Your Majesty, please resign again

Chapter 129 The storm is surging! (Here it comes!)

Haizhou.

There is a large amount of food piled up on the dock. The dock workers carry the food one trip after another, loading the food into carriages. The food will be transported to various states and counties in Haizhou through these carriages. They will first give porridge and then distribute food to the victims.

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Tong Boding and Fan Wuji did not follow Zhang Heng back to Beijing, but stayed here to receive the arrival of the next grain ship from Quanzhou Maritime Merchant.

There wasn't much food delivered in the first trip. Firstly, this was just a try. Secondly, we were in a hurry and couldn't collect much at one time. Subsequent food shipments are still being gathered at various docks in Quanzhou, Fuzhou, and Mingzhou.

It is estimated that the next trip will be able to transport more than 100,000 shi of grain.

This is the advantage of sea transportation. Sea-going ships are much larger than inland ships, and the volume transported at one time is also much larger. It is estimated by Gao Yijian that one million stones of grain can be transported in about five or six trips. By then

Jianghuai's situation is much better.

Tong Boding and Fan Wuji stayed here for more than ten days, but they still did not see the arrival of the Quanzhou maritime merchant ship.

Fan Wuji asked: "Last time, the leader said how long it would take to make a round trip. I remember that it seemed that it took half a month to make a round trip, right?"

Tong Boding nodded: "What he said is that it can take as short as ten days and as long as half a month to make a round trip."

Fan Wuji looked at the vast sea and said, "Seventeen or eight days have passed, why are there still no people?"

Tong Boding also hesitated and said: "It is possible that matters at sea may be delayed for a few days, right?"

Fan Wuji's face was a little gloomy: "Don't they regret it? Or maybe they are waiting for a price and want to wait for the owner to give them feedback. Without feedback, they are unwilling to continue transporting grain?"

Tong Boding thought for a moment and said, "I don't think they are such people, right?"

Fan Wuji chuckled and said, "Who knows, those people don't look good, they all look like pirates. Who knows if they are honest or not!"

Tong Boding advised: "It's better not to say these words. It's not good to hear them. But I heard that people who live on the sea lick blood from the tip of a knife. It's normal to be more aggressive."

The two of them were just a little impatient with waiting, so they just chatted, not in public.

But the news came the next day. It was delivered by Quanzhou maritime merchants on the road. The two young men must have traveled day and night, and they looked shaky.

Tong Boding was surprised: "What happened?"

One of the young men said: "Shou Gang ordered me to come and inform you that our ships encountered a large number of pirates on the sea. After the fight, two of our grain ships were burned, and the rest were temporarily returned to Fuzhou.

, Chief Tsuna has gone back to regroup the troops, he should have set sail and will arrive in four or five days."

Tong Boding was surprised: "There are also pirates offshore?"

The young man gritted his teeth and said: "It must be the good deeds of Jiangnan maritime merchants! Pirates rarely come to the offshore, and generally they will not attack large ships, because if they fight, their casualties will be heavy."

Although two of our ships were burned this time, they were not feeling well and we also burned several ships. However, they had a large number of people on board, so they were temporarily defeated and could only retreat first, waiting for Mr. Gao and the others to reorganize more than a dozen ships.

We are heading north together, they can’t stop us!”

Fan Wuji was also very surprised: "Why are they doing this?"

The young man was a little tired. Tong Boding wanted him to rest, but the young man said he wanted to eat. Tong Boding quickly asked someone to arrange something to eat. The young man ate meat and drank wine, and for a while he became very excited and started chatting with Fan Wuji and Tong Boding.

"...Hmph, Jiangnan maritime merchants are not a thing, but it doesn't matter. Anyway, when we are at sea, we don't care about this. Anyway, if they want to fight or kill, just let them come. When they are alone, we also have to do it.

One vote gave them an advantage this time, and they will suffer the loss next time, hahaha!"

His words were full of heroism, as if he didn't care much about life and death.

His ferocity frightened both Fan Wuji and Tong Boding.

Tong Boding thought to himself: "As expected, they say that those in caves are not as good as those on the ground, and those on land are not as good as those on the sea. These ruthless bandits at sea really regard life and death as nothing."

His idea is correct. Most of the people in Bianjing City are rogues. Where are the gangsters? There is no discipline at sea, let alone pirates. If they see a lone ship, the crew will probably have to do it themselves.

It's hard to tell who the pirate is.

After such an accident, Tong Boding hurriedly wrote a letter to Zhang Heng to avoid affecting his employer's plan.

But not long after the letter was sent, another big thing happened. The transportation team organized by Haizhou was frequently robbed, people were killed, and food was robbed. Bandits even attacked the dock that night and took Haizhou to sea.

Zhizhou dispersed the government officials who had been arranged here, and then robbed some of the food. The rest that could not be moved was burned, and the dock was blazing with flames.

Fan Wuji was so angry that he stamped his feet: "You're going to kill these people. If you say you want to rob food, you'll rob it. If you can't take it away, just keep it for the victims. Why do you burn it with fire? These people will be punished by God!"

Damn it!"

Tong Boding looked gloomy: "Let's go!"

Fan Wuji asked: "Where to go?"

Tong Boding said: "Go to Haizhou, Luzhou and other places to see."

"What are you looking at?" Fan Wuji was still a little confused.

Tong Boding whispered: "Look who burned the food!"

Fan Wuji didn't quite understand, but he listened.

Tong Boding and Fan Wuji went all the way. When they met a grain shop, they went to buy a few kilograms of rice and noodles, asked about the price, and casually asked where the owner was, where the rice and noodles came from, etc. They visited for several days.

Tong Boding said: "That's all right, let's go back."

"What's the meaning?"

Tong Boding said: "I think I understand."

"Explain it to me clearly!" Fan Wuji grabbed Tong Boding's hand and said.

Tong Boding whispered: "There is probably a mastermind behind the attacks at sea and at the dock, and the masterminds are these grain merchants."

Fan Wuji was surprised: "Yes, when we communicated with these grain stores, they all said that the grain came from Hangzhou, and there were collusions on land and sea. Could it be Jiangnan maritime merchants?"

Tong Boding nodded and said: "Let's not say so much for now. Let's go back to the dock and take a look at what's going on on the sea."

The two young men had stayed on the pier waiting for the boat to arrive. Tong Boding and Fan Wuji returned to the pier, but the boat still did not appear. The two young men were also extremely anxious.

When the governor of Haizhou heard that the grain had been burned, he stamped his feet in anger and sent many people to guard the dock.

Haizhou is not very far from Bianjing, and the letter arrived in Bianjing in two days. When Zhang Heng received the letter, his whole face turned black with anger.

Tong Boding sent three letters one after another, each with worse news than the last. The grain ship was blocked on the sea, the grain on the dock was burned, and the price of grain in the disaster area soared more than ten times. If these things are connected, if nothing can be guessed,

That Zhang Heng's brain was kicked by a donkey.

"How dare they! Why are they so dark-hearted!"

Although Zhang Heng had known for a long time that profiteers could trample all justice and morality in the world, and he had seen many of them in later generations, but he was still shocked by such craziness.

Zhang Heng did not dare to delay and immediately went to see Zhao Zhen. Originally, a low-level official like him could not see Zhao Zhen, but Zhao Zhen gave him this power last time and allowed him to go and see him at any time.

Zhao Zhen listened to Zhang Heng's report and his face was very ugly, but he didn't say anything. He just said that he knew and drove Zhang Heng out.

Zhang Heng felt angry and anxious when he saw that Zhao Zhen was not paying attention, but sometimes it was so strange. When he was angry, his mind became very clear, and the problem he had been thinking about for a long time was solved.

Just when Zhang Heng was about to cause trouble, Xu Yuan suddenly came to see him.

Zhang Heng said in surprise: "Xu Zhongcheng, what are you doing? You must be very busy with water transportation. How do you have time to come here?"

Xu Yuan smiled and said: "Judge Zhang also knows that water transportation is very busy. Since he knows that he is very busy, it is very appropriate for you, the judge, to avoid working."

Zhang Heng was a little embarrassed. He became the transport judge, but he didn't do any official work at all. Xu Yuan took care of all the official work. Moreover, the mission of the transport judge has not been withdrawn yet. After he came back, he pretended that there was no such thing.

It's just a normal thing, and it really doesn't make sense.

Zhang Heng quickly apologized, but Xu Yuan smiled and said: "It's okay, it's not because of this that I came here today. Let's go, someone wants to see you."

Zhang Heng said in surprise: "Who wants to see me?"

Xu Yuan and Zhang Heng smiled, and Zhang Heng immediately responded: "Participate in politics?"

Xu Yuan nodded.

Xu Yuan was recommended by Fan Zhongyan. Who else could be able to summon Xu Yuan besides his benefactor?

Fan Zhongyan met Zhang Heng at the Political Council Office.

Zhang Heng was still a little nervous before seeing him.

After all, Fan Zhongyan is so famous in later generations!

Many future generations think that the Song Dynasty was too weak, but no one does not think that the prosperity of culture, people's livelihood, and economic development in the two Song Dynasties are better than those of the Han and Tang Dynasties. They also admit that this was the most comfortable era for literati and officials.

Six of the "Eight Great Masters of the Tang and Song Dynasties" praised by later generations of scholars all lived in the Northern Song Dynasty. Neo-Confucianism, which had the most profound influence on later generations of Chinese culture, also originated in the Northern Song Dynasty and became complete in the middle and late Southern Song Dynasty.

However, there are so many scholars, writers, great sages and celebrities who have been shining through the ages, active in this golden age of scholar-bureaucrats, but they all have a common spiritual idol, and this person is Fan Zhongyan.

Whether as a politician, a writer, a scholar, or even a military strategist, Fan Zhongyan has achieved more than his peers. More importantly, he has been almost impeccable in the virtues that Confucian scholars value most.

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Because Fan Zhongyan established his virtues, his words, and his merits.

Some people even think that Fan Zhongyan is the most perfect man in history.

We will ignore such comments for the time being, but Fan Zhongyan's reputation in the Song Dynasty is far greater than that in later generations.

Later, Wang Anshi was borrowed by someone to describe the people's expectations of the people of the Song Dynasty for Wang Anshi's coming to power. This reputation was very impressive, but compared with Fan Zhongyan, it was still slightly inferior.

After coming to this era, whenever someone talks about Fan Zhongyan, they always have complimentary words. Hearing it too much will still cause stress.

But when Fan Zhongyan saw Zhang Heng, he was stunned and said: "Is it you?"

Zhang Heng was a little confused: "Fan Xianggong has seen me?"

Fan Zhongyan stroked his beard and smiled and said: "Before I went to the northwest, one day I saw three brothers writing Spring Festival couplets not far from the city gate and giving them to the refugees. Is it you?"

Zhang Heng was stunned when he heard this. It was true, but he had no impression of it.

Fan Zhongyan smiled and said: "We haven't spoken, I just took a look from a distance."

Zhang Heng was surprised and admired: "It's been three years, I didn't expect Fan Xianggong's memory to be so powerful!"

Fan Zhongyan smiled, this was just a small episode.

Fan Zhongyan got down to business: "There was a major disaster in the area west of Jianghuai and Beijing, and the people were in poverty, so the officials ordered me to take charge of the relief work in the west of Jianghuai and Beijing. I heard Zichun (Xu Yuan) say, you are already on Fujian Road,

Liangzhe Road has raised a large amount of relief food?"

Zhang Heng was immediately overjoyed. Someone brought him a pillow when he was dozing off. He quickly said: "It is true, but there are some twists and turns in this matter now..."

Zhang Heng told the grain transport team that the grain transport team was attacked at sea, and the grain was attacked on the dock again. He also told about the high price of grain. Fan Zhongyan originally had a slight smile on his face, but after hearing this, he became gloomy.

Fan Zhongyan asked: "You think Jiangnan maritime merchants are behind this matter?"

Zhang Heng nodded and said: "I don't dare to speculate on my own, but I believe that there must be a motive for doing something. Whoever benefits from it will have the most motive to do it."

Fan Zhongyan closed his eyes and thought for a while and said: "I would like to recommend a Fujian Road transfer envoy to the official family. Do you have any recommendations?"

Zhang Heng looked at Fan Zhongyan in surprise. Fan Zhongyan nodded and said with a smile: "If someone chooses one, feel free to say so. I don't have the final say whether to use it or not."

Is this considered a reward?

Xu Yuan said from the side: "Judge Zhang, don't think too much. If you have suitable people, you can recommend them, but they may not be able to take up the position in the end."

Zhang Heng bowed his hands and said, "I don't know many people, but this time I went to Quanzhou to raise food. The governor of Quanzhou, Gao Yijian, gave me his full support. I heard that he turned out to be the transport inspector of Fujian Road, so maybe he knows the situation better."

Fan Zhongyan immediately nodded and said: "Okay."

The matter is now over.

Xu Yuan accompanied Zhang Heng out, and Xu Yuan whispered to him: "Judge Zhang can immediately write a letter to Gaozhi Prefecture to mention this matter, saying that you recommended him to Fan Xianggong. In addition, you can tell him,

Fan Shenzheng has always felt that the ancient maritime trade route in Quanzhou was warm and a model for businessmen."

Zhang Heng was overjoyed when he heard this and thanked Xu Yuan: "Xu Zhongcheng, I understand, please express my gratitude to Zheng Zheng on my behalf!"

Xu Yuan smiled and said: "You have been a big help. If it weren't for your previous efforts to join politics and take over this matter, it would have been really troublesome. Let you inform the Kochi Prefecture, which can be regarded as fulfilling your promise."

Xu Yuan didn't say something, but Zhang Heng understood it.

Fan Zhongyan guessed the concerns of Quanzhou maritime merchants, so he promoted Gao Yijian to take charge of this matter to embolden the maritime merchants - just do it, the title will be given to you. From now on, you will be patriotic maritime merchants loyal to the public body!

Zhang Heng immediately left and went back to write a letter.

Xu Yuan looked at Zhang Heng's back with admiration on his face. If he looked carefully, he could see some envy.

Xu Yuan returned to the Political Council Hall, and Fan Zhongyan said, "Leaving?"

Xu Yuan nodded and said, "After leaving, I gave him some advice. He is a very smart man and has already understood the meaning of participating in politics."

Fan Zhongyan smiled and said: "This guy is good, smart, and has a very far-sighted vision. No wonder the officials appreciate him so much."

Hearing that the officials favored him, Xu Yuan was slightly shocked: This is Jane in the emperor's heart!

Fan Zhongyan seemed to be lost in thought again. He seemed to be talking to himself or talking to Xu Yuandao: "... The officials seemed to have the intention of opening a sea ban, and then he continued to praise Zhang Heng. Could it be that Zhang Heng was involved in sea trade?

He has made some achievements, or he is reminding me..."

——

Quanzhou.

More than a dozen maritime merchants gathered together, and the atmosphere was quite solemn.

A maritime merchant said in a tearful tone: "Sir, what should we do now? The men have been fighting for several days. If this continues, the casualties among our Quanzhou men will be too heavy. Yesterday, more than a hundred people were injured in a row.

Those who died on the spot, and dozens of people who fell into the sea and disappeared, if this continues, the foundation will be damaged!"

Gao Yijian had a sullen face and said nothing.

Another maritime merchant almost burst into tears: "Sir, please tell me something. I think Zhang Heng is unreliable. How long has it been? There is no news at all. Don't let us work so hard here."

, by then he won’t cause any trouble in Bianjing, and the men there will die in vain!”

Gao Yijian's eyebrows trembled, but he still didn't speak.

A maritime merchant stood up and said: "What are you talking about? What did the boss say at that time? It is up to us to decide this matter. We all think that we should fight for a future for ourselves. What happens now is to blame

Do you blame the boss?"

Zhang Mazi suddenly stood up and glanced at the hosts present, his face full of evil: "Now this matter has nothing to do with Zhang Heng, it is a grudge between us and the Hangzhou guy!

They ambush and kill so many of us and sank our ship. We and the Hangzhou guys have never dealt with each other. Since they won't give us face this time, we don't have to give them face either!

In my opinion, it’s better to fight them to the death. If we win, Quanzhou will have the final say on what happens on the sea in the future. If we lose, we will die and lick our swords in the sea. Weeping and crying, we must not give in.

People saw the joke!”

As soon as Zhang Mazi said these words, another strong man with fierce features also stood up and said in a deep voice: "I agree with Zhang Mazi this time. Hangzhou guys have never done anything in human affairs. In the past, they often competed with us for routes and even robbed us.

ship.

This time we went to provide disaster relief, and they actually dared to do such a thing. If we give up now, how can we compete with them in the future?

Sir, please give the order. We will go out in full force and destroy the Hangzhou guys. From now on, we, Quanzhou, will have the final say on the sea!"

"Yes! Yes! The guy from Hangzhou bullies people too much. I can't bear it this time. What's the difference between enduring it and being a coward? Damn it!"

"I, the Lin family, have eight boats and more than seven hundred men. I am willing to go with them. Damn it, Zhang Mazi is right. If you die, you will die, and you will not die for tens of millions of years. If you fight with them!"

Everyone looked at Gao Yijian. Gao Yijian frowned, as if he didn't hear what everyone said and was lost in thought.

Zhang Mazi shouted cautiously: "Sir?"

Gao Yijian suddenly came back to his senses: "What, have we negotiated?"

Zhang Mazi said: "Sir, we feel that we are going to fight with the Hangzhou guys. We are ready to go out and fight with them. What do you think?"

Gao Yijian looked at everyone, frowned and said, "Have you thought about the consequences?"

Zhang Mazi smiled freely: "If you win, you go to a brothel to sleep with a courtesan, and if you lose, you go to the sea to feed fish and turtles. They are all seafarers, so there is nothing to dislike."

Everyone burst out laughing.

Gao Yijian twitched the corner of his mouth and said with a smile: "Do you know why I worked hard to provide railway services for Quanzhou even though I was not an official?"

Everyone looked at Gao Yijian, waiting for him to explain in detail.

Gao Yijian sighed: "Fujian is a bitter place with little land and many people. It is said that there are eight mountains, one water, and one field. How many people can we support with one field?

Therefore, Fujian people either study or go to the sea. After all, only a few can get out of school. The majority still have to rely on the sea to eat. But if you want to eat from the sea, how can you do it without iron?

I, why are you just optimistic about Quanzhou? People in Quanzhou are not afraid of heaven and earth. I appreciate this. As the saying goes, where there is a will, things come true. If you work hard, I will give you a helping hand.

Children of Fujian, this is the time for you to fight for your own living space. Take action when it’s time to take action, put aside other doubts and unite as one, I don’t believe it, the dignified children of Fujian can’t beat the guys from Hangzhou!”

"good!"

Everyone cheered together, and everyone's bronze skin turned red with excitement.

Suddenly someone came hurriedly outside, Zhang Mazi shouted: "Who is it?"

"It's me!"

It turns out that Gao Yijian's confidant came over.

Everyone bowed their hands in greeting.

The visitor handed a letter to Gao Yijian.

When Gao Yijian opened it and took a look, his eyebrows suddenly lit up.

Zhang Mazi quickly said: "Sir, is there something good?"

Gao Yijian laughed loudly, raised the letter in his hand and said, "You guys are short-sighted! Who just said that Zhang Heng is incompetent?"

Of course no one answered.

Gao Yijian said with a smug look on his face: "I know how to judge people, how could I make mistakes! This letter was written by Zhang Heng. Do you know what he said?"

Zhang Mazi quickly said: "Please give me some advice, sir."

Gao Yi Jianba spoke in a high voice: "Just two things. One is that Fan Zhongyan has participated in politics and recommended me to be the transport envoy of Fujian Road..."

"What!"

Everyone was surprised and happy.

"This is great! Hahaha, Sir, I am appointed as the transfer envoy of Fujian Road. This is a huge promotion. It is half a level higher than before, right?"

Everyone celebrated with their hands on their foreheads.

Gao Yijian pressed down and continued: "...The second thing is that Fan Shenzheng said that Fujian maritime merchants are patriotic merchants who are loyal to the country!"

Everyone was shocked now.

Even Zhang Mazi stuttered: "Sir, did we hear correctly? Did Fan Shenzheng really say that?"

Gao Yijian laughed: "Although it was conveyed by Zhang Heng, he will not deceive us on this matter. If it is true, my appointment will arrive in a few days.

There are some details in it, I might as well tell you about it, and you should be able to judge.

Zhang Heng has met the officials. The officials are very concerned about the disaster relief. The officials even know about us.

In addition, Zhang Heng said that this sea trade matter depends on your performance. If you can successfully complete this disaster relief, you can help him solve many problems!"

Zhang Mazi's eyes lit up and he said: "Sir, do you think there is a possibility? In fact, the government also intends to open the sea, but due to some resistance..."

Gao Yijian waved his hand and said: "There is no need to speculate on this matter. I have understood clearly. Although Zhang Heng's official position is low, his influence is not small. He can meet officials and recommend me to Fan Shenzheng.

You also helped me win over the Fujian Road Transporter, this kind of influence is incredible!"

Zhang Mazi nodded vigorously: "Sir, we understand, you give the order, we all listen to you!"

Gao Yijian chuckled: "Everyone, Quanzhou, no, the future of Fujian Road depends on you. If you can carve out a bloody road, the future of Fujian children will have a smoother road!"

"Okay! Sir, please take a look at ours!"

"Fuck! Fuck you!"

"I, Lao Li, will go back and gather men now to kill the Hangzhou guy!"

…

(End of chapter)