The day after Xue Huan, Liu Cunhou, and Hu Songlin led their troops to the west and north of Shanghai, Wu Jianzhang, Wu Xu, and Sun Feng led local gentry and merchants to bring several boatloads of grain, wine and meat. Xue Huan and Liu Cunhou accepted all the orders, and at the same time they were a little disappointed, because they didn't see even one or two of the silver.

In fact, Wu Jianzhang has raised more than 80,000 taels of silver and more than 200,000 silver dollars these days, and the tariffs levied on the remaining checkpoints of the Jiang Customs and the tariffs levied by the Citi people these days are also more than 50,000 taels.

Wu Jianzhang was worried that Xue Huan and them would be unhappy, and as soon as he came out of the barracks, he asked bitterly: "Brother Han, it's not okay not to give it at all, the face of the tiger general just now has changed!" ”

"Brother Daopu, it's not that we don't give it, but there are rules for supporting the grain and salary, if you just give them money and food, then why did the imperial court appoint a general grain station to the Jiangnan camp."

"But Peng Yuwen and Master Peng are not here."

Han Xiufeng glanced back and said lightly: "Master Peng has already arrived in Suzhou, even if Lord Peng doesn't come, Lord Xu and Master Gilgia will come." In short, everything must be done according to the rules, everything must be listened to by the officials, and we will do whatever Lord Xu and Lord Gilgia say when the time comes. ”

"Master Han, Master Liu just said that there is not much food in the camp!" Sun Feng couldn't help but remind.

Han Xiufeng weighed it, stopped and said: "Three, otherwise, you estimate how much grain more than 6,000 soldiers and horses will eat in a day, and after calculating, hurry up to procure it, and send three days' worth of grain first." A maximum of three days' rations can be delivered, and no more can be delivered. ”

Sun Feng didn't expect Han Xiufeng to be so pedantic, he didn't know how to be flexible at all, and he didn't even give the favor of his fellow villagers, so he could only give his hand and say: "Obey the order, and the next official will do it." ”

Han Xiufeng still didn't feel at ease after thinking about it, and turned around and said: "Brother Xiaofan, you are the most experienced in doing this kind of thing, I bother you to help you calculate carefully, neither less nor more, if there is more, I will ask you!" ”

Wu Xu was stunned, and hurriedly arched his hand: "Master Han, don't worry, the lower officials will definitely make it clear." ”

"Hurry up, it's time for me to move."

……

After sending Wu Xu and Sun Feng away, Wu Jianzhang couldn't help but ask, "Brother Han, where are you going to move?" ”

Han Xiufeng walked to the door of the house, looked back at the military camp that stretched from the small stone bridge to the county seat of Shanghai, and could not see the end at a glance, and said in a deep voice: "Although the Taiwan and Futai said that I was appointed to serve as the Tongzhi of Songjiang Prefecture and the supervisor of the Jiang Customs, in fact, it was the Jiang Customs Supervisor who really let me act. Although the Overseer Office was looted by the rebels and occupied by the English soldiers, I can't always live here. It's so far away from the Huangpu River and the wharf by the river, how can you pay tariffs if you stay here? ”

"Back to Qichang Foreign Travel?"

"Well, I can only go back and continue to bother Brother Daopu." Han Xiufeng smiled and said, "Actually, the move is not only for the customs affairs of Jiang Customs, but also to make room for Lord Xu and them. This mansion will soon become Lord Xu's line, Daopu, what should you do to prepare, you should know it in your heart, right? ”

Xu Naizhao is now not only the acting governor of Jiangsu, but also the minister of the Qincha who led the troops to level the rebellion of the party, the Qincha Lord is about to arrive in Shanghai, and he can't do without the Qincha, Wu Jianzhang reacted suddenly, and hurriedly said: "Brother Xie Han reminds me, I'll go and prepare." ”

"Don't worry, go first and see what the shortcomings are, and add something."

"Yes, yes, yes, you should go and see it first."

As soon as Wu Jianzhang bowed down to ask Han Xiufeng to go in first, one of his family members suddenly ran over out of breath and reported breathlessly: "Master, it's not good, the 'Antelope' blew up, killing and injuring more than a dozen people. Fortunately, God has eyes, you want to come to the camp to reward the soldiers, and you did not collect taxes on the river like yesterday, and the consequences are unimaginable! ”

"The Antelope blew up, how did it blow up?" Wu Jianzhang was taken aback, grabbed his family and asked.

"Without any warning, it suddenly exploded, and I could see it clearly on the shore, first there was a loud bang, and then the fire rushed to the sky, and the ship was blown apart, and the people on board were killed and wounded." The family's legs were still trembling, he peeked at Han Xiufeng, and said nervously: "Some people say that it was done by the chaotic party, and some people say that it was done by foreigners." ”

"How could a foreigner bomb my ship, it must have been done by the chaotic party."

"Master, you can't have the heart to hurt people, you can't have the heart to guard against people, you stop on the river to collect their taxes, they will not be happy, whether the English and the French did it."

"Don't talk nonsense, hurry up and save those injured brothers."

"All those who can be saved have been saved, master, you can't show your face again, you must take care."

"Got it, let's go back first." Wu Jianzhang sent his family away, and said with a gloomy face: "Brother Han, one thing is done by the party, fortunately, God blessed, I didn't go to Jiangshang today, otherwise I would really be poisoned by them." ”

The Antelope was actually bombed, Han Xiufeng felt that this matter was a little strange, and said quietly: "Brother Daopu, it is not too late for a gentleman to take revenge for ten years, whether it is done by foreigners or by the chaotic party, we will record this account for them for the time being, and the top priority is to welcome Lord Xu." ”

"Yes, yes, greet Lord Xu first."

Wu Jianzhang took his family to look inside and out, thinking about what places to repair and what furniture needed to be added, and then hurriedly returned to the concession with his family.

Datou, Chen Hu and Wood Quan had just packed their luggage, and were about to go outside to call a few brothers to go in and lift their buttocks and be beaten, Su Jueming, who couldn't walk and could only lie on his stomach, Qiao Songnian, the prefect of Songjiang, who was supposed to be in Chuansha after the aftermath, actually drove lightly and brought seven or eight people including Master Xu.

It has been more than a year since they parted in the capital, and when they reunite after a long absence, they naturally want to invite people to sit down and drink tea to catch up with the old days, Han Xiufeng simply asked Chen Hu and them to take their luggage and Su Jueming to go first.

As expected, Qiao Songnian made amends as soon as he sat down.

"You are now a master of Futai, my Han Si is a fellow of Songjiang Mansion, and I am your subordinate, I can't confront you yet, how can I make amends for me!"

"Zhixing, are you still angry with me?" Qiao Songnian picked up the teacup and asked with a smile.

"Don't dare."

"What does it mean not to dare, besides, others may not dare, why don't you Han Zhixing dare? I, the prefect, am a great official in the eyes of others, but I am really nothing in the eyes of you Han Zhixing. ”

Han Xiufeng couldn't help but smile: "My lord of Futai, I don't dare to think so, you are a Jinshi and have a noble status, and now you are my top boss, I dare not take you in my eyes if I have a few guts." ”

"Laugh, just laugh, meet and laugh and enmity!" Qiao Songnian took a sip of tea, put down the cup and said, "Zhixing, I heard that you almost fought with those soldiers outside yesterday, and it is said that you even released a gun?" ”

"How do you know about this?"

"Qian San is at the door, Qian San told me." Qiao Songnian smiled, and continued: "I heard Qian San say that this matter has spread in the concession, and those gentry and businessmen who have avoided trouble in the concession will praise you as soon as they mention it, and they all say that you are a good official who is the master of the people, and your current official reputation is even better than that of me, the prefect, and there will be no less people umbrella in the future, which really makes me envious!" ”

Han Xiufeng was suspicious: "It's spread, is it really fake?" ”

"What are you lying about, if you don't believe it, ask Qian San, or go to the concession to inquire by yourself."

"You don't need to ask or ask, being an official is not for the people, it's better to go home and sell sweet potatoes, these are all what I should do, who asked Lord Futai to let me do this coastal defense."

"Haiphong Tongzhi is not what I asked you to do, Ming people don't say secret words, I just strongly recommend you to act as the supervisor of Jiang Customs, Futai and Taiwan may be worried that your grade is not enough, so I asked you to act as my Songjiang Prefecture Haiphong Tongzhi and Jiang Customs supervision. I never wanted to fight crookedly, if I let someone else act as my fellow knower, even if I saw Liu Cunhou and Hu Songlin arson and them harming the people, I wouldn't dare to stand up and stop them. ”

Looking at Han Xiufeng's disgusted look, Qiao Songnian smiled again: "If I had known that the battalion officers who led the troops to quell the chaos were all your fellow villagers, and even many of those soldiers outside were your fellow villagers, I would not only strongly recommend you to act as the superintendent of Jiang Customs, but also strongly recommend you to act as the governor of Songjiang Mansion." ”

"What do you mean by that?"

"Do you think I'm not worried about 'the army crossing the border, and there will be no grass', do you think I don't know what kind of virtues those Qiu Ba are? You Han Zhixing has the people in your heart, and I, Qiao Songnian, as the prefect of Songjiang, want to be the master of the people under my rule. I have a weak heart and can't control them. You are different, you are the same townsman as them, and they don't give face to others but also give you face, so it's right to let you act as my Songjiang Prefecture Haiphong Tongzhi. ”

"You look down on me too much."

"Anyway, with you, they can more or less restrain themselves."

How could Han Xiufeng not be able to hear the meaning of Qiao Songnian's words, but he would not be fooled by this, and said without thinking: "Qiao Futai, you have already cheated me once, you can't cheat me again." Keep an eye on the gang of Qiu Ba outside, don't let them harass the local errands, please be smart, don't look for me again. ”

"Zhixing, who else can I find in this matter besides you?"

"It's your business to find someone to keep an eye on those Qiu Ba outside, if you can't keep an eye on you, you can impeach them, and I can even name them on the impeachment fold with you."

"Aren't you afraid of offending those fellow villagers outside?" Qiao Songnian asked rhetorically, stared at him and said: "Zhixing, there is something I just knew, your fellow countryman surnamed Liu is amazing, the emperor remembered that he had made a contribution to recovering Qingpu, not only with the prefect to send Jiangsu supplements, but also rewarded Husong with the name of Batulu." Civilian Warrior, he is the first one in my Qing Dynasty! ”

"The emperor also rewarded him with the Baturu Yong, is it really fake?"

"Absolutely."

"My good man, so Liu Cunhou is really developed, but then again, he fought with his life."

"It's not just Liu Cunhou, your fellow villagers are now stronger than a saint, Xue Huan is the alternate prefect, and he is the first to make up for it. Hu Songlin soon became the chief soldier, and his son Hu Kunyuan soon became the deputy general. There are also those who didn't come, Zhang Yuliang, Zhou Tianshou, Zhou Tianpei...... I only remember these names, anyway, one of your fellow villagers is now considered a fully developed, and you dare to impeach them with the name of a prop? ”

"Why don't you dare, I, Han Zhixing, not only distinguish between public and private, but also jealous and hateful! If they should harass the local area and harm the people, not to mention just fellow villagers, even if they are relatives, Han Zhixing, they will kill their relatives in righteousness. In short, if you don't like them and want to impeach them, you must bring me with you. ”

Qiao Songnian didn't expect Han Xiufeng to have this attitude, but after thinking about it, he smiled and smiled at Han Xiufeng and said meaningfully: "Zhixing, Zhixing, you are really an official." Don't worry, I'll take you with me. ”

"Then I'll thank you first."

"No thanks, who made me owe you."

……

Wood Quan heard it clearly at the door, and couldn't help but lean into Master Xu's ear and ask: "If you don't help your fellow countrymen, you have to impeach your fellow countrymen, what does Master Han think?" ”

Ten Master Xu can't do business as much as one Wood, but the officialdom is bent and said that Master Xu is a doorman, and Woodquan explained in his ear: "Master Han, Master Xue, and Master Liu are indeed fellow villagers, and fellow villagers should also help each other." But whether it is Master Xue or Master Liu, including the father and son surnamed Tiger, the reason why they can soar is all because of Xiang Shuai's support. Master Han is different from them, Master Han is a civil official, and he takes the path of a civil official, so naturally he can't get too close to Xiang Shuai, at least not on the surface. ”

"Why not?"

"Jiangnan Daying is now the world of Sichuan people, do you think the imperial court will rest assured? Let's put it this way, Xiang Shuai can lead the troops, and those civil officials and military generals who Xiang Shuai brings can lead the troops to fight, but they can't take care of local affairs, let alone money and food. Master Han's current errand happens to be in charge of tax collection, so Master Han used to be a person from Lord Guo, and now he can only be a person from the young master of my family, and he must not be mistaken for a person who is handsome by those princes and ministers in the capital. ”

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