At the beginning of July, the hot summer weather has cooled down a little, and colorful flags are fluttering at the big wharf in Mudu Town, gongs and drums are noisy, and firecrackers are blasting.
The opening and closing ceremony of the Mudu Port branch under the Hushu Customs Department is being held here.
Officials present to congratulate include the head of the Ministry of Household Affairs and the customs envoy of Hushu, Wang Zhidu, the magistrate of Changzhou County, Yuan Hongdao, the magistrate of Wuxian County, Guo Tong, and the inspector of the Mudu Inspection Department, Jin Zhiqian.
Wang Shishi and Yuan Zhixian stood together, exchanging greetings and chatting.
The king's tax envoy said: "I have admired Yuan Zhonglang's name for a long time, but it is rare to see him. After the switching ceremony, if Yuan Lingyin has any other matters, you might as well get together with me."
The second eldest brother of the family, Wang Situ, said that the Wang family will strengthen their influence in the literary world in the future and make up for its shortcomings.
This Yuan Hongdao is a big shot in the literary world and is very worth making friends with.
Yuan Zhixian replied expectantly: "I have already agreed to go to inspect the water conditions of Taihu Lake and Xujiang River, accompanied by the forest manager."
Huh? Wang Shishi suddenly came up with a plan, but it was his turn to speak first, so he suspended his conversation with Yuan Hongdao.
Previously, Wang Zhidu was worried that Lin Tailai, being young and inexperienced, would perform the switching ceremony in a nondescript manner.
Unexpectedly, although the switching ceremony was a bit different, it still looked similar and felt like a big scene.
Hundreds of community workers were called to pretend to be members of the public and gathered under the platform. Everyone held small flags and waved them vigorously when prompted.
The officials stood on the earth platform and gave speeches in turn according to their rank. Then some scholars loudly read the congratulatory poems of each official to the crowd.
Later, Ma Yingming, the civil service representative of the branch, came forward to express his determination to the officials.
Later, there were business representatives who came from nowhere, and representatives of the residents of the town took turns to show their faces and give speeches to express their support for the branch.
After all the speeches were completed, Wang Zhidu personally unveiled the red cloth on a plaque, and then raised the plaque in the main hall of Fenguan.
Finally, forty river guards belonging to the branch took ten boats and lined up on the Xujiang River. They shouted slogans in unison: "Collect taxes for the country and serve the court!"
The whole ceremony process, you sing and I come on stage, is really orderly and thorough.
It was hard for Wang Shushi to imagine that this was planned by an eighteen-year-old martial arts officer.
Thinking of this, Wang Shizhi couldn't help but look at Lin Tai, who had been keeping a low profile throughout the entire process today.
However, at this time, Lin Tailai ignored his superior, the tax envoy, and the most famous county magistrate, Yuan. Instead, he only chatted and laughed with Jin Xinxuan, the lowest-ranking official in the field, and had a lively chat.
Suddenly, he saw Lin Tailai put something that looked like silver paper into Inspector Jin's hand, and then they laughed together.
The tax envoy Wang couldn't help but cursed secretly, he had never seen a young man like Lin Tailai.
He may act recklessly, but he is really cunning, and he always knows the key.
According to common practice, the inspection department must obey the orders of the county government and accept the command and dispatch of the county government.
However, in places with customs customs, they give priority to obeying the orders of the customs customs, which can be regarded as a force guarantee for customs inspections of smuggling.
For example, the Xushu Inspection Department is subordinate to the Xushu Customs Department.
After the Mudu Port customs clearance switch, the Mudu Inspection Department will also be subordinate to the Xushuguan General Administration and cooperate with the customs clearance work.
Therefore, Lin Tailai seized the time at this time and established a good relationship with Mudu Inspection Inspector Jin Inspection. This was a very "smart" behavior, which would be very useful for future customs affairs.
Wang Zhidu shouted: "Master Lin, come here!"
Lin Tailai had no choice but to leave Jin's inspection temporarily and asked the tax envoy Wang, "What are your orders, Your Majesty?"
Wang Zhidu said: "Lend out your Shenwei Lieshui and let me use it for a few days."
Lin Tailai was very surprised: "There is no problem in lending this boat to the prince, but don't you have an official ship, prince?"
Wang Zhidu replied: "I made an agreement with Yuan Zhixian just now to visit together in the past few days, ah no, to inspect the water conditions of Taihu Lake and the eastern part of the lake.
The official ship is a bit ostentatious, and I was afraid of being criticized by people who didn't know the truth, so I borrowed your big ship for use."
Damn it! Lin Tailai was shocked. You, the tax envoy, are so bad that you actually want to cut off Hu!
Yuan Hongdao had obviously promised to take him to visit Taihu Lake with him!
After all, Yuan Hongdao is a big boss of the public security faction and a golden brand in the literary world.
As long as you publish a few poems and articles based on Yuan Hongdao's name, it is an opportunity to become famous in the literary world, especially through Yuan Hongdao's letters, which can be spread throughout the country.
Now the retro faction will definitely not bring him Lin Tai to play, relying on the public security faction is a must choice.
Putting down the surprise in his heart, Lin Tailai couldn't help but ask: "Why would a great and elegant writer like Yuan Zhixian want to travel, no, inspect with you?"
If it weren't for him, Lin Tai, looking down on people, how could you, Wang Zhijun, be able to sing harmoniously with Yuan Hongdao's poems?
Wang Shishi proudly said: "Not only will we inspect together, but Yuan Zhixian also promised to add my name to the title of his poem!"
Lin Tailai immediately said: "Then you can go together and sing with Yuan County Master. It is also a refined thing!"
Wang Shishi responded disdainfully: "This is a gathering of our literati and officials, and we are all Jinshi in the second rank.
And why are you, a military student, joining in the fun and trying to steal the limelight from me, a Jinshi?"
Lin Tailai said unconvinced: "You can't say that, things always come first. Prince, it's just that you intercept the opportunity, and you don't let me go. This is too much."
Wang Zhidu said earnestly: "The Wuxiang Examination is in September, and you have to go to Nanjing to take the exam in mid-August at the latest.
And now that it's July, you don't have much time left to prepare for the exam. Do you still have the time to look around?
I am doing this for your own good, so that you can concentrate on preparing for the exam, and the Wuxiang exam will also test your writing skills!"
Lin Tailai and Wang Shishi had no common language, so he went to Yuan Zhixian again and asked quietly:
"Why are you going back on your word, County Lord? The poems and essays written by the king's tax envoy are not worthy of the County Lord!"
County magistrate Yuan smiled bitterly and said: "The tax envoy Wang said that he would write to my brother and relax the assessment of money and grain in Changzhou County this year and next."
Lin Tailai: "."
Damn it! This is the corruption of literature by power!
At the same time as the opening and closing ceremony was taking place, several people gathered around to drink tea in Xiangxi Tower in Mudu Town.
The leader of the New Wulian Hall, Lu Yibin, the master of Anle Hall, sits at the center and the chief, and the masters of the five halls on the east bank of Taihu Lake occupy the remaining seats.
Today is also the day for the alliance meeting between Xinwu Lian and Hudong Wutang. Lin Daguan was really lacking in resources, so he simply scheduled the alliance meeting and the switching ceremony on the same day.
Different from the hustle and bustle on the big pier, it is slightly deserted here.
Lu Yibin is also an old man in the world, and he will not mess up in the scene. He toasts and chats with the five hall masters with a smile.
After three rounds of tea, Lu Dalongtou still did not talk about business. Instead, he started gossiping about the new "Oiran Election" in Suzhou City in the second half of the year.
"I heard that in the last oiran election, Manager Xu of the school secretary office spent a lot of money to push Bai Ji to the top position.
And so far, Bai Ji, a Qinghuan, is still waiting for a price with the title of No. 1 Scholar, so the money that Manager Xu spent last time has not been recovered at all.
Seeing that the new Oiran election is coming, Manager Xu is already in a dilemma.
If she doesn't continue to spend money, Bai Ji will lose her title of No. 1 pick, her net worth will inevitably plummet, and she won't be able to get back her previous investment.
However, if you continue to spend money to win the No. 1 pick, after investing more, the cost will be too high, and it is also doubtful whether you can recover the money.
I heard that Mr. Xu is now having a hard time eating and drinking every day, and is anxious and insomnia every night. He feels very miserable, hahahaha!"
The oiran election should have been a topic of interest to all men, but the other five hall masters were completely absent-minded at this time.
Peng Youwei, the leader of Hu'an Hall in Xukou Town, listened to Lu Yibin's nonsense for a long time, and finally said unbearably:
"Your Anletang claimed that it would form an alliance with our Hudong Wutang, and our Wutang agreed and all of them have attended the appointment today. This is our sincerity!
So please tell us clearly what regulations you, Hall Master Lu, have.
We are all too busy to listen to Hall Master Lu’s rambling ramblings here!”
Xukou Town is located at the intersection of Xujiang River and Taihu Lake, hence its name, and its geographical location is very strategic.
Therefore, Hu'an Church in Xukou Town is qualified to speak on behalf of several other churches.
In fact, Lu Yibin, the so-called leader of the New Wu Alliance and the initiator of the alliance, also wants to know what the regulations of this alliance are.
If he really knew the rules, how could he keep talking about them?
Suddenly, another hall master from one of the five Hudong halls struck the case and said, "Brother Peng, if you want to ask Hall Master Lu, you are looking for the wrong person! I guess he also doesn't know anything!"
The big leader Lu Yibin suddenly became unhappy. Who leaked this Anletang secret?
Doesn't he, the great leader and hall master, have no respect for face?
Peng Youwei laughed a few times and asked Lu Yibin: "Is that so?
If you, Hall Master Lu, can't make the decision, please invite someone who can really make the decision to come out and discuss Jianghu affairs with us."
Hall Master Lu took a deep breath, "If you believe me, you'd better not think about letting him come out."
The rest of the people felt that Lu Yibin's words were too pretentious.
Peng Youwei responded: "Of course we have heard of Lin Zuoguan's name, but we have sincerely come to join the alliance today, so we can't kill us all, right?
If Hall Master Lu cannot find someone who can take charge, then we will have no choice but to leave first."
Lu Yibin looked at the other five hall masters with pity. This is really a road to heaven.
Although Lu Yibin didn't know what Lin Daguanren was thinking, he had confidence in Lin Daguanren's character.
When the five of you meet the person sitting in the restaurant, you will know how lucky you are to have tea and chat with this old guy like yourself.
When Lin Tailai was very angry because he was intercepted by the king's tax envoy, he received a message from the Xiangxi Tower League.
When they heard that Lu Dalongtou could not control the situation, Lin Daguan immediately left Mudu Port and headed for the town.
A quarter of an hour later, Lin Tailai walked into the Xiangxi Building, and Dama Jindao sat directly in the empty seat at the bottom. The air pressure in the building naturally dropped, making people breathless.
After the five hall masters who came to the meeting observed for a while, Peng Youwei was the first to speak: "Lin is sitting in the hall to summon us and other members of the alliance. I wonder if you have any advice?"
Lin Tailai didn't answer, but took a few sips of tea and said unhurriedly: "I have a doubt, please help me clear it up first.
When I invited you to form an alliance before, you were reluctant to push back, but why did you suddenly agree together?"
Several hall masters were speechless. Why did you, Lin Zuiguan, act completely unreasonably?
Even if you have doubts, you should remain calm and check secretly in private.
How can you ask this directly in person? What fool can answer you?
And the most important thing is that it also exposes your own thoughts! In a negotiation, the party that reveals its thoughts first is bound to lose!
Peng Youwei replied on behalf of everyone: "Did we make a mistake in accepting the call?"
Lin Tailai suddenly threw the teacup on the ground and scolded: "I asked you questions, I didn't let you ask me back!"
Peng Youwei argued: "It was you who initiated the alliance, but when we agreed to the alliance, we only aroused suspicion.
How can you convince everyone in the hall when you are so magnanimous and so arrogant? Aren't you afraid of being criticized by the masters?"
As Hall Master Peng spoke, he was on guard against making a move.
There are rumors in the world that Lin Tailai loves preemptive strikes and has defeated countless heroes with one move.
But Lin Tailai lazily leaned back in his chair, pointed to the door and said, "You think I'm suspicious and lackadaisical. If you don't accept it, you can leave."
Hall Master Peng thought for a while and replied politely, thinking that he was polite: "It seems that we can't negotiate today. I'll come back to visit you another day."
After that, he actually walked out and disappeared from everyone's eyes, and Lin Tailai didn't stop him.
The other four hall masters at Hudong Hall looked at each other. What kind of situation is this? Is it that simple?
Suddenly, several screams came from the distance, telling the four hall masters that things were not that simple after all.
Lin Tailai sighed and said, "The archers from the Mudu Inspection Department are catching smugglers outside. I guess Hall Master Peng ran into them, but I don't know if they were captured alive."
Four Hall Masters: "."
This Lin Tailai is so ungrateful that he even uses the inspection department!
Lu Dalongtou, who had not spoken for a long time, blew on the tea and said to them sympathetically: "I have said it before, you'd better not let Lin sit in the restaurant and come out. Wouldn't you like to drink tea and chat with me?"
Lin Tailai asked again: "Who can answer my questions now?"
Hall Master Zhang from the Renshan Hall stood up and shouted, "It's the Xi family. Someone from the Xi family asked us to agree!"
Lin Tailai asked again: "Which Xi family?"
Hall Master Zhang said: "Of course it's the Xi family from West Dongting Mountain!"
Lin Tailai was stunned for a moment. This answer was both unexpected and reasonable.
Everyone knows that there are four major families in Wu County now, the Fan family, the Shen family, the Wen family, and the Wang family. But if we want to comment on the fifth family, it should be the Xi family in Xishan.
The reason why the Xi family was not included in the top four is because the Xi family is a purely business family and a giant of the Dongting Merchant Gang, but it has not made a name for itself in the literary world, so it was not selected for the top four.
Lin Tailai asked again: "Why did the Xi family let you do this!"
Hall Master Zhang replied: "We just took the money and did as we were told, without knowing the reason!"
Lin Tailai stood up, slowly put on the finger tiger, and said with a ferocious smile: "It seems that if I want to hear you tell the truth, it still takes some effort!"
Hall Master Zhang almost wanted to cry, what kind of world is it like to be beaten after telling the truth!
Beating people behind closed doors is also called "Hui Meng". Aren't you afraid of losing the hearts of all the people in the world?