After leaving the palace, Ruan Yuan also found Guifang and handed over the water transportation matter to him. However, the government affairs of water transportation were complicated and he could not tell him everything at the time. In desperation, Ruan Yuan had no choice but to agree on the return journey before handling the water transportation.

Record the important points and pass them on to Guifang. On this day, Na Yancheng went to Beijing to report on his work. He was also chatting with Hu Changling, who had been promoted to the Minister of Rites, in the Ministry of Etiquette. Ruan Yuan and Guifang also came to the Ministry of Rites. Four classmates, teachers and students

It was rare for people to meet each other, and they chatted with each other about old events in and outside Beijing over the past few years. But when it came to the Battle of Huaxian County, Na Yancheng also sighed deeply and said to Ruan Yuan:

"Bo Yuan, don't I know that the many rebellious people in Hua County are mostly ignorant and poor people, but they were temporarily deceived and took risks? So before the general attack on Hua County, I sent people to Hua County three times in a row, and repeatedly

I persuaded them to surrender, but in the end... there were nearly 20,000 people. I know that about one-third of them were also coerced by others, but the rest really refused to surrender and tried their best to fight to the death with the officers and soldiers. I also

What can I do? You may not know that my mother has grown older in recent years and she also believes in Buddhism. For the battle in Huaxian County, her mother and Yunxian fasted and prayed all day long, just to eliminate my sins. I looked at them

It makes me feel even worse, but I...maybe my ability is limited and I can't save so many people. Boyuan, now that I think of Mafa's last words, I feel ashamed every day."

"Bo Yuan, if Dongfu encounters this kind of thing, even I don't know what else to do." Hu Changling also sighed: "I also know that what the Neo-Confucianism preaches every day is that the disaster is coming.

, to resist the government is to respond to the disaster, and then you can enter a land of vacuum. The people were so deceived, and many people really refused to listen to the government and army's persuasion to surrender. In the end... things have developed to this point, which is also the result of our civil rule.

This is because of insufficient education."

"We naturally have to do our best to educate people, but I still think that last year, so many people openly resisted the court because most of them were poor, their livelihoods were difficult, and their lives had no hope."

Ruan Yuan sighed and said to Guifang next to him: "Xiangdong, although the post of Cao Shuai does not involve governing the people, it can supervise the delivery of grain and is also related to the people. If you as Cao Shuai can strictly check the help fees,

Count the grain in the Caoyuan accurately so that there is no risk of theft. If the people consume more, you can save a lot. My method of measuring grain ships has been engraved on the stone wall outside the Caoyuan. I will provide for the rest.

Please explain it in detail. When you arrive in Huai'an, it shouldn't be difficult to follow my method. It's just up to you to make more plans on how to investigate and deal with the remaining malpractices in water transport."

"Teacher, the students are supervising this time. Naturally... ahem... naturally they will try their best." However, Guifang seemed a little tired at this time. It seems that after the Guiyou Incident, he participated in the military plane and was busy with affairs.

It's no longer what it used to be.

"Xiangdong, if you are not in good health, it is better to take care of yourself first. Reform of water transportation is a long-term strategy, not a temporary thing." Ruan Yuan knew that although Guifang was Jueluo, her family was not well off, and she had studied hard since she was a child.

He was able to achieve his current status only by actively participating in political affairs. Therefore, seeing that he was weak, he was immediately relieved.

"Bo Yuan, let me accompany you when you go south this time. In this way, I can find less boats. What do you think?" At this time, Hu Changling suddenly said to Ruan Yuan.

"Brother Xi Geng, you... you don't want to become an official, do you?" Ruan Yuan looked at Hu Changling's appearance and vaguely guessed what he was thinking, and immediately advised him: "Brother Xi Geng, you are now the Minister of the Sixth Division.

, among our friends from the Jiyou Department, apart from Dongfu, you have reached the first rank, so why...why do you want to give up your official career?"

"Boyuan, why have you forgotten that I am ten years older than you? So a few days ago, I submitted a letter of appointment to the emperor. In the past two days, I have completed the affairs of the Ministry of Etiquette, and it is time to go back.

." Hu Changling also sighed and said: "I am really old. Even though I have been promoted to minister in these years, I know that I am no longer capable. If I continue to stay, I will be a vegetarian. Haha, I think of the few of us who have just won the title.

When I was a Jinshi, I was so high-spirited, but now, after twenty-six years, I am really old. Boyuan, Dongfu, you... It seems that the world in the future will be Xiangdong's world.

It’s over.”

Just thinking that in the past twenty years, although they have tried their best to appoint officials and govern the people, the improvement of the world's situation is still limited, and things like the Tianli Sect have happened, Ruan Yuan and Na Yancheng also sighed in their hearts, wondering what the future would be like.

On this day, Ruan Yuan finished his official duties in the court and just returned to Duke Yansheng's Mansion. On the bed, he saw Kong Xianzeng's face was pale and his eyes were weak. When Kong Luhua who was waiting on the side looked at him, his expression was also sad, but he also knew clearly that Kong Xianzeng's face was pale and his eyes were weak.

The disease was already serious, and maybe within a few days, the end was approaching. Feeling sour, he hurriedly walked to the bed and said to Kong Xianzeng: "Father-in-law, my son-in-law is late. My son-in-law is incompetent and the official affairs cannot be settled early."

, so much so that I just saw my father-in-law again today, and I still...asked my father-in-law for his forgiveness."

"Bo Yuan, I really didn't expect that we said goodbye to each other in Hangzhou in the first year of Jiaqing. Now, eighteen years later, the moment we see each other, it's like life and death." Kong Xianzeng looked at Ruan Yuan's appearance and knew that he had been an official for many years and had dedicated his life.

It was a matter of public affairs, and his face was haggard. He was no longer the high-spirited academic and political student in Shandong. He comforted him and said: "However, I married Luhua to you. Now that I think about it, it is a blessing. Luhua married you for nineteen years."

Years ago, you and your wife have always been in harmony with each other. When she got married, I was always worried about her poor health. What should I do if she contracted any illness? You have taken good care of Luhua for nineteen years, but...

...but I, as the father-in-law, have to thank you. Moreover, Lu Hua also told me a lot about your deeds as an official in the letters home on weekdays. You appease the people of Zhejiang, bring peace to the people, supervise water transportation, relieve the people's poverty, and repair books.

To establish a school and benefit future generations, I should say... being your father-in-law is the most proud thing for me."

"Dad, if you are tired, take a good rest. My wife and I will stay with dad these days." Kong Luhua sobbed as she looked at her father's critical condition.

"Luhua, after all, Boyuan is an official of the imperial court. In my opinion, official matters are more important." Kong Xianzang smiled at Kong Luhua and said, "Just now, people from the imperial court also told us that Boyuan will go south to Jiangxi as soon as possible.

, went to take over as governor, Bo Yuan also joined Dr. Guanglu. In this way, the emperor... the emperor will naturally continue to reuse Bo Yuan. Bo Yuan, Lu Hua has come back to accompany me in the past few days, I... I have

I'm very satisfied. After you finish your business in Beijing, go south as soon as possible. Don't... don't really cause trouble in Jiangxi because of my body."

"Father-in-law... My father-in-law is so considerate of my son-in-law, I am really ashamed..." Seeing that Kong Xianzang still trusted him, Ruan Yuan felt sad for a moment and even shed tears.

"Bo Yuan, actually I also know that you are still too strong. If you come to ask Daddy or Qingrong for some things, we will help you." Kong Xianzang comforted Ruan Yuan again: "I understand, although you usually

If you have an honest person, you can repair books, provide disaster relief, and handle official affairs, but the expenses are quite high. I also know that you are by no means a greedy person. The money from the court is in your hands, and every penny you spend is put to practical use, and the people are grateful because of you.

If you receive benefits and your future education is successful because of you, then you don’t need to be cautious about using money. I also know that although I, the Kong family, are descendants of saints, I am also a mortal body like outsiders.

We are not any more noble than outsiders, but our Kong family is sitting on vast hectares of fertile land, and our children can enjoy the family wealth without farming or weaving, and have abundant food and clothing. Thinking of this every day, I... I am also very ashamed. So I also told Qing

Rong, if you need money, I, the Kong family, will try our best to help you. In this way, our spare money can be used where it should be used."

"Father-in-law... my son-in-law thanked his father-in-law." Ruan Yuan was sad and agreed to Kong Xianzang's offer.

Afterwards, Ruan Yuan also stayed in Yan Shenggong's Mansion for three days. After Hu Changling took over the affairs of the Ministry of Rites, he took a boat with Hu Changling and Guifang and headed south to Huai'an and Yangzhou, preparing to go to Jiangxi. The boat arrived in Shandong, and Kong Xianzeng

Ruan Yuanzhou's obituary immediately arrived.

But the obituaries Ruan Yuan will receive are far more than this one.

In July, Ruan Yuan handed over the Caoyuan seal to Guifang in Huai'an, and then continued southbound. However, Guifang was already ill at this time. After entering Huaihe, not only could he not be cured, but he also contracted the Jianghuai epidemic.

He fell ill and died young. The next year, Hu Changling also retired to Tongzhou and died of illness.

After Guifang died, Jiaqing had no choice but to appoint Li Yichou as the governor of water transportation. Li Yichou was still serious about his work. For several years, the water transportation was sufficient. However, Li Yichou was much older than Ruan Yuan. Due to his old age, he was unable to reform the water transportation.

Accumulated shortcomings. Ruan Yuan's ideal of rectifying water transportation ended in vain.

On this day, Ruan Yuan said goodbye to Hu Changling in Yangzhou and sent him east to Tongzhou. He landed on the shore, met Sun Xingyan and Jiao Xun at his family temple, and went to the Salt Transport Envoy Yamen together. The Salt Transport Envoy Akdan'a told

Three people, after two years of publishing, the "Complete Tangwen" has been printed at Yanyunshi Yamen and is about to be published. The "Complete Tangwen" has a total of 1,000 volumes, including 18,000 articles from the Tang Dynasty and the Five Dynasties.

Four hundred and eighty-eight articles, including 3,042 authors, is actually a major achievement in the compilation of the Qing Dynasty collection. Ruan Yuan participated in it as the chief reviewer, and he also devoted his efforts to such a masterpiece. In addition, thinking of this

One year there was a severe drought in the Yangtze River and Huaihe River, and many victims appeared in Yangzhou. Ruan Yuan also donated 2,000 taels of silver to the Yangzhou government for the purpose of providing porridge.

Returning to the temple, Ruan Yuan also met Yang Lugao again after seven years. When he learned that Ruan Yuan had been restored to the rank of official and was re-employed in Jiaqing, Yang Lugao burst into tears and lamented Ruan Yuan's hard work. Ruan Yuan also

He advised Yang Lugao to rest in peace and recuperate for the rest of his life, but Ruan Yuan also knew that Yang Lugao was already nearly eighty years old and suffered from severe illness and bones. Saying goodbye to him this time was probably also a farewell. Thinking about Yang Lugao in his childhood
Chapter completed!