On the fourth day of February, Shen Xi and his entourage arrived at Anqing Mansion. Pen | fun | pavilion www. ｂｉｑｕｇｅ。 ｉｎｆｏ

If you cross the Yangtze River from Anqing Mansion and follow the official road on the south bank of the Yangtze River to the southwest, you can enter the territory of Pengze in the northeast of Jiujiang Prefecture in Jiangxi.

As the governor of Jiangjiang and Huguang provinces, Shen Xi originally planned to inspect Nanchang Mansion, the political envoy of Jiangjiang and Jiangxi, but thinking that Poyang Lake was across the middle, and it would take a lot of time to make a detour, Shen Xi decided to take a boat directly in Anqing and enter Huguang along the river west.

On the night of the stay in Anqing Mansion, Li Han, the prefect of Anqing, came to visit the official post where Shenxi stayed, and there were 16 vehicles accompanying the gift, which was in response to the saying that many people do not blame this saying.

Shen Xi almost thought that he had become the governor of Nanzhili, who held the positions of governor of Yingtian and Fengyang, and the officials of the state capitals that did not belong to his jurisdiction actually sent such a heavy gift.

Shen Xi didn't even look at the gift list, and directly refused politely.

The gift is too expensive, even if it is to save face, he will not accept it.

Li Han had to ask someone to take the gift away, and then said that he had already held a banquet in the prefect's yamen and invited Shen Xi to the banquet.

Normally, only corrupt officials pay so much attention to pomp, but Shen Xi did not rashly conclude that Li Han was a huge greed, but Li Han was sure that he was a villain who was good at flattering.

Three years of Qing prefect 100,000 snowflakes of silver, in the local officials for many years, usually these officials are very rich, when they find out that there is a new upstart in the court and there is a chance to tie up, they spend a lot of money to give gifts, sometimes even do not hesitate to borrow, in order to prosper the official fortune.

As long as the official hat is big enough, these investments can be earned back sooner or later.

As for what kind of person Li Han is, Shen Xi doesn't care, this is a matter that should be taken care of by Governor Yingtian and even the Sixth Department of Nanjing, he only knows that he is not far from Wuchang Mansion.

This time as the governor of the two provinces, Shen Xi is still quite satisfied, because Huguang includes the two provinces of Hunan and Hubei in later generations, plus Jiang and Jiangxi, and has three provinces in his hands, and these three provinces basically include the plain area of the middle reaches of the Yangtze River, which is the most important agricultural production area in the Ming Dynasty.

In other words, Shen Xi's appointment as the governor of the two provinces this time is equivalent to mastering the granary of the Ming Dynasty, and its importance is self-evident.

In addition, Wuchang Province is one of the few large cities along the Yangtze River, with developed commerce and trade, and there is no shortage of anything, so when you arrive in the locality, you can immediately carry out work and cultivate your own power.

After Li Han left with disappointment and frustration, Shen Xi simply had dinner and entered the courtyard of the post station.

Although the journey was tiring, this toil was many times lighter than the previous march and battle. It's a pity that Shen Xi didn't feel sleepy at this time, so he simply came to the study to read at night, anyway, he took the official boat the next day and staggered, reading at that time was more like a crime, so it was better to make up for the drowsiness at that time.

Shen Xi relied on his youth, strong body, and could withstand the toss, otherwise sleeping in a bumpy car when he went south before was actually a sinful thing.

Not long after the second watch drum sounded, the guards came to report that someone in the lobby of the official post gave gifts again, this time the givers were all dressed in black, and they didn't know the details.

Shen Xi because he had just led the troops to fight with the Tatars, he was able to write and martial arts, and he was given the official position of governor on this trip, he could command and mobilize the army, and the security work along the way was done without leakage, if it was not from the government, he could not approach it at all, even so, he needed to pass the report before he could see Shen Xi himself.

Shen Xi came out of the courtyard where he lived, came to the main hall of the post station in front, and saw the guards pressing the handle of their knives, with great vigilance against the visitors, and did not dare to lean too far forward for a while, waved his hand, and said: "Didn't you say that you will not see guests today, and this official will not accept the invitation?" No matter who you represent, you can go back! ”

A man in his thirties and forties walked out of the crowd of black-clothed people, took off his cloak, and said with a smile: "Lord Shen, you haven't seen the gift sent by Governor Li, how do you know if you want to accept it?" ”

Shen Xi squinted at this person.

Because of the darkness of the night, he could not see very clearly, but he saw that the people who came with him behind him all had wooden boxes on their chests, as if they contained something valuable.

Could it be that Li Han thought about it after he went back, couldn't get over the hurdle in his heart, adjusted the gift, and wanted to continue to bribe the official? Shen Xi immediately said: "Thousands of miles to send goose feathers, the courtesy is light, the official has received the love of Governor Li, please go back!" ”

Shen Xi didn't want to know what the gift was, even if it was gold and silver jewelry, it had thorns.

Li Han must be hoping to get some political benefits when giving gifts, the so-called no merit is not rewarded, he does not intend to have anything to do with the local prefect of Nanzhili, and the Ming Dynasty still has a set of ruthless methods for dealing with corrupt officials.

A post man came over next to him and comforted: "Lord Shen, this is a little bit of Governor Li's heart, even if you don't accept it, you can take a look first!" ”

The commander of the guards immediately came out and shouted: "Who dares to make a mistake in front of Lord Shen? Little Yicheng, don't you want to live anymore? ”

Changed to other entourage, speaking like this will inevitably appear to be arrogant, but Shen Xi's entourage has arrogant capital, before leaving, the emperor specially told to protect Shen Xi's safety on the road, you must know that these guards are all from the twelve guards of the guards, that is, the imperial forest army of the Ming Dynasty, who was ordered by the emperor to protect Shen Xi, and anyone seemed humble and small in their eyes.

Shen Xi saw this situation, and suddenly came to his senses, the focus of the gift sent was not in the wooden box, but on the "person" who gave the gift, he quickly made a judgment, and all the people holding the wooden box in front of him were women.

Although these people were covered by cloaks, the subtle movements of the woman's standing posture and gestures could not deceive people, Shen Xi said: "No matter what kind of ceremony, this official is not ready to accept it, you can retreat!" ”

With that, Shen Xi turned around and returned to the small courtyard and came to the study to sit down.

For the magistrate to send women, he has long been surprised, Anqing prefect Li Han is not the first, and will not be the last.

Shen Xi was bewitched by the wine and wealth along the way, and the people sent by the local government and Huguang and Jiangjiang provinces to make a trip for him along the way changed their methods to flatter him, and everyone knew that this new governor had a lot of money and might not value ordinary gifts so much, so in addition to gold, silver and jewelry, there were also many people who sent antiques, calligraphy and paintings, and each piece was a treasure.

As soon as Shen Xi sat down to read a book, Yang Wenzhao came in stunned, and asked puzzledly: "Cousin, people came to give gifts just now, why didn't you accept it?" ”

Looking up at Yang Wenzhao, Shen Xi replied: "To be a man must have the most basic principles!" The big husband is rich and noble, and he can't bend the mighty and can't be lewd, this is the basic principle of being a man! These officials are courteous and demanding, and when I accept the gifts, I will endorse what they have done locally, and if I am not careful, I will be implicated - I explain it this way, do you understand? ”

Yang Wenzhao really didn't understand, his previous impression was that the wealthy businessmen and gentry in the city gave gifts to the government, and the officials basically did not refuse to come, and it was natural to think that Shen Xi would become a big official, and there would be more people who came to give gifts, although Shen Xi could make a windfall, he was also waiting for a piece of the pie on the side.

After seeing the real situation, Yang Wenzhao found out that this was not the case, Shen Xi looked at money very lightly, and now he had no chance to make money.

Yang Wen beckoned: "Cousin, your family used to do business and made a lot of money, so you don't look down on that little bit of silver, right?" ”

Shen Xi said angrily: "I said that it was a principle, why can't you understand?" Your uncle and aunt asked you to follow me, so that you can come out and learn your skills, not learn these crooked ways. Under my hands, what you should be pondering is how to do a good job, and how to get in touch with people in the yamen, and learning to refuse is the first lesson in your life! ”

Yang Wenzhao was confused.

Shen Xi originally had a didactic mentality, but at this time, he couldn't help but shake his head and laugh dumbly...... What did you say to Yang Wenzhao, this kid?

I knew that Yang Wenzhao's brain was not good, but he spoke in a tone of teaching and educating people, and with Yang Wenzhao's acceptance, teaching his cousin could only come step by step.

After sitting and reading a book for a while, Shen Xi felt sleepy and prepared to go back to his room to rest, after all, he was about to leave before dawn.

Before people entered the house, they felt that there was a breath of life inside, Shen Xi beckoned, and quickly came over a few guards, he carried a lantern into it, Yang Wenzhao rushed to the front, and shouted: "Who?" ”

In the dim light, but seeing a woman hiding in the futon timidly, maybe because of fear, or maybe because of the cold, this woman's delicate body trembled, because she was only wearing a dirty garment, so that her arms were exposed, Yang Wenzhao was only sixteen years old after all, and his blood was strong, and he had never seen such a romantic battle before he was married, and his eyes were straight.

Shen Xi shouted: "Look at what, all withdraw from the room!" Don't listen to indecent acts, don't look at indecent acts! ”

Yang Wenzhao reluctantly withdrew his gaze, in this era, even if he saw the girl's arm, it was a very rude behavior, he swallowed his saliva, his spirit was in a trance, and his thoughts had not yet come out of the previous amazement.

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