Ji Yunfei, Ao Tongchen and others saw that Wen Xiang had something to talk to Han Xiufeng, so after finishing their drinks, they stood up and left one after another. After all, Han Xiufeng had already returned and planned to stay in the guild hall for three to five days, so there was plenty of opportunity to reminisce about old times.

Zhuzi, Yu Tiesuo, Guan Xiaohu and others were unwilling to leave. They saw Han Xiufeng sitting in the flower hall talking to Wen Xiang, Wang Naizeng and Liu Shanyang. Chongen and Datou actually stood outside the flower hall and did not allow others to approach. They could only squeeze in the concierge and wait.

Wen Xiang felt very uncomfortable when he learned that the emperor would not let him take care of "Houyi Hall" anymore. He was lost and didn't know what to say. Han Xiufeng actually laughed and said: "Brother Bochuan, the implication of the emperor's words is very clear, you are not allowed to

If you continue to interfere with the affairs of the book store, I don't think you are incompetent, but I think it is too incompetent for you to do those errands anymore. I ordered me to take over quickly and let you stay out of the matter quickly, so I don't mean to protect you."

"Protect me?"

"The situation is stronger than the person. The thing you are most worried about will eventually happen, and you have to face it whether you like it or not. If you stay in the 'Houyi Hall' any longer, those princes and ministers who know the inside story will most likely push you out.

, let you go negotiate with Xiyi. No matter it is war or peace, brother, you will be responsible for it."

Han Xiufeng smiled and continued: "The reason why the emperor approved my request and ordered you to take over the 'Houyi Hall' was because he wanted you to experience it. You have been practicing for nearly two years now.

It would be too unworthy to let you continue to be a big shopkeeper who is no different from a scout leader, and it would be even more uneconomical to involve you because of this."

Wen Xiang was doubtful and said with a sad face: "Zhixing, you think too highly of me. The emperor doesn't even want to see me, so how could he think so highly of me as you said?"

"Brother Bochuan, you are a fan of the authorities," Han Xiufeng explained patiently while inviting everyone to drink tea: "How many veterans have left in the past few years, first Du Zhongtang, then Zhuo Zhongtang. They were sent out to suppress thieves and quell the chaos.

The same is true for the imperial ministers and governors, Wu Wenrong, Qi Shan, Xiang Rong... It can be said that the imperial court has been busy discussing pity in recent years.

If there is no one available, can the emperor reward Ne'er Sutra from the top of the sixth rank to serve in Zhili? If there is no one available, can the emperor order Saishan'a to go to Chahar to train troops? If there is no one available, the emperor can order

Mu Yin, Du Han has entered the Zhili Military Aircraft Department? Wen Zhongtang is ill, and Peng Zhongtang is not only old but also a Han Chinese, so the emperor must take precautions and take a long-term approach!"

"But……"

"Don't worry, let's make a bet. You can only serve as Taipusi Shaoqing for one year at most. If you are not entrusted with an important task after one year, I will write the Korean character upside down."

Wen Xiang didn't dare to think that far, but said eagerly: "Zhixing, what will you do if I leave?"

"I'll be fine," Han Xiufeng said with a bitter smile as he looked at him hesitant to speak, "foreigners are not fools. They have been fooled for more than ten years, and now they don't believe Ye Mingchen, the five-port trade minister and governor of Guangdong and Guangxi.

, and they no longer trust Yiliang, the governor of Liangjiang, nor Guiliang, the governor of Zhili. Even if the emperor orders me to negotiate, they will not talk to me, a young minister from Taipusi who came from a donor family."

"As if they wanted to talk to me."

"If you really go, they will still think that you can't make the decision, but at least they will see you and at least talk to you." Han Xiufeng thought for a while and then said: "Besides war or peace, there is also

You can delay! You have reported the matter in Guangdong a long time ago. Why has the imperial court not issued an order until today? In fact, it is delaying!"

"But can this kind of thing be delayed?"

"It's only one day that we can wait for the report from Guangdong. If Ye Mingchen starts talking nonsense again and says that the Western Barbarians are nothing to worry about, some people will believe it. Even those who know the inside story will take it as truth. After all, for the imperial court, nothing else

There is no better way."

"What if the foreigners send troops north?"

"Then we have to wait until the foreigners come." Han Xiufeng stared at him closely and said: "Brother Bochuan, remember I told you back then, in the eyes of others, black is black and white is white, but our friendship

You can't be like this, in fact, it's not like this when you are an official. So no matter what happens, you have to think about how to protect yourself first. If you get involved in it when your head is hot, everything you have done before will be in vain.

Already."

Wen Xiang also realized that he had been too straightforward before, and after a moment of silence he said helplessly: "Zhixing, in fact, we didn't just report the worries and didn't think about how to share the worries for the court. Why don't I ask Wen Zhongtang to recommend you to Guangdong?"

Same tide."

"Brother Bochuan, you think too highly of me."

Han Xiufeng put down his cup and sighed softly: "I know you want me to go to Guangdong to show my talents, but have you ever thought that even if the Chaoqiao salt tax is not taken away by Ye Mingchen to quell the chaos, I, Han Xiufeng, will be able to use that little tax money

How many soldiers can you train and how many can you buy?

Foreign guns and cannons? Once the Western barbarians attack us, it will be a national war. Can Chaoshan alone stop the foreigners? Even if we are lucky and can withstand the troops on the shore, is it possible that I, Han Xiufeng, can stop them from coming from the sea?

The North invades Zhili?"

Wen Xiang reacted suddenly and murmured: "I didn't think so much at that time. I just thought that being prepared is better than not being prepared."

"Brother Bochuan, if you are the governor of Guangdong and Guangxi or the governor of Guangzhou who is responsible for guarding the territory, you can think so, but you are not!" Han Xiufeng looked at Wen Xiang, then looked back at Wang Naizeng, and said meaningfully: "You and I may speak lightly.

, Although our 'Houyi Hall' is a small yamen that is not within the economic system, we are not only in the center but can even reach the sky. We should stand higher and see more comprehensively and further."

"What your Excellency said is absolutely true," Wang Naizeng said hurriedly.

Wen Xiang finally realized that the previous errand had been messed up, and where exactly it had been messed up. He stood up and saluted sincerely, saying "I'll teach you."

With Wang Naizeng here, there is nothing to hand over regarding the "Houyi Hall".

Thinking that he would have to go to the palace early tomorrow morning to celebrate the completion of the compilation of the late emperor's hadith records, Han Xiufeng suggested that he go back early to rest and talk again when he had time another day.

Liu Shanyang was secretly frightened when he heard this. He had long known that Han Xiufeng was in the heart of the emperor and was favored by the holy family, but he did not expect that Han Xiufeng had done so many things silently. He could reach heaven to listen to him before, and he could do it at any time in the future.

Hand out a sign and beg for an audience.

Just as he was putting Wen Xiang on the carriage with everyone and was about to accompany Han Xiufeng back to the inner courtyard, Han Xiufeng suddenly said: "Yunqing, we can't delay business, so you should go back early. Shizhen, you and Brother Yunqing

Let’s go together.”

"Should I go too?" Liu Shanyang asked subconsciously.

"You are my secret friend. If you don't hurry up and read the official documents and get familiar with the official business, how can you help me draft memorials in the future?"

Thinking that anyone who can enter the "Houyi Hall" can get an official position, and the person next to him is from a juren background, Wang Naizeng couldn't help but cup his hands and said: "Brother Shizhen, congratulations."

"Brother Yunqing, what are you talking about? Why is Shanyang so happy?"

"Brother, you will know when you go there."

…

Just as Enjun and Wang Naizeng accompanied Liu Shanyang to leave, Datou, Zhuzhu and others followed into the flower hall.

Datou, who didn't say anything all night, said eagerly as soon as he sat down: "Fourth brother, when are you going back? Cuihua is chasing me every day asking, insisting that I give accurate information so that she can arrange food."

"Fourth brother, Yaomei'er has been pestering me these days to ask questions! When you have free time, she plans to bring the baby for you to see, saying that the baby has never seen his uncle until now." Zhuzi couldn't bear it either.

He smiled.

Seeing that Yu Tiesuo and Guan Xiaohu were hesitant to speak, Han Xiufeng said with a smile: "Let them bring the children to the club tomorrow. I will ask shopkeeper Chu to help set up a few tables of food and drinks. By the way, I have to prepare them for the children later.

Order red envelopes."

"Okay, I'll send them here early tomorrow morning!"

Reunited after a long absence, a bunch of brats started asking about things in their hometown.

Han Xiufeng chatted with them for a while, thinking that it was already very late, and they had to work on errands tomorrow, and was about to send them back when Zhuzi said with an embarrassed look: "Fourth brother, there is something I want to discuss with you.

I don’t know if we can discuss it or not?”

"What is it? Is it okay?"

"I am now working as an errand in the Infantry Army Yamen. Several of my superiors treat me well. I can't say that the errands are not smooth. I can make some money, so I don't have much hope."

"No hope?" Han Xiufeng asked puzzledly.

"Fourth brother, others don't know about the Infantry Commander's Yamen, but you know it. Although it is higher than the Wucheng Army and Horse Division, it is still an Yamen with the banner camp as the mainstay and the Han camp as the supplement. A capable person like me can't do it.

Mr. Qian, our work has almost come to an end. Besides, I, Mr. Qian, are only in name only. Not only do I have few soldiers under my command, I don’t even have flood areas."

"Then what are you usually busy with?"

"As an assistant to the Infantry Military Academy who specializes in catching thieves, let me go wherever there is a case. If the case is solved and the thief is caught, the credit belongs to him and the reward belongs to him as well. No matter how you say it, I am still a Qianzong, but even

Those soldiers under his command are inferior!"

The infantry commander led the Yamen chief to arrest thieves and thieves, maintain public order, and divide the troops into two groups, Han and Han.

The official responsible for catching thieves in the Manchu camp was the fifth-rank infantry school, which had jurisdiction over more than 300 officers and soldiers, including the sixth-rank commissioned infantry school, including 168 Manchus and 64 Mongolian and Han troops. Zhuzhu

Because he was transferred because he knew how to handle cases, he could only help out. No matter how many major cases he solved or how many burglars he captured, he could not get promoted.

Han Xiufeng reacted: "Then do you want to be transferred back to Nanying, or do you have other plans?"

Zhu Zhu looked back at Datou and said with an embarrassed look: "Fourth brother, the errand work of the Five Cities Army and Horses Division is similar to that of the Infantry Commander's Yamen. I would like to donate my official position and work as an errand in the Five Cities Army and Horses Division. Do you think it's okay?

.”

Han Xiufeng pondered: "Being a civil servant was not that easy in the past, but it is different now. You have handled several major cases, and the commanders of the Five Cities Military and Horse Division should have heard about it..."

"What have you heard? We often meet and interact with each other. Yesterday, Mr. Yang from the Nancheng Army and Horses Division raided a den of thieves with me."

"But now that you are President Qian, if you really want to go to the Military and Horse Department as a servant or a clerk in the Military and Horse Department, you will become a low-ranking official from the ninth rank."

"Although an official is only from the ninth rank, he is still a civil official after all!"

Han Xiufeng realized that he thought he had no future as a military attache, so he couldn't help laughing and said: "The Military and Horse Department of the Five Cities is under the control of the Procuratorate of the Five Cities. Wu Fuxiang happened to have been the censor of the inspection. He and the Criminal Division who are currently inspecting Zhongcheng are under the control of Zhongfeng.

Bao happens to be a colleague, so it shouldn't be difficult to ask him to help with this matter."

"Fourth brother, that's what I think." Zhu Zhu grinned.

"Okay, since you have thought about it, I will help you talk to him tomorrow and the day after tomorrow." Han Xiufeng smiled and asked: "Tiezhuo, Xiaohu, how many of you are there?"

Yu Tiesuo didn't have so many ideas. He thought it was good now, so he quickly said: "Fourth brother, I don't know a few words. I can't be a civil servant."

Guan Xiaohu scratched his neck and said with an embarrassed look: "Fourth brother, I... I miss my father and my mother. I want to go back to my hometown but I am worried that I will not have any errands after I go back."

"Yuanbao, what about you?"
To be continued...