The atmosphere in Qixian County is slightly tense, but there is no martial law... There are still pedestrians coming and going on the streets, and the restaurants are full of customers, all talking about the murder of the county magistrate. From time to time, you can see government officials with knives. Patrolling the streets, watching every young woman in red.
The county government office and the back house have been controlled by the soldiers brought by Yang Yuanqing. The square in front of the county government office is crowded with villagers and elders from the county. Everyone is looking up at the top of the flagpole, and they see Shen Guang moving as fast as an ape. Climbing to the top of the flagpole, there is a small black dot on the top of the five-foot-high flagpole, which is the head of the county magistrate Hu Shou.
Shen Guang untied the head, held the rope in his hand and jumped down like a big bird, which attracted nearly a thousand people to marvel. Shen Guang did a somersault and landed steadily, winning warm applause. He bowed proudly to the crowd. After bowing, he quickly walked up to Yang Yuanqing and presented the head, "It is indeed the head of the county magistrate, and there is a piece of paper."
Yang Yuanqing took the note, and he suddenly let out a long sigh. The handwriting that he had been very familiar with since he was a child appeared in front of him. It was indeed hers.
There were sixteen words written on the note, "Driving the people to die" and searching for the people's fat. This is against the oath of God, so I will kill them for God!
"General!" Su Lie stepped forward quickly, bowed and saluted, "Report to the general, we found three thousand taels of gold and a contract for eight thousand acres of land in the mezzanine of the wall of the magistrate's bedroom."
This result made Yang Yuanqing relieved. Killing a court official without permission was a serious crime anyway. Now that Linghu Shou had been caught, he could at least give an explanation to the court.
He turned back to Sima Jiang and said: "Prefect Sima, it is up to you to write a report to the court on this matter, and I will report it to the Holy One separately."
Sima Jiang was secretly annoyed in his heart. In fact, he knew very well where Linghu Shou's money came from. It should be the income from food donations. When the Holy Emperor went on a southern tour, he needed to donate food from various counties along the way. Basically, it was distributed to the people. What's more important is that this There is no accounting for food donation, and the Holy Emperor will not pursue it. It is a good opportunity for various local officials to make a lot of money, including himself, and it is also a huge fortune. How can he check it?
Sima Jiang had a headache, but Linghu Shou's concubine was quite good and pretty. Sima Jiang's mind changed and he thought of something pleasant. He nodded and said solemnly: "Please Yang Yushi, please leave. The officials will definitely investigate this matter strictly and give an explanation to the court."
Yang Yuanqing only stayed in Qixian for an hour, then returned to the dock and continued south.
The night shrouded the river, and the black waves undulated slightly in the night wind, shimmering with sparkling waves. A fleet of official ships sailed slowly in the canal. On both sides of the canal were endless fields, and the originally fertile farmland became It is desolate and dilapidated, with no human habitation within twenty miles.
In the cabin, Yang Yuanqing stared at the small iron arrow on the table, and was filled with emotion in his heart. Two years have passed in a flash, and he doesn't know what she has become now. If she knew that she was going south, would she come to see him? Maybe. She was not tired yet and refused to come to see him.
Yang Yuanqing held the iron arrow in his hand and stroked it gently, with deep longing in his eyes. He opened the window and was greeted by the cold river wind. Staring at the dark night, his heart surged. Endless loneliness.
"Niuniu!" He finally shouted loudly into the night sky. On the top of the mast of the third ship, squatted a slender black figure. She was extremely hidden, and her figure was completely covered by the huge sail. From her position, she could clearly see the first official ship, and even Yang Yuanqing's figure in the cabin.
She silently stared at Yang Yuanqing's figure, her eyes full of tenderness. This was the lover she would never forget throughout her life. Although he was married to another woman, there was no trace of hatred in her heart, only deep guilt for him.
Suddenly, she heard Yang Yuanqing's cry in the night sky. Her body shook violently, and a stream of crystal tears welled up in her eyes. The tears flowed down Bai Zhe's face. She could hear the cry.
The sound is so lonely and full of longing.
She could no longer restrain her inner excitement. Just as she was about to jump off the mast, she saw a personal guard walking into Yang Yuanqing's room. She was suddenly brought back to reality. She thought of what she wanted to do and bit her tongue.
He clicked his mouthpiece, restrained his inner excitement, slowly took the bow and arrow from his back, and inserted a thick letter into the arrow shaft.
In the cabin, Yang Yuanqing had regained his senses. He quickly put the iron arrow into his arms, turned around and sat down. Yang Silang had just boarded the boat and stepped forward to salute: "Master, the humble position has been investigated."
"Tell me, what exactly happened?"
"Reporting to the general, the reason is that Wanji Shipping Company controlled the canal cargo distance..."
"Wait a minute, let's start with Wanji Boating."
Yang Yuanqing interrupted Yang Silang. He felt that Wanji Boating Company had more background.
"Yes! This Wanji Shipping Company's main store is in Jiangducheng. It and another shipping company, Qianji Shipping Company, control the freight of the entire Tongji Canal. I have not inquired about the background of Qianji Shipping Company, but this Wanji Shipping Company seems to be
With the Zhang family as the backstage.”
Yang Yuanqing sneered, "It's probably not as simple as the backstage, it's simply the Zhang family's industry, just like Yao Ji Mihang. Otherwise, how could the Pengcheng County prefect stand up for it?" "Continue!"
Yang Silang continued: "Wanji Shipping Company controls water transportation. They have a large number of thugs who patrol along the canal. If anyone dares to rob their business, they will destroy the ship and grab the goods. They are very ruthless. This time it is a Zhangqiu County businessman.
He was killed and caused trouble..."
Yang Silang told the story in detail. Yang Yuanqing stood in front of the window with his hands behind his back and listened to every word. He remembered the deep conversation he had with Pei Ju before leaving, and then he understood that Yang Guang
The deep purpose of ordering him to come to Jiangdu was to deal with Zhang Jin.
Zhang Jin is an extremely important role among the Guanlong nobles. It can be said that he is the military advisor of the Guanlong nobles, the glue between the two factions of the Guanlong nobles, and the key figure who can unite the Guanlong nobles. If we get rid of this
People, the Guanlong nobles will inevitably split and become a piece of scattered sand. This is Yang Guang's deep intention, and it is also in line with Yang Yuanqing's interests.
In the capital, Zhang Jin had no handle. He was very smart. He did not have any property of the Zhang family in the capital. Instead, he put all the family interests in other places, some in Bashu and the other in Jiangnan. His eldest son Zhang Yunyi served as the governor of Jiangdu.
.
Yang Yuanqing sighed softly. This Zhang Yunyi is the person Yang Yuanqing wants to deal with this time. It is Yang Guang's intention to find out Zhang Jin's handle from him, but if he only deals with Zhang Jin, for an emperor
, is easy, such as transferring Zhang Jin to Lingnan, Jiaozhi or the Western Regions to serve as an official, so that the connection between him and the Guanlong Group can be severed...
Therefore, Yang Yuanqing feels that Yang Guang has a deeper meaning, which is to completely eradicate the Guanlong forces from Jianghuai and Jiangnan, including officialdom and shopping malls. Jianghuai and Jiangnan are the places that Yang Guang relies heavily on, and he will never allow the Guanlong forces to infiltrate.
.
Where should he start? Water transportation? A small water transportation monopoly cannot bring down the Zhang family. Maybe he can gradually dig deeper clues from water transportation, but he has no clues or clues in his hands.
At this moment, there was a soft sound, and an arrow shot through the window and was nailed to the table. Yang Silang was shocked and drew his sword to rush out. Yang Yuanqing stopped him, "Don't panic!"
He stared closely at the arrow shaft. There was actually a letter tied to the arrow shaft. Yang Yuanqing stepped forward and pulled up the letter. He could see five words written on the letter, "Yang Yuanqing personally expresses it." Yang Yuanqing turned around suddenly and stepped forward to push it.
Opening the back window, the arrow was fired from the direction of the mast, but the sky was so dark that no one could be seen.
"Niuniu!" He sighed softly.
In Jiangdu City, several knights galloped to a stop in front of a large mansion. A young man got off his horse, ran up the steps and knocked on the door. This was the official residence of Zhang Yunyi, the prefect of Jiangdu. The door was opened a crack, and the concierge immediately recognized it.
Someone comes.
"Ah! The good boy is here."
"Is my father here?"
"Here! Master, please come in."
The young man was Zhang Qi, the eldest son of Zhang Yunyi. He came to Jiangdu to deliver a message on his grandfather's order. He ducked into the mansion and walked quickly to his father's study.
In the study, Zhang Yunyi had just received a decree from the court. The new imperial censor Yang Yuanqing came to inspect the water transportation. This news made him stunned for a long time. Yang Yuanqing was coming. Isn't this man a military general? What was he doing in Jiangnan?
Zhang Yunyi's impression of Yang Yuanqing was that he was the best arrow in the world, the city of Dali, and the expansion of the Western Region. He didn't know much about anything else. He also knew that the He Ruobi case caused by Yang Yuanqing caused heavy losses to the Guanlong nobles.
Zhang Yunyi couldn't figure out what Yang Yuanqing was doing in Jiangdu? But since he was inspecting water transportation, he had to be careful and restrain the two shipping companies to prevent them from going too far.
At this time, a burst of footsteps sounded outside the door, "The eldest son is here!" someone reported.
"Again!"
Zhang Yunlou was pleasantly surprised. Is his son here? He stood up quickly and said, "Come in quickly!"
Zhang Qi walked in, knelt down on his knees and kowtowed to his father, "My son, see your father!"
"Get up quickly!"
Zhang Yunyi quickly helped his son up and said with a smile: "How come you have time to come to Jiangdu?"
"Replying to my father, it was my grandfather who asked me to come to Jiangdu for important matters."
Zhang Qi took out a letter from his grandfather and presented it to his father, "Father, read the letter first!"
Zhang Yunyi took the letter and sat down slowly. He had already guessed some clues, and it should be related to Yang Yuanqing's inspection trip south.
He opened the letter and read it carefully, and his face gradually became serious. The letter written by his father Zhang Jin was very long. He detailed the court struggle that happened in the capital not long ago. Zhang Yunyi was secretly surprised.
, is Yang Yuanqing so powerful?
"Does your grandfather have any other messages?" Zhang Yunyi asked, putting down the letter.
Zhang Qi nodded, "My grandfather said that Yang Yuanqing is best at seizing the opponent's weaknesses to gain the initiative. My grandfather asked my father to temporarily stop all business in Jiangnan."
"besides……"
"What else?" Zhang Yunyi stared at his hands.
"Also, my grandfather wants my father to strike first!"