After wooing a circle of officials who could be used in Nanjing, digging up military talents, and finding enough supporters for the Lijin reform, the time was almost mid-February.

Shen Shuren spent more than 20 days in Nanjing, and he couldn't delay it anymore, so he had to return to Huangzhou as soon as possible to take office.

On the Huangzhou side, spring ploughing should have begun, and Zhang Huangyan must be very busy, helping him, the prefect, to temporarily take over the work of persuading farmers to farm and climb technology.

Moreover, Shen Shuren knew that since the Lantern Festival, when he came to Nanjing to lay out, his father Shen Tingyang had also personally escorted the first batch of grain this year to the north since late January.

Counting the days, you can get to Tianjin by sea for fifteen days, and if you go to Shanhaiguan to go around, then it will take another three or five days. Therefore, at present, Shen Tingyang should have already arrived in the capital, and he can play to Chongzhen at any time and formally request the implementation of the Lijin Reform.

Therefore, the operation on Shen Shuren's side seems to be not in much danger, but in fact, it is only allowed to win and not lose, otherwise his father's side will not be able to advance.

From Nanjing to Beijing, the overall situation is a big game of chess, and no side can be left behind.

……

On February 12, west of Nanjing, on the Yangtze River wharf at the mouth of the Qinhuai River.

More than a dozen Daifuku ships, all of which have at least 400 tonnage, and many more Dasha ships, are moored there majestically, waiting to pick up the dignitaries and set sail.

Of course, the sand boat belonged to the Shen family, and the lucky boat was temporarily transferred by the Zheng family in the last ten days, and its energy can be seen.

Other grassroots officials who needed to go to Huangzhou and Suizhou, such as Yan Yingyuan and Zhang Mingzhen, were also arranged by Shen Shuren to take a boat and take office together.

In a restaurant next to the wharf, there were many people who came to see them off, and the scene was very magnificent.

Of course, Wu Meicun came to see off Shen Shuren and Zheng Chenggong.

And Zhang Guowei, the head of the household department in Nanjing, and Xu Shiqi, the head of the official department, also came to say some words of encouragement to Shen Shuren.

Zhang Guowei looked very confident, saying that after the implementation of the Lijin Reform, it will definitely be able to solve the problem of military expenditure of the southeast puppet army and help the imperial court reduce the burden.

The Sinking Tree people said goodbye to them one by one.

In addition to the officialdom here, in the private room upstairs, there were also many female visitors who came to see off the female rolls that the Shen family was going to take away.

The main reason is that Shen Shuren took Li Xiangjun away, and with Li Xiangjun's previous name in the Nanqu circle, it is inevitable that other Oiran will have to say goodbye. Liu Ruis and Gu Mei are here, not to mention Bian Yujing.

Liu Ruis and Gu Mei are both from the past and have experience, just glanced at Li Xiangjun, Liu Ruis was a little surprised, secretly pulled her aside, and asked casually:

"Sister Li, I remember you...... It has been more than ten days since he was redeemed by Shenfutai, right? ”

Li Xiangjun nodded shyly: "Sister is really forgetful, this still needs to be asked." ”

Liu Rus: "I look at your eyebrows, you should still be in a perfect body, right?" Or maybe he's only ...... in the last two or three days."

Li Xiangjun blushed and lowered his head: "It's true, it's still the secret, sister, don't ask, the son redeems me, he has his own big things to do." Maybe I've been too busy lately, and I don't want to talk about that. ”

Liu Ru didn't ask again, his mind changed, it was estimated that Shen Shuren was playing some big conspiracy, so he still didn't ask.

After Liu Ru said goodbye to Gu Mei and her, Bian Yujing came to reluctantly and said a lot of private words between sisters.

Li Xiangjun was not too sad this time, hugged her sister and whispered a surprise:

"Sister, don't be sad, we will still have the opportunity to get together in the future, I believe that the son will not work in Huangzhou for too long, he will definitely be promoted, if I have the opportunity to go back to Nanjing, I will catch up with you."

Bian Yujing sighed: "We are hard-working people, where is the opportunity to run around." ”

Li Xiangjun smiled, took out a deed of sale from his arms, and shook it in front of Bian Yujing:

"Actually, when I was going to pack up and set off yesterday, my son also found out with a conscience, and asked the servant to take five thousand taels of silver to help you redeem yourself, which can be regarded as fulfilling a promise. He said that he will not enslave you, and he will directly return your freedom.

Don't worry about it, Childe saw that Mr. Umemura appreciated you before, and Mr. Umemura helped him do a lot of things this time, and he refused to collect too much money in private. Although Mr. Umemura didn't plan to do anything with you, returning you to freedom can be regarded as clearing the relationship between you and Mr. Umemura at the same time. It depends on your fate in the future, so let it be. ”

Bian Yujing's eyes widened: "When is it?" I don't know how I don't know, how can my mother be willing? ”

Li Xiangjun: "As for last night's incident, my mother is probably reluctant, and wants to settle with the mud for a few days first." But I'm sure I'll tell you, lest you'll be cheated. Of course, Mom is reluctant to let you go, but the last time Childe made such a big fuss, it made Hou Fangyu's reputation stink.

My mother is now a frightened bird, lest she offend him and cause him to dig up the ugly things of his opponents, so he doesn't dare to set up a banquet to bid for redemption. But if the son wants to redeem it, it is reasonable to open a fixed price, and his mother will admit it. ”

Bian Yujing looked at his deed of sale in a daze, confirmed that he was already free, and was also moved to tears: "Come and understand, he is really a bright and upright person." He must be out of respect for his teacher, so he only dares to give me back my freedom, thank you. ”

She finally hugged Li Xiangjun for a long time, and watched Li Xiangjun and Chen Yuanyuan get on the women's roll boat together.

……

The fleet sailed against the current on the river, and it took about seven or eight days to complete a 1,000-mile voyage.

Set sail early in the morning of February 12, in order to avoid too much fatigue on the journey, and in addition to the fact that there were civil officials and female rolls in the fleet, when they encountered a suitable large port on the way, they would also enter the port at night to rest.

For example, Wankou Port in Huaining County in Anqing Prefecture and Hukou Port in Jiujiang Prefecture.

On the night of 15 February, the fleet arrived at the port of Wankou.

Shen Shuren rested for the night, but early the next morning, a visitor came from Huaining County to find him, and it was still his old acquaintance, Fang Yizhi.

Shen Shuren was still a little surprised to see this uninvited guest, and hurriedly let him go to the boat, and the two also talked about the old days.

Fang Yizhi bluntly revealed the mystery: "I heard that you made a big fuss in Nanjing last month, and you tossed Hou Fangyu a lot, and even Mao Xiang felt a little embarrassed by it.

In the past ten days, I have heard several groups of friends from Nanjing lament that you are unforgiving, so I know your itinerary and ask my family to come to Wankou Port every day to investigate.

I have a letter from my mother and aunt who asked me to write it, and I sent it to my father. I would have liked to send a boat myself, or follow the station.

But my mother didn't have to worry about it, she thought I was troublesome, and said that I should find a colleague who went to Huguang to take office—I remember that after you go back, you will officially take up the prefect, and you should also visit your father, right? Just drop by. ”

Saying that, Fang Yizhi stuffed the letter written to his father, Huguang Governor Fang Kongzhi, directly to Shen Shuren.

The two were originally in the same year, so of course they can't refuse this kind of trivial matter. Shen Shuren accepted the letter happily and asked casually:

"Isn't my brother an official in Tongcheng? It's a lot of way to Huaining, right? How has the thief situation in Anqing been recently? The remnants of Lin cultivation in those ravines in Qianshan have been cleared by Shi Futai? ”

Fang Yizhi was speechless: "How can it be so fast!" The snow and ice accumulated in the middle of winter have just thawed, and the roads in the mountains are muddy and difficult to walk, so at least in early summer.

As for me, although I can't compare with the virtuous brother, we are also the general judge of Anqing Mansion who has just been promoted after the year, and we have been transferred to the Fuzhi side to do things, so it is very convenient to block you. ”

Shen Shuren was stunned for a moment, and hurriedly congratulated, "Congratulations...... The younger brother was negligent in inquiring, and he didn't know the news of his brother's meritorious promotion. ”

Fang Yizhi pouted: "Are you cold to me?" Now in the officialdom of Nanzhi and Huguang, no one knows that you Shen Shuren has been promoted quickly, and my daily hard work is nothing, but it is just a routine promotion. ”

If it was a peaceful season in previous years, the routine promotion was not so fast. However, in the last years of Chongzhen, the last two Jinshi, especially those who were still relatively young when they were in the examination, were generally promoted faster than normal.

In history, Wei Zaode was the champion of Chongzhen for thirteen years, and two months before Chongzhen's death four years later, he became the first assistant of the cabinet, which is a very good minister! Who let the old ministers be killed and injured too much and too quickly.

Fang Yizhi was born in science and Taoism, and his meritorious service was a little less than Zhang Huangyan, but the starting point was much higher than Zhang Huangyan.

After listening to this, Shen Shuren poured him a few glasses of wine, and the two brothers said some words of encouragement to each other: "Then I look forward to our brothers joining forces this year to destroy Lin Yangsheng, and we will also show our faces at Shi Futai."

When the time comes, don't be like the guards of other provinces and prefectures, just know how to drive the thieves out and beggar-thy-neighbor into the mountains! The thieves in the Yinghuo Mountains have not been clean for so many years, and it is because of this! ”

Fang Yizhi: "Don't worry, as long as you really work hard, Shi Futai's side will definitely not protect himself!" ”

……

After a little supply in Wankou Port and farewell to Fang Yizhi. The fleet of the Sunken Tree Man sailed for another five days and finally arrived in Huanggang County without incident.

Zhang Huangyan was already looking forward to it, and he helped Shen Shuren deal with government affairs for two whole months. Fortunately, there are few things to do in winter, just push forward step by step, otherwise Zhang Huangyan will be really busy and crazy.

"You are so hand-shaken! said that I would return at the beginning of February, but it was February 20th! It's been half a month since spring ploughing began! When you come back, the busiest season has passed, and you will persuade the farmer to fart! ”

As soon as Zhang Huangyan met, he didn't wait for his cousin to stand firm on the trestle, so he stepped forward and punched twice, of course, without much strength.

Shen Shuren had a rare hippie smile: "You and I are both capable people who work hard, I haven't messed around in Nanjing, but this time I have brought you a lot of helpers."

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He also abducted the Zheng family's eldest young man here to be the investigator of the Salt Law Dao, and by the way, the Zheng family also brought the fortune boat elite and the Hongyi cannon to escort their young master! If you want to do a good job, you must first sharpen your tools, we have the cannons of the Hongyi people, and it is not easy to deal with the thieves this year. ”

Zhang Huangyan was dizzy when he heard it, and he couldn't accept it for a while because of the amount of information.

However, he only glanced at the dock a few times, and saw that there was a girl from the Shen family next to him. In addition to Chen Yuanyuan, he saw a stunning beauty who was slightly familiar, but he shouldn't have known it.

He immediately became angry: "You are really embarrassed! said that he was busy with business in Nanjing, but he changed his concubine again! ”

Shen Shuren smiled: "Aren't I afraid that my sister-in-law will be jealous, if you don't worry about being chewed by your sister-in-law's tongue, I'll bring you one too." But I don't like to give away women, or the next time I have a chance, whoever you fancy yourself, I'll pay for it. ”

Shen Shuren is also principled, that is, he can buy women, but never sell or give them away.

In ancient times, it was not illegal to buy someone, and it was impossible for him to go against the world.

However, according to the common sense of the law known to him in later generations, trafficking in women is a violation of Article 240 of the Criminal Code, and the maximum penalty is shooting. Whoever buys a woman who has been sold is guilty of article 241 and is sentenced to a maximum of three years (regardless of the concurrent punishment for committing other crimes).

Of course, the sin of buying is much lesser than the sin of selling.

Therefore, his last shred of conscience can only allow him to ensure that when others are selling, he can save people from the sea of suffering. But he himself must not sell and send out (he can release the woman and let her go by herself, but he can't give it away, and he can't directly transfer the woman's personal rights to other people's control).

Zhang Huangyan laughed angrily at his crooked reasoning: "You guy, you still pretend to be a thief with me!" Okay, you'll have to find a way to compensate me anyway, it's not over! ”