It's the cold winter, and Hai'an, a small town where there is really no entertainment, seems to be extremely cold.

The northwest wind roared outside, and the old elm tree in the yard swayed in the strong wind, its branches whipping in the air like whips. The rows of translucent icicles hanging on the eaves were frozen solid,

Motionless in the strong wind.

There is a stove in the second hall. However, although the previous inspections made a lot of money, in order to leave a good reputation, they strictly adhered to the principle of "officials do not build yamen". The walls have long been cracked, the windows have been broken, and the doors have been broken.

If it is not closed tightly, the bone-chilling wind will penetrate into the room, and you have to wear thicker clothes even when sitting next to the stove.

Despite this, Fang Shimei still didn't want to leave this old yamen that was in disrepair, but the two letters in his hand that the grand master sent in the morning made him realize that this inspection agent would only be available for a few days, waiting for the selection of the Ministry of Personnel.

When a new inspector arrives who takes Qian out of Beijing, he has to hand over his official seal, pack up and leave.

Even the New Year was not going well, and Fang Shimei felt very unhappy. Just as he was frowning and worrying, his cousin opened the door and walked in.

"Brother, what's so urgent?"

"I can't do this job for a few more days."

"Ah!" Fang Shijun was stunned for a moment, not even bothering to close the door that was rattled by the strong wind.

Fang Shimei put the letter in his arms, stood up, walked over and closed the door. He turned around and explained with a grimace: "The people from the state government sent two letters. One was written by the eldest master, and the other was written by the government office.

Zhang Er asked someone to send someone to Taizhou, saying that the new inspection officer will take office in the next few days, and asked me to send someone to Jiangyan to wait, and when the inspection officer is received here, I will handle the handover with him."

"Brother, you've been the inspection agent for less than half a year. How can the new inspection come at any time?"

"It's not even half a year yet. I've fully calculated and have been acting for a total of four and a half months."

"That's right, I've only been acting for four and a half months!" Fang Shijun became more and more uncomfortable and angry as he thought about it. He said bitterly: "That's not what Zhang Er told us when we were in Jiangning. He slapped his chest and fought with us.

The guarantee said that he could act as agent for at least one year, how could he keep his word!"

"He is just a family member of the Taiwanese manufacturer, not the master of the Taiwanese manufacturer. What he says does not count."

"He didn't care, but our money was wasted, a total of two thousand taels! We only acted as an agent for four and a half months, and we didn't even earn back our capital!"

"It's useless to say anything at this point." Fang Shimei sighed and said thoughtfully: "Isn't the new inspection officer not here yet? He hasn't been here for a day, but your brother and I are still doing inspections for a day. Don't complain here.

I quickly went to see Li Xiucai and told him that I wanted to celebrate my birthday and asked him to write a few more invitations, so that Chu Chenggui and the others could go and invite those from the countryside to make sure they were upright."

"Brother, you just celebrated your birthday last month."

"Last month was my birthday, and tomorrow is my grandpa's birthday. I have to do it even if the grandpa isn't around. If I don't do it, I won't be able to do it no matter what I want to do when the new inspection comes."

Fang Shijun reacted and said quickly: "Okay, I'll go find Li Xiucai right now."

"Go ahead and ask the kitchen to prepare a few tables of food and wine."

"I know, brother, I'm going."

…

The area under the jurisdiction of the Hai'an Inspection Department is quite large. It stretches more than 100 miles from east to west along the Yunyan River. It has jurisdiction over five towns, Haian, Huji, Qutang, Baimi, and Jiangyan, and more than 250 towns.

Villages, but the inspections are not governors. They are only responsible for protecting the armor and cannot control taxes. The gentry under them will only fawn over the great master, not his inspection. The common people under them are poorer than the other, let alone ordinary people.

It's nothing, even if there is something they don't dare to see the officials, and if the common people don't see the officials, naturally he won't get much benefit from this inspection.

However, this shortage does not mean that there is no oil and water at all, but I just don’t have the ability to fish for it.

To the east are the Jiaoxie Field and Tuocha Field of the Lianghuai Salt Transportation Department, and to the northeast are the Fu'an Field and Anfeng Field of the Lianghuai Salt Transportation Department. I don't know how many salt ships pass through Haian every year, but those carrying illegal salt

Each of the transporters is bigger than the last, and not a small patrol can dare to provoke them. And those private salt dealers are more and more rampant. Not only are they more powerful, some even have shotguns and weapons. Those who patrol the Si Yamen

The two Zaoli and a dozen archers did not dare to step forward and could only turn a blind eye.

Thinking of the four and a half months that he had been acting as the Marine Security Inspection Department, he had been begging for food with a mountain of gold and silver, and could only rely on birthday celebrations and a bunch of poor people to collect some money. Fang Shimei felt very useless.

Just as he was thinking about where to go from now on, Fang Shijun came back from doing something. As soon as he entered the door, he muttered: "Brother, tell me everything. Anyway, it's the last birthday here. The wine can be mixed with water, and the food doesn't need to be good."

."

"That's right, we can't go back and forth to apply for compensation."

"Brother, did Zhang Er tell me the name of the new inspector?"

"It was mentioned in the letter, and it was also written in the eldest master's letter," Fang Shimei added two pieces of firewood to the stove, raised his head and said: "The surname is Han, the name is Han Xiufeng, the courtesy name is Zhixing, he is from Ba County, Sichuan, and he was born as a prison student."

"Did you mention what the person named Han looks like?"

"It's mentioned. The body is white, the face is white, and there is no beard. He was born in the 14th year of Daoguang. He is only twenty-two this year."

"You can make up for the vacancy at just twenty-two, and you still have to take the vacancy out of Beijing. Brother, it seems that the man surnamed Han has some background!"

"It's a big deal. Zhang Er said in the letter that Mr. Han is the nephew of the Chief Envoy of Gansu. The Governor of Jiangsu and the Chief Envoy of Jiangning happened to be the same year as the Chief Envoy of Gansu. They took Que out of Beijing with him. This reputation

The master who makes the platform has no choice but to give it."

"Why would he come to steal our jobs if he has such a powerful background? Where will we go when he comes?" Fang Shijun asked with a grimace.

Fang Shimei frowned and said: "I am also worried about this. Zhang Er said in the letter that there are two ways for us, either to stay in Taizhou and wait for the appointment. It is not a bad thing to say that Mr. Han has a good background. There are governors

With the support of the lord and the feudal lord, I may be promoted one day, and as soon as he leaves, I can continue to act as the Marine Security Inspection Department."

"What if he doesn't leave?" Fang Shijun thought for a while and asked, "What about the second way?"

"Go back to Jiangning and wait for the appointment. He said that if there is any errand, he will follow me closely, and if there is a vacancy, he will follow me to take the appointment."

"There are so many people in Jiangning waiting for the appointment. Can you believe Zhang Er's words?"

"So I think it's more reliable to wait for the appointment in Taizhou. The old man is old and he doesn't take care of things much now. Although there will be no shortage of agents in Taizhou for a while, as long as he goes to the state office every day,

There should be indispensable commissions to collect taxes and handle canal and river works, at least they won’t be left in vain like they were in Jiangning before.”

Fang Shijun said helplessly: "That's all we can do. Anyway, I listen to you."
Chapter completed!