A bead curtain hides incense
However, Gu Feng took a step back, raised his arms and bowed respectfully to Qi Yan: "Thanks to the grace of the master for saving and rebuilding, Gu Feng does not dare to call him a brother again, and I hope the master will forgive me."
Qi Yan looked at the folded hands in her sight, her fingers were thick and stiff. Where are the hands that read and write? It's like a rough man who has been doing heavy work for a long time...
The man in front of him was no longer able to match the high-spirited young man of the past. Qi Yan still remembers the Shangyuan Festival many years ago, when she and Gu Feng faced off in front of the lantern riddle array. Although this man was sharp-edged, he was full of real talents and practical learning. In the end, he quit him and successfully won the championship. He took the money to get through the door, and went to the second prince's mansion as a staff member. With his assistance, the second prince's reputation among the people and the court was unparalleled among many princes.
Three years ago, Gu Feng was affected by witchcraft and was exiled to Kitakyushu to repair the city. Kitakyushu Jiedushi Erihe Anujin did not take these prisoners from the Wei Kingdom as human beings at all, and the prisoners who were dispatched there lived a hellish life.
He ordered the money to bring a lot of silver notes, and bought some prisoners who were dying on the way to escort them. Gu Feng was not among the first batch of people. Because he was a close minister by the second prince's side, he was taken as a serious criminal and was directly escorted to Kitakyushu by the officials of the Ministry of Punishment.
In the second year of Qi Yan's tenure in Jinzhou, there was a young man who failed many attempts to apply for a job in the prefectural mansion. The style and temperament of that person was very similar to that of Gu Feng. Only then did Qi Yan remember this old friend, so she gave Qian Yuan a book and asked him to go to Luobei to find this person.
It took Qian Yuan more than half a year to find Gu Feng, who was beyond recognition. He was suffering from malaria at the time.
Qian Yuan took people to the Luoshui side to patrol the famous doctors, and spent countless money to save him.
And most of Gu Feng's family were also implicated, and his old Gaotang died on the road of exile.
A few days ago, Qian Yuan wrote to say that Gu Feng has been arranged to wait for dispatch near Jinzhou. This is the first time the two have met after a long absence.
"Are you still used to it?" Qi Yan asked lightly.
Gu Feng remained silent, and Qi Yan didn't force him to continue: "I called you here this time because the Sifang Bank under my control was suppressed by Tongyuan Bank, and it is difficult for the bank to operate in the capital. I hope you can help Qian Yuan manage the business of the bank."
Gu Feng raised his eyelids and asked, "Isn't the owner of Tongyuan Bank that Xie An, Xie Daguan?"
Qi Yan: "Yes, from time to time. The Xie family's monstrous wealth has been passed down for three generations, and it is time to get a share of the pie. The master behind Xie An is the third prince Nangongwang, and the Xie family's industry is plainly owned by Nangongwang. Money bags. Money is a good thing, as long as Xie An is behind to pay for Nangong Wang, Nangong Wang can press the fifth prince on the court."
Gu Feng's eyes flashed fiercely, and he replied, "I'm afraid the villain's methods are a bit more vicious and vicious, does the master mind?"
Qi Yan hooked the corner of her mouth: "Make the aftermath cleaner, everything is up to you."
Gu Feng: "Yes."
…
Qi Yan walked out of the ruined temple first, and with a "pop", the half-wooden door of the small temple that was crumbling toppled to the ground, causing waves of smoke and dust to swing open circle after circle.
Qi Yan didn't even look back, but Qian Tong, who was standing beside the carriage, excitedly pulled out the saber from his waist and looked at Qi Yan's back vigilantly. Back to the carriage.
Qian Tong also jumped into the cab and glanced at the dark little temple, then flicked the reins: "Drive!"
Qi Yan leaned on the carriage and slowly closed her eyes, saying that she still wanted to thank her for giving her a talent like Qian Yuan.
In the past three years, the industry under Qi Yan's name has spread to all parts of the Wei Kingdom like vines. Although the scale is lacking, as long as the Sifang Bank can enter the capital and make a name for itself, with the support of silver, the rest of the industry will be like They sprang up like mushrooms after the rain.
After the witchcraft case, Qi Yan secretly took in hundreds of people, and from two years ago, Qi Yan sent people to secretly travel around and took in some orphans.
Since Qi Yan's deity is from Jinzhou, she has played a pivotal role in the Qi clan during the three years she served as the prefect of Jinzhou. Many students of the Qi family have to call Qi Yan "brother of the family" or "uncle of the family". There are more than 30 people from the Qi family in Jinzhou who are qualified for this year's big exam...
If it is properly planned, Qi Yan will soon be able to cultivate a group of "straight line" forces in the DPRK. The current Jinzhou is like Yingchuan, which brought together Sima Hui, Zhuge Liang, Pang Tong, Guo Jia, Xun You, and Xun Yu in the Three Kingdoms period. It will not be long before Jinzhou students will become a force to be reckoned with in the Wei Kingdom. strength.
Although these people cannot help Qi Yan complete the great cause of revenge, Qi Yan, as the "pioneer" of Jinzhou students, will have a decisive voice.
It's just recently that Qi Yan's heart has always been a little uneasy.
She had used a lot of human and financial resources to make unannounced visits to the masked man, but she could not find any clues.
The mask and her power disappeared as if the world had evaporated.
The masked person and Qi Yan carry similar hatred. Qi Yan knows that the other party is impossible to give up, but she is too silent, and the silence makes people panic.
…
The two masters and servants traveled day and night, and they walked for more than half a month before entering the capital. Qi Yan went back to the concubine's house to wash and wash, and put on the official uniform of the prefect, with a jade wat pinned to her waist. Just when she came to the door, she met an old acquaintance.
Nangong Shunv was slightly stunned when she saw Qi Yan, but the latter showed no signs of surprise. Although she had left the capital in the past three years, she knew every move of Xiaodie in the concubine's mansion.
After Qi Yan was tied up to take office, Xiaodie fell ill several times and then her mind became stagnant again. Thanks to Nangong Shunv coming here from time to time to accompany her, Qi Yan is grateful for that.
Qi Yan: "I have seen the Second Highness before."
Nangong Shunv looked at the person in front of her, his appearance did not seem to have changed, but his bearing was more calm than before.
Nangong Shunv: "Why are you back?"
Qi Yan smiled and replied, "The minister is ordered to return to Beijing to report his duties."
Nangong Shunv: "Ben Gong... is here to visit Xiaodie."
Qi Yan nodded and said respectfully, "Thanks to His Highness Second Highness, I thank you for Xiaodie."
Nangong Shunv nodded slightly, and Qi Yan passed her by.
Nangong Shunv turned around and saw that Qi Yan had stepped onto the carriage with one foot, and suddenly said, "Have you seen her?"
Qi Yan stopped to look back, does this "she" refer to Nangong Jingnu? Or Fluttershy
Nangong Shunv's lips moved, and there was a trace of complexity in her eyes: "Xiaodie, have you seen it?"
Qi Yan returned with a gentle smile again: "Not yet, Second Highness, please come in."
Nangong Shunv said "Oh": "Yuxiao! She... lives in the warm pavilion in the southeast corner of Weiming Palace, you should go and see her first." Nangong Shunv didn't want Qi Yan to see Xiaodie, and it would be a moment later is a moment...
Qi Yan: "I know."
…
The palace is still the same as it used to be. The red walls and yellow bricks are solemn and solemn, and a chorus of singing came from the hall: "Xuan Jinzhou prefect Qi Yan has entered the hall."
The eight chamberlains pushed open the door of the court hall together, and with a rumbling sound of sunlight pouring in, Qi Yan stepped over the threshold with one foot on his side.
It was already past the early morning, and Nangong Da was sitting on a high position with a cane beside the dragon chair. A bead curtain hung behind the throne, and behind the bead curtain were two huge screens of eight in one.
Qi Yan narrowed her brows, walked lightly to the center of the hall, and knelt on the ground with the hem of her clothes up, holding the jade wat on her chest in both hands: "My minister, Qi Yan, the prefect of Jinzhou, is hereby ordered to enter the palace to report his duties."
Nangongda: "My brother-in-law is free from the ceremony, and I'm here to give you a seat."
Qi Yan: "Thank you, Your Highness."
The waiter brought a small stool, and Qi Yan only sat on one-third of the stool.
Qi Yan raised her head, and the two looked at each other.
Nangong Darby was much calmer five years ago, and a beard has grown on his lips.
Compared to Qi Yan's calmness, Nangong Da seemed a little surprised. He looked at Qi Yan, and he didn't seem to have left a trace on the other person's body in the past three years. He had no moustache on his lips, and his cheeks were as smooth as a mirror, but he still looked like a handsome young man.
Nangongda murmured: "I haven't seen you for three years, my brother-in-law is really still the same."
Qi Yan lowered her eyes and replied humbly, "Your Highness is too famous."
Although Nangongda was puzzled, he politely withdrew his searching eyes. After all, Qi Yan and Nangong Jingnv had been married for many years, and he even had a child with his concubine. He didn't think about it elsewhere.
Nangong Da: "My brother-in-law has taken over the Jinzhou Dayin for three years, and has made outstanding achievements in governance. It is obvious to all the people in the court and the public. The father and the palace are both gratified."
Qi Yan stood up, took out a scroll from his arms, and the waiter took it and presented it to him.
Qi Yan: "I have received the grace of the emperor, and I live in the prefect of one side. I don't dare to slack off for a day. The city defense is being repaired, please take a look at it.”
Nangongda opened the scroll and glanced at it. The shock in his heart was beyond words. He couldn't help raising his eyes to look at Qi Yan.
Nangongda read the dossier carefully. After the plague in the first year of Jingjia, Jinzhou's ten rooms and nine empty industries withered, and then the floods and natural disasters caused serious damage to the city. After so many years, I did not know how many prefects had changed without improvement.
But in the three years that Qi Yan took over Jinzhou, the population of Jinzhou has increased by more than ten times, reaching the level before the epidemic.
Taxes, corvée, and business taxes have also reached the level of a prosperous state capital.
The renovation of the city defense has also been carried out in an orderly manner. What is even more commendable is that Qi Yan built four official schools, and there were more than 30 scholars!
Qi Yan explained in a timely manner: "When the minister took the courage to take office, he took out all the surplus grain in the official warehouse of Jinzhou, and raised donations from the Jinzhou gentry in his own name, and distributed the official documents to the adjacent prefectures. The common people need to satisfy a family of three people, and those who are willing to return to their hometown will be given three stones of coarse grain or one stone of polished rice, and one or two silver grains will be paid to settle down. People from other prefectures who are willing to move to Jinzhou will be counted as five people per household, and once the grain of coarse grain is given, one grain of silver will be given. Two, and the chariots and horses needed by the government to move out."
Nangongda's eyes widened, marveling at Qi Yan's extraordinary mind and courage.
Nangongda: "Aren't you afraid that you will spend all the surplus grain and silver of the government office, and the government office's treasury will not be accountable in the coming year? This... but a big sin."
Qi Yan pondered: "I'm afraid."
Nangongda: "Then why is this?"
Qi Yan took a deep breath and replied with consideration: "Actually, the money and surplus grain in the treasury will soon be used up, and the minister had to use the land deeds of the consort's mansion and his private residence as collateral, and borrowed a lot of money from the various banks. just finished this…”
Nangongda's eyes widened, shocked by Qi Yan's "madness".
"The minister looked through the archives of Jinzhou Prefecture over the years and found that before the first year of Jingjia, the annual tax and silver paid by Jinzhou Prefecture was the best among the prefectures. In addition, the minister's ancestral home was Jinzhou, and he knew that the water and soil were fertile and the grain yield was extremely high. That's why Jinzhou has been decadent for many years because there is no one in Jinzhou. Tens of thousands of acres of fertile fields are overgrown with weeds and no one is farming, and only a few of the hundreds of shops in a street are still open... It took me half a year to visit every place in Jinzhou. County, I was pleasantly surprised to find that although Jinzhou has withered, its foundation is still there, as long as there is someone, it will definitely be restored to the past!"
Nangongda stared blankly at Qi Yan, and was impressed by Qi Yan's inadvertent style and self-confidence.
Under the influence of Qi Yan, Nangongda was a little excited, and he asked Qi Yan again: "Privately embezzling the government's treasury is a serious crime. Isn't the imperial court investigating his brother-in-law once a year, isn't he afraid of being convicted?"
Qi Yan replied in a low voice: "This minister has always had a heart of awe for laws and regulations, but there are still many things in life that you know you can't do. We convened wise men from all walks of life to discuss together, and only when we came to a certain possibility.”
Qi Yan's words were like a slap in the face to Nangong Da, who was the prince of the supervising country. He even forgot that there was a person hiding behind the screen, and discussed government affairs with Qi Yan.
From Jinzhou's governance, humanities, to some difficulties Qi Yan encountered and how to solve them, he also talked about Jinzhou's talent training and this imperial examination...
Every word the two talked about fell into Nangong Jingnu's ears. She couldn't see anyone through the screen, but magically imagined every expression, look, and movement of Qi Yan.
It is very clear and vivid, as if they have never been separated.
Listening to the little things he had done over the past three years, it was the first time that he saw Qi Yan as the other side of the concubine.
It was an existence that radiated light all over the body, making people unable to take their eyes off it.
In recent years, Nangong Da and Nangong Jingnu have been slightly estranged, but they do not know that Nangong Jingnu, who took over the government affairs, still cherishes his younger sister.
Nangongda invited Nangong Jingnu half an hour in advance and let her hide behind the screen. He wanted to give Qi Yan a "surprise" to bring the couple back together, but she heard such an insightful statement. speech.