After rebirth, I joined forces with my mortal enemy to seek revenge.

Still in the middle of the year, the ferry in Yangzhou is a little deserted. Only a few dusty travelers could be seen. In the pavilion not far away, Pei Jiaoran and Li Xiujing stood side by side. Outside the pavilion is the Shence Army ready to go.

The morning breeze blew on their faces, Pei Jiaoran raised his head and looked at Li Xiujing in front of him, "It's time to go."

"Let me hold you for a while longer." Li Xiujing hugged her, gently rubbed her cheek, and said in a caring tone, "Jiajia, I'm waiting for you to come back in Chang'an."

Hearing this, Pei Jiaoran nodded, "Okay."

Lowering his head and gently kissing the broken hair on Pei Jiaoran's forehead, Li Xiujing gathered the broken hair to her ears, turned and walked towards the ferry.

According to the plan, they would first arrive in Luoyang by boat. Then ride back to Chang'an from Luoyang.

The boat gradually sailed away from the shore, and Li Xiujing on the bow waved to Pei Jiaoran. Pei Jiaoran didn't turn around until the boat disappeared from sight.

Pei Jiaoran felt that it was boring to live alone in such a huge mansion. Zhou Mancao and Bi Fei couldn't get away because of the affairs she arranged. She simply quit the rent and moved back to the post house.

In the post house, Pei Jiaoran leaned on the table and listened quietly to Shen Yunzhou's report on the current situation of salt pavilions in Yangzhou. She received Chang'an's decree on the day before the previous year.

Emperor Wei meant that as long as she could make the treasury rich and she didn't go too far regarding the Salt Court, she could do whatever she wanted. As soon as she received the secret edict, she immediately contacted Shen Yunzhou and let him arrange the matter.

Most Yantings are very cooperative. Except for a few who are too closely connected with the Yanyuan, they appear to be salt households, but in fact they belong to the salt lord. Engaged in the business of selling illegal salt.

"Are these people?" Pei Jiaoran pointed at the list on the case.

When asked, Shen Yunzhou nodded, "Prime Minister Pei wants to..."

"These salt lords are entrenched near the sea, boiling salt around the sea. They embezzle national wealth, form gangs, and use troops to steal." Pei Jiaoran tapped the case with his finger and said, "Notify the Salt Court. It is their duty to suppress smuggling. Ask them to send people Patrolling to detect smuggling.”

"Salt Court?"

"Let the people from the Yanyuan go first, and don't alert the snake. The day for the Saltyyuan to collect salt is coming soon. If we don't arrest smugglers at this time, we won't wait until later." Pei Jiaoran saw his worry and spoke in a gentle tone, "The soldiers from the state town are behind. Keep an eye on it. If there is any movement from the people in Yanyuan, just take it down. Don’t worry, it’s okay.”

Although the Salt Institute is not entirely under local control, the local government can still exert some constraints.

Her eyes were smiling like crescent moons, and there was a hint of obscure meaning in the smile on her lips. Pei Jiaoran sipped the tea, and what he said was hard to refuse.

"Here." Shen Yunzhou said.

As soon as Shen Yunzhou left, Fangge came to report that Fang Jianyue was outside asking for a meeting.

After thinking for a moment, Pei Jiaoran asked someone to invite her in.

"Is everything okay in the county today?" Pei Jiaoran looked at the visitor with a smile.

"I came here to ask you for advice on how to serve the people." Fang Jianyue gathered her clothes and sat down, thanking the servant who handed him tea. He said in a deep voice: "Although the obscene priests have been eliminated, there are still wealthy gentry oppressing the people and embezzling the land."

"Have you ever experienced the lives of the people? I once met a county magistrate when I was in Weibo. He said that collecting taxes from door to door is a skill, but to truly understand the people's sentiments, you still have to integrate into their lives. Only in this way can you know How do they live their lives and how much tax do they have to pay?”

"The county magistrate seems inconspicuous and is the most basic level. But it is the county magistrate who implements the decree. It is true that the world says that it is difficult for lower-level officials to do so. The so-called ministers serve the king above and the people below. If the lower-level officials do a good job, they will satisfy the people. If you meet the demands of the people, there will be no confrontation with the court. The difficulty lies in how to satisfy the demands. If you really want to serve the people, you still have to integrate with them and understand their demands."

There are many choices for serving the people, but you can see different situations from different positions. Although those in high positions can formulate new policies to address the demands of the people at the bottom, it is difficult to estimate the complex impact of the policies. This requires officials at the grassroots level to constantly try and make mistakes while understanding the needs of the people. In the end, it helped the court implement new policies at the lowest cost.

Fang Jianyue listened thoughtfully, nodded and said, "I seem to understand. But it seems that I still have to figure it out myself."

"I'm very happy that you can come. You have helped me a lot in restricting Buddhas, and I have reported your achievements to the court." Pei Jiaoran smiled warmly.

"Prime Minister Pei..."

"You don't have to look at me like this. It's a pity that I can't keep you as my disciple. Talents like you should be put in the right position." Pei Jiaoran looked at Fang Jianyue with amusement, "Four years later, I hope to be in Chang'an See you."

She trusts her own vision. With Fang Jianyue's ability, it shouldn't be difficult for her to see her in Chang'an in the future.

"I will definitely keep Mr. Pei's teachings in mind today." Fang Jianyue bowed her hands and saluted.

Looking at Fang Jianyue, Pei Jiaoran smiled slightly.

The first time she saw Fang Jianyue, she admired her quite a lot. She saw a familiar sense of ambition in her. She is the moon, and she recognizes the moon. This wonderful feeling is not common. At that time, she was thinking that it would be a pity if such a person could not be friends, and it would be alarming if he were an enemy.

Fortunately, at least for now, the two of them still have some friendship.

"There is no teaching. You have already said that you have to figure it out for yourself. I didn't do anything." After taking a sip of tea, Pei Jiaoran continued: "I will return to Chang'an in more than a month at most. You are here. take care."

"Don't worry, Mr. Pei. I won't let you down."

The two of them had similar minds and looked at each other with smiles on their faces.

"I have asked Shen Yunzhou to keep an eye on the Yanting. Send people to the Yanting under your control to keep an eye on it. If you want to arrest, just arrest the big ones." Pei Jiaoran said in a cold tone.

"Here."

Someone in the Yanyuan is secretly colluding with Yan Xiao, and she has obtained the evidence through the Yushitai. But to catch the thief and the stolen goods, the wounds on the body of Yanyuan and the chamberlain can only be deep, with both human and material evidence.

On the second night, Shen Yunzhou quietly came to the post house. Reported the strange situation in Yanyuan.

"In that case, let's kill someone with a borrowed knife. Does Shen Inspector understand what I mean?"

"I understand."

"Chief Shen is really smart."

Not long after, the Salt Institute just collected the salt. That night, the Salt Courtyard was actually looted by the salt gangsters. The inspector of the Salt Courtyard also became a dead man, and his family property was also robbed. According to survivors, someone in the Yanyuan colluded with the Yan Xiao, and they cooperated inside and outside. Taking advantage of the change of guards in the Salt Courtyard, the Salt Courtyard was looted.

As for the general of Yangzhou Prefecture, as soon as he got the news. He immediately sent people to encircle and suppress the salt owl entrenched on the beach. The mob was an opponent of well-trained officers and soldiers, but the camp was breached in just a short while.

A large amount of gold and silver treasures were found in the camp. It is said that these are the family assets of the Yanyuan inspector. There are thousands of silverware alone, and the level of wealth is jaw-dropping.

The inspector died violently, and the salt owl involved in the case was also beheaded in public in accordance with the law. Although the Ministry of Internal Affairs felt that the matter was too strange and hasty, there was no evidence, so they could only suffer the loss of silence. He acquiesced to the fact that Nanya had seized the salt and profit and sent it to him.

At the same time, the river fortifications were also coming to an end.