Du Zhongxiao became the first official, from being promoted to a county magistrate, Xia Feng attached great importance to outstanding political achievements and evaluation of outstanding people. By this year, paying the summer tax in January was completely beyond the norm, which made Xia Feng suspicious.

When urging taxes, it will inevitably disturb the people and even expose the people. Xia Feng has been an official for many years, so of course he knows this truth. However, he did not expect that Du Zhongxiao violated this routine in Yongcheng County and sent Meng Dahai to private visits, but found that everyone said it was good to everyone. No matter how Meng Dahai explained, Xia Feng always disbelief, which made him think that Du Zhongxiao was very scheming and concealed the truth of the matter.

This is not good for smart people. Xia Shu himself is very scheming and is prone to holding grudges, and he is prone to thinking about the disadvantages.

Xia Shu came to find out the truth when he privately visited Yongcheng County. When he heard that Du Zhongxiao was here, he had preconceived ideas and thought that Du Zhongxiao was not honest and might have sent someone to monitor his whereabouts in the state. However, he did not expect that his family leaked the news, which was very embarrassing for a moment.

After coughing, Xia Shun said to Meng Dahai: "Is anyone in my family in this county these two days?"

Meng Dahai bowed: "Go back to my husband, Superintendent Xia is buying goods in Yongcheng, I think it's--"

Xia Shu waved his hand: "Forget it, since that's the case, I'll save you from sending someone to inform Magistrate Du."

Du Zhongxiao looked around coldly, and there was no way to see the strangeness of the matter? He had thought that Xia Shu was not a good thing to come to Yongcheng, but now it seems that this is true. Fortunately, he is steady in his work and there is nothing he is afraid of to check.

Xia Shu said to Du Zhongxiao: "The magistrate, last year, the land management was released from thousands of dan of autumn grain in the prefecture, and this year the summer tax was nearly 5,000 guan. Although the plundering was done for the court, the plundering was too heavy, and the people were resentful. The Tang and Caizhou on the West Road of Jingxi also had land management for several years. Because the government plundered too much, the people fled and the land management was abandoned. I will not forget the past and the subsequent affairs will be in charge. The magistrate is cautious."

Du Zhongxiao bowed: "What my husband said is very true. He is a low-level job and is well aware that manpower is the foundation of everything, and he does not care about stripping the people. In addition to the money and grain that was released into the state, the land and farming warehouses are full, and they are sufficient to prepare for famine. The people have savings at home, and no household fled."

Xia Feng said lightly: "If you want to know what the people are, you should go deep into the fields and understand the sufferings of the people. Settling in the government office, no matter how good the numbers in the account are, it may not be true. The magistrate, you have accompanied me in the field management these days, and each village will see how the people live their lives."

Du Zhongxiao bowed and said that it was.

After having contact with him for a lot, Du Zhongxiao felt that Xia Shu was very complicated. He was talented and arrogant, and did not take the world seriously. But he was not stingy to promote people who were truly talented. Pang Ji, Song Qi, Song Xiang and others were all favored by Xia Shu. On the one hand, Xia La was experienced, well-trained in politics, and outstanding achievements in governing local governments. On the other hand, he was deeply scheming and hated him to the core and suppressed him by any means.

From the northwest to the court, Xia Shun thought that he could become a general and prime minister, but he was opposed by the ministers and only became a Privy Councilor. In just a few months, even the Privy Councilor could not continue and had to go out to guard the foreign office. At this time, Fan Zhongyan, Han Qi and Fu Bi were in power in the court, and Xia Shun thought they formed a party to deal with him and hated him. However, the censors were controlled by the followers of these people. Xia Shun often gave himself a chapter to judge himself, and often brought humiliation to himself, which made Xia Shun think that the current officials in the court formed a party to persecute him.

Xia Shu himself did not form a party. When he encountered such a large opposition force in the court, his psychology became more and more extreme. However, Ouyang Xiu, the most popular censor, did not know how to restrain his edge and openly proposed to form a party to make Xia Shu and other suppressed officials more likely to suffer.

Since Ouyang Xiu was a censor, he has made great comments on the government almost every month, and has received support from Fan Zhongyan, Fu Bi and others of the two prefectures. As a county magistrate outside the circle, Du Zhongxiao looked coldly and felt that the Qingli party members were facing a crisis. On the one hand, the reforms they led had not been effective, and only the people's hearts were calmed down and the officials were cleared of these empty comments. On the other hand, they had too much attack on their political enemies and were about to face their tough counterattack. This blow came from Xia Shu, who was suppressed the most and the deepest scheming.

Why did Xia Xu have to check Yongcheng? Du Zhongxiao could guess it. If he was innocent, it would be a great political achievement and he would also put a gold on Xia Xu's face. But at this special moment, Xia Xu was very afraid that Du Zhongxiao's political achievements would be insufficient. He was competing with officials from both governments, and even used some methods that were not on the market. If a county magistrate under his rule was used by the political enemy to deal with him.

After sighing secretly, Du Zhongxiao shook his head helplessly. Xia Xun, the immortals fighting, and he, a mortal, suffered. If it weren't for this sensitive moment, Xia Xun wouldn't have been so suspicious, and even used the method of private visits.

Repeatedly emphasizing that the people cannot be stripped of, the complexity of Xia Shun can also be seen. He has a large group of slaves in his family and makes money in various business activities. However, he is still honest in his official position, and can compassionate with the people and does not oppress the people.

After holding a banquet at the Houya to entertain Xia Su, Du Zhongxiao called Qiao Baoping and Luo Jing and said to Xia Su: "My husband, this Qiao Kongmu is in charge of field business affairs on a daily basis. This Luo Tiesi is sorting out the field business affairs accounts. If your husband wants to check, he can instruct the two to prepare."

Xia Xun said: "No need. Let's take a break today. Tomorrow, you and I will go to the villages to take a look. There is a lot of tax and grain paid for the land management. If the people's storage is enough, they can eat and wear well, it is your political achievement. - Magistrate Du, I am right in front of me, don't make a fuss in front of me!"

Du Zhongxiao bowed: "I dare not do it in a humble position!"

After sending Xia Shu to his residence to rest, Du Zhongxiao called Qiao Baoping and Luo Jing to the official hall and said to the two: "You have worked hard tonight, find a few trustworthy officials and sort out the accounts of the camp. Xia Xianggong was afraid that he would be involved in the accounts of each village, so he would not be in a hurry at that time."

The two of them crossed their hands and said yes.

Du Zhongxiao said again: "We paid the tax too early this year, and it is not surprising that the magistrate and the minister was suspicious. As long as we don't do anything wrong, we are not afraid of coming to patrol. You just do your own job and don't panic. This time my husband is not targeting you."

Qiao Baoping and Luo Jing said that they were right, and said goodbye together, going to make various preparations to deal with Xia Shu's investigation.

Du Zhongxiao sat alone and thought for a while, called Chai Xinlai and said to him: "Send a close friend back to the county town, go to the dock, find Xia Xianggong's family, and tell him that the husband has arrived in Yongcheng. If there is anything to help, let the county magistrate and the chief clerk take care of him."

Chai Xin crossed his hands and said yes, and turned around and left.

Du Zhongxiao knew in his heart that, except for confirming that Xia Shu had real political achievements, he could not find anything. He was so capable that he could pay taxes in a month and not infringe on the people. However, what would happen after Xia Shu confirmed? Du Zhongxiao was unsure.

At this time, the Qingli New Deal had reached its peak, and the attacks on Xia Shu, Lu Yijian and others were too fierce. Du Zhongxiao felt that something was about to happen in the court. According to his historical memory, the excitement of the Qingli New Deal was about to pass.
Chapter completed!