The officials of the three counties in the western region received news today that the Governor-General wants to see the chief officials of the counties, prefectures, and counties. Please bring the regulations and account books to the Governor-General's Mansion in seven days.

The chief officials of the yamen have long been eager to curry favor with Yan Xi, and when they heard that the governor was finally willing to see them, they all geared up and tried their best to show off.

It's just that it's a little difficult when hear that the regulations and audits are required.

The Ministry of Officials has always ordered each yamen to formulate regulations and regulations for official affairs. This is to improve work efficiency and prevent a certain position from being vacant so that no one knows the process.

This matter is done well in a yamen with a full complement of civil servants, but in a remote place like the Western Region, many yamen don't bother to spend that much time, and the daily affairs are chaotic and muddled along.

However, supplementing the bylaws is not difficult. As long as the chief officer pays attention to it, the yamen in various places will follow the best procedures to write it on weekdays, and it will be rushed out in a few days.

The chief officials also knew in their hearts that this was a job of sharpening knives and chopping firewood by mistake. In order to show their merits to the governor, each yamen worked hard for several days, writing in full swing.

As for the other "account book", the chief officials were very hesitant.Naturally, someone had a wrong idea, so for three consecutive days, each yamen stayed up all night, tampering with the accounts.

Seven days later, the governor's mansion was bustling with activity, and chief officials from all over the world rushed to come.Wen Yanke welcomed the people into the compound politely, collected the regulations and account books one by one, counted the people, and then left.

Most of the chief officials of the counties, prefectures, and counties are familiar with each other. They chatted and asked each other about the situation of the governor.

Yan Xi has been here for more than ten days, and someone in the official circles in the western region has found out another identity of the governor, his face turned pale with fright, and he wished he had come here on his knees today.

Those who knew the inside story saw that those who didn't know the inside story were still talking nonsense about "lucky ministers", and said sadly: "Colleagues, stop talking nonsense, you can take care of yourself."

As soon as this man spoke, several people who knew the inside story also said inscrutablely: "If you still want to live, then stop talking about such gossip."

Those who didn't know the inside story came out with some meaning, and begged for guidance and clarification.

After some back and forth testing, the answer came out.

The officials who were kept in the dark finally found out. They wailed, sat down, and murmured, "Your Excellency is actually His Royal Highness the Crown Prince..."

These veterans in the officialdom quickly transitioned from initial shock to faint anxiety.

And this uneasiness has gradually increased as they have been placed in this compound that no one cares about for a long time.

By the time of lunch, there was still no news that the Governor had seen them, and no one had arranged meals, and no one even brought a glass of water.

They were so hungry and thirsty that they couldn't sit still.

After noon, someone couldn't bear to go, and shouted loudly for the door. After calling for a long time, there was no answer, and tried to pull the door, but it couldn't be opened.

Fear suddenly heated up in the crowd, and they gradually became agitated, shouting and knocking on the door vigorously.

When they were all hoarse from shouting, Wen Yan came late, and said politely outside the door: "My lords have been waiting for a long time, your lord governor is looking at the account book, please wait a moment, the account book is fine, your lord governor willPlease eat."

An official scratched at the crack of the door and asked, "What about the problem?"

Wen Yan said indifferently: "Then I don't know if I'm not talented. I think the governor will deal with it."

These people were stunned for a moment, they were extremely keen on such details because they were in the officialdom, their complexions gradually became ugly, and they said to each other tentatively:

"Is this the Hongmen Banquet today?"

"We are all officials appointed by the imperial court. Even if the Governor-General wants to deal with us, he must follow the regulations of the Ministry of Officials. What's more, there is not enough evidence now. He can't just deal with us like this!"

"Let me remind everyone that Bai Heng, the vice minister and the official secretary, is the governor's teacher..."

The officials held a glimmer of hope with livid faces: "Investigating and prosecuting is the responsibility of the Metropolitan Procuratorate, and the governor can't get past the Metropolitan Procuratorate. The governor can't manage the Metropolitan Procuratorate. If we really come to the Metropolitan Procuratorate, we can still appeal."

Someone reminded: "I heard that the governor once served in the Metropolitan Procuratorate."

The official, barely consoling himself, said: "He was only a seventh-rank official in the Metropolitan Procuratorate, and he left in two months."

Someone reminded: "But Pei Qingshi and Mei Yun both held important positions in the Metropolitan Procuratorate."

"What is the relationship between these two and the governor?"

"Mr. Pei is the governor's senior brother, and Mei Yun is the governor's companion. This relationship is even closer than when we were in the same year."

When the officials heard this, their faces turned ashen, and they felt hopeless.

There were also a few officials with minor problems, who closed their eyes and said in deep thought: "Let's just wait with peace of mind. As long as there are no major problems with the accounts, there will be no major problems with the discrepancies in some insignificant and small accounts."

"But..." Most of the officials were sweating.

The problem is with the ledger.

The main courtyard, the assembly hall.

Yan Xi sat behind the desk, and Mei Yun, Zhou Xu, and Jia Zongru, who came from Jingdu, sat on both sides.

As the master, Wen Yan stood beside Yan Xi with bowed head. He reported the behavior of the officials who had been locked up for half a day, and then stood back behind Yan Xi.

Yan Xi distributed the charter to everyone, he flipped through one of them, he didn't speak, no one dared to speak, the hall was very quiet.

After half an hour, Yan Xi asked: "What do you guys think?"

Zhou Xu was the chief envoy, and he was most familiar with these daily administrative duties. He turned to Yan Xi and took the lead to answer: "The regulations seem to have been drawn up in a hurry, and there are inevitably some omissions, but given the configuration of the yamen in the western region, such regulations are quite usable.The subordinate officials saw that the regulations listed by each yamen were based on local characteristics, which seemed to be adapted to local conditions. These regulations were still fresh, and presumably the chief officials of each yamen paid attention to them and urged their subordinates to rush to write them.Those who want to show their face in front of the governor."

Jia Zongru is the procurator who mentioned the punishment. He mainly read the regulations of the criminal names, and said in a strict and straightforward way: "The regulations of the officials who observe the criminal names also mean the same thing. The customs of different places are different. Where the folk customs are strong, the regulations are stricter. From a rough look, it is indeed not bad.Useful."

Mei Yun said that at the end, he turned to Yan Xi sideways, pressed his eyelashes, and his eyes fell on the ground blankly: "With these regulations, even if the chief officer or the subordinate officer in charge is changed, the new officials of the yamen everywhere canAccording to the regulations, the affairs of the yamen have been straightened out. The supervisor is wise."

Mei Yun said flattering words, but looked at Yan Xi more politely, which showed that he was frightened and loyal, and Zhou Xu and Jia Zongru couldn't help but look at Mei Yun a few more times.

Yan Xi nodded, he moved the charter under his hand aside, and asked instead: "How about the account book?"

Wen Yan used to be a doctor in the household department, and he is good at accounting. His wife Han Yuqin is also very good at accounting. It only took half a day for the couple to complete the first preliminary check of the account book.Picked out the only real account.

To be on the safe side, Wen Yan and Chao Yuqin asked Mei Yun, who was also titled Minister of the Ministry of Household Affairs, to look at them, and Mei Yun nodded too.

Hearing Yan Xi's question, Wen Yan raised his eyes to look at Mei Yun.

"My lord, the lower officials have helped me read the account book, and I agree with Mr. Wen." Mei Yun didn't take the credit, he looked away from Yan Xi's direction, and only raised his eyes when he was talking to Wen Yan. He was the most proud of the Da Jing DynastyThe young Shangshu and the governor of Fengjiang, when looking at people, have their own power, his eyes fell on Wen Yan, Wen Yan couldn't help being surprised, and lowered his head.Only then did Mei Yun say, "Mr. Wen, please go ahead."

Wen Yan suppressed the surprise in his heart. On the one hand, he was shocked by the depth of Mei Yun's city mansion, and on the other hand, he admired Yan Xi even more for being able to hold a person like Mei Yun under his hands.

Wen Yan lamented that the hero was a young man, handed the account book respectfully to Yan Xi's case, and answered steadily: "Only the account book handed over by Du Xuan, the magistrate of Yuguan County, Xizhou County, is fine, and there are a few other books with minor problems.We are checking, and in half a day, we can draw up a list."

"Du Xuan?" Yan Xi flipped through the ledger, "What is this person's background?"

Zhou Xu hurriedly replied: "Du Xuan is thirty-two years old this year. He was the Juren of Tianxi for the eleventh year. In the twelfth year of Tianxi, he did not pass the exam, so he did not take the exam. He took the initiative to petition the local government. After the examination by the imperial court, he was released to Xizhou.He was appointed as a magistrate in Yuguan County, the prefecture. Because no one in Yuguan County was willing to be a magistrate, he was promoted to a magistrate a year later. Because he didn't know how to flatter, he couldn't go up further. He has been a magistrate until now..”

The teaching instruction is a Qingshui position, and there is no grade, and you can hold the position after you have won the Juren.But most of the people would rather go to Renzhi County after trying Chunwei three times in a row, rather than be an uninformed teacher.

In addition, Yuguan County is located in the westernmost part of Xizhou, and it is miserable and poor. People all aim to stay in Beijing or release it to a rich place, and they will never consider the frontier as an instruction.

The position in Yuguan County is not to mention teaching instructions, even the county magistrate is not a good job.

Yan Xi tapped his finger on the book case and said: "This person went to the frontier at a young age. He has been in office for eleven years, and his accounts are clean. He is a good official. Send him, and I will take a look."

Zhou Xu said in embarrassment: "This person is the future today."

Yan Xi asked sideways, "Why didn't you come?"

Under Yan Xi's peaceful gaze, Zhou Xu felt the pressure for no reason, and said cautiously: "This man said that there may be wars in Yu Guan recently, and he is at the city gate every day, and he can't leave. It's because of the dereliction of duty, there is no arrangement."It's a good thing to rule."

"Nuoda is a county that wants a civil servant to guard the city gate." Yan Xi said to Wei Chifeng, "Send a team of Jinyiwei Xiaoqi to Yu Guan to see what's going on."

Seeing Yan Xi's cold eyes, Wei Chifeng knew what to investigate, and immediately responded respectfully.

Zhou Xu was even more disturbed.Yan Xi did not entrust him with the task of detailed investigation, but gave it to Jin Yiwei. This is the distrust of him.

Zhou Xu murmured: "Master Dutai..."

Yan Xi's every step of the arrangement has deep meaning, when he heard Zhou Xu's voice at this time, he knew that this person already understood, saving him a lot of talking.

His gaze turned gentle, and he looked at Zhou Xu and said, "Don't worry about Sili. You have only just arrived in Xizhou, and it is reasonable to have some ambiguities. This time I asked Jin Yiwei to take care of the matter. I can only relieve the urgent need. The guards of Xizhou, You have to rely on Xizhou's own guards."

Zhou Xu heard the cold sweat on his forehead, wiped his sleeves with his sleeves, and nodded repeatedly.

Yan Xi scrolled through the list one by one with his fingertips and said: "The rest of the officials will be closed first, and only half a bowl of gruel will be given every morning, and three bowls of water a day. Don't let people die, let them starve first.When they are so hungry that they can’t stand it, those who coax them write out the real account. If they can’t write it, they stay in the courtyard as a guest; if they write it, submit the account book to the Metropolitan Procuratorate, and the person will first be handed over to Jinyiwei for custody.”

Wen Yan and Wei Chifeng responded.

This matter involved dozens of local chief officials, which were related to the operation of the local yamen and people's livelihood in the three counties. Rao Zhou Xu and Jia Zongru were used to the situation, but they did not expect Yan Xi to act so quickly and with such ruthless methods.You have to change everyone at once.

For a moment, there was a complete silence in the hall, so quiet that the scalp tingled.

Zhou Xu and Jia Zongru have been operating in the officialdom for many years, and they know that no matter which yamen, there are always some messy and dirty things.

In the way of officialdom, balance is the most important thing. Some kind of chaos is actually a balance that adapts to the actual situation.To manage this kind of chaos, it is best to proceed step by step and break through one by one.Otherwise, if all the chief officials are cleared at once, the balance will be broken, and no one will make decisions on official affairs in various places, and then it will be completely paralyzed.

Zhou Xu and Jia Zongru thought this way because they tended to think that Yan Xi was reckless.

Yan Xi looked up from the list, his eyes were calm and unwavering, and his voice could not detect any emotion: "Si Li, Jizhang, do you think something is wrong?"

Zhou Xu only felt that his gaze seemed cool, but since he is a county magistrate, he couldn't just cater to him blindly.So he gritted his teeth and said after deliberation: "If we change everything in a hurry, I'm afraid it will paralyze the organization."

Jia Zongru and Zhou Xu had the same meaning, and echoed: "It's better to figure it out slowly, and deal with it expediently."

Yan Xi put down the list and looked at Zhou Xu and Jia Zongru.

The two were watched so that their hearts beat faster, and they felt like they were sitting on pins and needles.

Mei Yun had been sitting and listening, but at this moment his eyes suddenly sharpened, and he looked at Zhou Xu and Jia Zongru.He is a governor, and his rank is half a rank higher than that of Zhou Xu and Jia Zongru, but in fact, the status of the head of a county and the chief official of the division can be described as worlds apart.

Although he is not the superior of Zhou Xu and Jia Zongru, but with his status as a governor, it is also possible to teach Zhou Xu and Jia Zongru a lesson.

Mei Yun said solemnly: "If you let these people go back, they will definitely discuss how to work together to deceive everyone. It's better to deal with it thoroughly."

Mei Yun's tone was polite, but both inside and outside the words meant to refute, Zhou Xu and Jia Zongru frowned and listened, seeing that Yan Xi didn't stop Mei Yun, they knew what Yan Xi meant.

Zhou Xu and Jia Zongru were even more restless, but they still didn't change their identities. They always felt that they had senior qualifications and wanted to take Joe in front of the young chief.At this time, being refuted by Mei Yun, her face was a little ugly.

Mei Yun saw everything in her eyes, paused for a while, and then said: "In my opinion, Lord Dutai's move is very good. I think it is for the sake of handling things quickly, so as not to delay the affairs of the counties, prefectures, and counties."In the daily operation, the counties can decide the matters that must be reported and punished immediately, and use the regulations for quick resolution and quick execution; for other things, the officials ignore the people, but live with the people. Moreover, the daily operation is mainlyStill rely on the subordinate staff, let’s not move the subordinate staff for now, and clean up the chief officer, just to make a warning to others, so that the subordinates will not dare to mess around again."

Zhou Xu and Jia Zongru stared at Mei Yun in a daze, and after slowly understanding, the cold sweat on their bodies subsided.

They are not old-fashioned old men who only talk about their qualifications. They will take the initiative to ask for orders to come to the Western Region. After all, they still have ambitions.At this time, I heard Mei Yun's words were reasonable, and my heart slowly rose to admiration—Mei Yun is really capable and upright, what Yan Xi said, she agreed with everything, and also offered advice to help make things better.up.

Zhou Xu and Jia Zongru had mixed feelings, and they understood why Mei Yun became a minister at a young age. People who had stayed in the palace really understood the master's mind best, which was different from them.

The two missed the first time to express their opinions, and they knew that their performance today was really bad. Yan Xi did not embarrass them, it was already respect for them.

Wanting to understand this verse, they responded immediately.

Zhou Xu said: "What Mei Futai said is even true. When I go back to the official, I will draw up a list of necessary tasks."

Jia Zongru said: "As the procuratorial envoy for raising punishment, I will deal with important and major cases first when I go back. In order to prevent the chief officer from causing disturbances, I have to give a stern speech to my subordinates and tell them to deal with them in an emergency.You have to work hard and don’t make mistakes.”

Yan Xi looked indifferently at the chief officials seated below, and said with a smile: "Now the three counties are empty, you go back today, and each of you will bring a hundred households of brocade guards to find out the bottom line of the county. The subordinate officials are all detained in the yamen.Don't ask them to go home for a few days, so as not to leak the news. Careful planning is needed to capture the interested business gentry and green-skinned hooligans in the market. After the investigation, keep the clean ones that can be used, and the unusable onesThose who are bold and reckless, and whose crimes are notable, can be executed in public to make an example to others."

Yan Xi kept smiling while saying these words, with her snow-white fingers resting on the table, her whole body was spotless.

But every word he uttered was to kill people.

Zhou Xu and Jia Zongru were dripping with cold sweat. Although they pledged their allegiance to His Highness the Crown Prince, they still felt that Yan Xi was young, so they couldn't help but rely on their elders to show their usefulness.

However, after listening to this, Yan Xi was comprehensive and sophisticated, making these old foxes who boasted of rich experience feel ashamed of themselves.

So he didn't dare to refute at will, and listened more respectfully.

Yan Xi continued: "Ling Han, Si Li, and Ji Zhang, please draw up another list of vacancies. The governor has already informed the official department. The official department will find a way to recruit for us if there is a shortage of manpower."

When Mei Yun heard Yan Xi calling him Ling Han, she suddenly raised her head. He knew that this was just Shangfeng showing his friendship to the subordinate officials, but he had been looking forward to this call for too long.A call that he once abandoned like a shoestring, but now he can only salvage a little with a thousand times of effort.

God's will tricks people, but that's all.

Mei Yun originally thought that Yan Xi's occasional look at him would be the antidote, and she always hoped that Yan Xi would show her kindness to relieve his guilt and relieve his day-to-day regrets.

But now he finds that Yan Xi's frowns and smiles are actually poison, and every time he takes a sip, he hates his former cruelty and ignorance more and more.

Mei Yun fell into an incurable endless loop: avoiding Yan Xi, he tossed and turned; staying close, scratching his ear and cheek.

However, he had to put all his thoughts under an indifferent expression.

Because he knew that Yan Xi's tolerance for him was limited, whenever he had the slightest thought of anything wrong, Yan Xi would drive him away immediately.

Therefore, Mei Yun did not show any transgression. He looked at Yan Xi less than any other low-ranking official, and he deliberately tried not to get any close to Yan Xi.

Mei Yun was cautious, and said in a flattering tone to Shangfeng: "Master Dutai has a long-term vision. Now that the regulations of each yamen are in hand, the new chief officials can quickly get started as long as they follow the regulations.The rest of us, as long as we keep an eye on it, we won't mess up the yamen everywhere."

He sat quietly after saying what he had to say.

Zhou Xu and Jia Zongru were still in shock, they were both dumbfounded.

They finally knew why Yan Xi waited a few days in the western region before spreading the word. It turned out that Yan Xi had already greeted the Beijing Litou Officials, the Metropolitan Procuratorate and even the Inner Pavilion before that.

Yan Xi's various actions are not hasty, but cunning and scheming.

Zhou Xu and Jia Zongru felt more and more ashamed, they only made up their minds to follow what Yan Xi said.

Yan Xi swiped his fingers across the list, thought of something, and said: "Also, Du Xuan's experience is a reference, I wrote a letter with the Ministry of Officials, suggesting that as long as it is a candidate, no matter whether you fail the first try or the third tryNot the first, but anyone who recommends himself to come to the western region will be recommended as a county magistrate after reviewing his resume by the supervisor."

Upon hearing this, Mei Yun glanced at Yan Xi in surprise.He looked hastily at this moment, but his heart was full of turmoil. Yan Xi's move was to promote Du Xuan as a benchmark and set an example for all the people in the world.

Jinshi is hard to find, but Juren is several times higher than Jinshi.Bringing people to the Western Region can not only quench the thirst for talents, but also solve the chaos of local government-business collusion.

The western region is currently scattered like sand. The Jiang family was cleaned, and a group of people were expelled. Among the remaining people, some had the hidden surname "Jiang", and some had other surnames.The problem of people is the key to all problems, and this matter cannot be delayed, otherwise disasters will remain.

Mei Yun was the quickest to figure it out, and immediately stated: "I am willing to personally write a form to recruit talents from all over the world."

Zhou Xu also came to his senses, not to be outdone, he said: "The lower officials will also advise Xizhou to follow suit."

Jia Zongru has been working in the Metropolitan Procuratorate all the time, and he is most familiar with impeachment and accountability. He never expected that power tricks can be arranged in such a way, and he was amazed and ashamed at the same time, and he muttered: "Excuse meThe officer seconded."

Yan Xi folded the list, Wei Chifeng took it and went out.

Zhou Xu and Jia Zongru saw that the list was pinched in the hands of Jin Yiwei, and they knew in their hearts that the next step was to consume this group of people and buy time for Jin Yiwei to get all the materials and documents in the county, mansion, and county first.Save it for later use.

Zhou Xu and Jia Zongru trembled in their hearts: the list that the governor has handled, the people on it probably won't be able to go back.

The sky in the western region will completely change course from today onwards.