Survival countdown

It took Zhao Baiyu a few days to get used to the days without Huo Jingtang by his side, and Mr. Ji's verdict has not yet come down, it seems that he is stuck in the imperial pen and verdict.

He visited his mentor and asked Emperor Yuanshou what he meant. Chen Shidao shook his head and said he didn't know.

He also paid attention to Liangjiang, but he couldn't figure out what Emperor Yuanshou meant.

"Ji Xingbang was brought down just because he didn't want to join forces. Liangjiang's officials and businessmen colluded, and the degree of arrogance can be seen. How to deal with Ji Xingbang can probably see your Majesty's attitude towards Liangjiang."

Chen Shidao's conjecture was also in Zhao Baiyu's conjecture, and Emperor Yuanshou's delay in making a verdict inevitably made people feel agitated.

When Zhao Baiyu was suffering, King Kang came to visit and told him that Emperor Yuanshou was in a rage and threatened to cut off Ji Xingbang's head and kill chickens to warn monkeys. Several prime ministers persuaded him one after another but angered Emperor Yuanshou.

"But Mr. Ji is not guilty of death."

"If the king wants the minister to die, what can the minister do? What's more, Mr. Ji's corruption crime is small or big, and it is up to His Majesty to punish him from a severe to a light punishment. Think about it, the former Cao Si envoy Chen Zhizhou is His Majesty's imperial pen qin." Well, Ji Xingbang is considered my disciple and a person His Majesty entrusts, but he failed His Majesty's trust within a year after he took office. Isn't this a slap in the face of Your Majesty? Didn't you tell Your Majesty that your disciples and your courtiers are mediocre? , your vision is mediocre, do you think His Majesty should be angry?"

Emperor Yuanshou had a good face, and his face was swollen like this, so he should be annoyed.

This move convinced Zhao Baiyu that what Emperor Yuanshou was really angry about was the darkness of Liangjiang's officialdom. The case of Yingdeshi and Guanliang was handled perfectly, which shows the power of the princess in Liangjiang. She should know that Ji Xingbang belongs to Emperor Yuanshou. But he watched him fall into the pit with cold eyes. This was disrespectful to Emperor Yuanshou, and it also sounded the alarm in Emperor Yuanshou's heart, telling him that his own sister was no longer obedient.

The Liangjiang Merchant Gang is so capable, and the third-rank officials who can overthrow the imperial court also shocked Emperor Yuanshou, so he was vigilant, and he would not let go lightly.

But killing a wronged Ji Xingbang will only deter other officials, fuel the arrogance of the Liangjiang business gang, and make them boss around the officials who go to Liangjiang in the future.

If officials refuse to join forces, Ji Xingbang is a lesson from the past.

In just a few breaths, many speculations flashed through Zhao Baiyu's mind, and he asked a little uncertainly: "The prince has been with His Majesty for many years, and he knows His temper best. May I ask the prince if there is any way to make His Majesty happy or angry?"

"It's Uncle Ten."

Zhao Baiyu is as good as others: "Uncle Ten."

"Hey!" Kang Wang smiled, and said to him, "Your Majesty is worried day and night, nothing more than two rivers. Once Ji Xingbang fell from the horse, who will leave the vacancy? Don't look at your Majesty who is rich in the world and has three thousand ministers. Who is actually civil and military in the Manchu Dynasty?" Everyone has small thoughts, no one cares about them, even I have my own small thoughts, and it seems that there is no shortage of people who can use them, but there are not many people who can really use them and dare to use them with confidence. Zai Zhi is good enough, but can he let it out? ? Your benefactor Chen Shidao is also a useful talent, but the current imperial court is short of people, so we can't do without him."

Kang Wang gave several ministers of the court to prove that there was no one available for Emperor Yuanshou, and then said: "Ji Xingbang's case cannot be overturned, unless someone goes to Jiangxi to investigate Liangjiang's officialdom in person. This person is chosen to save Ji Xingbang. Just enough to be able to leave the post at any time..."

Zhao Baiyu was blessed to the heart, and instantly understood what it meant for Emperor Yuanshou and King Kang to do this together.

"I wanted to recommend myself, but unfortunately I don't have enough qualifications."

When Ji Xingbang was promoted to Jiangxi Transit Envoy, he was at least a fifth-rank Beijing official, and the prefect of the capital prefecture had a superlative status. The level is really unreasonable.

"If you have the heart, you don't have to be afraid of others' gossip. In terms of seniority, if you can't do it, who else can do it? Are those silverfish who can only talk but can't do anything? Besides, the jump from one rank to the next is the official position. For ordinary courtiers, in the Han Dynasty, Zhao Guo and Jia Yi were promoted five ranks within a year, and they are all capable ministers and good officials with a long history." Kang Wang patted his chest and said: "They can, and you can too, I guarantee it! "

Zhao Baiyu bowed and bowed: "So, Baiyu thanked Uncle Ten first."

"Don't don't." Kang Wang quickly helped Zhao Baiyu up: "Don't thank me." That's not a good job. "It's all for the court and for the people, as it should be."

Zhao Baiyu smiled: "No matter what, I should thank you for reminding me in private."

Kang Wang avoided Zhao Baiyu's eyes, feeling ashamed in his heart, the junior gave 100% trust and thought it was the elder's value, how could he expect it to be the elder's incompetent scheme?

Really ashamed.

"When you arrive in Liangjiang, don't trust anyone, and the surrounding provinces are also on guard. The commander-in-chief of Liangjiang is a former student of Lu Zhiyuan, and has some ties with the prince. He may be able to use it. Guan Wenbinke, the prefect of Hongzhou I ordered him in the exam, and he can be regarded as a student. He is driven by profit and cannot be trusted, but he can be used."

"When an official's appetite is fed, money is not so rare. It is useless to use it for profit. Only by promising him a prosperous official career will work."

It's not easy for Kang Wang to say too much, and if I add more points, I can only say so much.

***

With Zhao Baiyu's willingness, Kang Wang's next things will be done much more smoothly. With the performance of Emperor Yuanshou, the ministers who recommended Zhao Baiyu and opposed Zhao Baiyu's promotion to five levels in a verbal war, expressed impassionedly in front of the Chuigong Palace. Only Zhao Baiyu, who holds a strong certificate and enforces the law like a mountain, can secure the position of Jiangxi transshipment envoy.

Chen Shidao mentioned at this time that Liangjiang is not only an important place for taxation, but also a major rice and grain production area. The end of the year is approaching, and in the spring of next year, official grain must be collected from Liangjiang and transported back to Kyoto. The importance of Liangjiang official grain.

Responsible for the transfer of Liangjiang official grain purchases and taxation, so that one shortage must not be empty. One more delay will mean that the grain in the state warehouse will decrease day by day, and it will increase the instability of the Northwest War.

After all these, the top hats were buckled one after another, and the officials who opposed it were dizzy. When they came back to their senses, Emperor Yuanshou had approved Zhao Baiyu to make up for the vacancy of Jiangxi's transshipment envoy.

As soon as the decree came out, King Kang immediately went out to ask Emperor Yuanshou to show mercy outside the law. Because Zhao Baiyu valued love and righteousness, and was an old official of Ji Xingbang, he leniently dealt with Ji Xingbang's ink corruption case.

Emperor Yuanshou made an expression of dissatisfaction, but agreed to Kang Wang's plea, searched Ji Xingbang's home, dismissed him from his official position, and sent him to Lingnan, not including his family members.

As soon as the oral order came out, all the officials fell to the ground, and the mountain called for His Majesty's kindness.

Emperor Yuanshou looked at the court officials below, and walked out of the Chuigong Hall with his hands behind his back.

The chief eunuch shouted 'Back to the court', all the officials stood up, looked at each other, each was speechless, a hundred thoughts flashed through their minds, and they all couldn't figure out what Emperor Yuanshou was thinking.

Say he wants to rectify Liangjiang's officialdom, why send a Zhao Baiyu there?

It is true that Zhao Baiyu's ability is obvious to all, but the officialdom is complicated and needs to rely on connections everywhere. Therefore, the officials sent to Liangjiang in the past were either from Liangjiang, or Liangjiang had a family history. People, I'm afraid they won't be eaten alive.

In the former Huainan officialdom, Zhao Baiyu was an imperial envoy who was ordered to handle missions, and had the right to take over the local government and mobilize the local military power at will. Now, in Liangjiang, there are no soldiers and no one, but it is an extremely difficult job.

What's more, the king of the small county of Lin'an went to the northwest to fight in the northwest, and then sent the young man who was married to the matchmaker into the whirlpool, which was not kind.

But if you don't want to rectify, is it possible to leave such a fertile land alone, making the court poor and the merchants rich?

***

In the secret private room of the Kyoto Mansion Restaurant, the sixth prince was bored drinking soft wine and listening to his uncle Zheng Chuzhi's worried persuasion.

"Then Zhao Baiyu is just a ghost. Wherever he goes, there are many of our people in Liangjiang. Shouldn't we take precautions in advance?"

"Uncle, you didn't understand one thing." The sixth prince put down his wine glass and looked at Zheng Chuzhi: "Liangjiang doesn't have many of us anymore. Zheng Guogong's family has been in the army for generations, and the contacts in the officialdom can only be developed from generals. Liangjiang masters the words Few of Quan's civil servants belonged to us, and Jiangnan's scientific examination fraud was directly uprooted. Some of the remaining people made money in a low-key manner, barely able to maintain the military resources of the Jizhou Army, so haven't you seen it clearly?"

Zheng Chuzhi is smart after all, and quickly understood the meaning of his words: "There are not many of our people in Liangjiang, and they are divided up by several other forces. Unless their forces are uprooted, we will not be able to develop our people. Therefore, Zhao It is a good thing for us that Baiyu rectifies Liangjiang, the more he is worried about ghosts, the more powerful he is for us?"

The sixth prince laughed and finished his glass of wine.

Zheng Chuzhi: "In this case, should we help Zhao Baiyu?"

The sixth prince: "No need. We can just sit on the mountain and watch the tigers fight, so as not to get burned."

Zheng Chuzhi was quite determined, and sure enough, Xiaoliu was much smarter than King Qin, he could see the situation clearly, his brain moved quickly, and he could formulate a strategy in a few words.

***

As soon as Zhao Sanlang was on duty, he hurried back to the mansion, met Zhao Changfeng who came back together, and the two went to Zhao Boyong's study side by side.

"Brother, are you looking for dad too?"

Zhao Changfeng responded, "Are you here to ask Dad for Zhao Baiyu's appointment as Jiangxi Transit Envoy?"

Zhao Sanlang nodded: "As a general, I know that Liangjiang's officialdom is complicated. Ji Xingbang has been in the prefect of Kyoto Prefecture for four or five years. He has not made any mistakes, and his political achievements are considered good. In the end, he was ruined in Liangjiang only a year ago. I, I I'm a little worried, and the second brother is also in Liangjiang, so I always feel flustered... Big brother, are you too?"

Zhao Changfeng was silent for a while, then nodded.

Zhao Sanlang still wanted to talk, but found that both of them went to Zhao Boyong's study, knocked on the door and waited for a response from inside before entering the room.

Sitting behind the desk, Zhao Boyong glanced at his two sons with clear eyes: "Are you here for the matter of Liangjiang?"

The two nodded.

Zhao Boyong: "It has nothing to do with you, so don't pay attention."

Zhao Sanlang opened his mouth to speak, but Zhao Changfeng took the first step: "Erlang also stayed in Liangjiang for two years. I heard from Ji Xingbang that he caught a tank boat selling private salt at Hongzhou Wharf. To be serious, he has something to do with Erlang, and the princess I have been silent in Hongzhou for 20 years, and suddenly made a high-profile appearance on the occasion of the Queen Mother's birthday...so my son is a little worried."

Zhao Boyong: "Erlang will be his salt and iron judge well, and he will be fine if he doesn't get involved in Liangjiang's officialdom. When his term of office comes up next year, dad will find a way to transfer him back. You don't have to worry too much." After a pause, he added One sentence: "The two rivers are deep, sinking into them is a dead end, you all give me peace of mind, don't go to tease Erlang! Your mind is too complicated, so you should care more about Shiro."

Zhao Sanlang: "Father, but five—"

"Get out!" Zhao Boyong pressed his temples, showing a trace of fatigue and impatience, with a look of sullenness flowing between his brows.

Seeing that the situation is not good, Zhao Changfeng winked at Zhao Sanlang and told him to leave quickly.

Sure enough, Princess Changping couldn't be mentioned, and when father was mentioned, he would get angry.

After the two left, their thoughts were exactly the same.

Mrs. Xie walked out from behind the screen and quietly polished ink for Zhao Boyong.

Zhao Boyong suddenly grabbed Xie's wrist and said in a low voice, "Don't worry, I won't let that woman go back to Beijing, and I won't let her hurt you again."

Xie looked up: "Your Majesty's decision, can you defy it?"

Zhao Boyong: "I endured it 20 years ago, do you want me to endure it?"

Xie's reaction was calm: "Don't talk nonsense, the lives of thousands of people from the Zhao and Xie clans are not a joke. Besides, I am old, I have received all the retribution I deserve, and I have enjoyed all the blessings I deserve. My only wish is nothing but I want my children to be safe and well.”

A suffocating silence surrounds the couple who have loved each other since childhood.

"Has Your Majesty revealed himself to you?" Mrs. Xie took the initiative to break the silence.

"He used Erlang's matter to test me, but I didn't let go."

Xie became short of breath, closed her eyes to calm down, opened them after a while, and said in a depressing tone: "Are you grieving for me and Shiro, or because you were forced to break your proud self, and you only hate the princess?" ?”

Zhao Boyong suddenly looked up at her, his expression was shocked, he couldn't believe it: "You don't believe me either?"

Xie's hands hidden in his wide sleeves trembled slightly, avoiding Zhao Boyong's gaze: "The child should be able to meet his biological mother when he arrives in Liangjiang. After all, he is not the one who did the wrong thing. We are the ones who made Li Daitao stiff, right?" Live him. If, if he asks, you and Erlang can help."

After saying that, Mrs. Xie left.

Walking to the atrium, Xie pressed her stinging heart, unable to figure out how she could have hurt someone just now, and even more couldn't figure out why she blurted out to ask someone to help that child.

Mother and son have been separated for 20 years, and the happy event that they are about to meet each other has nothing to do with her?

Xie shook his head, he couldn't sleep well for the past few days, his mind was full of random thoughts.

She stood there for a while before moving back to the front yard.

***

Kang Wang brought the imperial decree and the official seal letter of Emperor Yuanshou appointing Zhao Baiyu as the Jiangxi transit envoy, and specially reminded him of an extra sentence in the imperial decree: "'Do things cheaply'. In the past, the right was only given to imperial envoys, but now it is still given to you. Good job. use."

Patting Zhao Baiyu's arm, Kang Wang lowered his voice and said, "It's cheap, and the imperial power grants permission. Kill first and play later."

It can be seen that Emperor Yuanshou is eager to rectify Liangjiang.

Zhao Baiyu thanked him, took the imperial decree and official defense seal, and asked Yan Bing to pack his luggage and get ready to go on the road.

This time he only brought Wei Bo and Yan Bing, the former is strong in martial arts and has made many friends in the Jianghu, who can help him, while Yan Bing is because his ancestral home is in Jiangxi, let him go back to prepare for the provincial and provincial examinations next year.

By land, then by water, then by land, he hurried and hurried, and finally arrived in Hongzhou, the capital of Jiangxi, in about half a month. At this time, Zhao Baiyu received a letter from Huo Jingtang.

The two were in opposite directions, and the distance was getting farther and farther away. Hai Dongqing could not be ordered to communicate at will. Once Huo Jingtang arrived in the northwest, it would be extremely difficult to communicate again.

***

The gate of Hongzhou city.

A carriage with a simple appearance entered the city smoothly after being interrogated by officers and soldiers. Wei Bo went to explore the way first, Yan Bing walked beside the carriage, and looked at Hongzhou City curiously. Tall people with different skin colors walked through the inn and restaurant.

When the carriage crossed the bridge, Yan Bing saw a row of people selling tattered utensils by the bridge, and there were quite a few buyers, so he couldn't help being curious, grabbed a passer-by and asked them why they bought tattered goods.

Passers-by looked at this little brother, the clothes were unremarkable, the material was good, the skin was white and tender, and there were calluses on the hand, the key was that they didn't know what Wenchangli was, it was a fat sheep!

"What junk? That's called an antique!"

Yan Bing looked disgusted: "Just this pile of junk?"

"It's called picking up leaks, and it's common in antique shops. Are you...not a local?"

"How am I not like a local?"

"I don't want to talk about the accent. If you are a local, don't you know that the most famous antique street in Hongzhou is called Wenchangli?"

Yan Bing looked at the stalls on both sides of the bridge in surprise: "Is this Antique Street?"

It’s not that he has never been to an antique street in Kyoto, but there are many pawn shops, and the end of the street is crowded. How can there be an antique street next to the bridge?

"This is Xiaowenchangli, and the inside is Wenchangli. The poor are in Xiaowenchangli, and the rich go to Wenchangli, but the real king of leaks has to be found in our little Wenchangli. There was one a few months ago. A poor scholar came to gain luck, and bought a dilapidated monk's cassock from an old man. I tore off the outer cassock, and found that inside was the thousand-Buddha prayer flags that flowed from the royal family of the previous dynasty!"

The local said in a mysterious tone, "Guess, how much did the prayer flags sell for?"

"100 taels?" Yan Bing hesitated, looking at the person's face and guessing: "Three hundred? Eight hundred? 1000 taels!!"

"It's a thousand taels of gold!" the locals urged: "Would you like to buy some? There are ten to a hundred taels on the side of the bridge, and one tael to a hundred taels on the other side... The higher the price, the more likely it is a treasure." big."

Faced with this kind of temptation, it's hard for anyone not to be tempted, but Yan Bing waved his hand and said forget it, and hurried back to the carriage.

Zhao Baiyu in the carriage carefully folded the letter sent by Huo Jingtang, and asked without raising his head, "Did you find anything new outside?"

Yan Bing spoke in high spirits about antiques and Wenwan and Xiaowenchangli.

"Small and big, the nature is still gambling after all." Zhao Baiyu opened the curtain of the carriage to look outside, and said, "If you like it, go buy some."

Yan Bing: "No, I'm not good at gambling."

Zhao Baiyu said with a smile: "Think of it as the study is too intensive during this period of time to relax." He took out some silver and threw it over, and Yan Bing caught it firmly: "Go and play."

Yan Bing was just at the age of fun, and with Zhao Baiyu's permission, he happily jumped out of the carriage to spend money, picked and bought a package of bottles and cans, and a piece of wood that looked like black coal. Mumbling about the possibility of missing out on success.

Zhao Baiyu knew at a glance that there was no one of value, but he didn't say anything, and didn't bother Yan Bing, who was on the top of Xing's head.

The carriage soon arrived at Cao Si's Yamen, and the guards stopped Zhao Baiyu: "Idlers, please don't trespass on Cao Si."

Yan Bing ran to the front and said: "This is Mr. Zhao, the new Cao Si envoy, why don't you call someone out to meet him?"

The guard was taken aback, and his attitude became a little more friendly: "Is there an official seal?"

Yan Bing showed him the official seal letter, and the latter hurriedly led people into the yamen, and asked them to find someone who could take charge.

But after a while, the prison officer in the yamen ran over in a panic, and knelt down with a plop: "The transfer judge Dou Zumao has seen Cao Sishi!"

Zhao Baiyu: "You and I are colleagues, and there will be more opportunities to work together in the future, so there is no need to be so polite."

Dou Zumao stood up, wiped his sweat and apologized with a smile: "I have lost my way, and I deserve death. But I remember that the date of my lord's appointment seems not to be today?"

Zhao Baiyu: "I came early."

"Advance, advance..." Dou Zumao nodded and bowed his head: "According to the common sense in previous years, the subordinate officials should bring all the colleagues in the province to meet the carriages and horses of the Lord three miles away from the boundary of Hongzhou. Go, I'm afraid, I'm afraid it will cause the adults to leave a bad name for being unreasonable."

"Then don't notify. If they arrive, Mr. Laudo will greet me first. I'm new here, and I don't know many people. I just take this opportunity to meet everyone. I invite them to have a drink, so that I can make a trip to Bai." My colleagues apologize."

"My lord is too serious." Dou Zumao said courteously, "Sir, do you want to familiarize yourself with the affairs of the yamen first, or settle yourself in the place where you stay?"

Zhao Baiyu: "Where do I live?"

Dou Zumao: "My lord, you live in the house of the former Cao Si envoy, which was allocated to Cao Si envoy by the imperial court. If you have a spare house in the local area, you can move to another place."

Zhao Baiyu: "Take me to the shelter first."

Dou Zumao obeyed his orders and took them to the house arranged by the imperial court for the Cao Si envoy. It was a house with a Jiangnan garden style rockery garden and a pond.

Putting the luggage into the main courtyard, Zhao Baiyu walked around the house, touched the back door, heard the noise outside and opened the door, and found that it was a very lively market street.

Dou Zumao: "As soon as you come out of this street, you can go to the busy market. It is convenient for adults to buy goods on weekdays, and you can go to the night market to relax in your spare time. The most famous street in Hongzhou is connected to the back, called Wenchangli."

Zhao Baiyu: "Antique Street?"

"Exactly." Dou Zumao smiled mysteriously: "My lord will know the beauty of Wenchangli in the future."

Zhao Baiyu smiled: "Turn your ears and eyes."

***

Ganxi Guild Hall.

Jiangxi's largest merchant gang guild hall was established in Hongzhou Mansion, and businessmen from the north and the south could come to the Ganxi guild hall as long as they wanted to do business.

At this time, several representatives of the Shang Gang gathered in the guild hall to discuss how to deal with the new Cao Sishi.

"The person I sent to inquire came back and said that the new Cao Si envoy is called Zhao Baiyu. He had caused the Huainan officialdom to turn upside down before, but he retreated unscathed afterwards. He is not a character to be underestimated."

"The people you sent to inquire about Ji Xingbang last time also said that he was a criminal, upright and not a good character to deal with. Didn't he end up in President Chen's hands?"

"Be careful sailing for thousands of years. If I hadn't been alerted in advance, the smuggled salt of the Yan Gang's ship would be enough for Ji to copy our Shang Gang!"

"Who wouldn't put gold on their face?"

"you!"

"Okay!" The person who yelled was sitting in the main seat. He was about 36, with thin cheeks and a bitter face. He was Chen Luowu, the head of the merchant gang who connected the two rivers and connected the shipping business between Guangdong and Fujian. "Don't care who it is, don't take it lightly!"

The faces of the others were embarrassed, especially Fang Xingwen, the leader of the Salt Gang, who had made a mistake last time and nearly hurt the Shang Gang, dared not speak during the whole process.

"The third master said, stop the work in each hand first, and wait until we find out whether the new Cao Si envoy is an enemy or a friend." Chen Luowu said: "The Cao Si envoy is a friend, so let's take him with him." Let’s make a fortune together. It’s an enemy, but it’s just another Ji Xingbang.”

"Still using that trick to ask for directions in Wenchangli?"

Chen Luowu nodded.