Chapter 90: Raising the Bowl to Drink Porridge, Putting Down the Chopsticks to Curse Your Mother
Abandoning the boat and disembarking, Fan Xian walked toward the garden with a slight hint of doubt. Haitang was behind him, greeting the old man fishing by the lake, but he didn’t have much heart for the people, looking at the steeds in the district outside the garden, his brows furrowed.
The official who had come on horseback had already entered the garden, and had actually thrown the horse right outside the garden, and had not fastened the reins, so it seemed that he was indeed in some hurry. The horse was at the bottom of the stone steps, waving its head down, snorting and sniffing the fragrance of the grass that would grow on the ground, but it was a pity that it was chewy, so it couldn’t be eaten in the mouth even though it was in a hurry.
“My lord.” The guards at the door saluted him, and one of his subordinates approached and prepared to explain something, but Fan Xian waved his hand to stop. He had long since recognized who that angry official was, and when he thought that after not seeing him for a year, the other party was still of the same disposition, he felt a little annoyed.
The sound of a heated argument came from the depths of the mansion, and when he rounded the shadow wall, the sound grew louder, the words filled with loud accusations and the disappointment and anger that came out of his bones.
Fan Xian stopped in his tracks, turned around and smiled to himself, and said to Haitang, “A small matter, give me some face and don’t come in.”
Haitang smiled and nodded, heading for the side-hand side path through the garden.
Fan Xian sorted out his clothes, patiently listened outside for half a day, only then gently coughed twice, did enough of the teacher’s style, put his hands behind his back, crossed the high threshold and walked into the main hall.
In the middle of the hall, two people face red neck thick, like two cockfighting confrontation, the two sides of the confrontation, one side is Shi Yanli, one side is not seen for a long time Yang Wanli.
Last year after the spring exams, Yang Wanli high school three, and because everyone knows that he is Fan’s direct lineage of the reason, so the Ministry of the Ministry of Justice in charge of the official with a stroke of a pen, he will be transferred to the south of Jiangnan somewhere in the rich counties as a county magistrate, ate a fat vacancy. This is still because of the Ministry of the Ministry of Yan Xingshu from the relationship, otherwise to the prestige of the Fan family, directly to do a state with the or transport judgment is not impossible.
And Yang Wanli also really for the door Fan idle competition, diligent in government, pro-people and good learning, just a year’s time, under the jurisdiction of the well-governed, it can be said that the road does not pick up, the night does not close the door, the autumn period of the Ministry of the Ministry of the Ministry of the assessment of a prudent and clear, fair and commendable comment. When the Da Lisi review, also rated an up and down, although the years have not reached, can not advance, but now is also a hall from the sixth grade officials.
And Fan’s four people in the Hou Jichang and Cheng Jialin, now respectively in the Jiaodong Road and the South as an official, is also said to be a good official reputation.
After Fan Xian entered the door, he coldly watched Yang Wanli and Shi Yanli quarrelling, realizing that Yang Wanli was imposing, while Shi Yanli was backing off a bit, and after a moment’s listening, he knew what it was about and sneered.
Yang Wanli turned back to look at him, froze, frowned, but extremely unexpected turn around, to Shi Yanli continued to painfully state: “Shi brother, you refuse to enter the service is also considered just, with the side of the door division, for him to pick up the gaps, and do things with all their heart, is also considered to be for the people’s well-being,…… but now teacher He is obviously doing wrong, why don’t you remind him? Let’s perform the ritual of discipleship, the same to straight talk to advise, is the right way! Do you know how bad the rumors are spreading in Jiangnan? They say that Mr. Fan is really a capable official, how to do things is not yet known, but this collection of silver is open and honest ruthless!”
Yang Wanli said is obviously the opposite, sneered: “…… big river? I see that is a silver river, that ship does not fish out the silver of the states, the people in the ship will refuse to go ashore for a day!”
The more he said the more angry, will be a wave of the sleeve said: “for an official, benefit a party, last year, the teacher left a letter to let us a few people to do a good job as an official, do a good job …… but …… but … …Is this how an official does it? I …… I am now almost ashamed to see people! Old Shi! You’ve let me down! Rotten worm! A devourer!”
Shi Yanli heard the last two adjectives, angry, thinking that you kid outside to do the Qing official to do happy, how do you know old me I in Kyoto as a brothel boss hard work? Also devouring goods! You are criticizing the teacher is to eat people’s bone marrow of the tiger ah …… well ah you Yang Wanli, not long to do the official, the guts of a lot of hot blood a rush, scolded back: “You do not know the people’s suffering of the sour midgets! If it is not the teacher in the capital, you think you can get a good performance appraisal, ungrateful guy!”
Yang Wanli tilted his face up and said with sorrow in his pride, “Although I only rule a county, but within a year, the county has no mountain thieves, and the people’s livelihoods are peaceful …… but also afforded to the expectations of the little Lord Fan at the beginning.”
In fact, Shi Yanli also understand why the other side is so angry, directly kill the door, the so-called hope the greater, the greater the disappointment, they are hoping to follow the small Fan adults in the State of Qing to do something, the real loyalty of the people, just Fan Xian is now in the Supervisory Yuan, the great power …… to do things… …is indeed the mold of a powerful minister, but the gap between him and the famous ministers seems to be getting wider and wider.
However, Shi Yanli had been with Fan Xian for many years, and knowing the many constraints of the door division, and also having a deeper feeling, he still subconsciously retorted with a sneer, “The mountain bandits are all gone? If it is not the state battalion to your Fuchun County territory moved twelve miles …… do you think those mountain bandits can be your saint’s words scared away? Twelve miles of land …… is insignificant, right? But do you this little governor have this ability?”
Yang Wanli was stunned, frowned and asked, “What do you mean by this?”
“What do you mean?” Shi Yanli glanced back at Fan Xian and frowned, as if he felt that the guards in the courtyard had not stopped this man, telling outsiders to listen to his quarrel with Yang Wanli, which would not be a good thing to spread.
The most innocent person at this time was of course Fan Xian, the two students were quarrelling happily, and he, the rightful owner, stood on the sidelines for half a day without anyone paying attention to him, being left out to dry. He then followed Shi Yanli’s words and said with a smile, “It’s nothing meaningful, it’s just that the old man at home is heartbroken with you guys, and wrote a letter to the commanding co-conspirator in the state.”
It was only then that the two in the middle of the quarrel heard Fan Xian’s voice, and were startled at the same time, only to say in surprise after a long while, “It’s the teacher?”
Fan Xian reached out and rubbed his hands by his temples twice, rubbing the glue off the corners of his eyebrows, which returned to their original position, and that clear, handsome face returned to its original. After he entered the room, he forgot to remove his make-up, so the two quarrelsome people did not recognize him.
He let out a bitter smile and said: ”Quarreling should also be quarreled behind closed doors. This is what I heard, if I let outsiders hear it …… I am afraid that they will still think that my old Fan family has a big thing of deceiving the master and destroying the ancestor.”
The manor’s lobby quieted down all of a sudden, and thinking that the entire content of their quarrel had fallen on Fan Xian’s ears, both Shi Yanli and Yang Wanli were somewhat embarrassed.
The two of them invited Fan Xian to sit down in the middle of the room, serving on both sides, although Fan Xian was a bit younger in age, but the absurd seniority of teacher and student was here, so they always had to do the right thing.
Yang Wanli touched his head with a bit of a headache, and suddenly thought of Fan Xian s last words …… Deceiving the teacher and destroying the ancestor? He raised his head in a huff and yelled, “My lord! I didn’t mean that.”
Fan Xian looked at him with amusement, knowing that Yang Wanli is a Minzhong bitter cold children, most despise corrupt officials, and the temperament is straightforward and hot, otherwise it would not have been so bold to barge to the door, and opened his mouth to ask: “Fuchun County is two hundred miles away from Hangzhou, and you are a civil official with no Yamen to come here in such a hurry, and scolded in front of this official as a man-eating tiger that doesn’t spit out bones, this is not to deceive the teacher and not to spit out the bones. This is not to deceive the teacher …… and what is it?”
He was joking, but the weight of this joke is Yang Wanli can not afford. But Yang Wanli’s temperament is really straight, will teeth a bite, walked to Fan Xian body a bow to the end, said in a deep voice: “The student has a mistake, the mistake is that should not be in the back of the adult delusion of right and wrong.”
Fan Xian was slightly surprised, and thought to himself, “How did this fellow turn so quickly?
Unexpectedly, Yang Wanli’s words turned around and said, “However, the teacher has already returned to the mansion, and in front of the face, the student will have to say it, and you also know that the student has never been afraid to speak directly about the faults of the teacher and the headmaster.”
“Speak.” Fan Xian had no choice but to say, “You’re just this lonely personality.”
“Your honor went down to Jiangnan this time to manage finances for the imperial court, and the student thought that there were three things your honor shouldn’t do.” Yang Wanli didn’t even listen to Fan Xian’s assessment of his own temperament.
“Three shouldn’t?” Fan Xian bluffed, thought it was just Su Wenmao that the problem of collecting silver by a thousand knives, did not think that actually came to a three shouldn’t …… You think you Chi Zhiqiang singing ten shouldn’t ah in the prison!
“Adult one should not connive subordinates along the river to scavenge the people’s money and enslave the people.” Yang Wanli yesterday night did not sleep well, only determined to come to Hangzhou face to face “admonition”, said sorrowfully: “Beijing ship south, along the river state and county officials deliberately greeted, send gifts like a mountain, but also drive the people pulling the boat, Jiangnan belt of water is gentle, if not the ship deliberately slow, where the need for slender man? This matter has long been spread throughout the South, become a joke, and along the river state and county officials sent the gift where? It’s not just a matter of adding more taxes and raiding the people’s income. Your Excellency shouldn’t ignore the laws of the land, accept bribes, disregard the people’s heart, and work the people hard!”
Fan Xian looked as if he didn’t hear him, waving his hand for Shi Yanli to pour a cup of tea and gulp it down.
Yang Wanli see him so expression do, heart some apprehension, do not know the door master is not really angry, but also let his anger more, directly said: “adults two should not mobilize jiangnan sailor military ship escort, although adults have the identity of the Qinzhi, but since the beginning of the ceremony did not light up, instead of starry night before the line, which is already against the system, both sneak, and the transfer of the official soldiers escort, against the system, besides It’s even more of a breach of etiquette, disturbing the local area and slackening the defense, which is indeed a great transgression.”
Fan Xian puffed out the tea in his mouth and cursed with a laugh, “You want me to be chopped up before you feel comfortable in your heart?”
He waved his hand to stop Yang Wanli’s next words and opened his mouth, “Let’s start with these two shouldn’t.” He slightly a deliberation, “you said along the river to receive gifts, I also heard some wind, indeed, the impact is extremely bad, according to the letter from Kyoto, this matter seems to be in Kyoto among the officialdom also became a ridiculous joke, all said my little Fan in the capital suffocated, a Jiangnan will hate to scrape a few layers of ground …… ”
Yang Wanli heard him speak, heart slightly happy, said: “Exactly, and regardless of the problem of illegal and chaotic program, alone this impact, it will be on the official reputation of adults have a great ……”
“It’s a great influence on your official reputation, isn’t it?” Fan Xian scoffed and said, “Earlier you said that now have no face to see people, Wanli you want to do a history to leave a name of the clean official, but I am such a big rake in silver corrupt official door division, must have some hesitation in the heart, I also understand. But ……”
His words turned: “No matter how the Jiangnan officials see, how the people see, how the six ministries in the capital discuss, the next person does not pay attention to …… the question is, you are my disciple, how can you also think that this official will be greedy silver?”
Yang Wanli froze, thought you that the great achievements of the ship is a fact, the evidence is indeed in ah, nowadays people are legendary, the reason why Fan Tisi Jiangnan to engage in mysterious, divided into three routes in the north and south, in order to one-time greed qi three way of filial piety, is it wrong to say that you are wrong?
“I have plenty of silver.” Fan Xian looked at Yang Wanli and cursed angrily, “Why would I need to covet silver? How did this head of yours grow?”
“You, Ji Chang, and Jia Lin, now that you’ve been sent out as officials, you’re bound to receive silver from the old man in the capital every month, why is that? It is not afraid that you are surrounded by the money of colleagues to pull down, I am so demanding of you, not to mention their own?”
Since last year’s spring exam, Yang Wanli and other three people will receive silver cheques sent from Kyoto every month, the amount has long exceeded the salary, this matter actually has nothing to do with Fan Xian, he would not have thought of such a detailed, all the Fan Shangshu for his son in the careful management.
With the silver two evening, Yang Wanli and other three people on the one hand is a lot of hands and feet, on the one hand, but also with these silver two in doing some practical things. He was touched by Fan Xian’s concern, and frightened by his rare anger, he hurriedly returned, “Thank you, Teacher.”
Fan Xian laughed and rebuked, “You’re thankful when you’re given money, don’t you think about it, where did this money come from? …… Of course, it’s not from greed, you know I’m very much in a few businesses underneath me, and I can still afford to support a few of you officials.”
Yang Wanli frowned and said, “But …… that boat on the river?”
“What does that ship have to do with me?” Fan Xian’s face was a bit shameless, “If you want to wrestle for position to scold corrupt officials, go to the boat to scold those people, and run to Hangzhou to scold me …… Yang Wanli ah Yang Wanli, you’re really not small in guts.”
Yang Wanli said bitterly, “Teacher, those people are your subordinates!”
Fan Xian smiled and said, “Yes, my subordinates collect silver, but I don’t care about it, as if everything is done at my behest? This is nothing more than a play, so what’s your hurry.”
Shi Hanyan Li also persuaded on the side, “Your honor must have deep meaning, you just barge in today, I’m afraid to let how many people in the dark laugh crooked mouth.”
Yang Wanli thought about this reasoning, even if Lord Fan wants to be greedy, but also not to be greedy so bombastic, greedy so low means ah, could it be that he really thought wrong?
“There isn’t much deep meaning either.” Fan Xian sighed and said, “But it’s just that there’s a play to be performed in Suzhou on the third day of March, and that play is so carnal that I’m getting goosebumps just thinking about it now, so you’ll understand when you watch it.”
Yang Wanli had already believed Fan Xian’s statement at this time, and did not dare to say any more, and somewhat regretted that he had come too boldly, and if he had misplaced the door division’s plan to rule the treasury, it would not be good.
“Saying the second shouldn’t be right.” Fan Xian frowned, “Wanli, you’re too naive, do you really think that today is a peaceful time?”
Yang Wanli was slightly stunned, thinking that the country is at peace nowadays, the winds and rains are favorable, where is there any falsehood? Fan Xian smiled coldly and said, “If we don’t mobilize the navy to protect the ship, the ship may be dragged to the bottom of the river by the water ghosts at any time, do you believe it?”
Looking at Yang Wanli’s expression, he knew that he would not believe it, Fan Xian shook his head and said, “The matter of the inner treasury is not hidden from you, what I want to deal with is not only the bugs in the inner treasury, but also the magnates in Jiangnan, and even the officials of the whole of Jiangnan and the nobility of Kyoto……. How did the Ming family get started? Now how to make the family business so big?”
In the face of this inquiry, Yang Wanli shook his head, Shi Elanli also recently came into contact with the Supervisory Yuan and the Jiangnan Water Village Xia Qufei’s secret report, only to know a thing or two.
“Pirates!” Fan Xian’s eyes flashed a flash of severity, “The Ming family received goods from the inner treasury, from Quanzhou to the sea, all the way north to the city of Dongyi, all the way south to the west of the sky outside the foreign devils, over the years, after going to sea will always meet the pirates, three ships, always have to lose a ……”
Yang Wanli wrinkled his brow, thinking that the Ming family also contacted, all are gentle and kind of rich people, this sea encountered pirates, it is not good to let them be responsible for, is it adults have something in their words?
Fan Xian said in a cold voice: “And in fact, the pirates are their Ming family own people!”
Yang Wanli was shocked.
“The inner treasury production encountered pirates, he Ming family also have to pay out money to the inner treasury …… seem to lose money, but in fact he robbed that ship of goods secretly transported overseas to sell, a ship of goods the court 60% of the dividends, he will not have to pay, and pay out to the inner treasury is only a cost … …This one ship to earn, but than those two more ah. I just pity how many more dead souls have died on the sea in these years.”
Yang Wanli was dumbfounded and muttered, “This …… this they Ming family can’t earn much more, so why would they dare to risk this kind of killing?”
What Fan Xian said was what the Supervisory Yuan had found out in cooperation with Xia Qufei in these recent days, but it was a pity that they had not been able to hold any live evidence. Ming family these years with this kind of ruthless means, do not know how much silver earned, these people do things extremely ruthless, the wind is both tight, but also have a nobleman to cover, so the dynasty and the wild, only when the sea southbound is this is the wind and waves of the dangerous, rampant sea bandits, but can not imagine that the Ming family since the robbery of their own goods, to play the trick of merchants and bandits a family.
He stood up, staring at Yang Wanli’s eyes, said: “Once there is a proper profit, merchants are bold. With fifty percent profit, he is desperate; for one hundred percent profit, he dares to trample on all the laws of celebration; with three hundred percent profit, he dares to commit any crime, even risking hanging, and disregards the imperial court.”
Both Yang Shi were shocked by Marx’s famous words and lowered their heads, savoring them for a long time.
“What’s more …… there have always been their fellow travelers in the court.” Fan Xian said with a sneer, “With proper foreign sales, the money earned is booked, where is the safety of spending this off-the-books money smoothly?”
This sentence is talking about the Xinyang side of things, if not with this kind of ruthless tactics, the Princess wants to fish for silver from the inner treasury under the long years of surveillance by the Supervisory Yuan, the degree of difficulty is definitely much greater.
“Every copper plate is bloody above.” Fan Xian educated Yang Wanli, “If you and I want to do something, we must keep ourselves safe. The Ming family can kill and will kill, and when it comes to the time of real fish death, they will not be afraid to kill this official! At the time of life and death, what etiquette …… you do the official for a long time, people do not become a piece of rotten wood!”
Yang Wanli was dumbfounded, he ten years of hard work, after being an official and Fan Xian the shadow of this tree secretly protect, where really feel the danger of the world, at this time by Fan Xian a criticism, finally sobered up a little.
Calm a little bit, Fan Xian waved his hand and said: “Just, let’s not talk about these things, although you came to kick the door today, but this garden did not come to any guests, we have not seen for a year, there are always some things to say, stay and fix some food and wine, let’s drink a few cups.”
Yang Wanli hangs his head down, but knows that the door division still treats himself as the closest person, also counts a sigh of relief, only some regret his own recklessness, suddenly thought of a pile of things, hesitant to ask: “That the third should not ……”
Fan Xian laughed and scolded, “You don’t offend me to the end, it looks like you can’t eat, say it.”
Yang Wanli thought about it, think this is really the door division do not right, so straighten said: “recently around the iterative auspicious, officials and people in the wine on the table will always say a couple of words, students in front of the people have never said, but in front of the teacher’s face, but to venture into the speech, to color things, the end of the long term, in order to flatter to invite favors, is not an official of the imperial court should be held in the bones of the teacher, this thing to do! This is really inconsistent with virtue.”
Fan Xian froze, knowing that although Yang Wanli’s nature is stubborn, but the person is still extremely clever, actually saw the four wild auspiciousness is his own creation, but this kid actually …… dared to face his own face, scolding himself to pat the emperor’s ass!
“Roll roll roll!” Fan Xian finally really angry, scolded: “rice also do not eat, back to your Fuchun County porridge to go!”
Yang Wanli was also honorable at this time, straightening up and letting the spittle of the door master wash his face, and said with a face full of righteousness, “The student is going to drink congee in Peng Yuan today.”
Fan Xian huffed and puffed his sleeves and went out the door. Shi Yang and two people hurriedly followed behind, half a step dare not slightly away. Until this time, the young man less than twenty, finally have some young people’s appearance, and is no longer that sitting in the words pretend to be old and mature door master.
On the third day of March, the dragon raised its head.
Tanyu province relatives of the caravan, along the silver river down the capital ship, all in this day came to the dock outside suzhou, and the first night, a team from hangzhou has quietly on board, from the three teams out of kyoto finally triumphantly in the south of the river to meet.
Above the pier, drums and gongs, firecrackers, Jiangnan Road officials at all levels of solemn official uniforms, under the line of cards, eagerly awaiting the arrival of the Secretary of the Imperial College, the Secretary of the Imperial College, the Secretary of the Imperial Standing Temple, and the authority to lead the internal Treasury Transportation Envoy Division, the Supervisory Yuan, the Secretary of the Ministry of Supervision, and the Minister of Pilotage of the Jiangnan Road Minister of Qinzhi …… small Fan Fan Xian.