From a son-in-law to a favorite of the empress

Chapter 543

After successfully connecting with the officers of the Inner Court at Dezhou Wharf, Zhou Yuan and others did not delay, but continued to head south, slowly passing Liaocheng Wharf and Tai'an Wharf, and arrived in Jining at noon the next day.

As it took time to prepare food, Zhou Yuan and others did not go ashore, but strolled in Weishan Lake, enjoying the beautiful scenery of late spring.

The pigeon arrived soon, and Zhuang Xuansu seemed very excited, and hurriedly reported: "One hundred thousand shi of grain cost 120,000 taels, including the cost of transportation, and the labor cost was not high, so a total of only 80 taels of silver were spent."

"But we still need a few thousand taels of silver to prepare ready-made clothes and accessories for us to package our identities. Anyway, there are more than 70,000 taels left."

"Zhou Yuan, more than 70,000 taels, the sisters of the Inner Court are lucky, this time everyone can receive at least 10 taels of silver."

"This is almost equivalent to our half-year salary."

Does it mean that the annual allowance exceeds 20 taels? Then the treatment of the female officials of the Inner Court is really not low.

Although Zhuang Xuansu was happy, he did not forget the principle and said seriously: "But this matter must be reported to His Majesty and approved by His Majesty, otherwise supporting the Inner Court Department is... a serious crime."

For a moment, she could not tell whether this was rebellion or usurpation. Anyway, no one dared to support the Inner Court Department.

Zhou Yuan said: "Don't worry, I brought the imperial edict this time. The entire Inner Court Department is under my control. What's wrong with me giving some money? His Majesty will not care about this little thing."

Zhuang Xuansu thought for a while, then whispered: "Then why don't you give more? Our sisters are really poor..."

Zhou Yuan thought for a while, then smiled and said: "Actually... It doesn't matter if you give more, after all, I can afford it, but it still depends on your performance, right?"

"You have been depressed during this period. Do you feel that following me Zhou "I think it's unfair to you to do things for Yuan, but have you ever thought that this is a lucrative job!"

"If you can really solve the problem in Jiangnan, I will give you another 200,000 taels of funding!"

"This is far less than the income of other tasks."

Zhuang Xuansu couldn't help rubbing his hands and smiled: "Yes, yes, it's a bit unfair to think that I, the head of the inner court, am your follower, but since it's a lucrative job, I can understand it."

"Zhou Yuan, you are the Duke of the country, you are not allowed to break your promise, the 200,000 taels of silver promised Son, you must fulfill your promise when the time comes. "

Zhou Yuan immediately said: "Look at you, how can you not trust me? You should know that when I recovered the Central Plains, I also spoke well of your inner court. I received the reward, right?"

Zhuang Xuansu couldn't hide the smile on his face, but still said stubbornly: "That was to please Ye Qingying, not for our inner court."

Zhou Yuan was slightly stunned, and immediately said: "Speaking of Qingying... where is she? I haven't seen her for almost a year."

Zhuang Xuansu said: "Qingying is a very capable girl. She always takes the initiative to apply for transfer to the most difficult places and perform the most dangerous tasks. At this moment, she is investigating the chieftain in Guizhou."

Zhou Yuan hurriedly said: "You should take it easy, she is my second sister..."

Zhuang Xuansu smiled and said: "She is a girl with her own ideas, so she doesn't need you to care about her."

Zhou Yuan thought about it and it was true. Ye Qingying has a strong personality. She has always had her own way of doing things and doesn't want others to interfere with her actions.

"Tomorrow afternoon, the food will arrive in Jining."

Zhuang Xuansu frowned and said, "Rest for one night, and visit the Jining County Magistrate the day after tomorrow?"

Zhou Yuan waved his hand and said, "How can the County Magistrate eat our food? Just visit the Yanzhou Prefect. I have arranged the plan."

"Now let me tell you something."

As Zhou Yuan finished talking about the plan, Zhuang Xuansu frowned more and more, and finally gritted his teeth and said, "You made such a plan, really not to take advantage of us?"

Zhou Yuan immediately said, "Master Zhuang, we have known each other for two years. Do you think Zhou Yuan is that kind of person? Isn't it just pretending? Madam, let's sleep together. With your kung fu, what can I do to you?"

"Didn't we sleep together during the peace talks in Tianjin?"

Zhuang Xuansu waved his hand and said, "Don't talk nonsense. It's just personal protection. How can we sleep together?"

"But for the sake of the 200,000 taels of silver you promised, I will promise you for the time being."

She stood up and said in a deep voice, "I'll go find them and review the plan together to avoid mistakes."

Zhou Yuan just smiled and looked at the shimmering lake, only to find that it was already dusk.

He sighed slightly and couldn't help but think of the song deep in his mind-the sun in the west is about to set, Weishan Lake is quiet, playing my beloved earthen pipa and singing that moving ballad.

The dream is vague, the two lives are blurred, can I change the trajectory of history today?

He is not sure,Just lost in confusion.

…

On the morning of the third day, Zhou Yuan and others finally landed, changed clothes in the branch of the Inner Court, and then met with the grain outside Jining City.

This time the role is very simple, Zhou Yuan is the eldest son of the Shen family in Lin'an Prefecture, a typical rich second generation.

Zhuang Xuansu and Li Yu'an are two wives, Guan Caixi is a sister.

In addition, there are eight servants and bodyguards, plus more than a hundred carriages and laborers, and they swaggered into Jining City.

The Inner Court is also capable, and all documents are complete. Zhou Yuan and others encountered almost no resistance.

But 100,000 shi of grain is indeed too much, and the commotion is very loud. Soon the officers and soldiers came after hearing the news.

Seeing the document, I was also a little confused.

Zhou Yuan, wearing brocade clothes and holding up a white fan, smiled and said, "We are transporting grain and temporarily storing it. We will go to Yanzhou to see the prefect to make follow-up arrangements."

The magistrate of Jining soon learned the news, but he was undecided when he saw so much grain, so he simply asked him to see the prefect and let the prefect discuss it.

It took Zhou Yuan and others only half a day to arrive in Yanzhou in the afternoon. After passing the documents, they soon met the prefect of Yanzhou in the government office.

This is an old man, estimated to be sixty years old, with gray hair and beard, deep wrinkles on his face, but his eyes are extremely sharp.

Bao Shanru was also born into a scholar family. He had a reputation as an iron-faced and upright person. He was upright, serious and upright. He has always been a well-received prefect.

The information given by Zhuang Xuansu was very detailed. Bao Shanru's family only had seventy acres of land and no other property such as shops. He was considered a great honest official.

The entire Yanzhou Prefecture, and even the entire Shandong Province, is the salt market of the Bai family.

"Nonsense! It's completely nonsense!"

Bao Shanru's voice was full of energy, and he said in a deep voice: "After all, Shandong is the top province of the country and the important place of the court. Even though there have been frequent natural disasters in recent years, there is not such a shortage of food."

"This year's grain transportation has long been completed by other salt merchants, and the salt permits have been issued. What are you still doing?"

"Don't you know to investigate in advance!"

Zhou Yuan chuckled and said: "Sir, there is no shortage of grain. This thing is only too little, not too much."

"As for the salt permit, this thing can be issued at will."

Bao Shanru frowned and said coldly: "What did you say? Open it at will? The court clearly stipulates that the salt permits and grains in various regions must be strictly implemented according to the pre-set quantity. If you issue salt permits at will, wouldn't it be selling private salt? Just based on this sentence, this official can arrest you!"

Zhou Yuan came over and said in a low voice: "Sir, , rules are dead, people are alive, please be kind and give me some convenience."

"To be honest, Shen Qiaoshan is my uncle, and our Shen family also wants to find a way out and earn some money to support the family."

Bao Shanru stood up, his face became more serious, and said word by word: "Okay! I understand! You...you want to use the reputation of Mr. Qiaoshan to sell private salt!"

"Shen Yuan! Don't say you are just a young master, even if you are Qiaoshan Since you are here in person, I will have a good talk with him about whether the salt permit can be issued at will!"

"Salt business is the most important tool of the country and the foundation of taxation. It is related to the lives of the people and the stability of the country. Therefore, officials should not issue salt permits lightly."

"You use Qiaoshan Gong to pressure me. Do you think my reputation as an iron-faced justice is just a false reputation!"

"Come here! Send him away!"

He turned his face black and left directly.