The temporary residence prepared by Yangzhou Prefect Jiang Ping for Xu Jin was in the west of the city. Although the area was not as good as the residence in Xu Jinzhong, it was almost the same. The key was a garden-style house with Jiangnan characteristics, pavilions, towers, rockery, flowing water, ponds and fish, and various precious flowers and trees were decorated with fresh and delicate style. Living in it is undoubtedly a pleasure.

Because the house was big enough, the brothers from the Five Hundred Battalions also benefited from it and all stationed in. Xu Jin occupied the backyard, and Xia Yan, the deputy envoy of the imperial envoy, chose a side courtyard to live in.

Xu Jin settled in the backyard and ran around to clean and arrange the room in early spring and early summer. In fact, the house was taken care of by someone and had been cleaned up long ago. Even the beds and bedding were new, but the two maids still cleaned it up very carefully, and then placed various supplies according to the master's living habits.

Xu Jin finished bathing and dressing under the service of two twin maids, and took a break for a while. At about 5 pm, he left for the welcoming banquet held by local gentry.

Before leaving, Xu Jin sent someone to the side courtyard to ask Xia Yan to go there, but the latter said bluntly and refused, and replied: The water of Canglang is clear, so that my tassel can be washed; the water of Canglang is turbid, so that my feet can be washed.

This sentence comes from "The Song of the Red Son" in the Spring and Autumn Period and the Warring States Period. It roughly means: A gentleman will be in charge when dealing with the world, and will be in danger when encountering chaos. It can also be explained as "the lotus comes out of the mud and is not stained."

It is obvious that Xia Yan is expressing his attitude to Xu Jin: Xia Yan is a noble gentleman. This time he went to Jiangnan to clear the land to benefit the people. He will never accept the benefits of local gentry, and will never be incompatible with others, and will never betray the law for personal gain.

After hearing this, Xu Jin smiled indifferently, and did not force Xia Yan to go to the banquet alone with his two brothers-in-laws.

It is said that the reason why Xu Jin chose Xia Yan as the deputy envoy of the imperial envoy was because he was honest and talented. However, honest people all have a common problem, that is, they are not good at interpersonal communication, and they are prone to breaking up relationships. If they are too upright, they become straightforward. If they are too upright, they will easily fail and they will not be able to end up falling. Xia Yan in history did end up miserably, and was beheaded and confiscated, and his wife and children were separated.

Therefore, it would be better if Xia Yan didn't attend this welcoming banquet. Xu Jin only needed a capable and practical partner. As for interpersonal communication, he could do it with one hand.

Xu Jin did not have the mental cleanliness of a gentleman. He had been ups and downs in his business world in his previous life and had done many things to do when playing tricks. As long as he did not break the bottom line, the means were not important. What was important was to achieve the goal. Sun Tzu's Art of War said: Know yourself and your enemy, and you will never be defeated in a hundred battles. If you want to know yourself and your enemy, you naturally have to contact the other party, or even get along with the other party.

Xu Jin had stopped by the bridge and stared at the flower boat. In addition to being curious, he also deliberately paralyzed the officials and gentry. After all, an imperial envoy with weakness is always easier to deal with than an immoral imperial envoy.

This welcome banquet was held in the government office, not too far from Xu Jin's residence. After Xu Jin left the door, he took Xie Erjian and Xie Sanqiang to walk there, while leisurely enjoying the scenery along the Sishui River. Twenty Jinyiwei followed behind him to guard him.

Just as Xu and Jin and the other two were walking on the street paved with stones, they met a group of people. There were six people in the group, wearing the protective cover of ordinary people (sleeveless), showing their strong and powerful arms. They were not tall, but they were very solid. The person in the leader was about twenty-five or six years old. He obviously hesitated for a moment before taking the lead to dodge to the side of the road.

Xu Jin felt a strange feeling in his heart. He always felt something was wrong with the people in front of him, but for a moment he couldn't think of something wrong.

When both sides passed by, Xie Erjian and the headed young man touched the eyes of the other party, and their hands and ten fingers were instantly curled up slightly. Xie Sanqin's body suddenly tensed, and his cunning eyes showed a look of vigilance.

The young man glanced at the Xie brothers and obviously accelerated his pace. The five people following him seemed to be pulled by an invisible thread, and at the same time they also accelerated their pace. His legs seemed to be filled with springs, as if they could jump up at any time.

The two sides staggered for more than ten meters. Xie Sanqiang touched Xie Erjian lightly with his shoulder, then slapped his mouth back and said, "Second brother, that guy is not simple!"

Xie Erjian nodded and said, "Well, he is a master!"

Xu Jin couldn't help but be surprised. You must know that his second brother-in-law is very high-profile and has few opponents in martial arts. Except for fighting against two last year, he suffered a little loss from the hands of Zhao Quan of the White Lotus Sect, he has never lost. Now he actually said with a serious expression that the other party is a master? He couldn't help but say, "Second brother, how do you know that the other party is a master?"

Xie Erjian returned to his lazy state and shrugged, "Brother-in-law, I'm not my second brother, I'm bragging. A real master can judge the other party's weight based on his breath. The guy's breath just now was not below me."

Xie Sanqiang exposes with disrespect, "I'm afraid I'll be stronger!"

Xie Erjian was rarely embarrassed, but he said confidently: "So what? If you fight alone, I may not lose my second brother."

Xie Sanqian curled his lips and said, "I guess I can't take advantage."

"Fourth brother, I don't have my dad to support you now. If you argue again, I believe it or not, my second brother will deal with you with one hand." Xie Erjian said unhappily.

Xie Sanqiang patted the double-tube flintlock gun on his waist and said with a smile: "I really don't believe it."

"Your uncle!" Xie Erqiu couldn't help but make a big fuss, and he had never taken advantage of the cunning and shameless fourth brother.

Xu Jin couldn't help but smile. The martial arts in the world are only fast and fast. No matter how high your martial arts are, what's the use of firearms?

At this time, the three of them had already arrived in front of the government office, and the officials and gentry who had received the news immediately went out to greet them.

"Hey, Lord Xu, why didn't you see Lord Xia?" Yangzhou magistrate Jiang Ping looked behind Xu Jin, but did not see the deputy envoy Xia Yan of the imperial envoy, and couldn't help but ask.

Xu Jin said calmly: "Mr. Xia has been on a long journey and has a little discomfort and has already rested, so he did not attend the banquet. I asked me to express my gratitude to my colleagues on his behalf."

Jiang Ping frowned slightly and said, "So that's it. I have to visit me afterwards. Lord Xu, please invite me inside, the banquet is ready."

Surrounded by a group of officials and gentry, Xu Jin entered the government office and sat down at the chief. Yangzhou prefect Jiang Ping, salt transportation envoy Shi Haoran and others sat together. Six more seats were also placed. All the local officials, gentry and great merchants in Yangzhou were present.
Chapter completed!