known,
Zheng Bichang was the Provincial Governor. His nephew coming to buy land, and bringing soldiers with him, naturally made the disaster victims doubt whether Hai Rui could stop him. Wasn't this a failed stratagem, with another one to follow? And this time, it was outright coercion!
How could ordinary commoners withstand this?
...
Amidst the panic of the disaster victims, Hai Rui felt no alarm—even if Zheng Bichang himself came, it would ultimately lead to Yan Shifan! While everyone else feared, Hai Rui did not. At worst, it would be a do-or-die situation! Looking back at the trembling figures of the disaster victims, Hai Rui's anger surged—
Today, he would confront them head-on with the disaster victims! He would block the soldiers and arrest this person... to teach Yan Shifan and his son a lesson, making them give up all thoughts of Chun'an!
His character was always to act rather than speak. Immediately, he gave a signal to the dozen or so yamen runners beside him and said in a low voice, "I have heard of this person before. He is a dissolute scoundrel. Today, he dares to bully people by virtue of his connections and come to buy disaster victims' good farmland at a low price. This county has decided to apprehend him. You few, go and arrest him! Don't be afraid!"
The dozen or so yamen runners knew that he held a token personally bestowed by the Governor-General. If the opposing soldiers resisted, they could use the excuse of resisting Japanese pirates to make them comply. Moreover, these yamen runners had been convinced by Hai Rui over the past few months. They also knew that he was a person with significant backing. Even if Zheng Bichang himself came to the Jiangnan region, he might not necessarily be afraid of him!
The yamen runners immediately ran forward, holding hoes, and surrounded Jin Timing, shouting loudly, "The imperial law is in effect! You have brought soldiers here today to forcibly buy disaster victims' land. We, on the order of Magistrate Hai, are here to apprehend you!"
Clang!
Clang!
After a series of crisp sounds,
The thirty soldiers also drew their swords, and the two sides confronted each other.
The atmosphere became tense, and the tension was ten times greater than before.
...
These soldiers had no choice.
Because this silver was disaster relief funds raised by Young Master Zhu. Before coming here, Zheng Bichang had personally instructed: if even one tael of silver was missing, he would use the imperial decree token and be executed according to law!
At this moment,
The disaster victims and Chun'an yamen runners on the opposite side, under the command of the leader, had surrounded the escort team! If the silver were stolen, these thirty-odd people would likely lose their heads.
Although they were also of farmer origins and sympathized greatly with the disaster victims, the law was like a mountain, and they could only draw their swords and fight.
...
This made Jin Timing even more terrified!
If the two sides truly began to fight, this mission would be ruined. His uncle Zheng Bichang would certainly punish him, and it would disrupt the court's important affairs... Even if his uncle used his official cap to protect his life, he would be unable to conduct himself in the Jiangnan region afterward.
He immediately shouted, "Zhu, Young Master Zhu! Say something!"
With a thud!
Thump, thump!
Thump!
Jin Timing immediately knelt down and kowtowed to Zhu Mo incessantly.
...
Thus,
The confronting parties were stunned.
Even the countless disaster victims who were watching were dumbfounded.
What kind of play was this?
Everyone's focus immediately shifted back to Zhu Mo—
"So he is Zhu Mo?"
"Young Master Zhu truly has extraordinary bearing!"
"The foremost talent in the Great Ming!"
"What is he doing here?"
"I heard he's not a bad person..."
"What is this... what is happening..."
...
Zhu Mo had intended to observe first, but he hadn't expected Jin Timing to be so cowardly and to put himself in the middle. But there was no help for it, as this matter had to be resolved anyway.
He just had a somewhat indescribable feeling—
This leader must be Hai Rui... Hai Rui, Hai Rui, styled Gangfeng, truly lives up to his name of being resolute... He's going to arrest Zheng Bichang's nephew right from the start?
Good,
I like it!
He's a real man!
It's true that he has the people's support, but could there be coercion? Looking at how the disaster victims revered him, and the elderly, weak, women, and children were drinking clear congee... Could there really be no problem? Who knew how he managed to win over these people? Perhaps he used some formidable trick?
It should be known,
The world Zhu Mo came from was a selfish and cruel one, and the Great Ming, since the mid-Jiajing period, had become stagnant and lifeless. The evil of human nature, full of deceit and cunning, was chilling... How could he easily believe that in this world there would be the legendary Hai Rui, the upright official?