"It doesn't matter, you can just lead the way." Ruan Yuan seemed to have been prepared for this.

"Boyuan, this...who is this person? They said 'teacher', could it be that this is also your friend?" Yang Ji looked at the people coming from the boat in front of him. Although he knew that the other person had no ill intentions, he became even more confused.

.

"We can be considered friends, maybe... just a chance meeting. But don't worry, they will never have any ill intentions towards us." Ruan Yuan said calmly. The group of ships passed by like this, guided by the boat in front.

Several rural waterways. Suddenly, under dusk, a temple appeared in front of Ruan Yuan, Yang Ji and others.

"I have something important to do when I go ashore. You wait in the boat first. I will come back at night. They should have prepared dinner. Don't worry." Ruan Yuan told Yang Ji, and then followed the few people who came to the boat and got off the boat.

We walked towards the temple together, and when we entered the temple, several more people came forward. The first old man saw Ruan Yuan, and he also stepped forward respectfully and bowed: "Ruan Xueshi? It is indeed Ruan Xueshi! No, Xueshi!"

Now that he has become the governor, it is time to call Ruan Zhongcheng. But what is the important matter for Zhongcheng's visit? If our Jiabai gang can help, Zhongcheng can just ask. I will do my best here.

.”

"Thank you very much, Gang Leader Yu. Please give me a favor, Gang Leader." Ruan Yuan also returned the greeting, and then the group walked into the "temple".

The place where Ruan Yuan came was naturally the Jiabai Gang that he and Kong Lu were accidentally brought to when they returned to the south in the second year of Jiaqing. And this "Leader Yu" who saluted Ruan Yuan was the same Yu De who invited Ruan Yuan back then.

Water. Yu De Shui led Ruan Yuan into the main hall of the temple. The layout inside was almost the same as two years ago, and the tea on the table was as turbid as before. Ruan Yuan brought his own clean water, so he just put the teacup next to his mouth

He touched it but didn't drink it. Yu Deshui knew that Ruan Yuan was a clean person, and being able to do this was a sign of respect for him, so he didn't say much and asked directly: "Ruan Zhongcheng, I was a villain the year before last.

I didn’t know Zhongcheng’s intention for a while, so I invited him to come. But I didn’t know that today, it was Zhongcheng who personally visited Yishe. So, Zhongcheng must have something important to do. But I don’t know how important Zhejiang is at the moment.

Why does this matter require Zhongcheng to work so hard?"

Ruan Yuan gently waved his right hand back three times. Yu Deshui understood immediately and hurriedly asked everyone behind him to exit the main hall, leaving only himself and Ruan Yuan. However, Ruan Yuan did not directly explain his purpose, but asked Yu Deshui: "

Leader Yu, I remember that when I came to your Cao Gang before, you once told me about the shortcomings of the Cao Service. One of them is that most of the provincial officials are not sympathetic to the Cao Service. But now Fu Gang has made friends with He Shen and has been arrested from Yunnan.

Returning to Beijing, he will be hanged soon. Chief Yu has also been transferred to Fujian and is no longer here. If neither of them is involved in water affairs anymore, will your food collection and wages matters get better?"

Yu Deshui didn't know Ruan Yuan's intention for a while, so he had to answer truthfully: "To be honest with you, the canal has been peaceful and prosperous for more than ten years, but it has already been full of disadvantages. Fugang

He Yude is gone, but for more than ten years, the grain collection has actually been continuously increasing the tax. The official tax is not much, but the increased consumption has gradually become equal to the regular tax. This is indeed the result of several officials who do not care about the people's sentiments and wantonly

It's just a matter of apportionment. But over the years, officials and officials up and down the river have formed the habit of increasing consumption, and even competing with each other to increase consumption. It has long been a custom. If you don't increase consumption by a liter or a dou, it will be a waste.

Strangers cannot survive in the government. If you want to eliminate all the old evils, relieve the people's power, and restore the reputation of the Jiabai Gang, can't you just remove two governors and rectify them all?"

"In fact, the emperor has been paying more attention to the matter of grain delivery in the past year." Ruan Yuandao said: "When I was in the Ministry of Revenue, I also discussed this matter with my teacher in the Ministry of Revenue. The so-called increase in consumption is actually

Although the bad regulations are used to make up for losses, they must not be used indiscriminately. Therefore, the two of us have also reported to the emperor that in the future, when collecting grain, we should not first look at the amount of grain collected, but based on whether the amount of grain collected is sufficient.

Perhaps this can reduce the burden on many people. Since we all believe that the excessive consumption of canal grain has only occurred in the past ten years or so, I also have a plan here. Starting from the next year, we will collect grain through canal transportation to achieve the actual results in the fifty-fifth year of Qianlong's reign.

The collected amount shall prevail. From now on, there will be no further levies or additional charges. Gang leader Yu, what do you think?"

Yu Deshui listened to Ruan Yuan's words and secretly wondered. Logically speaking, Ruan Yuan came to him because he had something to ask for. However, he didn't expect that as soon as Ruan Yuan opened his mouth, he wanted to reduce the amount of grain collected. The Jiabai Gang was helping the government to do more things.

At this time, the public opinion has been deteriorating. Therefore, he was willing to reduce the tax levy for grain. But if Ruan Yuan proposed a preferential treatment condition, he would probably have more difficult things to do later. So he continued to ask.

: "Ruan Zhongcheng, if we can reduce the increase in consumption to the amount of the fifty-five years of Qianlong's reign, although we cannot completely eliminate the disadvantages, it will certainly be of great benefit to relieve the people's power. But this matter of paying taxes has always been difficult to do, sir.

Although the amount of discretionary reduction has been stipulated, the officials below who collect the grain may not listen. What if they deceive the Lord while collecting grain as before? "

"If that's the case..." Ruan Yuan thought for a long time, and gradually came up with a solution, and said: "Gang Leader Yu, this matter of grain collection is handled by local officials, which is indeed custom-made. But even so, the court has no other regulations, so I am the governor.

The ministry can't supervise the operation? So I also thought that in the future, when collecting grain, I will send officials from the governor's ministry to supervise the operation. There are many people in my staff who are planning, and they will go together when the time comes. In this way, the following

Officials have to be under the supervision of the Fuyuan, so they will naturally restrain themselves. But..." At this point, Ruan Yuan suddenly changed the subject and asked: "Brother Yu, I think there are many sailors in the Cao Gang who are involved in this issue of excessive taxation and increased consumption.

Participate?"

"What are you talking about, Ruan Zhongcheng? We, the Jiabai Gang, usually want a good reputation. How could we join those corrupt officials to harm the people?" Yu Deshui seemed to be a little flustered when he heard Ruan Yuan's words.

, hurriedly explained the process with a smile.

"Gang Leader Yu, when I went south to Hangzhou this time, I also made a lot of inquiries about the increase in consumption. The people along the Cao River often talked about the sailors of the Cao Gang secretly selling the grain. Maybe they were not under the gang leader, but such people are not

"Young Master? Can the leader of the gang guarantee that there will never be any such person under his command who pretends to be a public servant for personal gain?" Ruan Yuan said calmly.

Yu Deshui looked at Ruan Yuan and gradually became clear that Ruan Yuan must have known about many of the bad policies in water transportation, otherwise he would not have spoken so calmly. Thinking of this, he couldn't help but shook his head and sighed: "Ruan Zhongcheng, actually

Some sailors along the canal are stealing and selling grain, and I am also aware of it. The Jiabai Gang is not that big, but if there is a strict investigation, I am afraid some people will not be able to escape the involvement. In fact, having said that, the life of a sailor is not easy, and here we are

Sailors can usually get two taels of cash, but what about other gangs? Some people are afraid that after going north once, they won't be able to get two taels of silver in three to five months. Moreover, everything in the world is getting more and more expensive, so you can spend a lot of money.

Two taels of silver are actually not enough. Therefore, some sailors have to do some shady activities because their families are poor. Of course, I have always strictly investigated theft of goods here. If a sailor commits suicide

If you bring local produce that exceeds the limit, or if you smuggle grain and make too much money, our Jiabai Gang will always deal with it strictly and show no mercy."

"Gang Leader Yu, in this case, I can inform the emperor about your plight and the plight of the water transport sailors. Now the court has decided to increase the flag pay and silver as appropriate. The sailor's book is the same as the flag ship, and the silver is used."

The number will naturally need to be increased some more. According to my wishes, I decided to increase the silver for the head rudder by one tael or five cents, and the wages of the other sailors will be increased by one tael each. What does the gang leader think?" What Yu Deshui unexpectedly found again was,

After hearing his own excuse, Ruan Yuan not only did not refute his sophistry, but instead took the initiative to ask for an increase in wages for sailors. One tael of silver may be insignificant to him, but to ordinary sailors, it is a half increase in wages. With such a huge profit, he also

Is there any reason to refuse?

"Ruan Zhongcheng, if this is the case, I, the Jiabai Gang, and others will definitely be grateful for Zhongcheng's care and kindness. If Zhongcheng has anything to do in the future, the Jiabai Gang will do its best to repay Zhongcheng for his help.

But what is the purpose of Zhongcheng coming here this time? As long as it is something within my power, I will definitely send more manpower to satisfy Zhongcheng." Yu Deshui knew clearly that Ruan Yuan came to Caobang this time.

, he solved two major problems for himself in a row. If he could not return the favor, his reputation would inevitably be lost along the canal in the future. Therefore, only if he goes further and fully helps Ruan Yuan can the relationship between the governor's department and the Jiabai Gang be maintained.

"In this case, I'd like to trouble the gang leader." Ruan Yuan then robbed Chen Asan in Nansha. The bandits were rampant and it was difficult to find traces. He told Yu Deshui something about it. There was no one around at this time, and naturally there were only two of them.

People know the information. When it comes to the specific arrangements, Ruan Yuan did not explain everything. He just said: "I have my own way to the south of the Qiantang River. But in the north of the river, there are currently few officers and soldiers. If only the county officials are sent there,

I am also worried that there are many omissions. So I ask the gang leader to send someone to help me find out the information. If there is anyone with suspicious behavior who wants to cross the river, report it to Qiantang Renhe County as soon as possible. If this can be done, the gang leader will act as a bandit suppresser.
Chapter completed!