Chapter 96 I, Hai Rui, never contradict my superiors!
Datong Town.
Governor's Yamen, back hall.
Hai Rui, dressed in a coarse blue robe, sat upright on a chair.
Looking at the letter given by Wang Yongji in his hand, he chuckled after a while.
"Can't I, Hai Rui, pray to the gods? This Ming Shou..." Hai Rui put the letter in his hand on the table, "But is my behavior abnormal?"
"Is it worthy of the attention of both the Qingliu and Yandang?"
Hai Rui crossed his hands, supported his chin, and stared ahead. Suddenly he burst into laughter and sat up, looking at the documents piled up on his desk, which were submitted by officials at all levels from the Qingliu and Yan party.
He knew what was going on without even looking.
The military households were causing trouble, and the Qingliu wanted to send people to suppress them. The Yan Party also had the same idea, but Hai Rui would not follow suit.
The most important thing is that he knew that the emperor was playing a big game, so he naturally couldn't hold the emperor back.
The emperor has already embarked on the path of cultivating immortals, and the emperor wants to lead the Ming Dynasty in a better direction. He dare not act rashly for fear of delaying the emperor's grand plan.
Thinking about the free time he had had during this period of time, Hai Rui suddenly felt a sense of empathy with those corrupt officials.
Well, this really disgusted him!
"No wonder there are so many corrupt officials, they take more and do less...it's human nature!" Hai Rui sat on a chair, picked up a Taoist book borrowed from Chunyang Palace on the table and began to read silently.
"Since the emperor can embark on the path of cultivating immortals, it means that immortals exist in this world. After all, it is impossible for the emperor to possess immortal skills for no reason. It must be a blessing from the immortals. If this is true..."
As he thought about it, Hai Rui put down the Taoist book in his hand, raised his head and looked out the window, gazing at the azure sky.
"Maybe the gods and immortals exist outside that sky..."
"Thump, thump, thump!" A hurried sound of footsteps was heard, accompanied by a hurried voice.
"Governor, Governor, something terrible has happened. It's not good..."
A middle-aged fat man in a green official robe rushed in.
"Oh, my dear Governor, it's already this late and you still have time to read such idle books?" Councillor Li Zhiyuan became furious when he saw the Taoist classics in Hai Rui's hand.
He just couldn't understand. Wasn't Hai Rui a well-known honest official with the nickname "Hai Bijia"? How could he become so absurd and lazy after arriving in Datong?
It can be said that they ignored all government affairs. At most, they dealt with a few officials who were previously suspected of corruption and oppression of the people.
Then he began to live in seclusion, never leaving the house all day long. He would either recite the Huangting Sutra or study Taoist classics, and some Buddhist scriptures.
Could it be that the rumors about this person being so honest and upright, pleading for the people and talking back to his superiors, are all false?
Could it be that Hai Rui was using a new method to gain fame in the officialdom? Well, it was very possible!
There are no honest officials in this world, it’s all “hype”!
"What's the matter?" Hai Rui looked up at his councillor and leisurely turned the page while speaking.
Li Zhiyuan, a member of the political party, was arranged by Qingliu to be by his side.
"The military households caused trouble, so the county government arrested people. Now a group of military households have surrounded the county government, and the county government can hardly hold on. Now it can be said that the people are resentful!"
"What did the Governor say?" Hai Rui still didn't care.
He also saw clearly this "Northern Border War". The Yan Party was obviously defeated. The Qingliu still wanted to make a big deal out of it, but they could not do it. It had to be an order from the Yan Party.
The reason why Li Zhiyuan came to me was simply to ask me to step in and suppress these military households that were causing trouble.
As for one's own camp, one can belong to the Qingliu or the Yan Party at any time, depending on how the situation develops and what one does.
If I send troops to suppress the rebellion, I will be on the side of the Yan Party. If I do not send troops, I will naturally be on the side of the Qingliu Party.
The current situation is that we are being swept up by events, rather than being the ones directing them.
"Governor Tang has always been reluctant to send troops, you know that," Li Zhiyuan said, and then paused, his face full of sorrow again, and he said humbly: "If the trouble continues, I'm afraid there will be chaos. You are from the upper level, and I can't bear it..."
"How about, the governor send troops to disperse that group of ruffians?" The Governor-General of Xuanda was the highest military and political official in Xuanfu and Datong areas, responsible for the military defense and government administration of the two regions.
In terms of official position and power, the governor is higher than the governor and has the greatest authority. Therefore, if there is a major event, the governor can make a decision directly without going through the governor.
As for the Governor of Datong, he was responsible for the specific management and military defense of the Datong area. Although his authority was not as broad as that of the Governor-General, he had greater autonomy in daily management and local affairs.
Today, the Governor-General of Xuanda and the Governor are both in Datong.
Generally speaking, the Governor of Datong needs to obey the command and dispatch of the Governor-General of Xuanda.
The Governor-General of Xuanda had the final say on major decisions, while the Governor of Datong needed to execute the Governor-General's orders and manage the specific affairs of the Datong area under his guidance.
However, these are all on the surface, and there are many other things to consider in reality, such as some necessary interpersonal interactions and human relationships.
Therefore, all major decisions are made through consultation and communication between the two parties.
The Governor of Datong can also make suggestions to the Governor-General of Xuanda and participate in discussions under certain circumstances.
Therefore, Hai Rui could also send troops to suppress it.
"Councilor Li," Hai Rui closed the book and stared at Li Zhiyuan, "How many years have you been an official?"
"Hmm?" Although he didn't know what Hai Rui meant, Li Zhiyuan still said, "I have been an official for more than ten years..."
"Ten years," Hai Rui nodded, supporting his desk with both hands, and sitting behind it with a dignified manner, saying, "You've been an official for so long, don't you understand this little bit of officialdom?"
"The Governor issued an order a few days ago not to suppress the military households, and the main focus was on appeasement and communication. You want me to send troops to suppress them?"
"Are you asking me to disregard the orders of my superiors? Are you asking me to offend the governor?" Hai Rui leaned forward, stared at Li Zhiyuan, and said, "Councillor Li, are you trying to ruin my career?"
Looking at Hai Rui, who exuded an aura of justice but whose words were full of worldly wisdom, Li Zhiyuan was completely stunned. Is this really the Hai Bijia?
"Governor, those military households are making trouble unreasonably. Even if we suppress them, it is their own fault. The court's laws..."
"Don't tell me that!" Hai Rui raised his big hand to interrupt Li Zhiyuan's words, and then turned his hand and pointed to the door, "I, Hai Rui, never contradict my superiors. Go down!"
Looking at Hai Rui who was speaking with confidence and righteousness, Li Zhiyuan opened his mouth, but in the end he could only flick his sleeves and turn away.
After Councillor Li Zhiyuan left, Deputy Envoy Wang Anguo, wearing a red official robe, hurried in.
"Governor, you must not send troops. It is understandable that the military households are causing trouble, but someone is deliberately doing something bad. You must not..."
As he spoke, Hai Rui stood up calmly and said, "Don't worry, I won't act on my own without the Governor's order."
"That's great, that's great..." Looking at the legendary sea pen holder, a strange look flashed in Wang Anguo's eyes.
"Anything else?" Hai Rui looked at Wang Anguo.
"No, that's all. Since the governor has made the decision, I feel relieved... I'll take my leave..." After saying that, Wang Anguo turned around and left, looking back every few steps. He felt that this Hai Rui was no different.
Fortunately, every time the young minister wrote to me, he would emphasize the need to be wary of Hai Rui.
Oh, that's an exaggeration. Rumors are just rumors after all, and are nothing more than a silver-plated spear tip.
"Ha." Looking at Li and Wang who came and left in a hurry, Hai Rui stood at the door with his hands behind his back and chuckled, as if talking to himself. "The Taoists say: blunt its sharpness, resolve its conflicts, soften its light, and become one with the dust..."
"It seems that I, Hai Rui, also have the potential to be like Guang Tongchen?" He shook his head again, his eyes burning as he said:
"Confucianism, Taoism, harmony with the world, and righteousness? Whatever it is, as long as it is beneficial to the country, it can be used!"
Hai Rui was never a rigid and pedantic person, but rather a smart man with great intelligence.
"I, Hai Rui, am of one mind with my father and king!"
For several days, Hai Rui remained indifferent to Datong's government affairs. His "rotten" behavior also caused heated discussions between the Qingliu and Yan party.
"..."
(End of this chapter)
