Cui Huanzhang and Yang Yiqing were only half right, and Cao Shuzhong, the governor of East Sichuan Province, sent someone to invite Du Guangyuan, the prefect of Chongqing, to the Provincial Bureau, but they were not talking about Han Xiufeng, who was about to return to his hometown, but because of a murder case in Hezhou under the rule of Chongqing Prefecture.

There is a father and son named Ju Hai and Ju An who were killed at home, and Rong Yutian, the governor of Hezhou, said that the case had been solved, and said that the murderer was actually the adulterer of the deceased Ju Hai's wife Xiang, and he committed the murder because the adultery was broken. The adulterer's ** has been imprisoned, and the transcript of the case and the official document of the proposed crime have not yet been submitted to the Provincial Affairs Department, and Xiang's maiden niece has already run from Hezhou to Ba County to beat the drum and voice the grievances.

The prefect's yamen, who went first, was coaxed away by the men and the officials because the case was still not reported in Hezhou. As a result, the woman did not give up, and the Runway Department came to help her aunt beat the drum and voice her grievances. In this chaotic world, the death of one or two people is really nothing, but it is not a trivial matter to make such a fuss!

Cao Shuzhong neither accepted nor left it alone, but let the Chongqing prefect Du Guangyuan see the woman, and waited for Du Guangyuan to send the woman called Xiang Chrysanthemum away, and then called Du Guangyuan to the second hall to speak.

"My lord, Xia Guan already knew that Rong Yutian was a confused official, but I didn't expect him to be so confused, and after Xia Guan went back, he ordered him to be retried."

"Keep an eye on him, and give him another month."

"The subordinate obeys."

As the eastern Sichuan Daotai, Cao Shuzhong has to manage so many state capitals, and it is impossible to personally inquire about everything, so he thought about it and advised: "Yang Yixi, Shu tailor and other bandits have made trouble, and even occupied Tongzi County, Jiangjin, Bishan and other counties must not be slackened, especially the various passes close to Tongzi. ”

When he mentioned this, Du Xingyuan was depressed, thinking that Chongqing Prefecture has jurisdiction over so many states and counties, and the really rich one is a Ba County, but the governance office of the Provincial Administration is the same as the governance office of the government in Ba County, and the main hall of Ba County reports directly to the Provincial Department no matter what happens, and even the centigold drawn by the Li Jin Bureau is directly handed over to the Provincial Affairs Department, and the forty percent of the Li Jin Provincial Department left behind is also directly allocated to the Ba County Baojia Bureau, and there is nothing to know about the Yamen.

Now there are traitors in Tongzi who are committing rebellion, and no one knows whether those traitors will run around like the Cantonese bandits, and if they break into the prefectures and counties under the rule of Chongqing Prefecture, and coerce the people like the Cantonese bandits, the consequences will be unimaginable.

It can be said that the prevention of blockage is not only a matter for Jiangjin and Bishan counties, and it is not only for Jiangjin and Bishan counties to pay for it. Ba County is so rich, it can draw more than 100,000 taels a year, so you have to take 20,000 or 30,000 taels out, or order the Ba County Baojia Bureau to send 3,500 tea Yong to the various passes next to Tongzi to fortify.

However, Du Xingyuan could only keep these words in his heart, and he didn't dare to say them in front of the Daotai adults.

Thinking of the militia in Jiangjin and Bishan, not only did they not have enough food, but they didn't even have a few decent weapons, and the hundreds of green battalions who rushed to help Bishan and Jiangjin were even more useless, Du Xingyuan couldn't help but say: "My lord, as far as the lower officials know, those regimental exercises in Bishan and Jiangjin have been reported to Bishan County and Jiangjin County because of the matter of regimental expenses......

Cao Shuzhong didn't think that Yang Yixi, Shu Tailor and others could set off much turmoil, not to mention that this was not a matter of East Sichuan or even Sichuan, and muttered: "It's just to let Bishan County and Jiangjin County prevent blockage, and not let them lead the people out of the province to attack and suppress, not to mention that Tongzi leads to the east of Sichuan and the Communist Party of those roads, as long as you hold a few passes that are easy to defend and difficult to attack." ”

"What your lord said is very true." Du Xingyuan arched his hand, thought about it and asked cautiously: "My lord, what do you think about Han Xiufeng, the former counselor of the General Political Department who was ordered by the emperor to return to his hometown, to help organize the group training?" ”

Cao Shuzhong was stunned for a moment, and immediately reacted: "I was so confused by that Rong Yutian that I almost forgot about it." ”

"Lord Cao, the lower officials think that this matter should have something to do with Yang Yixi, Shu Tailor and other bandits, the emperor must be worried about the safety of my Chongqing Mansion and even the entire eastern Sichuan, so he ordered Han Xiufeng, who should have returned to his hometown to guard the system, to help organize the group training, otherwise he would not have rewarded him at this time from the top belt of the fourth grade, added the title of prefect, and even ordered him to transfer ten civil and military officials from Zhili to return to his hometown together."

"Nine times out of ten, those officials in Guizhou panicked and exaggerated the thief's feelings when they reported it!"

"It's useless to say this now, the emperor has already issued an edict, Han Xiufeng is estimated to be on the way back in the starry night at this time, what will he do when he comes back to this group practice, where will the money and food come from?" Du Xingyuan peeked at Cao Shuzhong, and then said: "He is also a Qincha, and the lower officials don't know whether he will help the lower officials run the group training when the time comes, or whether the lower officials will have to listen to him as long as the group training is involved." ”

Cao Shuzhong felt that this was indeed a headache, and said with a slight frown: "In the past two years, the imperial court has let many registered officials run group exercises, and even sent many officials to return to their hometowns to run group exercises, but most of them are just given a name, and there are really not many civil and military officials like Han Xiufeng who have returned to their hometowns to help organize group exercises. ”

"Xiaguan heard that in the same year as you, Lord Zeng Guofan asked the imperial court to send many civil and military officials, and even several Hanlin officials served under him."

"So it's a little tricky."

Although Cao Shuzhong was the same year as Zeng Guofan, as a local official, he didn't want a minister of regimental training to interfere in local affairs under his rule, just like Luo Bingzhang, the governor of Hunan, but thinking of what Duan Dazhang said about Han Si before, he said helplessly: "It is said that Zeng Guofan's official fortune is prosperous, and he won the first place in the second class in the 23rd year of Daoguang's big examination, and he was promoted to the attendant of the Hanlin Academy." In the twenty-seventh year of Daoguang, he was second-class in the imperial court examination, and he was once again favored, and he was promoted to five levels in a row, and he was exceptionally promoted to the cabinet bachelor and the waiter of the Ministry of Rites, and he was promoted seven times in ten years, and the speed of promotion hit the highest among Han Jinshi.

In fact, Han Xiufeng's official fortunes were just as prosperous, and it took less than four years for him to be promoted from the Jiupin Inspection to the Senate of the Political Envoy of the Zhengwupintong, and to walk on the military aircraft Zhang Jing with the name Zhang Jing. Now he has been rewarded with the title of four pins and the title of prefect, which can be called nine promotions in four years. Not to mention that he also won the title of Yong as a civilian, which was given by the emperor Segu Batulu. ”

Du Xingyuan thought so, and said enviously: "He is really Jane in the emperor's heart, and the holy family Enlong!" ”

"It's not just the Holy Grace Enlong, but also out of the center, before leaving office, he walked extra on the military aircraft Zhangjing, and he could see Prince Gong, Lord Peng and other military ministers every day, it is said that the reason why he was able to transfer from Songjiang Prefecture Haiphong Tongzhi to Tongzhi on the south bank of the Yongding River was Baoju Peng, and the Tongzhi who was transferred from the Tongzhi on the south bank of the Yongding River to the Tongzheng Envoy was protected by Wen Zhongtang and Lord Sushun, and he couldn't be offended."

"Then when he comes back, as long as it involves group training, the subordinate will listen to him."

Thinking that after Han Si came back, if he really had to raise money and food for group training, there was a chance that he would ask for centigold, and the Ba County Lijin Bureau was handled by the guest chiefs of the eight provinces, if the merchants of the eight provinces were complained, it would be difficult for the centigold to be drawn as easily as it is now.

Thinking of the long-haired chaos, the water transportation of the Sichuan River is obstructed, and Kuiguan can't collect a few taels of tax silver, and now the eastern Sichuan Province and even the Chengdu Yamen rely on the gold of Ba County, Cao Shuzhong shook his head: "You can't listen to him in everything, if you really listen to him in everything, what do you want us local officials to do, not to mention that this is not in line with the laws of the imperial court." ”

"What then?" Du Xingyuan asked.

"Isn't he Duan Dazhang's nephew, his father-in-law Duan Jiqing and Duan Dazhang are the same sect, I will go to Jiangbei early tomorrow morning to visit the next Duan Dazhang." Cao Shuzhong thought for a while, and then said: "After you go back, let Xiangqing (Ba County Zhengtang) pay attention to the movements of the post shops such as Zoumagang, and when he comes back, you and Xiangqing will gather some gentry to greet him." Anyway, everything will be said after he returns. ”

"It's okay, then the lower official will retire first."

……

At the same time, Han Xiufeng and his entourage had just entered the boundary of Shanxi along the official road in western Beijing, and had just arrived at Baipingyi in Leping County, Shanxi.

It is only ninety miles from Jingshan Station in Jingjing County to Baiping Station, but these ninety miles have taken three days. This mountain road that has been in disrepair for a long time is not to mention how difficult it is to walk, in the words of Fei Erye: Heavy posts and mountains, facing the abyss, chaotic rocks, people and horses are helpless, and the trouble of pushing the wheel is out of place, and the days are unknown!

The next stop is Pingtan Station in Pingding Prefecture, according to the post guard, it is only fifty miles, in other words, if you get up early in the morning, you can arrive before the sun sets. However, now is not the usual time, not only is it the end of the year, the people in the vicinity are busy with the New Year, the coachman porter is not easy to hire, and the snow is falling heavily, even if you can hire the coachman porter for a day.

Han Xiufeng, Fei Erye, Chen Hu and others were discussing outside while eating and discussing what to do next, Qin'er and Hong'er ate with Gao Yunfeng's wife Hu Shi in the room in the inner courtyard of the post station, and the little girl Lilac sent by Huang Zhongyin sat on the kang and fed the little guy who couldn't eat well.

It was cold and windy outside, and the snow was drifting, and because the kang was burning in the house, everyone felt a little hot instead of cold.

Hong'er took off her padded jacket and put it on the kang, sat down and asked curiously, "Sister-in-law, didn't we hire a coachman and porter, why do we have to hire it again?" ”

Qin'er knew that although she had traveled thousands of miles from Jiangsu to Zhili to marry Chen Hu, she was on a boat at that time, and after arriving in Tianjin, someone picked her up, so she put down the bowl and explained with a smile: "Those coachmen and porters were hired in Zhili before, and they wanted to go back to the New Year in a hurry, and they were not familiar with the roads in Shanxi, so we had to hire them again when we arrived in Shanxi." ”

"Sister-in-law, if you go further, how many times do we have to hire a coachman and porter, and how many times do we have to change cars?"

"Yes, when I took Goudan to reunite with his father in early February, I changed cars more than 20 times along the way."

Gao Yunfeng's wife, Hu Shi, was more concerned about Qin'er's belly, and said with pity: "Qin'er, your body is born when you say you are born, if you don't tell Master Han, let's not rush to the road first, just celebrate the New Year here, wait for the baby in the belly to be born, and wait for the baby to be full moon before leaving." ”

"He planned to find a place to rest a few days ago, so that I could give birth to the baby and then hurry, but we were going back to our hometown for the funeral, and it was not good to delay too long on the road." Qin'er stroked her big belly, thought about it and said: "If you are born on the road, you will be born on the road, as long as you bring the midwife, it shouldn't be fine." ”

"I've changed several midwives since I really came over, and if the midwife who was looking for her in the well outside is going home for the New Year, what if I can't find another midwife here?"

"If you can't find it here, you won't let the midwife in Jingjing go back, and it's a big deal to give her more money."

"It's really not the right time for your old lady to leave and let you suffer such a big crime."

"If you don't talk about that, nothing will happen."

Just when Qin'er said very easily, but in fact she was very worried and scared in her heart, Han Xiufeng had decided to rest here, celebrate the New Year here, and wait for his wife to give birth to the baby in her belly. Second Master Fei and Gao Yunfeng thought so, one asked the post guard to help him find the midwife, and the other asked the post to ask for the nearest mansion report, Chen Hu and the other boys happily discussed what happened this year.

"Fourth master, there must be hunters in the mountains, I'll go out tomorrow to see if I can buy some game."

"Okay, but don't go too far."

"Brother Tiger, if you can't buy it, we can fight it ourselves, and it's not that we don't have guns!" Chen Bu couldn't help but laugh.

Chen Hu fought with Changmao outside Yangzhou City, and later went to Jinghai to fight with Changmao, he knew the importance of guns better than anyone else, and immediately glared at Chen Bupanic: "Fight by yourself, you kid can figure it out, guns are used for war, not for hunting." ”

Chen Bu was startled, and just as he didn't know what to say, Gao Yunfeng suddenly walked over with a newspaper and said: "Fourth master, there are traitors in Tongzi, Guizhou, who have committed chaos and occupied Tongzi County!" ”

Han Xiufeng was taken aback, subconsciously took the newspaper, leaned under the oil lamp and muttered while reading: "Tongzi is next to my hometown, if that group of bandits sneaks into our Sichuan, it will be troublesome." ”

Second Master Fei is originally from Bishan, and he is more worried about the safety of his hometown than Han Xiufeng, and said eagerly: "Zhixing, let me take a look!" ”

"Just a few words, I can't see anything." Han Xiufeng handed the newspaper to Second Master Fei, pondered for a moment and stood up: "Second Master, you always look first, I'll go in and write a few letters." ”

"Fourth master, you say what you want to write, and I'll help you write it." Gao Yunfeng said in a low voice.

"No, I'll write these letters myself."

Who doesn't say that his hometown is good, who doesn't worry about the safety of his hometown, Han Xiufeng didn't dare to delay for a moment, so he walked into Yicheng's office, lit a candle, and borrowed Yicheng's pen, ink, paper, and inkstone to write hard.

Just when Yi Cheng wanted to go back to his room to rest and didn't dare to leave, Han Xiufeng, who had written the letter, opened the door and said, "Brother Yu, I bother you to do me a favor and help me send these letters to the capital as quickly as possible." ”

"Lord Han, this snow is falling, no matter how fast it is, it can't go anywhere."

"Second master, take fifty taels for Brother Yu."

"Lord Han, Xia Guan really didn't mean that."

Han Xiufeng pointed to the letter that had just been sealed on the case, and said meaningfully: "I know you don't mean that, but I can't let you help in vain." ”

Outside is snowing heavily, but this is an important post station on the official road in western Beijing, Yunnan, Guizhou, Sichuan, Shanxi, Shaanxi, and even Gansu, Tibet, Xinjiang and other places will not be passed on because of the snow, Yi Cheng looked at the two ingots of silver that Fei Er Ye had just taken out of the blanket, pretended to be embarrassed and said: "Then the lower official first think of a way, see if you can help your lord send it to the capital quickly." ”

"Please."

……

Back in the inner courtyard, Second Master Fei couldn't help but ask, "Zhixing, who are those letters addressed to?" ”

"Sent to Wen Xiang, Su Jueming, Wu Jianzhang, Xue Huan and Liu Cunhou."

"What are you sending them for?"

"We can't just go back!" Han Xiufeng stood under the eaves and looked at the heavy snow, and said worriedly: "I plan to ask Su Jueming and Wu Jianzhang to help buy two hundred firebird guns and five thousand catties of gunpowder and lead, and ask Xue Huan and Liu Cunhou to arrange some people to send them back quickly." Their hometown is not peaceful, and as Sichuan people, they can't sit idly by. ”

"Send the letter to the capital first, and ask Master Wen to help forward it to Su Jueming and the others?"

"It's the fastest."

Second Master Fei reacted, thought about it, and muttered: "If Xiang Shuai knew, I guess Xiang Shuai would not sit idly by." ”

"There is no need to alarm Xiang Shuai about this, although Tongzi is close to our Bishan, Jiangjin and Ba County, I don't think that bandits can easily capture our hometown. After all, the people of our hometown are fierce, and the terrain is similar to the mountain road we just walked, as long as we hold a few passes, it is not so easy for them to attack our hometown. Han Xiufeng paused, and said helplessly: "But it's not so easy for the imperial court to quell the chaos, because that group of bandits is also dangerous. ”

Thinking of the road in his hometown, Second Master Fei felt that Han Xiufeng's words had some truth, but after thinking about it, he couldn't help but ask: "Zhixing, it costs a lot of silver to buy so many foreign guns and gunpowder lead, do Su Jueming, Xue Huan, and Liu Cunhou have so much silver?" ”

"I didn't plan to let Su Jueming and them pad, but first give Wu Jianzhang credit, and then give him money when the guns and gunpowder and lead are transported to Ba County."

"You're out of your own pocket?"

"I don't need to pay this money, the emperor asked me to go back to my hometown to help with the group exercise, but can I go back to do this group exercise? As long as I can get guns and gunpowder drills on credit, as long as I can transport those guns and gunpowder lead to Ba County, then I can sell guns and gunpowder lead to the Baojia Bureau, which can not only ensure the safety of my hometown fathers and elders, but also make more or less money so that Chen Hu and them don't worry about their livelihood in the next few years, why not! ”

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