Zhao Xiong began to speak. At the beginning of his speech, he strictly followed the "Director Zhao style" training routine at Zhongshan Port.

They gave a five-minute lecture on how to become a soldier under Master Jiu. They were given a big stick and then a red date, and then they directly praised their captain Liu Sheng.

In the minds of the preparatory servants, captain Liu Sheng is a strict self-discipline.

So..., so I decided to keep you all, but...there will be a three-month inspection period, and if you perform poorly, you will be sent back to the village, you know!"

Then there was a fierce commotion in the team.

Zhao Xiong's lecture lasted for nearly 10 minutes, and he vented the sullenness he had felt since time travel. He only felt refreshed and comfortable.

Finally, he waved his hand and shouted: "Okay, dismissal!"

Then Zhao Xiong showed a smile on his face, waved naturally, and said to Liu Sheng who hurried over.

"Take a few people and pack up the boat. I'm going to Hanzhuang this afternoon!"

In Dakang, people in the north eat two meals a day, but Zhao Xiong is used to eating three meals a day.

After lunch, Zhao Xiong packed up his things and took the bean sprouts out of the side door on the west side of the yard. More than a hundred meters to the south is the Xiyuan Wharf under construction.

After turning a corner, we came to the small pier used by our family.

The small wharf, which has been abandoned for a long time, was given a new look after several days of cleaning and tidying up under the command of Ma Jinchun, the clerk of the Hanzhuang Gate Yamen. It was also equipped with two new eight-propulsion patrol boats.

Of course, the government funds are used.

Therefore, since ancient times, officials have been popular because they have privileges!

Zhao Cuicui rushed up panting and came to Zhao Xiong's side, "Brother, I'll give you the copper hand stove."

After saying that, he handed over a hand warmer wrapped in a thick handkerchief.

Zhao Xiong took the hand warmer and unconsciously touched his sister's hair. Zhao Cuicui avoided it for a moment, and then said with a smile.

"Brother Ninth, you are going on a blind date. Tell me who you fell in love with so that I can talk to you...

Mother went to burn incense and worship Buddha for you. She will probably be back soon, so just wait!"

Zhao Xiong ranks ninth in the family, so most people close to him call him Jiu Ye or Jiu Ge, and Zhao Cuicui ranks as the thirteenth sister.

Upon hearing this, she nodded noncommittally. This girl's thoughts were very simple, so she smiled and said:

"Thirteenth sister, let's go to the pier and have a look. Mother should be back soon!"

At this moment, Liu Tongxun and Zuo Liangyu came over. When they saw Thirteenth Sister, Liu Tongxun was so excited that he immediately ran to Thirteenth Sister and was about to say something.

As a result, Zhao Cuicui glared hard at Liu Tongxun who was following him, leaving Liu Tongxun who was holding a bunch of tributes in his arms baffled.

Zhao Xiong looked at it, secretly amused in his heart, patted Liu Tongxun's shoulder and walked towards the small pier.

Arriving at the small pier, suddenly a awning boat came slowly towards the small pier at the corner of the big pier.

When Thirteenth Sister saw the awning boat approaching, she happily said to Zhao Xiong:

"Brother, mother and the housekeeper Fu Bo are back from offering incense!"

After a while, with the boatman's long "Let's hit the shore..." the boat leaned steadily against Banqiao, and the awning boat docked at the small pier.

The oilcloth curtain on the awning of the awning boat was lifted, and the old butler Fu Bo, who was about fifty years old and had gray hair at the temples, came out.

The servants at the small pier tied the cables of the awning boat, and the old housekeeper went down to the small pier carrying the pastries for worshiping the gods.

A maid of thirteen or fourteen years old came out of Wupeng, supporting a woman in her forties.

Perhaps because the space in the awning boat was small, the old lady's hair was a little messy, and the green silk and satin cotton-padded jacket on her body was a little wrinkled.

It is said that Zhao Xiong's mother, Wang Yuzhu of the Wang family, was educated when she was young and had a stronger temperament.

They went ashore and walked to Zhao Xiong's side.

"Jiuye, good luck," the maid supporting her mother said quickly.

Zhao Xiong felt that the maid looked familiar. He looked at it twice and suddenly realized that this was Jie Wu, the second master of Heishui Village whom he had captured a few days ago!

He really couldn't tell that it was the leader Jie Er who said nothing but cut his throat with a knife. He looked at the old lady again. Could it be that the old lady had the power of detachment and successfully took this fierce girl away?

"Blessed by the Bodhisattva, I am going to be the gatekeeper. Let me see."

"Sister Thirteen gave me a hand stove just now, and it kept me warm!"

Liu Tongxun and Zuo Liangyu hurriedly bowed and saluted: "Yushan, Qingshan, greet my wife..."

The Wang family has a certain demeanor that prevents them from being so polite.

The old lady knew that the two of them were his son's right-hand men and said with a smile: "You two are assisting Master Jiu. I don't have anything to give you. You can take these food!"

After that, he asked Uncle Fu to take two bags of food and give them to Zuo Liangyu. Zuo Liangyu and Liu Tongxun bowed their waists and thanked them quickly.

The official Zhao Xiong was actually related to the old Zhao Tong. Of course, it was donated to him. Wang was afraid of delaying Zhao Xiong's evaluation, so he stepped forward and arranged Zhao Xiong's clothes.

"Master Jiu's complexion has obviously improved, so I feel relieved. The Grand Canal is very windy. Wear more clothes and pay more attention during the lock closing ceremony. Don't let anyone trip you up."

It must be that Mrs. Wang felt that her lengtouqing son was vaguely in danger, so she spoke out.

How did she know that someone had assassinated his son a few days ago!

While Zhao Xiong lamented the Wang family's crisis awareness, he also realized that the large number of troubles that Zhao Xiong had left behind in the past had to be sorted out one by one!

"I understand, mother, I will definitely pay more attention. I will go to Chief Feng to report my arrival, get the seal, and then go to Hanzhuang!"

Also, at yesterday's banquet, I heard that the emperor was going to sort out and abolish the donation of officials. Zhao Xiong may have drunk too much and didn't take it seriously.

In recent years, the imperial court has not paid due to expenditures. The emperor and the ministers discussed it. One of the ministers of the Ministry of Revenue, He Shen, came up with an idea, which was to "donate officials!"

In ancient China, "donating an official!" was really common, but it was generally only in the middle or late dynasties that people said "selling an official".

This He Shen was even more greedy than He Shen in the Qing Dynasty, but he was also capable of getting into trouble, and was favored by Emperor Shun Wu Jian.

This minister has such "divine logic"!

It is easy for poor people to become officials when they become corrupt, so it is better to let rich people donate money to become officials.

Firstly, they will not become corrupt officials if they are not short of money, and secondly, they can supplement the national finances and replenish the national treasury.

Based on this absurd logic, buying and selling officials and titles was very common in the Yongping Dynasty.

Selling one's official position along the Grand Canal is called "nano".

The army and the people pay two hundred and fifty dan to become a regular official of the ninth rank, and an additional fifty dan is added to the second rank, up to the seventh rank.
Chapter completed!