Great Song Super Scholar

Chapter 453
Fan Ning understood in his heart, smiled at Wang Anshi and said, "It is estimated that I came to investigate the Mutual Aid Association of Farming and Cattle in Gushu County. The Jianyuan is very interested in this."

Wang Anshi didn't ask any more questions, he got up and said with a smile, "Then I'll arrange the affairs of the rural dentists, and I hope to bring surprises to the admonishers after a while!"

Wang Anshi went out, and after a while, the petty official brought in a middle-aged man.

Fan Ning recognized the person at a glance. It was Liu Chu, the oldest admonisher of the Zuo Jianyuan.

Fan Ning got up and smiled, "Liu Jiansi, we haven't seen each other for a long time!"

Liu Chu stepped forward to salute and said with a smile: "The humble official has been ordered to cooperate with the government to investigate the case!"

"Sit down first, let's talk slowly."

Fan Ning asked Liu Chu to sit down, and let the tea boy serve tea. The two exchanged some pleasantries, and Fan Ning then asked, "Is the case I said filed?"

Liu Chu nodded, "Li Zhiyuan has officially filed a case. This time, Beizhi led three capable admonishers to Yingtian Mansion, asking for instructions from the Lord."

"Where do you currently live?"

"Currently living in the official post, but his identity has been made public."

Fan Ning pondered for a moment and said: "Since your identity is public, you can simply use another name, which will not attract attention. You can use the name of investigating the Gushu County Cattle Mutual Aid Association as a cover, so that you can enter Gushu County in a fair manner. .”

Liu Chu said with a smile: "We also have experience, but a real secret investigation will encounter a lot of troubles. The best way is to sell dog meat, so we will rush to Gushu County tomorrow morning."

"Alright, I'll send an official document to Gushu County today to inform the county magistrate that you come to investigate the Farming Cattle Mutual Aid Society, and ask him to prepare for it, so I might as well investigate the Farming Cattle Mutual Aid Society by the way."

The two discussed the details for a while, and then Liu Chu left.

Not long after Liu Chugang left, a group of soldiers suddenly came from outside the government office, surrounded by a large carriage, and soldiers on guard rushed in to report.

Fan Ning felt strange, so he came out to meet him, just in time to see the door of the carriage opened, and an official in his fifties came out from inside. He had fair skin, a long and thin face, and a pointed chin. It was Zhao Qian, the comforter of Jingdong Road.

Of course, Zhao Qian is also a civil servant. His official position is the Minister of the Ministry of War. Three years ago, he was sent to Yingtian Mansion as a pacifier on Jingdong Road, in charge of the [-]-armed army on Jingdong Road.

Just the day before yesterday, Zhao Qian went back to his hometown in Gushu County. While chatting with his brother Zhao Jian, he accidentally learned that Fan Ning had visited his manor a few days ago and left without saying goodbye. Surprised, after careful questioning, he found out that his servant stopped Fan Ning three miles away, and he immediately realized that his brother had offended someone.

Zhao Qian is well aware of Fan Ning's special status in the imperial court, which is different from ordinary officials. He is not only appreciated by officials, but also an important figure in Zhao Zongshi's faction. He can at least be ranked in the top five, and even Zhang Yaozuo hates him. I was also afraid that if I offended him, it would definitely not be a good thing.

Zhao Qian scolded his brother severely, so he had to come to the door to apologize in person.

"Prefect Fan, are you safe?"

Fan Ning has not been in office for a long time since he came to Yingtianfu. It has only been more than a month. Zhao Qian has just been appointed as the appeasement envoy of Jingdong Road.

Fan Ning greeted him with a chuckle, "It's been more than a month since I took office, and I haven't had time to visit Zhao Shijun. It's because I'm not polite. Please forgive Zhao Shijun."

"Understood! Understood! I am also very busy recently, and I have long wanted to buy wine to clean up the prefect Fan, but I have been inspecting the military camp outside, and I only responded to Tianfu in the past few days."

"Let's go in and talk, Mr. Zhao please!"

"Prefect Fan please too!"

The two humbly entered the official room, and Fan Ning sent someone to invite Wang Anshi. Wang Anshi also knew Zhao Qian, but he had a bad impression of Zhao Qian. An excuse to leave the government office.

When Zhao Qian heard that Wang Anshi didn't want to see him, his face was a little embarrassed, but he immediately returned to normal, and asked Fan Ning with a smile: "How is it, the magistrate is doing well now!"

"It was a bit rough at first, but now it's much better."

Zhao Qian sighed and said: "I have already persuaded Yang Du that going to the Boss is a way to bring disaster, but he didn't believe it. When he met Zhifu Fan, he was considered to have hit an iron plate. To be honest, I don't sympathize with him at all. "

Fan Ning smiled and said: "I'm actually very talkative, and I don't want to take care of those cumbersome government affairs. As long as Yang Du doesn't overdo it, I will live in peace with him. It's just that he is the magistrate with the post of judge. I have no choice but to fight back with a tooth for a tooth."

"This matter is Yang Du's stupidity, no one will blame Zhifu Fan!"

Just as they were talking, the tea boy came in to serve them tea. Zhao Qian took a sip of hot tea, glanced at Fan Ning quickly, and said with a smile, "A few days ago, prefect Fan went to Gushu County?"

Fan Ning chuckled, "I went to Gushu County and Ningling County, mainly to investigate the growth of winter wheat. This year, the weather will be good and the harvest will be very good."

"Compared to last year, Yingtian Mansion's harvest this year is really good. Last year there was a three-month drought, so many parents and officials are worried."

Fan Ning smiled slightly, "That's my luck!"

Zhao Qian brought the topic back, "When Prefect Fan went to Gushu County, it seemed that he went to my old house?"

Fan Ning said indifferently: "I originally wanted to visit, but your house has more rules, so I can only regretfully wait until the next time."

Zhao Qian's heart tightened, he really offended Fan Ning, he quickly explained: "My eldest brother has never been an official, and he is relatively introverted. He dare not deal with the government. However, I have severely reprimanded my brother for his rudeness, and to express my apology, I plan to serve the prefect Fan an apology at the Songzhou Restaurant, and the prefect must appreciate it!"

Fan Ning smiled slightly, "It's not that I don't give Zhao Shijun face. If it's to clean up the dust for me, I will definitely go, but I will definitely not go if I apologize. Is it necessary to make an apology so grand?"

Zhao Qian laughed loudly, "Okay! Then take the wind and wash away the dust. It's a deal. I'll be waiting for Governor Fan to come to the Songzhou Restaurant at noon tomorrow!"

Fanning nodded, "I will definitely be there!"

Zhao Qian stood up and said goodbye, Fan Ning kept sending him out of the gate of the government office, watched him get into the carriage with a smile, Zhao Qian waved to Fan Ning, the carriage started, and gradually went away under the guard of soldiers.

Fan Ning watched Zhao Qian's carriage go away with his hands behind his back. He understood at least two things. First, Zhao Qian didn't know that Liu Chu and his party were coming; second, Zhao Qian didn't realize that he was in danger.

In fact, Fan Ning can also understand that the Zhao family has been here for decades. They have long been accustomed to trespassing, tax evasion and raising soldiers, and they have never taken these three risks seriously. I didn't realize that the ancestral hall of his family was built too high.

Early the next morning, Liu Chu and his entourage left Songcheng County by boat and headed for Gushu County along the Bian River, where they started their research trip.

Fan Ning took a few entourages to inspect the tea and grain markets in Songcheng County.

Before Yang Du was overthrown, the three major markets of grain, tea and wine in Yingtian Mansion were fully controlled by Yang Du and Zhang Yaozuo. Aroused public resentment.

After bringing down Yang Du, Fan Ning revoked the liquor license of Yang Du's wife and younger brother, and at the same time publicly auctioned seven liquor licenses. jubilation.

Fan Ning did not start with Zhang Yaozuo's industry, but let go of the grain market and tea market. In just ten days, the Zhang family's share of grain and tea dropped sharply from 35% to [-]%. High, but in the end they lost their monopoly position and huge profits. Grain prices turned around and fell from [-] yuan per bucket of rice a month ago to [-] yuan per bucket of rice before they stabilized. This is five yuan cheaper than the price of grain in Beijing.

"Yingtianfu is originally an important food producing area, and the grain in the capital is all brought in from outside. The price of grain in Yingtianfu is actually more expensive than that in the capital. That's absolutely abnormal, cheap is the norm."

It was Zhang Bo, the staff member who spoke, and he accompanied Fan Ning to inspect the market. This is also his area of ​​responsibility. Bulk goods such as tea, wine, salt, spices, and alum are monopolized by the government. Merchants need to apply to the government to operate the brand and finally approve it. The power is in the hands of Fan Ning. Fan Ning only considers issuing a few cards, but the specific operation is delegated to the staff, so Zhang Bo is very familiar with the current market.

Fan Ning and his party rode horses to the grain wharf by the Bian River outside the city. There were more than a dozen grain shops here. A month ago, there were only two grain shops here, the Zhang family and the Gu family, of which the Zhang family accounted for more than [-]%. Twelve companies have been opened, the market is fully competitive, and huge profits no longer exist.

When there were dozens of steps away from the pier, there was a sound of arguing from the direction of the pier.

(End of this chapter)