Chapter 189: Ceremony to welcome new officials and preparations for the New Year’s dinner
He Shouxin finally couldn't stand it anymore, and he said:
"Master Zhao, you can't tighten the reins so tightly, the horse's neck will break..."
Zhao Xuan, who had been lowering his head in thought, finally loosened his grip. The horse's neck finally recovered from the twist, and he lowered his head and gasped for air.
"I can run faster than it." Zhao Xuan's voice was low due to anxiety.
He Shouxin sighed and said: "I believe it. But it is a courtesy to welcome him on horseback. We cannot offend the new prefect as soon as we come up."
"Of course I know, after all, we will stay in Jiangdu for a while."
The team to welcome the prefect took office set off at sunrise and walked north for thirty miles, approaching the northern mountains.
This team consists of about fifty people, half of whom are prefecture-affiliated officials and the other half are ceremonial guards. The latter half of them are relatively lazy. After all, it is unkind to have to work overtime on New Year's Eve. The first half are very nervous because they
I don’t know what impact the new boss will have on their careers.
In the whole team, only three people on horseback acted as if they were staying out of the matter. Needless to say, the censor, although his official position was not high, he was very powerful, and the prefect also had to respect him. Zhao Xuan and He Shouxin were members of the criminal department.
Directly subordinate and not responsible to the prefect.
At this moment, they have been waiting here all morning, and it is almost time for lunch.
In the cold winter, they put their necks and hands into their clothes, shivering from the cold.
Suddenly, the censor narrowed his eyes and raised his right hand: "Here we come!"
The subordinate officers trembled, and the guard of honor immediately issued an order: "Everyone, please be energetic! Start beating!"
When the newly appointed prefecture officials came into view, they were greeted by the roar of gongs and drums.
Zhao Xuan took a closer look and saw a team slowly coming down the mountain road. The largest carriage among them was undoubtedly where the prefect was.
The censor adjusted his official uniform, patted his horse and stepped forward, cupping his hands and saying:
"Your Majesty, Wang Zezheng, has been waiting here for a long time."
The curtain of the carriage flew away, and a short man in court clothes walked out and said in return: "Oh, I didn't expect you to come so far! How far is it from Jiangdu?"
"Thirty miles of land."
"Oh..." The prefect straightened his official hat and raised his hand, "Bring my horse over here!"
Zhao Xuan mingled among the subordinate officials and carefully looked at this third-grade official.
Feng Mansheng, 53 years old, was the former prefect of Guanxi. After the Wu Zhaokun case, he was transferred to the prefect of Jiangdu. Although his official position did not change, his official position was promoted from the fourth grade to the third grade, which should actually be considered a promotion.
However, compared with the dignified Wu Zhaokun, this man seemed a bit wretched. With the help of three servants, he could barely sit on the saddle, but Zhao Xuan judged that with his posture, he would be knocked down within a few steps.
.
Feng Mansheng carefully picked up the reins and said to the censor: "On New Year's Eve, Jiangdu City should be very lively."
"Of course, and when the people heard that the magistrate had arrived, they went to the streets to greet him and didn't even eat breakfast." The censor said flatteringly.
The magistrate chuckled and said, "Then I can't keep them waiting, lest they delay lunch! Let's go!"
The team marched slowly, and Zhao Xuan naturally followed the prefect and censor.
She did not forget the true purpose of her trip - to keep an eye on Feng Mansheng before he entered Jiangdu.
"I wonder how prepared Zhou Shi is..."
According to the arrangement, the prefect will enter the city from the north gate, receive cheers from the people and gifts from merchants and scholars, then go to the Yamen to drink tea, talk to subordinate officials, and then leave for Fengde Tower after dark.
Of course, Zhao Xuan knew how difficult it would be for a small restaurant like Fengde Building to host such a group and prepare a banquet worthy of the prefect's status. But she also assigned this task to the only large restaurant in Jiangdu City out of helplessness. Now, everything is left to Zhou Shi.
……
"Well, they came in from the north gate! At the head were a few tall soldiers, holding sticks as tall as two people... Behind them was the gong and drum team, it was so lively... Oh, the one riding behind should be the prefect! No.
, there is more than one person riding a horse..."
In Fengde Building, in the shopkeeper's room, Zhou Shi waved his hand to interrupt Yin Bing Dashu's intermittent description.
"I don't need you to tell me storytelling, tell me about the team he led."
"Well, there are two small carriages. The workmanship is very good and the wood is good! In my opinion..."
"Tell me about the characteristics of the carriage! How many horses pull it?"
After Dashu answered one by one, Zhou Shi thought for a moment and found nothing suspicious.
They are all small carriages for family members, and there is only one horse, so they cannot carry many people... If the prefect wants to bring some "big guys" in, it is impossible to hide them in the carriage.
"Where are the others? Are there any large luggage with the entourage?"
"No... they are far away and I can't see them anymore."
As a tree spirit, the big tree can connect the senses of the surrounding creatures, covering about half of Jiangdu City. Just now, he used the bird perched on the city gate as his eyes to tell Zhou Shi what he saw.
Zhou Shi was worried that if the prefect had an affair with the demon, he might take this opportunity to bring items used to set up the formation into the city.
Now, this speculation has been rejected.
"Okay, you go and have a rest first. I'll come back to you if I need anything."
Dashu's ability is limited and he cannot quickly switch between the perspectives of multiple creatures, so he is temporarily unable to use his ability. He responded and turned into a wisp of smoke.
Zhou Shi left the room and plunged into the crowd.
"Where's the pork belly? Bring it!"
"Moss and green vegetables must be separated! Otherwise, how will I catch them!"
"Is this the silk you cut? Give me a try again..."
The waiters and chefs from Yueqinglou and Huaiyuelou arrived this morning and immediately started preparations for the New Year's Eve dinner.
After the renovation of Fengde Building was completed, the backyard became a square similar to the street. When Zhou Shi turned around, he could see a huge two-story stage standing at the original location of Fengde Building.
On the other side of the square, Agui stood on a table and said loudly to the spectators below:
"Yes, there will be a big show tonight at Fengde Tower. Come if you are free! Come!"
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Zhao Qinfeng saw the shopkeeper coming out and ran over quickly, wiping his sweat and flipping through the account books:
"Shopkeeper, even if we add the tables and chairs from Huaiyue Building, it's not enough! Wangjiang Building is not willing to lend it to us..."
"Then go to Goulan Washe. They are closed on New Year's Eve, so you should be able to borrow one. If that doesn't work, just use the name of the government to suppress them."
Zhao Qinfeng turned around to make arrangements. Several big men rushed into the backyard carrying wooden boxes, shouting:
"Get out of the way! Get out of the way! The fish is coming!"
Zhou Shi saw Xue An running over to inspect the goods, and a familiar figure in the fish transport team waved to him.
It’s Li Yingguan.
"The shopkeeper!" The current head of the Baitiao Gang squeezed through the crowd, patted his clothes, and said with a smile, "The fish you want are all picked by me. There will be no fresher fish in the entire river!"
"Thank you Mr. Li, but why do you need to come in person?"
"Take a step to speak."
The two of them walked to the hut. Li Yingguan looked around and whispered: "The people in the martial arts school did not listen to our arrangements and insisted on patrolling according to their own routes... You also know that our brothers have bad tempers and are afraid of getting into trouble."
What a conflict."
Zhou Shi smiled and said: "It doesn't matter, I have already informed Xu Yu and Hong Dingqu, and the people in the martial arts school will know to restrain themselves. And there are enough of them, so just let them keep an eye on the city."
"Then let's..."
"Please gather the brothers together and arrange them around Fengde Building and Yichun Garden to observe whether any suspicious persons come in or out."
"Okay. Alas, I'm afraid they won't be willing to 'stare' at Yichun Garden."
The undefended Yichun Garden is the most risky part of the whole plan. The demon chose it to bury the corpses, which shows that there may be certain conditions for it to serve as a formation. Although the corpses have been cleared, it does not mean that they will give up there.<
/p>
In the final analysis, the members of the Baitiao Gang are still gangsters, unorganized and undisciplined, which is why Zhou Shi chose them as Yichunyuan's informants.
He exchanged a few words with Li Yingguan and agreed on the next meeting time before saying goodbye.
"The prefect and others should have arrived at the Yamen... With Zhao Xuan watching and heavily guarded, the demons should not come into contact with him there."
Zhou Shi thought for a while and decided to go to the kitchen to have a look.
The kitchen in Fengde Building, which was expanded only half a year ago, is not busy now. After all, it is just past noon and dinner is still far away.
However, the New Year Pig for the New Year's Eve dinner has already been put on the steamer and started to be steamed for three hours.
Under the steamer erected high up, Chen Dayou was scolding the man who was lighting the fire.
"Look at the fire you're burning, it's booming and dying! How dare you take a nap! If the shopkeeper hadn't made you...the shopkeeper?"
Zhou Shi waved his hand and signaled Chen Dayou to take a rest while he looked at the cage.
The master was in a rage and could only leave angrily, muttering words like "related households".
Zhou Shi smiled evilly and sat down next to the frowning waiter, and said: "Isn't this job difficult to do? Sorry, the waiters are all familiar with each other. If you sneak in, you will definitely arouse suspicion. The junior workers need skills, so I have to feel aggrieved.
You."
"I didn't expect that the hardest part would be this..."
Yu Heng smiled bitterly and added a handful of firewood to the stove, successfully extinguishing the flame completely.