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In the afternoon, Liu Jing, under the escort of more than a dozen personal soldiers, came to Fancheng on the other side of Xiangyang. Compared with a few months ago, the changes in Fancheng were quite obvious. The population gradually returned. The population at the end of the war quickly increased to 100,000. Although it was difficult to restore to the 200,000 population at its peak, it was very different from the desolate and deserted time.

Fancheng is positioned as the affiliated city of Xiangyang, which concentrates 90% of the commerce of Xiangyang City. It is a window for Jingzhou to trade with the Central Plains. A large amount of materials traveled from south to north, and the business was prosperous, and gradually restored its former prosperity.

Liu Jing came to Fancheng today not to inspect. He sat in a carriage and did not show up. He entered Fancheng in a low-key manner without attracting anyone's attention.

Liu Jing came to Fancheng to worship Tao Lie. The hometown leader Tao Lie passed away two months ago, which caused the Tao family to fall into a low point during this period. The Tao family has been busy with funerals for two months, and has only gradually returned to normal recently, including Tao Zhan, who has also come out of grief.

This is also the difference between ancient and modern times. Perhaps because people do not live long and children are prone to premature death. The ancients took birth, old age, sickness and death more indifferently. After the elders passed away, they would not be immersed in grief for a long time. The ancients re-sacrificed the ceremony. The sacrifices several times a year were their nostalgia for their relatives in another world.

The Tao business in Fancheng is also the center of the Tao family in Jingzhou. The Tao family naturally followed the power center, moving from Chaisang to Wuchang, and from Wuchang to Xiangyang. Although Liu Jing did not want the Tao family to be too strong, the Tao family is still the largest merchant in the south and even the world.

However, the Tao family is very low-key now, strictly restricting the Tao family from being open-minded, and their business is also scattered everywhere. It is no longer just buying and selling goods, making money and making a difference. It has begun to invest in taverns, shops, hostels, brothels. Moreover, the Tao family gave up a large number of ordinary businesses such as cloth, livestock, daily necessities, and groceries, and only does grain, salt, iron and freight business. In this way, they cannot feel the scale of the Tao family, and the Tao family gradually faded out of people's sight.

At the same time, Tao Zheng was promoted to the governor of Qichun, Tao Zhan's other uncle Tao Yun was appointed as the magistrate of Chaisang County, and five other brothers of the Tao family studied in Jingzhou Academy, which gradually led to the transformation from business to politics.

Liu Jing's carriage stopped in front of the Tao Trading Company. At this time, Tao Li had already been waiting in front of the gate. He hurried forward and smiled: "I heard that the army came over last night, so I wondered if the provincial governor had returned. I didn't expect that the provincial governor would come to the Tao family today. The Tao family is so honored that it is full of glory."

"Okay, OK, Uncle Second, don't be so polite."

Liu Jing got off the carriage and smiled and said, "It's all my family, so what's the honor? I came here as a private person and it has nothing to do with business, so don't think too much."

Tao Li also smiled. He was easy-going and had a good relationship with Liu Jing. He glanced at the carriage again and said strangely: "Didn't Zhan'er come together?"

"I didn't tell her that she was coming to Tao Mansion. It was my temporary decision. Today I came to pay special homage to my grandfather. I would like to discuss some other things with my second uncle."

Liu Jing knew that his father-in-law Tao Sheng was in Wuchang to organize his grandfather's funeral. Before he came back, the Tao family's brothers basically went to Wuchang. Only the second uncle stayed in Fancheng. He followed Tao Li to the sacrificial shed in the outer courtyard, changed into the sanctuary clothes, and walked into the shed.

There was Tao Lie's spiritual position in the sacrificial shed, mainly to facilitate the sacrifice of relatives and friends in Xiangyang. For two months, people came to sacrifice for a long time. It was not until these few days that they gradually calmed down. Liu Jing presented an incense stick and knelt down in front of Tao Lie's spiritual position. Thinking of Tao Lie's past kindness to him, he felt quite sad.

"May grandfather rest in the heavenly spirit, and Liu Jing will protect the Tao family as always."

He kowtowed heavily, burned a few more strings of paper money, then stood up, Taoli stepped forward and said, "Please come with me."

Liu Jing nodded, took off his mourning clothes and followed Taoli to the inner hall.

The two sat down in the inner hall, and Taoli said sadly: "My father passed away in his sleep and walked calmly. Moreover, he had arranged for his future generations and had no regrets or concerns. My elder brother also made many major decisions under the instruction of his father."

"I know"

Liu Jing smiled and said, "The Tao family supports Jingzhou Academy 50 million yuan every year, and also invests 50 million yuan to support Jingzhou officials. It is very visionary."

Tao Li also sighed, "The governor of the state called on Jingzhou to advocate simplicity, and the Tao family responded to it. They restricted their family members strictly, and were not allowed to be extravagant and wasteful, were not allowed to visit prostitutes and fight for wealth, and were not allowed to show off their prominence. Once they violated, they would be severely punished and refused to lend money. The Tao family also had to change from a business to aristocratic family. Money was just a means of transformation."

"Uncle Er said it very well. I have no prejudice against merchants. Merchants can enrich the country and improve people's livelihood. As long as the Tao family remembers the four words "low-key and humble", they will not attract jealousy and will not be killed."

Taoli nodded silently, "I remember."

At this time, Liu Jing changed the topic and said with a smile: "I came to the Tao family today. In addition to worshiping my grandfather, there is another thing I want to ask the Tao family for help."

"The governor of the state, but it's okay, the Tao family will definitely do their best."

Liu Jing pondered for a moment and said, "I hope the Tao family will use a hidden identity to open a tavern in various counties in Jiaozhou to collect information about Jiaozhou for a long time. There is no need for any confidentiality, just ordinary information, such as Jiaozhou office, Chineseization, land reclamation, farming, etc. In short, I want to know Liu Bei's governance in Jiaozhou. Does the second uncle understand what I mean?"

"I know"

Tao Li smiled and said, "The governor of the state is not trying to attack Jiaozhou, but wants to understand the changes in Jiaozhou in various aspects. There are a few managers in the Tao family business who are from Jiaozhou. I can ask them to return to Jiaozhou to take root. I will write a letter to Wuchang later and ask my elder brother to arrange this matter."

Liu Jing nodded. With such a relative who works for him, many things are much easier to do.

Liu Jing had a lot of things. After only half an hour at the Tao Trading Company, he left Fancheng and returned to Xiangyang. His carriage had just arrived at the Fancheng Wharf, but he found that there were many soldiers on the wharf, including Cao's soldiers and Jingzhou soldiers. This made Liu Jing slightly stunned. What's going on

He immediately asked a personal soldier to inquire about the situation. Soon, the personal soldier hurried over with an official. It turned out to be Ma Liang. Ma Liang is currently engaged in Jingzhou and also serves as the lieutenant of the military farm in Jingbei. He is responsible for the military camp north of the Han River.

Liu Jing opened the curtain and smiled and said, "Ji Chang, what happened?"

Ma Liang stepped forward and bowed and said, "Qi Bingzhou Governor, it is the messenger of Yedu.

"Who is it?" Liu Jing asked again. The arrival of the envoy of Yedu was as expected. He seized Yizhou and Hanzhong. It would be strange if Cao Cao had no movement.

"Two people came, one was an eunuch who proclaimed the eunuch, and the other was Cao Cao's Cao Zhi."

It turned out that Cao Zhi was here, and Liu Jing suddenly became interested. Although Cao Zhi also participated in the Battle of Red Cliff, he had never seen this famous Jian'an talent in history. Liu Jing smiled and said, "Please come and see me."

Soon, a eunuch rushed over, looking white and fat, with a handsome face. Liu Jing immediately recognized him. Isn’t this a mi eunuch who came to Xiangyang at the beginning of the year?

Liu Jing smiled and said, "Eunuch Mi, we are meeting again."

The eunuch Mi was named Mi Ying, who was white and fat, so he had another nickname in the palace called Mi Chong. He was the eunuch most favored by Emperor Liu Xie. At the beginning of the year, he was ordered to supervise the sacrifices in Jingzhou, but in fact he was conveying the message for Liu Xie.

Mi Ying smiled flatteringly and stepped forward to salute respectfully and said: "I am hereby the emperor's order to enthrone the governor of the state as Duke of Chu, and congratulate the governor of the state."

Liu Jing nodded, "Thank you for your hard work in Eunuch Mi."

The title was promoted to his expectations, and the title was promoted from Chu Hou to Duke, but he did not know whether his position had been added to the governor of Yizhou. This was the question that Liu Jing was most concerned about. He was not in a hurry to ask about this, but his eyes were on the young duke behind Mi Ying, that was Cao Zhi.

Cao Zhi was about twenty years old, tall and handsome. He wore a brocade white robe, a jade belt, and a golden crown on his head. He looked outstanding and made people forget the world. He was Cao Cao's favorite son. It was rumored that Cao Cao even wanted to pass on his robe to him, not Cao Pi.

Cao Zhi walked up to him calmly and bowed: "Cao Jian meets with the governor of the state."

Liu Jing nodded and asked, "May I ask Zhigong, let me be safe."

"Thank you for your concern for the minister. My father is healthy and he is also very concerned about the minister. I am especially orderly to send a handwritten letter to the minister."

After saying that, he took out Cao Cao's handwritten letter from his arms and presented it to Liu Jing. Liu Jing took it and smiled and said, "Let's go back to Xiangyang first, you two rest first, and then let's talk about the main things slowly."

He instructed Ma Liang, "Ji Changke sent them to the VIP hotel and let the director serve him well."

"Don't worry, the governor of the state, the Wei minister will make arrangements."

Liu Jing kept watching them go away, then put down the curtain of the car, picked up Cao Cao's letter, opened it and looked carefully. The tone of the letter was very polite, just to greet him and his family for their health, congratulations on his wealth, and said that he was getting older and his health and energy were not as good as before, so he could not come to congratulate him in person on his promotion to Duke. He sent Erzhi to congratulate Liu Jing on his behalf.

Both the tone and tone are very sincere, just as if two old friends were talking about their separation, but the actual things were not mentioned. Liu Jing pondered for a moment and ordered the personal soldiers outside the car to say, "Go to the residence of Junshi Jia."

Jia Xu was a little sick these two days, so he didn't come to the prefecture yard today. Jia Xu is over 60 years old and pays special attention to health care. Due to the hot weather, he tried to stay in the house to read books. At this time, his Jia visit hurried into the courtyard and reported in the courtyard: "Father, Liu Zhoumu is here."

Jia Xu had two children, who were originally officials from other places. After Liu Jing brought Jia Xu's family to Jingzhou, he sent someone to notify his two children. Both of them abandoned their official positions and fled to Jiangxia. Jia Mu is currently the governor of Guiyang County. Jia Xu sent Jia Wen to Jingzhou Academy for further studies. Today he happened to be at home.

Jia Xu heard that Liu Jing was coming, so he put down the book and said with a smile: "You are the governor of the state for your father to come to my study room."

Jia Wen hurried away, Jia Xu also put on his hat and came to the gate of the courtyard to greet Liu Jing. From a distance, he saw Liu Jing walking quickly. Jia Xu gave a deep bow, "The old minister will meet the lord."

Liu Jing replied with a smile: "I heard that the military advisor is sick, so I came to visit him. By the way, there is one thing I need to discuss with the military advisor."
Chapter completed!