Chapter 216: The accomplice is a treacherous minister

Zhao Xing shook his head, saw Cheng Shuang, and sorted out what he needed to explain, saying, "My new appointment will come down around the beginning of February. Now it's been a few months. Have you sorted out your clues?"

Cheng Shuang bowed and bowed: "The teacher has not gone to the ends of the world. What's the big deal? Yangzhou is connected to our waterways. It only takes two or three days to take a boat. The teacher can go home to check it out when he encounters a big vacation. But if I don't understand, just go directly to the teacher. Besides, Chen Zhipo is still here, just ask her if I have anything to do."

The custom of the Song people is that pregnant women do not meet each other, because there are legends that many children are incompatible with each other's fate. In order to avoid accidents, pregnant women do not meet each other. After the news of Cheng Azhu and Chen Yiyi's pregnancy was confirmed, Chen Yiyi moved to the Israelites' village across the river, and Azhu lived in the castle. The two of them agreed on the time for their activities and walked in the castle. They returned to Cheng Azhu in the morning and Yiyi in the afternoon.

Fortunately, this is her second child, while Chen Yiyi is so nervous that she has sent letters to Jiaozhi in succession, calling on friends to take care of her. She never crossed the suspension bridge, for fear of an accident in her child. In this case, if someone wants to find her, she can only cross the river. Because it is too inconvenient, even Zhao Xing has been going fewer recently.

Cheng Shuang looked at Zhao Xing's thoughtful expression and said carefully: "Young Master Chen seems to have arrived in Mingzhou. Yesterday, a quick horse sent a letter saying that Young Master Chen has landed and is unloading the goods..."

Chen Gongchuan was different from Zhao Xing. He was a vassal merchant and could only land in the Maritime Mansion Station, so the ship could not sail directly to Zhao Xing's wharf. Because Chen Gongchuan's goal was too big and Zhao Xing was on the day of promotion, he did not dare to guide Chen Gongchuan into the port like he used to be Sodi, so he could only watch Chen Gongchuan measure his house inch by inch by land.

"Have you informed Yi Yi of this news?"

Cheng Shuang replied: "When Mrs. Chen sent the letter, his brother made an appointment. Yesterday, the express letter from Mingzhou also said: Mr. Chen heard that the West Lake repaired by Mr. Su was very beautiful, and he planned to stay until next summer. After seeing the scenery of the four seasons of the West Lake, he would go back to Dayue to build a few West Lakes. He also said that if it is as beautiful as the legendary one, he planned to build one in each county in Vietnam... It is said that the guy brought more than a hundred painters. He stayed in Mingzhou to recruit painters and describe the beauty of the West Lake..."

"This guy..." Zhao Xing laughed: "Then wait for him to come, we still have time anyway."

Before the winter solstice, Chen Gongchuan rushed to Hangzhou. He mingled in the ranks of scholars in Hangzhou and participated in the commemoration of the Supreme Master. He was very proud of being able to participate in the activities of Su Shi's main sacrifice: "The bachelor leads the main sacrifice, the Qin scholar and the Zhao scholar accompany the sacrifice. Who can enjoy this glory in my country of Great Yue?"

When he said this, Chen Gongchuan stood on the Sudian Dike of West Lake, shaking his folding fan in the winter, looking indescribable: "No, I will erect a monument after I go back to record this grand occasion."

Zhao Xing looked at Chen Gongchuan with a smile and said to himself: Just show off, nothing big... Wait, he just said to Scholar Zhao, was he talking about himself?

"Who is Mr. Zhao? Could it be..." Zhao Xing asked tentatively.

Chen Gongchuan looked at Zhao Xing for a long time and replied, "Are you not a bachelor of Baowen Pavilion?... Haha, are you turning a blind eye to the things outside the window and don't know how famous your reputation is?"

Zhao Xing felt unbelievable: "A rough man like me seems to be no one in the Song Dynasty who does not know how to write poetry than me, and he can be praised by others... It's unreasonable!"

Zhao Xing didn't know that in the first few years he used Su Shi's name to deceive Asia. Goryeo, Japan, and Dayue had never seen Su Shi, but he had seen this Su family disciple who was "bet on poetry and wine". He was very clear about his behavior of not hesitating to go to the sea for Su Shi. Because his behavior was in line with the traditional concept of respecting teachers and teaching. Now, scholars from those three countries have used Zhao Xing to educate their students. Over time, Zhao Xing's reputation gradually became famous.

Later, as his poetry and prose spread in Goryeo, there was Chen Gongchuan in Vietnam. Wang Yuanyu helped him promote it. As for Japan, raising Zhao Xing's image was to raise Yuan Yeping and Ji Shouzhong's image. Therefore, in Japan, whether it is the Kanto Warrior Order or the Ministers, spared no effort to cast Zhao Xing's image. In this case, among the seven Sumen scholars, Zhao Xing wrote the least poems, but his glory overwhelmed the other people...

However, Zhao Xing himself did not have this kind of awareness. Many times, he forgot that he also had a bachelor's title on his head.

After Chen Gongchuan explained all this, Zhao Xing felt shamelessly: "I didn't expect that I could actually be admitted to the Sumen Bachelor... Well, how did they praise me? I would like to listen to it again."

Chen Gongchuan was not giving face, so he shook the folding fan and suddenly said in a daze: "Mr. Su's character is probably not suitable to be an official in the court."

Zhao Xing sighed: "Who said it was not? I advised him. But my master went out of Beijing as the governor of Hangzhou as the fifth-rank official, and now he returned to Beijing as the second-rank minister. This is a great honor for scholars. Do you think, can I persuade him? The master is still thinking about how many ministers are served as ministers and then as prime ministers, and above ten thousand people, learning literature and martial arts are sold to the imperial family. This is the last destination of scholars. As I see, the ladder of the heavens is placed in front of me, who can stand it?"

Chen Gongchuan smiled: "You can bear it."

Zhao Xing picked up a cup of hot tea, covered his face with the tea cup, and said lightly: "I could hold it back in the past, but I probably couldn't hold it back now, because I used to be free from worries, but now I have pursuits and goals."

Chen Gongchuan asked interested: "What is your goal?"

Zhao Xing slowly drank the tea in the cup without answering Chen Gongchuan's words.

Chen Gongchuan paused, looked at the lake and mountains and said with emotion: "What a beautiful scenery, I don't know what kind of beauty it should be in summer? Think about it, I was so excited that I was suffocated."

Zhao Xing remained silent, drinking tea one cup after another.

Chen Gongchuan shook the fan a few times, and didn't even look at Zhao Xing, and said to the lake and mountain scenery: "I went to my sister's fiefdom before leaving. The fiefdom has been well built in recent years - giant cities, continuous steel mills, and various large machines. The steel bars refined are 100 meters... I still saw many strange things there, I don't know what you want to do? The king asked me to tell you: That iron city is your home, you can come back at any time, but I will never do the challenge to the Song Dynasty."

Zhao Xing smiled calmly: "I believe that in Yiyi's territory, the royal tax supervisor did a lot of effort, but he will definitely find out: I'm just doing business, don't be too careful."

Chen Gongchuan laughed hoarsely: "You are the son-in-law of my Chen family. My Chen family is one with you, so I didn't say something to the king - why did you train five hundred musketeers in your territory when you do business... Don't fool me, I know it's a musket. My sister said in a letter that fifty muskets can block tens of thousands of troops. Your five hundred muskets are placed in our Nanyang, which is a force to destroy the country and destroy the clan."

Zhao Xing shook the teacup and replied calmly: "It's good that you know. Because we are a family, they didn't hide it from you, otherwise - do you think you will find those musketeers? But don't worry, this musketeer is just a guardian force. I plan to use it to protect some things and seek national ranks. That's not my interest."

While the two were talking, eight Gurkha warriors were walking around, isolating the pedestrians' approach, and Tyson leaned against a nearby willow tree with his fist in his arms to monitor. Zhao Xing looked around, put down his teacup, and said seriously: "You really think that 500 people can destroy the country and the destruction of the nation. You are wrong. The war is money. A small-scale conflict costs about 20 million. My little money is not enough to spend.

So I have figured it out long ago. If there were 20 million, it would be better to spend that money on happiness in life than to spend so much effort to destroy the country and destroy the clan. If you come to the Song Dynasty, you can spend 20 million free time for the rest of your life, it would be better to have a war. Why bother to start a war? Do you think I am such a crazy person?"

Chen Gongchuan put away the folding fan: "I feel relieved when you say that. In fact, when my father and brothers discussed this matter, Li Yuan once said: Don't look at Zhao Liren's meticulous and sophisticated work, but his nature is just a lazy person and a person who likes to enjoy. If someone arranges the throne and invites him to sit, maybe Zhao Liren will sit. But if he lets him be ragged and build a country by himself... he will definitely find it troublesome, so there is no need to worry."

Zhao Xing laughed: "Those who know me are Li Yuan!"

Chen Gongchuan did not turn around. If he turned around, he would find that although Zhao Xing smiled cheerfully, his eyes were very cold, as cold as the stare emerging from the Nine Nether Abyss.

Chen Gongchuan looked at the scenery for a while and saw the people coming and going to approach Zhao Xing, and recognized the signature. Many people became cautious in their steps, while more people were frightened and turned around and walked around. He opened the fan and slapped the wind and said, "It's boring, why are the people in Hangzhou afraid of you like tigers? I'll go out in the future, don't follow me."

After saying that, Chen Gongchuan left, and Zhao Xing followed behind, feeling aggrieved and crazy: "It's unreasonable. I built roads for the people of Hangzhou, and the wages I paid was very sufficient. I placed 200,000 wing troops, and everyone taught the skills of making a living and letting them live a well-off life. Why are they still so afraid of me? Well, the shops in Hangzhou should not be afraid of me. Although my tax collection methods are a little rigorous, all industries in Hangzhou are prosperous. These people should be grateful to me, why do they all see me like tigers?"

No matter how puzzled Zhao Xing was, time still passed quickly. In the blink of an eye, Hangzhou officials were all dressing up.

In February, Su Shi's appointment was completed. Zhao Xing sent Su Shi's family away. Within two days, his appointment was also completed. Immediately afterwards, the Hangzhou officials moved a large house, and Yang Zuren was transferred to Hebei to serve as the governor. Mao Pang served as the magistrate of the Gaoyou Army, and the rest returned to Beijing.

Hangzhou officials should have left a group of officials waiting to hand over the official seal, but after Qin Guan and others left, the new official had not taken office yet, and Zhao Xing couldn't wait because Liao Xiaoxiao Nian went to Yangzhou and never came back. So after the spring came, he threw the official seal to Mao Pang, who was left behind, and found a fleet himself, and headed towards Yangzhou from the people.

In recent years, as Hangzhou is becoming more and more prosperous, the southern section of the canal has become busy. The number of loach ships transporting cargo has increased by almost ten times, and the loach man who is engaged in loach trampling on the coast has reached more than 100,000 people. In this case, the Grand Canal seems to have a bit of modern flavor. The long loach ships form a fleet and slowly drive in the canal. The bows of these ships are connected to the stern. It is estimated that if you walk on the boat, you can walk from one boat to another, from Hangzhou to Bianliang.

With too many boats, the loach boat can no longer sail at full speed as before. Zhao Xing walked for five days and finally arrived in Yangzhou.

By the time of Emperor Huizong of the Song Dynasty, Yangzhou had 56,485 households and 107,579 households. It was a small town with 100,000 people. However, from the population ratio, it can be seen that each household in Yangzhou was about two, which means that most of Yangzhou were bachelors.

This is a purely commercial city, and most of the people who come and go to the city are workers. Jiangdu County in Yangzhou is the only county under Yangzhou. This county town is also called "Yiguo County", which is generally called "Yiguo". Its county government is not located in the county town, and even officials in the county are appointed, but are also appointed by officials from the city.

Yangzhou is also a hub in the world. This place has both the Transport Department of Huainan East Road and the State-level Office. In addition, a team of Jiangdu County, it can be said that three institutions coexist. Most of the officials in it also hold third-level positions, such as Zhao Xing, who is the recruiting and pacifying envoy of Huainan East Road and the county magistrate of Jiangdu County.

Liao Xiaoxiao received the news early to welcome Zhao Xing on the dock. Now she is finally qualified to be the master of the family and looks very excited. When she saw Zhao Xing, she posted it intimately and whispered: "Mr., I chose a house. You haven't seen it yet. The house is a little small, so I bought all the neighbors. The dock in front of the door can be directly docked by the official boat. Why not take the boat and go directly to the front of our house?"

The pier in Yangzhou is no better than the pier built by Zhao Xing’s home. The pier built by Zhao Xing in Hangzhou has to dock with sea boats, so a large cargo yard is built. Yangzhou pier is mostly docked with some black-sailed boats, so the pier is only a few steps away from the courtyard gate.

This is a city floating on the water. Zhao Xing walked along the steps of his dock to the entrance of the courtyard. Liao Xiaoxiao leaned against him and pointed: "My husband, this house is the house of a retired salt merchant. He earned enough money and went back to the countryside to buy land as a clerk. This house was given to an official. Later, after several changes, I saw that it was exquisite, so I bought it. It was 20,000 yuan, not expensive, right?"

Zhao Xing stuck out his tongue and didn't close his mouth for a long time: "You don't think it's expensive for 20,000 guan. Do you know how much Li Wei spent last year to build the Yellow River, eight thousand guan. This money is enough to build the Yellow River three times."

Liao Xiaoxiao giggled: "I think it's worth it. The officials will know if they go in and take a look..."

Then, Liao Xiaoxiao pointed to several small courtyards next to her and added: "There are five courtyards in this garden, but the courtyards in Yangzhou seem cramped. Although the courtyards are five courtyards, each courtyard is not big. I bought all the houses on both sides and have opened up the courtyard walls. Although these courtyards are small, they are also exquisite. The three gentlemen who come to you can live on both sides and facilitate contact."

Zhao Xing was very curious: "What house is worth 20,000 yuan, go and have a look."

This house looks like a maze. Although each yard is small, every object and scene are full of fine carvings. The Taihu stone layers in the yard reveal a kind of exquisite beauty of artificial carving. The ponds and corridors in the yard look gorgeous, and even the wall tiles are carved with different myths of characters. The only regret is that most houses are made of wooden boards. Because of this building material, the entire courtyard has a unique fire protection path. The long distance makes Zhao Xing feel like he is walking in the modern Suzhou water town.

Liao Xiaoxiao knew that Zhao Xing didn't like living in a wooden house. In the past three months, she has urgently renovated several main houses in the yard with bricks and cement. However, the houses of small civilians have been renovating for three months, let alone such exquisite deep houses everywhere.

When Zhao Xing arrived, the main courtyard was only able to live in. The courtyard walls everywhere were painted pink and white, but Yangzhou was very humid and many walls still had a fresh earthy smell.

Shan E and Wan Qiyong, who were accompanying him, were very satisfied with the living environment. The two chose the courtyard where they lived and hurriedly took their family to clean up. She was single, so she simply chose the smallest courtyard to live alone and took two servants to live in. Since he had no family, he would have dinner at Zhao Xing's house in the future.

After everyone went to settle down, Liao Xiaoxiao snuggled into Zhao Xing's arms and moaned: "Finally... official, this sky is mine. I, Liao Xiaoxiao, bought this house. From now on, you will be the head of this yard. You must treat me well."

Zhao Xing patted Liao Xiaoxiao's buttocks and said, "Have all the officials in Yangzhou investigated? Who is it?"

Liao Xiaoxiao buried her head in Zhao Xing's arms and said in a quiet voice: "I have investigated. The magistrate is Cai Jing and Cai. He also served as the transport envoy of Jiang, Huai, Jing, Zhejiang and other routes (Cao Department). The criminal prison (Xianshi) was named Zhu Jing, and he was the merchant. The (State) was Liu Yu, a Jinshi during the Jiayou period, a Jinshi, a county magistrate Peng Hua, Peng Zijing, and a county magistrate Lu Yue and Lu Xinran. These two were the new Jinshi last year."

Last year was not the year of the imperial examination, but at the end of the year, the young emperor specially rewarded 957 people who failed the imperial examination in previous years to "report the title of Jinshi". This kind of reward was called "special title". It means that the memorial allowed to mark himself as "referred to Jinshi".

Most of the people who can get this treatment were the Jinshi exams for several years, and the old man who got the Ganba exams were not inferior to the bookworms. Basically, after giving them special titles, the lives of these people were almost over. Then the court would reward them with an insignificant little official, so that they could write a note in the genealogy: they had worked hard for the rest of their lives, and finally became officials, and they would be worthy of their ancestors in this life.

Most of these people are biased in their studies, are obscene and despicable, are despicable by nature, and like to be stubborn when doing things. It is really a headache to have such people as subordinates.

But what's even more headache is Cai Jing. I don't know that four years have passed, but Cai Jing still remembers the person who robbed his copybook on the canal...

Cai Jing remembered that when Zhao Xing looked at Cai Jing with a look of nothing, Cai Jing looked at Zhao Xing for a long time and suddenly remembered and shouted: "It turned out to be you, you guy... That's right, I won't forget you guy, this guy, this big guy, it turns out to be you!"

Zhao Xing laughed: "Mr. Cai's handwriting is engraved on my yard. I thought Mr. Zhang Dunzhang had told you a long time ago, but I didn't expect..."

Cai Jing also laughed loudly. He looked around and said, "Do you know that Zhao Liren is a robber. He used to rob my copybook on the canal, but he was quick to do it. Before I could react, he had already escaped and disappeared."

Zhao Xing bowed: "Now, I'll follow Lord Cai every day in the future, so I won't have to worry about not having a robbery."

Everyone laughed endlessly. Many flatterers laughed and praised: "It turns out that the elegant thief on the canal was Zhao Liren, which is interesting and interesting. Lord Cai, you should keep your calligraphy tight and stop letting people get rid of it."

Cai Jing's eyes narrowed into slits, and he patted his thighs and said, "It's just right for Li Ren to come now. Do you know that Su Laopo's renovation of West Lake, dredging of the two rivers, and building the Hangzhou roads were all organized by Lord Zhao. He is anxious to take office at this moment, wouldn't it be right?"

The officials next to him nodded together: "It's just right!" Zhao Xing was puzzled when he heard this. He bowed to Cai Jing: "Mr. Cai has anything to ask me to serve?"

"Of course there is something wrong!" Cai Jing said with a smile: "Do you know Wanhuayuan in Yangzhou?"

Zhao Xing replied: "I heard about the famous name for a long time. I heard that there are all flowers blooming and colorful flowers, which is very fascinating. I will definitely go and see it when I find an opportunity."

Cai Jing smiled and said, "I am planning to hold a 'peony meeting' in April. Several adults are discussing how to raise the peony. When the person leaves, I will leave this matter to you."

Zhao Xing clapped: "That's right."

If anyone likes to play in the Song Dynasty the most, and plays very tasteful and elegantly, then Cai Jing is the first person in the entire Northern Song Dynasty for two hundred years. This guy has a lot of fun, but he has come up with the latest news about the Peony Club just before he took office!

Cai Jing's original official position was in Chengdu. Unexpectedly, his position as commander in Chengdu was not in hot water, and some censors impeached him that he could not be demoted to a large county. So the court transferred Li Zhichun, who was quite prestigious among the Shu people, back to Chengdu and transferred Cai Jing to Haizhou. Unexpectedly, Cai Jing did not hold his position in Haizhou, and Qian Xie was also demoted. The Qian King Sun was busy between Yuezhou and Haizhou, and he was not idle for a moment. Cai Jing took advantage of the situation to seek an official position in Yangzhou.

Cai Jing was a second-rank official. When he arrived in Yangzhou, he not only served as the governor, but also served as the shipping envoy of the four routes including Jiang, Huai, Jing, and Zhejiang. This means that the entire southern wealth of the Song Dynasty was transported to the capital through his hands.

The four-way shipping envoys have a four-point official salary, and Cai Jing’s calligraphy and paintings are hard to find, so this guy lives a very wealthy life, so rich that he has spare money to entertain the "Peony Club" entertainment.

"Li Ren, I heard that you have brought many strange things in Bianliang, vegetables and flowers. Is this peony a lot of novelties? I depend on you." After a conversation, Cai Jing no longer blamed Zhao Xing for his robbery behavior, but his expression was indescribable.

Zhao Xing touched his chin and replied: "I heard that the envoy of Fujiu paid tribute not long ago. I happened to plant a Fujiu flower called "Wild Milk (that is, the scented flowers)". The leaves are like plum leaves, and the flowers are full of glory in all seasons. The flowers are white and do not bear fruit. When the flowers bloom, the fields are fragrant. We added wild Milk to the peony meeting to promote the great name of our emperor and show the magnificent style of the Song Dynasty's nations."

This is a good suggestion, holding a peony meeting can also flatter the emperor. When Zhao Xing said this, Cai Jing felt that the person in front of him was more interested in his appetite. He smiled and said, "I heard that there are constant singing and dancing in Liren's mansion. You also asked Qin Shaoyou and Mao Zheming to compile new songs in the West Chamber. It is said that Liren's own attainment in folk art is extraordinary. The song "When will the bright moon come?", "Farewell" and the song "A pot of turbid wine and meet happily" you sang on the river, are all good."

After a brief pause, Cai Jing said to Zhao Xing cordially, as if he had seen his relatives: "I also heard that your cooks are good at craftsmanship. Most cooks in Bianliang City regard you as respected teachers, right?... I also seemed to have heard that you can get many novel things. Many people in Yangzhou use Mizhou stones as screens, and some people cut the stones squarely, spread them on the ground, and people walk on them, like swimming in a painting, right?"

Zhao Xing bowed: "Mr. Cai, when it comes to these things, I have a good thing for you. Then, this is a 'recruitment knife', made of seal teeth, and a sharp iron bar is inlaid with a blade face to cut a document bag. Oh, if it is used as a 'hand-removing knife', cutting food, as long as the food is not hard, it can be dealt with. What do you think? This is just a plaything thing. If Lord Cai likes it, I will ask someone to send a few more."

Cai Jing held the dagger and gently stroked it like a baby, then sighed regretfully: "In my opinion, the Liren knife is of excellent material, but the carving technique is simply crude, it is really a waste of things."

Zhao Xing widened his eyes and asked, "Mr. Yicai, how should I do it?"

Cai Jing touched the spine of the knife and the handle, with a full face of regret: "The back of this knife should be carved with something, such as the picture of the hundred flowers fighting for beauty, the picture of the hundred sons, the three Yuans and the third grade, etc. If the image of gods and Buddhas is carved with it, and if the monks and Taoists in the temple are consecrated and recited the images of gods and Buddhas, it would be nothing more."

Zhao Xing's mouth closed for a long time, and he stumbled and replied: "Mr. Cai, this knife is not a decoration, it needs to be done. Cutting things, the hilt of the knife, the hilt must be subjected to force. If the pattern is carved or hollowed out, it will hurt the blade body, and it will not be strong and will not be able to survive!"

Cai Jing looked at Zhao Xing with reproach, "I didn't want to carve it in hollowed out. There are so many ways to carve it. Besides, such a valuable thing is used to cut official documents... You are more luxurious than me. Just use a kitchen knife to cut official documents, and you can still use a bone knife?"
Chapter completed!