Hundreds of households in Liaodong, covering the light with one hand

Chapter 171 Puzhou Prefecture, Sun Chuanting

It was already evening when Wang Qi came out of the palace.

Duke Lang's carriage was driving safely on the imperial road. When the policemen in the capital and the people from the Admiral's Yamen saw the carriage on the Duke's residence, they had already moved away from it in advance. Unable to avoid it, they stood on the street and bowed. Salute, wait for the frame of honor to pass, and then leave.

Wang Qi's government office is very close to the palace, and not long after, the carriage arrived at the door of the government office.

As soon as he got off the car, Wang Shouxin came forward: "Sir, Fan Zhongjin has arrived at noon today and has been waiting in the front hall, waiting for your return. In addition, your cousin, Wang Zhengyi, has also arrived and is in the front hall. .”

Three days ago, when Wang Qi had just returned to Beijing, Fan Zhongjin had already written a letter. His words of respect almost spilled out of the paper, and he couldn't wait to visit Wang Qi.

On the one hand, he wanted to report to Wang Qi about the trade between Shanshan Commercial Bank and Horqin.

On the other hand, if the Fan family wants to become the leader of the eight major trading houses, it must hold tightly to Wang Qi's thigh. As long as Wang Qi supports it, the Fan family can have a hand in the entire commercial affairs of Horqin and Gyeonggi, as well as Shanxi and Shaanxi. .

Finally, the Fan family is about to elect the next patriarch, and Fan Zhongjin wants to take this opportunity to meet with Wang Qi to gain support.

As for the children of the Wang family in Jiaodong who came to pay their respects,
  That was the relative sent by his uncle Wang Huazhen to help Wang Qi handle clan affairs.

"Tell Fan Zhong to go into the study and wait for me," Wang Qi walked through the front porch and walked toward the backyard.

"What about Wang Zhengyi?" Wang Shouxin asked.

"Come one by one," Wang Qi waved his hand: "My family, let him wait a little longer."

"Understood!" Wang Shouxin nodded and went to make arrangements.

As soon as he entered the study, Fan Zhongjin knelt on the ground with a plop: "Little Fan Zhongjin, pay homage to the Duke! May the Duke be safe!"

Only trusted people can enter Wang Qi's study. As a businessman, scholar, farmer, industrialist and merchant, Fan Zhongjin, who is at the end of the four professions, can be treated by Wang Qi as a trusted friend. How can he not be moved to tears?

"Get up and sit down," Wang Qi pointed to the chair beside him. The maid came into the room and brought tea to Fan Zhongjin.

"The border affairs have been busy recently, how come you have time to come to the capital?"

He respectfully took the tea cup and placed it gently on the table. Fan Zhongjin turned around, lowered his head and said: "No matter how busy the business is, it's only the details. The Duke's side is the fundamental one. No matter how ignorant you are, you are too young." , but I still understand the principle that only when the roots are deep can the leaves flourish!"

"It's all good if you have the intention," Wang Qi said noncommittally.

Fan Zhongjin smiled and continued:

"Thanks to your blessing, Mr. Guo, in the past few months, Shanxi and Shaanxi have served as intermediary channels to connect several southeastern provinces with Horqin trade. The transaction volume and scale have tripled, and commercial banks in various places are still expanding the trade market. Huguang, Our Sanjin trading houses are spread throughout Zhejiang, Jiangsu, and even the boundaries of Guangdong and Guangxi."

"This is the account book for the past three months. Please take a look at it." Fan Zhongjin took out a booklet from his sleeve and handed it to Wang Qi respectfully.

"How is the harvest this year on the border between Shanxi and Shaanxi?" Wang Qi glanced at the account book and then retracted it, asking the question he was most concerned about.

After all, most of the peasant Luo leaders with outstanding reputations in later generations came from the Shaanxi area...
  "Since the spring, most of the harvests in the north of Tongguan, east of Hanzhong, and south of Longcheng have been halved, and some have failed. Farmers are having a hard time, and the gentry and landlords have also begun to cut back on food and clothing." Regarding Wang Qi's question, Fan Zhongjin said early Be prepared: "It's still freezing cold in the fields after spring these years. It's so cold that my bones hurt, and farmers can't bear it, let alone the delicate spring seedlings. Before I came here, I thought Lingshi County was hungry again." Several families died, those who fled fled, and those who starved to death. In many counties, people sold their children and daughters, either going north or south, in search of a way to survive, but they could not stay in the mountain cols and wait to die."

"Have the chief yamen, the grain officials, and the yamen of various prefectures taken any action?" Wang Qi took a sip of tea and then asked. "The Chief Secretary has no food, no money, and no manpower. He mainly relies on local government offices to save himself, but more often than not, it is difficult for a clever woman to make a living without rice. Those who starve to death continue to starve to death, those who have fled continue to flee, and those who have fallen into the mountains and forests are left behind. , the government has no spare power to carry out the annihilation, especially in the Hanzhong, Mizhi area, the Whispering Mountains and Forests, there are many thieves who loot and kill, which is really a harm to one party!" Fan Zhongjin said, he also picked up the tea cup and took a sip, as if he remembered something, Added: "However, Xiao Ting recently said that the new magistrate of Puzhou County in Shanxi Province is quite capable. As soon as he took office, he promulgated laws to control chaos, organized disaster victims to save themselves, took the lead in reclaiming wasteland, and sought relief from the court. We will provide money and food to the victims first, and at the same time, we will borrow troops from the Military Preparation Road to organize an encirclement and suppression of the bandits in the Taihang Mountains of Puzhou!"

"The magistrate of Puzhou?" Wang Qi raised his eyebrows. Isn't that Guan Yunchang's hometown?

"It seems, what is the name of Sun Zhixian?" Fan Zhongjin scratched his head and couldn't remember the words: "He is still a Jinshi."

As blessed as his soul, a person suddenly popped up in Wang Qi's mind: "But your name is Sun Chuanting?"

"Hey!" Fan Zhongjin slapped his thigh and exclaimed in surprise: "The Duke is truly a god, and the magistrate of Puzhou is named Sun Chuanting!"

"Do you know the Duke?" Fan Zhongjin asked carefully.

If Wang Qi knew him, it would not be difficult for the Fan family to help Puzhou County.

"He is a capable person," Wang Qi replied casually.

"Yes, he seems to be capable of doing things," Fan Zhongjin also nodded: "Would you like me to help out?"

"After you go back, help me keep an eye on the Shanshan area, especially the civil affairs on the line from Lintong to Jiezhou. There is no need for Sun Chuanting to take the initiative to help. As a county magistrate, protecting the villagers in the area is what he should do. If he If you ask for help, you can take the initiative to help him solve his urgent need."

"Then, the name of the Duke?"

"Don't mention me," Wang Qi shook his head: "Just contact him in the name of your Fan family."

"Little understand!"

Fan Zhongjin stayed in Wang Qi's study for about an hour before he kowtowed again and respectfully left.

At this time, it was already dark.

"Sir, Wang Zhengyi is still waiting in the front hall, do you want to see him?" When the maid went into the study to pack the tea cups, Wang Shouxin also walked in to report.

"Take him to the main hall. He happens to be hungry. Tell the kitchen to add a pair of bowls and chopsticks."

"Let's do it now!"

Wang Qi stood up and moved his waist. He felt sore all over after sitting for a long time. He had never been so tired when he was marching and fighting in Liaodong.

Not long after, Wang Zhengyi, who had been waiting for almost a day, finally saw Wang Qi in the main hall.

"Student of the clan, Wang Zhengyi pays homage to the Duke!" Wang Zhengyi had been sitting there all day, but at this moment his face did not show the slightest hint of impatience or grievance. He could only see Wang Qi's excitement and anxiety. He knelt on the ground and bowed uprightly. .

"My uncle is your clan uncle. After all, you can call me cousin," Wang Qi waved, "Sit down and have something to eat. If you sit there all day long, you must be hungry."

"Thank you, Duke. Thank you cousin!" Wang Zheng swallowed, and with Wang Qi's approval, he slowly sat down at the table, hesitated for a moment, picked up the bowl and chopsticks, and started to devour the food.

(End of this chapter)