Even Changzhou Mansion, the nest of the Donglin Party, was easily conquered, and taking this Yangzhou Mansion, which is located in the north of the Yangtze River and does not have much entanglement with the Donglin Party in the south of the Yangtze River, is actually a gesture in Fang Yuan's opinion.

Even if Shi Kefa of Nanjing City wanted to intervene, Fang Yuan was now the governor and the lieutenant of Chongzhen, and he was even more powerful than Shi Kefa, and Shi Kefa had no right to interfere in the affairs of Yangzhou Mansion. What's more, because of the resettlement of displaced people, he just tore his face with Shi Kefa, so he no longer needs to care about Shi Kefa's face.

Three days later, Fang Yuan, Qin Zhan, and Ma Lin drove directly to Yangzhou City with a thousand Xuanjia troops and three hundred brocade guards.

Fang Yuan had already informed him of the Yangzhou Mansion during this trip, he had just arrived outside Yangzhou through the Grand Canal waterway, the prefect Ma Minglu, and the same Zhiqu Congzhi, and a number of government officials had been waiting for a long time.

Ma Minglu warmly received Fang Yuan into Yangzhou City to inspect the work of the government.

Fang Yuan was just about to lead the army into the city, Ma Minglu looked at the accompanying Xuanjia Army sergeant, and said in embarrassment, "Fang Junmen, the sergeant entered the city, for fear of causing panic in the city, it is better to arrange Yangzhou Wei outside the city according to the old rules!" ”

According to common sense, sergeants are not allowed to enter the city, so one, two thousand Xuanjia soldiers entering the city is indeed a disturbance to the people, Fang Yuan ordered Ma Lin to take one thousand Xuanjia soldiers to enter Yangzhou Wei outside the city, and he and Qin Zhan entered Yangzhou City with three hundred brocade guards.

Ma Minglu first invited Fang Yuan to inspect the salt works of the Shanxi Merchants Gang in Yangzhou City, as well as the alleys where the people lived, but Fang Yuan refused.

Regardless of whether it is before or after the crossing, such an inspection arranged in advance, it is completely a show and a show, and there is no need for inspection at all. Even if he wanted to inspect, Fang Yuan would choose to inspect without the escort of government officials.

Ma Minglu invited Fang Yuan to go to the largest restaurant in Yangzhou City, where he had already arranged a grand banquet for Fang Yuan to wash the dust.

Fang Yuan's trip was for government affairs, not to eat and drink. Suzhou Mansion, naval base, military factory, and many other affairs waiting for him to go back to deal with, and he didn't want to delay more in Yangzhou City, so he refused Ma Minglu's arrangement to pick up the wind and wash the dust, and ordered the accompanying Yangzhou officials to go directly to Yangzhou Mansion and start announcing official business.

The prefect Ma Minglu, with the Zhiqu Congzhi, and a line of Yangzhou Mansion officials did not dare to disobey his statement, and immediately invited Fang Yuan into the Yangzhou Mansion. He stood tall in front of the desk of the government office, and everyone was respectfully waiting for instructions below.

Fang Yuan publicly announced the collection policy of Yangzhou Mansion for land taxation and commercial tax, which is lower than that of Suzhou Prefecture, the base camp, according to the standards of Changzhou Mansion and Songjiang Prefecture.

Because Yangzhou Mansion also has a Grand Canal banknote customs, he also put forward the same requirements as Suzhou Mansion for banknote customs tax collection, introducing a monitoring system to monitor the daily work of tax collectors, and incorporating banknote customs taxes into the management of Jinyiwei.

Ma Minglu, Qu Congzhi and the others all listened with impassive faces and respectfully, until Fang Yuan finished talking endlessly, and no one stood up and raised the slightest objection.

Fang Yuan sensed that something was wrong with the atmosphere at the scene, looked around, and asked rhetorically, "Have you heard clearly, colleagues?" ”

Ma Minglu, who was originally hanging his head, hurriedly put on a smile as if he was entertaining, "Fang Junmen, we all heard it clearly." ”

Seeing that he didn't continue his words, Fang Yuan asked again, "Regarding the land tax, commercial tax, and banknote tariff, can the Yangzhou Government comply with it?" ”

Ma Minglu still readily agreed, "Fang Junmen has an order, and our Yangzhou government will go all out to implement it truthfully." ”

Qu Congzhi, and other officials responded in unison, "Everything must be in accordance with the decree of the Fang Military Gate." ”

Fang Yuan had also considered it before, after all, Yangzhou Mansion was not deeply involved with the Donglin Party, and it might be easier to get it than Changzhou Mansion and Songjiang Mansion. But the current cheerfulness of the officials Ma Minglu and Qu Congzhi still exceeded Fang Yuan's estimate, and there was no bargaining at the very least, which made Fang Yuan a little suspicious.

He looked around at everyone again, and secretly wondered in his heart, no matter what tricks these officials used, he was not afraid at all, with the Xuanjia Army and the Jinyi Guard in hand, he was afraid of a bird! Whoever dares to disobey the decree will be replaced immediately.

Fang Yuan said loudly, "Since this is the case, then follow the implementation, and I will arrange for Jinyiwei to settle in the banknote customs as soon as possible to supervise the collection of banknote customs duties and commercial taxes." ”

Ma Minglu waited for him to finish speaking, and then asked, "Fang Junmen, how many days do you want to stay in Yangzhou City?" The gentry and wealthy merchants of Yangzhou City were waiting for the grand reception of Fang Junmen. ”

Fang's original plan was to delay the days in Yangzhou City and rectify the land endowment and banknote customs duties. But now Ma Minglu and the others agreed very happily, which made his plan completely fail.

But it seemed too hasty and hasty to leave like this, so I decided to stay in Yangzhou City for two or three days, and privately went to inspect the people's livelihood and customs in Yangzhou City, which can be regarded as personally coming to the school to test the achievements of Ma Minglu and other government officials.

Fang Yuan said, "I will stay for two or three days, but the meeting with the gentry and rich merchants is enough. There is no need for the prefect of Ma to receive me these days, I will arrange my own accommodation and itinerary. ”

Since he insisted on acting alone, Ma Minglu and other officials still had no objections and responded in a low voice.

Fang Yuan came out of the Yangzhou Mansion with a strange atmosphere, and then he suddenly felt a burst of relaxation, strolling along the small Qinhuai River in the north of Yangzhou City, accompanied by only twenty brocade guards with his cronies.

The rest of the Jinyi guards followed behind everyone from a distance, monitoring the surrounding movements.

Both sides of the small Qinhuai River are lined with green trees, flowers, teahouses, brothels, and merchants, and hundreds of prostitutes in the Qinglou are soliciting guests.

Fang Yuan, who was born handsome and handsome, was the most welcome guest of these Qinglou women, and from time to time someone came forward to pull and pull, but Fang Yuan politely refused.

Fang Yuan suddenly asked, "Fourth, do you say that these officials in Yangzhou Mansion are too obedient, and they are all honest before the stick is smashed on their bodies." ”

Qin Zhan nodded and said, "Boss, I also think they agreed too quickly, is there any fraud in it!" ”

Fang Yuan asked rhetorically, "Fourth, you said that Songjiang Mansion had the support of Zheng Zhilong from Fujian before, but I calmed it down, and Yangzhou Mansion jumped into the sky, what tricks can you play?" ”

Qin Zhan said, "Boss, are you too optimistic? Songjiang Mansion is a lonely seaside, and only Zheng Zhilong can be found as a backer. And Yangzhou Mansion, located at the junction of Nanjing, Henan, Huguang, and Shandong, can get more support, will other forces secretly intervene? ”

As soon as Fang Yuan was reminded by him, it suddenly dawned that Yangzhou Mansion, west of Ma Shiying's Fengyang Mansion, southwest of Shi Kefa's Nanjing, north of Lu King Zhu Yihai's Yanzhou Mansion, and northeast of Liu Zeqing's Qingzhou Mansion, is indeed the focus of all forces, worthy of the name of the place of the four wars.

While the two were talking, several brocade guards secretly approached and whispered to Qin Zhan.

Qin Zhan got the information handed over by Jinyiwei and reported to Fang Yuan in a low voice, "Boss, Jinyiwei has detected that something is wrong with the surrounding situation!" ”

Fang Yuan was shocked and asked in amazement, "Fourth, what's wrong?" ”

Qin Zhan lowered his voice and said in mosquito language, "The Jinyi guard of the guards came to report that we have been being followed and monitored since we came out of the Yangzhou Mansion. ”

Fang Yuan didn't think so, with the bureaucratic style of Ma Minglu and others, it was strange not to send people to follow and monitor, so as to control Fang Yuan's every move at any time, "The officials of Yangzhou Mansion may be worried that we are privately visiting the people, so they are aware of it!" ”

Qin Zhan shook his head and said, "According to the Jinyi Guard's report, the people who are following and monitoring are all in the appearance of homeless people, and there are at least dozens of people. If we are worried that we will send a small official to monitor the people, why should we wear the clothes of a homeless person, and there are dozens of people? ”

He was right, these homeless people came to monitor, it was indeed too abnormal, Fang Yuan thought of the abnormal words and deeds of Ma Minglu and others in Yangzhou Mansion before, and then he was really vigilant.

After all, it is in Yangzhou, where he is unfamiliar with his life, and there are only three hundred brocade guards around him, no matter how bold Fang Yuan is, there is no need to take this risk, "Fourth, this Yangzhou City is indeed a little weird, let's immediately rush to join the Xuanjia Army outside the city!" ”

Yangzhou Wei was in the south of Yangzhou City, Qin Zhan nodded, and immediately ordered the Jinyi guards of the guards to start gathering around Fang Yuan, escorting Fang Yuan through the city and heading towards the south of the city.

As soon as I turned the two alleys, I saw a boy dressed as a servant walking over and respectfully handing over an invitation, "Fang Junmen, King Yong invites you to a gathering at the mansion." ”

Zhu Cizhi invited him at this time, but it was a problem for Fang Yuan, he didn't want to delay in Yangzhou City again, but after all, Zhu Cizhi was personally brought to Jiangnan, and he was also the prince of Tian Guifei's dying entrustment, if he left in such a hurry, he didn't even give an explanation to Yangzhou Mansion and King Yong, but he seemed to be as timid as a mouse.

Fang Yuan immediately made a decision, and ordered Qin Zhan to send a few Jinyi guards to contact Yangzhou Wei's Xuanjia army to approach Yangzhou City, ready to respond, he went to meet Yongwang Zhu Cizhi, and immediately left Yangzhou City.