Jiangzhou.
It was called Jiujiang in the Qin Dynasty and Xunyang in the Han Dynasty.
It has been a famous city in Jiangnan since ancient times.
It is an important water transport port in the middle reaches of the Yangtze River.
The rolling rivers converge in one place and flow eastwards.
In the past, merchants from all over the Xunyang Ancient Ferry in Jiangzhou City gathered, and there was an endless stream of travelers.
In May, there was an inexplicable flood in Yunmengze. The flood swept through several counties in Jiangzhou and had a lot of impact on the passenger flow of Xunyangdu.
After more than two months of restoration, this ancient ferry on the Xunyang River, which has left the handwriting of many literati, has gradually regained its former popularity.
However, during the two days of Xunyang Ferry, the most eye-catching sight of the people and travelers was the large-scale canal boats loaded with grain, which were arranged in an orderly manner on the river, adding a lot of popularity to the newly restored ancient ferry.
It’s July, which is when the minor summer heat is about to pass and the major summer heat is not yet here.
The air in Jiangzhou City is filled with hot and humid winds, and the strong wind on the Xunyang River three hundred miles away brings some coolness from time to time.
In short, it is too thin to wear one and too hot to wear two.
I didn't have enough clothes when I went out in the morning, and my back was already soaked with sweat after just a few steps in the morning.
The sultry heat and humidity characteristic of Jiangnan are really neither high nor low.
However, Shen Xisheng, a northerner, gradually adapted to the climate in Jiangzhou.
Even though he was sweating profusely under his scarlet official uniform, he still kept his back straight and sat upright on the Grand Master's chair brought by his subordinates, carefully looking at the boats waiting to be berthed on the river.
Mr. Shen, the supervisor who was personally sent by the imperial court to provide disaster relief and case handling in Jiangnan Province, was about forty years old, but he did not look old.
He looks thin and wind-chilled, like bamboos scattered on the mat that have been sunburned yellow in summer, and his wide crimson official robe seems to be caged on a bamboo frame.
Shen Xisheng sat upright by the river crossing, his thin face was habitually straightened, serious, and not angry but powerful. This was a habit left over from serving as the imperial censor in the Zhou Dynasty for many years, even if he was currently serving as the imperial envoy in Jiangzhou City, Jiangnan Province, Keep it up.
It's just that the subordinate officials who were working under Shen Xisheng these days were frightened and complaining, but they found that Mr. Shen seemed a little different today.
I saw Mr. Shen looking at the boats coming from Longcheng County at the ferry, nodding from time to time, and raising his thin hands on his knees frequently to pat his thighs.
Occasionally there was some admiration on his face.
Very rare.
The officials of the Jiangzhou Governor's Office who were in charge of Shen Xisheng inevitably looked at him strangely when they saw him passing by.
However, there were some old officials who knew the reason, and some couldn't help but turn their heads and glance in the direction of Longcheng County in the distance.
The morning time passed slowly as the Xunyang Ferry boat docked again and again and as I worked hard to unload cargo and move rice.
The ship manager who arranged for the transshipment and unloading of the cargo was holding a written document in his hand, his forehead was covered with sweat, he trotted closer, and respectfully reported in front of Shen Xisheng:
"Your Majesty, according to your instructions, your subordinates have distributed 110,000 shi of grain to the disaster-stricken counties such as Xingzi and Jishui along the way. The county magistrates are very grateful to your Excellency for the relief grains transferred to support, and asked my subordinates to report to your Excellency. …”
Shen Xisheng waved his hand and interrupted directly:
"If they want to thank Ouyang Lianghan in Longcheng County... tell them how much food is left."
"Reporting to your lord, Longcheng County has raised 160,000 shi of grain, and 110,000 shi have been distributed on the road. There are still more than 50,000 shi of grain left. Today they all arrived at Xunyang Ferry, and there are still seven grain ships left behind. The big ship can be unloaded roughly before noon."
"Send them all to Jimincang. Tomorrow the Japanese officials will release grain at half price."
Shen Xisheng stood up with great satisfaction, straightened his official hat and straightened his clothes. He raised the corners of his mouth and seemed to smile:
"The price of food in Jiangzhou City is still too high. Compared with Ouyang Lianghan's Longcheng County, it seems too harsh on the people. This is not good. It makes us useless."
"Yes, sir."
Shen Xisheng looked back again and glanced at the busy and bustling ancient ferry and the people and porters who were jubilant after hearing the news about the food shipment. He seemed to be slightly relieved and turned to leave.
Before leaving, he said to the ship director who reported the situation without looking back:
"Come here, and tell me about Longcheng County on the way, and how Ouyang Lianghan did disaster relief and flood control."
"Okay, my lord."
Shen Xisheng clasped his hands behind his back, listened carefully to the detailed description of the shipping director, and took the latter and several subordinates to leave Xunyangdu and return to the government.
As soon as the group arrived at the gate of Jiangzhou Governor's Mansion, they were spotted by the green-clothed official waiting at the gate. The latter immediately came forward, bowed and said:
"Master Shen, you are finally back. The new governor of the imperial court, Mr. Wang, is here. He arrived in Jiangzhou by boat this morning and was entertained by the merchants and gentry in the city. The hospitality was too great to refuse, so the governor went to Xunyang Tower to attend. There is a banquet, so I sent my servant here to invite you, Master Shen, to attend the banquet."
Shen Xisheng's face remained as usual when he heard this, and he only glanced at the green-clothed official.
Behind the inspector, who was slightly leaning over the local governor, there was a long-faced staff official who raised his hand and pointed at the green-clothed official, frowning and asking:
"When did Governor Wang take a boat to Jiangzhou in the morning? Your Excellency and we stayed at Xunyangdu all morning. Why didn't anyone report to us? Did Governor Wang do it on purpose or accidentally?"
The young official in green looked embarrassed and shook his head hastily, not daring to answer the question.
Shen Xisheng turned his head behind his hands and glanced south, in the direction of Xunyang Tower by the Xunyang River. He nodded and sighed softly:
"Master Wang is so eager to take office. It seems that he is worried about the people's situation in Jiangzhou. Well, this is a good thing."
The subordinates and staff behind him did not answer. Shen Xi walked into the government gate without looking back, leaving only one sentence:
"Go and tell Mr. Wang that I am used to light tea and light meals, but I am not used to this southern delicacy. He is not so adaptable. It is really troublesome for Mr. Wang to treat guests just after he arrived."
Shen Xisheng took the people away directly, leaving only the green-clothed official standing silently.
…
In the south of Jiangzhou City, not far from the Governor's Mansion, there is a quiet house with a patch of emerald green bamboo in the backyard.
It can be regarded as a quiet moment in the turmoil.
Because it is close to the river, this green cypress and bamboo forest is filled with the sound of rustling leaves from time to time.
A small bamboo courtyard can be seen faintly in the forest.
In the courtyard, there is a trickling stream and a small green water wheel. The latter fills water skillfully, which is quite elegant.
Shen Xisheng changed into regular clothes, walked through the bamboo forest, and pushed in the door.
He took off his shoes and entered the room, opened the curtain, and sat calmly opposite the only middle-aged scribe in the room. Between the two of them, there was a small wooden table with a pot of wine and two or three plates of farm dishes on it.
It's really a piece of cake.
Shen Xisheng was not polite, as if he had been an acquaintance for a long time. He picked up the chopsticks, took a bite of food, put it into his mouth, chewed it slowly, and then sighed:
"This Wang Lengran is coming with bad intentions."
The middle-aged scribe opposite him was dressed in Confucian robes and had an elegant demeanor. He could tell from his movements that he had received an excellent education.
If Ouyang Rong were here, he would immediately recognize the person in front of him. It was his mentor and junior sister's father, Xie Xun, who was born in the Xie family of Chen County.
Xie Xunzheng lowered his head, dipped his fingers in wine, and drew something on the table. He shook his head:
"The good ones never come."
"That's the courage given by the Wei family."
Xie Xun sighed softly, wiped away the wet marks on the table with his palm, retracted his hand, and raised his head.
The two old acquaintances looked at each other in tacit understanding.
It was quiet for a while.
Xie Xun also picked up a pair of chopsticks and picked up vegetables with Shen Xisheng.
The latter seemed to have remembered something at this time. He took out an envelope from his arms and put it on the table. He held it with his index finger and pushed it to the other side. He nodded and said:
"Brother Xie's recommendation is indeed good. As expected, famous teachers produce great disciples, and you, a great disciple, have made a prosperous career in the position of Longcheng County Magistrate, with outstanding achievements.
"Not only have we completed the disaster relief for the refugees in Longcheng County, we have also raised a lot of food to solve the urgent needs of Jiangzhou City and the surrounding disaster-stricken counties. It can be regarded as a big favor for me."
Shen Xisheng felt a little emotional, looked into the eyes of the middle-aged scribe opposite and said:
"It's not in vain that I tried my best to overcome the opinions of the public, mobilized the soldiers of the Chongfu, and helped him draft a food restriction order. The ideas he wrote in his letter were very interesting and indeed very useful."
Hearing this, Xie Xun was slightly startled and hesitated:
"Brother Xisheng, actually...I didn't expect that. When Coordinator Lianghan came to Longcheng, he only hoped that he could withstand the pressure of the Liu family, gain a foothold in Longcheng, and see Wu Xin at the last moment, and be deeply impressed by it. Understand the righteousness and help cover the situation."
He pondered for a moment, then shook his head:
"Lianghan's temperament before was actually quite stubborn and old-fashioned. I didn't expect that that day when he returned to Beijing and risked his life to remonstrate with the court... But after he left the academy for two years, suffered some setbacks and became seriously ill, he could be so suddenly enlightened. Enlightenment... Well, if I hadn't visited him in person last time, and I'm sure it's Lianghan, and there are frequent messages from Huanwan, then I would have doubted whether someone else had been replaced."
Shen Xisheng leaned back and couldn't help but look at Xie Xun's face for a while, but there was still a rather suspicious look on his face:
"Brother Xie taught his own disciple, how could he not know about it? Don't tease me."
Xie Xun's expression showed some helplessness, and he slowly closed his mouth to speak, only sighing and shaking his head.
He lowered his eyes and picked up the envelope handed by his friend, opened it, and glanced at the familiar handwriting.
"Whose letter is it, Lianghan's?"
"That's right, Brother Xie is a great disciple."
Xie Xun always felt that his friend's words were a bit sour, and he might have developed a feeling of cherishing talents again.
"Ribbon-cutting ceremony at Duke Di Gate? Inviting Brother Xisheng to come? Or... the fifteenth of this month?"
"Um."
Shen Xisheng turned his head and stared at a waterwheel that scooped water exquisitely in the yard outside the house. He narrowed his eyes and explained:
"Brother Xie's apprentice has solved the problem of refugee relief. The first thing to do now is flood control and construction. I heard people say before that he seemed to be digging a new gate, and now he suddenly rebuilt the Di Gong Gate. It seems that it was built entirely by the Liu family in Longcheng. , this matter is a bit strange, it must have taken a lot of effort.
"I heard Ouyang Lianghan say in a letter before that how the Liu family in Longcheng is so domineering and hateful, and why they are shaking hands and cooperating in the blink of an eye. This is not like what a gentleman would do, and it may be an expedient measure. I can't say that you want to invite me over this time. I want to suppress the Liu family in Longcheng for him, or simply want to take advantage of my power, but I don’t know if I can handle the Liu family.”
He turned around and took another bite of food. After swallowing slowly, he gently put down his chopsticks and said with a half-smile:
"Brother Xie, why don't you explain some things to him clearly, so as not to treat us as outsiders all the time and hide what you want to do? Young people nowadays...Brother Xie, tell me, I am now Should I go or shouldn’t I go?”
Xie Xun suddenly raised his head and said, "Brother Xisheng would be better off taking a trip."
"oh?"
Xie Xun was silent for a moment and said slowly: "There should be no doubt that the Liu family in Longcheng has contacts with the Wei family."
"Is the Liu family really a chess piece planted by the Wei family? Wait, now, taking advantage of the grain corruption case, the Jiangzhou governor's office changed its blood, and suddenly Wang Lengran was parachuted in..." Shen Xisheng's face became more serious: "The scapegoat?"
"I don't know, but I'm afraid that I've been deceived and want to gain wealth, and I don't even know that I'm a scapegoat... Over the years, the Liu family in Longcheng has become very close to the forces of the Wei family. How can Guyue Sword Shop be able to do this?" Big, the reason is that the Wei family is standing behind it. And some people discovered that some of the Wei family's guests have been in and out of the Liu family."
"The Wei family is powerful and has many guests. In a place like this, where the powerful are powerful, it is normal for them to find connections to curry favor with the powerful people of the day."
Xie Xun shook his head: "But in Dragon City, even if it is normal, it must be treated as abnormal.
"Although the Liu family in Longcheng has been quite honest over the years, and there is no sign of that, there is no guarantee that they will continue to be honest at the last critical moment, instead of seeking wealth and wealth at risk."
Shen Xisheng slapped his chopsticks on the table and frowned: "You are seeking death! The Wei family hasn't won yet. How dare Cuo'erxiao dare to bet when he was young, and he rushed to be a dog for others?"
Xie Xun sighed: "After so many years, Brother Xisheng has also seen it. This kind of thing has happened before. He was originally a noble man in Tianhuang, but his life was like a piece of grass. He also had to serve as a promotion for the younger generation. Brother Xisheng, go. Let’s go and see if we can help Liang Han get rid of this gangrene attached to his bones.”
Shen Xisheng calmed down and was silent for a while. He nodded and said:
"Brother Xie's suspicion is not unreasonable. I would rather believe that it is true than that it is not true. I will take a trip."
After the words fell, there was silence between the two of them for a while. They picked up their chopsticks and ate their food until Shen Xisheng stopped using his chopsticks and couldn't help but ask in a low voice:
"Brother Xie, tell me, is it really possible for the Longcheng lineage? Haven't they all been...lost? Besides, Luo Jing still has a lineage that is still alive, which is more popular with the emperor, more legal, and... …More popular.”
Xie Xun was silent for a while, lowered his eyes, and looked at the two blurry and wet words that he had written on the table with his finger dipped in tea not long ago. Only one word could be faintly distinguished: Si.
The middle-aged scribe looked calm, but lowered his voice:
"Brother Xisheng, please remember, no matter whether it is the family that is still in Luojing Imperial City or the family that has fallen into Jiangzhou Longcheng, it can never be the Wei family.
"Besides, no matter what, the family in Longcheng County always bleeds with the same blood as Taizong, and we must not let them suffer any loss in caring for my ministers."
Although he was sitting on his knees, Shen Xisheng still kept his back straight. After hearing this, he nodded heavily.
Xie Xun suddenly became serious.
"Brother Xisheng, the world has been turned upside down and orthodoxy has fallen by the wayside. How can we just sit back and watch?"
Shen Xisheng sat upright.
"This is a matter of great justice, and I will never give in."
"good."
Xie Xun paused and took out another folding book from his arms:
"By the way, if Brother Xisheng wants to go to Dragon City... then he should just bring a gift along the way."
"What a gift."
"A birthday gift for His Highness."
Shen Xisheng frowned and thought carefully for a moment before he realized what it was. There was some hesitation on his thin face:
"Isn't this too..."
Xie Xun shook his head:
"Two months ago, when another Princess Changle was born, didn't the civil and military officials of the entire court give gifts to celebrate it? This is an unwritten rule.
"And that Highness has not yet been expelled from the Zongzheng Temple in Luojing. I don't know whether it was an oversight by His Majesty or a deliberate omission. She is still registered as a member of the royal family and is His Majesty's legitimate granddaughter. The legal principles are still there.
"This point has been ignored by many people in the court. Only the Master still remembers it and does not forget the date of his birthday... Together with the other princes, we prepared a small gift for His Highness as a token of appreciation."
Xie Xun kept talking, and at the same time gently pushed the gift sheet in his hand over, and said meaningfully:
"Brother Xisheng, the so-called legal principles are hidden in the minutiae of daily life. Sometimes they are inconspicuous and useless. They are just red tape. However, when the critical moment comes, it will not work without it. It is the most important thing. It’s indispensable... This is the legal principle, don’t forget to protect it.”
Shen Xisheng nodded silently and put away the thin but heavy gift booklet on the table.
Xie Xun sighed and rolled his sleeves, completely erasing the water stains on the table.
Shen Xisheng raised his eyes and looked north and sighed:
"Your heart is unpredictable."
Recommend a copy of "Xian Miao" "Who asked him to cultivate as an immortal!" 》, interested friends can go to Kangkang~ (Ahem, I guess they don’t have poisonous milk)
