At noon, Bao Kan, who had been asking for leave and was busy with marriage, suddenly came.

As soon as he entered the courtyard, he was immediately surrounded by people who were eating and resting, except for three or two scribes who had just come here to do business, and everyone else, whether they knew Bao Kan well or not, begged the bridegroom-to-be for an invitation to the wedding, and all of them declared that they were going to catch the prosperity. Fortunately, Bao Kan had already been prepared, took out a stack of red paper in his pocket and scattered it one by one, and talked for a long time with a smile, and then squeezed out the crowd and went into the hall to find Shang Cheng.

Shang Cheng was taking a nap in the ear room. Hearing the excitement outside, he had already gotten up, and when he saw Bao Kan coming in, he didn't rush to ask him how his family affairs were doing, but just said with concern: "Have you eaten lunch?" ”

Bao Kan said, "No need. In the morning, I went to pick up two uncles and their families who were on a long journey, and I came back late, and I just accompanied them to eat. As he spoke, he sat down on a drum stool by the wall, took his head in his hand and fanned the wind, and lifted the corners of his newly branded red silk shirt to wipe the sweat from his forehead and cheeks.

Shang Cheng took a teacup, poured most of the water from the copper teapot in the small case, handed it to Bao Kan, and asked, "The wedding date is set?" ”

Bao Kan took the cup and drank it all in one gulp, wiped the corners of his mouth and said, "It's set." After speaking, he was stunned for a moment, and was about to stand up, but Shang Cheng pressed a hand on his shoulder, so he smiled, continued to sit on the stool and said, "I originally wanted to find a random feng shui gentleman on the street to pick a day, but my two brothers disagreed, and finally asked the Yushan Dao people of the Dragon and Tiger Palace in Zhu County to set the day." The wedding date is April 14th. He carefully took out a large gilded poster with a red head from his arms, stood up, and respectfully held it with both hands and handed it to Shang Cheng.

Shang Cheng opened the post and looked at it, and said apologetically to Bao Kan: "...... You see, I'm going to Duanzhou tomorrow on a business trip, and I'm afraid I won't be able to catch up with your happy day. ”

"It's fine. Adults' business matters. Bao Kan smiled disapprehantly. He knew Shang Cheng's temperament, and he also knew that the affairs in the yamen were busy at the moment, so he had the idea that Shang Cheng might not be able to come before he came, and now he was not very disappointed when he heard Shang Chengyi. He also joked, "As long as the ceremony can come, it doesn't matter if people come or not." ”

Shang Cheng was grateful for his friend's understanding. He took down the two brocade-wrapped gift boxes on the top layer of the kang bookshelf, and said with a smile: "The gift will definitely arrive." Originally, I said that someone would bring it to you on the day of your big day, but since you came, it happened to be served first. One by one, this is a small gift from the two of you, a jade pendant and a pair of jade bracelets. ”

Without looking at it, Bao Kan took the two small wooden boxes into his arms and asked, "My lord will go to Duanzhou tomorrow, who are you going to bring?" How many days do I postpone my wedding? ”

"I won't take you this time. Shi Hetian Xiaowu is familiar with you, and they also stayed. I'll take Suza with me. Shang Cheng said, "This trip is not only to Duanzhou, but also to Yixian to inspect military affairs, and then come back from Nanzheng." Even if the road goes well, I estimate that it will take 20 days. Can't I let you go with me for so long, and if I delay your marriage, your family won't be able to scold me to death? ”

Bao Kan lowered his head and thought about it, and said, "Suza is a down-to-earth person, and I can rest assured that he will follow." However, adults still have to arrange customs along the way, and all states and counties must receive and send them specially. In addition, the adults should write down the road itinerary and send it back according to the heavenly post, so as not to worry about it in the yamen......" Speaking of this, he raised his head and stared at Shang Cheng. Shang Cheng did such a thing when he was in West Malaysia, and he didn't even hear from him for several days, and as a result, the people in the village were all jumping with chickens and dogs.

Hearing Bao Kan mention the past, Shang Cheng was also a little embarrassed, he stroked the reddened scars on his cheeks, and said with a smile: "Okay, listen to you." ”

Bao Kan smiled: "How can this listen to me? Even if I don't say it, I guess Suza will do the same. I'm just talking a lot. ”

Shang Cheng had already brought out the meaning of reproach in Bao Kan's words, so he didn't continue to talk about this topic, changed the topic and asked: "Your mother-in-law and father-in-law, they are still used to living in Yanzhou, right?" ”

"Mother-in-law is fine. Marrying a chicken and a dog and marrying a dog, she married me, a soldier, so she could only follow me to eat military food. The old man doesn't seem to be used to being in the city. Although he didn't say anything, he said that the price of rice was high today, that oil was expensive tomorrow, and that a pound of haggis would cost fifteen wen the day after tomorrow, and that he would say over and over again...... "He probably thought of the sad appearance of his father-in-law Liao Da who was distressed about money, and smiled with an empty teacup, "When the family affairs are done, he will probably go back." ”

"Ah, why are you in such a hurry? I also said that I would take the time to see him and talk to him. Shang Cheng said. He had a good impression of Liao Da, when Xima directly drilled the well and built the weir pond, this person was busy running before and after, enthusiastically came up with a lot of ideas, and also made a lot of efforts, although he was scolded a few times because of greed, but on the whole, this person is still a good squire. Thinking that he was a little sorry that Liao Da had been in Yanzhou for so long, he went to visit and greet him, which was really a lack of courtesy......

He asked Bao Kan in a low voice: "By the way, you are planning a family affair, do you still have the money?" If it's not enough to spend, just ask, I've got it. ”

Bao Kanhaha smiled and said, "I don't need you to remind me, if it's not enough, I'll take it myself." One by one, your money and food booklets are still in my custody. After the joke, he said solemnly, "Money is no problem." I also have some savings of my own, although I can't do anything big, it's still enough to ask for a mother-in-law. Qian Laosan and Fan Quanshang came back, and together with Zhongshan and Zhongshan, they bought thirty acres of land for me outside the city; The stone also gave me a house. Alas, he is a fool of money every day, I thought ......" He said silently, biting his lip and lowering his head, then raised it again, his eyes flashed with water and smiled, "Look, you have all handled the things that I should worry about myself, and I, the groom, are left to enter the cave room in the wedding chapel......" He stretched out his hand and wiped his face, even sweat and tears, let out a long breath, and asked Shang Cheng, "I heard you say last month, Miss Yue'er is coming to Yanzhou, how many days have it been, why hasn't there been any news?" "He came over today to inquire about it. He was a little worried about whether something would happen to Yue'er on the road. Although it is said that bandits have been suppressed with great fanfare from the east to the west recently, no one can say anything about the bandits...... He hurriedly suppressed his cranky thoughts and erased this terrible thought from his mind!

Shang Cheng carried the copper kettle to help Bao Kan refill the empty tea cup in his hand, and said: "On the first day of this month, I received a report from Yi County, Aunt Seventeen and Yue'er were on the eighteenth of the previous month, calculating the distance, it is estimated that the time to Yanzhou is two or three days. They can catch your big day......" He was about to continue, but when there was a knock on the door of the hall, he stopped talking and asked, "Who?" ”

"Governor Shuai, Duanzhou Mansion Governor Zhou Xiang, please see me."

"Got it. You let him come in first......"

When an official came to see Shang Cheng, Bao Kan immediately stood up and said goodbye. Shang Cheng sent him to the eaves of the main house, and when he saw a civil official in his forties just entering the courtyard, he stopped and said to Bao Kan: "I still have something to do, so I won't send you." You help me bring a good one to Liao Gong; If possible, please ask him to stay for a few more days, I have been too busy lately to find time to visit him, and when I return, I must come to the door to make amends to him. ”

Bao Kan agreed.

Shang Cheng stood on the steps, looked at the civil official who stopped in front of the steps, and said, "Is it Duanzhou Zhou Tuiguan?" ”

Zhou Xiang clasped his fists and shook his hands, leaned forward slightly, bowed to the subordinate when he saw the superior, straightened up, and said without humility or arrogance: "The subordinate is Zhou Xiang." ”

Shang Cheng squinted his eyes and carefully looked Zhou Xiang up and down, he was medium height, and he had a pair of slender eyes on his friendly white and clean face, and he didn't look phosgeneous. He was a little puzzled, this week Xiang is quite an ordinary person, how can he force Li Shen, who has always been unruly and arrogant, to jump to his feet, and issue an official complaint to the Health Department at the head of three days? What's even more powerful about this person is that he can make Lu Ji and Di Xu both say good things for him at the same time. And, according to rumors, he was one of the first people to propose to nominate himself as a commander...... Thinking about it, he nodded and said, "It's only been two or three days since the official document sent you to the Health Department was issued, and I didn't expect you to arrive." Come in and sit down and talk. After saying that, he turned around and went into the house first.

After Zhou Xiang sat down in the hall and the soldiers offered tea and soup and went out to cover the door, Shang Cheng picked up the question just now: "Have you received the order from the Health Department?" ”

While he was observing Zhou Xiang, Zhou Xiang was also observing him.

This is the first time Zhou Xiang has dealt with Shang Cheng face-to-face. Before that, he had only heard some anecdotes about Shang Cheng from his colleagues and division commanders, but he didn't believe much because the content of the story was too bizarre. Until now, he still didn't believe that this young man in front of him could have such a legendary experience, and he couldn't believe that it was this fake admiral who was planning a series of plans and plans that were enough to make great changes in Yanshan. Unlike Lu Ji and Di Xu, he has been doing things locally, and he has a deeper understanding of the current situation in Yanshan. He knew that as long as the three major things proposed by Shang Cheng could be accomplished, and then the problem of the northern Tuqi people could be completely solved, then in a few years, Yanshanwei would be as prosperous and wealthy as the Central Plains Prefecture in the south......

Hearing Shang Cheng's question, he quickly collected his fluctuating mind and said, "I received it halfway." Xiaguan and Li Shen had a dispute, and General Li told Xiaguan to get out. General Li also sent a message to the Ministry of Health to re-appoint a pusher who 'loves soldiers like sons' to Duanzhou. ”

"What's going on?" Shang Cheng frowned and asked.

"It's not for banditry. General Li cherished his soldiers and did not want them to go hungry to fight, so he ordered all counties in Duanzhou to provide money, grain, cattle and sheep to the guards. The commander knew that Yandong was implicated in last year's military disaster, and the local situation was really sluggish, and the cattle in the cultivated land could not be gathered, so where could he find the surplus to supply the army? General Li was 'sympathetic' and said that there would be no cattle and sheep to convert money and grain. It wasn't that the lower officials were reluctant to work in the army, but I couldn't understand what General Li proposed about 'converting money and grain', so I asked General Li for an explanation, and I argued with him a few words about it. As a result, as soon as General Li's 'Yandong command' shelf came out, I was relieved of my errand......"

Shang Cheng had already understood what was going on. Li Shen took the opportunity of suppressing the bandits to put money in his pocket. Alas, I really don't know what this person has in his head, even a pot of paste, and he should know what will happen if he reaches out and grabs money at this moment, right? Isn't he afraid that he won't be able to eat too much?

But he couldn't show his dissatisfaction with Li Shen in front of his subordinates, so he said: "The affairs of Duanzhou, the Health Department will send someone else to take over, so don't worry about it anymore." The specific affairs are to implement the new plan of the Health Department, repair water conservancy and roads, and pay close attention to the punishment and resettlement of bandits who surrender themselves. You take a rest today, and tomorrow you will go to Patriarch Lu, and he will arrange specific official duties. In addition, you should seize the time to familiarize yourself with the personnel and understand the situation, and strive to spread the stall as soon as possible......"

He and Zhou Xiang explained in detail the progress of the three major events, explained to him some specific official affairs that needed to be dealt with quickly, and discussed some difficulties and problems that might be encountered......

Two people, you say and I listen, and I don't finish talking about things until it's dark. Shang Cheng left Zhou Xiang down for a simple dinner, and then sent him away.

Zhou Xiang was discharged from the hospital with his front foot, and Lu Ji came in with his back foot. He came to discuss the repair of several official roads......