Zhenjiang Mansion is just south of Yangzhou Mansion, across the river, across the Yangtze River into the Grand Canal, and will stop in Jiangdu in a few days.

Dashun abolished the Ming Dynasty's guard system, and when there was a war, the total ratio of military households declined, and the Zhenjiang battalion was stationed in Jinshan.

On the boat, Ding Qiuba, the family of Deputy Chief Liu, shouted: "Damn, we just came up, they ran away, and they also arrested some kind of illegal salt." ”

"Shut up Lao Tzu! I'm full! Fengyu Prince Yu's 600-mile urgent handwriting, let's just wait to protect the prince, private salt is just a matter mentioned in passing, what private salt official salt, official and private have long been a family. Liu Ting, the deputy commander-in-chief, patted the lion to make up the suit, the people and horses stepped ashore, and the three hundred Zhenjiang battalion soldiers lined up to follow, which was really majestic.

The previous single official salt drove away, and the latter single came to follow, and those who were extorted from the shore did not dare to show their heads at this time, Deputy General Liu pressed the sword and walked the steps, and saw two scholars sitting on the stone bench within the rope pile at the head of the port, one smaller, one seemed to be in his thirties, Liu Ting stepped over: "Yo, isn't this the prime minister?" ”

The two were secretly vigilant, and Guan Chaosheng didn't have time to salute, and he was at a loss: "The official knows the late student?" ”

"The year before last, I was transferred to Luoma Lake to suppress bandits, and this official saw Guan Xianggong and Lin Yushi in the Huaibei Salt Field, and Guan Xianggong came forward, that is, on behalf of Lin Yushi, how can Jiangnan and Jiangbei not know!" Liu Ting laughed, Scar's face distorted, he wore an official uniform, the two of them greeted each other as usual, Liu Ting didn't mind helping up, and was in the right armor: "This little minister is ......"

"His surname is Jia Yancong, the grandson of Rongguo Gong......"

"Oh, Grandpa Guo's ...... Jia Cong? How familiar is this name, it seems to have been mentioned somewhere. Liu Ting scratched his ears and cheeks, and couldn't remember.

Jia Cong is familiar with the law, but he knows the rules of the Dashun military camp, unless the governor comes in person, or the Qin sends a warrant, and the military department agrees, otherwise the Zhenjiang battalion soldiers must not cross the border to Yangzhou, he asked carefully: "The chief soldier is sent by Fengqin?" Is Prince Yu's honor guard here? ”

This call of the chief soldier made Liu Ting's heart feel comfortable, there was always a subword, I felt awkward, it was not a palm print, and the latter sentence reminded him: "This official remembers, it is the fourth prince looking for you, and the little minister is waiting for the development." ”

The brightly armored Zhenjiang barracks walked into the city, and the prefect of Yangzhou apparently received the official document and arranged the place to go.

Guan Chaosheng saw that this general not only knew him, but Jia Cong actually had the king's blue eyes, and his mind became more and more active, "Brother Shanhai is really impressive, like this, go to Ganquan in a few days?" ”

"It's okay to take a walk, wait until you're bored."

……

Xiyan Town, Ganquan County, is not far from Fucheng, and it is reached by post road from the West Gate.

Xiyan Town is a plain area, the sub-division yamen is located in the center, sits in the south and faces north, the plaque is entitled "Huainan Salt Field Two Huai Salt Transport Division", there is a warehouse inside, and there is a porter to carry salt on the road that extends in all directions outside.

Jia Cong and Guan Chaosheng each brought their entourage, Director Feng led the way to the salt boiling site in the south, and there was a salty smell of water, and the site was reclaimed to the point that no grass grows, perhaps caused by the chemicals of drying salt and frying salt, Director Feng took the money and said with a smile: "Please see, the two ministers, these hundreds of stove households are just a drop in the bucket of the two Huai salt farms, and a drop in the ocean." ”

Jia Cong saw that the stove households were sun-dried and fried, their hair was entangled, and they were sweating, "Are the two Huai salt farms both frying and drying?" ”

"Sea salt!" Director Feng said: "It is said that it is a stove household, but in fact, it is stateless, there are fallen people, and there are displaced people. The iron pot is led according to the book, the salt is dried and fried, and the people are supervised, and the number of people is counted when they enter the market every day, and the number of people is counted when they go out. ”

Guan Chaosheng wrenched his fingers: "The Communist Party said that in addition to the two Huai salt farms, there are also Changlu, the three eastern provinces, Shandong, Zhejiang, Fujian, and Guangdong, all of which are sea salts, some are dried and some are fried. Sichuan and Yunnan are well salt, relying on frying. Hedong, Shaanxi and Gansu are pond salts, relying on the sun. ”

Jia Cong casually asked a fallen man who was connected to a bamboo pipe under the pot: "How much money do you have for working in January?" ”

"Go back to the master, and earn a thousand dollars a month."

A servant said a few words to the director, and Director Feng took his leave, and Guan Chaosheng said, "You pity them? I have to come and see it. ”

"My compassion is not so overflowing, it's just that this life is counted, and there are places where I really can't escape." Jia Cong sighed: "The official supervision of business movements, the harsh treatment of the bottom, suppressed the enthusiasm of production, and for the whole world, it will only get worse and worse." ”

"There is some truth in it, if you don't study, there is no way out, I took the exam a few times, and I failed, so I don't want to take the exam again. A showman has no power and no power, the clan is declining, he pays tribute to be an official, and he is only a local county to learn and teach, and if he is unwilling, he will not do it, and he will travel all over the world to seek a livelihood and a reputation. Guan Chaosheng said: "Let's go, go back, what are you trying to do with your fame, open a bookstore, and make allies?" ”

Jia Cong said as he walked: "The first is self-preservation, people can only talk about other things if they survive." Second, if you want to do something, even if others don't understand, resent, curse, and wait for the foundation to stand firm, you should do something, show your ambitions, and only focus on the results, processes and means, I don't mind. ”

Guan Chaosheng was speechless, and said after a while: "Do you know what people of the time said about Zhang Juzheng after his death?" ”

"When the grievances are exhausted, it will be difficult to see the danger of the frontier." Jia Cong asked: "Then do you know why Ganquan County is not worthy of its name?" ”

"There is a saying in Yangzhou: bitter and sweet springs, sweet rivers. Hahaha......" Guan Chaosheng said happily: "If you don't dislike it, when Lin Yushi's funeral is finished, I will go with you." ”

"Gladly."

……

On the third day of the ninth lunar month, Sun Fu returned from receiving a letter from the gate of the Lin Mansion, passing by Jia Lian's house, and heard Jia Lian's little girl talking, and said in the corner: "Aunt Lin is dying, this time we can go to Suzhou to play again, and the fallen leaves return to the roots, and Aunt Lin is going back to Suzhou for burial." ”

Long'er whispered: "Second Master Lian can still take a Lin girl back for nothing, I don't know who will be cheaper in the future?" ”

"It's not all cheap, either." Xing'er disagreed: "To marry a daughter like Miss Lin, one of them is that you have to be powerful and powerful, otherwise she won't be able to look down on her." Second, you have to be rich, she eats ginseng every day when she is sick, can you afford it? Third, you have a better temperament, how many people can stand her daughter's temper? Don't think about the group of four wives and concubines, Miss Lin doesn't seem to be able to tolerate three wives and four concubines......"

Long'er said: "Aren't you talking about Grandma Lian?" ”

Zhao'er said: "Go, go, we don't have to worry about these things." ”

Sun Fu muttered a few words and entered the house: "Master Cong, a letter from the Hongqiao Post Station in the north of the city." ”

After reading Prince Yu's letter, Jia Cong thought about it silently, and replied to a letter asking Sun Fu to take it to Guan Chaosheng for stamping, and then handed it to the post station, "It's been more than half a month, how is the bookstore selling?" ”

"The income is not much, and the deduction is only five hundred taels, and it will take time to improve." After Sun Fu finished speaking, Zijuan hurriedly rushed in and cried, "Master Cong, Aunt Lin is gone." ”

Sun Fu deliberately pretended to be sad, Jia Cong was stunned for a few seconds, although Lin Ruhai's actions were contrary to his ideals, but Yangzhou Salt Administration was intertwined, officials and businessmen colluded, Lin Ruhai did this is also reasonable, he probably heard that a person he had known for a short time died suddenly, that kind of close feeling of death, but he put on a sad face: "I know, tell Sister Lin to mourn and change, and I and Second Brother Lian will deal with the future." ”