After this banquet, Zhao Xing was officially inaugurated, in the official office, the recorder was served by Wan Qianyong, the hook officer was Shuai Fan, the Confucian official was a single officer, plus the retained demolition official Ju Chang and the guest official Wang Ge, the whole team was built.

This is the first time he has been a local magistrate, and he has begun to take charge on his own, and the first thing he received was a complaint: Liao Xiaoxiao complained about Zhao Liren.

"Why do you use your own carriage and horse to send Liu Jingniang, that fox is good at seducing souls, who can't get rid of it, I heard that there are two good sons who committed suicide for her, Yangzhou calls it the nine-tailed demon fox, why did you let her get into your carriage?" Liao Xiaoxiao stomped her feet and complained dissatisfiedly.

"Nine-tailed demon fox, this nickname is good", Zhao Xing gently brushed away Liao Xiaoxiao's hand tugging at his sleeve, and asked curiously: "I wonder, what is this nine-tailed demon fox good at?" I didn't hear her sing a song during the banquet yesterday, why is Cai Jing unusually humble to her? Do they have a leg? ”

Liao Xiaoxiao shook his head and said: "I have been in Yangzhou for three months, and I have already inquired clearly: although Cai Yuanchang Cai's character is not good, he is extremely respectful to his wife, because this wife is the daughter of Wang Jinggong. As for this nine-tailed demon fox is very good at drilling, it is said that there is no man who she can't coax, so Yangzhou official banquet singing, literati like to invite her to, although she is not good at singing, but she is very good at greeting, with her, the whole banquet will not be cold.

It is said that many good families are also attracted to her, and they are determined not to marry her, and I have heard that this person is hanging high, and there are constant carriages and horses in front of the door. However, Lord Cai Jing has never had the habit of staying in brothels, and he must go home every day, and the two are limited to officialdom singing...... By the way, I heard that the nine-tailed demon fox writes a good hand, and paints a good painting. Those literati wrote poems and liked to let her write them on the spot. It's also an elegant thing.

Messire. Jing Niang is the head of Yangzhou, as Lord Cai, he doesn't dare to play at will, you have to pay attention, this place is located in the hub of the world, and the fart is spread quickly, don't let people find the handle. ”

Cai Jing's wife is Wang Anshinu. Everyone in the Song Dynasty knew about this, because it involved an allusion. It is said that when Cai Jing served as the governor of Kaifeng Mansion, he held a banquet to celebrate, and a servant stepped forward to congratulate. He said at the time: "Chifu (referring to the prefect of the capital) worships today, all relying on the nepotism of Mrs.!" ”

The servant is ridiculing Cai Jing's current official position from his wife, otherwise, he would not have been promoted so quickly. It is said that the servants mocked him so face-to-face, and Lord Cai actually could stand it. He laughed and rewarded the servant as if nothing had happened.

Cai Jing didn't punish the Lingren at that time, not because he couldn't cure the other party, at that time, Bianliang was under the jurisdiction of Yindi, Kaifeng Mansion, and there was no need to bother to clean up a Bianliang Lingren. But the local atmosphere at that time was: the ridicule of the servants could not be more serious. Once it is more serious, then the reputation is even more stinky. Because the actor's mouth is talking from house to house. So Cai Jing can only reward money in order to calm things down......

Since then, there has been an idiom in Chinese: nepotism.

Cai Jing has such a big girl in his family, of course he doesn't dare to outsource his second wife at will, and he will not dare to stay in Goolan Washe.

For Liao Xiaoxiao's vinegar-filled reminder, Zhao Xing fully understood. The Great Song Dynasty stipulated that officials were not allowed to have personal affairs with official prostitutes, and the only exception was the Tai students, a group of students from the highest royal institutions. Local officials are not blessed with this blessing. But. Even if he was too student, he got close to the prostitute. The reputation will also be very bad, such as the former Tai student Qin Guan.

Zhao Xing thought for a moment and replied casually: "I didn't expect that Cai Jing is very self-disciplined in this regard...... Since Jing Niang has been in that carriage, how about you simply come forward and send that carriage to her? ”

Liao Xiaoxiao clapped her hands and said: "Great, this will cut off her thoughts, and it will also make people disagree." That's it, anyway, the carriage in Yangzhou City can't be used. ”

Zhao Xing's carriage is a light wagon, although it is a two-wheeled carriage, but the steel frame, shock absorbing springs and so on, the wall of the carriage is shiny with paint brushes, the four sides are inlaid with glass, the side of the carriage door is very well sealed, the door is closed, even if you walk on the bumpy road, the carriage can never hear the sound of parts.

However, although the carriage is good, as Liao Xiaoxiao said, Yangzhou is a water city, the river is longitudinal and horizontal, and the most convenient means of travel for people is the boat, not the carriage, because the street is narrow, the carriage is inconvenient to turn, and it is impossible to cross the bridge......

Liao Xiaoxiao gave Jing Niang's carriage directly to Jing Niang, which showed her and Jing Niang's incompatible attitude, Jing Niang received the carriage, and smiled like a flower: "This Liao family, I heard that she married into Lord Zhao's family, although the surface is beautiful, at home is also to the wife of the low service small land, even the side room Chen may be pleased, why today to the sisters hard - I don't know how to sympathize with each other." ”

The old bustard sighed a few words along with Jing Niang's words, and immediately said: "I have heard that Lord Zhao is a huge rich man in Hangzhou, but now that I see his carriage, I know that what I said is true." Jing Niang, I heard that the chassis of his carriage is made of light steel, it is dark and shiny, and there is no sound at all when he walks, if you don't like this car, daughter, you will give it to Godmother? I also sat in the carriage of Zhao Daguan in Hangzhou, so that I could show off to my sisters. ”

Jing Niang shook her handkerchief and said reproachfully: "Mom only saw the chassis of the car, and did not see the colorful glass window inlaid on the car, I found when I sat in the car yesterday that the colorful glass inlaid on the four walls of the car is as clear as water, looking out through the glass, the street scene is delicate, not deformed at all."

I estimate that the glass on the four walls alone is worth a thousand yuan, does my mother want it too? However, this is given to her daughter by Lord Zhao, if the mother sits on it...... Hehe, I heard that Lord Zhao has a nickname, known as the Jingjie Tiger, and I heard that he captured hundreds of bandits in Fuyang, and beheaded all of them...... Mother was not afraid of his anger, so she sat down by herself. ”

The old bustard pursed his lips and replied, "You only know that Lord Zhao has a nickname Jingjie Tiger, but you don't know that he is also called unprovoked." Last night, you went to tease this tiger, others knocked out and brought it in, scared my mother sweating, daughter, Zhao Laohu, you dare to provoke, now his female tiger is powerful, don't you just get off the donkey and let go! ”

Zhao Xing ran a long way to break the Lujia Stone Fort in Fuyang, although after that tedious battle. He himself left it behind. But this incident has caused a lot of excitement in the rivers and lakes. After this battle, Zhao Laohu became the most famous person in the rivers and lakes, and the bandits from all over the world could not enter Hangzhou, which made Hangzhou Caoshi quickly .......

Hangzhou is not far from Yangzhou, and the waterway transportation is convenient to transmit news to Yangzhou. Hangzhou merchants talk about Zhao Laohu with pride, but the news will be out of shape. For example, the bandits attacked Zhao Xing's castle at first. made Zhao Xing launch a counterattack, and it became that Hushan Lujiabao provoked this Zhao Laohu, and as a result, Zhao Laohu took a few Zhuang Ding, and a small group of troops entered the Lujiashi Fort, which could not be broken for a hundred years. Calling for wind and rain, he used palm thunder to destroy the entire castle......

Lao Bustard and Jing Niang are low-level figures, and it is impossible to know the full truth of the incident. These two people are fighting for this car, you say two words, I say two words, and the more terrifying it is. However, the old bustard was the first to truce, she shrunk her neck, and said yearningly: "Daughter, you tell Lord Zhao to let him come to our Washe often when he is free. The demands are endless, and Lord Cai doesn't care. But who is Zhao Laohu. Isn't the pounding nest in the capital buried in his hands, you let Lord Zhao have nothing to do to sit down, and let the group of pounders stop the meeting

"Lord Zhao", Jing Niang still has self-knowledge after all, she pointed to the carriage and said: "I don't know if this carriage is not in my hands, I heard the person who sent the carriage said that Lord Zhao did not bring his wife to Yangzhou this time." The head of the house is the Liao family. You said. Liao everyone has such an attitude, which girl in Yangzhou City dares to jump...... Alas. It's a pity for a good family. I heard that Lord Zhao can write poems and compose music, his family is rich and can be an official, and he is also very good at fighting, and several wives and concubines have opened workshops, and their net worth is not thin. Such a nice person, how did I meet late. ”

Jing Niang is talking about Zhao Xing here, Zhao Xing is not idle, he is busy taking over the position of pacification envoy.

Originally, there were clear levels of official ranks here in Yangzhou, with officials on the road and state officials, but because of the existence of Cai Jing, the official titles of several levels of government were all messed up. Cai Jing himself concurrently served as the four-way shipping envoy, so the official system at the local level in the vicinity was all disrupted, not only that, Cai Jing also served as the governor of Yangzhou, so the state-level official system was also disrupted by him.

Zhao Xing is now the Jiangdu Commander of the Seventh Grade, and this official title Ouyang Xiu once held, but Jiangdu, as "Yiguo County", is too low-grade. And Zhao Xingzheng is in the most embarrassing time in the officialdom, he has served two terms of general judgment, according to his qualifications, he needs a small county order to transition before he can be promoted to Zhizhou, but Yangzhou has Cai Jing, the big man, pressing, so he has obtained a non-embarrassing and embarrassing official title of appeasement envoy. This official position belongs to the first level of "road", from the sixth grade. For Zhao Xing, it is equivalent to a disguised promotion, which means that he has touched the threshold of a high-ranking official.

The five grades are a threshold for ancient Chinese officials, and after being promoted to the five grades, they can continue to move to a higher position, and there is a big difference between the five grades of officials and low-level officials: officials who are above the five grades and then violate the law need to be "eight discussions", that is, as long as there is a reason, they can be punished for non-treasonious crimes, or the crime can be reduced by one as appropriate; If there is no mitigating reason, officials will create it.

The Recruiting and Appeasement Envoy is an official rank that crosses grades, and in the defense state, this official rank is higher than that of the Zhizhou; In non-defensive states, this official rank is lower than that of Zhizhou - this is a kind of restraint mechanism of the Great Song Dynasty officialdom. In addition, the addition of recruitment before the official title made it biased towards military positions, and "abandoning literature and advocating martial arts" was the most reluctant of the officials of the Great Song Dynasty.

At present, the whole Song Dynasty is also Zhao Xing's change in his position is the most concerned, he is soliciting appeasement to make the yamen carelessly accept the subordinate officials' visits, by the way bring Shuai Fan into this yamen, let him concurrently serve as a judge, and then casually began to "check" the soldiers and horses in Hangzhou.

"Ten commanders of the forbidden army stationed in this state, three thousand men and horses; There are also five commanders of the Xiang Army, 7,000 people; The box army contains four commanders of the water army. My lord, the above is all the soldiers and horses in this state", the remaining soldiers and horses Ti Lu Yu quietly explained to Zhao Xing: "Yangzhou has enough grain and grass, and there is not much shortage of soldiers and horses in the headquarters, in addition, if there is a major event, the neighboring Gaoyou army can support." ”

Another Ti Zhi next to him added: "The so-called big thing is just the harassment of bandits from Taihu Lake, Yangzhou is a water transport hub, and some bandits often come out of Taihu Lake to rob merchant ships." They gathered and scattered, and when they were surrounded and suppressed by a large army, they scattered into the lake, pretending to be good citizens. The army was dispatched, and the money and food were wasted, and the search was unfavorable, in general. As long as the bandits are not too excessive. The businessman is willing to spend money to buy peace, and I, the Yangzhou sailor, will open one eye and close one eye. ”

Zhao Xing nodded lightly, Yangzhou is such a rich place, supporting 12,000 soldiers and horses, and the burden on the people is not too heavy. He vaguely remembered that it seemed that after the Jin soldiers went south. The entire north has fallen, but Yangzhou is still resisting, relying on the ground is these 12,000 soldiers and horses.

Yangzhou is a city with a tradition of resistance – no, strictly speaking, it is a city with a tradition of resistance to Manchu invasion. In the Song Dynasty. It resisted the Jin soldiers most bravely, and when the Ming Dynasty died, it resisted the Houjin and spared no effort, so that it suffered the massacre of the "Ten Days of Yangzhou". Theoretically, it is often said that businessmen are the most compromising type of people, but Yangzhou, a city of merchants, ridicules this theory fiercely.

Zhao Xing had no intention of interfering with the soldiers and horses under the jurisdiction of Yangzhou, he only flipped through the roster slightly, and then handed over the soldiers and horses in Yangzhou, and then handed over to several officials: "Actually." Everyone has dealt with me before, and my concubine runs a loach stack. There are often bandits who come to harass me, and thanks to your care, I won't say anything when we meet today. ”

Lu Yu's eyebrows jumped, and he asked, "It turns out that the swift beast loach is an adult's industry?" ”

Then, the officials smiled understandingly.

Zhao Xing's loach stack is particular about the rapid circulation of goods. In order to prevent harassment by bandits. often spend money to ask Yangzhou naval forces to escort. The Yangzhou Navy is a big ship, and this big ship can't be idle. Sometimes I will also bring a little short-distance cargo, such as transporting some small items from Huangzhou to Yangzhou.

With this relationship, the Yangzhou Navy looked at Zhao Xing's eyes much kinder, and Lu Yu also smiled and said: "My Yangzhou Navy is really slow to climb the big boat, but it is always complained by Lord Zhao's family, and now it is okay, he will complain in the future, and go directly to Lord Zhao, because from now on, the Yangzhou Navy is also Lord Zhao's water army." ”

Everyone laughed, and the atmosphere was much more relaxed.

Lu Yu then asked: "My lord, I wonder why your loach line has a name for a swift beast, although this name is majestic, it is a bit nondescript. ”

Zhao Xing held the teacup, glanced at everyone with a smile, and found that Shuai Fan's lips sitting below were silently squirming, he smiled, and said in his stomach: "It was originally supposed to be called a velociraptor but the word dragon is not easy to use casually, so ......"

Of course, these words cannot be said nonsense.

Shuai Fan's lips moved for a long time, and he interjected: "Since the Yangzhou warship is moving slowly, why don't you replace it?" ”

The officials' faces were embarrassed, they basically ignored Shuai Fan's words, Lu Yu turned his face to Zhao Xing, and asked casually: "I heard that the adults are going to preside over the Yangzhou Peony Society, I don't know if there is such a thing?" ”

Zhao Xing held the teacup and said with a smile: "The ancients said: fireworks go down to Yangzhou in March, Yangzhou March Flower Festival is a civilization for hundreds of years, it is a great honor to be able to personally organize this Yangzhou Flower Festival, and it depends on the help of everyone here." ”

Shuai Fan unwillingly pulled the topic back again: "The water in Yangzhou City is shallow, I think the oars of the loach boat are reduced a little, installed in the stern, and rowing by hand through the streets and alleys is much faster than rowing with oars." Haven't you ever thought about changing a few fast boats? ”

Ignoring everyone's embarrassed faces, Shuai Fan continued: "I know that there is a large paddle boat, and an earth loach ship is only more than a thousand times, but the warship is equipped with oars, and it can shuttle freely in the small river ditch, without the need for slender men and oarsmen...... Didn't you also bring a little bit of goods, a thousand times, I estimate that you can earn it back in a year.

There are bandits near Yangzhou, there must be some businessmen who are willing to let the sailor ship escort the goods, especially the valuable cargo, the sailor has this advantage, why not take advantage of it? ”

Zhao Xing's face was calm, but he was already a little dissatisfied in his heart, this handsome Fan was straightforward enough, but he gave others advice to compete with Zhao Xing's loach line. He shook the cup, and was about to find an opportunity to speak, Lu Yu had already replied: "Shuai judge, you don't know, our navy is carrying some goods along the way, and it can only be some tail goods." Because the navy has flood land restrictions, warships cannot cross the border. Moreover, the navy warship can't help itself, and when the order comes down, the whole ship must be mobilized......"

Lu Yu then looked at Zhao Xing, and added with a smile: "In the past, we carried the goods of the big officials, because the delivery was not timely, and we were not less complained by the big officials, hahaha." ”

When Shuai Fan heard this, he touched his head embarrassedly, stepped aside and stopped talking.

It is the tradition of the Great Song Dynasty to rule civilians and military officials, but most civilian officials do not understand military affairs and generally do not meddle in the internal affairs of the army, and Zhao Xing does not intend to break the unspoken rules of officialdom. Chatted a few words. The servants served Erchen soup, and the officers drank the soup and began to take their leave.

After the others left, Zhao Xing looked at Shuai Fan and said idly reproached: "Brother Shuai, I have been in the officialdom for a few years, and I have only learned six words: do more things." Talk less. Because there are many taboos in officialdom, if you talk indiscriminately, you will make a mess. ”

Shuai Fan respectfully thanked Zhao Xing for his teachings and paused. He asked unwillingly: "I heard that the Lord has formed a utility army in Mizhou, and I don't know if I can do the same in Yangzhou." ”

Zhao Xing smiled and shook his head: "The situation in the two places is different, Mizhou is barren, and the formation of a utility army to create a new situation is for the benefit of the people of Mizhou." But Yangzhou is different, Yangzhou has become the hub of the world for hundreds of years, since the establishment of the dynasty, every corner of Yangzhou possible profits have been occupied.

We are outsiders, and if we meddle too much, we will take food from other people's mouths. If we do that, I'm afraid we won't be able to stay long. ”

Shuai Fan thought for a long time. Surrender indifferently and retreat.

Next, Zhao Xing devoted himself to the preparations for the Peony Festival. This work is a bit scolding, because Cai Jing forces the rich to dedicate the precious peony varieties in their family, although it is said that the best flowers will be selected at the peony conference and the owner will receive an honor, but not everyone likes this honor.

Yangzhou peony to Zhu Cong, Ding Jian, Yuan Zongxi, Xu Yu four varieties of the most, these four families from the early years of the Northern Song Dynasty in the first few places in the peony conference. Among them, the most famous is the Zhu family. This family has 10,000 acres of peony medicine garden, and the predecessor Jiang Du Ling Wang Guan sorted out the "Yangzhou Peony Medicine Spectrum". There are hundreds of varieties of precious peonies from the Zhu family alone.

Zhu Ding and Yuan Xu's participation in the peony festival has the element of fighting each other, and it is also a kind of showing off their wealth, but other small families and small families participating in this peony meeting are a bit more than worth the loss, because the honor of the top few has nothing to do with them, and it takes time and manpower to participate in this kind of conference. Their reluctant attitude made Zhao Xing a headache.

How to make the people who participate in the Peony Club profitable, so that they enthusiastically participate, Zhao Xing tried his best for this, and in desperation, Zhao Xing consulted with his three subordinates.

"You can sell tickets", Shuai Fan preemptively suggested: "Let the people who watch the peony club pay a few big bucks, the Yangzhou Flower Club is so famous, they must be willing." ”

Wan Qianyong and Shan Yi were still pondering, Zhao Xing smiled bitterly: "The gardens of the Great Song Dynasty do not charge tickets, and the opening of the Royal Jinming Pond has never heard of charging tickets, and the folk gardens dare to charge tickets and don't want to live." ”

Wan Qianyong explained: "Yangzhou and Hangzhou have always had the custom of flower fairs, and the gardens of rich families will be open for a few days every spring, allowing people to watch, and I have never heard of anyone charging tickets." Dare to charge tickets, even if the official family is silent, the neighbors will be scolded to death. This can't be done, it's not enough to make money shamefully. ”

Zhao Xing said to himself: "It's not okay to participate in the peony auction, the famous peony varieties are all controlled by the four people, and the flowers that the people participate in the competition can't sell for a big price." That little money is not enough to toss, no wonder the people are unwilling. ”

Seeing Zhao Xing's gaze turn to himself, Shan Yi shook his head and said: "Don't ask the old man, the old man only understands water conservancy, I came with the adult because I want the adult to be appointed as an official near Taihu Lake, maybe it is beneficial to renovate Taihu Lake." ”

"There it is!" Shuai Fan slapped his leg and shouted: "Auction the stalls, and subsidize the booth fees to the flower farmers." ”

Zhao Xing nodded lightly: "Let's raise it like this first, I hope we will come up with a way when the time comes." ”

After several people finished discussing, they walked out of the official office and walked slowly along the alleys of Yangzhou. Facing an old man who drove a large group of ducks past Zhao Xing, the ducks were croaking, their white feathers were floating on the green waves, and there was a lonely boat clothed man, a good pastoral scene. Wan Qianyong looked at Zhao Xing and explained: "He drove this group of ducks to the capital, every spring, the duck farmers here in Yangzhou are so driven ducks into the lake, and by the end of autumn, their ducks have arrived in the capital, and the ducks along the way have also fattened up, just in the capital to sell." ”

Zhao Xing muttered in his mouth: "Duck, how did I forget the duck ......"