Zhejiang, Zhejiang Governor's Mansion.
At night, while Hu Zongxian was still dealing with the official business that had been backlogged in the Governor's Mansion in recent days, there was a sudden knock on the door.
"Come in!"
Hu Zongxian's brows wrinkled slightly and he said.
"Sir Governor, here is a letter sent by Mr. Yan Ge himself!"
As the visitor spoke, he took out a letter from his arms and handed it respectfully to Hu Zongxian's hand.
"Well, I know, you can go down first."
Hu Zongxian took the letter and then said.
"Yes, Lord Governor!"
Seeing that his mission of delivering the letter had been accomplished, the visitor respectfully withdrew and closed the door behind him.
"The teacher sent me a letter, but I don't know what's in it?"
After Hu Zongxian finished speaking, he opened the letter and began to read the contents carefully.
After a long time, Hu Zongxian breathed a sigh of relief after reading the contents of the letter.
In addition to daily greetings, the most important content of the letter was to temporarily slow down the progress of converting rice into mulberry, so that he no longer had to be so anxious! "
"Huh~ This is good, the people can suffer less!"
After Hu Zongxian finished speaking, he put the envelope aside and continued to deal with the remaining official duties.
…
The night passed quickly. Early the next morning, Hu Zongxian ordered the guards to summon everyone to the meeting hall of the Governor's Mansion. He had something to announce.
No one dared to disobey Hu Zongxian's order at all. Soon, everyone rushed to the meeting hall of the Governor's Mansion to wait.
I saw Hu Zongxian walking briskly into the meeting hall of the Governor's Mansion.
"I've met the Governor!"
Seeing Hu Zongxian's arrival, everyone stood up from their seats and saluted him respectfully.
"Sit down, all sit down! I called you here today because I have two things I want to announce to you."
After Hu Zongxian finished speaking, he sat at the top, swept his eyes from everyone one by one, and said slowly.
"Please speak out, Lord Governor!"
Seeing this, Zheng Michang couldn't hold back his curiosity and said this.
Hu Zongxian did not directly answer Zheng Michang's question, but turned to look at Ma Ningyuan and asked: "What is the current progress of converting rice to mulberry in Zhejiang?"
Seeing Hu Zongxian's question, Ma Ningyuan quickly stood up from his seat and gave his answer after recalling for a moment.
"Teacher, currently about 30% of the land in Zhejiang has been replanted with mulberry seedlings! I believe that the original goal will be achieved soon."
"Teacher, why do you ask this suddenly?"
Ma Ningyuan was quite surprised when Hu Zongxian suddenly asked about the progress of converting rice into mulberry.
After listening to Ma Ningyuan's report, Hu Zongxian nodded, and then looked at everyone.
"The first thing I want to say is this!"
"Just last night, Mr. Yan Ge sent me a letter. The letter stated that the progress of converting rice into mulberry can be temporarily slowed down!"
"In addition, after the first batch of raw silk comes out, the government is not allowed to purchase it at half price! If necessary, it can even purchase it at a premium."
"This is the entire content of the letter. Do you have any comments?"
After Hu Zongxian roughly repeated the contents of the letter, he turned his eyes to everyone and asked.
"My Lord Governor, I think this is a good thing! In this way, the government will have more time to slowly guide the people to plant mulberry trees."
After Gao Hanwen learned the news from Hu Zongxian, he stood up from his chair excitedly.
"Well, I think so too. In this way, the people can suffer less! As long as the people see that there is profit in it, they will take the initiative to plant mulberry trees without being forced by the government. "
After Hu Zongxian finished speaking, he picked up the hot tea on the side and took a sip.
After Hu Zongxian put down the tea cup and looked around, he continued.
"The second thing I want to say is related to Zhao Zhenji, the imperial envoy sent by the imperial court!"
Seeing Hu Zongxian mentioning Zhao Zhenji, everyone present couldn't help but become nervous, and their hearts were in their throats.
In the eyes of everyone, this Zhao Zhenji came to Zhejiang under the emperor's order to thoroughly investigate the case where the imperial court did not implement the tax reductions and exemptions for the people!
As an imperial envoy, Zhao Zhenji naturally has the power to kill first and report later, and everyone present also inquired from various channels about His Majesty's attitude after learning about the incident.
Your Majesty made all the civil and military officials of the capital kneel outside the Yangxin Hall until dark!
Hu Zongxian had a panoramic view of the expressions of everyone present, and after coughing twice, he continued.
"According to accurate information, Zhao Zhenji, the imperial envoy sent by His Majesty, will arrive in Zhejiang tomorrow at the latest!"
"What? So fast!"
After Zheng Michang learned the news, he stood up from his chair suddenly, with a look of panic on his face.
"It's over, it's over, it's all over now! What if this imperial envoy starts taking people away without saying a word?"
He Maocai on the side, like Zheng Michang, also had a look of panic on his face.
"Mr. Governor, please save us! If this imperial envoy pursues this matter, we will be completely doomed."
After Zheng Michang finished speaking, he turned his eyes to Hu Zongxian, his face full of pleading.
"Yes, please, Lord Governor, please save our lives!"
After Zheng Michang, He Maocai also requested Hu Zongxian.
"Look at your potential, you're scared to death even before the imperial envoy has arrived!"
Hu Zongxian looked away from the two of them and scolded angrily.
"So, the Governor has a way to deal with it?"
After listening to Hu Zongxian's words, Zheng Michang's eyes also burned with a flame called hope.
"The matter has reached this point. I have no way to deal with it. I only hope that this imperial minister sent by His Majesty can show his noble hand!"
"You two, during this period, don't give me any crooked ideas! If you accidentally offend the imperial envoy, everyone will have to go around without food, do you understand?"
Hu Zongxian was not at ease with Zheng Michang and He Maocai, and then gave a few more warnings.
"Don't worry, Lord Governor, we will definitely obey your instructions!"
"Yes, you say go east, but we will never go west! You say go up to the mountain of knives, but we will never go down to the sea of fire!"
…
"Quanzhou is ahead, we will be there soon!"
When Yang Zongtai looked at the dreamy and familiar city not far away, his face was full of excitement, and he involuntarily increased the volume.
The wife in the carriage also breathed a sigh of relief after learning the news, with a slight smile on her face.
"We are finally back."
"Yes, we are finally back! To tell you the truth, my husband often dreamed of this scene when he was serving in Nanzhili, but I didn't expect that it has actually become a reality now."
"Recalling the days when I served as the Prime Minister of Taipu Temple in Nanzhili, it's like having a nightmare."
Yang Zongtai looked at the familiar scenery around him and couldn't help but sigh.
At this moment, a group of official officers were seen rushing out of Quanzhou City. Along with them, there were the common people in Quanzhou City, a large area with no end in sight.
Immediately, this team of officers stopped less than ten steps away from the carriage.
Soon, the leading official among them bowed his hands to Yang Zongtai and said respectfully.
"I have met the magistrate!"
"Are you here specifically to pick me up?"
Yang Zongtai was quite surprised by this and asked immediately.
"Yes, Lord Magistrate! Ever since they learned that you were transferred back to Quanzhou, the people have been looking forward to it and counting the days every day. Now, they finally have you back!"
Perhaps to prove that what the official said was true, the remaining people knelt on the ground and said excitedly.
"We are waiting to welcome the magistrate!"
Yang Zongtai seemed to be infected by the atmosphere of the scene. He cupped his hands to everyone present and said in a deep voice.
"I'm here, thank you all!"
Later, surrounded by the people at the scene, Yang Zongtai's carriage entered Quanzhou City.
(End of chapter)
