After Wu Renyun's death, the people of Xihua did not move much, they still did their own work, lived an ordinary life, and there was no sadness; But Yuan Lun was so disturbed that he couldn't swallow his meal, and Lu Deguang was probably so happy that he was going to have a celebration banquet. Yuan Lun was furious, but Lu Deguang did this matter impenetrably, and the crime of rebellion could not be refuted. Of course, the magistrate had to be reappointed, and the county magistrate surnamed Zhao was indisputably chosen-the prefect's cousin Zhao Zhu. In short, Wu Renyun's death reversed the situation of open and secret fighting in Chenzhou, and the Lu Governor's Mansion finally had a place to fight in the court.

And that Ye Yongjia was also reborn, he lost his indecision, but became more resolute and sensitive, like a tall male lion, which made people daunting, and couldn't help but praise "worthy of being Lu Deguang's good minion".

The so-called three fires of the new official took office, but Zhao Zhu's fire was not burning in the daytime, but a faint flame lit in the dark.

It turned out that he had not long been in power, or he had colluded with businessmen to raise prices and make huge profits; or indiscriminate taxation, the prefect doesn't care, so he has a lot of money and lives happily all day long.

He thought about buying some curiosities. There happened to be a merchant who sold famous goods walked here, and heard that the county magistrate had the heart to buy valuables, so he happily brought jade and other things, and arrived at Zhao Zhu's mansion.

"Since you have this person, please hurry up!" Zhao Zhu urged.

When the merchant came in, he knelt down to the magistrate, and the magistrate also made a move; He got up and smiled flatteringly: "On weekdays, I heard that the county lord likes to play with jade, and when I see it today, if it is a gentleman's fan, this villain will be relieved." ”

Zhao Zhu was embarrassed, and hurriedly said, "Where...... Where ......"

"Don't mention it, please look at the goods first!" He untied the bag behind him with one hand, and inside it was filled with jade in small boxes; He opened it gently, and the brilliance of the jade shone in Zhixian's eyes. The magistrate took his eyes one by one, and the businessman looked at him carefully, and sometimes asked him how the jade was, and the magistrate said 'good' and had no opinion.

The merchant saw that he didn't know anything about jade, and wanted to make a fortune from it, so he picked out a piece of jade of inferior quality, and said to him: "This is the best jade produced by Yaerqiang, and my lord will see how it is." ”

Zhao Zhu took it to taste it carefully, and the luster seemed to be a little bright. Seeing that he was moved, the merchant hurriedly added fuel to the fire: "I have never seen such a beautiful jade in my life, this jade can be described as a body like clotted fat, fine light and inner connotation, pure and warm texture, dense veins, loud voice, and admiration is beneficial to human nature and spirit, can ward off evil spirits." ”

Zhao Zhi smiled and nodded, and then looked at the jade, it did become crystal clear. "How much?"

"Eighty taels of silver."

"Eighty taels!?" Zhao Zhi shouted.

He picked up the piece of jade again and hesitated.

"If the county is unwilling to pay, I'm afraid this piece of jade will be sold in a few days." The merchant seemed to feel sorry for this, and sighed deeply.

Zhao Zhixian hesitated for a while, and finally made up his mind, gritting his teeth: "Take the silver!" ”

The minions around him hurriedly ran to the back room.

"How did you get the jade from Yarkand?" He couldn't help but have doubts.

"Uh......" The merchant's mind turned, "When I was shopping in Beijing, I saw merchants from the Western Regions selling jade in the market, and when I saw such good goods, I simply bought them." ”

"That should have been sold."

"At that time, the villain has been reluctant to make it public, and today because he wants to buy land, he is looking for people to sell, doesn't this happen to come to your house? ......" While speaking, he secretly glanced at Zhao Zhu a few times, and his heart was bottomless, I am afraid that he will not buy it again.

Although Zhao Zhu was wary in his heart, he could not miss the opportunity, and after listening to what the merchant said, he took a bag of silver brought by the next person and weighed it, a full eighty taels.

The merchant took the silver with a smile and thanked Zhao Zhixian; Zhao Zhu sent him out, pacing freely in the mansion to appreciate the beautiful jade.

He was still a little uneasy. It just so happened that a few friends came from elsewhere, he set up a banquet to entertain, a few people ate and drank at the banquet, while chatting, Zhao Zhu took out the jade to a friend who knew jade, and that said: "This is a poor quality imitation, about three or four taels of silver, where do you need eighty taels?" The virtuous brother was deceived by him. ”

When Zhao Zhu heard this, his head was buzzing, and he was angry, scolded the businessman, and smashed the jade in front of everyone. It wasn't enough to vent his anger, and he complained to everyone a few more words.

But eighty taels of silver could not be recovered for a while. He originally thought that it would not matter if he ate and drank for this jade province, but now that he was cheated, he became angry and said that he had to earn the money back.

He immediately came up with a clever way to buy off the salt merchants who went to and from Chenzhou to steal and sell illicit salt, so as to ensure that they were not prohibited by the government in Xihua, and even if they sold inferior salt, he would make huge profits. But Xihua is not a rich place, and it is estimated that it will only be thirty taels of silver in a month, which is really too little.

There was a master bookkeeper who helped to give advice: "Since the adults think that Xihua is poor, why don't the prefect of Yang Lu give a certificate to make the private salt sold in Huaining?" ”

"No," Zhao Zhi said, "if such an ugly matter makes the prefect decide, if it is leaked in the future, I am afraid that the reputation will be lost; He is such a famous person, he will not dare to make his own decisions. ”

The master said with a smile: "It seems that the adults don't know the rules of Chenzhou." ”

"What rules?"

"Anything that can't be done in such a clear place, you only need to discuss with Ye Tongzhi, if Ye Tongzhi agrees, it means that the prefect also nodded."

"Really?" After Zhao Zhu was deceived by the merchant, he became very suspicious.

"Absolutely."

"Good. I will send at once. If you have half a lie, you will be held accountable! ”

Zhao Zhu returned home from the Yamen, called a servant, and ordered him to carry a letter of his own, with a silver ticket of fifty taels between the letters, and set off for Huaining.

Ye Yongjia is doing business in the second hall. It was dimly lit, with only the west window open, letting in a faint glow. The door creaked suddenly, and the sunlight shone directly in, hitting Ye Yongjia's face. The eyes were deep and cloudy, cold and vicious, like vultures on an isolated cliff, looking down on everything with composure.

His eyes were very different from before, but more like the minions of an eagle and a dog driven by man.

Zhao Zhu's servant stepped forward and handed over the letter in his hand, "Lord Zhao wants to sell a piece of illicit salt in Huaining." ”

Ye Yongjia concave his lips deeply, did not speak, slowly opened the letter, and the silver ticket contained in it fell on the table. The minion smiled wickedly.

Ye Tongzhi put the ticket aside first, tore a small piece from a piece of waste paper, and wrote the piece of paper, smiling at the minion with his face. It was unnatural, even hideous, with faces rubbed together for a laugh.

When he had finished, he put down his pen and stamped it on the paper, and got up and handed it to the minion, and the sinister smile never ceased, as if the next moment it might tear his face apart.

It was only until the door was closed again. There are no gaps left in that.