Be a master through ancient times

Surname Fang?

Chu Ci instantly understood, it seems that this person should have some relationship with Jinyang.He had to lament that the Fang family's relationship was so intricate that there were people from their family even here.But the heart of guarding against others is indispensable. Although Chu Ci followed in, he was still a little wary.

"Lord Chu, it's hard to say too clearly just now, so please don't take offense." Master Meng said with a smile, "The reason why I invited you in is because my nephew Jinyang wrote a letter a few months ago, saying that one of his A close friend of mine will soon come to Zhangzhou Prefecture, Southern Fujian Province to take up the position of a student, and I happen to be in the Department of Education, so let me treat you nicely."

"It's a pity that a few days before you came, I received an order to go to Qingzhou Mansion, but when I came back, you had already gone to work in Zhangzhou Mansion. I really feel sorry for this old man!" Mr. Meng looked regretful. look like.

"So Master Meng is Jinyang's uncle? Jinyang and I are brothers and sisters. If I knew about this earlier, I would have the cheek to come to visit on that day."

"Hey, what are you saying to be cheeky? Master Chu is a distinguished guest. That day I accompanied Zhuo Jing home to visit relatives, but Master Taishan praised you again and again. He said that if you hadn't spoken out righteously, I am afraid that the fate of Fang's family would be ruined between those two. It was in the hands of an evil woman. We can’t repay such a great kindness.”

Mr. Meng respected the old man Fang very much. He thought that he was just a poor scholar who fled to Xijiang Province due to drought. He almost starved to death on the street because he had no wealth and no ability to make a living.It was Mrs. Fang who rescued him back. He didn't intend to repay him for raising him for a month, and then donated money to help him with the imperial examination. After he was selected as a scholar, he married his youngest daughter to him to manage the family business for him. Have children.

Therefore, Mr. Meng's respect for the old man is comparable to that of his own parents, and he is even more obedient to what he says, like a caring little cotton-padded jacket compared to Fang's sister-in-law.

He said this so sincerely that Chu Ci felt embarrassed.He was just a little effort back then, and he didn't want others to take it to heart.

"Master Meng, you are welcome. Jinyang and I are of the same generation. If you don't mind, I will have the audacity to call you uncle, and you can call me Ah Ci." Chu Ci said, got up and bowed his hands in a junior salute.

Master Meng hurriedly stopped him and said, "Nephew, please get up quickly." Chu Ci followed his strength and stood up, then sat down again.

The two exchanged a few more words of greeting, and Lord Meng brought the conversation back to the point. He asked Chu Ci: "Does my nephew know why Lord Qi called you here in such a hurry?"

Chu Ci shook his head: "This is also what I don't understand. When I came here that day, I only met Mr. Du, but never met Mr. Qi. It stands to reason that we have nothing to do with each other."

Master Meng smiled meaningfully: "My nephew is wrong. Do you know that before you took office, there was an imperial decree in the middle of the capital, which scolded Master Qi bloody in public. Because of this, Master Qi fell seriously ill. After he recovered from his illness, he couldn't understand why the Holy Majesty suddenly condemned him. Later, he didn't know where he got the news, saying that the Holy Majesty was paving the way for you and deliberately suppressing him so that the entire Southern Fujian province could be under your command. .”

Chu Ci thought about it for a while, and he seemed to be right. When he was in the capital, the emperor really said that he would clear the obstacles on the road of reform for him.When he first arrived in Zhangzhou Mansion, he had been trying to test the attitude of saving and learning with small tricks, and the higher-ups never responded, so he started to do something drastic.

"When you came later, because he couldn't figure out your details, he said he was sick at home and asked Du Tixue to come forward to deal with you. After all, Zhangzhou Prefecture should be under his jurisdiction. This time he sent an official document to call you here , because the Zhangzhou government sent a letter to tell you about abuse of power, nepotism, dismissing officials at will, canceling the re-election at will and changing the rules of the county test before adding you, I am afraid he will count the crimes and punish you. If you can’t do it for yourself Clean up your grievances, once you are convicted by him, I'm afraid..."

Mr. Meng didn't say it directly, but Chu Ci understood that if he didn't handle this matter well, his official career would stop here. At that time, even if the emperor wanted to continue to use him, he would not be able to convince other ministers.

"Thank you, Uncle Meng, for your reminder. You must have waited for me at this door today, right?" Chu Ci knew the consequences, but he didn't regret his actions. The worst thing was to take off his official hat and go home to farm. Besides, Can't you justify yourself?In this regard, he thought he had never been afraid of anyone.

Master Meng smiled and didn't admit it directly, but said: "I wanted to write to you before, but firstly, you didn't know me at the beginning, so I'm afraid you wouldn't believe this easily. If you are not careful, you will scare the snake, which is not good."

"Are the letters from Southern Fujian Province no longer sent by post officials? When I first came here, I used to rest in a post house, which was dilapidated, and I could not receive many officials throughout the year." Chu Ci told Mr. Meng what he had seen and heard in the posthouse last time.

"He's right. Ever since many piers were built in Nanfu Province, the inn has been sparsely populated and the scenery has disappeared. Because it takes a long time to travel by land and the road is rough, you can only stay in the post all day long. In the carriage, there may be thieves who rob the road, which is faster, more stable and safer than going on the waterway. If you came here by boat, I am afraid that you can save half the time."

Chu Ci was even more strange: "Accordingly, there should be only three wharves in Nanmin Province, which were built in Siyang Mansion, Zhuzhou Mansion and Changning Mansion respectively. But I inquired and found that in recent years, there have been a total of more wharves in Nanfu Province. There are dozens of piers, and there are only two piers in one prefecture. Before I came, I heard people say that Nanmin Province is not very rich, but now, it is comparable to a rich place in the south of the Yangtze River."

It is not a simple matter to build a wharf. All aspects must be considered carefully, such as the throughput capacity and the depth of the berth must be calculated in advance. In addition, the water area where the wharf is located must be expanded, including the inner waters. , external waters and connecting waters.It is also necessary to avoid possible risks, such as reefs on the bottom of the sea and vortexes in the dark.

To put it bluntly, a small wharf cannot be built without tens of thousands of taels of silver, let alone a large wharf, and the silver needed will rise exponentially.

It is said that Nanfu Province fails to pay all taxes every year, and has been manually included in the blacklist of debts owed by the household department. I did not expect that they still have spare money to build so many piers to open water transportation for the people.

Mr. Meng waved his hand: "No, no, no, these piers were not built with money from the government. These piers were built with money from a master named Zhao. It is said that this man has a wealth of wealth, which is as rich as an enemy, and what is even more rare is his fortune I will never forget to give back to the village and benefit the people.”

"Master Zhao? But Zhao Kuan?" Chu Ci asked, he remembered that the old postman had said this name back then.

"You know him?" Master Meng was surprised.

Chu Ci shook his head: "I don't know, but I have heard of this person's name."

"It's no wonder, but there is a stone tablet on the wharf where he gave out money, on which his life and charitable deeds are recorded, and there are people who sit beside it and read it!"

"It seems that this person is really rare. By the way, did he pay for the construction of the wharf fifty miles away from the provincial capital?" Chu Ci suddenly remembered what the peddler Huang had said, and asked.

"Yeah, except for the original three, the rest are all paid by Mr. Zhao. What's the matter?"

"It's nothing, I just heard that when the passenger ships dock at the pier, they have to pay rent every month. Besides, they have to wait in the sea for a flower boat. I wonder if you have ever met Uncle Meng?"

Master Meng was very surprised: "What renters, I have never heard of such a thing? And flower boats, I have never heard of it either."

Many thoughts flashed through Chu Ci's mind instantly, it seemed that the water was very deep there!No matter what, he was going to find out.