Among the eight counties in Taicang, Lin'an County is the largest and richest one, with many acres of land, many farmers and many resources. Some people have counted that if the property of Lin'an County is integrated, there is no need for a single merchant in Jingshi City.

Someone once said that instead of being a five-grade official in the capital city all day long, it is better to go to Taicang Eight Counties to mix a good errand, far away, the emperor is too lazy to care, only need to give enough silver, here, is a paradise, in layman's terms, the county order of Taicang Eight Counties, can be regarded as the emperor of the soil, although there is no pursuit, but it doesn't matter, anyway, they are the biggest.

Of course, this is also thanks to the expansion of Jingshi City, which included the eight counties of Taicang, with the name of the capital city and a lot more people, coupled with the policies promulgated by the emperor, it did accelerate the economic development near Taicang Mountain to a large extent. The emperor attaches great importance to performance, and there has been no negative news in Taicang Eight County for many years, so he just let it develop.

The eight counties are headed by Lin'an County, and from a distance, Lin'an County is located right in the center of the eight counties and is tightly surrounded by the remaining seven counties. Now the county order of Lin'an County is often named Laifu, a year of Jinshi, at that time when the emperor was in urgent need of talents, it stands to reason that a Jinshi, at least can be assigned to the six, and may be able to climb to the position of Shangshu in the future, but Chang Laifu chose to go to Lin'an County, which was not rich at that time, and became a seven-grade county order. It really made the scholars of the same period laugh.

But just a few years later, those colleagues who are still standing still began to envy his Chang Laifu, don't look at the latter like them, he is also a seven-rank official, but this seven-rank is not the same as his seven-pin. Today's Taicang Eight Counties are so rich.

Chang Laifu has two out of thirty, and it took five exams to win. After a few years of leisurely life, his body showed his fatness, his round belly swayed and looked quite funny, and his face was full of fat, which looked even more greasy in the skylight. Yesterday, someone from the palace rushed to announce the decree, which was the third time that Taicang Eight Counties had received instructions from the palace in the past five years. The first two times, one was the holy decree that the eight counties of Taicang were included in the Jingshi, and the other was the reform of the agricultural system of the eight counties of Taicang, that is, the household contract responsibility system.

Having said that, in fact, the emperor's arrangement is also reasonable, and the eight counties of Taicang are under the jurisdiction of Jingzhao Yin Mansion. There are a total of thirty-one counties under the jurisdiction of Jingzhao Prefecture, and of course, the eight counties of Taicang were added later.

It is also for this reason that even if Chang Laifu's official rank is the same as Li Xiao, he has to come out to greet him, which is a rule and a human sophistication.

Under the blazing skylight, the officials in the county government of Lin'an County, from the county order to the county officials, and down to the gatekeepers, all stood in rows at the county gate, waiting for the arrival of Li Xiao and others.

"My lord, why didn't you say that Li joined the army yet, it's almost noon." County Chengmei wiped the hot sweat from her forehead, glanced at the officials who were hiding in the shadows to enjoy the coolness, and then said: "Did you say that we heard the wrong day, not today." Why don't you let the brothers go back first. ”

Mei Youqian has dry eyebrows and treacherous eyes, and her two sharp black whiskers seem to be glued together, which is appropriate and inappropriate. There is a black acne on his chin and a small plaster on the corner of his right eye and eyebrows, which looks a little suitable.

Chang Laifu waved his hand, glanced into the distance, frowned, sighed and said: "No, although Jingzhao Mansion is now in decline, it is almost equivalent to existing in name only, we don't have to pay attention to it, but what we are welcoming today is not Jingzhao Mansion, but the newly appointed Sicang joining the army, which is what Yang Gongzi explained." ”

As soon as he heard Yang Gongzi's name, Mei Youqian immediately closed his mouth and stopped talking. But he still had doubts in his heart, why Yang Gongzi would be so concerned about a newly appointed Jingzhao Yin Mansion joining the army. I only dare to think about it, with his status, I can't talk to Yang Gongzi, and among the eight counties in the huge Taicang, only those eight county commanders have this qualification.

Chang Laifu glanced at Mei Youqian, who bowed his head slightly, and loosened the official uniform that was stained with a lot of sweat, and the heavy official uniform made him a little uncomfortable, of course, this is also because he has become fat in recent years, and the official uniform, which is already the largest size, is now a little unwearable. took off the blue and black official hat with a long strip, took the handkerchief handed by the county lieutenant and wiped the sticky sweat from his forehead, and said: "I know what you are thinking, I didn't understand Yang Gongzi's arrangement this time, but I asked someone to check, it is said that the new Jingzhao Mansion Sicang is only sixteen years old when he joined the army. ”

"Sixteen?" Mei Youqian couldn't believe what he heard, this age is neither too old nor too young, and he can also enter the government in Haoguo, but when he enters the office at this age, either the children of the family are favored by the emperor, or they are promoted in the middle. The scientific expedition has not yet begun, unless it is a move from the previous year, but the Ministry of Officials will not carry out official transfers at this juncture.

Seeing Mei Xiancheng bowing his head and thinking, Chang Laifu pretended to be mysterious, got closer, and said, "Guess, what else does this Sicang have when he joins the army?" ”

Mei Youqian shook his head, indicating that he didn't know. The county lieutenant on the side was also at a loss, and approached curiously.

"Little Shixian." Chang Laifu pointed out a sentence, which instantly made the people around him suddenly realize. How could they not know what happened at the birthday banquet the day before yesterday, in just one day, it was spread in Beijing and several cities on the side. A poem sets Liang Chen, a poem is arrogant, and a poem is lonely. All the talents in the world have admiration for the little poet fairy Li Xiao. There are even more talented people who are about to participate in the scientific examination, and they actually worship the so-called portraits of little poets and immortals on the market, and are willing to get some talents so that they can be promoted in the scientific examination.

Taicang Eight County is the closest to Jingshi City, so it is natural to know. The county lieutenant didn't feel anything, but Mei Youqian and Chang Laifu were instantly in awe. Talented people in the literary world can have a glimpse of the style, but it is a good thing that countless talented people can't hope for. It's no wonder that Yang Gongzi will be interested in Li Xiao, and it is estimated that it is because the people above Yang Gongzi have a heart of love.

"By the way, my lord, do you think Your Majesty will have any other intentions in sending people from Jingzhao Mansion this time?" Mei Youqian thought about it for a moment and asked. Taicang Eight County was ignored for a few years, and he suddenly received an order that someone was coming, and he had to think about it more.

Chang Laifu smiled, patted his colleague who had been with him for several years, and said: "Poverty doesn't need to think about it, Your Majesty's holy decree is very clear, it is to let Li Shenjun and others try a new crop in our place - chili pepper, although I don't know what this chili pepper is, but it should also be a nonsense of His Majesty, if Your Majesty really wants to do something to Taicang Eight Counties, how can you wait until now." Besides, if something happens, there are people above to support it, and with such a big interest in Taicang Eight County, the people above will not give up easily. ”

Poor is the word of the county.

Mei Youqian nodded, and there was still a trace of worry on his busy face. It was the years of stability that made him feel uneasy. The development of Taicang Eight Counties is so fast that His Majesty the Emperor will not fail to see such a big piece of gold, but he has not moved for several years, and he always feels like he is holding back something. Now that he specially sent Xiao Shixian over, what did he have in mind?

He frowned and continued, "My lord, you still have to be careful, if something really happens, we can also plan early." Anyway, the things that His Majesty explained will not be carried out soon, so it is better to take advantage of this time to explore the reality of Xiao Li's joining the army. ”

"There is truth to the theory of poverty." Chang Laifu thought for a while, and then said: "It's just going to be a banquet today, it's better to explore at the reception banquet, it's good to be stable for so many years, so as not to die unclear in the future." ”

As they were talking, they saw a blue-gray carriage appear on the official road in front of them, followed by a tall horse.

"It's coming, it's coming." Chang Laifu saw the carriage appear, straightened his clothes, took the official hat in the county lieutenant's hand and took it on, then rubbed his somewhat tired face, squeezed out a smile and walked forward. The officials behind him also followed, standing on both sides, making way for the carriage.

After a while, the carriage stopped steadily, and Zhou Shuyi put down the step stool intimately, but Li Xiao did not step on it, but jumped down at will, glancing at everyone present.

The scenery along the way and Chu Chu's intimate massage made his mood a lot better, and the gloom caused by the appearance of Shi Shifan was not much left at this time. When I am in a good mood, my body is naturally much more relaxed.

"Master Lee." Chang Laifu walked up quickly with a big belly and greeted him with a smile on his face. He looked Li Xiao up and down, and couldn't help but sigh that Xiao Shixian was really extraordinary, not to mention that she was handsome, and she looked like a master who was easy to deal with. It's also because of his young age, compared to those old foxes in the court, there is a lot less threat. People like this are what they like the most, and the fact that there is no threat means that there is no friction for what they are engaged in.

"Lord Chang." Li Xiao returned the salute. Along the way, I read a lot of information about Taicang Eight Counties, and it is much easier to know yourself and your opponent, and it is much easier to do things. He glanced at the officials standing in the shade of the trees on both sides, and smiled: "Lord Chang, who are you?" ”

Chang Laifu glanced back and said with a smile: "Didn't you get the news today that Lord Li was coming, and the county government came out to greet you, after all, you are a member of the Jingzhao Mansion." It's just that I didn't calculate the time when the adults came, no, the officials and the officials were tired of waiting, so I took a rest, and I hope the adults are not strange. ”

Nominally, Jingzhao Yin Mansion has jurisdiction over the eight counties of Taicang, but in fact, Jingzhao Mansion, which exists in name only, can be moved. At this time, if you come to Fu, you are pleading on the surface, but you are actually complaining.

Li Xiao laughed, clenched his fists and arched his hands, and his tone was a little apologetic: "There is something on the road, and it has been delayed for some time, so I hope that Lord Chang is not strange." ”

"How dare you, the army is busy, and the subordinates can understand, but it's just ......" Chang Laifu glanced at the officials with embarrassment and stopped talking.

"It's kind of interesting." Li Xiao smiled slightly, said secretly in his heart, and at the same time put a hand behind him silently.