Duan Jiqing only estimated half of the right this time, although the capital to Jiangning is much closer than to Ba County, but the Beijing-Hangzhou Canal was silted up because of the Yellow River burst, Han Xiufeng's master and servant four people could only change mule carts after entering Shandong, until they entered Qingjiangpu in Jiangsu before changing boats again, and after arriving in Yangzhou, they changed boats again, and this journey took 42 days.

Not only did he delay a lot of time on the road, but he finally arrived in Jiangning, found an inn to live in on the edge of the Jiangnan Gongyuan next to the Qinhuai River, changed into an official uniform and took the letter of Lord Duan Xingchong to find the Yamen of the Political Division, only to know that Lord Qi Suzao Qi was not in Jiangning, and he went to Jiangbei to supervise the relief work a few months ago.

Seeing that there was no way to see anyone, Han Xiufeng could only hand over Master Duan's letter to Menzi and return to the inn dejectedly.

Pan Er didn't expect this to be the result, and said in a low voice: "Fourth brother, Jiangning City is on the edge of the river, since Lord Qi is in Jiangbei for disaster relief, why don't we simply hire a boat to cross the river to find Lord Qi?" ”

"Cross the river to find it, where to find it?"

"Go to Jiangbei to find it, it's not far."

"Do you think this Jiangbei is similar to the Jiangbei Hall in our hometown?" Han Xiufeng asked rhetorically and explained: "What about this Jiangbei Division, the full name of the Jiangning Domain Division is Jiangnan, Jianghuai, Yang, Xu Haitong and other places to announce the political envoys, Xuzhou, Huai'an, Yangzhou, Haizhou, Tongzhou, these state capitals north of the Yangtze River and south of Shandong are all Jiangbei, and even the disciples don't know where Lord Qi is, where to find us who are not familiar with the place." ”

Yu Youfu raised his head and said, "Fourth baby, don't worry, did the people from the Fantai Yamen say when Lord Qi will come back?" ”

"I asked, and people don't know." Han Xiufeng touched his face and said helplessly: "The disciple of the Fantai Yamen said that Lord Qi has been gone for several months, and he was ordered to go to Jiangbei to supervise the relief work, there are floods in so many states and counties in Jiangbei, and now it is winter again, if this errand is not done well, so many people who are waiting to be fed will rebel, and the flood will become a bandit, I estimate that Lord Qi will not be able to come back for a while." ”

Pan Er said with a bitter face: "I knew that this would happen, it is better to wait in the capital for a few days, it is better to come with Lord Guo!" ”

Han Xiufeng thought for a while, got up and said: "Master Guo said that he may not leave until the end of the New Year, we can't wait here, you guys rest first, I'll go to the Yamen to see if I can find Zhou Xingyuan." ”

"Looking for the Bronze King?" Yu Youfu asked subconsciously.

"If you don't look for him now, who else can you find, you can't spend the New Year in Jiangning."

"Four babies, I know you and him...... What is it to talk to him, but even if we can find him, can he help us? ”

"If you can help, you have to find him, that's it, you can go out if you want to, but don't go far."

"Fourth brother, I'll go with you." Pan Er hurriedly said.

"Alright, let's go together." Han Xiufeng was not very worried about the big head, and advised: "Uncle Yu, you keep an eye on the big head, don't let him make trouble here." ”

"I know, with me, he doesn't dare to make trouble."

……

The reason why I live on the edge of the Qinhuai River is because it is close to the Yamen of the Jiangning Political Division.

I thought that the yamen of the governor of Liangjiang should also be nearby, but I didn't expect the guy who stayed at the inn to ask, and I knew that the yamen of the governor of Liangjiang was five or six miles away from the tribute courtyard. Han Xiufeng was reluctant to even have a car, let alone hire a sedan chair, so he inquired while walking, and walked for nearly half an hour before arriving at the West Gate of the Governor's Yamen.

When he arrived at the place, Han Xiufeng suddenly regretted it, thinking that he should change his clothes before coming, but fortunately, he didn't come alone.

"Changsheng, it's inconvenient for me to wear this body to inquire, you can help me ask."

"You don't usually wear this official uniform, it looks like a new one, why is it inconvenient?" Pan Er asked puzzled.

Han Xiufeng looked at Yuanmen, pulled him into the corner and said, "If I wear this outfit to inquire, people will definitely ask me where I came from and what I came to do with Zhou Xingyuan." If they know that I am here to pay off my official certificate and that I have come to Jiangsu to take office, this matter will not be easy to do. ”

Thinking that the officials were all masters who recognized silver and did not recognize people, and it was estimated that it was similar here, Pan Er suddenly reacted: "I know, fourth brother, you are waiting here, I'll ask." ”

"There's a teahouse over there, I'll wait in the teahouse."

"Okay, I'm over."

Jiangnan is also considered Jiangnan, I thought that Jiangning's winter should be warmer than the capital, but when I came, I realized that Jiangning was colder than the capital, Pan Er took his hands, put on the padded jacket on his body, walked quickly to the gate and smiled: "This big brother, please have something, I want to inquire about someone." ”

The stiff servant who was freezing looked at him, rubbed his hands and asked, "Do you know what kind of place this is, and ask about someone!" ”

"Yes, I know what this place is." Pan Er hurriedly took out a handful of copper coins, handed them over and said with a smile: "This eldest brother, I came to find my cousin, and my cousin is in it on an errand." The family is a little anxious, otherwise I would not have traveled thousands of miles to Jiangning in the cold winter, so please help me report it. ”

It's different if you give money, the official took the money and stuffed it into his arms, looked at him with a smile and asked, "What's your cousin's surname and name?" ”

"My cousin's surname is Zhou, his name is Zhou Xingyuan, he was born as a magistrate, and he is now a friend of the master of Taiwan."

"You're here to find Mr. Zhou, who is your cousin?"

"It's not fake, it's really fake, I don't believe it, you can help me report it, and you'll know if it's when my cousin comes out."

"What's your last name and what's your name?"

"I ...... My surname is Han, my name is Han Xiufeng, and I am the fourth oldest in the family, and my cousin knows Han Si when you say it. ”

The official didn't dare to offend the master of the master, so he hurriedly said: "Looking for Mr. Zhou, why didn't you say it earlier, wait here, I'll go in and help you report." ”

"Okay, thanks."

Pan Er put his hands in his sleeves, and waited at the gate for about half a pillar of incense, Zhou Xingyuan really came out with the servants, and saw that it was not Han Si who was guarding the door, and was about to ask, Pan Er hurriedly said: "Master Zhou, I can see you, the little one is Pan Er, don't you remember the little one?" ”

"Aren't you surnamed Han?" The officer's face immediately changed.

"It's okay." Zhou Xingyuan recognized Pan Er, and while motioning for the official to go back, he asked with a smile: "Pan Er, why did you come to Jiangning, where is your young master?" ”

"My young master is over there." Pan Er pointed to the teahouse diagonally opposite, and said with a smile: "Master Zhou, you didn't expect my young master to come to Jiangning, we just arrived in the morning." ”

"I didn't expect it, I really didn't expect it, it's really a foreign acquaintance, go, take me to see your young master."

"Okay, please."

……

Walking into the teahouse, seeing Han Xiufeng sitting in the corner, looking at Han Xiufeng's official uniform, Zhou Xingyuan couldn't help but think of the scene when they met for the first time in Ba County, and greeted him from afar: "Brother Han, you really meet everywhere in life, why did you come to Jiangning?" ”