Huang Zixing shook his head and said: "Forgive the grass people, although Lord Yan is said to be the official of Danzhou's parents, but in terms of the current shape of the local area, the Haihan people have the absolute upper hand, even if Lord Yan wants to cure their crimes, I'm afraid he is only powerless, right?"

Although Huang Zixing's words are ugly, they are true. The two alternate officials assigned to Danzhou are simply the commanders of the light pole, and there is not even a single messenger in the local area, so what can they do to suppress the rich and powerful Haihan people?

Yan Mingjun naturally couldn't admit Huang Zixing's statement verbally, so he coughed dryly and said: "This official is in charge of Danzhou government affairs, but the Huangjiazhuang you mentioned is in the jurisdiction of Fucheng, which is no longer within the scope of this official's ability, and it is really helpless." ”

Huang Zixing saw the situation in Danzhou very clearly, and after talking for so long, of course, it was not to let Yan Mingjun support him and punish the Haihan people who forcibly occupied Huang's fields. The grass people are not here today to avenge their grievances, but just to ask adults, after coming to Danzhou, how do you feel about the local view?"

This sentence had already been asked once when Huang Zixing first came, but Yan Mingjun was not so sure of Huang Zixing's position at that time, and he didn't tell the truth, but just passed it in a perfunctory manner. At this time, Huang Zixing asked a second time, which was obviously not a polite remark, but hoped that he could show his true position and attitude.

Yan Mingjun hesitated for a moment before responding: "Although the Haihan people have made meritorious contributions in resisting pirates, there are still many unreasonable things in what they did in Qiongzhou after the war. In my opinion, there are some places that are still worth discussing. ”

Yan Mingjun didn't dare to say too much, the story Huang Zixing told was true, but whether the identity he reported was true or not, there is no circumstantial evidence now, for people with doubtful identities, Yan Mingjun would not be stupid enough to tell his true thoughts and thoughts in his heart. But Yan Mingjun didn't want to miss such a dissident who had just appeared with great difficulty, so he planned to stabilize him first, and then try to prove his identity before making plans.

Huang Zixing shook his head and said: "The grass people thought that Lord Yan dared to confront the Haihan people at the reception banquet, and he must be a person who dared to be a daring person, but he didn't expect it...... This is really disappointing for the grass people. ”

Li Jin reprimanded: "How Lord Yan does things, how can you evaluate them at will!"

"It's okay!" Yan Mingjun stopped Li Jin's accusation against Huang Zixing, and said with a pleasant face: "Huang Shanchang, you also said just now, some things are not changed by personal ability, even if you sit in the position of this official, there will still be many times when you can't help yourself. This official disagrees with the Haihan people, and it is to protect the interests of my Ming Dynasty, not his own selfish interests. The official is also very sympathetic to the tragedy of Huangjiazhuang that Huang Shanchang just said, but if you offend the Haihan people for your family's affairs, and do not consider the political stability of the entire Qiongzhou Island, then the official thinks that this is not a righteous act. ”

Huang Zixing said: "Lord Yan, what the grass people just said is indeed a family matter, but the grass people represent not only the people of Huangjiazhuang. After the Haihan people settled on Qiongzhou Island, the victims were not limited to Huangjiazhuang? It was not the grass people who were deeply dissatisfied or even resentful of the Haihan people!"

"Huh?" Yan Mingjun suddenly moved when he heard this, could it be that this Huang Zixing is not alone, but there are people behind him?

Huang Zixing continued: "Lord Yan should not think that this Qiongzhou Island is already the final say of the Haihan people, although they are rich and powerful, but after all, they have not settled in Qiongzhou for a long time, and it is less than four years to be full, but they are rootless duckweed. What they are doing now is to use the means of collecting land to take root on Qiongzhou Island. If they succeed in this move, in a few years, this place will have nothing to do with the Ming Dynasty!"

"What does Huangshan Chang mean is that there are still a lot of people who have the same thoughts as you in this Qiongzhou?" Yan Mingjun asked slowly and noncommittally.

Huang Zixing said solemnly: "The Haihan can expand so quickly in just a few years, and there are not a few people who have been offended, not to mention that although these overseas people claim to be Han Chinese, they have no loyalty to the imperial court at all, but they are forced by their power, and those who have the heart to serve the country have been suffering and have no way out." ”

Huang Zixing said halfway, but stopped talking and didn't continue to speak, just staring at Yan Mingjun's face to see how he responded.

Yan Mingjun is a smart person, and of course he understands why Huang Zixing only speaks in half of his words -- he is not at ease with Huang Zixing's position, so how can Huang Zixing rest assured at him? If he really reveals some key inside information, and Yan Mingjun takes this information to show his merits to the Haihan people, then Huang Zixing is not the only one who is unlucky.

Yan Mingjun took a deep breath and said, "This official still has some official business to deal with today, why don't you go to Huangshan Chang's Academy in two days?"

"If Lord Yan can come, then the grass people will naturally welcome him. Huang Zixing is also a person who can understand music, so he immediately stood up and said goodbye again: "Since Lord Yan is busy with official business, the grass people will leave first." Zhongming Academy is five miles outside the east gate, and when Lord Yan is coming, please send someone to inform me in advance. ”

After sending Huang Zixing away, Yan Mingjun said to Li Jin: "Brother Li, how credible is what Huang Zixing said?"

Li Jin responded: "This is simple, don't you have a few old servants under you? I will find them tomorrow, and you will find out when you ask." This Huang Zixing can open a academy in Danzhou, and he must also be a famous figure. ”

Yan Mingjun said: "If what he said is true, what should he do?"

Li Jin said: "If what he said is the truth, then listening to the meaning of his words, it is not only his Huang clan who wants to drive the Haihan people away." But how easy is it to get rid of the Haihan people? The Haihan militia is strong and strong, and even if the garrison is still in force, it may not be their opponent. What's more, now that Danzhou has no available soldiers, how can it deal with the Haihan militia group? Could it be that it is not possible to rely on the village protection team organized by those squires?"

Yan Mingjun shook his head and said: "If you want to fight, it will naturally not work, the Weisuo army can't even beat the pirates, how can they fight the Haihan militia." ”

Regarding the comparison of military strength on Qiongzhou Island, although Yan Mingjun is not a soldier, he can also see it very clearly. Judging from the current form, Da Ming wants to re-establish the army on Qiongzhou Island, but I am afraid that it will not be something that can be completed in a short time. Not to mention that there is no funding for this, even if there is such a sum of money to recruit troops, I am afraid that the Haihan people will come up with various ways to obstruct it. And he heard in the teahouse today that the conversation next door mentioned the treatment of the militia group, the military salary given by Haihan is much higher than that of the Weisuo army, and those who really have the heart to join the army, how many choices will there be for Daming?

Li Jin said: "There are no soldiers available, and everything is in vain." I think this surnamed Huang is also a braggart who doesn't make drafts, anyway, it's not illegal to blow the cowhide, and he doesn't say anything useful. ”

"I think he seems to be unfinished and hidden. Yan Mingjun twisted his beard and said: "Presumably he doesn't trust you and me so much, after all, you and I are new to the city, whether we are loyal to the Ming Dynasty or biased towards Haihan, he doesn't know, where do you dare to pour out all the details of yourself? ”

"Then what is Brother Yan going to do?" Li Jin asked, "Are you really going to visit his academy?"

Yan Mingjun nodded and said, "Tomorrow, I will find someone to inquire about the details of this Huang Zixing and Zhongming Academy, and if it is credible, I will arrange to go to the academy." If he really has the heart to rebel against Haihan, he can see if there is anything he can use to make use of it. ”

The next day, Yan Mingjun called He Qi to the study and asked him if he knew about the situation in Zhongming Academy.

He Qi didn't know why, but he still replied honestly: "Zhongming Academy is a medium-sized academy in Danzhou at best, but the head of the academy is an old stubborn and has always been unwilling to accept the favor of the Haihan people. Other academies all participated in various poetry clubs and literary meetings funded by Haihan, and naturally their popularity slowly rose. This Zhongming Academy has been guarding its own one-third of an acre of land, and it is slowly not as famous as other academies. In the past year, even the middle schools in that place have been a little reluctant, and many students have switched to other colleges. ”

Yan Mingjun asked: "If it's just a literary and poetry club, I'm afraid it won't be able to close the gap between the academies, right? ”

He Qi responded: "My lord is really a wise man, the funding of the Haihan people is not only for these activities, but also for the establishment of a variety of scholarships in various academies. Anyone who has achieved outstanding results in the academy can apply for this scholarship, which is issued once every six months, ranging from a dozen taels to a hundred taels! As long as the students studying in these academies have the opportunity to receive rich rewards, those academies that have not set up scholarships, such as Zhongming Academy, will naturally not be able to retain people. ”

Yan Mingjun said: "Wealth is moving, which is also human nature. However, it is really inappropriate for the Haihan people to pollute the place of education of the academy in this way! In this way, this quiet place has also become a business field full of copper smell, how can so many students devote themselves to learning?"

Although He Qi didn't think so, he still nodded in agreement. In his opinion, there is nothing wrong with being able to study and earn money, especially for children from poor families, it is an excellent way to earn money.

Yan Mingjun continued: "Only students who can resist this temptation have the possibility of becoming talents. This kind of behavior of the Haihan people can get rid of those students who are unstable. ”

He Qi responded: "Your Excellency is reasonable, but the Haihan people spend money in the academy does not stop here. ”

"And?" Yan Mingjun asked in amazement. In fact, these tricks made by the Haihan people are not particularly novel, and there are usually wealthy businessmen who sponsor various academies to a greater or lesser extent, but the Haihan people are more generous and cover a wider range of funding objects.

He Qi said: "In addition to these scholarships, if there are students in the colleges who receive Haihan funding and need to take the township examination and the general examination, Haihan will give a certain amount of allowance during the examination period, which is called 'nutrition fee'. For candidates who need to go to Guangzhou to catch the exam, Haihan provides a special fast boat to send them to Guangzhou, and exempts a qiē fee on the way back and forth, and even the accommodation and food during the exam in Guangzhou are also covered. This move is simply irresistible for those who are from poor families!"

Yan Mingjun himself was taken out of the imperial examination, and of course he knew how much it would cost to go to the provincial capital to catch the exam. Qiongzhou Island is located overseas, and it takes several days to cross the sea by boat, which requires more cost than candidates from nearby states and counties in Guangzhou. Candidates from poor families from other places often need to borrow travel expenses to take an examination, and they may not be able to get in.

Yan Mingjun said: "The Haihan people have invested so much blood, and they are not afraid that they will not be able to recover it?"

He Qi responded: "If it's about silver, it's really impossible to get it back." But this person's heart was taken over by Haihan little by little. Even for those students who failed to make the list, Haihan people also hired them with high salaries to teach in schools in Sanya. In the last two years alone, at least hundreds of local scholars have accepted Haihan's offer to work for them in Sanya, in the south. ”

Yan Mingjun nodded slowly and said, "That Zhongming Academy doesn't eat Haihan's set, presumably after a long time, this student has almost run away, right?"

He Qi responded: "Don't hide it, although there are many local academies in Danzhou, but in the past year or so, seven or eight out of ten academies that are unwilling to cooperate with Haihan have closed their doors. The Zhongming Academy that the adults mentioned, even if it didn't go out of business, I'm afraid it wouldn't be far from this ending. ”

"What is Huang Zixing's reputation?" Yan Mingjun continued to ask.

"This ...... The villain really doesn't know. He Qi bowed his head and said, "If the adult wants to know the situation of this person, and has a grace day, let the villain inquire about it." ”

Yan Mingjun nodded and said, "Okay, you hurry up and handle this matter, and we'll talk back tomorrow." By the way, this matter should not be publicized outside. ”

He Qi answered, got out of the temporary state office, and went straight to the east of the city. After passing through the residence of the Yuanzhou Yaxian Management Committee, He Qi suddenly turned into a branch road, and then entered a courtyard with an open gate.

"Stop, what are you doing?" Although the gate was unguarded, as soon as He Qi stepped into the courtyard, two gray-clothed militiamen stood up and stopped him.

He Qi hurriedly stopped and responded: "The villain is He Qi, a state official, and he has to report to the chief if there is a situation!"

"Wait here!" one of the militiamen turned to report it, while the other stayed where he was, staring at He Qi.

A moment later, the militiaman returned, hooked his hand and said, "You come with me!"

He Qi was stepping forward, but another person stretched out his hand to stop him: "Don't understand the rules?"