Qing Yao

Chapter 375 Is Prince Zhao going to acknowledge his ancestors and return to his clan?
Jiangning, the Grain Transport Office.

Li, Zhao An's mother-in-law, was directing servants to load the cart. Not far away, Ding Tai, Zhao An's father-in-law and the current director of the "office" of the Grain Transport Office, was talking with Li Lin, who had been ordered to welcome the family of the provincial governor.

Li Lin was also a student from Ganquan County. He was twenty-seven years old this year. He failed the preliminary examination three times in a row and was disheartened. He originally wanted to find a job, but he was tricked by Lao Song and taken to Anhui, where he was arranged to work in the criminal department of the provincial government.

Besides Li Lin, there were also more than a dozen bodyguards from the canal gang who were helping to load the cart. These were all brought by Li Lin to prevent any accidents on the way.

Ding Tai is now the de facto head of the grain transport office, because his son-in-law Zhao An has taken over the grain transport position. The second-in-command of the office, Zheng Fuyang, who is in charge of grain, has been transferred to the governor's office as an official, and the third-in-command, the grain transport clerk, is working in Anqing.

In other words, none of the three officials with formal ranks in the Grain Transport Office were actually stationed in the Jiangning headquarters; their actual work was handled by clerks.

The Grain Supervisor was an assistant official to the Grain Transport Commissioner. Unlike the local chief official, the assistant official in charge of the seal of office had to be appointed by the chief official through the Ministry of Personnel. If the chief official did not report the appointment, the Ministry of Personnel would not appoint a new assistant official.

Zhao An exploited this loophole by not reporting to the Ministry of Personnel that his assistant official had been transferred to the governor's office, leaving the position of assistant official in the grain transport department vacant. His reason was that he wanted his father-in-law to actually control the grain transport department, so that the Ministry of Personnel wouldn't send another sub-prefect to "seize power."

In the memorial requesting credit for the great victory at Suzhou, Ding Tai was recommended by Zhao An for his meritorious service in supervising the transfer of grain supplies as a candidate for county magistrate. If approved, it would mean that Ding Tai, who only had the title of Xiucai (a scholar who passed the county-level imperial examination), could become a seventh-rank official of the Qing Dynasty without having to go through the imperial examination.

Others might actually become substitutes, but could Zhao An's father-in-law become a substitute?
He was directly appointed as a candidate county magistrate to oversee his son-in-law's grain transport office. With a little more maneuvering, he would probably advance even faster than Lao Ding.

With a son-in-law who is a provincial-level official, the father-in-law should at least get a position as a deputy director-general.

The person assisting Ding Tai is Cheng Dade, the former ambassador of the Jiangning Warehouse. This man is highly skilled, and according to Zhao An, Cheng Dade is assisting Ding Tai in comprehensively reorganizing the major warehouses in Anhui, including the grain transport system.

The rectification methods were largely based on the transportation and logistics systems of later generations.

Ostensibly for supervising the transfer of grain, it was actually about establishing a military supply system that could quickly and conveniently transport troops, money, and supplies.

Of course, Cheng Dade was unaware of all this, and even his father-in-law, Ding Tai, was not aware of it.

Li Lin and the others arrived last month. Zhao An also hoped that the two wives could bring their children to their new home in Anqing as soon as possible. However, Chunlan had been experiencing persistent lochia after giving birth and was worried that her husband would be displeased if she went to Anqing. Therefore, she said that she was unwell and could not travel.

Wanqing was also a little reluctant to leave her parents, and since she was in postpartum confinement, she wasn't in a hurry to move.

This delay has dragged on until now. It wasn't until Lao Song sent someone to urge her again that Wanqing finally decided to move to Anqing to reunite with her husband.

Chunlan agreed when her lochia stopped. She thought that since she had given birth to a daughter for her husband, she should try to conceive a son several more times after going to Anqing.

I'm a little worried that my husband is sexist.

Zhao An's upright and honest character was created in Jiangning. Since he is an upright official, he certainly doesn't have much wealth. The only valuable possession he might have is the iron coffin displayed in the main hall of the grain transport office.

Since the iron coffin couldn't be taken to Anqing, and it was Zhao An's biggest "symbol" in the grain transport office, Ding Tai secretly took out the small gold coffin inside and gave it to his daughter to give to her son-in-law.

Even if he was honest and upright, he had two wives and three children, plus nannies, cooks, drivers, stewards, errand runners and so on, totaling about twenty people. As a result, his luggage alone filled three large carts, and he needed more than a dozen cars to carry people.

All the servants who accompanied Zhao An to Anqing were members of the Ding family. From this point of view, it is certain that Zhao An's "Imperial Household Department" will be under the Ding family in the future.

After getting ready, Wanqing, with the help of her nanny Zhang Ma, carried her newborn son, who was only a month or so old, and prepared to get into the car and leave.

Zhao An named his son Zhao Ning because his son was born in Jiangning.

If someone is born in Jiangsu, they will be named Zhao Su; if someone is born in the capital, they will be named Zhao Jing.

Easy to understand.

If someone is born in Anhui, they have to be named Zhao An?

Thankfully not, otherwise things would have been chaotic.

The daughter's name was chosen with care; it was Zhao Yiyi, taken from the phrase "willows swaying" in the poem "Picking Ferns" from the Book of Songs.

This name also corresponds to the adopted daughter's name, "Xiao Xiao".

When the officials from the grain transport department saw the lady come out, they quickly stepped forward to greet her. Because Zhao An had forbidden his subordinates from giving him gifts when he was in charge of the grain transport department, Wanqing did not dare to accept their "farewell gifts" even though her husband was not present. She smiled and said goodbye to everyone, appearing even more friendly than Zhao An.

Chunlan, the young lady, followed quietly behind Wanqing, the mistress of the house, carrying her daughter Yiyi, while Xiaoxiao was held in the arms of a nanny.

To this day, everyone in the grain transport department believes that Chunlan is Wanqing, and Wanqing is Chunlan.

There was nothing she could do; Wanqing insisted on going all the way with the pretense. It was just the little girl's vanity at play.

How could a mother bear to see her daughter leave? Especially since her daughter was a new mother, Li really wanted to go to Anqing with her. However, her husband couldn't leave her, so she had to suppress her heartache for her daughter and, fighting back tears, repeatedly told her, "After I'm no longer by your side, you must take good care of yourself and the baby when you get to Anqing. Your husband is very busy with official duties, so you, as his wife, must be understanding."

Before she could finish speaking, her voice choked with emotion, and she could no longer continue.

With tears in her eyes, Wanqing whispered, "Mother, don't worry, I know. But I don't know when I'll be able to see you again."

Both choked with emotion, the mother and daughter held hands and looked at each other, their eyes blurred with tears.

Although Ding Tai, the father, was equally reluctant to part with his son-in-law, he forced himself to remain calm and said, "Alright, alright, the son-in-law is waiting in Anqing. Don't be late."

As she spoke, she couldn't help but glance at her daughter and grandson a few more times, as if she wanted to deeply imprint the image of the mother and son in her heart.

Li could only wipe away her tears, take her daughter's hand and help her into the carriage. Just as Wanqing's right foot stepped onto the footstool placed under the carriage, a commotion came from the street corner in the distance, as if someone was running towards them.

Puzzled, everyone looked up and saw a group of yamen runners escorting a sedan chair as they hurried towards them.

Judging from the "style" of that sedan chair, it must belong to a fourth-rank official.

Everyone assumed it was an official from Jiangning City passing by, but unexpectedly the sedan chair stopped directly at the entrance of the grain transport route. Then an official stepped out of the sedan chair, and some government officials recognized him as none other than Prefect Li of Jiangning!
Although the Jiang'an Grain Commissioner was stationed in Jiangning, he was an official from Anhui and had no dealings with the Jiangning officials. So what was the Jiangning Prefect doing here?
Ding Tai, filled with doubt, stepped forward, intending to inquire. If it was official business, he would invite the prefect inside for a detailed discussion. Unexpectedly, Prefect Li's gaze bypassed him and went straight to his daughter, his face beaming with smiles. "This must be Madam Zhao! I, Li Yaodong, the prefect of Jiangning, heard that Madam is going to Anqing to reunite with Lord Zhao, so I came to see her off!"

give me?

Wanqing was quite surprised. Although they had not deliberately concealed their move, they had not made a fuss about it either. Why would the officials of Jiangning have to come and see them off in person?
"Thank you for your trouble, sir."

Known for her refined manners, she quickly curtsied and bowed.

Seeing this, Prefect Li quickly said, "Madam, you flatter me. I dare not accept such praise." He then raised his hand and said, "I have prepared some small gifts for your travel, which are just a token of my respect. I hope you will accept them with a smile!"

Immediately, an attendant presented him with a gift list, and several constables offered the prepared gifts.

Just by looking at the packaging, you can tell these gifts are quite valuable.

Wanqing was filled with doubts, but her face remained impeccable. She thanked him gently and said, "I am truly apprehensive about your presence, sir. However, my husband is currently in office, and I, a woman, dare not trouble you. I am even more ashamed to accept this gift. Please take it back with you."

"Oh, Madam, you flatter me. Although I am not an official in the same province as Lord Zhao, we serve in the same city and have had dealings with each other. I greatly admire and respect Lord Zhao as a person."

The prefect had come specifically to deliver gifts and take advantage of the "madam's route," so how could he possibly take the gifts back? Just then, another rider came galloping up from the street corner.

"Shut up!"

As the rider approached the yamen gate, he reined in his horse and stood still. Before even dismounting, he announced loudly, "Lord Fu Changfu, the Provincial Governor of Jiangning, has sent me to present a travel gift and wish Madam Zhao a safe journey!"

The Provincial Treasurer of Jiangning?!

This terrified Wanqing, because this was a high-ranking official on par with her husband, two or three ranks higher than the fourth-rank prefect in front of her.

Even such a high-ranking official would send himself a travel gift?

Not only was Wanqing completely bewildered, but her father, Ding Tai, was also dumbfounded, unable to understand what relationship the Jiangning Provincial Governor had with his son-in-law that would lead him to specially send someone to present his daughter with travel expenses.

The prefect was well aware of the situation. Indeed, Zhao Youlu was a chosen one of heaven. Otherwise, why would the provincial governor have sent someone to present the travel expenses?
Fortunately, I received the news in time; otherwise, I would have missed this great opportunity to curry favor with the elite.

Just as Wanqing was stunned and didn't know what to do, the sound of horses' hooves came from the street corner again, and then a group of Eight Banner soldiers in full armor rode in.

No fewer than fifty riders!
They galloped down the narrow street with great fanfare, which was quite frightening. Several staff members of the grain transport office were so frightened by the sight that they instinctively took a few steps back.

The canal gang soldiers that Li Lin brought immediately became alert, and several of them who were nearby rushed forward to block the lady's way.

The prefect was also taken aback, not because he was afraid of the Eight Banners soldiers causing trouble, but because the General of Jiangning had actually sent someone to "flatter" Prince Zhao!
It seems that the high-ranking officials in Liangjiang all know about this imperial secret!
In that case, it seems that it won't be long before Prince Zhao is recognized as a member of his clan.

The Eight Banner soldiers slowed their horses from a distance. When they got closer, the leading Eight Banner captain clasped his hands in a fist salute on his horse and said in a booming voice, "This humble general, Eighty-Six, has come on the orders of General Jiangning to escort Madam Zhao! The general said that Lord Zhao is a pillar of the nation, and the safety of his family is of utmost importance. Therefore, this humble general must protect Madam Zhao's carriage all the way to Anqing!"

(End of this chapter)