Good son-in-law of the Ming Dynasty

Speaking of Cangzhou, the world only knows that there is one of the largest salt fields in the world.And because it is close to the capital, it has become the imperial court's emergency money bag. Once there is an emergency in the court, Lianghuai and Zhemin Yuanshui can't save the nearby fires, but Changlu Salt Farm can meet some emergencies.

Named and prospered by salt, although Cangzhou is small in scale, it is the most prosperous area in Beizhili.

But others don't know that the scenery in Cangzhou is also good, especially the generation of Shuiximen, which is close to the Grand Canal.

In this sunny weather, the blue sky is blue, the river wind, the white sails, and the fishermen's songs are harmonious, which has a different kind of leisurely charm.

Also because of this, when the weather is good, the wealthy families or romantic scholars in the city will come to sit on the ground by the river, or have a high wine meeting, or watch the wind and moon, stealing half a day of leisure.

At this time, someone on the tower of Shuixi Gate also set up a banquet.

The gate tower is closed on weekdays, and no one can go up without it.

Those who can drink and have fun on it must be dignitaries, and only they have such power.

Unlike the scholars drinking and singing on the lawn by the river, and the bustling scene of flowers by the water, it was very quiet on the tower, and the scale of the banquet was also small, just three people.The dishes on the table are also simple, but they are seasonal vegetables and fruits.

As for the old gatekeepers on the gate tower, they were also driven down by these three people.

All three of them were wearing bright red official robes. If anyone familiar with Daming's officialdom took a closer look, they would definitely scream.

Judging from the patch on the chests of these three people, one is from the third rank, one is from the fourth rank, and the other is from the sixth rank.

There is only one official from the third rank in Cangzhou City, and that is Liu Kong and Mr. Liu, the acquaintances of the Salt Transportation Department. This man is in his early fifties, very thin, and looks tired.

He slapped the chopsticks in his hand on the table wearily, looked at the river view, and sighed: "Cangzhou is really a treasure land of geomantic omen, with good weather, sea salt and water transportation. Being in it makes people feel that this It’s a peaceful world.”

The other fourth-rank official nodded, with a gloomy expression on his face, but he didn't speak.This person is Mr. Jing Tingjing, the deputy envoy of the Yanyun Yamen.

Sitting across from him, the sixth-rank official asked in a deep voice: "Liu Shitong and Jing Fushi called me Yang Zilie in such a hurry, maybe not just to see the river view?"

This person is Huo Ran, Yang Tongzhi, the Tongzhi of Cangzhou.

But Liu Konghe didn't answer, instead he said, "Have you read the latest issue of Di Bao Yang Zhou Tong?"

Yang Tongzhi was born as a Jinshi in the top two rankings, he was young and quick-witted, so he naturally knew that Liu Konghe would not ask questions for nothing.

The transfer envoy of the Salt Transportation Department was dismissed by the court during the first lunar month, and he was sent home to retire.It is quite strange to talk about the reason, the obvious reason is that the transfer envoy is already old, but a well-informed person in the court revealed that the real reason is that King Huai, who just died of illness in the capital, stayed in Cangzhou for several days when he entered the capital. During the period, the transfer envoys received the entertainment, and because of this, Queen Mother Zhang was offended and dismissed from office.

From this point of view, Duke Huai's death was full of strange things.

However, this is not something Yang Tongzhi should be concerned about.In fact, the most important thing right now is who will make up for the lack of transit envoy.

For this position, Liu Kong and Liu Tongzhi have been coveting for a long time. He also has a great background in the capital and has been operating for a long time.It's strange to say that half a year has passed, but there is no news from the imperial court, and no other people are transferred here, so the position of transfer envoy is just vacant.

Liu Kong and Yang Tongzhi also have some connections.

Yang Zilie's mentor when he was a candidate was a classmate of Mr. Liu.In terms of seniority, Yang Tongzhi is his junior.

Hearing his question, Yang Tongzhi held the wine glass in one hand, stroked the beard on his chin with the other, and organized his thoughts: "I also read the last issue of the mansion newspaper, but it was just the appointment of some officials. Since the summer, there have been floods all over the place, and Zhending Prefecture has been particularly affected by the disaster. I heard that the Yishui surged and flooded Dingxing, Rongcheng, and Xiongxian counties. At the same time, Renqiu, Gaoyang, and Anzhou were also flooded. ……What's wrong?"

While speaking, he suddenly felt that something was wrong, his face changed color, and his voice trembled slightly: "But the court has a decree?"

Jing Ting, deputy envoy of the Salt Department, nodded heavily: "Tong Yangzhou is really clear-minded, and he thought of this place. It is true. I heard from my letter from the Ministry of Households that the imperial court intends to provide relief, but unfortunately the Ministry of Households has no money. Come, let the Changlu Salt Division issue the silver."

"What!" Yang Tongzhi's hand trembled, the wine glass fell to the ground, and the liquid drenched him all over: "How much?"

"It hasn't been decided yet, but the cabinet's intention is that if we want to provide relief to so many counties, it will cost 200 million taels." Liu Tongzhi said slowly: "The exact figure will not be calculated until the imperial envoy sent by the imperial court to inspect Cangzhou returns to Beijing." , depending on the disaster."

"Two million taels?" Yang Zilie and Yang Tongzhi's expression changed in astonishment, and he turned to ask Jing Ting, "Deputy envoy Jing, dare to ask, how much cash is there in the Yansi Bank's warehouse? It's not enough. My Cangzhou Bank can also collect some. Did the salt merchants shed some blood? According to the officials’ calculations, 200 taels can still be collected.”

He was so thoughtful that he could calculate the resources that the three camps could mobilize in an instant.

"There are only 2000 taels left." Jing Ting smiled wryly.

"Ah!" Yang Tongzhi's body softened, and he almost slipped from the chair and fell to the ground.

He only felt a mess in his heart, and he staggered to the battlements, gasping for breath, almost couldn't help but jumped down from the tower, to finish it all.

"Zhoutong, no!" Jing Ting exclaimed.

"Yang Zilie, what are you going to do?" Liu Kong and Liu Tongzhi also called out, and then said angrily: "Your gentleman has never changed his color before the collapse of Taishan Mountain. In vain, you are also a two-ranked Jinshi. Where did you go to cultivate your energy?" ?”

Hearing the teacher's lesson, Yang Tongzhi calmed down, with a look of shame on his face, he bowed: "Thank you for your teaching, I know I was wrong."

Liu Konghe sighed and shook his head: "It is true that there is no money in the treasury. It is true that the fact is important, but it is not humane. If it is leaked, our crime will be serious. Zilie, don't be discouraged, the matter has not yet been resolved." To the worst point. I know the local affairs well. Even if the weather is good and the weather is good, I have to report some minor disasters and ask the court to reduce the money and food. It doesn’t need much, even if it is [-]%, it is free. When it comes to minor disasters, it will be regarded as a major disaster. Not only can the tax be exempted, but it may be able to get some relief. It is true that there has always been only drought and no flood. This time, it may be to deceive the court, otherwise the Queen Mother will not An imperial envoy will be sent to conduct an on-site inspection.”

Jing Ting also nodded again and again, and then said: "Yang Zhoutong, no matter what, take precautions. If things are really just a small disaster as Kong Tongzhi expected, 200 million taels is not enough, and 50 million is still possible. Let's split up and find a way , get ready first."

Yang Tongzhi nodded: "Deputy Envoy Jing is right."

At that moment, Liu Konghe and Jingting went down from the city tower, and went to collect money from the salt department.

When the two walked away, Yang Zhoutong stood by the battlements for a while, calculating how much money he could settle.

Just thinking about it, I heard a little girl's childish voice under the city tower softly said: "Mother, have you reached the end of the land, my daughter is so hungry!"

Cangzhou is not a military important place, and the city towers are all built short, only four or five meters in appearance.

Yang Tongzhi watched from the top of the city tower, and immediately applauded: "What a beautiful little girl."

But the little girl who spoke was about six years old, with a bun on her head, red lips and white teeth, skin that could be broken by blowing bullets, as if she had stepped out of a painting, only her face was a little dirty.

"It's the end of the land." A woman was speaking, and her voice was full of joy.

Because leaning against the city wall, I can't see clearly.

Yang Tongzhi listened to their conversation and thought that this should be a family visit.

Judging from the accent, it should be Zhending Renshi... Zhending.

Yang Tongzhi's heart was moved, and he hurried down the tower, and saw a young woman in her early twenties dipping some river water in a sackcloth to wash her daughter's face, and then wiped her own face.

The mother and daughter both had five-faced faces before, but after washing their faces, Yang Tongzhi only felt his eyes light up, and couldn't help but praise in his heart: "What a beautiful pair of mother and daughter, the little one is about to bloom, and the mother is so beautiful." Like a gardenia in full bloom."

"Mother, you're still pretty!" Nannan clapped her hands and laughed, "Mother, I haven't seen you wash your face these few days, but now you're getting dressed up. Is it because you're about to meet your father? You're ashamed!"

As he spoke, he stretched out his fingers and scratched his face.

Her mother's face was slightly red, and she raised her hand to hit her, but she heard someone coughing, and when she looked back, it was a master in a red official robe.

She turned pale with fright, and hurriedly knelt on the ground: "Miniang, the daughter of the people, see the master."

Mumu also said in a childish voice: "My daughter kowtowed to the master."

Yang Tongzhi pulled the little girl up, and said with a smile: "Get up, Mei Niang, I'm asking you, you are a true family member, what are you doing in Cangzhou?"

Mei Niang stood up, "Returning to Elder Master, Minnv is from Dingxing of Zhending Mansion, and her family suffered a disaster, so she came to Cangzhou to find the father of the child."

"Dingxing..." Yang Tongzhi was startled, recalling what Liu Konghe said earlier, and asked anxiously, "You are sure to be flooded, is it serious?"

Mei Niang said: "Back to Elder Master, there is so much water, the water has flooded to the top of the county town, and there are corpses everywhere... a lot of people died!"

Recalling the scene of the flood, Mei Niang's pretty face was full of panic: "If it weren't for the high terrain of my house, I would have been buried in the belly of a fish, but the ground was flooded and the house collapsed."

Yang Tongzhi's pupils shrank, his breathing became short of breath, and he asked anxiously, "Apart from Dingxing, where are the other counties?"

Mei Niang's eyes turned red: "It's all flooded, it's said to be worse than our county!"

"What!" Yang Tongzhi felt his world spinning for a while, his eyes suddenly went dark, and his body was on the verge of falling.

In my heart, a voice shouted: The incident happened, the incident happened, this time even the gods can't save it!

"My lord, my lord, what's wrong with you?" Meiniang's voice woke him up from the chaos.

"It's okay, I'm fine..." Yang Tongzhi took a long breath: I can't mess up, I can't mess up, I can always figure out a way.