On the sea, a flat boat.

It is the kind of ordinary fishing boat that does not even have a canopy, with a small amount of fresh water and food in it, and a person wearing a fish skin suit struggles to support the boat, and the exposed arms and legs are dark, the mouth is dry, the skin is black and red, and there are small bubbles, which looks like a skin disease.

The hair is messy, dirty, sticky wisps, the whole person has a scruffy beard, he has not repaired it well, his eyes are vicissitudes, and he constantly adjusts the sails on this boat, and with the simple wind power, the boat drifts downwind in the direction of Tongzhi County in the distance.

And the person who supported the boat was naturally Ye Feng, who was carefully dressed by Xiao Lu.

Behind him, there were faintly several small boats escorting, and when he noticed that Ye Feng's boat had successfully arrived on the shore, he left with confidence.

When the boat landed, Ye Feng shook off the dirty things on his body, took the only package, and limped towards the county government of Tongzhi County.

"Where did this wild man come from!?"

Looking at Ye Feng's appearance, on the coast, some men who were working and fishing couldn't help but whisper.

They think they're miserable enough, but look at this... It seems that you are not miserable enough?

"Don't talk nonsense, this is the inspector of the Penghu Inspection Division!"

Every year I come back to report on my work, I take this road, some older people have seen Ye Feng, and the older companion next to him grabbed the outspoken young man, and hurriedly lowered his head, standing respectfully in the distance, the official is the official, no matter how miserable, it is a head higher than them, this is the characteristic of this era.

Without paying attention to these people, Ye Feng limped towards the county seat.

The city gate handed over the road guide, in the city guard covered his nose impatiently urged to enter the city, in the past 20 years, the county has not changed much, as yesterday, it is still so withered, the pedestrians are in a hurry, there is not much shouting, the city is even more stinky, and feces can be seen everywhere.

County office.

Although the city is withered, the county government is still very tall.

"This official, Ye Feng, the Penghu Inspection Division, came to report on his work." Changing into the brand-new official uniform in the baggage at the entrance of the county office, Ye Feng straightened his rickety back and said loudly.

"Within the county office, there is a loud noise, what kind of system has it become? I'll report to you while I'm waiting here. "The people guarding the gate of the county government are also old acquaintances, and as always, they look down on people.

Although they are just gatekeepers, they can see different doors, and occasionally they have the illusion that they belong to this door.

After glancing at the goods, Ye Feng didn't pay attention to it, just stood quietly outside the county office.

Soon, someone from the county government came and led Ye Feng in.

"Your Excellency." Above the public court, Ye Feng respectfully bowed his hand.

Above, Xu Guang, the second county commander during Ye Feng's tenure, looked at Ye Feng with a disgusted expression, without the slightest politeness, "Start debriefing." ”

Now he just wants this guy to finish the ink quickly, and then leave quickly, as soon as this guy comes, the whole court will smell.

"My lord, this is the salt tax for last year."

Ye Feng took out a small cloth bag of salt from the baggage.

Strictly speaking, the Penghu Inspection Department has the responsibility of collecting salt, and it wants to collect salt taxes in Penghu, but there are only a few people in Penghu, who does it collect?

"My lord, you also know that the sea breeze was very strong all year last year, and there was a tsunami, and many of our tools for drying salt were destroyed..... It's not good for subordinates to do bad things, it's guilty! Ye Feng's face was sad, his eyes were full of self-blame, and there was this trembling of fear in his voice.

Listening to Ye Feng's constant chatter, this county magistrate named Xu Guang looked at the small bag of salt in Ye Feng's hand, and the corners of his mouth twitched.

Why don't you bring anything!

It's rare that there is no difficulty, and there is really no oil and water to make it difficult.

After all these years of deliberate rendering, in everyone's minds, the entire Penghu area is still a desert island with only five or six people, so Xu Guang can understand this small bag of salt.

"It's hard work, and it's hard for you." Xu Guang said against his will, "It's just that this Penghu area is very important, and His Majesty will need to use it to conquer Dongying in the future, so you still need to be stationed here." ”

"Don't worry, as long as the old man doesn't die for a day, he will definitely defend Penghu." Ye Feng solemnly promised.

"It's just······ My lord, there are too few people in the Penghu area, and there is a lack of food and clothing, so please have mercy, give some property, and allocate some more people. "The so-called debriefing is not just a small bag of salt, these officials may have very poor character, but they still have a few points of ability.

Ye Feng also has to perform seriously, make his performance conform to the situation in the Penghu area, and do a full set of acts, otherwise he will be seen something, and he will be in trouble in the end.

"Ahh As you just said, there is a tsunami this year, and the county town is also very miserable, and the money and food allocated from the top for disaster relief have not yet arrived! ”

Sighing, Xu Guang's big belly trembled slightly, and said quietly, "In this way, the official will personally sponsor you for five taels of silver, go buy something, buy two more servants, and then bring it back." ”

"Thank you, sir." Without being entangled, Ye Feng kowtowed heavily, tears flowing, and he looked moved.

With five taels of silver, he was sent away like a beggar.

Ye Feng walked on the streets of Tongzhi County and started a big purchase.

Mainly buy grain, and then some medicinal herbs, in short, some basic materials that ordinary outsiders seem to meet the needs of the Penghu area.

Not to mention, the purchasing power of five taels of silver is very strong, Ye Feng bought a lot of things back and forth, and filled his boat.

"The Aquila Sect has recruited!"

Just as Ye Feng was about to leave, on the coast, a middle-aged man dressed in gray clothes with a long sword at his waist shouted loudly.

"Those who pass the selection will receive one tael of silver per month, and if they are qualified, they will receive two taels of silver per month."

The shouts of the middle-aged people caused the residents near the coast to run past.

Life is hard, it is difficult to live, and one or two pieces of silver a month are life-saving money in the eyes of these people.

"The Aquila Sect? It seems that Yin Tianzheng has officially left the Ming Sect. ”

Looking at the gray-clothed man in the distance, Ye Feng muttered in a low voice, although he was far away, he didn't know anything.

Every six months, Fauber would take a cargo ship to various coastal areas to sell sea salt, and each time he would bring back some recent news.

The latest news is that the leader of the Ming Sect, Yang Dingtian, has disappeared, and the Ming Sect is in civil strife.

Shaking his head slightly, Ye Feng was too lazy to take care of these things, returned to his small boat, adjusted the sails, and prepared to go home.

"Don't be afraid, we'll be home soon."

On the small boat, in addition to the purchased supplies, there were two children of six or seven years old, and these two children who grew up by the sea seemed to be a little seasick and afraid of the sea.

They all have a little problem, one has a lame leg, one has six fingers on one hand, they are begging on the street in embarrassment, supporting each other, and the friendship in difficulty was seen by Ye Feng and accepted it.

This is also his habit, every year to report on work, he will pick two children to take back.

Facts have proved that these children, who have experienced hardships since childhood, are all very good, do what they are told to do conscientiously, are grateful, and obey their orders.

"Uh-huh." The two children nodded desperately.

Surviving in that kind of environment, they are very good at observing words and feelings, and they dare not make Ye Feng unhappy at all.

"Let's go!" Smiling, Ye Feng didn't say much, the boat had gradually sailed away from the seaside.