Abandoning the boat and landing, Fan Xian walked into the garden with a little doubt. Haitang was behind him, greeting the old man fishing by the lake, but he didn't care too much about being close to the people, looking at the horses outside the park, he frowned.
The official who came on horseback had already entered the garden, but he threw the horse outside the garden without tying the rein, it seemed that he was really anxious. The horse was swaying at the bottom of the stone steps with its head bowed, snorting, sniffing the fragrance of the green grass that was about to grow on the ground, but it was a pity that it was chewing its head, but it couldn't eat it in a hurry.
"My lord." The guard at the door saluted him. A subordinate approached to explain something, but Fan Xian waved his hand to stop him. He had already recognized who the angry official was, and he felt a little annoyed at the thought that the other party still had the same temperament as before after a year of absence.
There was an extremely intense quarrel faintly coming from the depths of the house, and after passing around the screen wall, the voice suddenly became louder, the words were full of loud accusations, and the disappointment and anger revealed from the bottom of the bone.
Fan Xian stopped in his tracks, turned his head and laughed at himself, and said to Haitang: "It's a small matter, save me some face and don't come in."
Haitang nodded with a smile, and walked towards the path leading to the garden.
Fan Xian tidied up his clothes, and patiently listened outside for a long time. Then he coughed lightly twice, acting like a teacher, put his hands behind his back, crossed the high threshold, and entered the main hall.
In the main hall, two people faced each other with red necks and thick necks, facing each other like two fighting cocks. On one side was Shi Chanli, and on the other was Yang Wanli who hadn't seen him for a long time.
After the spring of last year, Yang Wanli was the top three in high school, and because everyone knew that he was a direct descendant of the Fan family, the head of the official department transferred him to a rich county in the south of the Yangtze River to serve as the county magistrate. . This is because of the obstruction of Yan Xingshu, Minister of the Ministry of Officials, otherwise, with the prestige of the Fan family, it is not impossible to directly be a state councilor or a judge.
And Yang Wanli also really stood up for his teacher, Fan Xian, diligent in government affairs, close to the people and eager to learn. In just one year, he managed his subordinates in an orderly manner. A well-written, fair review. When the Dali Temple was appraised, it was also judged up and down. Although the age limit has not yet come and cannot be advanced, but now it is still a dignified official from the sixth rank.
Hou Jichang and Cheng Jialin, among the four members of the Fan family, are now officials in Jiaodong Road and Nanfang respectively, and they are said to have good official reputations.
After Fan Xian entered the door, he watched Yang Wanli and Shi Chanli quarrel with cold eyes, and found that Yang Wanli was aggressive, but Shi Chanli stepped back a little bit. After listening for a while, he knew why, and sneered.
Yang Wanli looked back at him, froze for a moment, frowned, but turned around unexpectedly, and continued to state sadly to Shi Chanli: "Brother Shi, it's fine if you don't want to be an official, follow me By the door teacher's side, picking up what is missing for him, doing things with heart, can be regarded as benefiting the common people... But now the teacher has obviously done something wrong, why don't you remind him by your side? We should be a disciple, and we must speak out and give advice. Righteous way! Do you know how unbearable the rumors in this place in the south of the Yangtze River are? It is said that Mr. Fan Tisi is really a capable official, and he doesn't know how to do things, but this money collector is open and ruthless!"
What Yang Wanli said was obviously ironic, and he sneered: "...a big river? I think it is a silver river. The people in the boat will not go ashore until the boat scoops up all the money of the states!"
The more he talked, the angrier he became, and he waved his sleeves and said: "Being an official will benefit one party. Last year, the teacher left a letter asking us to be officials and people... But... But... Is this what officials do? I... I'm almost ashamed to face people now! Old Shi! You let me down so badly! Carrion worm! You bastard!"
When Shi Chanli heard the last two adjectives, he became very angry, thinking that you kid is enjoying yourself as an upright official outside, how do you know how hard it is for me to be a brothel owner in the capital? Return the goods! You are a tiger who criticizes the teacher as eating people's bone marrow... Okay, you Yang Wanli, you have become more courageous not long after becoming an official, and your blood rushed, and you cursed back: "You are a sour Confucian who doesn't know the suffering of the people! If it weren't for you The teacher is in Beijing, you think you can get an excellent evaluation, ungrateful guy!"
Yang Wanli raised his face, and said with great pain in his arrogance: "Although I only govern one county, within a year, there will be no bandits in the county, and the people's livelihood will be peaceful... It is also worthy of Master Xiao Fan's original expectations."
In fact, Shi Chanli also understood why the other party was so angry and came directly to kill him. The so-called greater hope means greater disappointment. They all hope to follow Mr. Xiao Fan to do something in the Qing Kingdom. The real loyal people are just Fan Xian is now in the Overwatch Council, holding great power... the things he does... he does look like a powerful minister, but the gap between him and a famous minister seems to be getting wider and wider.
However, Shi Chanli has been with Fan Xian all year round, knowing that there are many things the teacher has to do, and his feelings are even deeper, so he subconsciously sneered and retorted: "There are no bandits? If the state camp hadn't been moved to your Fuchun County for ten Erli... you can scare those bandits away by your sage's words? Twelve miles... inconspicuous, right? But do you, a little magistrate, have the ability?"
Yang Wanli was startled, frowned and asked, "What do you mean by that?"
"What do you mean?" Shi Chanli looked back at Fan Xian, frowning, as if thinking why the guards in the courtyard didn't stop this person, and asked outsiders to listen to his quarrel with Yang Wanli, it would be a big deal if it spread.
…
…
The most innocent person at this time was of course Fan Xian. The two students were arguing very happily. He stood outside for a long time, but no one paid attention to him, and he was almost dried up. He followed Shi Chanli's words and said with a smile: "It's nothing interesting, it's just that the old man loves you guys so much that he wrote a letter to the commanding officer in the state."
It was only then that the two in the quarrel recognized Fan Xian's voice, and were taken aback at the same time. After a long while, they said in surprise, "Is it the teacher?"
Fan Xian reached out and rubbed his temples twice to remove the glue from the corners of his eyebrows. The eyebrows returned to their original positions, and his delicate and handsome face returned to its original state. After he entered the room, he forgot to take off his makeup, so the two noisy people didn't recognize him.
He smiled wryly and said: "If you quarrel, you have to close the door to quarrel. This is what I listened to. If outsiders hear it... I'm afraid they will think that something big happened to my old Fan's family to deceive the master and destroy the ancestors."
…
…
The lobby of the manor fell silent all of a sudden, and both Shi Chanli and Yang Wanli were a little embarrassed to think that all the content of their quarrel had fallen into Fan Xian's ears.
The two asked Fan Xian to sit in the middle, and waited on both sides. Although Fan Xian was younger in age, the absurd seniority of the teachers and students was here, so they had to be in place.
Yang Wanli patted his head with some headaches, and suddenly thought of Fan Xian's last sentence... Deceive the master and destroy the ancestor? He suddenly raised his head and shouted: "My lord! I didn't mean that."
Fan Xian looked at him amusedly, knowing that Yang Wanli was born in the bitter cold of central Fujian, he looked down on corrupt officials the most, and had a straightforward and hot temper, otherwise he would not have rushed to the door so recklessly, and asked: "Fuchun The county is two hundred miles away from Hangzhou. You, a civil official, galloped here without a yamen servant, and scolded him in front of me as a tiger that only eats people but doesn't spit out bones. "
He was joking, but Yang Wanli couldn't bear the weight of this joke. But Yang Wanli's temperament is really straightforward, he gritted his teeth, walked up to Fan Xian and bowed to the end, and said in a deep voice: "The students are at fault, and the fault is that they shouldn't gossip behind the adults' backs."
Fan Xian was slightly surprised, thinking how this guy could move so fast.
Unexpectedly, Yang Wanli's words changed, and he said straightforwardly: "But since the teacher has returned home, the students will talk about it in person. You also know that students are not afraid to speak out about their teachers' faults."
"Let's talk." Fan Xian said helplessly, "You have such a lonely personality."
"Your Excellency went to the south of the Yangtze River this time to manage money for the imperial court. The students think that there are three things you shouldn't do." Yang Wanli didn't listen to Fan Xian's evaluation of his temperament at all.
"Three wrongs?" Fan Xian jumped, thinking it was just Su Wenmao's problem of receiving thousands of dollars of cash, but unexpectedly came three wrongs... Do you think you, Chi Zhiqiang, are singing ten wrongs in prison? !
"Your Excellency, you shouldn't allow your subordinates to plunder the people's wealth along the river and use their power." Yang Wanli didn't sleep well last night, so he made up his mind to come to Hangzhou to "advise" face to face, and said with deep sorrow: "The capital ships are going south, and the officials of the prefectures and counties along the river deliberately cater to you. Gifts are like a mountain, and people are also driven to pull boats. The water in the south of the Yangtze River is calm. If it is not for the big boat deliberately slowing down, where would there be a need for trackers? This matter has already spread all over the south of the Yangtze River, and it has become a joke. But where did the gifts from the county officials along the river come from? It’s not about imposing excessive taxes and plundering the income of the people, you shouldn’t be the chief inspector of the Overwatch Council, but ignore the laws of the country, accept bribes, ignore the hearts of the people, and work hard for the people!”
Fan Xian acted as if he didn't hear, and waved to Shi Chanli to pour a cup of tea, and sipped it.
Yang Wanli felt a little uneasy when he saw his expression so pretentious. He didn't know if the sect master was really angry, but it made him even more angry. The status of an imperial envoy, but since the guard of honor was not displayed at the beginning, but instead marched in the starry night, this is already a violation of the regulations, not only stealth, but also escorted by officers and soldiers. Pass."
Fan Xian spat out the tea in his mouth with a pop, and cursed with a smile, "You want me to be hacked to make you feel better?"
He waved his hand to stop Yang Wanli's next words, and said, "Let's talk about these two things first." He considered for a while, "I also heard some rumors about receiving gifts along the river that you mentioned, and it really had a very bad influence. In the letter, this matter seems to have become a ridiculous joke in the official circles of the capital, saying that I, Xiao Fan, was suffocated in Beijing, and I wish I could scrape a few layers of ground when I go to the south of the Yangtze River... "
Listening to his words, Yang Wanli was slightly happy, and said, "Exactly, regardless of the issue of illegal and disorderly policies, the influence of this alone will have a great impact on the official voice of your lord..."
"It has a great influence on your reputation as an official, right?" Fan Xian said with a sneer, "You said earlier that you have no face to face people now. Wanli, you only want to be a clean and honest official with a long history, but you have to pay me for such a big money. The corrupt official sect master must feel a little unsure, and I understand. But... "
He changed his tone: "No matter what the Jiangnan officials think, what the common people think, or what the Beijing Central Six Departments talk about, others don't care... The problem is, you are my student, how can you think that this official is greedy for money?"
Yang Wanli was taken aback for a moment, thinking that the great achievements of your big ship are facts, and the evidence is there. Nowadays, people are saying that the reason why Fan Tisi's mysterious mission to the south of the Yangtze River is divided into three routes: north, middle and south. What you want is to covet Qi Sanlu's filial piety all at once. Could it be that others have misunderstood you
"I have money." Fan Xian looked at Yang Wanli and cursed angrily, "Why should I be greedy for money? How did you grow such a head?"
"You, Ji Chang, and Jia Lin are now released as officials, and you will receive silver taels from the old man in Beijing every month. Why is this? Is it because you are afraid that you will be dragged into the water by the money of your colleagues around you? That’s what you ask for, let alone yourself?”
Since the release of the spring last year, Yang Wanli and the three of them have received monthly banknotes from the capital, and the amount has already exceeded their salary. This matter has nothing to do with Fan Xian, and he didn't expect it to be so detailed. Take good care of it.
With the silver taels by their side, Yang Wanli and the other three had a lot more money on the one hand, and on the other hand they were doing some practical things with the silver taels. He thought of the subtleties of Fan Xian's concern, and was moved. He was terrified by Fan Xian's rare scowling expression, and hurriedly replied, "Thank you, teacher."
Fan Xian laughed and reprimanded: "Thank you for the money, don't you think about it, how did the money come from?...Of course, it's not from greed. You know that I have a lot of business under me. Is it better to support your officials or raise them?" up."
Yang Wanli frowned and said, "But... that boat on the river?"
"What does that boat have to do with me?" Fan Xian's face was a little shameless, "You have to go out and scold corrupt officials, go to the boat to scold those people, go to Hangzhou to scold me in person...Yang Wanli, Yang Wanli, you really have no guts Small."
Yang Wanli said distressedly: "Teacher, those people are your subordinates!"
Fan Xian smiled and said, "Yes, my subordinates collect money, but I don't care about it. It seems that everything is done under my behest? This is just a show, why are you in a hurry."
Shi Chanli also persuaded from the side: "Your Excellency must have a deep meaning. If you barge in like this today, I'm afraid that many people will laugh secretly."
Yang Wanli thought about it for the same reason. Even if Mr. Fan wanted to be greedy, he wouldn't be so greedy with such vigor and low methods. Could it be that he was really wrong
"It doesn't have too much meaning." Fan Xian sighed and said, "It's just that there is a play in Suzhou on the third day of March, and the play is so nasty, I still get goosebumps thinking about it now, and you'll understand when you watch it gone."
Yang Wanli had already believed Fan Xian's statement at this time, and he didn't dare to speak again, a little regretful that he was too reckless, and it would be bad if he missed the master's plan to manage the treasury.
"Besides, it shouldn't be." Fan Xian frowned, "Wan Li, you are so naive, do you really think this is a peaceful and prosperous world?"
Yang Wanli was slightly stunned, thinking that now the country is safe and the people are safe, the weather is good, how can there be any fakes? Fan Xian sneered and said intimidatingly, "Without the escort of the sailor, the boat may be dragged to the bottom of the river by the water ghost at any time, do you believe it?"
Looking at Yang Wanli's expression, knowing that he would never believe him, Fan Xian shook his head and said, "I will not hide from you about the internal treasury. What I want to deal with is not only the resident insects in the internal treasury, but also the wealthy families in the south of the Yangtze River. It also includes officials from the entire south of the Yangtze River and nobles in the capital... Then how did the Ming family start their business? How can they make their family business so big now?"
Faced with this inquiry, Yang Wanli shook his head. Shi Chanli only knew a thing or two after he came into contact with the secret report from the Overwatch Council and Xia Qifei of Jiangnan Water Village recently.
"Pirates!" A look of sternness flashed in Fan Xian's eyes, "The Ming family picked up the goods from the inner warehouse and went out to sea from Quanzhou, all the way north to Dongyi City, and all the way south to the foreign devils in the west. Over the years, after going to sea, there will always be When encountering pirates, one of the three ships will always be lost..."
Yang Wanli frowned, thinking that the Ming family had also been in contact with each other, and all of them were gentle and kind millionaires. It is not easy to let them be responsible for encountering pirates when they go out to sea. Could it be that your lord has something to say
Fan Xian said coldly: "In fact, those pirates are all members of their Ming family!"
Yang Wanli turned pale with shock.
"Neiku was produced by pirates, and his Ming family had to pay money to Neiku... It seemed like a loss, but in fact, he robbed the ship of goods and smuggled them overseas to sell them. The royal court got 60% of the dividends from a ship of goods, so he paid for it." There is no need to pay any more, and what is paid to Neiku is just the cost... This ship earns more than those two ships. It’s just a pity that there have been so many dead souls at sea over the years.”
Yang Wanli was stunned, and murmured: "This...the Ming family can't earn much more, why dare they take the risk of beheading?"
What Fan Xian said was found out by the Overwatch Council and Xia Qifei in cooperation with Xia Qifei in recent days, but it is a pity that there has been no living evidence. The Ming family has earned a lot of money by using such ruthless methods over the years. These people are extremely ruthless and merciless, the rumors are tight, and there are nobles to cover them. The bandits were rampant, but it never occurred to them that the Ming family robbed their own goods and played the tricks of the merchant and bandit family.
He stood up, stared into Yang Wanli's eyes, and said: "Once there is a proper profit, businessmen will be bold. If there is a 50% profit, he will take risks; for a 100% profit, he will take risks." He dares to trample on all laws; with 300% profit, he dares to commit any crime, even risking hanging his head, and ignores the court."
Shocked by Marx's famous words, both Yang Shi and Yang Shi bowed their heads and smacked for a long time.
"What's more... there are always their fellow travelers in the imperial court." Fan Xian said with a sneer, "If you are serious about exporting, all the money you earn must be recorded. How can you spend the money outside the account safely?"
This sentence refers to the affairs of Xinyang. If it weren't for this kind of ruthless means, it would have been much more difficult for the eldest princess to get money from the inner treasury under the long-term supervision of the Overwatch Council.
"Every copper plate is covered with blood." Fan Xian taught Yang Wanli, "If you and I want to do things, we must ensure our own safety. The Ming family can kill people, they will kill people, and when the time comes, they will not be afraid Kill this official! When you are living and dying, what kind of etiquette are you talking about... You have been an official for a long time, don't become a rotten piece of wood!"
Yang Wanli was in a daze. He had been in the cold for ten years, and after becoming an official, he was secretly protected by the shadow of a big tree called Fan Xian. He had never really felt the dangers of the world. At this time, he was reprimanded by Fan Xian and finally regained consciousness a little.
After calming down for a while, Fan Xian waved his hand and said, "Forget it, let's not mention these things for now. Although you are here to kick the door today, there are indeed no guests in this garden. We haven't seen each other for a year. There is always something to talk about." , I will fix some wine and food later, let's have a few drinks."
Yang Wanli was dejected, but he was relieved to know that the sect master still regarded him as the closest person, but he regretted his recklessness, and suddenly thought of something, he still questioned: "Then the third one shouldn't..."
Fan Xian scolded with a smile: "If you don't offend me to the end, it looks like you won't be able to eat. Tell me."
Yang Wanli thought for a while, and felt that this matter was indeed wrong done by the teacher, so he said confidently: "Recently, there have been many auspicious signs in various places. Officials and ordinary people always say a few words at the banquet after drinking. Students never say it in front of others. But in front of the teacher, you have to speak out boldly, and it will not last long to serve people with sex, and it is not the character of a court official to uphold, what the teacher did is really not in line with virtue."
Fan Xian was stunned for a moment, knowing that although Yang Wanli was stubborn, he was still extremely smart, and he realized that Siye Xiangrui was created by himself, but this kid actually... dared to scold him for flattering the emperor in front of his face!
"Fuck off!" Fan Xian finally got really angry, and scolded, "Don't eat any more, go back to your Fuchun County to drink porridge!"
Yang Wanli was still a bachelor at this time, and he let the teacher's spittle wash his face upright, and said with a righteous face, "Students will have porridge in Pengyuan today."
Fan Xian flicked his sleeves angrily, and went out. Shi Yang and the two hurriedly followed behind, not daring to leave half a step away. It wasn't until this time that this young man who was under 20 finally took on the appearance of a young man, and he was no longer the master who sat upright and pretended to be old and mature.
…
…
On the third day of March, the dragon raises its head.
Danzhou's convoy of relatives and the Beijing boats going down the Yinjiang River all arrived at the wharf outside Suzhou City on this day, and the night before, a team from Hangzhou had quietly boarded the boat, and three teams from Kyoto had already boarded the boat. The team finally successfully joined forces in Jiangnan.
On the wharf, gongs and drums blared, firecrackers blared, and officials at all levels on Jiangnan Road cleaned up their official uniforms. He is also the commissioner of the Overwatch Council and the governor of Jiangnan Road... The arrival of Fan Xian, the little fan.