Funing Hall

On that day, before sunset, Zhao Shiqi and Xiao Tang had already arrived in Yancheng County.

The reason why he came so quickly was that along the way, except for eating a little at noon and drinking some water, Zhao Shiqi never rested.Xiao Tang is still young, although he has been a civil servant for a long time and does not move around, at least he can hold on.Li Zhicheng is in his 40s, how can he keep up with their speed?

Halfway through the journey, his face turned pale, and he stayed at a tea house by the roadside to rest.

Arriving in Yancheng County, Xiao Tang originally planned to go to the county government first to find the county magistrate, county magistrate and others, just to rest for one night, so that he can do things tomorrow.

Zhao Shiqi went to the salt field, Xiao Tang didn't understand, although they had discussed [-]% of the time last night, they were mainly conveying His Majesty's will and how to arrange the follow-up matters ordered by His Majesty after the change of salt register.After all, in his and Li Zhicheng's opinion, the matter of changing the salt register must be arranged together with the local officials.

But Zhao Shiqi had already left, so he had no choice but to follow.

The salt field in Huainan is different from the salt field on Liangzhe Road, not only because of the different terrain, but also because of the different commanding methods of the salt people.And because of the strict management of the saltworks in Huainan, some soldiers who committed crimes were demoted to the saltworks here as "servants".

Since the management is strict, the levels among salt households are also very strict. There are upper, middle, and lower levels, but no matter what level you are, you have to stay honestly in the saltworks.

The salt field under the setting sun was very quiet, Zhao Shiqi got off his horse and was about to step forward.

The panting Xiao Tang called him: "Young Lord, let's just take a look at it today, we have to talk to the county magistrate and the county magistrate, if they don't show up, the Yan people and the officials probably won't listen to us either. of."

Xiao Tang has a cautious temperament, so it is normal to say this.After all, the matter of reform is a subversive act, especially when we are dealing with salt people who are ignorant of the world, it is naturally safer to wait for local officials to come and persuade them together.

Don't wait for the transfer envoy to wait for others, after all, the officials above don't know the specific situation of the salt field very well.But the local officials always understood that they were outsiders, and their understanding of the salt field was actually very fragmented, so they should not act hastily.

There is actually nothing wrong with Xiao Tang's thinking.

But Zhao Shiqi also has his own ideas.

Even if he didn't return to Kaifeng earlier, his temper also destined his drastic behavior.And no matter whether he was in the previous life or the present life, he knew quite a lot about Yanhu, especially in this life.

A few days ago, Mu Fu sent him a letter saying that two field officials who were collaborating with Yang Yuan had been stopped by them and locked up in the stockade.The field officials are all low-level officials. To put it bluntly, they are not even considered officials.Two or three disappeared, but no one cared, they just went to the town to drink.

But such a person can collude with others and do all kinds of bad things.He also read the account book that Zhou Li collected from him. Whether it was Yang Yuan or the county magistrate, they were all inseparable.

Zhao Cong's ambition is his ambition, and the ambition that he himself has not had time to realize in his previous life is even more his ambition.

He also hopes that the poor situation of these salt people can be changed.

He specially picked this time to come here, just to take advantage of people not paying attention, otherwise the local officials will definitely block it openly and secretly. After all, after the reform, the treatment of the salt people has improved, and they have less chance to make money.

Besides, Xiao Tang and the others didn't know that the more ignorant the salt people were, the more they couldn't procrastinate. If they procrastinated, they would always be the victims.Mu Fu had also dealt with low-class salt households for a long time. According to him, those salt people were born in the salt field and had little contact with the outside world. Although they were simple, they were unreasonable.

It doesn't make sense to insist on reasoning with them, because they don't know what reason is.

In the face of this group of people, you can only be tough and direct.

He originally didn't want to explain to Xiao Tang, but thinking that he might be Rantao's future husband, he finally said: "Master Xiao, the salt people have lived in the salt field for many generations, and they have never left this place since they were born. What do they know? ? You also know, how much of the salt capital distributed by the imperial court every year can really fall into the hands of Yanhu? It is easy to fish in muddy water. If you really have to wait for local officials to come forward, I am afraid that it will be delayed for several months. This matter cannot be resolved. If His Majesty really intends to do this, why send you and me here? Why do you need to specifically tell these officials not to be notified in advance?"

When Xiao Tang heard Zhao Shiqi's words, he also felt that there was some truth in it.

After Zhao Shiqi finished speaking, he stopped explaining, took out the documents and stepped forward.The field officials naturally let them go immediately, and followed them to please.

Zhao Shiqi didn't talk nonsense, so he ordered all the heads of the salt households in this salt field to gather in the salt field.

While the field officials followed the orders, they hurriedly sent people to report to the county magistrate, salt tax department and other officials.None of them were notified!Suddenly, two officials from Beijing and China came!It is said that Lord Zhou will be there soon!

The salt people face the sea breeze and the sun all day long, all of them are dark, standing on the salt drying field, looking at Zhao Shiqi and Xiao Tang in confusion.

Zhao Shiqi directly informed these salt people of Zhao Cong's plan. The salt registration cannot be changed, but now His Majesty changed their household registration to ordinary household registration.From then on, they were all free agents, and signed paper contracts with the salt farms for different years, and all of them were kept in the yamen of Yancheng County.

If you want to make salt for a lifetime, you can sign a long-term contract and continue it.

If you want to leave the saltworks, you can also sign a short contract.Or simply refuse to sign and leave the salt field. All the tools for making salt and the house at home are considered public property, and the government will give them a lot of resettlement money. To live.

It's just that prisoners who were originally guilty are not allowed to participate in it and must continue to serve in the saltworks.

Zhao Shiqi explained it in detail and in a very simple way, so they could understand it as soon as they heard it.

When the salt people heard this policy, they were all dumbfounded.They didn't care about other taxes and the like, just hearing that they could get out of the saltworks was enough for them to be shocked.

Regardless of their age, they have been at the seaside and in the saltworks since they were born, and they never thought of doing anything else.There are also hawkers outside the salt field who come to sell things and tell them how it is outside.Salt production is hard work, and people have been fleeing from the salt field over the years.

But the salt fields are all by the sea, so how difficult is it to escape?Almost no one has successfully escaped, and there have been people who were caught with twenty, fifty, or one hundred sticks.

Now the lord in front of him said, His Majesty wants to let them out of the saltworks?

A young man asked in disbelief: "My lord, do you think we can stop making salt? Can we leave the saltworks?"

Zhao Shiqi nodded reservedly: "Exactly, this is what His Majesty meant."

For these salt people, His Majesty is really a figure in the sky, and they were even more dumbfounded after hearing this.

An old man asked again: "My lord, can I go out and have a look at my age?"

Xiao Tang smiled: "It doesn't matter what age you are."

There was a "boom" below, and the discussion started immediately. Zhao Shiqi was not in a hurry, and let them talk.The field official standing on the side has not recovered from listening to Zhao Shiqi's words.Relying on the mountains to eat the mountains, relying on the water to eat the water, they are officials, and naturally they are those who eat the saltworks and the people who eat the salt.

His Majesty made such a change, and all the salt people left, what should they do? !They can't eat, and they can't give filial piety, so what if the adults blame them? !

In fact, these field officials think too little and too much. The Yan people will not all leave, they have lived here for generations.Even if some people go out, they may come back soon, after all, they only know how to make salt.Besides, whether it is taxation or military service, it is a big job for them.To enjoy one right, you have to give up the other completely, and there is no such thing as taking both.

Zhao Cong is not a fool, if the salt people really leave, who will make the salt?Zhao Cong still has a plan for the future. His purpose of experimenting with changing the salt register is only to improve the living conditions of the salt people and make them live better.

It's just that Zhao Shiqi didn't intend to say everything at the moment.

His explanation just now was just to let the salt people know what they knew and to know the official arrangement.If the arrangements are made by local officials, who knows how they will talk to the salt people in a more eloquent way?

The response was really strong, and the salt people were so excited that they could not wait to get out of the salt field immediately.

Zhao Shiqi is not in a hurry, everything has to wait for three days.

He had achieved his goal today, seeing this situation, he didn't want to stay any longer, and wanted to leave with Xiao Tang.

What's ridiculous is that when the field officials sent them out, they smiled shyly and wanted to stuff money into their hands.

Zhao Shiqi smiled: "What is your last name?"

This is the head of the police officer, grinning: "My lord, the younger one's surname is Wang! I don't even have a name, just call me Wang Da!"

Zhao Shiqi smiled, pulled off the belt around Wang Da's waist, tied his hands, and said coldly: "Bringing court officials openly, I'm going to ask the county magistrate what should I do?" !"

Wang Da was startled, and before he could react, Zhao Shiqi had already pulled him with a rope, tied him to the horse's back, turned around and headed for the county government office.

Xiao Tang was also a little dazed, he didn't really know this little man well, all the way along, he only felt that he was well spoken and handsome, and he was kind to him.Xiao Tang secretly thought that he was an easy-going person, and also thought that he was also a weak-tempered person.Just now, although he didn't quite agree with Zhao Shiqi's actions, he didn't stop him, after all, he was His Majesty's most beloved nephew.

Unexpectedly, in just a moment, he changed into a different person!

How did he know that Zhao Shiqi was kind to him, and he restrained his domineering, all because of Rantao's face, and the face of Zhao Cong's support when he was in charge.

On the way back, they met officials from Yancheng County, including the county magistrate and magistrate, who came to hear the news. After all, the prison is the largest salt field in the Song Dynasty, and it is so rich that a field official can easily come up with 50 taels of silver!"

The flattering smile on Zhixian's face immediately turned into a wry smile, speechless.

Zhao Shiqi sat on the horse, still smiling: "The salt capital distributed every year in Beijing is for the upper-class households, and it is only 50 taels a year. How can a police officer come up with [-] taels in such a short time?"

"My lord, my lord—" the county magistrate was clever and was about to speak.

Zhao Shiqi had already said: "Take me with you and go back to the county government office immediately! I will inform you of His Majesty's will!"

Upon hearing the word "Your Majesty", several officials trembled and were about to kneel, but Zhao Shiqi had already moved forward.Xiao Tang was about to leave, but the magistrate held his horse tightly, bowed his head and begged, "My lord, who is the gentleman in Beijing?"

Xiao Tang looked harmonious, and he was also harmonious, he just smiled: "I dare not be a gentleman, I am Xiaotang serving Yushi at Yushitai."

Zhixian's legs immediately softened and he knelt down on the ground.This is the censor who specializes in impeaching officials!It was Xiao Tang who supported His Majesty's personal administration back then!Everyone in the world knows that he is His Majesty's confidant!How can this be good, suddenly came to their Yancheng County, without any notice before, he cupped his hands tremblingly: "Lord Xiao! The officials don't know Mount Tai!!"

"Magistrate, please, Your Majesty's will is important, so come back to the county government with me."

The county magistrate nodded again and again, but he thought that such a dignified person as Mr. Xiao is still half a step behind that lord just now. I don't know how sacred that lord is!

If you want to die, you have to die happily, he continued to tremble: "Master Xiao, that lord just now—"

Xiao Tang knew that they were afraid, so he didn't delay, he continued to laugh and said: "That is our Majesty's nephew, the little Eleven Lord of Wei County Prince's Mansion."

The county magistrate, the county magistrate and others all knelt on the ground and dared not move.

Xiao Tang pulled the rein, but his voice was gentle: "Hurry up, everyone, it's getting dark." After he finished speaking, he went forward to chase Zhao Shiqi.

The magistrate got up sweating, and walked back with his men.

On the way, they picked up Li Zhicheng again, and the group finally returned to the Yancheng County Government Office.

Originally Li Zhicheng dared to talk to Zhao Shiqi, but when he saw him go to the Yancheng Prison, his face was cold when he came back, so he didn't say anything, only dared to ask Xiao Tang a few words.He was also a little dazzled when he learned that the officials actually bribed them.After all, the Yancheng Supervisor is under their name in Chuzhou!He dared to bribe officials in Beijing and China in a grand manner!

This official has always been one level above one level, he called in the county magistrate and the county magistrate to give him a severe training.

But they have common interests. After the training, Li Zhicheng also understood his affection: "This time your majesty uses our Yancheng prison as a test site, and that is our good luck! You must deal with it! That little man, don't Seeing how young he is, he is His Majesty's most beloved nephew! Make him comfortable, and we will be fine!"

The magistrate repeatedly responded, but his heart was also bitter, how should he coax him?It was the first time I saw someone who was scolded and beaten for giving money!

Li Zhicheng's work is well-regulated, but there is an advantage, because he is timid, he never dares to accept gifts.What's more, the transfer of money from the upper management every year is directly taken over by the transfer envoy and the tea and salt department. At most, they will be notified to him before they are distributed to the salt field, and the county magistrate is responsible for the rest.

Li Zhicheng has never been greedy for a penny. He didn't know that the county magistrate, county magistrate and others searched a lot. They were afraid!I'm so scared!Lord Shi Yushi has come in person, if they find out, report to the higher authorities, and they will be completely finished!

After the training, the county magistrate immediately sent someone to Yangzhou to report the letter after he came out, expecting the adults in Yangzhou to protect them.

Li Zhicheng himself had his own ideas, he only wanted to gain credit, and he wanted to go to Beijing to see His Majesty, so naturally he wanted to please Zhao Shiqi.But how to please is a problem, he thought for a long time, his master said: "My lord, you are a member of the royal family, and you are favored by His Majesty, you are naturally honorable, you must have everything, I am afraid it is not easy to give gifts .”

Li Zhicheng said angrily: "Do you still need to say it? The field official gave him 50 taels of silver, and he was so angry! Who dares to give it away?!"

"My lord, when I was studying in the middle of the capital, I had the honor to meet a son of the clan. Just like this gentleman, it is honorable to stop there! He didn't like it very much, but told me that we heard that our southern girls are beautiful and have a soft voice. , very interested."

Li Zhicheng's eyes lit up.

The master said again: "My lord, think about it, he doesn't lack anything, and there must be many beauties in his family. But the beauties, the north and the south are different."

Li Zhicheng immediately knew how to please Zhao Shiqi, he whispered to the master: "You rush back to Chuzhou overnight, and pick the one who is beautiful and polite!"

"Yes!" The master took the order and left.

Zhao Shiqi didn't know that someone was going to send him a beauty, so he wrote letters alone in the rest room after dinner.He thought for a while, and drew the salt field under the afterglow of the setting sun on the paper. Halfway through the drawing, someone knocked on the door outside.

"Who?" he asked.

"It's me." It was Xiao Tang's voice.

Zhao Shiqi covered the paper slightly and let him in.

Xiao Tang walked in and asked, "Young Lord, haven't you rested yet?"

"Master Xiao is not the same."

Xiao Tang sat down in front of him with a smile: "I was going to sleep, but after thinking about it, there are some things I have to talk to Xiao Lang-jun about."

Zhao Shiqi saw that he was indeed wearing obscene clothes and a cloak, but they were all men, so he didn't pay much attention to it.He motioned to Xiao Tang to say.

"Xiao Langjun, Your Majesty ordered you and me to come here. Although I don't think it's easy, I don't think it's difficult. I saw it with my own eyes in the salt field today. After all, I was narrow-minded. After I passed the Jinshi exam, I have been an official in the capital, and as a censor, I deal with those things every day. I thought about it just now, but fortunately, I acted according to Mr. Xiaolang's wishes today."

Zhao Shiqi poured tea for him with his own hands.

Xiao Tang was not too polite, took a few sips, and then said: "The salt field is really complicated. The people in the salt are simple-minded, but the officials are not! It is said that the officials in Beijing have a lot of thoughts. When I see you today, it may be more difficult in the local area than in Beijing. The sky is high and the capital is far away, so it is even more difficult to deal with. If we have to wait for the magistrate to come over today, how can we see the immediate reaction of the salt people? How can we see such a wealthy official? With local officials acting as a cover, I am afraid Many things have been hidden from us. I am afraid that if we really have to wait for several months, we will not see any progress on the matter of the salt register."

"Xiao really admires Mr. Xiao Lang." Xiao Tang sighed, and had to admit that there are some people who are born to do great things, no matter what they do, they can have a clear mind, and he still has a lot to learn.

Zhao Shiqi was not pleased when he heard Xiao Tang's words, he lived one more life, if he didn't even know about these, it would be embarrassing.

He said: "Lord Xiao is too famous, I just need your majesty's guidance, these are all your majesty's intentions." He directly affirmed Zhao Cong's good reputation of wisdom.

Xiao Tang believed it, and then sighed: "No matter how much your Majesty guides, it will only be possible if the little man has a sense of understanding."

Zhao Shiqi smiled, and asked again: "Master Xiao, why don't you go to the place?"

Xiao Tang was silent, he has been a censor for five years, in fact, he wanted to go to the local government for a long time, it's not that His Majesty won't let him go, it's just——

"But because of Sister Rantao?"

"..." Xiao Tang immediately looked up at him, his face flushed slightly.

"Sister Rantao doesn't want to marry you?"

Xiao Tang blushed and finally nodded.

Zhao Shiqi didn't care and said: "Sister Rantao doesn't want to marry you, so you should think about it as soon as possible, and start a family earlier. There are many women in the world. You are so promising, there must be many people who are willing to marry their daughters to you "Although Zhao Shiqi lived an extra life, he was also a native of the Song Dynasty, and he had never been emotionally enlightened. Although he had no intention of getting married, he thought that for a man, getting married should be the right thing to do.Rantao didn't want to marry, so he would marry someone else.

Xiao Tang was a little annoyed, and held back a sentence for a long time: "I don't want to marry her!"

Zhao Shiqi was puzzled: "Why?"

"Xiao Langjun is still young, so I'm afraid he doesn't know the feeling of joy. If you love someone, you will never look at other people in this life. If you love someone, you can even look at her from a distance. If you love Her, as long as she is happy, everything will be fine. If it wasn't for her, it's okay not to marry for the rest of my life." Xiao Tang said a series of words, but after all he was a little embarrassed, and immediately bowed his head.

Zhao Shiqi was startled by his words.

So this is the feeling of joy?

Did Xie Wenrui have the same thoughts about Gu Ci back then?

But Xiao Tang is a man, and Ran Tao is a woman. The combination of yin and yang is the way of heaven.

What is it between Xie Wenrui and Gu Ci?

He couldn't figure it out.

Xiao Tang also got up: "I'll go back and rest, and Mr. Xiao Lang should go to bed earlier."

Without waiting for Zhao Shiqi to respond, Xiao Tang said again: "My lord, Yancheng County is full of tricks, I'm afraid there will be many things that need to be dealt with by you and me in the future. If we want to implement the reform, we will inevitably have to solve these first."

Zhao Shiqi nodded, Xiao Tang said goodbye and left.

Zhao Shiqi never came back to his senses, he didn't think about Xiao Tang's words about the salt field, they were easy to solve.

His mind was full of Xiao Tang's "happy" rhetoric.

He thought for a long time, but he still couldn't figure it out, but he couldn't fall asleep, so he continued to paint.

After he finished drawing a picture, he folded the paper and stuffed it into the envelope.Just waiting for tomorrow to return to Chuzhou City, they will be sent back to Kaifeng.It has been a day since he sent a letter, so Zhao Cong might be worried.

After thinking about it, he smiled and pressed the letter and the knife under the pillow, and then fell asleep.