"Shopkeeper Wen, if you were tired, why didn't you tell me?" Guo Xiangren took another sip of wine and said, "I'll help you share the burden, why bother to retreat in a hurry?"
Tongpao Chen put down his wine bowl, took the opportunity to poke Squire Feng with his finger.
Squire Feng understood immediately. He opened his mouth and said with a smile: "Yes, we can discuss everything with each other."
Wen Zhong breathed out a breath of alcohol and continued: "Listen, that's what the feudal squires say! I'm not lazy when I'm the boss. It's actually your family matter, and I have to avoid suspicion at all costs. I wasn't worried a few days ago. This
In the past few days, everyone has seen your talent, and you are quite convinced. If you have any trouble again, just come to me, we are still on the same page."
The Xiang man said nothing and looked at Feng Xiangshen.
Squire Feng took a piece of duck meat to Wen Zhong and said, "Since the shopkeeper Wen has said so definitely, does it mean that I am shirking my responsibility if I refuse? As long as the shopkeeper thinks highly of me, a villager, I can say anything."
The people in Hunan laughed loudly: "Who are you! I should be the one to catch you! You will need to work hard to find a clear warning from the public in the future!"
"Where, where?" Squire Feng's face was full of joy, "Where are the slaves? Pour the wine quickly, we have to drink a lot!"
The four of them raised their wine bowls and shouted together: "Fuck it!"
In the early morning, Wen Zhong was groggy due to drinking at night. He lay down for half an hour before he managed to get up and vomited for a long time. The Xiang people had woken up from alcohol the night before and had returned to the house to rest. Only Chen Tongpao, the second country squire,
The man didn't drink much, there was nothing unusual about his body, and his mind was at ease.
When Wen Zhong was about to recover, his colleagues came out of the house with him and helped him to his horse. Before leaving, Squire Feng stopped his colleagues, handed him ten taels of silver, and said excitedly: "If you don't have a master, this guy
I don’t know how to start it, and I don’t know how to finish it. I’m really grateful to you!”
Chen Tongpao said a few polite words, finally accepted the money, and left with Wen Zhong.
This banquet was very satisfying to all four of them. Wen Zhong confided his true feelings to the Hunan people, and he was able to withdraw from it. From then on, the Hunan people could firmly control the family property. Chen Tongpao returned the favor of the squire.
, allowing him to get acquainted with the housekeeper, it can be said that everything is covered.
The relationship between the four parties has become extremely harmonious. Although his colleagues are comfortable among them, his superior always looks depressed and melancholy.
"My Lord Magistrate, is it because of Governor Kuang..." My colleague poured a cup of tea for the Magistrate and asked.
"You know me really well." The magistrate took out a piece of official document from under the book and said, "Read it yourself."
When Tongpao Chen took the official document and looked at it, he saw the words "Zhongshu Provincial Council" clearly written on it. He looked at the prefect with doubtful eyes.
"The imperial court's approval," the prefect explained coldly, "last time, according to your method, Jiangsu Xuezheng was asked to invite the chief envoy to take office. It was supposed to have plenty of time and he could show off his skills, but the result was that Liu Dang dealt with it like this
So fast, the approval came today, which is frustrating."
The colleague lowered his head, and what was written inside was indeed, 'According to the opinion of the court, Jiangsu Governor Kuang Chang is loyal, upright, wise, and hard-working, so he can be appointed to concurrently serve as chief envoy. I hope everyone will know. Yan Wen and others who participated in politics will give their approval.'
"Come to think of it, Kuang Chang has been wooing the family again," the magistrate said. "He's going to deliver cloth to people from Hunan. How can Yangzhou listen to my orders!"
Chen Tongpao put his hands together and said: "The Guo family is forced by the governor's thieves' power and dare not go out to greet him. This person is very affectionate. When Kuang Chang declines, the Guo family will rise up and respond. The magistrate must not worry."
"Let's forget about playing house for now, what should we do now?" The prefect asked impatiently with a look of helplessness on his face.
Chen Tongpao couldn't think of a word for a long time. After thinking quickly for a while, he said calmly: "Since the academic administration has the intention to eliminate thieves, can the academic administration be moved here?"
The prefect sighed: "With the academic government here, it can restrict the governor's actions... But Yangzhou already has a governor and the prefect has two yamen. It is a bit unreasonable to add another academic government."
"This is not difficult. It can be said that the academic administration is far away and it is inconvenient to do things. Since the chief envoy cannot come, we can ask him to come to Jiangdu and work with the governor to oversee the affairs. What do you think?"
"Can the court agree?" The prefect didn't trust him as much as last time.
"The Liu Party has just suppressed the memorial to change the political envoy. If we suppress this reasonable memorial again, it will lead to resentment from both the government and the public." Chen Tongpao said sincerely, "I am confident this time, and my plan will definitely work out."
Succeed! If not, I’ll cut off my comrade’s head.”
The prefect could only nod sharply: "Okay! I will submit a letter immediately!"
While Chen Tongzhi was waiting for the memorial to be delivered to the capital, he did not forget Ye Yongjia in Nanjing. He immediately called a messenger, put the written letter into his arms, and ordered: "This letter must be delivered to Ye Yongjia."
It's in the hands of the prefect. It's the Chinese New Year, please ask for his safety on my behalf and ask him to come to Jiangdu at any time."
The colleague said this, and the messenger responded with a "yes", straightened his back, put down the letter, walked slowly out of the city gate, then mounted his horse and galloped away.
It took three or five days for the messenger to get on the official road of Nanjing and enter the city. He asked around along the way and found out that Magistrate Ye was in the Yamen, so he went to look for him on foot.
According to Ye Yongjia's arrangement, lanterns were set up on the walls of the courtyard of the yamen to add to the atmosphere. Ye Yongjia looked through the paper window at the yamen servants standing outside when he suddenly saw someone coming to visit him and hurriedly asked him to take a seat.
"I was sent here by Mr. Chen, the governor of Jiangdu. Here is the letter. It has been cold recently. He asked if you are still healthy?"
When Ye Yongjia heard that it was Tongpao Chen, he immediately smiled and said, "I'm usually in good health, so he doesn't have to worry about me. I wonder what my brother is doing?"
"Master Chen is also fine."
Ye Yongjia opened the letter and touched it, and found a heavy piece of silver. He saw that the letter said it was ten taels of silver.
"Hey, Brother Chen is being polite," Ye Yongjia handed the money to the police officer, "Instead of not defaulting on each other, I might as well take the money and live comfortably in the New Year."
The messenger was afraid of being scolded when he returned, so he just smiled and refused.
Seeing that he didn't dare to take it, Ye Yongjia put the silver aside and said with a smile: "Forget it, this is also the friendship between brothers, you can go back."
After sending the men out, Ye Yongjia read the letter again and sighed that his colleagues were not just 'allies', but more like confidants, which gave him great motivation.
Nowadays, the political situation in Nanjing has become clearer, and the dark clouds seem to have gone forever. Ye Yongjia's depression is gone. He seems to be a different person, and he seems very talkative in front of the scribes in the yamen, except for one person - that person
It's still Wei Chong. In the past, when Magistrate Ye saw him, he was like a mouse seeing a cat, wanting to hide in the dark. But it was different today. Ye Yongjia had regained his high-spirited confidence, and he was going to cut Wei Chong out with the first blow.
"Book Office Wei is here," someone said.
"His name is Wei Chong, not Wei Shuban." Ye Yongjia's voice was sonorous and powerful.