The weather in late April was not yet hot for the north of Beijing, but there were already some signs of an approaching summer. Now is the time to enjoy the last rays of spring, and there are many people who go to the suburbs to travel, but those sons and ladies are tired of it, and they are immersed in this luxurious pleasure all day long.

Today is the third year of Longqing, 1569 A.D., the 23rd day of the fourth month of the lunar calendar, it is advisable to move the land, travel, and migrate, and avoid picking, praying for blessings, and sacrificing. Today is really the day that the chief officer of the Qin Heavenly Prison chose for Zhang Fan to travel.

Early in the morning, Zhang Fan traveled with everyone in his family. This time, he was going to go back to his hometown when he was passing through Yangzhou, and Zhao also wanted to go with him. However, Zhang Fan recently found that his mother was always a little uneasy, maybe he didn't know how to face those distant relatives of the Zhang family, so Zhang Fan persuaded his mother with the name that Ru Xue was pregnant and needed to be taken care of.

and Ru Xue's goodbye made the couple a little reluctant. Thinking that the two got married for only half a year, Zhang Fan left home once and almost separated forever, and Ru Xue still has palpitations. If it weren't for the holy edict of Longqing this time, which clearly told her that Zhang Fan was going to the rich and stable place in the south of the Yangtze River, Ru Xue would definitely not let her husband leave so easily.

However, Zhao Xue's girl looked at Zhang Fan, who was about to leave, with a strange expression. Recently, the two have been fighting hotly, and the little girl got Zhang Fan's promise, so she didn't have any objections to Zhang Fan's behavior of leaving her to go away. But it may be that she can't bear the sadness of being separated from Zhang Fan, the little girl hides in the room early in the morning and doesn't come out, and it's useless for anyone to persuade her. In the end, Zhang Fan knocked on her door, and didn't know what to say to her in the house, so Zhao Xue went out with a red face to send Zhang Fan on a trip.

Yingyue accompanied him south as Zhang Fan's personal maid this time, but she didn't feel wronged, but enjoyed the identity of being able to stick to Zhang Fan's side at this moment. She knew Zhang Fan's plans for herself, but she would always tease Zhang Fan from time to time, and then she would be severely punished by Zhang Fan on her buttocks, which not only did not make her hurt, but made her gradually obsessed with this feeling.

A group of people left Zhangfu, drove to the east of the city in a carriage, and walked out of the only city gate in the east of the outer city of Beijing, Guangqu Gate, and then continued to move forward until they came to Tongxian. This is the northernmost point of the Beijing-Hangzhou Grand Canal, which runs through the north and south, and is the "dragon head" of the Grand Canal. Originally, Zhang Fan went south this time, and it was said that he would take the fastest land route. But does he have anything important to do, and with his current status, walking by land is not only exhausting, but also a bit of a loss of identity. So this time Zhang Fan decided to travel by boat, although the speed was slow, but the scenery along the way was beautiful, and with Yingyue, a little goblin by his side, he felt that this was the time for him to enjoy himself.

When the Millennium Longqing announced the switch, the chart of Zheng He, the eunuch of the Three Treasures, was turned over. It is not only a route to the West, but more importantly, it draws drawings of the design of those treasure ships of that year. The ship that Zhang Fan was about to take was a genuine treasure ship, and it was full of leaders at all levels of Jinyiwei. The commander of the Jinyi Guard is about to travel, and these people below are not in a hurry to stammer! What's more, in order to allow Zhang Fan to obtain important information in a timely manner, there are branches of Jinyiwei responsible for delivering news in various places along the way.

On the dock, officials at all levels have arrived, and Longqing specially postponed the time of the early dynasty for a few hours today, and the ministers did not understand what he meant. Therefore, even if these people can not buy Zhang Fan's face, Longqing's face will always be given, not to mention that His Royal Highness the Crown Prince has also arrived, and there is no reason for everyone not to come.

Because Zhang Fan was just inspecting the land south of the Yangtze River on behalf of the Son of Heaven this time, not to go thousands of miles away or to fight a war or something, it was not good for Longqing to come to see him off in person, but just sent an edict to encourage him. Zhang Fan felt a little helpless, after all, this time he nominally went to the land south of the Yangtze River to verify the corruption, and now he has made such a big fanfare, even if he casually pulled an ordinary person to ask, he knew that the current Lord Zhongyong was sent by the emperor to Jiangnan to "collect money", which made people cry and laugh.

Zhang Fan also asked Zhang Juzheng because of this matter, after all, he has been an official for a short time, he doesn't know what the mystery is, and he doesn't know why Longqing will publicize this matter with such fanfare. Zhang Juzheng laughed when he heard it, and explained to Zhang Fan. It turns out that if it is an official of the faction, or if it is the supervision of the household department, then this matter must be kept secret, in case those people know, they will not be able to be suppressed by the weight of these people. But Zhang Fan is different, he is a three-rank person, what is the identity of the prince and the prince, one of the three divisions of the East Palace, as soon as Zhu Yijun ascends the throne in the future, his status is extremely noble; The third-class loyal and brave uncle, the court and the central government have the least objection to Zhang Fan's title, after all, Zhang Fan exchanged his life for it; plus the most important and most terrifying position of the Jinyi Guard's commander. Zhang Fan's tour of the south end of the Yangtze River this time is as arrogant as possible!

"Teacher, in this way, don't those people hear the rumors? If it is hidden, then the student will not return in vain to verify the corruption this time! Zhang Fan asked.

"Hehe, you're on the rise, that's a good thing. But you haven't experienced this struggle, and you really don't understand why. Zhang Juzheng said.

"I also ask the teacher to solve the students' doubts." Zhang Fan said very sincerely.

"It's very simple." Zhang Juzheng said, "The so-called involvement of the whole body, those people involved in the relationship is so great, the number of people will not be small. Your going to Jiangnan to verify is just an expedient measure of the imperial court, and it can't solve the root cause at all. Not to mention that the people you go to check are all low-level errand runners, at most you can get out the characters on the three or four floors above them. And they don't dare to stop the corruption because of your arrival, not to mention that this matter involves the interests of many officials, and those who stop acting without authorization don't need you to investigate, it is estimated that they will be suppressed. However, the idea of being a teacher is according to the past, and His Majesty has other plans for sending you out this time. ”

"The students are also a little confused." Zhang Fan said, "Why did Your Majesty just say that he wanted to promote me to be the commander of the Jinyi Guard, he asked me to go to Jiangnan on an errand, as if it had been arranged. ”

"Jinyiwei, Jiangnan ......" Zhang Juzheng muttered for a while, and suddenly seemed to think of something, and said: "I understand for the teacher, it turns out that Your Majesty has not finished yet!" ”

"Done? Your Majesty, what hasn't he done yet? Zhang Fan asked confusedly.

"Clean up the court!" Zhang Juzheng said, "Wei Shi originally thought that after Gao Gong's suppression, the capital was indeed much better than before, and His Majesty should stop." But I didn't expect His Majesty's vision to be very long-term! ”

"Could it be ......" Zhang Fan also understood a little, but he didn't dare to be too sure, "...... Your Majesty him. ”

"Not bad." Zhang Juzheng said, "Your Majesty's sending you this time is probably the final test for you. After you arrive in Jiangnan, you don't have to worry about anything, go all out to track down the corrupt officials, how many are different, no matter how many people there are, how big the officials are, you should pick up the black yarn boldly. Anyway, you have the Shang Fang Sword in your hand, so don't worry. ”

Zhang Fan thought about the conversation with Zhang Juzheng that day, and looked at the Shang Fang sword held in the hand of Wang Meng, who was following him, and felt a little helpless. It wasn't that he was surprised to see something rare like the "Shang Fang Sword", but he just sighed a little at the thought that he didn't know how many people would be planted on this sword.

Saying goodbye to the officials on the dock, Zhu Yijun was extremely reluctant. However, Zhang Fan promised him that if he felt bored, he could let someone pick up Xue'er's little girl to play in the palace. Zhu Yijun is only ten years old now, but he understands very well when he lives in the palace, and he is really a little ashamed after listening to Zhang Fan's words.

Before boarding the boat, Zhang Fan's family said goodbye, looked at the high arch on the other side, and then looked at his teacher Zhang Juzheng, Zhang Fan nodded to him slightly, and got on the boat. Li Yingyue, who was following behind Zhang Fan, squeezed her eyebrows at Zhao Xue on the shore, as if she was showing off something, and the angry Zhao Xue was apricot eyes wide and glared at her angrily.

Zhang Fan's trip to Jiangnan is about to begin here.