Aspirations

Chapter 150
While talking, several people came to Caijiayao.In the middle of the Caijia Kiln is the kiln factory, surrounded by walls, and within the walls is a courtyard. There are dozens of houses in the courtyard for the kiln owners and craftsmen to stay.

The owner of the kiln, Cai Ying, had just finished checking out the kiln. When he came out, he heard that Xia Xianzun had come. In a hurry, he didn't have time to wash his face.Xia Xiang asked a few words about the production status of the tile kilns, and learned that there were more than [-] tile craftsmen in the Caijia Kiln, which produced a large amount of bricks and tiles and a small amount of pottery, but not porcelain.

Xia Xiang handed over the two answer sheets of Cao Shujun and Li Chi to Lian Ruohan, and asked with a smile, "Madam Lian, is she interested in running a tile kiln?"

Lian Ruohan took the answer sheet, glanced at it, and his face changed slightly: "Xia Xianzun, Cao Langjun and Li Qilang's answers are very different, why do you decide that the two are tied? Good times are always in the present moment There is no plan to operate a tile kiln yet.”

"Cao Langjun's calculation of the cost of a family's house is much less than Li Chi's. Cao Langjun considered the hardship of the people's livelihood and knew the difficulties of the people. Li Chi thought that building a house for the people is the same as building a house for himself. You can spend as much as you want, he is not down-to-earth, and he doesn't understand the hardship of life." Xia Xiang knew exactly what Li Chi's problem was, "It can't be said that Li Chi is wrong, but he doesn't understand what the people really want. What is it? So if Li Chi is an official, he is afraid that he will harm the common people."

"Why does Xia Xianzun want me to run the tile kiln again?" Lian Ruohan put away the answer sheets of Cao Shujun and Li Chi, and after a rough calculation, he probably knew the cost of resettling the refugees, except secretly thanking Xia Xiang In addition to his carefulness, he was very puzzled by Xia Xiang's sudden proposal.

Xiao Jia didn't wait for Xia Xiang to speak, he already guessed what Xia Xiang was thinking, and said first: "Ms. Lian was confused by Xia Xianzun, and she couldn't think of such a simple thing. Xia Xianzun is really attractive." She playfully said With a smile, "To resettle the refugees, in addition to building houses and providing arable land, a large number of living utensils are also used. The tile kiln can be used to fire pottery, and pottery is an indispensable living utensil for the common people..."

"Half the answer is correct." Xia Xiang nodded and smiled. If anyone can understand his intentions in time, it is Xiao Jia. , to bring together skilled craftsmen among the refugees, brainstorm together, and jointly create a place similar to Goulan Washe. I haven't decided on the name, so why not call it..."

"How about calling it Wenyuan?" Xiao Jia rolled his eyes and immediately had an idea.

"Wenyuan? Good name." Lian Ruohan clapped his hands and applauded, and when he thought about it, he was even more delighted, "From the Spring and Autumn Period to the Han and Tang Dynasties, many good craftsmanship worth inheriting have been lost. Wenyuan can make the lost craftsmanship Preserve it and let the craftsmen pass it on from generation to generation. Xia Xianzun is so powerful, it’s a good idea, I want to buy the tile kiln and transform it into a Wenyuan. In the future, we will build Wenyuan in Quanzhou, Guangzhou and Hainan.”

Mantuo has always remained calm, but after listening to Lian Ruohan's words, her face changed uncharacteristically. She held the sword in both hands, and bowed deeply to Lian Ruohan: "Ms. Lian has such a hard work, the merits are in the present, and the benefits will be in the future. He is a great merchant. Please accept Mantuo's worship!"

Lian Ruohan hurriedly helped Mantuo up: "Ms. Mantuo is serious. I just tried my best. If you want to say that the person who truly serves the country and the people is the Xia County Honor."

Xia Xiang laughed and waved his hands: "Stop bragging between us, it's important to discuss the acquisition with the kiln owner first."

The acquisition was negotiated very smoothly. Although Cai Ying's Caijiayao had a good profit, Lian Ruohan's offer was so exciting that he accepted the offer without a moment's hesitation.Lian Ruohan was also straightforward, and immediately wrote the document, and both parties signed their fingerprints. After Cai Ying took over Lian Ruohan's money quotation, Cai Jiayao officially changed its name to Haojingchang.

It was already afternoon when Xia Xiang and his party returned to Guanxin Pavilion.As soon as he was seated, Ding Ke hurried over.

"Xia Xianzun, Zhang Xuehua and Lu Dongliang are asking to see you." Ding Ke looked a little flustered, and he was extremely shocked by the matter of Shen Liangren.

"What's so urgent?" Xia Xiang took a sip of the tea that Liu Er handed over, before he had time to discuss the next step with Lian Ruohan, he couldn't help but frowned slightly, "If there is nothing important, let them come back tomorrow."

"There is an important matter." Ding Ke saw that the people on his left and right were people trusted by Xia Xianzun, so he no longer concealed it, "The two of them were ordered to follow Yan Hao and save a soldier in the Hutuo River..."

"Quick pass." Xia Xiang knew that the matter was important as soon as he heard it.

Not long after, there was the sound of chaotic footsteps outside, and after a flash of figures, Zhang Xuehua and Lu Dongliang hurried in. The two of them didn't care much, and saluted carelessly, and Zhang Xuehua hurriedly said: "Master Xia, the little old man is here One person was rescued in the river, his name is Shen Liangren, a native of Guangzhou, he was originally a soldier of the Imperial Guard stationed in Zhending..."

"Where is the other person now?" Xia Xiang couldn't wait for Zhang Xuehua to make it clear, and knew in his heart that Liangren Shen was a vital witness.

"Now Zhending City is full of government officials, Gao Jianyuan, and Yan Hao's eyeliner. The little old man hid Shen Liangren in Yang Mazi Cake Shop for fear of any mistakes." Zhang Xuehua had a smug look on his face. I took it to Yangmazi Bakery, which was already empty, and it was safe.

"Let's go, follow me right away." Xia Xiang got up and left, walked a few steps and then stopped, "Miss Mantuo can just go with me, you stay to discuss dredging and resettlement of refugees."

"I'm going too." Cao Shujun was not interested in doing business.

"Alright." Xia Xiang didn't want Cao Shujun to stay and cause trouble, so he agreed.

A few people came to Yang Mazi Cake Shop. The Yang Mazi Cake Shop, which had been closed for a long time, was no longer as lively as it used to be, and there was no one in front of the door.When I went up to the second floor, I saw a person sitting on a chair by the window, looking out the window vigilantly.

"Mr. Shen, Xianxian Xia is here." Zhang Xuehua coughed, pretending to be majestic.

Shen Liangren hurriedly stood up and saluted Xia Xiang: "Shen Liangren has seen the county magistrate."

"Sit down and talk." After Xia Xiang sat down, he secretly looked at Shen Liangren a few times, thinking about it. On the way, Zhang Xuehua and Lu Dongliang had already explained the whole story clearly, so he skipped some things. Without mentioning it, he asked directly, "Do you want to go back to Guangzhou?"

"Yes, I hope that Xia Xianzun will be perfect." Shen Liangren is now determined to leave this place of right and wrong.He knew very well that without Xia Xianzun's help, he would not be able to leave Zhending.

"It's always a good thing for Ye Luo to return to his roots..." Xia Xiang pondered for a moment, "But it's not the best time to leave now. I advise you to stay in Zhending for the time being, and talk about going back after the emperor's southern tour."

"Xia Xianzun..." Shen Liangren was in a hurry. If he stayed in Zhending and was discovered by Yan Hao or Wu Yidong, he would definitely die. In desperation, he knelt down on the ground, "Please Xia Xianzun be considerate of the villain and go home to filial piety." The filial piety of adoptive parents."

"It's a good thing to go home and take care of your parents. It's too late for me to reward you, so why don't you allow it?" Xia Xiang smiled slightly, stood up, and came to the window, "It's just that when you left your hometown to join the army, your parents must have treated you well." If you have high hopes, you will have the heart to hope that your son will become a dragon. Although I don’t expect you to return to your hometown with wealth, I don’t hope that you will achieve nothing. You are a deserter with empty hands. After returning home, although you have the heart to take care of your parents, you have no The power to support your parents. Besides, you are a guilty person after all. After being discovered by the local government, you will have your face stabbed and you will be exiled for three thousand miles..."

Zhang Xuehua and Lu Dongliang looked at each other, and they lowered their heads deeply.Originally thought that saving Shen Liangren would be a great contribution, but Xia Xianzun actually said that Shen Liangren was a sinner, and the two of them did bad things with good intentions. Maybe they would be reprimanded by Xia Xianzun later, and couldn't help feeling The heart mentioned in the throat.

Shen Liangren was sweating profusely, knelt on the ground and kowtowed repeatedly: "I beg Xia Xianzun to save the villain, the villain will definitely do the work of a dog and a horse."

Xia Xiang turned around and glanced at Shen Liangren indifferently, and said: "Get up and talk, there is no need to perform such a great gift. It is not difficult to save you, but the difficulty is a little bit more difficult. How can you keep your name anonymous for a period of time? Yes, Ding Tutou, the city Can there be a list of refugees from outside the country?"

Ding Ke couldn't guess Xia Xiang's intentions, so he said truthfully: "The refugees are originally the people in the city, and they have been living outside the city, and they haven't had time to register them."

"That's it." Xia Xiang nodded, "Shen Liangren, are you willing to commit crimes and meritorious deeds? If you are among the refugees outside the city, within two months, a major event will surely happen. At that time, you will make a great contribution. In this way, you will not only be released from the military, but will also be promoted, and when the time comes to honor your ancestors and return to your homeland, your parents and family will be proud of you."

Shen Liangren only thought for a moment before knelt down again: "The villain is willing to obey Xia Xianzun's orders."

Xia Xiang said with a pleasant face: "What happened in the Hutuo River today is of great importance and must not be disclosed to the outside world. The same is true for Zhang Gong and Lu Gong. Don't talk nonsense, and be careful that you will be killed. Ding Butou , you, Zhang Gong and Lu Gong took Shen Liangren to the outside of the city, first placed Shen Liangren in the tile kiln where good times are always present, and then cooperated with Master Lu to register the refugees. Zhang Gong, Lu Gong, you two Assist Master Lu, organize the strong labor force among the refugees into teams, and be ready for dredging at any time."

"Yes!"

The crowd commanded in unison.

Zhang Xuehua and Lu Dongliang were overjoyed, Xia Xianzun not only did not blame them, but also entrusted them with a heavy responsibility, they couldn't help but be overjoyed.Hearing the silt problem that has plagued the Hutuo River for many years, Xia Xianzun was finally going to clean it up, and he was even more overjoyed.In the past, the magistrates either did not clear the silt because they were afraid of accidents, or they did not clean up because they did not dare to offend the merchants along the coast, or they did not seek futility but wished for no faults. Xia Xianzun who dared to attack Hutuohe, how could they not be inexplicably excited?
They returned to Guanxin Pavilion, Xia Xiang confessed to Lu Zhiyue again, Lu Zhiyue took orders, and went out of the city with Ding Ke, Zhang Xuehua, Lu Dongliang, Shen Liangren and others.

It was dark when I saw the sky.

Xiao Jia went to Zhang Luo for dinner, and it was the first time they had dinner with Xia Xiang after they came to Zhending, so it was very grand.Not only Xiao Jia went to supervise the work in the kitchen, but Cao Shuli also got up to check it out herself.

There was nothing left and right, Xia Xiangzheng had something to say to Lian Ruohan, so he invited Lian Ruohan to watch the moon in the courtyard.But Cao Shujun insisted on following, Xia Xiang had no choice but to agree with him.

Man Tuo also followed him closely, still holding the sword in both hands, not far from Cao Shujun, as soon as Cao Shujun approached Xia Xiang, she would make a mistake and block Cao Shujun.Cao Shujun couldn't get close to Xia Xiang after several times, so he could only give Mantuo a bitter look.

The moonlight is like water, sprinkled all over the earth.There was a slight chill in the wind, Xia Xiang took off his cloak, put it on Lian Ruohan, and said softly: "From the situation in the capital, to the movement of the four aristocratic families, to the turbulent wind in Zhending City, to Lian Niangzi's attack Withholding the supply of iron ore from Guangjin Commercial Bank, I am afraid that this autumn will not be easy."

Seeing that Xia Xiang mentioned the matter of intercepting the iron ore supply of Guangjin Trading Company, Lian Ruohan gave Xia Xiang a meaningful look, but still avoided answering the matter: "It is not imperative to clean up the silt of the Hutuo River. Why should Xia Xianzun be so anxious about this matter? Wouldn’t it be better to wait for the emperor to make his southern tour before dredging up the silt?”

When Xia Xiang told about Yan Hao's ordering soldiers to go down the river to bury piles, Lian Ruohan's face paled immediately: "Yan Hao is so bold that he wants to sink the emperor's dragon boat?"

"It's not just a collision and sinking? He also prepared fire and thunder, trying to blow up the emperor's dragon boat." After thinking about it, Xia Xiang felt that Yan Hao was too insane, but it can also be predicted from this that Xing Wang's heart to inherit the throne is already on the line. I have no choice but to fight head-on, and there is no way out, "Fortunately, I let out the news early on about the dredging, and I just used the dredging to clean up the wooden piles and fire mines buried by Yan Hao, so that the emperor's dragon boat will be safe. .”

"Just entering the officialdom, you have encountered such an earth-shattering event, Mr. Xia, it's really hard for you." Lian Ruohan stopped in front of the rockery in the pond. The breeze blew her hair and her clothes fluttered. She stood calmly facing the wind, "Who It is also unexpected that the crucial battle between the emperor and Xingwang will fall on Zhending, and what is even more unexpected is that the safety of the emperor will be tied to a magistrate who has just entered the officialdom. Xia Xianzun, you are now alone in the world safety."

Xia Xiang smiled lightly: "Don't dare, dare not. As a subject, it is his duty to benefit the country and live and die. I just hope that the emperor can be close to virtuous ministers and far away from villains, distinguish right from wrong, and don't use stars again. Wang Hehou Pingpan and others."

Lian Ruohan sighed slightly: "The emperor doesn't know that the wolf ambition of Xingwang and Hou Pingpan is just a big mistake, and now there is no way to repent if you want to repent, you can only pretend to be deceived by the two, and slowly figure it out. Think It is a pity that the emperor was so heroic and mighty in the past, and created a great cause, but now he has ended up in such a poor state."

"The emperor pretended to be deceived by the two?" Xia Xiang heard the hidden meaning in Lian Ruohan's words, and couldn't help being startled, "How did Lady Lian know how the emperor is doing now? Could it be that you and the emperor know each other?"

(End of this chapter)