Early Tang Dynasty: forge ahead

Chapter 205 Remember your teacher’s teachings
Chen Qingsi knew very well how powerful Di Renjie was.

Since he came here half a month ago, he must have found something. He may not have been able to find out about smuggling. It would be embarrassing if Di Renjie had to talk about it after all.

As a boss, you can never take away the achievements of your subordinates.Similarly, as a boss, it would be embarrassing if he didn't perform at all and let his subordinate Di Renjie do everything.

So Chen Qingsi decided not to give Di Renjie a chance to speak.

When Di Renjie heard Chen Qingsi talking about smuggling, a flash of surprise flashed in his eyes.

Since accepting the order, Di Renjie, Zhou Kui, and the book boy and bodyguard Di An quickly came to Huaiyuan County.

Di Renjie used the excuse of looking for his uncle to inquire about information in the county. After fifteen days of open and covert visits, he found out a lot of information, the most important of which was smuggling.

But he didn't expect that Chen Qingsi, who had just arrived in Huaiyuan County, would also learn about the smuggling.

Di Renjie thought about what Chen Qingsi had done over the years, and said with some sincere admiration: "The students are impressed by Mr. Chen's ability. It took a lot of effort for the students to discover the smuggling. Mr. Chen only arrived in less than half a day, and he was already there." This achievement is admirable.”

Chen Qingsi was quite pleased with himself, but said: "In order to make this trip to the north reasonable, I got to know the merchants from Chang'an and Luoyang, and found a caravan leader who traveled to Lingzhou and Luoyang all year round. I asked him about it . But that’s all.”

"Come..." He pulled Di Renjie to sit down and said, "Let's integrate the information in each other's hands and make a quick decision."

He was thinking of his unborn child.

Di Renjie said: "Mr. Hui, when I arrived in Huaiyuan County, I first got to know Magistrate Feng's official reputation and conduct."

Chen Qingsi recalled what she had seen after entering the county and said: "Magistrate Feng's official reputation should be good. When I entered the city today, I saw the people around me doing business in front of their homes, and the merchants who came and went talked about business as if there were no other people around. It can be seen that there is business going on in the county." The environment is great.”

Along the way, Chen Qingsi paid attention to the surrounding topography.

Lingzhou is known as the Fortress of Jiangnan, but it still pales in comparison to the real Jiangnan.

The topography here is too dependent on the Yellow River. The areas close to the Yellow River for irrigation are flat, with developed canals and many lakes and wetlands, which are suitable for farming and animal husbandry.

The area deviating from the Yellow River is subject to wind and sand erosion all year round, resulting in drought and little rain.

Huaiyuan County is not irrigated by the Yellow River, and the surrounding land is not suitable for farming. However, it has an excellent geographical location. It relies on Helan Mountain, leads to Monan in the north, and reaches Huile County, the seat of Lingzhou. It is next to the towering Khan Road, which is the Hu-Han Mutual Market. The best thing about it.

The people of Huaiyuan County can live a prosperous life as long as they do a good job in the service industry and entertain Hu and Han businessmen.

If he were the magistrate of Huaiyuan County, he would focus on promoting the service industry and maintaining mutual trade between Hu and Han. He would be able to achieve political achievements and lead the people out of poverty and become rich.

Feng Yang's policy direction is generally the same, and it makes sense for Li Zhi to value his abilities.

Di Renjie nodded in agreement and said: "As Mr. Feng said, Magistrate Feng's official reputation far exceeds that of his predecessor, and the people in the county praise him. In terms of political achievements alone, he can indeed be called a good official."

Chen Qingsi heard the meaning behind his words: "Listen to what you said, he has a problem?"

Di Renjie said: "Magistrate Feng is an upright official, lives a simple life, and treats the people well. When his subordinates inquired about him, they all praised him. It's just that he has a hobby. He likes to collect Central Plains utensils scattered on the grasslands, such as calligraphy and paintings of famous people. , precious utensils, etc." At that time, the Turks controlled hundreds of strings and spanned thousands of miles, and their armies were fierce and powerful, which was unprecedented in ancient times.

The Turkic Khans instigated civil strife in the Central Plains with the intention of reaping profits. Except for a few of the Central Plains princes as far away as the south of the Yangtze River, all the remaining princes bowed their heads to the Turks and handed over their property to protect themselves.

Dou Jiande led his troops to defeat Yu Wenji and captured Queen Xiao.Chuluo Khan sent envoys to greet him.Dou Jiande did not dare to disobey and sent Empress Xiao to the Turks. He did not even dare to touch things such as the imperial seal.

Empress Xiao brought many treasures to the Turks. In the early years of Zhenguan, during the Weishui Alliance, Li Shimin also emptied the Chang'an treasury in order to make the Turks retreat.

Although Li Shimin avenged his humiliation four years later, he destroyed the Eastern Turks and recovered most of the imperial seals and treasures that had wandered on the grasslands.

But there were still some that Jieli gave as gifts and were scattered among various ministries.

Some are damaged, but some are well preserved.

Chen Qingsi also heard the strangeness of this matter and said: "I am an honest official and live a simple life, but I have the capital to collect these artifacts. Is there any other source of wealth?"

Chen Qingsi also served as a seventh-grade county magistrate and knew something about his salary.

The high salary in the Tang Dynasty ensured integrity, and the salary of the Qipin County Magistrate could ensure that the family had enough food and clothing, and there was still money left for entertainment and storage.But it’s not yet time to squander it and buy antiques, calligraphy and paintings.

"My subordinates thought the same way. They followed the clues and found Zhaowu Colonel Xu Kai..."

"Xu Xiaowei is the most trusted general under the governors of Lingzhou and Xiazhou. He has always been responsible for the safety of northern Lingzhou. This man is cunning and greedy, good at amassing money, and too stingy. He has a very bad reputation in Huaiyuan County. He has been in the county many times. There was a lot of eating and drinking at home, and there was little time to pay the bill. The previous county magistrate did not dare to take care of it, especially doing whatever he wanted. But after Magistrate Feng took office, this situation changed. Magistrate Feng had many conflicts with Captain Xu, and even got into trouble. In front of Governor Huang. It was Governor Huang who mediated, and the two of them coexisted peacefully."

"But the relationship has always been bad, and both of them are restraining themselves. However, I don't know when Xu Xiaowei became honest. He no longer confronts Magistrate Feng tit-for-tat, and rarely comes to the county to eat or drink. For once, he paid honestly and did not cause trouble. .”

Chen Qingsi couldn't help but nod.

Di Renjie said: "Judging from the current situation in Huaiyuan County, Magistrate Feng obviously has some tricks. His subordinates boldly guessed that Magistrate Feng saw that Governor Huang wanted to protect Colonel Xu, and knew that he had no one here. I was supportive, too passive, and took the initiative to take control of Colonel Xu and make him become honest and obedient."

"Following this direction, my subordinates unexpectedly discovered that Captain Xu's concubine was an orchid from Liangzhou. This orchid was very good at the Hu Xuan dance and caused a sensation in Lingzhou. Finally, she was a Uighur. The merchant bought her with a lot of money, but for some reason she became Captain Xu's concubine."

"The Uyghur businessman's business is not big. Therefore, my subordinates suspect that the Uyghur businessman has another way to make money, and it is related to Xu Xiaowei."

"After much thought, my subordinates feel that Colonel Xu is using his position to facilitate Uighur merchants in smuggling. I can't think of any reason why I need to curry favor with him."

When Chen Qingsi heard that Di Renjie's investigation had clear ideas and directions, and combined with bold and logical analysis, a reasonable and reasonable context was presented to him, he couldn't help but admire and applaud him.

"Bold analysis is correct, but evidence must be carefully sought. The most important thing in deciding a case is evidence."

Chen Qingsi shamelessly gave advice.

Di Renjie didn't think it was inappropriate, he just bowed and said: "I will remember your teacher's teachings."

(End of this chapter)