Chapter 196 Minglan in Danger? Cao Gang Comes to Her Aid!

Prince's tutor?

Loyal and brave Earl Wei Yuan, General Wei?

Wei Wudi, a frontier official praised by the world as the pillar of the southeast and the hero of the country?

Such a great man who knows everything actually came to our teahouse?

If we tell others, I'm afraid no one will believe it!

At this time, Miss Zhao and the waiters in the teahouse were staring at the golden beans in her hand.

After all, those were the golden beans given by General Wei!

The women in Hangzhou are used to seeing talented men who claim to be romantic, but rarely see heroes who guard the border, fight bloody battles, and become famous at a young age.

Isn't General Wei such a person?

Therefore, they are a little excited at the same time as they are terrified.

Gu Qianfan said earnestly: "Today, General Wei came here incognito. I hope you don't leak the news that he came to Hangzhou."

After that, he left.

After the constables dealt with the bodies, they said to Miss Zhao:

"The damage caused by those thieves to your teahouse will be compensated to you after the state government has reviewed it."

Hangzhou Prefecture is a lucrative government, and it is not short of this money.

It is naturally very good for the local people.

Even the beggars in Hangzhou Prefecture can drink a bowl of rice porridge provided by the government every day.

There was even a time when there were no beggars in Hangzhou.

And now most of the beggars who stay in Hangzhou are refugees who have fled from all over the place, and there are no locals.

If anyone serves as an official in Hangzhou, it may be difficult to make a breakthrough in political achievements, but at least there will be enough delicacies every day.

In contrast, Fuzhou, which has always been committed to resisting the Japanese pirates, is a little poor.

This is why Fuzhou and even the entire Fujian Road have more determination and perseverance in striving for sea transportation than other prefectures.

Hangzhou has no sea transportation, but officials have lost an opportunity to increase their political achievements.

But if Fuzhou loses the sea transportation, the people of Fuzhou will have to continue to rely on the sea for their livelihood and will never live a so-called rich life.

Now, Wei Yuan has determined that Fuzhou will be the first place to open sea transportation.

The local people have begun to set up a longevity tablet for him and worship it at home all day long.

When Wei Yuan left Fuzhou, Fan Chunren also went to Fuzhou in person to prepare for the opening of sea transportation.

If Wei Yuan opened sea transportation in Hangzhou, at most the people of Hangzhou would praise him, but it would be far from the point of setting up a longevity tablet for him.

After all the constables in the tea shop left, Miss Zhao did not care about the tables, chairs and benches that were smashed by the bandits, but said to others in disbelief:

"Just now, when General Wei left, did he praise the tea I made for being delicious?"

A woman nodded woodenly, not sure, "It should be, right?"

Miss Zhao was overjoyed.

Although Zhang Xia and Mei Zhi tried their best to keep him, Wei Yuan still left Hangzhou without looking back.

After the teahouse incident, they knew that Hangzhou would not be able to ship goods by sea.

Wei Yuan had just walked out of Hangzhou.

Zhang Xia cursed Mei Zhi:

"You always say that Hangzhou is the safest city in the southeast. How do you explain this?"

"A second-rank official almost got into trouble in Hangzhou. If this gets to your majesty, you and I will not be officials anymore. We should throw away our official hats as soon as possible!"

The latter bowed and said, "Please calm down, sir. I have sent people to investigate. According to the handover between the commander of the Imperial City and my yamen runners, it was the people who colluded with the Japanese pirates who did it."

Hearing this, Zhang Xia was furious, "Okay, stop talking!"

"How dare you say that it was the people who colluded with the Japanese pirates? Don't you think it's a mess? Have you forgotten what the general's duty was to come to the southeast?"

"There are people who collude with the Japanese pirates in your territory? You! You! Stupid! Stupid! You.!"

If he hadn't taken his identity into consideration, he would have wanted to swear.

Mei Zhi was shocked and broke out in a cold sweat, "Now, is there still a chance to remedy the situation? Should we close down the teahouse involved in this matter first, and then send someone to warn the owner of the teahouse not to spread the matter?"

Close down the teahouse?

Zhang Xia sneered, "I really doubt that you have been an official for so many years, who are you looking down upon?"

"Didn't you hear General Wei say that the tea in that teahouse is delicious? General Wei is just worried that we will do this!"

"If you really close down the teahouse, believe it or not, at most seven days, the court will send a message to let you retire and return home!"

Retire? I'm not old yet?

"Although General Wei is a high-ranking official in the southeast, he is in charge of military affairs. I am a Jinshi, an official appointed by the court, and I have visited Han Xiang. It shouldn't be like this, right?"

Mei Zhi said tentatively.

Zhang Xia was so angry that he laughed.

"Wei Yuan is the Junior Tutor of the Crown Prince, and Wang Anshi, the Minister of Personnel, is the Junior Teacher. Even a fool can see that the two will be future assistant ministers."

"There are rumors in the capital that the generals and ministers will be at peace in the world. This general and ministers are not referring to Han Xianggong and Yinggong!"

"Now the big exam held by the Ministry of Personnel is imminent. At this critical moment, if Wei Yuan, a high official in the southeast, writes a letter to the court, neither you nor I will have a good ending!"

Mei Zhi just realized the seriousness of the matter and said solemnly: "I know what to do. I will investigate this matter with the Imperial City Department as soon as possible and give General Wei an explanation!"

Outside Hangzhou.

Wei Yuan's army is about to leave.

Gu Qianfan, the commander of the Imperial City Department's Investigation Department, asked for an audience.

He briefly reported to Wei Yuan about the merchants in Hangzhou who were involved with the Japanese pirates.

Wei Yuan asked curiously, "You usually work in Beijing, but you came to Hangzhou for this matter?"

Gu Qianfan said bluntly, "The emperor also attaches great importance to this matter. The emperor said that you are in charge of the overall situation in the southeast, and you are busy with many things every day. There are always things that you can't take into account."

"Specially dispatch our Imperial City Division to strictly investigate all the merchants and nobles in the southeast who are involved in the Japanese pirates, and then hand them over to you for heavy punishment."

Wei Yuan understood that Zhao Zhen felt the fun and benefits brought by the confiscation of property.

However, in the end, he still had to make the knife himself.

And Wang Anshi, who was in control of the Ministry of Personnel at the moment, was undoubtedly a top-notch scabbard.

"I have to go to my hometown to worship my ancestors. I have not been in the southeast these days."

"If you have any problems, tell Yang Huairen in Fuzhou. He will send troops to help you."

As soon as Wei Yuan finished speaking, Gu Qianfan's face lit up and said:

"Thank you, General Wei!"

Although Gu Qianfan can mobilize the clerks of the Imperial City Office in the entire southeast.

However, the Imperial City Offices in various places cannot move without permission. They need to keep an eye on others, and there are not many in total.

If there is the cooperation of the army, Gu Qianfan will dare to do it without scruples.

Just when Wei Yuan was about to leave, Gu Qianfan hesitated.

Seeing this, Wei Yuan asked curiously, "Do you have anything else to do?"

Gu Qianfan clasped his fists and said, "General Wei, after the Southeast matter is over, I want to follow you to fight on the battlefield and guard the border. What do you think?"

Wei Yuan was confused, "Why do you want to stay with me instead of staying in the Imperial City?"

Gu Qianfan said seriously, "A man should go to the battlefield to kill the enemy and defend his country. I really don't want to stay here in a place of intrigue and deception."

Wei Yuan smiled and did not respond.

Gu Qianfan frowned slightly, wondering if he agreed or not.

On the way to Suzhou.

Hai Zhou, the imperial censor of the Hai family's tour, waited for Wei Yuan halfway.

The latter went to meet him.

Hai Zhou said, "General Wei, we meet again. A few days ago, my uncle wrote to me and said that you made a lot of money from him."

Wei Yuan smiled and said, "Your Hai family is very strict in family management. It is a Confucian family. You should pay more attention to the affairs of the second branch."

Hai Zhou bowed deeply and said, "Thank you, General Wei, for reminding me."

Wei Yuan asked curiously, "Although I don't know you well, the family style of your Hai family's first branch is praised by everyone. Growing up in such an environment, you will not be tempted by worldly things."

"Although the second branch of the Hai family makes a living by the sea, there are many merchants who are richer than them. There are countless. Even if you can participate in this shipping business, how much can you get? "

"Why do you Hai family try every means to persuade His Majesty to open sea transportation?"

Hai Zhou smiled and said, "With General Wei's wisdom, can't you understand?"

Wei Yuan seemed to be thinking,

"Once sea transportation is opened, there will be no big problems in reforming the salt tax. If you can successfully reform the salt tax at the fastest speed, it will definitely be a great achievement."

"By then, relying on this achievement, it will be no problem for you to become a general or a prime minister. I wonder if this general is right?"

Hai Zhou nodded.

Wei Yuan continued, "You came to my house that day and said you would give me a concession, but you just wanted me to intervene in this matter. Because the Southeast Sea Transportation is not suitable for me, my teacher and Gu Hou, except for me."

"If I come, there will be no worries about sea transportation, and you can make drastic changes to the salt tax, and pave the way for your future entry into the Secretariat or taking charge of a department?"

Hai Zhou nodded again, "When General Wei led his troops to my uncle, I believe you must have guessed this, and you were angry that your subordinates were using you. , so it is human nature to blackmail my uncle."

"I know you are passing by here, so I am waiting here to apologize to you."

Wei Yuan said: "What will you do if I don't see you?"

Hai Zhou said: "I have nothing to do with your shipping. I really can't think of any reason why you don't have to see me."

This Hai Zhou is really born to be an official.

"Since you want to apologize, you can't go empty-handed, right?"

Wei Yuan smiled.

Hai Zhou nodded slightly, "I heard that the Cao Gang has a relationship with you. The Cao Gang's water transport business involves salt affairs. I have a little power to reform the salt tax."

"In the future, the Cao Gang will not have to pay salt tax within two years. I will personally inform the leader of the Cao Gang and say that this is your instruction."

The Salt Permit Law was created to make money for the court, so the salt tax under this law must be extremely heavy.

Two years of salt tax as an apology is not a small amount.

Wei Yuan's heart sank. He even knew this? How did he know?

"You come from a noble family, why did you abuse your power for personal gain?"

Wei Yuan chuckled.

Hai Zhou shook his head and said, "The Cao Gang has extensive water transportation and has friends in all directions. If the salt permit law is successfully implemented, merchants in the southeast will be eager to buy long permits."

"If the Cao Gang benefits, with the help of the government and the cooperation of the underworld forces, the long permits can be sold far and wide. By then, the court will no longer have to worry about the salt tax in various places."

"This action of yours is, first, to apologize to you, and second, for the sake of the court."

His concession and apology are in the Cao Gang.

Reforming the salt tax, underworld forces like the Cao Gang that control major water transport terminals must be severely punished.

After all, the docks are openly governed by the court. If there are underworld forces, they will take the opportunity to collect protection fees. Where will the court save its face?

And Haizhou's method is to exempt the Cao Gang from salt tax, so that the Cao Gang will no longer attack the salt merchants who operate water transport, and this can also save the Cao Gang, all as an apology to Wei Yuan.

As for why the period is two years, the reason is also very simple.

After two years, Haizhou will no longer be in charge of the southeastern salt tax. At that time, he will no longer have the final say in the matter of the southeastern salt tax.

After hearing his explanation, Wei Yuan suddenly realized that this was what a scholar should do.

"You have good intentions, I appreciate it."

Hai Zhou bowed and said, "You are polite. I have a good relationship with the Minister of Personnel. You two are the pillars of the country in the future. We should interact more often on weekdays."

If Wei Yuan did not have the title of scholar and earl, I am afraid that these scholars who were born as Jinshi would not be so "polite".

After saying goodbye to Hai Zhou.

Wei Yuan continued to Suzhou.

He was not in a hurry to travel, as long as he could reach Guangling in ten days.

It is worth mentioning that after arriving in Suzhou, Wei Yuan let the army move forward.

He played a trick again and came to the King of Wu by Taihu Lake alone, intending to stay here for a few days to appreciate the beautiful scenery here.

Of course, more importantly, it is necessary to determine which merchant forces in Suzhou will participate in sea transportation and how much profit they will get.

It is said that Wei Yuan stayed in Suzhou for a few days.

Minglan, Old Lady Sheng and their group also arrived at Yangzhou by water.

It is worth mentioning that some interesting things happened during the period.

When the Sheng family's boat arrived at the border of Yangzhou, a thief suddenly boarded the boat to demand money and property.

This is a common occurrence in the Great Zhou territory. Those thieves dare not take people's lives. They just need to give them a few dozen taels of silver to send them away.

As for why such a thing happened on the Grand Canal, it comes down to the fact that the court has no navy and lacks the power to control the water.

Except for specific days, local governments will order yamen runners to patrol the lake by boat, and the rest of the time, they will not care.

Therefore, some water bandits and underworld forces such as the Cao Gang and the Salt Gang that blocked the road have bred.

Just when Sheng Changbai was about to give them silver, a Cao Gang boat suddenly approached and asked Sheng Changbai, who was standing at the bow to discuss with the bandits,

"Sheng family boat? I wonder which Sheng family it is?"

The word "Sheng" was written on the hull of the boat they were riding.

Sheng Changbai responded, "The Sheng family, the deputy minister of the Ministry of Works in the capital."

Deputy Minister of Works?

The members of the Cao Gang did not know what this official title was, so they had to continue asking:

"The Sheng family in the capital? Is it the Sheng family where the imperial concubine Wei Shuyi and Sheng Minglan are staying?"

Sheng Changbai's heart tightened, and he frowned and said, "I wonder why you are asking this?"

While talking, Sheng Minglan had already walked out of the cabin.

Seeing this, Sheng Changbai hurriedly said, "Sixth sister, it's dangerous here, you go back first."

Minglan said, "Did you hear someone calling me just now?"

"I am Sheng Minglan, why are you calling me?"

She just heard that the other party's tone was not malicious, so she spoke with courage.

Sheng Changbai protected her in front of him.

At this time, the Cao Gang boat was getting closer to the Sheng family boat. Hearing what Minglan said, he immediately smiled and said:

"Loyal and Brave Marquis Wei General is our great benefactor. Our boss once said that General Wei has two sisters, one married to the Sheng family, and the other has now gone to the capital."

"Tell us that if we meet someone who has a relationship with the Loyal and Brave Marquis, he is our friend and we can escort him."

Hearing this, Sheng Changbai and Minglan were both happy.

Afterwards, the Cao Gang members shouted to the bandits not far away:

"We travel across the three rivers and four seas, and we are the first to follow the word righteousness (we are the Cao Gang), and the friends on the word harmony (friends on the road). These people are the companions of the Sai Huqi (all the people on this boat are General Wei's friends). Please step on the wide side and make things convenient (please give us some face and let this boat go)."

After that, the bandits really retreated gradually.