The darkness before dawn always seems to be extraordinarily dark.
Outside Kunshan City, in a dilapidated weather pavilion, Gu Yan was dressed in black, standing with his hands behind his back.
Huang Xianzhou was pushed in and his hood was pulled off.
The tiny light on the ground illuminated Huang Xianzhou's eyes, and he hurriedly raised his hand, rubbed his eyes vigorously, and cautiously raised his head to see the expressionless Gu Yan, who was shocked.
"Your Majesty?"
Gu Yan walked over two steps, sat on the chair in front of Huang Xianzhou, took a thick file from Wang Gui, and opened it.
"Huang Xianzhou, Jinshi of Renzike, sixth in the second class, a young talent, was selected into the Ministry of Household Affairs. Three years later, he was transferred to Qingchi County in Cangzhou, Shen County in Luzhou, and then to this small county in Kunshan. Step by step, you will work hard this year.
How old are you?"
"Forty-seven." Huang Xianzhou swallowed.
At this moment, fifteen buckets were fluttering in his heart, and he was full of expectation and excitement, mixed with a little bit of fear and uneasiness.
"These are your articles, memorials, and three secret documents." Gu Yan flipped through the pages, "They were all from three years ago. In these three years, there were only official documents, and this official document does not seem to be yours.
Handwritten, have you thought about it?"
"I have been moving around in different places for thirteen years, and I am old."
A wave of sadness rushed over, and Huang Xianzhou burst into tears.
"You are only forty-seven years old. From Qingchi County to Shen County, and then to this small county in Kunshan, have you ever reflected on it?" Gu Yan handed the file to Wang Gui.
"To be an official, one must first be a human being. A lower official must not be a human being." Huang Xianzhou said in a rather desolate way.
When I returned to the county government office the day before yesterday, I thought that he would open up and let go this time. He didn't even want to lose his face and wanted to fawn over the prince. Unexpectedly, he even said a choked word in fawning. He poured and drank alone and was drunk.
After this incident, I completely gave up my heart. I had originally planned to return home after this term and live in the countryside forever...
"You are a good person. The people in Qingchi County Government are full of praise for you. The people in Shen County County Government will never forget you. Anan Nanizi also tried his best to speak for you. You are just unlucky.
I have never met someone who can see your strengths, be broad-minded, and tolerate you." Gu Yan said calmly.
Huang Xianzhou stared at Gu Yan blankly and forgot to speak.
"I'll give you another place." Gu Yan looked at him.
Huang Xianzhou's eyes shone brightly, "It is an honor for me to be appreciated by the Crown Prince. I will never give up even if I die!"
"I'll fight to the death." Gu Yan repeated slowly, "Is this a polite word, or do you have something in mind? Tell me."
"The prince arrived in Pingjiang in August last year. Since his stay, the only one in Pingjiang Mansion and even Liangzhe Road that is worthy of the prince's nearly a year's time is the Customs and Excise Department."
Huang Xianzhou raised his head cautiously and glanced at Gu Yan.
Gu Yan looked directly at Huang Xianzhou with an expressionless face and said nothing.
"When I was in the Household Department, I was in charge of the accounting affairs of the Jiangnan Sea Taxation Department. The amount of silver that the Jiangnan Sea Taxation Department turned over to the Household Department every year was only 60% of what it was at its peak. In recent years, I heard that it is not as good as one year.
year."
Huang Xianzhou paused and his voice dropped slightly.
"After taking office in Kunshan, Xiaguan quietly went to Linhai Town several times. After on-the-spot inspection, several docks in Linhai Town were busier than Xiaguan expected. Xiaguan checked the land occupied by Linhai Town over the years, and found that it was outside every year.
Expansion, not contraction.
"Sea taxes and taxes have been reduced, the empire's military expenditures are insufficient, and the empire's northern defense has not advanced northwards for twenty or thirty years. The prince wrote to the court when he was in the army for training. I read it carefully and was deeply impressed by it.
"If the imperial army wants to advance northward and eliminate hidden dangers in the north of the empire, it must reorganize the Customs and Excise Department and restore the harvest of the Customs and Excise Department at its peak.
"Reviving the Customs and Excise Department is not an easy task."
"Well, where do you think we should start to revitalize the Customs and Excise Department?" Gu Yan had no expression on his face.
"Wharf. Whether you are entering or leaving, you must go through the dock for loading and unloading. No matter who is doing it or how you operate it, they will eventually fall into the dock and onto the cargo of each ship. Besides, going from bottom to top is better than going from top to bottom.
It is safer to go down." Huang Xianzhou thought for a while and said.
"Well, then do what you want, I'll give you a chance, you go and try it." Gu Yan stood up and walked out while ordering, "Send him back."
………………………………
On the evening of the next day, Li Yinzhu arrived at Cai Lian Lane again.
Li Yinzhu was still wearing the same clothes as yesterday, with empty hands, and was followed by the same old woman as yesterday. She carried a suitcase in each hand, walked it into the yard, then bowed out and went back first.
Li Xiaonan stretched her head over and took a closer look at Li Yinzhu's complexion.
"I'm fine. It's not like I haven't been taught a lesson by my eldest sister." Li Yinzhu was still a little downcast.
"Sister, I'm doing this for your own good." Li Xiaonan smiled.
"I know, you are also doing it for my own good." Li Yinzhu slapped Li Xiaonan twice on the back.
"Third sister, do you have to eat at home this time?" Sister Mei asked.
"That's all this time. According to the Hong family's rules, we won't take any extra thread." Li Yinzhu lit the two suitcases.
"It's your Hong family." Sister Mei corrected.
"Okay! Our Hong family!" Li Yinzhu sighed.
"Sister Mei, cook more vegetables and kill a chicken!" Li Xiaonan happily ordered.
"The eldest sister told me that the hens should be kept for laying eggs and should not be killed. The chicks are too small and should not be eaten until two months later. Please scramble more eggs." Sister Mei rejected Li Xiaonan's suggestion.
"Come over tomorrow and I will kill a chicken for you. I will eat alone at noon. Your second brother is not at home to eat." Li Yinzhu and Li Xiaonan murmured.
"I have something to do at noon tomorrow. I'll talk to you about business matters later. Brother is back!" Li Xiaonan's voice rose at the last sentence.
"Sister San is back." Li Xuedong looked at Li Yinzhu carefully and breathed a long sigh of relief, "You look fine.
"Brother Hong complained to me all day, saying that you cried for half the night when you went back yesterday, saying that the eldest sister was too much, and also said that he would come to talk to the eldest sister to reason with me. I asked him to come over when school was over, and he
And he said he was not free."
"I haven't been crying for half the night. Don't listen to his nonsense. Has he gone home?" Li Yinzhu asked.
"He said to go to Er Weng Weng's house, and said that if you are coming over today, you will definitely not go back early." Li Xuedong said, stretching his head and looking around.
"Just two suitcases." Li Xiaonan motioned to Li Xuedong.
"Yesterday was too much." Li Xuedong didn't finish his sentence. Facing Li Yinzhu's sideways gaze, he hurriedly smiled and said: "I'll go see what delicious food Sister Mei makes."
"Has your business started?" Li Yinzhu watched Li Xuedong go out and immediately grabbed Li Xiaonan and asked.
"Shh! Let's talk later, the eldest sister is back!" Just as Li Xiaonan was about to speak, she saw Li Jinzhu and Li Yuzhu entering the courtyard one after another, and she hurriedly shut up.
