Meng Wei: An exemplary politician in Hepu.
In Shaoxing, Zhejiang, there is a ** named Meng Wei, whose character is Bo Zhou. Living in the Eastern Han Dynasty, Meng Wei came from a humble background, but his ancestors were all county officials, and they have been known for their loyalty and fearlessness for generations. When he was young, Meng Wei was determined to inherit the fine traditions of his ancestors and strive for excellence in his own conduct and conduct. When he first entered the career, he served as Hu Cao Shi, although this position is not high, but he manages many affairs, including household registration, ancestral shrines, agricultural affairs, etc., all of which need an honest and fair ** to be responsible.
When Meng Wei was in office, a heart-wrenching unjust case occurred. A widow was dutifully caring for her elderly mother-in-law, but she was framed by her husband's brother-in-law and falsely accused of poisoning her mother-in-law. This unjust case caught Meng Wei's attention, and he went deep into the countryside to investigate, and finally confirmed the widow's innocence. However, although he reported the truth to the then Taishou, he was not given a chance to be retried. It wasn't until the new Taishou Yin Dan took office that Meng Wei once again stated the case to him, and Yin Dan handled the case impartially, finally revealing the truth, upholding justice, and clearing the grievances of the innocent.
Because of Meng Wei's impartiality and diligence, he was affirmed by the imperial court and was appointed as the county magistrate of Xu County. Under his governance, Xu County was stable and peaceful, and the people lived and worked in peace and contentment. Later, he was recommended by fellow villager Qi Wujun, and Meng Wei was promoted to Hepu Taishou.
Hepu is known for producing pearls, which are not only round and large, but also have a crystal color, which is famous all over the world. However, Hepu is barren and the people are poor, and in the past, in order to seek more benefits, the income from the pearl was exploited, which seriously damaged the interests of the pearl people. They even disregarded the laws of pearl production and drove pearl people deep into the sea to fish for pearls, resulting in the reduction of pearl resources and making life more difficult for the people. In the face of this situation, Meng Wei took a series of measures to eliminate corruption, abolish excesses and miscellaneous taxes, educate the people to go to the sea according to the time, and protect pearl resources. In less than a year, Hepu's economic situation has been significantly improved, and pearl resources have gradually recovered, which is the story of "pearls returning to Hepu", showing the harmony and unity of politics and nature.
Meng Wei's incorruptibility and noble character were deeply admired by the people, and he worked in Hepu for more than 20 years until he resigned from the imperial court due to illness. When he was about to leave office, the people were reluctant to hold on, and even grabbed his chariot and begged him not to leave. In the end, Meng Wei had to live in seclusion by the waterside of Hepu, farming with his neighbors, and spending the rest of his life. His noble character infected the people around him, attracting many scholars and common people to come and neighbor him, forming a small community. But even so, when Meng Wei decided to return to his hometown, the neighbors were still reluctant, and he could only leave quietly in the dark and return to his hometown Shangyu by boat. When he left, he did not take a pearl with him, which has also become a good story for posterity. A few years later, Meng Wei died peacefully at home at the age of seventy.
Meng Wei's political achievements and noble character were praised by the world, and the officials and people of Hepu successively built the "Pearl Pavilion" and "Haijiao Pavilion" in order to commemorate his virtue and politics of "going to the pearl and returning". The Tang Dynasty writer Wang Bo praised Meng Wei's noble character in the "Preface to the Pavilion of King Teng", and his life was full of loyalty and dedication to the country and the people, and he became a legendary figure in the history of Hepu.