After Yin Yuan finished taking care of Jiankang's trivialities, he had to go to Yangzhou to perform his duties according to the system. He was alone and had no family, and the most reassuring thing at the time of parting was actually Yun Meng, who sent someone to the Zhengxi General's Mansion to deliver a message the day before leaving, hoping that Yun Meng could see him off at the ferry. After Yun Meng received the message, he complained to Huan about the leave, and asked Qingyao to wrap two bags of good tea and bring it, and rushed to the ferry early in the morning.

At this time, the ferry, the people are sparse, only a post boat leans on the shore, the river is shrouded in mist, you can't see the other side, there is a small pavilion not far from the ferry, a person wearing a cloak and standing facing the river, it is Yin Yuan. Yun Meng saw that Yin Yuan had arrived, so he hurriedly stepped forward and said, "The junior brother is here, let the brother wait for a long time." ”

Yin Yuan didn't seem to hear it, but said to himself: "There is a lot of fog, and the future is uncertain!" ”

Yun Meng said "brother" again, Yin Yuan came back to his senses, turned to Yun Meng and said: "Brother Xian is here, I am very pleased to have a brother to see him off." ”

Yun Meng said: "Brother don't have to be sentimental, my brother is only going to Yangzhou for official business, and he will be able to return to Beijing in a few days, and you and my brother can see each other again." ”

Yin Yuan pulled Yun Meng and entered the small pavilion together, Yin Yuan's entourage put some wine and food on the stone table in the pavilion, the two sat down, Yun Meng filled Yin Yuan with a glass of wine, and he also filled a glass of wine, got up and picked up the wine glass and said: "Today, my brother was ordered to inspect Yangzhou, the road is hard, please drink this cup of my brother, and the younger brother wishes my brother all the best in this trip and return as soon as possible." ”

Yin Yuan also picked up the wine glass and stood up, and said: "Thank you Brother Xian for your concern, it's just that my brother is no longer healthy, Brother Xian must be careful everywhere, think more about things, and don't act recklessly." ”

Yun Meng replied: "Brother, don't worry, the younger brother has written it down." The two of them drank the wine in one gulp.

Putting down the wine glass, Yin Yuan thought for a while, and stopped talking a few times, Yun Meng saw this and asked, "Is there anything inconvenient for my brother to talk about?" ”

Yin Yuan said: "It's nothing, it's just that some things are just random speculations, don't say it." ”

Yun Meng saw that Yin Yuan didn't want to say, so he didn't ask anymore. After a while, his subordinates reminded Yin Yuan that it was time to leave, and Yun Meng handed the tea to Yin Yuan and said: "Yun Meng knew that his brother had good tea, so he asked people to pick some from the family teacher's mansion, and the meager gift was just a piece of the younger brother's heart." ”

Yin Yuan smiled: "It's still a virtuous brother who knows me!" Then Yin Yuan boarded the boat, and the two brothers waved goodbye.

Yun Meng read books and talked with Huan Yuan every day in Jiankang, and his life was simple and peaceful. Just said that Yin Yuan's visit to Yangzhou this time was nominally a routine inspection, but in fact, there was a heavy responsibility on his shoulders. Just before leaving, Sima Yu, the king of Huiji, had a deep conversation with Yin Yuan, Sima Yu said that in the past few years, the imperial court has made several northern expeditions, using a large amount of money and materials, and the military expenditure is huge, and the treasury has been unbearable, so it can only barely cope at present. Recently, the imperial court received a secret report, accusing the Pingnan general Du Shuo of embezzling a huge amount of money from the imperial court by rectifying the ditch, and controlling Caoyun to make a lot of money. The Son of Heaven was very angry about this, but he was worried that Du Shuo had military power, and without real evidence, he could only instruct King Huiji to secretly investigate the matter, and King Huiji assigned Yin Yuan to secretly investigate Du Shuo's corruption case through routine inspections, which also made Yin Yuan feel a huge pressure, and how to find a breakthrough is the key and the most difficult.

In the Han Dynasty, there were 13 states in the world, and the Son of Heaven inspected the world. Generally speaking, although the assassin has no real power, but the mouth of the assassin is related to the future and fate of local civil and military officials, so the assassin patrol is also warmly received.

On this day, the ship sailed to the waters of Yangzhou, which is also the starting point of the ditch. Hangou south from the Yangtze River south of Yangzhou, north to the Huai'an north of the Huaihe River, the ditch excavation began in the Spring and Autumn Period, after many dynasties dredging, rectification, the Three Kingdoms was the place where Sun Cao's soldiers fought, but the road was not smooth, in order to improve the transportation conditions between the Jianghuai River, but also in order to support the Northern Expedition, the dynasty began to rectify the ditch, mobilized more than 100,000 people, cost 2 million guan, and it took three years to complete.

When the boat arrived at the ferry, there were already civil and military officials waiting under the county government, and the momentum was very pompous, Yin Yuan changed into official clothes, and someone on the side was ready to support, Yin Yuan waved his hand to stop it, stepped on the gangplank and walked ashore. I saw the first official, and said with a deep salute: "Pei Xing, the official of Yangzhou County, led thirty-six civil and military officials of the county to greet Lord Shi. ”

A group of officials behind Pei Xing saluted together, and Yin Yuan said: "Pei Jun Shou is exempt from courtesy, and all colleagues are also exempt from courtesy." ”

Pei Junshou said again: "Lord Assassin Shi has been tired all the way, and it is very hard, and the lower officials have already cleaned up the pavilion properly, and asked the lord to move the pavilion to rest." Yin Yuan nodded yes, and then the county guard arranged to stay in the pavilion.

Yin Yuan freshened up in the pavilion, changed into civilian clothes, and was drinking tea. Someone came to report that Pei Xing, the county guard, came to ask for peace, and Yin Yuan said in his heart, "This county guard is diligent, and it seems that he is a veteran of officialdom." The opponent said, "Hurry up, please." ”

After a while, Pei Xing came in, and when he saw Yin Yuan bowing again, Yin Yuan hurriedly stopped him and said, "Pei Junshou, this place is not a government office, why bother so much, please sit down." ”

Pei Xingdao thanked him and sat aside, and said: "Lord Assassin Shi inspected Yangzhou on behalf of the Son of Heaven, shouldering a heavy responsibility, the lower officials have prepared a banquet, and tonight I invite the adults to appreciate the light, and the officials above the seventh grade under the lower officials in Yangzhou should be present to welcome the adults." ”

Yin Yuan said: "Thank you Lord Junshou, the adults have Yin Mou's heart, but Yin is favored by the Son of Heaven and shoulders the duty of patrol, so he does not dare to be sloppy in the slightest. Today, someone Yin also agreed on three chapters of the law, and asked the county keeper to convey it on his behalf: one is not to interfere in Yangzhou's military and political affairs, the second is not to be invited to banquets, and the third is not to be subject to property. ”

Pei Xing immediately stood up and bowed and said, "The subordinate receives the order, and everything will be handled according to the instructions of the lord." The adults are tall and bright, and the two sleeves are breezy, which is really the blessing of the court and admirable. ”

Yin Yuan asked Pei Xing to sit down again, and said, "It just so happens that the county is guarding here, and this official still has some things to ask." ”

Pei Xing said: "If your lord has anything, you can tell the lower officials." ”

Yin Yuan said: "Among the civil and military officials who greet the ferry today, can there be a member from the Pingnan General's Mansion?" ”

Pei Xing replied: "This, my lordship did not send anyone from the Pingnan General's Mansion today. ”

Yin Yuan said again: "The Pingnan general officer is in the third grade, in terms of rank, Yin is a lower official, and Yin should go to see him, but this official is to inspect Yangzhou on behalf of the Son of Heaven, and according to the system, the Pingnan General's Mansion should also send someone to greet him, what does today's matter mean?" ”

Pei Xing saw that Yin Yuan was a little angry, so he hurriedly got up and bowed down and said: "Your Excellency is angry, your Excellency is inspecting Yangzhou, and the lower officials have already reported the official letter to the Pingnan General's Mansion, and the Pingnan General's Mansion just replied, 'The military affairs are busy and cannot be dispatched.' The rank of the subordinate official is low, and he does not dare to ask too much, and he asks for forgiveness. ”

Yin Yuan said: "Don't panic the county guard, how can the official blame the county guard for this matter, but the official of the Pingnan General's Mansion still has to go." Yin Yuan settled some more matters related to the inspection, and Pei Xing was ordered to retreat one by one.

Early in the morning of the second day, Yin Yuan took a few entourages to the Pingnan General's Mansion. Arrived at the general's mansion, Yin Yuan's subordinates stepped forward to hand over the post, the guards in front of the door did not dare to slack off, and flew in to report, after a while, I saw the door of the mansion wide open, and the two rows of warriors walked out of the brush, all of them were neatly draped, the warriors were separated from the left and right, and greeted a person, wearing a white arrow sleeve suit, embroidered with silver thread, Yin Yuan saw that this person's grade was twenty, his face was like white jade, sword eyebrows and phoenix eyes, and he was full of heroism.

When the visitor saw Yin Yuan, he took a few steps, smiled all over his face, and gave a deep salute with his fists: "The Lord of the Assassin Shi is here, and he is not welcomed." Yang Tong, the deputy general of the Pingnan General's Mansion, was ordered by the Pingnan General to greet the Lord Assassin Shi and invite the Lord into the mansion. ”

Yin Yuan said with a smile: "General Yang is young and promising, please lead the way." Immediately, Yang Tong led Yin Yuan into the Pingnan General's Mansion.

This Pingnan General's Mansion is the military attaché's mansion at a glance, there is a row of weapon racks in the east and west of the courtyard, there is a martial arts platform in the courtyard, a tiger skin chair in the middle of the main hall, a person on the upper seat is reading the official documents, this person is Du Shuo. Yang Tong took a few steps to report: "General, Lord Assassin Shi has arrived. ”

Du Shuo hurriedly put down the official document in his hand, walked down the steps, and came to Yin Yuan and arched his hand: "Yin Tingshi is here in person, and he has not been far away to greet him when he is busy with official business, and it is rude." ”

Yin Yuan saw that this Du Shuo was about forty years old, with a fat body, a round face and big eyes, a beard, a purple robe, and a jade belt to tie his waist, but he had a bit of a mighty atmosphere.

Yin Yuan bowed and saluted: "The lower official greeted General Pingnan, how dare you greet him." It's just that the general is busy with official business, and the subordinate came rashly today to disturb the general. ”

When Du Shuo heard this, he said in his heart, "This Yin Yuan is really powerful, this is obviously because he was picking on me yesterday for the matter of sending someone to greet me!" So he laughed and said: "Lord Assassin Shi is worthy of being the first master of Qing talk today, and his eloquence is really good." It's not the general here and outside, isn't it, could it be that he came to Xingshi today to ask about the sin? ”

Yin Yuan also smiled: "The general misunderstood, the general misunderstood, the subordinate really made a special trip to meet the general." ”

Du Shuo said: "Assassin Shi Mo panic, it's all a joke, ha, ha" As he spoke, he pulled Yin Yuan inside, the guest and the host sat down, and the soldiers offered tea.

After a few more pleasantries, Du Shuo changed his words and said: "I'm afraid that Yin Thorn History's arrival at the house today will not be a simple visit, I will see that Yin Thorn Shi has nothing to do but go to the Three Treasures Palace?" Then there was another burst of laughter.

Yin Yuan's heart tightened slightly, and he calmly replied: "The general is too careful, when the official first arrived in Yangzhou, he had already heard the prestige of the general, so there was no reason not to see him." As for yesterday's incident, the lower officials have already learned that the General's Mansion is indeed busy with military affairs, so why bother. When the subordinate first entered the officialdom, there were many biases, and I asked the general to forgive me. ”

Du Shuo smiled again: "It's okay if it's not, it's good if it's not, otherwise I'm afraid that it will be difficult to appease such a rough martial artist as Ben General." ”

Yin Yuan also smiled, and said in his heart, "This Du Shuo seems to be reckless and simple, but he is actually a very scheming person, and it is not easy to deal with." After Du Shuo led Yin Yuan to visit the General's Mansion again, Yin Yuan got up to say goodbye, and of course Yang Tong sent him off.

Back at his residence, Yin Yuan was not in a very good mood, and he was defeated in the first encounter, and the most strange thing was that Du Shuo seemed to have gotten some news, giving people the feeling that he always had something to say. Is it the leaky rumors, or are you too sensitive? In short, Yin Yuan's mind was full of questions. Of course, it is not all without gain, at least Du Shuo also showed his flaws, he was too arrogant, and if he didn't take Yin Yuan in his eyes, it was almost a clear sword, and this was exactly where Du Shuo made a mistake.