After Lin Tailai left Yangzhou City, he was escorted by dozens of servants and 300 soldiers returning home to Suzhou, and slowly headed south along the canal.
It's already mid-July and the weather is starting to cool down.
Most of the "housekeepers" who followed Lin Tailai to the north were very happy. For them, returning to Suzhou was like going home.
And they know that as long as they return to Suzhou, they will definitely become the most popular people.
After all, they have experienced and witnessed many things. I am afraid that all the people in Suzhou want to hear first-hand legendary stories from their mouths.
Then these legendary stories such as "Scholar Lin vs. the Queen Mother of Beilu" will become the latest storytelling materials and become popular throughout the city.
They can't wait to show off to their relatives, friends and colleagues what they have learned over the past year.
Lin sat in the boat, looking at the scenery on the shore. It seemed that he was approaching Xushuguan, and he sighed deeply.
The guardians guarding the cabin door asked: "We are almost home, why do we sigh when we are sitting in the restaurant?"
Lin Tailai replied: "Every time I think about the countless trivial things that will be entangled in me after returning to Suzhou, I feel very troubled."
Lin Tailai had no idea about returning home in fine clothes or anything like that.
Returning to one's hometown with fine clothes is a mentality that only poor people have after becoming rich. Lin Tailai was already very successful in his hometown and did not need to show off again.
No matter how beautiful he is outside, once he returns to Suzhou, he is the unique Lin Daguan.
In Suzhou in the second half of this year, Lin Daguan only wanted to do two major things. One was to start the project of dredging the old road downstream of Wusong River, and the other was to hold a literary conference.
But there will definitely be countless other things that come to your door, and there is nothing you can do about it. As the saying goes, wealth in the mountains has distant relatives, and this is how people are in the world, and it cannot be avoided.
Then Lin Tailai gave another order: "Stay in Xushuguan for one day and set off again tomorrow morning!"
Protector Zuo Zhang Wen asked in surprise: "Why is this? According to the plan, we can make it to the city today."
Lin Tailai complained: "Your Queen Mother sent a message that tomorrow is the child's 100th birthday, so it makes more sense and is more impressive for me to be home at the same time tomorrow."
Lin Daguan was unable to complain about this. Wang Shiwu seemed to pay special attention to formalism, especially when it came to his son.
Although the Zhang brothers all wanted to go home early, their mistress had spoken and they said nothing.
Then he rested for a day in Xushuguan, accepted the tax official's hospitality, and then set off on his way early the next morning.
Near noon, the fleet finally arrived at Fengqiao, which is about ten miles outside the city.
In terms of social etiquette in Suzhou City in this era, the more formal greeting and sending points were all at Fengqiao.
Previously, after Lin Tailai became famous in Suzhou, he also participated in welcome or farewell ceremonies in Fengqiao several times.
Of course, it seems that Lin Daguan has an ominous aura, and it is true that accidents often happen at every welcoming ceremony.
Today, the shore under the Maple Bridge was crowded with people, and the sound of gongs and drums was standard. What was surprising was that Governor Zhou Ji also appeared here.
Zhejiang Deputy Inspector General and Acting Suzhou Prefecture Wang Zhiyou thought that at today's welcoming ceremony, as the prefect and Lin Tailai's wife's brother, he must be the most handsome boy, until Governor Zhou showed up.
Wang Fuzun asked in surprise: "How dare you condescend to Dazhong Cheng for today's gift? If you have anything to ask, just ask Lin Jiuyuan to pay a visit to the Procuratorate tomorrow."
Governor Zhou waved his hand and said, "I'm not here to greet Bachelor Lin, but Kui Yuan, the best in the world!"
The main organizer, Wang Fuzun, had to temporarily adjust his position and let Governor Zhou stand in the first place.
After a while, the sound of trumpets and suonas soaring into the sky spread from the canal to the shore. It can be said that the sound of the ship was heard before the ship was seen.
Anyone with experience will know that a big shot is coming.
And who dared to make such a loud noise outside Suzhou today except Lin Daguan who returned to his hometown?
The guardians on the left and right have been sitting in the pavilion with Lin for a long time, and their eyesight has also been improved.
After looking towards the shore for a few times, he reported to the cabin: "Sit down! The leader on the shore is an old man, maybe the governor! The official position is still behind him!"
Upon hearing the news, Lin Tailai had to come out of the cabin in advance and stand on the bow of the ship waiting to dock.
After getting off the boat, he took a few steps forward to greet me - others gave me face, so I couldn't be too rude on my part.
"I don't want the prime minister to be in charge of labor! It would be a disgrace to the younger generation!" Lin Tailai said modestly.
Governor Zhou can also speak: "What this court respects is not the clothes, but Kuiyuan!"
Lin Tailai also praised it very strongly: "I heard that Zhou Zhongcheng caressed my land of Wu, and my official reputation is outstanding, just like Hai Qingtian twenty years ago!"
Damn it! Governor Zhou almost couldn't catch it. You, Lin Tailai, said you were using too much force!
My family knows my own affairs, and I am a mediocre one among the feudal officials. How can He De compare with the world-famous Hai Rui?
Of course, Governor Zhou also knew very well that if he was not mediocre, the court would not let him be the governor of Jiangnan.
After all, among the first three governors of Jiangnan, two of them did not want to be mediocre and did not end well.
In particular, the previous Governor Li committed suicide inexplicably after being repeatedly besieged by civil uprisings.
The first one was Zhao Zhigao, who had been blessed with good fortune. He was incomparable; the next one was Governor Wei, who caused a scandal over tax resistance and was forced to resign voluntarily. He then strangled Bai Glove to death before he could return to his hometown safely.
That's why Zhou Ji, a mediocre person like Zhou Ji who didn't like to cause trouble, had the opportunity to take up the important position of governor of Jiangnan. The court only wanted stability.
But even if you, Lin Tailai, appreciate it, don't compare it with Hai Rui, that would be sheer embarrassment!
But Lin Tailai continued: "What happened to Hai Qingtian? As the saying goes, no one is a saint, and no one can make mistakes.
Even Hai Qingtian did something wrong during his term as governor of Jiangnan!
Now, Zhou Zhongcheng, your opportunity has come! If you can correct Hai Qingtian's mistakes, wouldn't you surpass Hai Qingtian?"
Governor Zhou: ""
I bet you a hundred cents, Lin Tai is definitely talking about the problem of the lower reaches of the Wusong River!
We have already received the news. Last month, Shandong fellow Shandong fellow Wang Situ wrote a letter about the matter.
I just didn't expect that Lin Tailai would forcefully bring up the topic as soon as he got off the boat and start talking about it.
Governor Zhou had only recently begun to hear about the idea of ​​dredging the lower reaches of the Wusong River. He had no idea at the moment and didn't know what to say at this time.
Wangfuzun next to him came to the rescue and said: "This matter cannot be finished in an instant, so we should find another time to explain it in detail."
So Lin Tailai let Governor Zhou go and met the others one by one.
No matter what they were thinking in their hearts, most of the others were beaming with joy. Only Yuan Hongdao, the magistrate of Wu County, had a droopy face.
It is understandable that great writers are all gentlemen, and Yuan Zhixian is a representative figure of the public security faction, a new force in the literary world.
Official Lin said jokingly: "What's wrong with Yuan Xianzun? Who provoked you? Or is there too much official work backlog and you are being held accountable by your superiors again?"
Yuan Zhixian said angrily: "I have been working as a county magistrate in Suzhou for four years. The official affairs here are too busy. I wanted to change to a more leisurely position, but the court refused."
Lin Tailai immediately shied away from responsibility: "I didn't do this! It was your father who didn't want you to leave Suzhou City! After all, your family's food store and the business here are getting bigger and bigger!"
Yuan Xianzun snorted coldly: "But my father said that you don't want me to leave Suzhou.
Whose idea was it? Can you two discuss the words first?"
"Hahahaha!" Lin Tailai changed the subject again and said: "Because in the second half of the year, I plan to hold a literary conference in Suzhou. Don't you want to participate?"
Huh? Yuan Xianzun's eyes lit up, "Really? That's great!"
Lin Tailai said: "When the time comes, please send a group of police officers to advocate for me and elect me as the leader of the alliance!
Invite a few more comrades to come, and I’ll cover the travel expenses, food and accommodation!”
Yuan Xianzun said a little uncertainly: "The leader you want to fight for is not from the martial arts world, right?"
He arrived in Suzhou four years ago and saw with his own eyes how Lin Tailai conquered the city from east to west, defeating invincible opponents all over Suzhou City with his iron fist and golden whip.
At that time, he never dreamed that the most heroic man in Suzhou City would covet the position of the leader of the literary world a few years later.
In just a few years, the world has changed like a sea of ​​change.
After the welcoming ceremony at Fengqiao ended, Lin Tailai waved to the people on the shore, made a bow, and prepared to board the boat and enter the city.
Although Governor Zhou came to Fengqiao to greet him, he would not accompany Lin Daguan into the city, as that would be too flattering.
Therefore, it would be most appropriate for Wang Zhiyou, the royal family official and relative, to come forward and accompany Lin Daguan home.
On the boat, Wang Zhiyou said to Lin Tai: "Changmen is too blocked and Xumen has no waterway, so we enter the city through Kuimen."
"Kuimen?" Lin Tailai was unfamiliar with this name.
Wang Fuzun then introduced: "It's the city gate you opened a few years ago! It was renamed Kuimen in the first half of this year to commemorate your feat of winning the title of Nine Yuan in succession."
Speaking of the current congestion situation in Suzhou's waterways, it's hard to describe. Sometimes a boat can't cover even a few miles in an hour.
To be continued...