After a large-scale investigation involving the entire county, the Huxian government began to relax its inspections of merchants and carriage dealers, which greatly relieved the merchants.
The catchers in the yamen, especially the helpers who follow the active catchers, are a group of masters who want to take advantage of the cards, and usually have no reason to find a reason to take advantage of them. Now that they have a legitimate excuse, then It's been a lot of trouble, and now it's finally easy.
But although the government has reduced their daily checks, it has stepped up checks on outbound goods at the last checkpoint at the exit of the Huxian Post Road. Originally, there was only one tax card here, and a tax bureau was set up here to collect taxes on goods exported from the customs. Now there is a group of policemen besides the tax bureau.
This will of course slow down the speed of travel, some gentry went to complain to Huazhi County, Huazhi County asked Ye Xiaotian to ask about the situation, Ye Xiaotian vomited bitterness to him: "Master County, listen to what they are talking about!" Dan, they only want convenience, how can they know the hardships of being an official
Once the imperial court found out that smuggling and trafficking were banned, they suppressed them layer by layer, and finally they always fell on the heads of lower officials. If the subordinate officials do not do things, it is the subordinate officials who neglect their duties. When a subordinate official does something, some people make irresponsible remarks. So whether the subordinate official should do something or not, how can everyone be satisfied? This card is set there, and the lower officials have an explanation to their superiors. If it is withdrawn, who will bear it? "
After hearing Ye Xiaotian's complaints, Hua Qingfeng pinched his nose and admitted it. Compared with Ye Xiaotian, he still felt that those gentry were better off. Hua Qingfeng smiled wryly and said: "Of course the county knows your difficulties. Let's set up the checkpoints, but you must restrain your subordinates, and you are not allowed to take cards, extort bribes, or do things that disturb the people. Go get busy. "
"Don't be busy, Mr. Xianzun, the next official has something to tell you."
Ye Xiaotian told Hua Qingfeng about his plan to write to Tongren Mansion and ask for the right to handle cases across the border. To apply to Tongren Prefecture for the right to handle cases across the border, the magistrate of the county had to come forward. If he bypassed the magistrate and greeted the above himself, it would be no different from Xu Boyi's previous actions.
If Xu Boyi succeeds in doing that, he will be able to reach the sky in one step, and he will be in the eyes of the emperor. It doesn't matter if he commits some taboos or offends his colleagues. Ye Xiaotian doesn't have such a chance, so of course he can't do such an eye-catching thing.
After listening to Ye Xiaotian, Hua Qingfeng frowned and said, "Do you want to go to the Dawanshan Division to investigate the case? Ye County Chancellor, if there are no smugglers in this county, that would be a good thing. It is necessary to go to the neighboring county to make trouble." ?"
Ye Xiaotian said: "My lord, you also said that if, if there were no smugglers in this county, then it would be the best. I'm afraid it's not that there are none, but that it's hidden too deep and we didn't find it. If that's the case, it's you and me Dereliction of duty. The lower officials thought it would be better to check.
The last time we thoroughly investigated the entire county, we didn’t actually gain much. If there is still a steady stream of Burmese goods appearing in Chengfu, Zhongyuan, then the higher-ups will still push this matter on us, rather than being forced by the higher-ups Do it, why don't we take the initiative to do it. "
"Um… "
Hua Qingfeng stroked his beard and hesitated. These officials are like birds and beasts in the animal kingdom. Everyone has his own territory. Invading other people's territory is a very sensitive thing. Good neighbors become enemies. Hua Qingfeng was worried about this, thought for a while, and then said: "Let the county think about this matter before making a decision."
Ye Xiaotian had no choice but to say: "That's okay. However, we need to make up our minds as soon as possible. In addition, if there are indeed hidden smugglers in our county, there must be many eyes and ears. It's good for you to know about this, Mr. County Honor Don’t make it public and let others know about it.”
Hua Qingfeng smiled and said: "This county can save it naturally."
Ye Xiaotian bowed his hands to say goodbye, Hua Qingfeng sat down and thought for a while, called a servant, and said: "You go, please come to the master Wang."
After a while, Master Wang came to the second hall, Hua Qingfeng invited him to sit down, told him Ye Xiaotian's request, and asked worriedly: "Master Wang, crossing the border to handle cases, will it appear that we are The hand is too long, what if the officials of the Dawanshan Division are dissatisfied?"
Master Wang's eyes were fixed, and he blurted out, "Ye Xiancheng wants to cross the border to investigate the case? Could it be that he already has some important clues?"
Hua Qingfeng shook his head and said: "That's not true, it's just that although our county's measures to investigate and suppress smuggling and trafficking have achieved some results, judging from the seized items, there is nothing that matches the Burmese private goods sold to the Central Plains. The county magistrate is worried that there will still be a steady stream of private goods from Myanmar, and Shangfeng will still have to assign this responsibility to him when the time comes, so he might as well take the initiative to investigate."
"I see… "
Master Wang twirled his beard and thought for a while, then said slowly: "Your Majesty, don't worry about anything. Dawan Shansi is a hereditary native official, but we are officials of the imperial court. We are not people from the same way. We are talking about harmony among colleagues. It is undoubtedly a great achievement to be able to catch the culprit of smuggling and trafficking."
Hua Qingfeng said: "So, you also think that it's time to ask the magistrate for the right to handle cases across borders?"
Master Wang smiled slightly, and said to Hua Qingfeng: "Lord County, it's been so long, don't you still understand Ye Xiancheng's temper? Who can stop what he is determined to do. This person is stubborn If the magistrate disagrees, he bypasses the magistrate and directly asks the magistrate for orders. Based on the teacher-student friendship between him and the magistrate, it is likely to be successful, but then it will be the magistrate, you will not be a human inside and out. It's better to push the boat with the current, but it also shows your determination to eradicate the evil and do your best."
Hua Qingfeng carefully tasted Master Wang's words, and nodded slowly in agreement. What he was worried about was only worrying about offending the bureaucrats of the neighboring county, but after listening to Master Wang's analysis, with Ye Xiaotian's temperament, even if he disagreed, this matter could not be stopped, and the neighboring county would still count this matter on his head.
Anyway, the other party is a local official and he is a low-ranking official. The two are quite different. Since this result is inevitable, it is better to be more active. In case Ye Xiaotian solves a major case, he can also get a share of the credit. Thinking of this, Hua Qing The wind has made up its mind.
※※※
There is a small river behind the post station. Weeds are overgrown on both sides of the river. Weeds as tall as a person are very luxuriant. In late autumn, some weeds have turned yellow. On a big rock by the river, there were two futons. Ye Xiaotian and Zhao Wenyuan were sitting on a futon each, fishing on the quiet river.
The sky in late autumn is clear and clear, high and blue, and the white clouds are reflected in the clear river water. When the breeze comes, there is a slight rustling sound in the weeds, which makes the heart calm down unconsciously.
Zhao Wenyuan was lucky, the fish bit the hook frequently, although the biggest one was only a palm-sized silver carp, but the fun of fishing did not diminish at all, Ye Xiaotian sat there, but got nothing, he couldn't hold back his temper, frequently Changed the place, and imitated Zhao Wenyuan's way to make nests, one by one here and there, but still no fish biting the hook.
Seeing this, Zhao Wenyuan couldn't help laughing and said, "My lord, Yuwozi didn't do this. Are you fishing or feeding the fish?"
Ye Xiaotian smiled wryly and said: "Forget it, I'm not good at this, I just can't bear to sit there all the time, you catch you, I'll walk around." If you have fun fishing, ignore him.
Ye Xiaotian walked along the small river for a while, then walked to the back of Chang's Carriage and Horses, he strolled over, strolled back, and walked along the embankment, suddenly felt that something was wrong, but after thinking about it carefully, he said Nothing came out.
At this moment, a figure suddenly appeared on the hillside, Ye Xiaotian looked up and saw that it was Qian Qingqing. Qian Qingqing is wearing a strong outfit, with two short knives held upside down in her right hand, hidden behind her elbows, her long legs are scattered, and her gait is graceful and vigorous.
Ye Xiaotian smiled, although because of Zhao Wenyuan's background, he had to secretly be wary of Zhao Wenyuan. But for the Zhao couple, he really appreciates them. At least until now, he and Zhao Wenyuan have no conflict of interest, and they are regarded as partners in the officialdom. And this Mrs. Zhao has a bright and generous personality, and she is like a sister with Yaoyao. Ye Xiaotian loves the house and Wu, so she treats her differently.
When Qian Qingqing walked down the hillside, she saw Ye Xiaotian, and she couldn't help showing surprise.
When Ye Xiaotian waited for her to walk on the small wooden bridge, he bowed his hands to her and said with a smile, "Hello Madam Sister-in-law."
Qian Qingqing said in surprise: "Ye Xiancheng, why are you here?"
Ye Xiaotian smiled and said: "Brother Zhao and I were fishing over there, but unfortunately the fish never bite the hook. I couldn't sit still, so I just turned around. Mrs. sister-in-law, this is..." Ye Xiaotian looked carefully at the submerged fish. Dressed in Qingqing, she said unexpectedly: "Mrs. sister-in-law knows martial arts?"
Qian Qingqing smiled slightly, and said: "It's not about knowing martial arts, it's just some fancy boxing and embroidering legs, and occasionally going up the mountain to practice, trying to keep fit."
Ye Xiaotian smiled and said: "I don't think it's just accidental, Mrs. Sister-in-law. Look at this green hillside, you have already stepped out of the way."
Qian Qingqing smiled "puchi" and said: "Master Xiancheng, you are really joking. When my husband and I first came to Hu County, this mountain road was there. I am alone, even if I wear out the soles of my boots, I can't step on the road. come."
The two talked and laughed and walked towards the place where Zhao Wenyuan was fishing. Ye Xiaotian had a flash of inspiration and suddenly understood why he felt something was wrong just now. What made him feel that something was wrong was this road, this mountain road.
The mountain road has been stepped down, and the color of the grass on both sides of the road is very different. This is behind the house of the post station and the carriage house, and few people come here at all. There is no road in the world, if there are many people walking, it will become a road. So who went out of this way
Ye Xiaotian turned his head and took a deep look at the mountain road, and then took a deep look at Chang's car dealership, the car dealership was originally surnamed Qi.