An hour later, Situ Zhou accompanied Chai Yan and the others out of the county government gate.
Situ Zhou said: "My lords, there is a good inn near the government office. I have just ordered people to prepare the room. As for the horses, the people in the government office will take good care of them. When you three need them, just say hello."
That’s all.”
Chai Yan nodded and said with a smile, "I'm sorry to trouble you, Master Situ."
"Secretary Chai, you're welcome." Situ Zhou said politely, then turned around and asked the Yamen servant to lead the way for the three of them.
Situ Zhou cupped his hands and said, "My lords, I still have official duties to attend, so I won't go."
"Of course it's official business, Master Situ will stay." Chai Yan said with cupped hands.
After the two parties briefly said goodbye, the government officials led the three of them out of the county government office and toward the inn.
Situ Zhou stood at the gate of the government office and watched the three people walking away, his eyebrows slightly furrowed, and then he suddenly turned around and returned to the county government office.
After a stick of incense......
In an inn near the county government office.
In the room, Chai Yan sat at the table and drank water quietly.
Yuan Yuan sorted out her things, walked to the table, sat down, and asked, "What are you thinking about?"
Chai Yan tilted his head, looked at Yuanyuan and said, "Madam, why do you think the Youlong people support Su Jushiyong so much? He said there is a new gold vein, but where the gold vein is, why didn't he announce it?
Woolen cloth?"
Yuanyuan poured half a bowl of water for himself and said: "If you ask me, that new golden vein does not exist at all. The reason why the Youlong people are willing to believe in Su Jushiyong is just to find someone who does not work in farming.
It’s just a reason!”
"Yes! Madam, you are right..." Chai Yan nodded vigorously and said: "The Youlong tribe has been making a living by mining gold for hundreds of years, and their income is much higher than that of farming.
, most of the tribesmen would definitely be unwilling to suddenly change their people to become farmers! So at this time, Su Jushiyong accurately grasped the psychology of the tribesmen and successfully launched a coup!"
Yuan Yuan said disapprovingly: "So what? They, the Youlong Clan, have dug out all the gold. How long can Su Jushiyong's lies last? People always have to eat and wear clothes..."
"Yes, the privileges given by the imperial court to the Youlong tribe are not in vain. If they can no longer dig out gold and hand it over to the imperial court, then their lives in the future will not be as comfortable as before." Chai Yan said.
Yuanyuan took a sip of water and said with a serious face: "Let's not worry about the Youlong Clan for now, let's think about how to find out the whereabouts of Commander Gu!"
"Well! What I'm reminding you is that I will go to the county government office later..." Chai Yan said.
"What are you doing at the county government office?" Yuan asked.
Chai Yan suddenly leaned forward and whispered: "Madam, I don't know why... Regarding Commander Gu, I always feel that Situ Zhou is hiding something from us..."
"Hidden? What are you hiding?" Yuan asked quickly.
Chai Yan shook his head, cupped his chin and said, "I don't know, I can't say for the moment, but I just have this feeling..."
--------------------------
In the afternoon, it’s halfway through application time.
"Miss, look, the river in front of you is the Ganquan River, isn't it?"
In a carriage on the road, Xiao Huan was pointing to the river in the distance outside the window.
Situ Jing looked out the window for a while and saw many people panning for gold sand on the other side of the river. She nodded happily and said, "Yes, this is the Ganquan River. We are very close to Ganquan County."
"Great, great, we are finally here!" Xiaohuan's face immediately became excited.
The conversation between Situ Jing and Xiao Huan happened to be heard by Cheng Jiu who was following the car. Cheng Jiu glanced at the river and said disapprovingly: "There are no words on the river, how do you know this is the Sweet Spring River? If it is called Bitter Spring
Where is the river?”
Xiaohuan was not happy when she heard this. Perhaps because she was so close to Ganquan County, she became bolder, so she stuck her head out and retorted: "My lady said it is, so it must be, huh!"
Situ Jing pulled Xiaohuan back into the car, glared at Cheng Jiu outside, and said, "Xiaohuan, ignore him!"
Just when Situ Jing was about to lower the car curtains, Cheng Jiu said: "Miss Situ, how did you know that this is the Ganquan River?"
"I don't want to say it!" Situ Jing said angrily.
"Ha..." Cheng Jiu was happy, shaking his head and said: "Don't want to say it? You can't say it, who can't do it blindly..."
Xiaohuan was furious at Cheng Jiu's appearance, but he didn't know how to retort, so he had to keep pulling Situ Jing's arm in the car.
Situ Jing patted Xiaohuan's hand gently and said to Cheng Jiu: "Don't you see those people on the other side of the river?"
"Ah?" Cheng Jiu turned around and looked at the other side of the river, and then asked: "What's wrong with those people? Which river doesn't have a clothes washer?"
"Washing clothes? Hahaha..." Situ Jing suddenly made a string of mocking noises.
Cheng Jiu said angrily: "Why are you laughing? If those people are not washing clothes, what are they doing?"
"Ignorant!" Situ stopped laughing and said, "Those people are gold diggers!"
"Gold dig!" Cheng Jiu was surprised.
Ge Hong, who was sitting in front, was also attracted to his attention and couldn't help but pricked up his ears.
Situ Jing suddenly became confident and said loudly: "It has been recorded in books that bran gold is produced in the Ganquan River, and the gold is of excellent color. It is said that the luster of gold can be seen at night, so there are people living beside it, who make gold mining a career.
."
Situ Jing's words were so well-founded that Cheng Jiu couldn't answer them for a moment.
Seeing that Cheng Jiu was defeated, Xiaohuan felt relieved and said out the window: "Did you hear what my lady said? This place is the Sweet Spring River... what the Bitter Spring River, thank you for having the nerve to say it!"
At this time, Cheng Jiu's eyes had fallen on the gold diggers on the other side of the river. He couldn't help but run a few steps forward and said to Ge Hong: "Brother, why don't we try gold panning too!"
In fact, when he heard the word "gold digging" just now, Ge Hong also had the same idea, but he didn't say it directly like Cheng Jiu.
"Miss Situ, what the fourth child said..." Ge Hong turned around and wanted to ask.
Situ Jing didn't wait for Ge Hong to finish, then replied: "Uncle Ge, you still don't have to think about gold mining..."
"Why?" Cheng Jiu was confused and asked loudly.
Situ Jing did not look at Cheng Jiu and continued to explain to Ge Hong: "Uncle Ge, those gold diggers on the other side of the river are all prisoners of the imperial court! They have to pan for gold here all year round, regardless of the cold or summer, and the bran they find is
All gold must be handed over to the court, and anyone who hides it privately will be severely punished!"
Cheng Jiu and Ge Hong were both shocked.
Situ Jing added: "In addition, my father also mentioned in the letter that the gold mines in Ganquan County have been mined by the Youlong tribe for hundreds of years, and the output has been low so far and is on the verge of exhaustion... Therefore, I would like to advise you.
If you guys run out to dig for gold at this time, it will be in vain!"
"Thank you, Miss Situ, for your warning." Ge Hong said, cupping his fists through the car curtain.