Good son-in-law of the Ming Dynasty

Su Mu felt aggrieved when he failed to be a well-known celebrity, and now he became a warrior named Mei Fugui.But the empress dowager's dispatch had to be done.

In fact, this kind of errand, others can't even ask for it, and if it is done beautifully, it is considered as simple as the emperor's heart.No, it should be Jane in the Queen Mother's heart.

The future is naturally very bright.

But Su Mu didn't need to use these to curry favor with the Empress Dowager, he was the old man of Emperor Long Qian, if he hadn't had Jinshi status, he would have already been a Zhengyin official above the fifth rank.

Feeling unlucky in his heart, Su Mu didn't want to procrastinate, after the Ministry of War received the report, he only rested at home for one night, and then set off for Cangzhou alone, and went to do a so-called patrol inspection in his name.

Zhang Yong had arranged a boat for Su Mu long ago, and when Su Mu got on the boat, without delay, he went down the Grand Canal and arrived in Cangzhou in only four days.

Speaking of which, the traffic in Cangzhou is really convenient.

Along the way, several eunuchs arranged by Zhang Yong on board were dressed in casual clothes, pretending to be sailors and boatmen.

These few people didn't know Su Mu, but to let Eunuch Zhang arrange the boats himself, he must be an extraordinary person.

Along the way, at the beginning, he was also respectful to Su Mu.

After knowing that Su Mu was going to Cangzhou for an inspection, the eunuchs suddenly realized that this person was an acquaintance or relative of Eunuch Zhang, otherwise it would be impossible to arrange such a fat job for him.

Since Su Mu was not a big shot, the eunuchs got up casually and called each other "Mei Xunjian" and "Big Brother Fugui" affectionately.

Another middle-aged eunuch complimented Su Mu with a smile: "Inspector Mei, our family is also someone who can be used by Eunuch Zhang. I dare not say anything else, but he has good eyesight and good dealing with others, and he is also good at planning." .We got together because of fate, we won’t be able to hang out in the palace anymore, maybe I’ll treat you to a meal, then don’t push our house out of the house!”

Su Mu smiled and said, "I'm a small ninth-rank official, what's the matter, my father-in-law just joked."

The middle-aged eunuch said sternly: "Brother Mei, we know that we don't tell lies. If you can get this fat job this time, you will be taken care of by Eunuch Zhang. Don't underestimate the ninth-rank patrol inspector, anyway, you have a few on hand." Soldiers No. [-], control this traffic artery. We all know where Cangzhou is, after a year, you will get a thousand taels of benefits from this!"

"There are thousands of taels of benefits for a small patrol inspection a year?" Su Mu was taken aback and asked hurriedly.

The eunuch said: "Ordinary inspections are a beggar, but the inspections in Cangzhou are different."

"Why is it different?"

"Brother Mei, stop pretending." The middle-aged eunuch smiled softly, "Who doesn't know that Cangzhou produces salt, and you don't need to do anything when you do patrol inspections. As long as you find two ships of illegal salt, it will be nothing." The money flows into the pocket like water."

The other eunuchs were also full of envy.

Su Mu just patted his forehead: "But I forgot, Changlu Salt Field!"

The so-called Changlu Salt Field is the salt field with the largest sea salt production in the Ming Dynasty. It is located on the Bohai Coast, from Huanghua in the south to the south of Shanhaiguan in the north, with a total length of more than 600 miles, half of which is located in Cangzhou.

A large part of the national finances of the Ming Dynasty came from salt taxes. There were three large salt farms in total: Changlu Salt Farm, Lianghuai Salt Farm, and Zhejiang-Fujian Salt Farm.

Among them, Lianghuai has the largest output, accounting for [-]% of the total output.Thirty percent of them are in Changlu Station, and only [-]% in Fujian and Zhejiang.

Yanzhili sumu naturally knew that this thing was a hard currency in ancient times, and it could be directly used as cash.Because of this, the state cracks down on illicit salt very strictly. As long as you smuggle a certain amount of smugglers, it is a capital offense.

Because, the imperial court sent troops to set up checkpoints on major traffic arteries to check merchants.

As the Cangzhou inspection department, he is also qualified to crack down on illegal salt.Although the grade is low, it is not small in oil and water.The Changlu Salt Transport Command Division and the army eat a lot of money, and the Inspection Division can also get some soup and water to drink.

However, Su Mu has no interest in making a small fortune here with salt, he just wants to find the damned princess as soon as possible, so that he can return to Beijing as soon as possible.

It's March in Yangchun, the scenery along the way is excellent, and the journey is not tiring.

When he arrived in Cangzhou, after Su Mu broke up with several eunuchs, he walked to the state yamen in a leisurely way, using his car as a carriage.

Entering the city, Su Mu was surprised, this place is really bustling!

As far as the level of prosperity is concerned, it is already two streets away from Baoding.

Pedestrians in the city don't realize it, and the people seem to be very rich.

There are salt merchants' private yards everywhere, which look magnificent and worthy of being the capital of the salt industry. Even if it is not as good as Yangzhou, it can be regarded as the leading city in the north.

Although Cangzhou has a state character, it is just a state, organized at the county level, and under the jurisdiction of Hejian Prefecture.

Zhizhou is from the fifth rank, and there is also a Tongzhi from the sixth rank, and a judge from the seventh rank.

When he arrived at the prefectural government office, Su Mu kept shaking his head, it was really too small and crude, as if it was different from the Qingyuan county government office in Baoding.

The walls of the yamen are actually made of rammed loess, with spring grass sprouting on it.The gate of the state government office has also lost its paint, as if it had diarrhea.

It is a common practice in the officialdom that officials do not repair the yamen. If you spend a lot of time to make the yamen politically correct, not only will you not be able to get good results, but you will be charged with wasting money and people's resources. If you fail, you will be impeached.

Even if you don't have your boss and colleagues to trouble you, after your three-year term expires, you will be transferred to the next prefect.

Therefore, the quality of the yamen has nothing to do with the local economic conditions and the integrity of the officials.

After entering the state government office, he explained his purpose to the government office servant, and someone quickly led Su Mu to the ceremony room to report his integrity and report.

Then, another small yamen servant led Su Mu to pay a visit to the master Zhizhou.

After walking a few steps, he arrived at Zhizhou's official room, but inside was an ugly old man with white hair and beard.

This person was Guan Jizong, the magistrate of Cangzhou. Looking closely, this person's face was covered with wrinkles, but it was limp and drooping, his whole back was bent, and his complexion looked very corrupt.

Su Mu was taken aback. He didn't expect there to be such an old official in this world. He must be at least 70 years old, right?

No, the Ming Dynasty also had a retirement system, and the cabinet elders didn't say it. After all, you are a senior member of the second rank. As long as the emperor doesn't let you go, you can work until you die.However, local Zhengyin officials, officials below the governor and governor have to go home to rest as soon as they turn [-].

Supervisors can work until they are 70 years old.

The ancients aged quickly, and the life of seventy is rare since ancient times. Even if you continue to work, your energy will not reach it.

Su Mu felt strange and forgot to salute for a moment.

Guan Zhizhou suddenly smiled: "Don't look, I'm an old man, only in his early fifties this year, and he can still contribute to the court."

The old man was humorous.

Su Mu also laughed, and casually cupped his hands: "Xiaguan Su...Xiaguan Mei Fugui, pay homage to Master Zhizhou!"

It stands to reason that Su Mu's current status is a ninth-rank military officer, and he should kneel and kowtow when he meets a fifth-rank Zhizhou.But he only remembered his identity as Juren, and besides, he didn't have to kneel down when he saw the emperor and queen mother, but he would not do it even if he was told to kneel like a bad old man.

Seeing Su Mu standing there fiercely, the yamen servant who led Su Mu in was shocked, hurriedly tugged on Su Mu's sleeve, and kept winking at him.

Only then did Su Mu think of this, and knew that the yamen servant was kind to him, so he smiled and nodded at him, but did not kneel.

Guan Zhizhou said: "Mei Fugui, Enen, I see, the document from the Ministry of War has arrived a few days ago, I know you are coming for inspection, I have been waiting for you for a long time! You have been a soldier, you only know etiquette, my officer Don't blame you, sit down and talk."

This person is a kind boss, Su Mu suddenly had a good impression of this person, nodded, and sat down.

The two were about to speak when they heard someone outside the foreign official's room say, "The new inspector is here?",

A middle-aged official walked in arrogantly: "Who is Mei Fugui?"

Su Mu stood up and cupped his hands: "I am rich and honored, may I ask who is the Shangguan?" Seeing that this man is about forty, he is handsome, and the patch on his chest is a sixth-rank official title. If you guessed right, it should be Cangzhou Tongzhi.

"You will naturally know who this official is in the future." The man showed a trace of disgust between his brows, and said bluntly: "You are an official of the ninth rank, what right do you have to stand up and talk to this official, kneel down! "

Su Mu didn't realize that he was the ninth-rank military officer named Mei Fugui for a moment, he was taken aback, and asked casually, "You asked me to kneel?" Next door to Spicy, what identity do you have, you dare to make me kneel?

"Disrespectful!" The official's voice became louder, his eyes were full of anger: "How dare you be rude to this official, come, someone, kick this vulgar soldier out!"

The yamen servant hurriedly interjected: "Inspector Mei, this is Mr. Tong Yang, Tong Zhi of this state."

"Oh, so it's Yangzhou Tong." Su Mu cupped his hands again.

Guan Zhizhou saw that the two were about to quarrel, he hurriedly came out to rescue Su Mu with a smile, and said, "Master Yang, the inspector Mei was directly sent by the imperial court, and he has made contributions to the country on the front line of Datong. A man in the army does not know how to behave It's normal, but don't worry about it. By the way, what is Master Yang doing here?"

Seeing that Guan Zhizhou was protecting Su Mu, Yang Tongzhi was not easy to get angry, and said with a sneer, "I heard that Mei inspector took office. As the second official of Zhizhou, I will have to deal with Mei Fugui in local affairs in the future, so I will come here. See you. But I don't want to be a vulgar and reckless man, disappointing!"

After speaking, he waved his sleeves and walked away.

Guan Zhizhou still smiled: "Inspector Mei, Yang Zhoutong is a serious Jinshi, and he doesn't want to be an official. You don't have to worry about his temper. In the future, he will have to deal with the government affairs at hand and serve the court... "

Su Mu was stunned, and suddenly remembered the news he had inquired before. This Guan Jizong did not have a successful Jinshi. He served as a county magistrate for more than ten years as a juren, and then became a magistrate of the county, and finally became a magistrate of the fifth rank.

It is not easy for this person to come to this step as a Juren.

According to the information Su Mu has, this person is just a slippery old bureaucrat with no integrity.

No wonder he was so kind, presumably it was because he saw Su Mu, a very serious official, and felt kind in his heart.

Guan Zhizhou then babbled nonsense about the scene of a pot of tea, and when he talked so much that he was as big as a bucket, he laughed and said to the yamen servant: "Okay, you take Mei inspector to take up the inspection department! "