A group of people came to the main gate of the county government, looked up, and couldn't help but be taken aback, there was a group of people standing at the door, there were more than a dozen people, the first few people were dressed in official clothes, obviously officials, and a few people in the back, chained, obviously prisoners.

Xu Heguang knew that the person who was the leader was Fan Li, the county lieutenant of Shile County, and immediately greeted him with a smile: "The county lieutenant Fan is really determined, why don't you inform me in advance, and send someone to greet him from afar." ”

Fan Li knew in his heart that Xu Heguang was polite on the surface, but he didn't give courtesy, Xu Heguang was a grade higher than him, he took a step back and saluted: "Xiaguan Fan Li has seen Xu Xiancheng." ”

"No need to be polite." Xu Heguang replied casually, stretched out his hand and grabbed Fan Li's arm, warm and cordial, "County Lieutenant Fan, come, come in and talk." ”

Fan Li didn't appreciate it, and smiled faintly: "Thank you Xu Xiancheng, the lower official has a life, after handing over the prisoner, he will return to the city immediately, and he can't stay for a long time." ”

Xu Heguang was slightly stunned, his eyes glanced at the person behind Fan Li, and said strangely: "Prisoner? What prisoners? ”

"Bring it on." Fan Li turned around and shouted, Liu Ming and several arresters escorted Fu Ke and his accomplices forward, and behind Fu Ke and his party were Wang Xianke, Wang Sun, and Dong Duan, who had a blue nose and swollen face.

"This ......" Xu Heguang was even more inexplicable, "what the hell is going on?" ”

Fan Li and Xu Heguang have had several relationships, and they also know his personality, Zhending County is much more complicated than Shile County, and as an outsider, he is reluctant to get involved, not to mention that Xia Xiang treats him and a group of fast catchers well along the way, good food and drink, and rewards, so he doesn't need to say anything, just follow the rules.

"Back to the county, this person's name is Fu Ke, who is originally from Shile County, and usually runs rampant in the township and acts misbehaps. Guixian Xia Xianzun passed through Shile, Fu Ke was blind and collided with Xia Xianzun, not to mention, and almost injured Xia Xianzun. Pei Xianzun of this county ordered Fu Ke and his henchmen to be escorted to Guixian County and handed over to Xia Xianzun for disposal. Fan Li turned around and pointed at Wang Xianke and Dong Duan, "Wang Xianke, Wang Sun's and Dong Duan, they are all victims, and they are witnesses, and they were sent together." ”

How so? Xu Heguang was taken aback, and when he wanted to ask clearly, Fan Li crossed his hands and saluted: "The person has been delivered, and the lower officials have to go back to resume their lives, it is inconvenient to stay for a long time, so I will leave!" ”

As soon as he finished speaking, Fan Li saluted Ma Zhanguo and the others, turned around and left.

"Lieutenant Fan, please stay." Ma Zhanguo took a step forward, blocked Fan Li's way, and asked, "Where is Xia Xianzun now?" ”

Fan Li shook his head: "I waited for Ben to walk with Xia Xianzun all the way, and after arriving at Zhending County, Xia Xianzun said that there was something else important, so he separated from us." Where he is now, the official does not know. ”

Ding Ke understood a little bit in his heart, and wanted Fan Li to do things in a certain way, without leakage, slightly lower than Xu Heguang Pinyi, so he called himself a lower official. and Ma Zhanguo are the same county lieutenants, and they have the same quality, so they call themselves their own officials. Another business-like appearance, with an attitude that is neither humble nor arrogant, and his position is impartial, but he is really an eight-sided and exquisite character.

Xu Heguang didn't want to let Fan Li go, so he had to stay with Fan Li for dinner, but Fan Li refused again and again, and finally did not enter the county office. And from beginning to end, Xia Xiang's whereabouts were not revealed, nor did he say a word about the inside story of Fu Ke's murder of the court official.

Although Xu Heguang was unhappy, he couldn't, Fan Li was the lieutenant of Shile County, and he was not under his jurisdiction, and he usually didn't have much friendship. After Fan Li left, he summoned Ma Zhanguo, Yang Jiang and Ding Ke to discuss the matter, and first determined that Xia Xianzun was already in Zhending County at this time, but no one knew where he was. Since Xia Xianzun is not missing and has arrived safely in Zhending City, there is no need to report to Zhending Mansion.

For security reasons, Xu Heguang asked Ma Zhanguo and Ding Ke to send more people to strengthen the security of Zhending County, in addition to strictly guarding Fu Ke and others, and properly placing Dong Duan, Wang Xianke, and Wang Sun, so as to interfere with emergencies. Later, he discussed with Yang Jiang in private, but he couldn't guess what Xia Xiang's intention was. The two of them thought they were well-informed, but they had never seen the county zun who started to try the case on the way to office, let alone the county zun who did not come to the county government to take office.

Xia Xiang Xia Xianzun, really different, although Xu Heguang was a little more curious and vigilant about Xia Xiang, but he didn't think deeply, just when Xia Xiang was a teenager, it was fun for a while, and when he saw that it was not early, he said goodbye to Yang Jiang, and let Yang Jiang stay in the county government to wait for Xia Xianzun's arrival at any time.

It's getting dark.

The lanterns on both sides of the Hutuo River are lit up one after another, and all kinds of boats in the river, big boats, small boats, and flower boats, are also lit up, reflecting the river and the scenery on both sides of the river.

It's autumn after all. Autumn in the north, although the depression is full of harvest weather, the Hutuo River is abundant and calm, the two banks are covered with reeds, at a glance, there is quite a "pale leaves, white dew is frost." The so-called Yi people, on the water side". The smoke from both sides of the strait and the smoke from the ship blended together and rose into the air. The afterglow of the setting sun is like gold, sprinkled on the surface of the river, and the golden light is glittering, intertwined into a quiet and tranquil picture.

"The world is peaceful, and the people live and work in peace and contentment, which is the luck of officials." Xia Xiang pointed to a big boat in the river that was more than three feet high, the corners of his mouth rose slightly, and his eyebrows were slightly raised, "It is truly worthy of its name, and it is a real place of stability." Even the little lady, such a peaceful county, why does it have to be Longtan Tiger's Den? ”

There was only one person behind Xia Xiang, Ling'er, and Xiao Wu and Mantuo were missing, and there was one person beside him, who was Lian Ruohan.

Xia Xiang, who was dressed in a green shirt, was a little less elegant than the previous white shirt, but a little more free and indifferent, and the scarf above his head added a bit of majesty, after all, he was the respect of a county, and his speech and demeanor should pay attention to the rules.

Lian Ruohan smiled: "It's really sure that it is the Longtan Tiger's Den, the county has its own judgment, and the little woman will say more." The county has arrived at Zhending, and if you don't go to the county government but come to play the Hutuo River first, you must have thought about it in your heart. ”

"Where does this official have any plans, he just wants to relieve the bitterness in his heart." Xia Xiang put his hands behind his back, jumped onto a small boat docked on the shore, and said to the boatman with white hair, "Boatman, take a few of us to visit the Hutuo River, plus snacks and dinner, how much does it cost in total?" ”

The boatman with white hair is sixty miles away, the wrinkles on his face are full of vicissitudes like pine bark, and his smile is simple and thick: "Ten wen is enough." However, the guest officer, the old man must declare in advance that there are no delicious things on the ship, only salted fish, pickles, spicy seeds, rice porridge, and pancakes, as long as you don't dislike coarse tea, light rice, less oil and less salt. ”

"No problem." Xia Xiang turned around and smiled at Lian Ruohan, "Is there a problem with even the little lady?" ”

Lian Ruohan didn't need to be supported by Ling'er, and jumped on the boat lightly: "How much is the difference between brocade clothes and jade food and coarse tea and light rice?" Xia County...... Xia Langjun has no problem, and I have no problem. ”

Ling'er covered her mouth and smiled, and also got on the boat.

The boatman laughed, shook the boat and sailed away from the shore. The evening breeze blows, and the whole body is cold, but it is cold but not cold.

The boatman poured himself a glass of turbid wine, and sang in a muddy but vicissitudes of voice with the evening breeze and the sound of oars: "The moon bends and shines on Kyushu, and a few people are happy and a few are sad." A few couples were in the same tent, and a few people were scattered in other states. The confinement bends and shines in Kyushu, and a few families are happy and a few are sad. Worried about the nail people coming to the menstrual affairs, they have to take a break and take a break. The confinement bends and shines in Kyushu, and a few families are happy and a few are sad. A few high-rise buildings drink good wine, and a few live on the streets......"

The sound of oars, moon shadows, songs, lights and shadows, all shine in the hazy moonlight, like a poem that has been sung continuously from ancient times to the present, through thousands of years of time, from the Book of Poetry, through the Han and Tang Dynasties, still full of affection and poetry.

"The confinement bends and shines on Kyushu, a few people are happy and a few people are sad. A few high-rise buildings drink wine, a few live on the streets......" Xia Xiang sang softly, nodded again and again, he stood on the bow of the boat, standing with his hands in his hands, looking at both sides of the river, above both banks, high-rise buildings, prosperous, but the ship sailed out of the county, only to see the fertile fields thousands of tilts, fertile fields for thousands of miles, but outside the city gate, there were many more ragged men and women.

The boat continued on its way, and in a short time it came to the outside of the city. The Hutuo River passes through the city, and after leaving the city, it turns a corner to the south, part of which is injected into the moat, and part of which continues to flow to the southeast, like a crescent moon surrounding the city of Zhending.

The smell of porridge wafted in the cabin, and after a while, a white-haired mother-in-law beckoned to a few people and said, "A few guest officers, the meal is ready, you can eat." ”

Xia Xiang retracted his thoughts and smiled slightly: "The lady is invited." ”

The mother-in-law smiled kindly: "What a pair of jade people, talented and beautiful, a match made in heaven." Little lady, your officials are handsome, and they have a noble atmosphere, and they will definitely be rich and noble in the future. You are blessed. ”

Lian Ruohanqiao blushed: "Old man, he is not an official of my family, just a friend." ”

"Friends?" The mother-in-law looked Xia Xiang up and down a few times, and said earnestly in a tone from a person who had come over, "I said little lady, it's not that I'm too talkative, such a good Langjun, if you miss it, you won't be able to find it again." I know countless people, and I have a pair of fiery eyes, and I can see at a glance that this little Langjun is extraordinary. ”

"Old man, where do you see that he is extraordinary?" Lian Ruohan was very surprised that an ordinary boatman, how could he see at a glance that Xia Xiang was not very human? Could it be that she is a master hidden in the people?

Xia Xiang saw that Lian Ruohan believed it to be true, and couldn't help laughing: "The boat family just saw that I was kind, and said it casually, but you believed it, even the little lady, you are too gullible to trust others." ”

The mother-in-law said dissatisfiedly: "Xiao Langjun, are you talking to me?" You're wrong, I'm not a person who talks nonsense, and I won't praise the guest officer just to ask for a few pennies. I'm telling the truth, this little Langjun is full of heaven, his eyes are bright, his eyebrows are thick, his ears are round, and he looks like a rich and noble person. Moreover, Xiao Langjun behaves and talks, is very elegant, and walks like a tiger, and is a big man who will enter the phase. ”

"Haha......" Xia Xiang laughed and threw out a tael of silver, "Thank you mother-in-law for your kind words, if I am really rich in the future, I will definitely not forget my mother-in-law's praise today." ”

said that she didn't want to reward money, but her mother-in-law took the silver quickly and smiled: "Look, I'm not wrong, right? Xiao Langjun is generous and bold, and it will be difficult to think about whether he is rich or not in the future. Quick, it's time to eat, or the meal will be cold. ”

Lian Ruohan smiled dumbly, it turned out that her mother-in-law was really trying to reward money, she couldn't help but shake her head, thinking that Xia Xiang went from the capital to the county seat, from high-ranking officials to ordinary people, and he was really a genius. However, he couldn't help but secretly look at Xia Xiang a few more times, and he felt strange in his heart, Xia Xiang's elegant aura was there, and he walked like a tiger...... But I didn't see it, but I really walked steadily.

The boatman shook his head and sighed: "Lady, how many times have I said that we are only enough to be the ship's father, although we don't farm the land, there is no harvest, and we can't starve to death, so we don't have to ask the guest officer for a reward." ”

The mother-in-law was afraid that Xia Xiang would take back the reward, so she hurriedly put away the silver: "What do you know as an old man?" If you don't know the price of firewood and rice, you can not earn a few pennies a day, food and clothing are just enough, in case there is a disease and a disaster, what can I do? This guest officer is a rich man, and a tael of silver is just a fur, but for us it is a family that saves money for half a year. ”

Xia Xiang and Lian Ruohan sat down to eat, and Ling'er waited on the side.

Although the pancake is not exquisite, it is made by traditional methods, not much oil, but fragrant, Xia Xiang ate it happily, and sandwiched a few pickles, and praised it even more: "Yes, delicious." ”

Lian Ruohan laughed quietly: "Don't forget that you are the dignified lord of a county, and a piece of pancake is so satisfying?" ”

"Those who are happy with the people, the people are also happy; Those who are worried about the people, the people are also worried......" Xia Xiang took a big bite of the cake, drank another mouthful of porridge, put down the chopsticks, and asked the boatman, "The boatman, why don't you farm?" ”

At this time, the sky was completely dark, and it was dark in the distance, and it was indistinct, but it was vaguely visible that it was woods and farmland, and in the distance was the tall city gate, above which was brightly lit.

The boatman began to turn around and said, "Guest officer, it will be farther and farther away from the county seat if you go further...... Originally, I still had more than a dozen acres of land at home, and the land was also very fertile, and the annual harvest was not bad. Early the year before last, there was no harvest of grains, but fortunately, the harvest of the year before was sufficient, and it was not a problem to eat enough for a year. The government came forward and said that it could borrow money from the government to grow grain or seedlings, and when there was a harvest in the coming year, it would be settled according to the interest rate of two......"

Xia Xiang nodded secretly, this law is called the new law, which is one of the reform measures promoted by Hou Pingpan, and it is also the reason why he is relied on by the emperor. The original intention of the new law is that "the people do not give more and the country uses enough", and the government will come forward to build grain warehouses in various places, so that the price of rice can be appropriately raised in good years, so as to prevent the grain from hurting the peasants; In the famine year, the price of rice should be appropriately reduced, the price should be stabilized, the people should be saved, and the peasants should be prevented from dying when the grain is expensive, that is, "the market price will be reduced when the amount is expensive, and the market price will be increased when the quantity is cheap".

Xia Xiang traveled all the way south from the capital, passing through several prefectures and counties, and saw large areas of barren fields and displaced farmers, and had a stronger and more intuitive understanding of the implementation of the new law among the people.

In all fairness, Xia Xiang did not approve of the implementation of the new law, especially since the implementation of the new law, those who supported the new law were regarded as the same party by the prime minister, and those who opposed the new law were listed as aliens, and the same party was promoted and degraded. The two camps attacked each other and went their own way, causing chaos in the court, and even the emperor couldn't suppress the quarrels between the two factions.

Later, after the emperor was seriously ill and ignored the government affairs, the three princes took charge of the government on their behalf and joined forces with Hou Pingpan to crack down on officials who opposed the new law. Some of the opponents, degraded officials. Neutrals, demotion.

This matter started when the emperor was sick, until the emperor was seriously ill, and then to the present, it has intensified. Now in the court, there are no officials who oppose the new law, all of them are in favor of the new law, or vassals of the three princes, Hou Pingpan, or flatterers.

"Two cents of interest is not much, I estimate that it will not be a problem to repay the principal with interest, so I borrowed a stone from the government to grow grain." There was a hint of helplessness and a wry smile on the wrinkled face of the boatman, "No one thought that the coming year would indeed be a bumper harvest, but the government clearly said that it was two cents, but it was cleverly named, and it was calculated, and finally it became four cents." In addition to a variety of unknown expenses, converted, one stone of grain with interest has become three stones, borrowing one to repay three, who can afford it? ”

"When I planted last autumn, I simply stopped borrowing from the government. I didn't want the government to come to my door, so I was forced to borrow, and one loan was ten stones. Hehe, during the autumn harvest this year, a total of more than 20 stone of grain was collected, and I borrowed one to repay three repayment, thinking that borrowing ten stone from my neighbors would be enough to repay the government, but who knows how the government counted some more items into it, and it was enough to pay back forty stones. I couldn't get so much grain after selling my little old man, so I had to sell the land to pay off the government loan. The boatman laughed sadly a few times, and a few muddy tears flowed down, "I didn't expect the little old man to be honest all his life, save money and be thrifty, and run his family thriftily, and finally the bamboo basket was empty, and he ended up with no place to stand, if there is no loan, I still have more than a dozen acres of thin fields, sunrise and sunset, stable and comfortable, where to live on the boat like now, drifting ......"

"The Hakka officials only saw that the people outside the city were all people who sold their land and houses because they couldn't afford to repay the government's loans." The mother-in-law said while cleaning up the dishes and chopsticks, "Hao Haiji, the former magistrate of the county, is a good official, he is too good to be bullied, and the official is too good to be bullied by the official, I heard that he is always pressed by the county Xu Heguang, and everything is at the mercy of Xu Heguang." The county official is smaller than the county official, why does the county listen to the county official? ”

Xia Xiang is a little heavy, for the farmers, the land is the root of life, the farmers who lose the land are like drifting duckweed, Mencius said, the people are the way, those who have constant production have perseverance, those who have no permanent production have perseverance, the original intention of the new law is to enrich the country and strengthen the people, but it has become the reason for the officials to fish and flesh the people, the prime minister may not know the truth of the new law in the implementation, but deliberately concealed the emperor, claiming that the new law is deeply loved and supported by the people in various places, and how much tax revenue has been added to the imperial court.

Where does the extra tax revenue come from? It is the blood and sweat of the boat family in front of them, the life savings of the displaced people outside the city, and the people's fat and ointment looted by countless officials!

After the boat docked, Lian Ruohan took out a piece of money and handed it to the boatman.

After Lian Ruohan and the others left, the boatman took out the money to attract the lights to take a look, and he was so frightened that he sat on the boat. The boatman stammered and opened a pair of frightened eyes: "Mother...... Son, am I right? Is it old and dizzy? ”

The mother-in-law leaned over and only glanced at it, and also exclaimed: "God, a hundred times, a hundred taels of silver!" One hundred taels of silver is enough for us to eat for a lifetime, old man, we have made a fortune. ”

The boatman was stunned for a while, knelt down on the bow of the boat with a "plop", and looked into the sky in the direction where Lian Ruohan and the others disappeared: "The Bodhisattva blesses the great benevolent people with great wealth and a safe life." ”

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