On the Jiangnan side, the literary style is at its peak, and the proportion of literacy is greater than anywhere else, and correspondingly, there are more people with meritorious fame than in other places.

In this way, Jiangnan's verification of the preferential exemption quota of the gentry and the collection of taxes have also become the top priority, and this is also the reason why Zhang Puhe and the dead Wu Changshi were sent to Jiangnan.

After the Changshu riot, Emperor Chongzhen's iron hand dismissed or demoted or condemned hundreds of officials, including many feudal officials who had previously won the sacred heart, such as Zhang Guowei, who has been in Chongzhen for 14 years, building water conservancy in the Northwest Central Plains, and still has not been reinstated. It can be seen that the emperor's determination in this regard is great.

Therefore, Zhang Pu was appointed governor of Jiangnan, and it can be said that it was many times smoother than before when he continued to verify the preferential exemption limit and tax collection of the gentry in Jiangnan. And he himself can be regarded as the pinnacle of his life.

Wherever he passes, no matter who the other party is, even if he is a great official of the Ming Dynasty, or an official who is favored by the emperor; Whether it is an official family or a local tyrant, as long as Zhang Pu is on the ground, no one dares to conspire against Zhang Pu with the executed water is too cold.

It can even be said that everywhere Zhang Pu passed, all kinds of people, etc., greeted ten miles, picked up the wind and washed the dust, slapped the horses, and almost all the upper-class people in the city revolved around Zhang Pu.

Such a situation made Zhang Pu also high-spirited and unpleasant.

No, he inspected Yangzhou Mansion, and after returning to this prosperous place, he used his savings to buy a mansion compound. Of course, the price is extremely cheap. But, no matter what, he paid for it in the end. If he dares to reach out directly, there is a group of Dongchang servants around him.

He bought a house, mainly to respect filial piety, take his mother from his hometown, and come to Yangzhou Mansion to enjoy happiness.

On this day, Zhang Pu was excited and prepared to go out of the city to meet his old mother.

Unexpectedly, before he went out, the prefect of Yangzhou Prefecture rushed over, saying that his aunt was coming, how could he not greet him together, it would be too rude!

Zhang Pu didn't make a noise before, but at this time, seeing that he came up by himself to do his best, thinking that he would look better in front of his mother later, he happily agreed.

As a result, he didn't expect that immediately after, the magistrates and counties under the Yangzhou government also came one after another, as well as other yamen in Yangzhou, including the imperial history of the local capital procuratorate, also came, all of them to accompany him to greet him.

Seeing such a grand occasion, Zhang Pu was even happier. This kind of situation, even when he was in charge of the restoration society before, has never been. At most, it is just a group of literati accompanying each other, which is comparable to the current being accompanied by officials from all over the world.

So, Zhang Pu took a group of officials, plus their entourage and the like, that was a huge team, and walked through the streets and alleys to the water gate outside the city to welcome his mother's arrival.

The people of Yangzhou Mansion who didn't know the inside story saw it, and thought that it was some big official from the imperial court, and suddenly, under curiosity, they also followed over to see the excitement.

In this way, a rare grand occasion has appeared in Yangzhou Mansion. Zhang Pu's welcoming of his mother has become a sensation in the city.

On the dock side, I don't know when, the local magistrate has already let people open, all idle people, etc., will be avoided, and other ships will be aside. Just waiting for the arrival of the boat that Zhang Pu is currently sitting on.

Seeing this, Zhang Pu felt a little uneasy in his heart, but in the congratulations and recognition of everyone, he laughed, so that he could show that he was a son, and finally had a real future!

However, Jiang Dong, the stall head of the East Factory who accompanied him, frowned when he saw these situations.

He was born in the dart game, because of the troubled times, the dart game was dilapidated and eventually became a refugee under the Jianyu soldiers. It can be said that, in essence, he is from a poor common people. Seeing the scene in front of him, it was no different from what he had seen before when he saw those corrupt officials and corrupt officials posing for pleasure, which caused him discomfort to some extent.

But after all, he and Zhang Pu experienced the Changshu riot together, and they were in it for so long, and Zhang Pu was for filial piety, seeing him so happy, Jiang Dong couldn't help but say nothing.

In the anticipation of everyone, finally, the ship arrived.

Zhang Pu was excited, and immediately strode out, thinking about getting on the boat without waiting for the board to be set. Thanks to Jiang Dong's stopping, he didn't fall into the river recklessly.

After getting on the boat, Zhang Pu went to the cabin, and when he saw his mother looking at him with a smile, he was stunned.

His mother was born as a servant girl, even after giving birth to him, her status in Zhangfu was not high, not only was she bullied, but even his mother was not less bullied by others. It wasn't until he became the leader of the Restoration Society that many of the children of the official eunuchs cheered him on, and he was not discriminated against on the surface, and his mother's situation was much better.

Zhang Pu remembers very well that even so, his mother was very cautious, whether it was dress, words and deeds, she was very careful. I'm afraid that it will irritate others and cause something unpleasant.

In the previous time, Zhang Pu was promoted to an official and had been serving Jiangnan on an errand, and in order to show his loyalty, he didn't even go back for the New Year. However, there are still family letters, and I know that my mother's side is much better than before. However, when he saw it now, he didn't expect his mother to change so much.

Wearing gold and silver, not to mention wearing silk and satin, there are as many as four people just serving the maids around them. One is playing a fan, one is beating his back, another is beating his legs, and the other is on standby.

Between the eyebrows, there is also a lot of arrogance, and the whole person seems to be a lot more public, or a lot more high-spirited, and there is no sense of caution as before.

As soon as she saw her son appear in front of her, Zhang Pu's mother was immediately overjoyed, showed a heartfelt smile, and immediately stood up and said: "My son, I haven't seen you for a few years, my mother thinks so hard, look, she has lost a lot of weight!" ”

As she spoke, she stepped forward a few steps forward and touched her son's face, obviously distressed by her son's hard work.

At this time, Zhang Pu came back to his senses, the familiar mother, the accent of the voice, all did not change, he was also excited, so he immediately visited his mother, a little choked and said: "The child is not filial, the duty is in the body, loyalty and filial piety are difficult to achieve, I have not gone back to see you, let my mother run around, suffer from the journey to Yangzhou." ”

Zhang Pu's mother felt her son's filial piety, and when she recalled the past, she was also very emotional, and even cried, but after all, it was a happy event, she helped her son up, and said with a smile: "My son has a chance, and my mother is also happy, what is the pain of a little journey?" You don't know, since you got the Sacred Heart and became the governor of Jiangnan, my mother has really raised your eyebrows......"

Speaking of this, she couldn't suppress her years of depression. This kind of thing can't be said to others, but only with his own son. Therefore, this speech cannot be stopped.

Zhang Pu thought that there were colleagues waiting to see his mother outside, and wanted to interrupt several times, but he couldn't bear to think about it, so he finally forgot it. Since they are coming, let them wait. Otherwise, if he is humble and hypocritical, he will go back where he came from, and he Zhang Pu is not uncommon with this kind of insincere intention.

So, he listened carefully to what his mother was saying.

His mother said that who made her angry before, now she can get justice no matter how high her status is. Listening to these words, Zhang Pu was proud in his heart, it should be like this!

However, when his mother said that all kinds of nobles in his hometown who he had never seen before, of course, were not nobles now, and they all found reasons to visit her and give her gifts, Zhang Pu didn't have many ideas at first. When the status is high, this kind of thing is normal.

However, when his mother began to say which house was more expensive and which house was more desirable, he was a little surprised. Because, it is not easy to give gifts to his mother, and there are even those who give good grain fields without saying a word. You say, it's quite normal for women to send some jewelry or something, and even send grain fields, can it not be unexpected?

His mother didn't notice a slight change in his expression, but was immersed in her own happy world, and continued to say to Zhang Pu: "...... Even if you are not the sister-in-law of the Zhang family, you don't care about being a mother now. Don't want those things of the Zhang family, now, what the Zhang family has, we will also have, it's not rare......"

Hearing this, Zhang Pu's heart couldn't help but feel sour, and he remembered the old days again. He knew that he and his mother had been bullied, and they had no feelings for the Zhang family at all. When I was a child, there were even many times, his mother hugged him, secretly avoiding people and crying, the biggest wish was that the mother and son could have a real home of their own, no longer bullied, and no longer had to look at people's eyes.

He still remembers that it was because of all this that he was angry and studied hard. It can be said that without those things back then, he would not have had so much motivation to study.

Now that she has achieved fame, it is indeed time for her mother to fulfill her wishes.

As for the Zhang family, with their own power and ingenuity, there are ways to make them comply.

Thinking so, Zhang Pu stopped talking.

However, Jiang Dong, who was waiting at the hatch, although he didn't have a heart, also heard the conversation in the cabin, which made him frown again, and he was a little unhappy in his heart.

After a long while, Zhang Pu comforted his mother and said to her with a smile: "Mother, the chief officials at all levels here in Yangzhou, I heard that my mother is coming to Yangzhou, so I have to come with the child to greet her." Why don't you let them in? ”

When he heard this, his mother was very proud in her heart. Yangzhou Mansion is famous in the world, and the chief officials at all levels have taken the initiative to come to see him, which is something that he would never have thought of before.

Full of pride in her son, of course she will not refuse.

So, the prefect of Yangzhou Mansion entered the cabin first, and respectfully visited Zhang Pu at present, and his attitude was so low that Zhang Pu and his mother were all very comfortable.

But this is not over, after the visit, I saw him take out a gift list from his sleeve, respectfully handed it over with both hands: "The old woman came to Yangzhou Mansion, a little heart, not respect, and please ask the old lady to appreciate her face and smile!" ”

Zhang Pu saw it on the side, and was a little stunned, he didn't expect this. But after thinking about it, I felt that this seemed to be normal, so I didn't speak, and it was up to my mother to decide.

When Zhang Pu's mother saw it, she was immediately happy, and while being polite, she hurriedly asked the maid to take it, and after she looked at the things listed on the gift list, she was even happier, and hurriedly praised the prefect of Yangzhou Prefecture, and said that Zhang Pu had such a colleague, and he had to get along well.

When the prefect of Yangzhou Mansion went down, other chief officials at all levels also came up to salute in turn according to their official positions, and at the same time presented a gift list, so that Zhang Pu's mother's smile never stopped.

When she got out of the cabin and saw so many people greeting her, she was even more happy.

When she returned to the mansion that Zhang Pu bought for her, she was even happier to see such a big mansion in Yangzhou Mansion. pulled Zhang Pu and praised his son vigorously.

Zhang Pu was so happy to see his mother, of course he was also happy.

However, Jiang Dong couldn't hold back. found an opportunity and said to Zhang Pu alone: "Lord Zhongcheng, there are some things that you still need to pay attention to." It is not good to avoid that when the emperor asks for guilt! ”

Zhang Pu was stunned when he heard this, what did he mean by this?

However, he quickly came back to his senses, and suddenly felt a little unhappy in his heart.

For a long time, he was flattered by the people around him, or rather, under the offensive of sugar-coated shells, ideas or something, inevitably affected. In layman's terms, he is inflated.

So, suddenly, he heard a voice he didn't like to hear, and subconsciously chose to confront: "What does this mean?" I don't understand! ”

Seeing him like this, Jiang Dong was not polite, and immediately reminded: "The emperor is rectifying the rule of officials, Lord Zhongcheng still needs to behave well, remember not to defy the law!" ”

This remark made Zhang Pu feel even more harsh, and he was a little angry immediately, but he still remembered that the person in front of him was the head of the Dongchang stall, so he suppressed his anger and said, "What's wrong with this official?" Are you around this official, have you seen that this official is corrupt and perverts the law? This house was bought by the official with money, and it was not taken by force. There are also some personal contacts, which are also common things in officialdom, and the heart of the official is like a mirror, so why do you need to do it yourself? ”

At this moment, Zhang Pu's mother came back and heard their conversation, and immediately said angrily: "Do you want to sue?" My son has the emperor's favor, and the emperor will definitely believe in my son. Besides, since ancient times, isn't it normal for people to interact with each other? ”

Hearing these words, Jiang Dong couldn't help but be very disappointed, and immediately said coldly: "In this case, I should do my duty, truthfully report what I have seen and heard, and leave!" ”

After finishing speaking, he turned around and left, leaving only Zhang Pu's mother and daughter in the room.

Seeing that her son was stunned, Zhang Pu's mother moved in her heart, so she walked over to his son and said, "My son, if you are worried, why don't you give him some of the gifts you have sent, so that he will not be harsh on us." If he doesn't report it, the emperor won't know, and he won't bother with such a small matter for you. ”