Done! Your Majesty is going to prostitute me for free!

Chapter 133

Wang Jingwen was puzzled and asked Emperor Jingjiang for advice: "Your Majesty, since Mr. Lin has arrived at Gefeng Bay, why didn't he seek support from the government and instead chose to live under someone else's roof? Is this to avoid returning to the court and take this opportunity to be happy outside?"

When Emperor Jingjiang heard this, a trace of displeasure flashed across his face: "Why are you so suspicious? This urgent report does not describe the entire situation in detail. When Lin Aiqing returns to the court, I will personally inquire about the details. Lin Aiqing is not that kind of reckless person. There must be a profound reason why he chose to live in seclusion.”

Emperor Jingjiang counted the time and predicted that Lin Xiaofeng would return soon. At the same time, he also asked about the prince's recent developments with concern. Wang Jingwen respectfully reported that the prince intended to go out of the city to meet Lin Xiaofeng in person. Emperor Jingjiang readily agreed and ordered Wang Jingwen to accompany the prince on his behalf.

At this moment, Lin Xiaofeng was riding his horse leisurely on the spacious official road, admiring the scenery of the surrounding fields along the way, and increasingly realized that the joy of riding was far better than taking a car. His entourage included Xiang Xiehong, his close confidant, and his loyal old subordinate Feng Lindu. Xiang Xiehong took the opportunity to get close to Lin Xiaofeng, lowered his voice to explore the authenticity of the West Factory secret report, and was quite worried about the twists and turns. Lin Xiaofeng remained calm and responded calmly: "Why can't you believe it? Every word in the secret letter is fact."

Xiang Xiehong is still full of suspicion: "But it mentioned that you hid in Fu's family and served as a tutor for a young girl. This experience is really strange. I'm afraid there will be many loopholes if you look closely."

Lin Xiaofeng chuckled and disagreed: "The background of this matter is complicated and it is not suitable to be stated in detail in a letter. When I return to the court, I will explain it to the emperor in detail. How can you stick to trivial details, how can you shoulder the heavy responsibility at a critical moment? "

Xiang Xiehong shook his head helplessly: "I'm not afraid, I just feel unbelievable. Such a major event as the prince planning a rebellion should only exist in historical books, but now it happened around us, and the whole court was not alert to it. What happened in the end was incredible.”

Lin Xiaofeng lightly shrugged, and then patiently analyzed: "Since the establishment of Jinyiwei, news recorders have played the role of undercover investigation. If you are bound to play an important role in government affairs in the future, you must get rid of the civilian mindset."

Lin Xiaofeng further analyzed: "Above the imperial court, the dignitaries are far away from the lives of ordinary people. They are high above, on the stage where power and desire are intertwined, praising their own virtues and achievements, while the common people are limited by information and lack the ability to think independently. , often blindly follow and unswervingly believe in everything about the imperial court. The various plans behind the imperial court are far-reaching and obscure, and the people can only figure out the secrets based on limited knowledge and imagination. Over time, the image of the imperial court has been artificially shaped to be extremely sacred. Even if there are occasional mistakes, they are regarded as an integral part of the entire chess game.”

"However, the reality is not so ideal. The court often makes mistakes, and these mistakes accumulate over time. It is not until the people are tired and conflicts intensify that people suddenly realize that the world has changed. In order to maintain long-term peace and stability in the country, the court should appropriately reduce excessive intervention. Give people a chance to recuperate and recuperate instead of interfering in everything and forcefully controlling everything.”

"Essentially speaking, the imperial court is just a place where a group of people get together to debate and negotiate in order to coordinate disputes and distribute interests. Compared with gatherings in rural society, the scale is just larger, the problems are more complicated, and the interests are more entangled. So what? Possible ways to avoid mistakes?"

Xiang Xiehong fell into deep thought after hearing this, and then agreed: "What Mr. Lin said is absolutely true. I have personally managed a caravan of hundreds of people, and I already feel that it is beyond my ability, let alone managing billions of people in the world. There is nothing the imperial court can do. , only by respecting the rules of private operations and the government providing guidance and services, that’s all.”

Recalling various attempts in the past, Lin Xiaofeng couldn't help but smile bitterly. He was once blinded by the temptation of power and intended to implement so-called "modernization" changes in the county, but it caused a series of dissatisfaction. Fortunately, he reflected in time and adjusted his strategy. After several years of exploration, Lin Xiaofeng, in addition to moderately promoting infrastructure construction, also used the wisdom and experience of his previous life to make local innovations and inventions. In other aspects, he tried his best to allow people to develop freely, adhering to the principle of "doing whatever is not prohibited by law" principles, and finally achieved good social governance results.

Suddenly, a large business group appeared in front of them. Lin Xiaofeng raised his voice and asked: "Members of merchants, how far is it from Kyoto?" Someone in the business group responded: "It takes about two days to travel."

Lin Xiaofeng then turned to Xiang Xiehong and said: "There is no need to wake me up specifically for meals in the next two days." Hearing this, Xiang Xiehong nodded silently, with mixed feelings in his heart, including worry and admiration.

The motorcade moved at a solemn and slow pace, and the majestic city gate gradually protruded from the distant horizon, standing in the sun, majestic and ancient. Wang Jingwen led everyone to stand outside the city gate early, staring at the blurry outline of the motorcade in the distance gradually becoming clearer. The stone in his heart fell slightly to the ground, but his thoughts were surging like a rolling tide. Recalling Lin Xiaofeng back then, although he was sharp-tongued, he always showed a smooth and thorough way of life. Thinking about it now, Wang Jingwen couldn't help but regret not accepting him as his adopted son. Now that Lin Xiaofeng's status has soared, and he shoulders the important task of commanding the Jin Yiwei, will he be regarded as a stranger to Xichang? Wang Jingwen secretly calculated that he urgently needed to consolidate and deepen his emotional connection with Lin Xiaofeng.

As the motorcade approached, Lin Xiaofeng's carriage came into view first. He caught a glimpse of Wang Jingwen, then dismounted and strode forward. Not to be outdone, Wang Jingwen quickened his pace with a friendly smile on his face: "Brother, you are finally back, but I am so anxious and uneasy! Do you know that you are now the commander of the Jin Yiwei?"

Lin Xiaofeng was tired from the long journey and accidentally called Wang Jingwen "Little King" due to a slip of the tongue. This sudden call was like thunder on the ground, exploding in Wang Jingwen's ears. His expression changed instantly, the corner of his mouth twitched slightly, and he cursed in his heart: Lin Xiaofeng I put on airs as soon as I was promoted, but it was in vain that I waited outside the city gate at first sight of dawn. In the past, I was affectionately called Brother Wang, but today I actually changed my name to Xiao Wang!
Sensing the slip of the tongue, Lin Xiaofeng, although exhausted, quickly apologized and put his arms around Wang Jingwen's shoulders to show his closeness: "Brother Wang, don't take it seriously, this is just a joke." Wang Jingwen suppressed the displeasure in his heart and showed his face Keep smiling. Lin Xiaofeng was deeply sorry and specifically mentioned that he had brought some local specialties from his hometown. Upon hearing the news, Xiang Xiehong quickly took out the gifts and presented them to Wang Jingwen, and Wang Jingwen's expression softened.

After unwrapping the package, a strong rancid smell hit his face. Wang Jingwen suddenly frowned: "Brother Xian, why is this thing broken? What do you mean?" Lin Xiaofeng explained: "This is specially pickled. Marine fish is an extremely rare species and is difficult to find outside. Considering that other items are easily damaged during transportation, I specially chose this to express my sincerity to you. Its value in my heart is incomparable with the gift presented to His Majesty. Weird." After hearing this explanation, Wang Jingwen's expression changed from gloomy to bright, and he laughed heartily. He warmly invited Lin Xiaofeng to return to the palace as soon as possible, telling him that His Majesty was extremely eager for his return.

Lin Xiaofeng looked around and asked where the prince was now. Wang Jingwen replied that the prince had been waiting at the city gate for a long time, so the two of them mounted their horses hand in hand and galloped towards the city gate together. Not long after, they arrived at the city gate and saw that Li Dexian had already been looking forward to it. As soon as he saw Lin Xiaofeng, he immediately waved his arms and greeted him eagerly. Lin Xiaofeng dismounted in high spirits and stepped forward with a cheerful face.

When the two met, Li Dexian was so excited that he couldn't speak for a moment. He held Lin Xiaofeng's shoulders with force and blamed him for not hearing any news while he was out. Lin Xiaofeng was so moved that he allowed Li Dexian's actions to silently bear the deep brotherhood. When the people around him heard the news, they came in droves. Lin Xiaofeng took the opportunity to lead Li Dexian to avoid the crowd, find a secluded place, and talk in private. During the conversation, Lin Xiaofeng learned that a major change had occurred in the palace. Emperor Jingjiang was assassinated by an assassin. Fortunately, thanks to the miraculous effects of penicillin, he was able to escape death. Now he is in good health and has recovered as before.

Lin Xiaofeng then asked about the prince's current situation. Li Dexian told him that the Royal Vegetable Garden in the western suburbs was operating quite smoothly and was considering raising the price. The various affairs of the textile factory were also proceeding in an orderly manner. Talking about the princess, Li Dexian revealed that the princess is exchanging letters with a certain prince of aristocratic family and has a close relationship. When Lin Xiaofeng heard this, the corners of his mouth raised slightly, and he didn't care about these irrelevant rumors.

The two walked and talked, laughing constantly, and soon entered the palace. At this time, Emperor Jingjiang was dancing his spear and practicing martial arts in the imperial garden. As soon as he saw Lin Xiaofeng's figure, he immediately stopped and walked forward quickly. Come. Seeing Lin Xiaofeng's thin face, Emperor Jingjiang felt guilty. He kept patting Lin Xiaofeng's shoulders, asking him to sit down and rest, and asked him with concern about the hardships during the journey. Lin Xiaofeng, in turn, was concerned about the healing of Emperor Jingjiang's wounds. Emperor Jingjiang was grateful to Lin Xiaofeng for saving his life and told him that he strictly followed the doctor's instructions and continued to exercise in the imperial garden. Now his body is stronger than before the injury.

Lin Xiaofeng humbly expressed that he failed to capture the rebels and asked Emperor Jingjiang for forgiveness. Emperor Jingjiang stared at him with deep eyes, knowing that Lin Xiaofeng had kindness in his heart, and warned him not to act too rigidly in the future to avoid unnecessary harm. This conversation gave Emperor Jingjiang a deeper understanding of Lin Xiaofeng, and he was even more concerned about his experience in Gefeng Bay. The two sat on the floor for a long chat, with Lin Xiaofeng showing signs of exhaustion. While feeling sorry, Emperor Jingjiang was full of praise for Lin Xiaofeng's tenacity and perseverance, and expressed his sincere admiration and recognition for his tremendous efforts on this trip.

Lin Xiaofeng lowered his head and frowned, with simple humility in his eyes. He opened his mouth and said: "I am a humble minister with few talents and little knowledge. His achievements today are all due to your Majesty's unique discernment and the grace of promotion is as deep as a mountain." He continued to elaborate, his voice was tired but still. Firmly: "Your Majesty is very aware of everything and understands people's hearts. I don't need to hide myself. I just need to stick to my original intention and be unswervingly loyal to the country." After hearing this, Emperor Jingjiang couldn't help but smile, pointed his finger at Lin Xiaofeng, and reminded half-jokingly: "You... Open your eloquent mouth and be more careful when speaking in front of many ministers." Lin Xiaofeng snickered secretly in his heart. Even though he had been awake for two nights, he still kept a clear head and was able to cope with it easily without any hesitation. .

Lin Xiaofeng adjusted her breathing and began to slowly describe this thrilling experience: "I was coerced by the King of Hanjiang and asked to hand over the gunpowder formula. The two sides faced off for two days and nights. Fortunately, my personal bodyguards risked their lives to save me, and I was able to escape from the clutches. Then, I changed my appearance. After going through many hardships and dangers, he lost his way in the mountains and mountains, and finally ended up in Gefeng Bay. The King of Hanjiang once said that his ship was built by a family in Gefeng Bay. For this reason, I suspect that the local officials may have colluded with them. An in-depth investigation was carried out secretly, but the officials did not know anything about the rebellion. Later, I was found by Xichang and returned to the court safely. Regarding the salt merchant case, King Hanjiang had planned it for a long time. He had planned it as early as the early days of the Jinghai Campaign. He established a private salt trading network throughout the south, tampered with the accounts, and deceived the court for many years. What was even worse was that he colluded with Lu Yinsheng internally and externally, making it difficult to find clues. As a result, the private salt trade was rampant and even suspected of plotting the violent death of King Haiyun." After hearing this, Emperor Jingjiang was shocked and couldn't help but admire the cunning and thoughtfulness of King Hanjiang.

Lin Xiaofeng presented a detailed memorial. Emperor Jingjiang took it and studied it intently. He was not surprised by the collusion between Lu Yinsheng and King Hanjiang revealed in it. After all, he had had a premonition and had sent spies to secretly monitor it. He then instructed that the Jin Yiwei had set up yamen in various places, and the North and South Town Fu Divisions performed their respective duties. The descendants of Wu Xun had also been given important responsibilities, but the manpower was still lacking, so he ordered Lin Xiaofeng to select civilians with good conduct to join the Jin Yiwei team. Specific selection rules will be officially released later. Just as he was talking about this, Emperor Jingjiang noticed that Lin Xiaofeng was leaning on the back of the chair and sleeping soundly. The fatigue of two consecutive days completely broke out at this moment. Emperor Jingjiang looked at him, deeply feeling his loyalty and courage, and felt sorry for him in his heart, so he ordered Wang Jingwen to Send Lin Xiaofeng to the dormitory to rest, and when he wakes up, he will be sent back to Yangqu County to recuperate. Additional rewards will be given at that time.

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At dawn the next day, when the sun first appeared, Lin Xiaofeng woke up leisurely in the East Palace, refreshed. On the way home, when he appeared in front of his house, the concierge was overjoyed to see it was him. He was about to go in to report, but was stopped by Lin Xiaofeng. He stepped into the familiar courtyard alone and saw Lin Taohua sitting lazily on a stone bench. When she discovered Lin Xiaofeng's return, tears shone in her eyes and she immediately ran over and threw herself into his arms. Lin Xiaofeng gently asked about trivial matters at home, and learned that the King of Hanjiang had harassed Yangqu County. The gunpowder incident may have been difficult to cover up, but it has not been leaked yet. Lin Xiaofeng comforted her and asked Xie Hongxin's whereabouts.

At this moment, Xie Hongxin, Lu Xuanxin, and a woman named Pomegranate were all nearby. Lin Xiaofeng was surprised to find that Xie Hongxin's figure was even bigger, and Pomegranate was pregnant, and she still had a pair of dumbbells in her hands. Lu Xuanxin explained to Lin Xiaofeng that Shiliu hoped to get married to Xie Hongxin and was now pregnant. Lin Xiaofeng looked at Pomegranate, who had a bulging belly and was still exercising her muscles. She was dumbfounded and asked about the specific progress of their marriage. Xie Hongxin responded frankly, confessing that he hoped to marry multiple wives to better take care of the family. Lin Xiaofeng couldn't laugh or cry after hearing this, and was filled with emotion at his strange thinking. Finally, Lin Xiaofeng calmed everyone's emotions, arranged everything properly, and the group set off back to Yangqu County together.

The team led by Lin Xiaofeng returned to Yangqu County ahead of schedule. The bad news of his disappearance spread quickly like a violent storm, permeating every corner of the city and countryside, causing endless panic and anxiety among the people. The sounds of prayers and blessings echoed in the streets and alleys, and everyone prayed sincerely for Mr. Lin to return safely. When the exact news came that Lin Xiaofeng had returned home safely, the whole county seemed to be ushering in the New Year with joy and excitement, and the joy on people's faces almost overflowed from the corners of their eyes and brows. And when the carriage of Lin Xiaofeng and his entourage was getting closer and closer to the border of Yangqu County, a large number of eager people had gathered at the city gate. They craned their necks in the crowded crowd, waiting with great anticipation.

Lin Xiaofeng showed his iconic smile through the carriage window, and the crowd was excited in an instant, cheering and rushing forward to greet the returning hero. In the car, Lin Taohua was leisurely and contented. She casually picked up a few fruits and tasted them. Facing the noisy scene outside the window, she smiled calmly and behaved calmly; while Lu Xuanxin was in such a grand welcome scene for the first time, and her heart was full of joy. Lin Xiaofeng's admiration and admiration. During the conversation with Lin Taohua, she noticed Sister Pomegranate who was also smiling, waving dumbbells in the car, and gently caressing her slightly swollen belly, and she couldn't help but feel envious.

Seeing that the people were reluctant to leave, Lin Xiaofeng suppressed his smile and showed a solemn and solemn side. He patiently persuaded everyone to return to their daily lives, especially emphasizing the importance of this year's tax collection and clearly warning that if they could not be completed on time, they would be severely punished according to law. Under Lin Xiaofeng's persuasion, the people dispersed happily, and in the end only the yamen staff remained at their posts. Wang Yingchao led a group of officials forward. This official who usually had a straight face couldn't help but show emotion at this moment. He knew that Lin Xiaofeng was the spiritual pillar of Yangqu County, and Lin Xiaofeng's absence made this period difficult. Although he took over the affairs of the county, he was always filled with uneasiness and anxiety. With Lin Xiaofeng's return, everyone truly felt safe and secure.

Lin Xiaofeng half-jokingly teased Wang Yingchao, saying that it would be difficult for him to control the overall situation after leaving his post for a short period of time. Wang Yingchao sincerely requested Lin Xiaofeng to go to the Yamen first and give a detailed report on various important events that have occurred in the county recently. The group crossed the city gate in a mighty manner. Lin Xiaofeng walked slowly through the familiar old streets and alleys, immersed in the prosperity and tranquility of his hometown, feeling relaxed and happy in his heart. Suddenly, his eyes fell on two beggars in front of a restaurant on the roadside, and his expression suddenly turned serious. He sternly asked Wang Yingchao why there were beggars in Yangqu County. Wang Yingchao explained awkwardly that the two beggars were originally city gate guards. Unfortunately, they failed in business and eventually became beggars. They impulsively got involved in horse trading, which not only depleted their life savings, but also caused more than 200 horses to be impounded by the Military and Horse Department in Kyoto due to incomplete procedures, leaving them in ruins. When Lin Xiaofeng heard this, he couldn't help but feel deep sympathy for them and asked why they were not helped through psychological counseling and relief projects for the victims. Wang Yingchao responded regretfully that the county government had tried its best to rescue them, but their condition failed to improve effectively. They once again took the risk to try to sell monkeys, but due to the sudden change in market supply and demand, they suffered heavy losses and once again fell into despair. In the end, the county government could only By default they make a living by begging.

After hearing this, Lin Xiaofeng looked sad and smiled bitterly, feeling deeply moved by the ups and downs of the fate of these two people. At this moment, the two beggars were indulging in a mediocre life searching for leftover food by the swill bucket, unaware that their tragic experiences were being discussed by others. Lin Xiaofeng sighed secretly in his heart. The world is like a dream and life is unpredictable. Who can predict tomorrow's changes and who can grasp the pulse of life. I only hope that they can find a trace of peace and relief in the hardships of life and find the power of rebirth from difficulties. .

He firmly held the perfectly grilled piece of steak with his strong palms and took a firm bite. The aroma of the meat instantly filled his mouth. He couldn't help but praise loudly: "This taste is so delicious." !" He asked Brother Liu curiously why today's meal was so rich. After hearing this, Brother Liu's face showed a touch of sadness. He shook his head and sighed: "Oh, if it were in the past, I should have followed the master to welcome him back to his hometown. I never thought that the two of us would end up like this. Such poverty!" After listening to Brother Liu's words, Dali's face darkened instantly, and waves of sadness surged deep in his heart. He was determined to follow in his master's footsteps and no longer live such a life of begging. However, Brother Liu was keenly aware of the change in Dali's mood and quickly changed the subject, pointing to the dishes in the swill and jokingly saying that these were carefully cooked. The two of them chatted happily while tasting the homemade seafood in sauce.

Dali's thoughts repeatedly lingered on the scene of the master's return, and he was worried that his current situation would make the master look down upon him. Seeing this, Brother Liu retorted resolutely: "Begging is also a way of survival. As long as you have dignity, there is nothing shameful. Look at me, although I am in debt and my wife is separated, I always persist in my faith and believe that I will eventually be able to survive." One day I can return to the peak of my life." When Dali heard the words "wife and children are separated", his heart was twisted, and he vowed to find his lost childhood sweetheart. Brother Liu was filled with indignation. He pointed out that the girl left Dali not because he was not motivated, but because of poverty. More importantly, old man Sun used internal information to defraud them, which was the real culprit.

Brother Liu eloquently described a path to wealth he had discovered, and he was full of confidence in the future. Dali didn't know why and asked what kind of business was the most profitable. Brother Liu mysteriously spit out two words - "monopoly". For example, he said, if they could monopolize the beggar market in Yangqu County, given the gathering of wealthy businessmen here and their own special status advantages, their monthly income would be very generous. While talking, Brother Liu pulled out a stack of leaflets, which told the story of being kind to beggars and receiving blessings. At the same time, some commercial advertisements were cleverly embedded, with the purpose of further broadening income channels.

At first, Dali was deeply ashamed of his life of begging and thought it was a trample on his dignity. Brother Liu patiently persuaded him to put aside worldly prejudices and bravely pursue wealth and status. Only in this way can he change others' views of him. Whenever Dali's childhood sweetheart was mentioned, Brother Liu became furious and blamed Old Man Sun for using money to lure her away from Dali. Brother Liu's words inspired Dali. He agreed with the business plan proposed by Brother Liu. He planned to first accumulate initial capital through begging, and then enter the real estate industry, open up new areas outside the city, and use contacts to open up joints and obtain discounts at toll stations. Policies attract home buyers.

All this was seen by Lin Xiaofeng, who was standing not far away, and endless pity surged in his heart. He decided to issue an announcement at the beginning of next month, prohibiting people from giving alms to beggars at will, and arranging legitimate careers for Dali and Brother Liu, so that they could end their long-term wandering on the streets and have a stable destination. Lin Xiaofeng knows very well that in order to change a person's destiny, he must first give him dignity and hope, and this is what he urgently needs to do for Dali and Liu Ge.

Lin Xiaofeng stepped through the heavy gate of the county government office and stepped inside. Although there was a mountain of affairs in the government office and not all officials could line up to greet him, all the government officials and staff were lined up on both sides in strict etiquette, holding their breath and waiting for the arrival of the venerable lord. The crowd burst into cheers and applause, forming a warm welcome. In the hustle and bustle, Lin Xiaofeng's eyes passed through the crowd and caught Zhou Zhiwei's figure. With a smile on his face, Zhou Zhiwei stepped forward without losing any humility and greeted him cordially: "Long time no see, Master Lin." Lin Xiaofeng also smiled and nodded in return. Zhou Zhiwei's eyes showed the joy and peace of mind that Master Lin was well.

Lin Xiaofeng waved for everyone to resume their daily work, then turned to Zhou Zhiwei, his eyes full of concern, and asked about his current situation, especially whether there were any new literary masterpieces. A look of embarrassment flashed across Zhou Zhiwei's face, and he responded slightly coyly: "I am currently working on a new book." Upon hearing this, Lin Xiaofeng's eyes sparkled and he couldn't wait to ask for the name of the new book. At this time, Wang Yingchao tactfully intervened in the conversation and enthusiastically introduced Zhou Zhiwei's new work, saying that this work is widely favored by readers and is titled "Tears of a Beautiful Lady". She also added that it contains rich emotional layers. Although the title of the book contains It reveals a bit of poignancy, but also has thoughtful educational value.

Zhou Zhiwei slowly unfolds the main plot of the new book, narrating a sentimental love legend that takes place between the mysterious Dragon Palace and the mortal world. The protagonists are a beautiful mermaid princess and a handsome human prince. Lin Xiaofeng and Wang Yingchao both listened attentively. As Zhou Zhiwei narrated, they were sometimes surprised and sometimes moved. In that story, the mermaid princess is willing to endure endless suffering for love, while the human prince also chooses to depend on each other for life and death. However, the final destination of this relationship is a heartbreaking tragedy. The mermaid and the prince cannot escape the trick of fate after all. Their disappearance has become a symbol to alert the world, warning people to cherish the people in front of them and cherish every true feeling.

Although Lin Xiaofeng felt that the story had a strange conception, he was also deeply moved by its deep and touching emotional core. He gave Zhou Zhiwei heartfelt recognition and praise. Wang Yingchao was even more fascinated by it, as if he was immersed in the scene. Zhou Zhiwei took the opportunity to display a novel design product - "fishnet stockings", confidently predicting that this product will lead the fashion trend in Fenghua Tower and be highly sought after.

Lin Xiaofeng was so impressed by Zhou Zhiwei's outstanding talent that he promised on the spot that he would do his best to support Zhou Zhiwei's creative career and help him solve his worries in life, so that he could devote himself to literary creation. When Zhou Zhiwei heard this, he burst into tears of gratitude, as if he had met a knowledgeable and affectionate bosom friend. At this moment, Lin Xiaofeng noticed that Zhou Zhiwei's fingers holding the pen were trembling slightly, and asked about the cause of the disease with concern. Zhou Zhiwei confessed that in order to satisfy the readers' expectations for updates, he had to write more than 4,000 words every day. This kind of high-intensity continuous creation has made his fingers overwhelmed, and his fatigue is clearly visible.

After listening to this, Lin Xiaofeng frowned slightly. After some thought, he made a practical suggestion to Zhou Zhiwei: He might as well publish the novel in chapters, which would not only satisfy readers' reading expectations, but also effectively reduce his personal creative burden. After hearing this, Zhou Zhiwei suddenly became enlightened and was extremely grateful to Lin Xiaofeng for his wise advice. This in-depth conversation around literary creation has come to an end for the time being. Lin Xiaofeng and Wang Yingchao joined hands to return to the complicated handling of government affairs, while Zhou Zhiwei continued to embark on his own creative journey with full confidence and renewed hope.

After Zhou Zhiwei left, Wang Yingchao's expression turned solemn, and he reported to Lin Xiaofeng seriously: "During your absence, Master, the King of Hanjiang led his army to attack Yangqu County, targeting our gunpowder manufacturing technology. "He added: "Although the court seems to be aware of it, from observation, they seem to be watching the fire from the other side and are content. They have not taken any substantive action. I am afraid they will not make a big deal about this issue easily. "

Lin Xiaofeng nodded deeply and responded with firm eyes: "I have heard about this matter a little bit, and Lin Taohua also briefly mentioned it to me. Since the gunpowder matter can no longer be concealed, we might as well take the initiative and show the essence in the short term. Find a suitable opportunity to report the results to Your Majesty."

Wang Yingchao nodded in agreement and continued to report: "The spy Bi Yuntao who was previously sent to the Hanjiang Palace has returned and brought back a strange plant seed. It has been planted in a greenhouse and is growing rapidly. Soon there will be someone special Submit the sample." Lin Xiaofeng guessed that it might be potatoes, but he did not ask further and just motioned to Wang Yingchao to continue talking about other important matters.

Wang Yingchao went on to mention: "Although the research on penicillin has achieved initial results, the institute actually used captives to conduct human experiments without permission. This seriously violated your strict order prohibiting testing drugs on humans. In addition, The behavior is extremely bad." When Lin Xiaofeng heard this, his expression suddenly changed, Lei Lei was furious, and he decisively ordered: "All persons involved in this incident must be posted on the city wall for three days. Although basic supplies will be temporarily retained, if similar behavior occurs again, they will be severely punished. Don't be conciliatory. Although His Majesty has rewarded our research results, violations of laws and disciplines must be severely punished. Lin Taohua has suspended the relevant funding and will discuss it again in six months. The way of scientific research is people-oriented. If we let it go, it will not work. Didn’t he become accomplices of human traffickers?” Wang Yingchao accepted the order and stood down.

Faced with the complicated affairs in the county, Lin Xiaofeng decided to summon Bi Yuntao after a brief reflection. Bi Yuntao walked into the hall and bowed happily when he saw Lin Xiaofeng. Lin Xiaofeng smiled and praised Bi Yuntao a few words. Then he turned the topic to the salt merchant's corruption case and ordered Bi Yuntao to lead his men to recover the stolen silver that had been bribed to the salt merchant. He promised that no matter how much was recovered, he would take 10% of it. As a reward, the rest of the money was put into the county treasury as legal income, and the list of people involved in the case was handed over to Bi Yuntao.

After Bi Yuntao accepted the task, he rushed to carry out the task with high morale. At this moment, the guard presented the newly introduced crop sample to Lin Xiaofeng, and it turned out to be potatoes. Lin Xiaofeng thought that potatoes were native to distant South America, and couldn't help but be deeply surprised by the ability of the Hanjiang King's fleet to sail across the ocean. As a major food crop, potatoes are rich in nutrients and taste better than sweet potatoes. They even have the potential to replace rice and wheat. Coupled with rich cooking methods, potatoes have broad development prospects.

Although the potato seedlings in front of him are still in their infancy, in Lin Xiaofeng's heart, they have become a crucial card, breeding endless hopes for the future. He also noticed the crops such as corn and tomatoes that were introduced together, and couldn't help but smile. He even tasted a raw tomato out of curiosity, which scared Wang Yingchao next to him and exclaimed that it was poisonous, urging him to spit it out quickly.

Lin Xiaofeng gently bit the tomato in his hand, and the sweet and sour juice flowed along the corners of his lips. Just as he was immersed in the unfamiliar flavor, Wang Yingchao rushed up like a cheetah and hugged Lin Xiaofeng tightly from behind, as if to pull him away. All the tomato juice in his mouth was squeezed out. Lin Xiaofeng was shocked and unprepared, and his face instantly turned red. When he struggled to break away from the restraints and stopped breathing, he angrily asked Wang Yingchao: "What do you mean?" When Wang Yingchao saw this, he hurriedly let go of his hand, his face His face was full of anxiety and worry: "Master, this fruit is poisonous!" Lin Xiaofeng wiped the tomato juice from the corner of his mouth and retorted: "Where is the poison? I just tasted it. Your scare almost made my heart skip a beat. Come out." Wang Yingchao's eyes widened in disbelief: "You...have you really tasted it?" Lin Xiaofeng was not willing to be outdone. To prove that it was harmless, he took another bite of the tomato, but he felt that the taste was just mediocre. , compared to making it into tomato scrambled eggs or tomatoes mixed with sugar, it may better reflect its deliciousness.

Seeing that Lin Xiaofeng was safe and sound, Wang Yingchao mustered up the courage to take a bite of the tomato and said frankly that the fruit did not taste very good. Lin Xiaofeng corrected him and said that tomatoes are actually a vegetable. Wang Yingchao heard this and was dubious, but out of trust in Lin Xiaofeng, he gradually increased his consumption. Lin Xiaofeng thought in his mind that compared to other vegetables, tomatoes seemed ordinary and unlikely to become the star of the dinner table.

At this moment, there was a rush of footsteps outside the door. Li Dexian walked into the house and saw Lin Xiaofeng eating tomatoes with relish, so he curiously asked what it was. Lin Xiaofeng handed over a piece of spicy millet and said with a smile that it was a rare delicacy. Li Dexian asked for a bigger one, but Lin Xiaofeng deliberately joked that it was an aphrodisiac. Without thinking, Li Dexian swallowed the spicy millet in one gulp. His face turned red instantly and his facial features were distorted in pain. He asked Lin Xiaofeng what it was. Lin Xiaofeng pretended to be mysterious and jokingly responded that it was "a life-killing grass". In this series of actions, he quietly tested Li Dexian's true attitude towards the princess's marriage. Li Dexian expressed his strong objections without hesitation.

When Wang Yingchao witnessed this scene, he stood aside in shock. He was horrified that the prince had actually eaten the so-called "poison" and quietly stepped aside. Upon seeing this, Lin Xiaofeng handed over a cup of warm tea to help Li Dexian relieve his pain. Lin Xiaofeng knew in his heart that Li Dexian was undoubtedly the biggest obstacle regarding the princess. Li Dexian drank the tea and the pain gradually subsided, and asked again about the purpose of spicy millet. Lin Xiaofeng took the opportunity to show off various newly introduced crops in the basket, especially potatoes and tomatoes, and emphasized the importance of potatoes, believing that their value is even comparable to that of sweet potatoes.

Lin Xiaofeng personally cooked a pot of mellow and delicious beef stew with tomatoes, and cleverly added an appropriate amount of spicy millet to enhance the flavor. After Li Dexian tasted it, although the tip of his tongue felt a little irritating, the overall taste was extremely comfortable and he couldn't help but praise it. Lin Xiaofeng took out the roasted golden and soft small potatoes from the hot stove and invited Li Dexian to taste them. Although Li Dexian thought it was nothing special when he tasted it for the first time, Lin Xiaofeng explained that the charm of potatoes lies in their strong plasticity and wide range of combinations. I believe that as long as people have the opportunity to try them, they will surely discover a variety of ways to eat potatoes.

After the meal, Li Dexian decided to promote potato planting on a large scale in the western suburbs. He mentioned that the newspaper had recently been undergoing frequent personnel transfers, increasing financial pressure, and the large number of new reporters, which had led to a sharp increase in operating costs and even the risk of serious losses. When Lin Xiaofeng heard this, he frowned and fell into deep thought. At the same time, he learned that Yang Baixi was about to go to work in another place because he had been appreciated by Emperor Jingjiang. The issue of Yang Baixi's stay was directly related to the stable operation of the newspaper and must be handled properly. Lin Xiaofeng had roughly conceived a solution in his mind, planning to securely arrange Yang Baixi's position, and then talk to Li Dexian in detail about what he had seen, heard and experienced during his departure from Beijing. Lin Xiaofeng's vacation has long exceeded the scheduled time, but he did not stop the work at hand. Instead, he sat in front of the desk every day and wrote non-stop, listing Lu Yinsheng's various crimes one by one, just like a fine needle, waiting for the right time. Then he presented this voluminous volume of evidence to Emperor Jingjiang. Although there was a slight breakthrough in the development of gunpowder, the imperial palace had already sent the Jinyiwei's newly formulated regulations to Yangqu County. Lin Xiaofeng understood his role as a royal swordsman and had to act step by step and be cautious and meticulous, not missing any tiny oversight. Or deviations may lead to turbulence in oneself and even the entire situation. Fortunately, he lives today rather than in the Hongwu era. In the harsh and harsh era of Zhu Yuanzhang, with his iron-blooded skills, he would not tolerate any behavior that deviated from the rules. Although Zhu Yuanzhang has a reputation for loving the people like a son, he was born in a poor family, experienced vicissitudes of life, and had a strong personality. Especially in matters of supervision and law, he was meticulous and investigated every detail. In troubled times, heroes emerge one after another, and there are many ruthless, unkind and righteous people. Lin Xiaofeng often laments this in private. However, today's Emperor Jingjiang was born into a royal family and had a smooth life. He was tolerant and steady in his dealings, which made Lin Xiaofeng feel particularly secure and reliable.

Lin Xiaofeng reviewed the new regulations issued by the imperial court one by one and found that the system design contained vague traces of Xichang. It seemed that Emperor Jingjiang intended to build a dual-track system to restrict each other and complement each other. However, considering that people's hearts are fickle, especially when monarchs tend to become more suspicious in their later years, Lin Xiaofeng decided to make appropriate strategic adjustments within his own authority, especially in the case of Nanzhen Fusi. He strived to strengthen internal discipline and restraint, Strictly regulate Jin Yiwei's code of conduct. These days, Lin Xiaofeng was immersed in thinking, but the revision of the charter was slow. Seeing that the deadline for returning to Beijing was approaching, he did not dare to slack off to avoid being punished.

Li Dexian also stayed in Yangqu for three days, and finally embarked on the journey back to Beijing with Lin Xiaofeng. When they reached a prosperous area of ​​the county town, they met two beggars who were still begging on the streets. Lin Xiaofeng asked Wang Yingchao, and Wang Yingchao explained that the two beggars had paid the stall fees. According to government regulations, as long as intangible goods are sold, the government cannot interfere. Lin Xiaofeng walked up and found that these two beggars were selling "gratitude" for a living, and couldn't help laughing. Li Dexian bought a "thank you" out of curiosity. After the beggar Brother Liu took the money, his face was full of gratitude, but he was silent. Lin Xiaofeng left helplessly. Behind him, two beggars, Brother Liu and Dali, showed deep disappointment on their faces. Dali was in tears, fearing that he would never be able to raise his head in front of the master again. Brother Liu tried his best to comfort Dali, revealing that they had made a lot of money recently and were planning to raise funds to contract wasteland to build houses. However, Dali was full of hesitation and had many doubts about such a bold plan, fearing that the consequences would be disastrous if it failed. However, Brother Liu was confident and urged to vigorously raise funds through pre-sale of houses and expand the business scale through revolving loans. He firmly believed that this business model would be successful. Faced with Dali's many concerns, Brother Liu was so excited that he almost lost control. He even regarded morality and humanity as a shackle that restricted his progress, and vowed to persist until the end no matter what. After some impassioned mobilization by Brother Liu, Dali's psychological defense was finally loosened. He recalled his master's praise and vision of success, and finally agreed to follow Brother Liu and embark on this road full of unknown risks and challenges.

As dawn dawned and the morning glow shone slightly, Lin Xiaofeng stepped steadily outside the Meridian Gate. The scene that greeted her eyes was completely different from the scene in her memory. Once upon a time, Lin Xiaofeng was alone in this hall of intertwined power. Although he rose to prominence with his intelligence and gradually emerging achievements, because he was accustomed to catering to his superiors and sometimes behaved erratically, he often became the target of private estrangement and ridicule from his colleagues. However, time has passed, and today Lin Xiaofeng has mastered the power of life and death granted by the royal family. He is like a sharp sword ready to be unsheathed at any time. Everyone knows that once the blade is touched, it will inevitably lead to violent fluctuations in fate. Therefore, those who had once ridiculed him suddenly changed their normal behavior and came forward to flatter him. They complimented him with smiles on their faces: "Master Lin has returned triumphantly and his style is even more outstanding!", "Congratulations to Master Lin on your career!" Prosperous and prosperous!" Lin Xiaofeng originally wanted to maintain the majesty and indifference that Jin Yiwei should have, but in the face of the changing world, a playful smile appeared on his lips. He responded sarcastically: "My lords, you are overly complimentary. What's wrong with me? De He Neng, thanks to the emperor's grace, received such an honor, if I had known this, maybe I should have stayed in Kyoto longer to enjoy this honor. "

Lin Xiaofeng's gaze swept around and sharply captured Lu Yinsheng in the crowd - he was haggard and emaciated. There were crowds of people around him, but no one was willing to approach him, leaving a lonely blank space. All the ministers observed the situation and realized that Lu Yinsheng had fallen out of favor with the emperor and was about to face an unprecedented disaster, so they all avoided it for fear of being tainted. Lu Yinsheng stared at Lin Xiaofeng with ice-cold eyes, but Lin Xiaofeng remained calm, his expression unchanged, and waved for everyone to enter the hall to discuss state affairs.

In the magnificent palace, Emperor Jingjiang sat firmly on the throne and asked Lin Xiaofeng's physical condition in a friendly manner. Lin Xiaofeng responded to the situation and claimed that he was miraculously cured of his chronic illness because he was worried about the emperor's safety. When all the ministers heard this, they all murmured in their hearts: Lin Xiaofeng is such a thick-skinned person, he really lives up to his reputation. Emperor Jingjiang spoke concisely and began the court meeting, but at this moment, Lin Xiaofeng submitted a sealed memorial at the right time, pointing out that Lu Yinsheng, the Minister of Revenue, had secretly colluded with the rebel forces. This news was like a thunderbolt in the clear sky, shocking the entire audience. Lu Yinsheng's face turned pale. Although he tried his best to maintain his composure, he could not refute.

Later, Wang Jingwen read the memorial loudly in the court hall. The facts listed by Lin Xiaofeng were clear and orderly, without any pretense, and every accusation was sonorous and powerful. All the ministers present were shocked and suddenly realized after hearing this. Emperor Jingjiang personally questioned Lu Yinsheng. Although the latter tried his best to defend himself, he had to bow his head and plead guilty in the face of overwhelming evidence. Emperor Jingjiang immediately ordered Lu Yinsheng to be imprisoned in Beisi and handed over to Lin Xiaofeng to deal with him according to law. At the same time, in order to commend Lin Xiaofeng for his bravery in taking risks and exposing the truth, the emperor rewarded him with a large amount of gold, silver, jewelry, gorgeous silks, and an iron coupon to avoid death. However, while Lin Xiaofeng was surprised, there was a feeling of panic in his heart. He knew that behind this iron ticket, there were often more dangers, but he still showed gratitude on the surface and accepted the honor.

When Lu Yinsheng slumped out of the court, all the officials in the palace couldn't help but cast sympathetic glances at this former veteran, wondering how Lin Xiaofeng would severely punish this colleague who had fought alongside him. Seeing that the court meeting was coming to an end, Emperor Jingjiang asked other ministers if there were any important matters that needed to be reported urgently. At this time, Lin Xiaofeng stepped forward again. Obviously, he had other important matters that needed to be reported to the emperor.

Lin Xiaofeng stood in the center of the court, his figure solemn and firm, and his words were like a hammer hitting a stone, clear and powerful: "Your Majesty, I personally went to sea to conduct on-the-spot investigation and found that the overseas territory contains rich gold and silver minerals, enough to fill the resources of Jingjiang. However, the current maritime ban policy is complicated and cumbersome, like a rusty chain, tightly binding the hands and feet of fishermen and maritime merchants, cutting off the shipping routes they depend on for survival. I sincerely request your Majesty to lift the maritime ban and allow coastal states and counties to operate. The people can sail freely. In addition, I have witnessed with my own eyes that the sophisticated construction craftsmanship and huge size of the ships operated by the rebels are far beyond the comparison of the existing ships of our court. If shipping can be opened, not only can our country's shipbuilding industry be revitalized, It will also make it easier for us to track down and eliminate the rebels in one fell swoop. I speak from the bottom of my heart, and I beg your Majesty to listen to me."

After hearing this, the ministers looked at each other and talked in low voices. Qu Dijie, Minister of the Ministry of War, was the first to stand up and express his objection to Lin Xiaofeng's views, which surprised Lin Xiaofeng. Qu Dijie insisted that the quality of Jingjiang's warships was definitely no less than that of the anti-thief ships. The key lies in the ship's ability to withstand wind and waves. At the same time, he revealed that the Ministry of War had deployed troops to hunt down the anti-thiefs and firmly believed that victory was in sight. After hearing this, Lin Xiaofeng knew that King Hanjiang's shipbuilding technology was indeed outstanding, so he could only remain silent at this moment.

Qu Dijie further elaborated on the reasons for the implementation of the sea ban, emphasizing that the reason why the late emperor implemented the sea ban was mainly to eliminate tax evasion by maritime merchants and protect national resources from being lost. It was also to combat piracy and maintain the stability of the court's rule. Coupled with the huge cost of shipbuilding, the current maritime ban policy is actually a prudent and tolerant move. Bai Yongyuan also agreed with Qu Dijie's view, pointing out that the abolition of the maritime ban would affect the interests of tributary countries and the limited income the court obtained from maritime trade. Most officials had a negative attitude towards Lin Xiaofeng's proposal.

In the face of many doubts, Lin Xiaofeng argued hard. He pointed out that the huge profits brought by maritime trade were the main reason why ordinary people took the risk of becoming pirates and joined the ocean. He suggested that the court relax controls and reasonably guide private forces to participate in maritime trade, which will greatly increase national tax revenue. Regarding concerns about infringing on the interests of tributary countries, Lin Xiaofeng clearly stated that the interests of the people of Jingjiang should be the primary consideration. As long as fair transactions are ensured, the rights and interests of other countries will not be infringed.

Emperor Jingjiang promptly interrupted the heated debate. He believed that maritime trade issues were complex and the status quo should not be easily changed. At the same time, he had confidence in the court's success in encircling and suppressing the rebels. Despite this, Lin Xiaofeng still stuck to his guns and stated that he would reserve his opinions. After the court meeting, Emperor Jingjiang specially summoned Lin Xiaofeng alone in Qianqing Palace and asked him why he insisted on opening the sea ban.

Lin Xiaofeng used sweet potatoes as an example to try to inspire Emperor Jingjiang to realize that powerful civilizations might exist overseas, but Emperor Jingjiang responded by saying that sweet potatoes were not suitable as a staple food and had doubts about overseas cultures. Lin Xiaofeng tried to introduce modern geographical concepts and suggested that the world might be a sphere and that all countries might be the center of the world. However, Emperor Jingjiang reacted violently to this statement and asked Lin Xiaofeng whether he was misleading the prince, and warned him not to make any further speculations.

Lin Xiaofeng was about to retire in despair, when Emperor Jingjiang suddenly mentioned a promise he had made. If Lin Xiaofeng could accomplish something, he would grant Lin Xiaofeng one of his wishes. When Lin Xiaofeng heard this, his heart was filled with ups and downs, and he was eagerly preparing to propose his own terms of exchange.

Emperor Jingjiang looked gloomy, guessing that Lin Xiaofeng might mention Princess Hanmiao's marriage, and was preparing to adapt to the current situation and settle this pending family matter. However, Lin Xiaofeng's sudden words broke the expected tranquility: "I dare to ask your majesty to approve the bill to open the sea!" Upon hearing this, Emperor Jingjiang's expression suddenly changed and he asked sternly, trying to confirm Lin Xiaofeng's true intention. Although Lin Xiaofeng knew that there were many obstacles to this matter, he still persisted in making his speech again, showing his enthusiasm and determination for change.

Emperor Jingjiang was furious and scolded Lin Xiaofeng for being frivolous and hasty. How could the country's plans be treated casually like child's play? However, recalling that Lin Xiaofeng had always acted rigorously and had an excellent reputation, Emperor Jingjiang softened his expression slightly and stated that he could consider private matters as appropriate, but that major decisions involving national policy were not something that an individual could make independently. Lin Xiaofeng, struggling and suffering in his heart, finally summoned up the courage, with a shy blush on his cheeks, and whispered his desire to marry the princess.

Emperor Jingjiang first sneered slightly, then scolded him sternly, asking how he could have such an absurd idea. Lin Xiaofeng was so ashamed when he heard this, but Emperor Jingjiang did not refuse directly, which ignited a glimmer of hope in Lin Xiaofeng's heart. Emperor Jingjiang accused him of relying on his merits to breed arrogance, and asked him what virtue and ability he had that he dared to covet the princess's marriage. Upon seeing this, Lin Xiaofeng hurriedly changed his mind and asked for gold and silver, but Emperor Jingjiang was furious and ordered him to retreat quickly. Lin Xiaofeng was hesitant and reluctant to leave. Emperor Jingjiang understood his inner calculation and secretly laughed at him for being so smooth that he lost the ability to judge the situation.

Lin Xiaofeng seized the opportunity and mentioned that breakthrough progress had been made in the development of gunpowder in Yangqu County. Emperor Jingjiang was cheered up when he heard this, but he was confused as to why he had not received a formal report for a long time. Lin Xiaofeng explained that this is because of the group research and development method. The current results are still in the integration stage. It is planned to be unified and presented to the court after the complete set of facilities is complete. He also did not forget to mention that he had obtained strange things from the West from King Hanjiang and was trying to imitate them. He took this opportunity to further elaborate on his concern for the outside world and advocated opening the sea to explore the world, nip in the bud, and resist potential external threats.

Emperor Jingjiang did not continue to discuss this topic, but instead asked about Lin Xiaofeng's parents. Lin Xiaofeng replied that his parents had passed away one after another. When Emperor Jingjiang heard this, a trace of guilt flashed across his face, and he reminded Lin Xiaofeng not to dwell on the issue of open sea areas anymore, and ordered him to go to Beizhen Fusi to handle official business as soon as possible. When Lin Xiaofeng was leaving, he still refused to give up and mentioned marrying the princess for the third time. However, Emperor Jingjiang still firmly ordered him to leave.

After Lin Xiaofeng left Qianqing Palace, he went straight to Qingyi Palace. When he saw Li Hanmiao concentrating on weaving, he stood quietly and waited until she finished weaving the last thread. He suddenly covered her eyes unexpectedly, Just a joke. Li Hanmiao was frightened and cried, Lin Xiaofeng let go of her hand distressedly, Li Hanmiao wiped away her tears and burst into tears, and the two expressed their thoughts of parting and their attachment to each other.

Seeing Li Hanmiao's tear-stained face, Lin Xiaofeng felt endless guilt in his heart. He regretted that he had been late for several days due to his busy work schedule and had not been able to visit as early as possible. He proposed to find a quiet corner to have a deep conversation. Although Li Hanmiao was in a heavy mood, she still nodded silently. The two of them walked hand in hand through the winding corridor and entered the quiet and quiet back garden. Finally, they stopped in a pavilion full of ancient charm. Stepped down. Lin Xiaofeng waved his sleeves and dismissed the waiting maids. Li Hanmiao followed silently until they sat opposite each other in the pavilion. There was a subtle and depressing atmosphere surrounding them. Lin Xiaofeng carefully held Li Hanmiao's hand, his fingertips touching the rough texture formed by hard work on her hand, and asked her with concern whether she had always missed him. Li Hanmiao lowered her head and said nothing, dismissing the statement of missing her day and night in an understatement, while Lin Xiaofeng made no secret of it, saying that he missed her all the time, and then hugged her tightly in his arms. Li Hanmiao's body stiffened slightly at that moment. Lin Xiaofeng keenly caught her restraint and slowly told the story of her return to Beijing. When she talked about the hardships and tribulations outside, Li Hanmiao listened with a deep look in her eyes. Deep compassion.

Lin Xiaofeng recounted his experience of being reduced to a servant of a merchant, which shocked Li Hanmiao. She had never thought that Lin Xiaofeng would experience such ups and downs in life. Lin Xiaofeng mentioned His Majesty and herself hopefully, and the tension and depression in the air gradually dissipated. Li Hanmiao was completely immersed in the story told by Lin Xiaofeng. Lin Xiaofeng suddenly leaned down and kissed her gently on her smooth forehead. Li Hanmiao's cheeks instantly turned rosy in surprise. Lin Xiaofeng took the clothes sewn by Li Hanmiao himself. Although the stitching was slightly rough, he regarded it as a treasure. Li Hanmiao thoughtfully asked him to try them on after returning home. Lin Xiaofeng folded the clothes carefully and took her into his arms again. Li Hanmiao gradually relaxed in his arms, as if she had found a haven for her soul.

Li Hanmiao frankly told Lin Xiaofeng that during the days when he disappeared, she ran around looking for clues and was in anxiety and suffering every day. When Lin Xiaofeng learned that the prince had spread rumors that he was dead, his anger burned in his chest and he was determined to argue with the prince. Li Hanmiao changed the topic and returned to the marriage issue. Lin Xiaofeng was filled with guilt. He used his friend's experience to tactfully test Li Hanmiao's views on marriage. Li Hanmiao explained that in this era, it was normal for men to take concubines. Even a concubine might behave like this, and the royal family would not be too harsh on this. Lin Xiaofeng struggled with inner conflicts, and finally decided to confess to Li Hanmiao that she had proposed to Emperor Jingjiang. When Li Hanmiao heard the news, her face instantly turned as pale as paper, her lips trembled but she couldn't say a word for a long time. The shocked emotions flowed in her eyes, like ripples stirred up by stones on a calm lake, breaking the Lost the original tranquility.

When Lin Xiaofeng heard this, his chest seemed to be pressed by a huge boulder, and the heavy weight almost made him breathless. Based on his existing values ​​and principles of life, this incident undoubtedly caused him to fall into a deep entanglement and anxiety. Li Hanmiao's voice trembled when he asked for details. Lin Xiaofeng, based on honesty, frankly told him that he had reported the proposal directly to Emperor Jingjiang. Li Hanmiao's expression instantly became confused, and he asked about the outcome of the matter. Lin Xiaofeng responded firmly. Although the negotiations had not reached an agreement at the moment, he firmly believed that he had enough power to convince the emperor. However, Li Hanmiao's doubts did not dissipate. Lin Xiaofeng could only comfort himself with the power advantage he held and his significant contribution, but the shadow of uneasiness always lingered in his mind and could not go away.

Li Hanmiao needed some alone space to sort out her thoughts, so Lin Xiaofeng reluctantly left her and devoted herself to busy official duties. The first thing to do is to go to Beizhen Fusi to visit Lu Yinsheng, who is imprisoned in Jinyiwei's exclusive prison. North Town Fusi and South Town Fusi are far apart. North Town Fusi is located in Xinxing Yamen near the city gate, and the facilities are not yet fully in place. Lin Xiaofeng and Xie Hongxin went together. As soon as they stepped into the Yamen, they could feel a unique atmosphere. There were few people in the Yamen, but there was laughter and noise. The disciple was about to step forward to report, but was stopped by Xie Hongxin with a gesture. Upon seeing this, all the officials immediately fell silent, with awe clearly revealed in their eyes.

Lin Xiaofeng listened carefully and recognized that someone was gambling in the inner room, accompanied by laughter and ridicule of Lin Xiaofeng's appointment. Lin Xiaofeng and Xie Hongxin walked straight in. When the six strong men who were playing around saw this, they were so frightened that they knelt down one after another. Lin Xiaofeng looked calm and asked who the person who provoked him just now was. One of the six people took the initiative to admit his mistake. After Lin Xiaofeng learned more about it, he learned that this person's name was Gu Daji, a member of Qianhu Jinyiwei, whose father had served as Mingwei General Ren Xiong.

Lin Xiaofeng further explored the current operating conditions of Beizhen Fusi and the backgrounds of these six people, and learned that the reason why they were temporarily transferred here was the decision made by Emperor Jingjiang himself. Faced with the lax discipline of Gu Daji and others, Lin Xiaofeng sarcastically said that after becoming a military commander, he was so indulgent. He immediately ordered them to run outside the Yamen and do push-ups as punishment, and assigned Xie Hongxin to personally supervise the execution. As for Gudaki himself, Lin Xiaofeng was even more merciless. He severely accused Gudaki of bad conduct on the grounds that he talked about his boss behind his back and defaulted on restaurant accounts. He strictly ordered all subordinates to respect their superiors. Anyone who disobeys will be punished. Severe punishment will not be given. Facing Lin Xiaofeng's majesty and accusation, Gudaki no longer had the courage to quibble, and could only accept the punishment with fear, his head lowered and trembling.

When Lin Xiaofeng saw Gudaki bowing his head and obeying, a smile of relief inadvertently appeared on his lips. He knew that such generals would often be arrogant and domineering in the future. Compared with the orderly and orderly soldiers of later generations, they were far behind in terms of moral character and military discipline. . Looking back at history, military ruffians are everywhere, and many generals are negligent in running the army. Those who can truly avoid bullying the people are simply a few red dots among the greenery. Lin Xiaofeng had a deep insight into the customs of soldiers in Jingjiang. The bad habits of this group of second-generation children may be even more serious. In order to deter these criminals, although Lin Xiaofeng had a gentle face, he uncompromisingly demanded that Gudaki publicly apologize, and every word must be loud and clearly audible. Gudaki had no choice but to bow his head in submission, with shame and helplessness intertwined on his face.

Lin Xiaofeng ordered everyone to turn in all their gambling money and double the amount of money owed to the restaurant. He strictly ordered that no one should disturb the people again, otherwise they will be severely punished. Afterwards, he asked about the specific location of Lu Yinsheng's detention, and was led by a young official into the simple yet sturdy and gloomy prison. There, he met Lu Yinsheng, who was listless and haggard. At the same time, the furious roar of the father of the Li family, Li Yihao, was heard from a nearby cell. The clerk explained that he had been arrested for an old matter and had confessed his relationship with Lu Yinsheng. The case was currently being tried by Lin Xiaofeng. Lin Xiaofeng recalled the clues from the past and couldn't help but have deep doubts about the actual effect of the death-free iron coupons, so he ordered the clerk to verify how many holders of the death-free iron coupons had actually been protected.

Li Yihao's father's roar continued, and Lin Xiaofeng decisively raised the wooden stick in his hand and hit the ground hard, forcing him to shut up and be quiet. Then, Lin Xiaofeng turned the focus to Lu Yinsheng, satirizing his hypocrisy and asking where the huge amount of money donated by King Hanjiang was hidden. Lu Yinsheng denied it flatly, and Lin Xiaofeng did not want to waste too much time on such a meaningless dispute. The clerk proposed to use a cruel torture instrument called "Pipa" to extract a confession. Lin Xiaofeng's face changed slightly after hearing this, but he firmly refused and ordered the clerk to The official stepped aside temporarily, while he continued to dig deeper into the truth behind the death-free iron coupon.

Lin Xiaofeng once again persuaded Lu Yinsheng, urging him to confess truthfully as soon as possible to avoid suffering torture. He emphasized that they were both well-educated poets and did not need to rely on violence to solve the problem. Li Yihao's father watched Lin Xiaofeng's every move closely, and seemed to see some kind of revelation in Lin Xiaofeng. Lin Xiaofeng always insisted on gentle interrogation methods and was unwilling to use extremely cruel methods, but his determination to uncover the truth never wavered, and he always maintained his calm yet firm persistence. He firmly believed that even in the darkness of prison, wisdom and justice could be relied upon to illuminate the path to truth.

Lu Yinsheng's face was dusty, his mouth was tight, and with an almost stubborn gloom, he challenged Lin Xiaofeng: "Do you think I will be afraid of death? Although you are a civil servant, you are involved in the Imperial Guard, and everyone above and below you treats you with contempt. I am afraid that sooner or later, you will become the target of public criticism. Everyone will see the bad luck I suffered today. If you are really brave, even if you torture me, your life in high position will definitely not be good. The end." Lu Yinsheng believed that he had an insight into everything in the world, and everything was within his expectations.

Lin Xiaofeng was short and his eyes were as calm as the lake. Youyou asked, "Do you hate me?" Lu Yin was so angry that he gritted his teeth and roared: "I hate you so much! I wish I could cut you into pieces. All the shame today is You did it all by yourself. If I had gotten rid of you earlier, why would I have ended up like this?" Lin Xiaofeng smiled slightly and responded calmly: "I don't hate you, because in my world, I don't care about anyone. There is hatred, this is the essential difference between us. You only see the immediate conflict, but I can foresee the long-term impact. In my hands, Jin Yiwei will show a face you can't imagine. "

Lin Xiaofeng said frankly: "Indeed, all the officials are watching how I deal with you, but they are too afraid. I have no intention of abusing anyone. I may even help you at a critical moment. As long as you are willing to cooperate, you will not only be protected from abuse You can even save your family, all you need to do is tell me the location of the bank and the secrets related to King Hanjiang." Lu Yinsheng sneered nonchalantly, mocking Lin Xiaofeng for spinning illusory lies.

However, Lin Xiaofeng always insisted on his beliefs. He stated that power and wealth were not the goals he pursued. The only thing he yearned for was to explore true happiness. This is the fundamental difference between him and Lu Yinsheng. At this moment, Mr. Li suddenly laughed loudly, mocking Lin Xiaofeng as just the embodiment of greed and hypocrisy. Lin Xiaofeng warned with a wooden stick, and then Mr. Li became as silent as a cicada.

Lin Xiaofeng was confused by the various rumors circulating in the market about him and his family's newspaper business, and decided to clarify them at the appropriate time. Faced with Lu Yinsheng's resolute disbelief, Lin Xiaofeng still patiently analyzed the situation and declared that he had no intention of frame-up, but only wanted to make a fair ruling. He believed that both King Hanjiang and Lu Yinsheng were worthy of forgiveness. Lin Xiaofeng opposed the joint sitting and advocated a fair trial. He sincerely did not want Lu Yinsheng to end tragically.

Lu Yinsheng was still stubborn. Lin Xiaofeng proposed the option of poisoning himself to avoid prison. If Lu Yinsheng was willing to reveal the exact location of the bank, Lin Xiaofeng might be able to give him a chance of survival in front of His Majesty. When Lu Yinsheng heard this, his expression suddenly changed and he fell into deep thought.

Mr. Li watched the whole process from the side, feeling anxious inside. Lu Yinsheng finally decided to compromise and promised to tell the specific location of a bank, and asked to see the imperial edict and poison the next day to verify Lin Xiaofeng's promise. Upon seeing this, Mr. Li was eager to find a way out and offered to exchange his family's property for his release. However, Lin Xiaofeng was not moved and coldly rejected his plea. His stance was firm and could not be shaken.

"You are guilty! Master Lin!" This sound was like rolling thunder exploding, shaking beyond the high walls of Fusi in Beizhen. Lin Xiaofeng stepped out of the prison, and as far as he could see, six people were running towards him like fallen leaves in a strong wind. They all shouted to admit their mistakes and begged Lin Xiaofeng for forgiveness. The leader Gudaki's cheeks were swollen, and Xie Hongxin's eyes were cold. It was obvious that he had just punished them. The other people, out of shame, followed suit and shouted apologies in unison. Lin Xiaofeng smiled calmly and leaned against the door frame until Gudaki's voice became hoarse and Fang slowly asked, "How many laps have you run?"

"Eighty to nine times." Xie Hongxin replied concisely and concisely.

"You are already so exhausted after only eighty-nine laps. How can you bear the heavy responsibility of Jin Yiwei with such physical strength? Keep running until you reach two hundred laps." Lin Xiaofeng spoke calmly and issued a non-negotiable order.

Lin Xiaofeng asked Biaozi to closely supervise everyone to continue running and exercising, while he hurried to the newspaper office and instructed to recall Lin Taohua later and ask her to send people to Yangqu County to recruit Jin Yiwei and bring a batch of special teaching materials. Xie Hongxin was confused by such teaching materials, and Lin Xiaofeng explained with a smile: "This is "Sixiu", which is a tutorial on ideological and moral foundations and legal cultivation. Yangqu County has compiled a series of teaching materials with the purpose of shaping the people's spiritual outlook. To break free from ideological constraints and inspire people's love for their hometown and country, "Reflection on Thoughts" is the flagship work that I personally participated in the compilation. It took two years to carefully revise and was specially designed to rectify the style of local officials. "

Arriving at the newspaper office, Lin Xiaofeng found that the layout here had undergone earth-shaking changes. The original narrow cubicles had been replaced by a spacious open office area, which was as orderly as a school. The newly added space is enough to accommodate more employees, and reporters can be seen everywhere walking around holding brushes and writing furiously. Although it lacks modern computer equipment and bright lighting, the layout has a modern atmosphere. On the walls are passionate slogans such as "Wolf Team" and "Hot-Blooded Youth", creating a modern workplace-like struggle. The atmosphere gave Lin Xiaofeng a strong sense of belonging.

He looked around and found that Xiang Xiehong's dedicated office was still there, so he walked straight in. Indoors, Li Dexian, Yang Baixi and Xiang Xiehong were waiting. When Yang Baixi and Xiang Xiehong saw Lin Xiaofeng entering the door, they immediately stood up and saluted. Li Dexian smiled heartily and said: "Brother Lin, you are finally here! If you hadn't come, we would have thought you had forgotten the existence of this newspaper. Where were you just now?"

Lin Xiaofeng asked directly about the reason for the change in the layout of the newspaper office. Li Dexian thought for a moment and replied: "Because we have recruited many new people, we must re-plan the space so that everyone can work together in a shared environment. The original reporter's dormitory was too far away from the printing workshop. As for the canteen, Yang Baixi suggested implementing a charging system, so that the number of people dining would naturally decrease. The current carrying capacity is just enough to meet the demand. Newly hired reporters are generally lazy and go to the library after get off work, so he also wants to charge the library. Brother Lin, do you think this decision is appropriate? "

When Lin Xiaofeng heard this, his face instantly darkened, and he said angrily: "This is simply nonsense! The outside world says that our newspaper is very profitable, but the reporters are living in poverty. Isn't this indirectly saying that I mistreat my subordinates and damage my reputation?" Li Dexian did not take this seriously and argued that this was because new reporters spread rumors and complained that the newspaper's treatment did not match the propaganda. In fact, they wanted to get something for nothing. Lin Xiaofeng was extremely dissatisfied with this and criticized the two men for their poor decision-making. He emphasized that reporters should not pursue material things excessively and that the core value of a newspaper is to serve the public. He told Li Dexian: "Your Highness's approach is inappropriate. The more you care about money, the easier it is for journalists to be driven by interests. We should start with values ​​education and educate them on a regular basis."

Lin Xiaofeng turned to look at Yang Baixi, congratulating him on his new promotion to the top pick, and revealed his intention to arrange for him to take up the position. The specific matters will be discussed in detail later. Then, Lin Xiaofeng warned Li Dexian again: "This arbitrary management method cannot last long. New reporters must be guided to establish correct values." He pointed to the slogan on the wall, and the words were like gold:

"Carry forward the spirit of selfless dedication and be a model worker!"

"Stick to your post, advocate dedication, dare to take responsibility, and show your achievements!"

Lin Xiaofeng denounced how scholars could reek of copper and decided to convene all employees to personally teach an open class on values ​​that was deeply rooted in the hearts of the people and correct their spiritual direction. Seeing that Lin Xiaofeng was in a low mood, Yang Baixi respectfully agreed. Lin Xiaofeng turned and left, leaving Li Dexian with a confused look on his face, as he had not fully understood how to effectively educate his subordinates.

Lin Xiaofeng watched Yang Baixi's figure disappear from the end of the field of vision, then called everyone to hold a meeting, turned to look at Li Dexian, and asked calmly and meaningfully: "Your Highness, there is a difficult and very tempting task here. I wonder if you are interested. Complete it with me?" Upon hearing this, Li Dexian's eyes flashed with curiosity and excitement, and he asked eagerly: "What kind of mission is it?" Lin Xiaofeng motioned to Xiang Xiehong to step aside temporarily so that he could discuss it in private with His Highness. Xiang Xiehong understood this and gently closed the door. Lin Xiaofeng and Li Dexian were the only two people left in the room.

Lin Xiaofeng revealed slowly: "This morning, when I was interrogating Lu Yinsheng, he mentioned that there were three hidden silver vaults in his home, and the location of one of them has been revealed to me. If what he said is true, then the gold and silver hidden in the vault The number may reach one million. Is Your Highness willing to lead the troops to verify it in person?" As he spoke, he took out a piece of paper from his sleeve, which recorded the address of the bank provided by Lu Yinsheng, which was hidden in the Shajia Restaurant. In the underground cellar, if Lu Yinsheng had not taken the initiative to explain, it would have taken a lot of time and energy to find it.

As soon as Li Dexian heard "one million cash silver", he immediately geared up and responded happily: "One million cash silver, I have only heard of its name but not seen it. This time I must go and see it in person." He asked again. "Why don't Mr. Lin go with you?" Lin Xiaofeng shook his head: "I won't accompany you for the time being. I plan to communicate with the new reporters first, and then deal with the newspaper's recruitment of Jin Yiwei. At present, I have really few manpower. Stretched."

Li Dexian then asked about the other two banks and how to deal with Lu Yinsheng. Lin Xiaofeng pondered for a moment and replied: "Sooner or later, Lu Yinsheng will tell all the secrets. According to the law, the three clans should be punished, but I think this punishment is too harsh. Since he I have revealed the secret of the bank and detailed their family's contribution to Jingjiang from their ancestors to the present. I have also discussed this person with the King of Hanjiang. Although he is greedy, he has no intention of betraying the imperial court. I don't know what your highness thinks about this. view?"

(End of this chapter)