Within a few days, at the end of January, the Suzhou Prefecture learned about the patrol route of Tixue Yushi Fanghuan.
Fang Ti will study in Huai'an Prefecture from the end of January to early February, in Yangzhou Prefecture from early to mid-February, and then along Jiangxi to the west of South Zhili, which is later known as Anhui.
According to this time point, Lin Daguan can no longer delay and must set off immediately.
Only in this way will it be possible to arrive in Yangzhou in early February and meet Fang Tixue, and we can only meet in Yangzhou.
Because Yangzhou is an important node along the canal, you can continue northward to the capital from Yangzhou without detouring or wasting time.
Otherwise, when Fang Tixue leaves Yangzhou and goes to the west of South Zhili, if Lin Daguan wants to meet Fang Tixue again, he will have to take a long detour.
So Lin Daguan, who had been stable and relaxed for about three months, took action in a hurry and was about to leave Suzhou and go north.
This trip lasted about half a year, which may or may not be long or short.
If you really get the chance to become a military jinshi and want to be a military attache, then it's even worse.
Packing luggage, preparing the boat, appeasing two pregnant women, making various explanations, and saying goodbye, Mr. Lin barely touched the ground these three days.
You also need to go to the county government office to go through the registration procedures for the martial arts examination and receive the examination ticket.
Of course, the most important thing before leaving is to visit Shen Yongjia, the second master of the Shen family.
If Lin Daguan was not in Suzhou City, Mr. Shen would be the anchor of the Xinxin Society, and no one could replace his role.
After arriving at the Shen Mansion, Mr. Lin explained the situation. Mr. Shen said in surprise: "You are leaving in three days? I don't want to be in such a hurry."
Lin Tailai saluted, "After I leave, as the leader of the Renewal Society, the second master hopes to take more care of the industries belonging to the Renewal Society."
Second Master Shen said very sensitively: "What? When you need me, this alliance leader is no longer the honorary supreme alliance leader, but the de facto alliance leader?"
When I need to take care of you, the property will no longer be the property of Lin's society, but the property of Renewal Society?"
Lin Tailai replied without changing his face: "Second Master's words are enough, it doesn't matter what name you use to the outside world.
As the prime minister, you should not be too public. The engineering team has your secret shares and your money is enough for the dividends.
If you use Er Ye's name in public, it will damage the reputation of the Shen family. Prime Minister Shen has many political enemies in the court, so we should try not to give others any excuses."
Mr. Shen waved his hand: "I can't say anything about you! But there is one thing, you have to make a move!
Don’t keep occupying the school secretary’s office, give it back to Xu Yuanjing!”
In the original anti-Lin four-family alliance, Xi, Lu, Shen and other families were severely punished, and only Fan Yunlin, the Xu family's son-in-law, was treated lightly.
After all, the Xu family and the Shen family were close relatives. Fan Yunlin's father-in-law, Xu Taishi, was an official in the court and had a very close relationship with the chief minister, Shen Shixing.
In order to retaliate against the Xu family, Lin Tailai occupied the school book office controlled by the Xu family and expelled all the managers.
This prompted Xu Yuanjing, the general manager of the school secretary's office, to go to the government office to file a complaint, but Mr. Shen's big mouth pulled him out again.
Lin Tailai said dissatisfied: "The Xu family in Huqiu committed a crime against me first, and they have no sincerity to apologize!"
Second Master Shen advised: "The Xu family is also very big and has many branches. Fan Yunlin, a piece of trash, and Xu Yuanjing are not from the same branch."
Lin Tailai said: "They are all from the Xu family anyway. As an outsider, I am too lazy to tell them clearly!"
Second Master Shen advised again: "You don't have any business talents under your command, so what's the use of occupying the school secretary's office?
For my sake, just give in, why waste time."
Lin Tailai said disdainfully: "What's so hard about running a school book office?
Isn’t it just about creating gimmicks, holding court ladies, supporting the head, stabilizing the middle level, regulating prices, and training new people?”
Second Master Shen was stunned, Lin Tailai actually knows a little bit about this romantic industry!
Finally, Mr. Shen sighed helplessly and asked directly to his soul:
"Lin Zuoguan, you don't want to be called a cuckold, do you?"
Lin Tailai: "."
As the noble son of the number one prime minister and the third generation scholar, Mr. Shen shouldn't be so vulgar.
But for Lin Tailai, this is the only way to defeat magic with magic.
After being poked by Mr. Shen like this, Lin Daguan suddenly felt that the school book office industry was indeed not suitable for him.
After thinking about it, Lin Daguan said again: "Then let Xu Yuanjing take back the teaching office, but I can't give in in vain!
It seems that the body deed of the last oiran Bai’s number one scholar is in Xu Yuanjing’s hands, so I asked Xu Yuanjing to give her to me!”
Second Master Shen was a little speechless, "You deliberately made excuses to occupy the school office. Is this the real purpose?
I have known for a long time that you are thinking about Bai Huakui, but I didn't expect that half a year has passed and you are still coveting him!"
Lin Tailai seemed to be confused and said: "Half a year is nothing, even if it takes four hundred years, I will still think about it."
Bai Zhuangyuan is the feeling that spans hundreds of years of time and space. Can he give up casually?
Customize a few sets of white clothes and skirts and let Bai Zhuangyuan wear them. Thinking about it will make you excited.
In the end, Lin Daguan explained the facts and reasoned, "Besides, I am a dignified Jie Yuan sitting in the palace and the best hero in Suzhou. I don't even have a person of my own in the house. Wouldn't my price drop?"
Mr. Shen, who only uses women as reproductive tools, doesn't know what feelings are, but he really didn't expect Lin Tailai to be such a long-term person.
Not wanting to waste time on this nonsense, Mr. Shen quickly cut through the mess and said:
"Xu Yuanjing spent a lot of money on Bai Ji, it's impossible to give it to you in vain.
You give me a price, and I'll help you convince Xu Yuanjing to redeem Bai Ji's life."
Lin Tailai said angrily: "If you still want me to pay, will the Xu family apologize to me?"
Second Master Shen felt that he might not be suitable to be a middleman, so he strongly advised:
"You are not short of money now. It would be nice to give it a few hundred taels. I heard that you have prepared thousands of taels for your fame."
Lin Daguan said without giving in: "I, Lin Tailai, uphold good intentions and have never engaged in the business of buying and selling people. It is impossible for me to pay for people!"
The main reason is that Lin Tailai feels that spending a lot of money on women is too much.
Only those rich and powerful people would do this kind of thing.
I have reached this status, and if I still need to spend a lot of money on women, wouldn’t it be in vain?
Then Lin Tailai said forcefully: "Second Master, just tell the Xu family, think about how much half of Yi Lao Garden is worth! This is the price of my face, Lin Tailai!"
When I return to Suzhou City, the price may not be the same. I don’t need to say much else, so I’ll take my leave first!”
Second Master Shen subconsciously stood up to see them off, thinking about how to persuade the Xu family.
Giving a woman as a gift can calm Lin Tailai's resentment. It is actually not expensive, even if this woman is made with a lot of money.
Because of Lin Tailai's relationship, others were afraid of offending Lin Tailai, so Bai Zhuangyuan had always been in a priceless and unsaleable state, and was about to fall into the hands of Manager Xu.
So it's better to let Manager Xu use it as a favor to calm Lin Tailai's anger for the Xu family.
Official Lin had already said goodbye, but did not move. He turned around and asked Mr. Shen, "Did you forget something?"
Second Master Shen asked inexplicably: "What happened?"
Lin Tailai said matter-of-factly: "Should you write a letter home to your father-in-law and ask me to take it to the capital and deliver it to my father-in-law?"
Second Master Shen: "."
After sending Lin Tailai away, Mr. Shen called Xu Yuanjing from the school secretary office and ordered:
"I will make a decision for you. You send the top scholar Bai to Lin Tailai to apologize on behalf of your entire Xu family!
As for how much money you lost from Bai Zhuangyuan, let each branch of the Xu family make up for it for you!"
But Xu Yuanjing beat his chest and stamped his feet, and replied regretfully:
"Second Master, it's too late! Someone ransomed Bai Ji's body the day before yesterday and offered a thousand taels, so I agreed!"
Mr. Shen also had a very bad temper and said angrily: "How dare you, an old bastard, tease me?"
Xu Yuanjing hurriedly swore: "This is absolutely true, and it is definitely not a deliberate deception, otherwise God will strike with thunder!"
Second Master Shen sneered: "Who in Suzhou city is so short-sighted? I wonder if Lin Tai came to see the white champion?"
Xu Yuanjing knew that he was really not far from death, so he tried his best to explain:
"It was a big salt merchant from Yangzhou named Zheng Zhiyan who came to Suzhou City specially to pick up the champion oiran. It is said that he wanted to give it to the incoming salt officer!
I didn't think too much about it at the time and agreed after discussing it.
Now the salt merchant Zheng has taken Bai Ji and left Suzhou."
Second Master Shen threw Xu Yuanjing away and shouted: "Don't tell me, go and tell Lin Tai!"
Manager Xu knelt on the ground, hugged Mr. Shen's thigh and said:
"I really didn't expect the day before yesterday that the second master would make the decision today and ask me to give Bai Ji to Lin Tailai!
Seeing that the new oiran election is about to begin, if the current oiran Bai Ji is not exchanged for money, she will lose everything.
So when I saw the Yangzhou salt merchant offered me one thousand taels, I was obsessed with money and agreed."
Second Master Shen was a little irritated and said without hesitation: "What Yangzhou salt merchant came to Suzhou City to redeem the life of an courtesan after eating well? Then isn't Yangzhou's specialty thin horse!"
Manager Xu explained: "Yangzhou people also admire our Suzhou scenery the most, and what they want is the name Suzhou Oiran."
In the general concept of later generations, it seems that Yangzhou and Suzhou were the fashion twin stars of the ancient Jiangnan region. In fact, at some stages, this was not entirely true.
Although Yangzhou began to regain its prosperity in the middle and late Ming Dynasty due to its transportation conditions and the prosperity of the salt industry, and it was also a large and economically developed city, it still could not compare with Suzhou.
At least in the Ming Dynasty, Suzhou was the center of Jiangnan cultural trends and the birthplace of fashion.
Yangzhou, on the other hand, has been trying hard to imitate Suzhou, and what they imitate is very similar.
For example, they vigorously develop calligraphy and painting, they like to build gardens and create scenic spots, and they take the clothes and lifestyles from Suzhou as fashionable and call them "Su-style".
The real peak period of Yangzhou City was in the middle of the Qing Dynasty. Many of the humanistic imprints passed down to later generations were actually left by the Qing Dynasty, and the Ming Dynasty was not so strong.
To give the most intuitive example, there were 405 Jinshi people in Yangzhou in the Qing Dynasty, while there were only 245 Jinshi people in Yangzhou in the Ming Dynasty. Some clues can be seen from this numerical difference.
Therefore, it is not surprising that Yangzhou salt merchants in the Ming Dynasty went to Suzhou, the birthplace of fashion, to buy an oiran out of vanity.
Not to mention it is a gift for the incoming salt official. Compared with the Suzhou oiran, the specialty thin horse, the former is definitely more prestigious.
Second Master Shen kicked Xu Yuanjing away and reprimanded: "You are just taking chances and just want to calculate small accounts and get your money back. You think that if you sell the person, everything will be fine!
But you never thought that everyone in Suzhou knew that Lin Tailai was obsessed with Bai Zhuangyuan, but if you sold Bai Zhuangyuan to an outsider, where would Lin Tailai's face go?
Get out now, I can't control you anymore!"
Immediately, Shen Yongjia quickly sent someone to report the situation to Lin Tailai.
When the news was received, Lin Tailai was bidding farewell to his nominal master Zhang Youyu.
Then Lin Tailai asked Zhang Youyu calmly: "Teacher, are you interested in replacing Wang Zhideng as the number one celebrity in Suzhou City?"
Zhang Youyu immediately responded: "I am the number one celebrity in Suzhou City. Do you always think that Wang Zhideng is the number one? You are really a traitor!"
Lin Tailai ignored Zhang Youyu's nonsense and said:
"Very good, the property of the school book office will be handed over to you, teacher. From now on, teacher, you will be the general manager of the school book office. I believe that the teacher will be qualified."
Zhang Youyu's old eyes suddenly shone, he rubbed his hands and said, "Can I just watch and steal?"
"Whatever you want!" Lin Daguan said nonchalantly, and quickly added: "Don't touch Sun Lianlian!"
I didn't take this office seriously in the first place, so Zhang Youyu could do whatever he wanted.
As for Xu Yuanjing, do you still want to take it back to the school book office? Go to hell!
It's just that Official Lin was about to leave and there was no time to deal with him directly.
The next day, Lin Tailai took six followers, including the Zhang brothers, and two thousand taels of silver and set off on a large ship.
When passing by Xushuguan, I stopped by to visit the royal tax envoy.
The main thing is to explain the matter of Mudu Port's customs clearance. Half a year after the opening and closing last year, thanks to Lin Daguan's personal supervision, the total tax amount was as high as 3,000 taels.
Before the royal tax envoy leaves office, it should not be a problem for the Mudu Port Customs Branch to complete the target of 5,000 taels.
Coupled with the increase in revenue from another branch of Likou Port, it is enough to make the annual tax collection of Xushuguan exceed 30,000 to 40,000 yuan, surpassing Hangzhou Beixinguan and Tongzhou Hexiwu to become the world's largest customs.
For the capital of kings, this is a political achievement visible to the naked eye.
After the visit, Lin Daguan also did another good thing and took the initiative to help the Wang Tax Envoy carry a family letter to the capital.
Later, when passing by Wuxi, Lin Daguan did not stop too much and still hurried on. After all, his time was really tight.
Then we crossed the river from Jingkou and continued northward from Guazhou for dozens of miles before arriving at Yangzhou City.
As a famous city that is inseparable from the canal, the Grand Canal goes from the water pass in the south of Yangzhou City to the east and then to the north, looping around the city.
Ordinary passers-by will not enter the city, but rest at the docks along the river outside the city. Similar to Suzhou City, the riverside outside the city is also very prosperous, no less than in the city.
And people like Lin Tailai who come to do things like this must go to the city.
When his boat arrived at Guangling Shuiyi outside Nanshui Pass, he planned to park the boat at the pier and then enter the city through the south gate.
The Zhang brothers were gearing up and said a little excitedly: "I heard that the area around the south gate of Yangzhou City is one of the most romantic places in the world."
Lin Tailai scolded: "It's not like you haven't entered the Qin Lou Chu Hall with me in Suzhou, it's like you haven't seen the world before!"
Zhang Wen replied philosophically: "Home flowers are always not as fragrant as wild flowers."
Lin Tailai said unmoved: "We still have business to do. Let's split up. I'll go to the school first to inquire about the situation of the college examination.
Zhang Wen, please inquire about the situation of the Zheng family, the salt merchant, at the dock and shop."
Happy Chinese Valentine's Day to everyone! Those who write code say hello to those of you who are celebrating the festival!