The two drove to the governor's palace on Jiqing Road, where two stone lions lay in front of the official mansion, and the gate was solemn and majestic, and the guards took turns to guard the door. Passers-by who passed by here were also avoidant, and they were reluctant to approach the official mansion for fear of angering the guards in front of the door.

The middle-aged man, who looked a little modest, was dressed in a navy-colored velvet suit, his face was wrinkled, and he had a thick goatee under his head, and his demeanor was gentle and elegant but steady, and his demeanor was full of calm; seeing that he had reached his destination, he respectfully dismounted first, and carefully led the horse of the noble prince in front of him like a slave, and said, "Childe, don't be careful. ”

After the young man dismounted, he went straight to the gate, but was unexpectedly stopped by the two guards in front of the door, and shouted loudly: "The headquarters is important, there is no notice and warrant, and all idle people are forbidden to enter!"

The middle-aged man shouted loudly when he heard this, and took out a yellow gold medal from his chest, and scolded: "You are so bold dogs, even the envoys of Dadu dare to stop you?"

The two of them looked at the gold medal dumbfounded, and they were dumbfounded for a moment, and they immediately knelt on the ground, and said in a panic: "I don't know if it's Lord Qincha, the little ones don't know Mount Tai with eyes, and I hope that the adults will forgive their sins!"

The young man's face was calm, and he didn't seem to be angry, he squinted at one of the guards and said softly: "Call your Xingzhongshu Province, and say that Sima Wei, the son of Sima Shang, the head of the household department, has come to visit." With that, he swaggered into the door.

After the two of them left, the two guards dared to call the official title of Xingzhongshu Province directly, this person came from an unusual background. They immediately sent someone to report, and after a while, Li Ruzhi of Xingzhongshu Province hurried from his home to the official mansion and secretly met with these two envoys from Beijing.

Li Ruzhi Fang is more than forty years old, has been in the two lists of scholars, ancestors have been born in the scholarly family background, in the Jiqing Road area of the scholar forces, their Li family influence is very heavy, Li Ruzhi in the capital has been a deputy for ten years, and later transferred to his hometown directly to serve in the province of Xingzhongshu, over the years secretly colluded with the color people, the convenience of businessmen, secretly reaped a lot of benefits. Therefore, he looked fat-headed and big-eared, with a bucket of water hanging on his stomach, and swayed left and right when he walked, showing a graceful and luxurious posture.

At this moment, the three of them discussed in the main hall, Li Ruzhi made a pot of good wax tea for the two, after a few people greeted each other, Li Ruzhi sat down and began to compliment Sima Wei on the seat, he said: "When the lower official served in the majority of the capital, he had worked with the head of the household Shangshu Sima several times, and the Lord Sima repeatedly pointed out the maze, so that the lower official will never forget, his person is vigorous and resolute, like the teacher commander is as cordial. Now that I see the son of Ling Gong, who is still young, he has done such a thing, which is really the glory of the family and the honor of the court. ”

Sima Wei took a sip of the teacup, the corners of his mouth showed a hint of a smile, and he said: "My father also mentioned Lord Li a lot, saying that you are an honest official, worried about the country and the people, and are the leader of the scholar clan. ”

Li Ruzhi smiled and didn't make a speech, but he was unhappy with Sima Wei's words in his heart, and couldn't help but scold himself: "Huangkou Xiaoer, if it weren't for your father paving the way, how could he be so wildly arrogant and unruly, and dare to judge this official." ”

Immediately, he put down the teacup and said: "Sima Gongzi has come to the Holy Emperor this time to send an order, and he is also the son of Sima Gong, there must be a big event, and the lower officials will definitely do their best to cooperate." However, the journey was tiring, and the lower officials booked a table for a banquet in the best restaurant in the mansion to catch the wind and wash the dust for the son. ”

"No need. Sima Wei suddenly stood up at this time, and he said: "The imperial court transferred me to the city department this time, and I also have the position of my father's household department, which is really to maintain the silver taels of the treasury. Lord Li, you also know that in recent years, the rebels have rebelled, Qinghai has fallen, the court is worried about the people of the world, but the treasury is very small, it is difficult to maintain the barracks, this is all the actions of corrupt officials and giants, the purpose of my trip is already obvious, Lord Li, don't let me go home empty-handed, I can't explain to the emperor. ”

"The lower officials understand that just in the spring of January this year, all the taxes of the government will be paid, such as salt tax, land tax, and commercial tax...... Wait, the pen is correct, there is really no silver to come out!"

Sima Wei stepped down from the desk and looked at Li Ruzhi with a playful look, he smiled and said: "Doesn't Lord Li know that the taxes paid to the household department of the imperial court from all over the country have become eight points in ten points, and eight points have become six points. My father is already old, and he has been sitting in this position tremblingly for more than ten or twenty years, but he doesn't want to lose his reputation in his old age. ”

Li Ruzhi is not stupid, he knows that Sima Wei's words are official words, don't look at this son's young age, the city government in his heart is quite heavy, and his scheming is different from ordinary people. He glanced at the middle-aged man next to him slightly, and made a look of embarrassment on his face: "The tax officials of the various provinces don't understand, but they are not within the responsibilities of the lower officials. It's just that the taxes on Jiqing Road are paid in full, if there is greed for ink, Sima Gongzi can be clear, and the lower officials will definitely be investigated to the end. ”

"Lord Li's words are wrong, I know that Lord Li is honest and clean, and the tax department of Jiqing Road has already found out, if there is any corruption of ink, we will not discuss it here. It's just that Jiqing Road guards the throat of the south of the Yangtze River, and it is an important place for trade in and out, and the merchants are like clouds, and the imperial court attaches great importance to it. Now that the country is in trouble, it is time for them to solve the problems for Dayuan, Lord Li, what do you say?"

"Yes, yes!" Li Ruzhi couldn't help but feel a little pressure, the imperial court's taxes were already harsh, Sima Wei obviously came this time to take the merchant Jia to move the knife, since ancient times, the official and merchant family, the imperial court this time put himself on the stove to steam. He is a dignified book, but he doesn't want to have a grudge with the local businessmen, which is equivalent to hurting his own interests, but if he doesn't try his best to cooperate, I'm afraid that he will be the one who will be stabbed.

Looking at Li Ruzhi, who was embarrassed, Sima Wei was sure that he understood his words, so he glanced at the middle-aged man and said, "This is the housekeeper in my mansion, and also my mentor and friend, named Uncle Zhao, for specific matters, Master Li will discuss with him." This journey is tiring, and my son is also tired, so I will go back to rest for the time being. ”

"Congratulations to Sima Gongzi. Li Ruzhi welcomed Sima Wei out of the gate of the official mansion, and then turned around and talked to the middle-aged man named Zhaobo about the details of the matter. He has been paying attention to this man just now, it seems to be mediocre, but it makes Li Ruzhi feel a little weird, this person does not move, it happens to be the same age as himself, and Sima Wei personally said that he is a mentor and helpful friend, this sentence is full of weight, it seems that this person must have some hidden skills.

Sima Wei never forgot the girl he met before, and when he first saw her, he was deeply attracted by the girl's pure appearance; when he came to the restaurant where he stayed, he couldn't help but take out the paper painting in the room, and immersed himself in his thoughts for a long time. In the dark sky of the night, the bright moon hung in the sky, the water flowed outside the window, accompanied by the noise of the crowd, the door was pushed open at this time, and the person who came was Zhaobo.

As soon as Zhao Bo entered the room, he saw Sima Wei sitting at the table, immersed in the portrait of the girl by candlelight by the corner of the table, and saw that there was only a pot of wine on the table, and he asked presciently: "Childe must have never eaten dinner, so the old slave will go and prepare it for Childe." ”

Sima Wei carried him on his back, raised his left hand, and said, "No need, I'm not hungry." Uncle, look at the woman in this portrait, pure and lively, beautiful as a flower, just like the woman I saw in the daytime, this painting is really rare and wonderful!"

Uncle Zhao smiled when he heard this, poured a glass of wine for Sima Wei, and said, "Presumably, what Gongzi appreciates is not this painting, but the girl he met by chance before." ”

"Those who know me are also old. After speaking, Sima Wei put away the portrait, drank the turbid wine handed by Zhao Bo, and asked, "How did you talk to that Li Ruzhi?"

At this time, Zhao Bo immediately handed over a list and replied: "This Li Ruzhi is clean on the surface, but in fact he is an old fox." Gongzi has the position of the city secretary appointed by the saint, and he has the title of the old man's household secretary, he did not dare to refuse, so he wrote a list of local merchants with more financial resources to the old slave, a total of ten people, and this time the treasury continued, starting from the people in these lists in turn. ”

Sima Wei looked at the names in the list, he had done an investigation when he came to Jiqing Road, and the ten businessmen announced by Li Ruzhi were not false, all of them were solid and large households in the Jiqing Mansion, most of them made a living from businesses, shops, money villages, and casinos, and they could be said to have a solid family background.

"Then what is Li Ruzhi's plan?"

"The reason why the old slave said that he was an old fox was precisely because he didn't want to offend this group of merchants, so he ruined his way of making money. The ten people on this list will be discussed in detail by Childe, and he will act as a matchmaker at most, indicating Childe's identity. ”

Sima Wei's lips opened slightly, his face slightly revealed a wicked aura, he put the list into the candle flame, watching the list slowly burn out, he sneered: "Li Ruzhi has always seen the wind and steered, good at observing words and feelings, he has been an official on Jiqing Road for more than ten years, I don't know how many people have scraped the fat and ointment, presumably his family background is not a few points worse than this group of profiteers, and wait for this son to set up a game, and finally clean up this old guy." The so-called strong dragon does not suppress the head snake, this is his old family, let's give Master Li some face. Uncle, you will go to the official uniform tomorrow to inform him that you will summon these ten businessmen at one time, and my son will have a detailed discussion with them. ”

Uncle Zhao immediately replied: "The old slave will go to do this early tomorrow morning, but one of these ten people wants the son to visit him in person." His name is Qian Jinxian, he runs money houses and shops, and is a recognized business giant, and even Li Ruzhi has to give him three points. ”

"Is this what Master Li meant?"

Zhao Bo nodded and said: "The old slave thinks about it carefully, Li Ruzhi's advice is not reasonable, although the prince's coming this time is an errand appointed by the emperor, but after all, it is not a business, and there is no better reason for them to obediently give money, this Qian Jinxian, must be condescended to go by the prince." ”

Zhao Bo's words hit the nail on the head, and they were also extremely sarcastic. The court is corrupt, the treasury has no silver, and now there are rebels in various places, and the emperor and civil and military officials of the Great Yuan Dynasty really have no good strategy.

Sima Wei saw that Uncle Zhao's words were reasonable, and decidedly said: "Then you don't have to go to the official uniform tomorrow, my son will go to meet this businessman magnate and boss Qian for a while!"