Chapter 52: Traveling back and forth to seek rewards

October, the sixth year of Longqing.

There are still two months before the change of era name.

But for ordinary people, it actually doesn’t matter much whether there is a change of person on the throne.

Those who are a little more closed-minded will ask, "Ah? The old Taoist priest is finally dead?"
However, for Jining Prefecture, the people are relatively knowledgeable and can even use this as a topic of conversation.

This is because this place is only sixty miles east of the provincial capital and more than three hundred miles away from Shandong Provincial Government.

Of course, the most important thing is that this state is located on the south side of Huitong River and Jishui River, and is located at the end of the entire Beijing-Hangzhou Grand Canal.

During the Yongle period, the Nanwang Water Conservancy Project was built here, and the River Governor's Office was established.

It can be said to be an important waterway for transportation between the north and south of Zhili.

As soon as Li Chengming and Chen Yinzhao got off the boat, they felt the bustling atmosphere.

There were people coming and going on the dock, including scholars, wealthy businessmen, and people wearing tight-fitting turbans and short straw sandals.

There was a cacophony of voices, and various accents echoed.

As soon as they got off the dock, a strange man approached them and tried to sell something to them, but was stopped by the servants behind them.

Li Chengming ignored him, grinned, and stamped his feet: "Finally we've arrived in Jining Prefecture. We can finally stand on solid ground. This ship is too dizzying."

It was his first time traveling far away, and he kept shaking his head just from taking the boat back and forth.

Every time we change ships, it is a rare opportunity to catch our breath.

At the beginning, the emperor promised Empress Dowager Li’s biological father, Emperor Li Wei, to establish a maritime chamber of commerce.

As Li Wei's eldest son and grandson, Li Chengming was sent by Li Wei to explore the ports and maritime merchants in Zhejiang at the end of June on the pretext of training. Of course, he was just a leader, and the managers were still responsible for the work.

Now, more than three months have passed in the blink of an eye, and it is time to return to Beijing.

He was passing through Nanzhili to visit his elders, and then he went to Shandong from the Huai River, preparing to change boats in Jining and head north.

Chen Yinzhao didn't feel any discomfort.

He glanced at the attendant behind him, and seeing that nothing was left behind, he said, "The ship is due tomorrow morning, let's go, let's go to the official post station to rest first."

Chen Yinzhao is the eldest son of the Pingjiang Earl’s Mansion. He is a little older and just turned 28 last month.

Li Chengming is seventeen years old and still a little jumpy.

As he followed, he said, "Brother Shi, aren't we going to Fujian?"

If we want to set up a chamber of commerce to undertake shipping, we have to survey several ports to see how much profit others are making.

Chen Yinzhao looked at him strangely: "Didn't Wu Qingbo tell you? Someone else was sent over there."

"We just need to take back what we saw and heard at Ningbo Port, as well as the records of several shopkeepers."

He pointed to the two men's bags with his lips, which contained a summary made by the shopkeeper who had accompanied them.

Li Chengming slapped his forehead and said, "Oh, I remember now."

He quickly put it out of his mind and asked again: "Brother Shi, do you think this business can be done?"

Chen Yinzhao hesitated and said, "I don't understand business, but since the shopkeepers all said there is a lot of profit to be made, it shouldn't be fake."

He is the eldest son of the Pingjiang Earl's family, and his family has been wealthy for generations. His vision is higher than Li Chengming's.

I say I don’t quite understand, but I feel in my heart that there is great potential.

Of course, he couldn't say this out loud, otherwise it would be difficult for his father, Pingjiang Earl, to bargain with Wuqing Earl.

In-laws are in-laws, but if you want to work together to make money, you still have to leave some room for them.

Li Chengming nodded thoughtfully, but believed it very naturally.

The two walked side by side, with one attendant following behind and one attendant leading the way in front.

Jining Prefecture is different from the capital. Not only are the streets a bit old, but you can often see things like poultry manure on the road.

Li Chengming covered his nose, fanned himself with his hands and held his breath from time to time.

Jining was originally Jining Prefecture in the first year of Emperor Taizu Wu's reign, but was downgraded to a prefecture in the eighteenth year.

The regulations themselves have been reduced, but the population has been increasing day by day for two hundred years.

It was even necessary to expand on the basis of the state capital and add an outer city.

The official post station is also located in the outer city.

The two of them walked and looked along the way.

The not-so-wide bluestone street extends all the way to the city gate, with shops lining both sides and wooden signs swaying in the wind.

There were crowds of people inside and outside, and a constant stream of vehicles and horses.

Occasionally, you can see a few gentry in official uniforms walking slowly, followed by a few servants carrying loads, looking quite impressive.

More of them are ordinary people in simple clothes, carrying things on their shoulders and with their families.

Li Chengming suddenly pulled Chen Yinzhao's sleeve and pointed at a residential building in surprise: "Taizu ordered that residential buildings should not exceed three rooms and five frames."

"This place is in chaos! Doesn't the government care?"

Chen Yinzhao had been out many times, so naturally he had more experience.

He looked at this relative who was leaving the capital for the first time since he started writing, and patiently explained, "It is a custom, but when the people do not follow it, it will be difficult for the government to deal with it."

It is normal that the imperial court has strict regulations, the people generally violate them, and the government takes partial measures.

But this is not easy to say on the street, so we can only be vague.

Li Chengming didn't understand, and seeing that Brother Shi didn't want to explain further, he could only hang up.

Still looking around curiously.

There was constant noise along the road.

“Selling flatbreads!”

"Immortal fruit! Immortality fruit!"

There were hawkers constantly carrying things on their shoulders and shouting out their wares.

"I've been using the fork for a year and all I've done is burn it!"

"Wait, Panzi, let me have a meal first."

"Come back, you idiot! I'm going to beat you to death today, you idiot!"

People from all walks of life did not lower their voices.

Li Chengming complained: "The outer city is really shabby, but there are inns in the inner city."

Chen Yinzhao had no choice but to say, "That's not what the old men insisted on. When you're away from home, it's more reassuring to stay at the government inn."

Li Chengming and his group were accompanied by attendants, and they looked like they were not to be trifled with. Even pickpockets stayed away from them, so naturally no one blocked their way.

After walking about two miles, they finally arrived at the official post station.

There was no need for the two to talk, and the attendant went inside to handle the formalities.

The two of them randomly picked a table and sat down, ordering some food.

Except for the table for two people, the other seven or eight tables in the inn were full of people.

Seeing that they were just messengers delivering messages and merchants traveling from north to south, he didn't take it seriously.

We started chatting casually.

Not long after, the servant finished checking in at the hotel and brought over a copy of the official newspaper.

Chen Yinzhao was stunned, took the court report and asked curiously: "Aren't court reports posted and announced? How can they be bought casually?"

The court bulletins were issued by the Ministry of Public Security and recorded current events in the central government. They were always intended for local civil and military officials to read.

Even if there was a need for minor officials and common people to know, at most it would be copied again and posted at the official post station and outside the city gate.

The attendant is called an attendant, but in fact he is a Jinyiwei, so he is naturally reliable.

After hearing this question, he immediately answered: "Master, the postmaster said that it has been like this since August."

"According to the July court bulletin, the head of the Tongzhengshisi was replaced, and the number of court bulletins published was increased."

“But it’s also quite expensive.”

After saying this, he hinted that it would be reimbursed without showing any expression.

Li Chengming came over and asked curiously, "How is it? Did anything big happen after we left?"

Chen Yinzhao looked at it and said, "Can it be greater than the title conferred to a civil official?"

He still remembered how magnificent the ceremonial procession escorting Earl Ding'an was when he watched from afar on the day of leaving Beijing.

"Oh, it's a big event. In early July, the late emperor was given a posthumous title, Yi Tian bestowed upon him: Emperor Qi Tian Long Dao Yuan Yi Kuan Ren Xian Wen Guang Wu Chun De Hong Xiao Zhuang, temple name Mu Zong."

Now that this has happened, I have to take back what I said.

Otherwise, those who care about the matter will have to ask, why? The affairs of the late emperor are not as important as those of his subjects?

Li Chengming smacked his lips and said, "This temple name is just average. Buddhi Zhiyi is called Mu. I thought it would be a little higher."

Although it is said that they are virtuous and righteous, when we look at the predecessors, in fact, their merits and demerits are equal.

Chen Yinzhao shook his head: "Whether it is good or not depends on how the emperor does."

"If there is any success in opening up the sea, then the late emperor, as the first to initiate it, will be considered a good temple name for Emperor Muzong."

The emperor promised Wu Qingbo the right to shipping. Although he did not understand it, as a parent he could always guess the reason.

Li Chengming nodded to show that he accepted the lesson and asked, "Anything else?"

Chen Yinzhao continued reading: "At the end of July, Liu Ziqiang, the Minister of Punishment, Zhang Shouzhi, the Minister of Revenue, and Han Ji, the Right Minister of the Ministry of Public Security, retired."

Li Chengming came closer and was a little surprised: "Three of the Nine Ministers are gone at once."

Chen Yinzhao continued reading: "In early August, Wang Guoguang, the governor of the warehouse, was promoted to the Minister of Revenue, and Wang Zhigao, the Minister of War in Nanjing, was changed to the Minister of Punishment."

"Promote Li Zaiting, the Imperial Censor of the Ministry of Personnel, to the position of the Imperial Censor-in-Chief, and change the Military Governor's Office Governor Gu Huan to the Governor-General of the Beijing Camp."

Li Chengming exclaimed: "The Marquis of Zhenyuan is now the governor of the Beijing Camp?"

Two years ago, the late emperor’s use of Gu Huan caused a big uproar and almost led to a fallout between the emperor and his subordinates. And now he’s actually re-employed him?

The two of them spoke louder and louder, and a man dressed as an old scholar at the next table heard it.

Suddenly he interrupted and sighed, "Wang Zhigao is a figurehead who has done nothing but got promoted."

Their eyelids jumped and they looked at the old scholar, only to see that the man had gray hair on his temples and was clearly quite old.

Chen Yinzhao took over and said, "This elder..."

He was interrupted before he could finish. The old scholar said unhappily, "What elder? I'm only in my early forties!"

Although Chen Yinzhao felt that they didn't look alike, he still changed his words: "Mr. Mao, we are from a merchant family, without any land or position. Why are you talking nonsense and harming us?"

The old scholar was not convinced and said, "Look at you, you are so timid. Go to Nanzhili and listen to what we all say."

Li Chengming pulled Chen Yinzhao and signaled him not to pay attention to such people.

Chen Yinzhao withdrew his gaze and nodded.

He learned his lesson and spoke in a lower voice: "At the end of August, the two palaces will be given the title of emperor."

"In early September, the emperor held a lecture on imperial examinations, and the cabinet decided to implement the performance evaluation system in the two capitals and one province."

Having said that, he handed the court bulletin to Li Chengming. Under current conditions, it would take about a month for the court bulletin to be published and delivered to places like Shandong and Nanzhili.

The land routes in Sichuan and Yunnan will take even longer.

The two were discussing.

Suddenly, I heard a commotion coming from the official post station.

With the mentality of less trouble is worse than more, the two of them didn't want to pay any attention to it.

But the noise was getting louder and louder, and a large crowd of onlookers had gathered outside the door, accompanied by the sound of a woman crying.

Li Chengming couldn't help but become curious.

The two looked at each other and went out to watch the fun.

Li Chengming stuck his head out and saw a burly man with tattoos on his arms dragging a woman.

The woman half-crouched on the ground, grabbing at the sign outside the post station.

She cried with tears in her eyes, looking very pitiful.

As a son of a noble family, Li Chengming hated to see women being bullied.

Without even saying hello to Chen Yinzhao, he immediately pushed through the crowd and said, "How dare you do such evil in broad daylight!"

Just as he finished speaking, another person stepped out from the crowd in the post station.

The man was wearing green official uniform and was obviously an official.

He frowned and asked, "I am Zhang Mengtong, the clerk of this prefecture. What happened?"

Limu was a ninth-rank official who was in charge of paperwork and supervised clerks, and was responsible for handling specific official affairs within the government. Since he appeared here, he must be involved in the business of the post station.

When the government officials showed up, Li Chengming curled his lips and retreated.

The big man was repeatedly stopped, but he did not restrain himself at all: "This is my family affair, you guys should stop interfering!"

But the woman who was being dragged cried out: "No, no, I don't know this man!"

Zhang Mengtong strode forward and said to the big man, "Let her go first!"

The big man was reluctant, but he stopped dragging, still holding the woman's arm.

Then he defended himself, "I paid the money! She must come with me today!"

Li Chengming, who was watching from the outside, was stunned. He looked at Chen Yinzhao and asked, "Is it possible to keep slaves in the local area?"

Chen Yinzhao hesitated and he didn't understand either.

On the contrary, the old scholar who was standing aside to watch the fun explained, "Of course it is possible."

"But they changed the names to something like adopted sons and daughters."

After saying this, he smiled and said, "But now, it is obvious that there is another story."

The two attendants looked at the old scholar warily.

Chen Yinzhao hesitated for a moment, then greeted them with a greeting: "We are merchants from Northern Zhili. My surname is Chen, and this is my brother from the same business association. His surname is Li."

He patted Li Chengming and gave a brief introduction.

The old scholar suddenly showed a hint of surprise: "What a coincidence, my last name is also Li."

Li Chengming was too lazy to be polite and just watched the show outside the post station without blinking.

He asked, "Li Maocai, what do you mean by there is another story?"

The old scholar pretended to be profound: "You will understand it when you see it."

There was still an argument going on on the field.

Zhang Mengtong shouted, "What do you mean by paying money? Our dynasty has banned slavery for many years. Do you still have the law in your eyes?"

The strong man stiffened his neck unconvinced and said, "What kind of law is this? Only when you pay the money and then hand over the goods is the law!"

"Besides, we are not buying a slave. We have given her stepfather enough money as a betrothal gift and married her in a formal ceremony. How can we not do that?"

"Can she ignore the matchmaker's words just because she says she doesn't know me?"

Zhang Mengtong was stunned.

I didn't expect there was such a reason.

Not only him, but also the onlookers felt that there was a reason for this.

Most people were embarrassed.

Chen Yinzhao suddenly realized: "No wonder Maocai said there is something fishy about it."

Only Li Chengming still muttered: "We can't rob it by force."

Li Xiucai glanced at the two of them and said, "Although I don't really care about matchmaker talk, this is not what I mean by having an article."

The two were stunned.

Gave him a strange look.

Li Xiucai motioned for the two to continue watching.

Everyone was silent, but the strong man became more aggressive: "It's the Lord of Heaven who should make the decision for me!"

Zhang Mengtong remained silent and did not respond.

Instead, he squatted down and asked the woman in a gentle voice, "But your stepfather sold you?"

The woman cried, "My father went to the casino a few days ago and lost all the money in our family. Yesterday he wanted to sell me and my mother to pay off his debts."

After saying this, he burst into tears again.

As soon as these words came out, the crowd became angry again.

Li Chengming even started cursing.

The sturdy man held his head high and said calmly, "Why is it so ugly to say that I'm selling my property? It's my parents' order and the matchmaker's words!"

Zhang Mengtong squatted on the ground, speechless for a moment.

This situation is indeed tricky.

This is the reason why it is said that even a fair judge cannot judge family affairs. It is obvious that it is a transaction, but it is difficult to handle the matter when one party has the words of a matchmaker.

Zhang Mengtong slowly stood up and looked at the strong man: "How much silver did you spend?"

The sturdy man looked at him warily: "What is the master going to do?"

Zhang Mengtong ignored him and went to ask the woman on the ground.

After he got the number, he nodded, looked around, and said in a loud voice: "I am a clerk in the state. Although I am not a high-ranking official, I am still a ninth-rank official."

"The people of this state are all the subjects of the state government. I am honored to be an official of the state government. I am arrogant and call myself the parent official. Do you think this is okay?"

Many people had already guessed what he was going to do and responded in unison.

Li Chengming also reacted and said to Chen Yinzhao and the old scholar with emotion: "This man is really kind-hearted and capable."

The old scholar curled his lips.

"Zhang Limu is naturally the parent official!"

"That's right! Zhang Limu is our parent!"

The repeated responses gave Zhang Mengtong confidence.

He nodded and said, "In that case, this girl's father died early, so I will make the decision on her marriage!"

He took out a bag, turned to look at the big man, and said arrogantly: "I don't agree with this marriage."

"I will withdraw the matchmaker's gift for her!"

After saying that, he threw the silver bag in his hand over.

The sturdy man was stunned for a moment, hesitating and at a loss.

Zhang Mengtong suddenly shouted, "Since we have settled the matter, why don't you let go?"

Seeing that the official's decision was both reasonable and in line with their wishes, everyone couldn't help but applaud.

"it is good!"

"Well done!"

Everyone joined in the shouting. The strong man took the money, counted it, and made sure that he had not suffered any loss. He snorted coldly and left in shame.

Next comes the much-loved segment where the judge and the common people express their gratitude.

Chen Yinzhao watched with great interest.

He couldn't help but sighed: "Our dynasty is indeed full of talented people, and even a ninth-rank official has this ability."

"It really is a very interesting story."

Apart from anything else, if he were in charge of this matter, I really wouldn't have thought that he would handle it this way.

All we can say is that these minor officials also have their own rules.

The old scholar at the side looked at the two people sighing and laughed, "This is not the article I'm talking about!"

They both turned around.

Ok?
Any other explanation?

Li Chengming was already impatient: "Stop keeping me in suspense, you bastard!"

The old scholar put his hands behind his back and shook his head: "I am also going to Beijing, and I just happened to pass by here, so I don't know much."

"But I guess that Wang Zhigao, the Minister of Justice who you two mentioned going to Beijing to take up his post, is probably upstairs right now."

Li Chengming was confused.

Chen Yinzhao suddenly reacted and said in surprise: "Are you saying that this is a deliberate act by someone? "

The old scholar said angrily: "Isn't this nonsense? Where do all these dramas about the great judge come from? Do you think this is a storybook?"

"Isn't this obviously a demonstration of his bullshit Spring and Autumn Judgment?"

Li Chengming finally interrupted, "Who planned this? Did the strong man do this on purpose to get the betrothal money back?"

The old scholar was so disappointed with him that he didn't bother to pay any attention to him.

Chen Yinzhao couldn't help but ask, "I haven't asked for your name yet?"

The old scholar waved his hand and said, "I am just a poor scholar, how can I have a great name? Just call me Li Zhi."

When they were out and about, they gave themselves identities, and the three of them tacitly did not reveal their real identities.

Just then.

Sure enough, a man who looked like a book boy came down from the second floor.

He trotted all the way to the outside of the post station, pushed through the crowd, walked up to Zhang Mengtong, and said politely: "Sir, my master wants to see you."

The book boy explained a few words to the puzzled Zhang Mengtong.

The latter followed reluctantly.

He happened to pass by the three people who were eating melons.

Li Zhi suddenly pointed at Chen and Li and said, "Wait, my two young masters also want to meet your master!"

(End of this chapter)