Chapter 262 I have been looking forward to ‘Master Wang’ for a long time!
Not long after.
A group of people appeared in front of the motorcade.
The leader is Lin Shijia, a former Chief Secretary of Zhejiang Province.
Before the person approached, Lin Shijia's voice came from a distance, very enthusiastic and positive.
Lin Shijia walked forward quickly and said respectfully: "Welcome to the adults from Kyoto. I, Chief Secretary of Zhejiang Province and Councilor, are waiting at the gate of the city. I have been specially ordered to come out of the city to greet you. I also ask all of you to follow me."< br>
Lin Shijia walked closer.
He just glanced briefly and then saluted the people in front of him involuntarily.
The attitude is very humble.
Most of the officials who came this time were of higher rank than him, such as Duke Xin, who was even more impressive. As for the Jin Yiwei, although his official position was not high, it was still an imperial authority. He He also didn't dare to offend him in the slightest, and he couldn't afford to offend court officials like Hua Lun and Lian Zining.
Only Xia Zhibai had an official position below him, but Xia Zhibai was the imperial envoy this time.
He dared not offend even more.
So from the beginning, Lin Shijia was extremely humble.
As the saying goes, don’t hit the smiling person.
Xia Zhibai returned Lin Shijia's hand slightly and said with a smile: "Then please lead the way."
Lin Shijia smiled and said: "What's the trouble? Originally, I, the Chief Secretary, wanted to come to participate in politics and council meetings, but local political affairs were overwhelming and there was really no other way. So I was appointed here. I hope you won't be offended."< br>
“Furthermore, your lords have come all the way to help us relieve the people.”
“It’s too late for us to greet you.”
“My lords, please come along. I'm going forward."
Lin Shijia patted the horse with a smile and walked directly in front of the queue, leading the way like a pioneer officer.
Hua Lun and others took advantage of Lin Shijia's actions.
Even slightly surprised.
Lin Shijia's official position is not low, and even if he used to greet court officials, he would never come more than a mile away. Most of them would greet him near the city gate. How could he really go so far? This is enough. The Chief Secretary of Zhejiang shows his sincerity.
Hua Lun stroked his beard under his chin, looked at Xia Zhibai, and said with a smile: "It seems that you guessed wrong this time. The Chief Secretary of Zhejiang is still sensible. He knows why the court is here, and he also I know what I sent you to solve, and I don’t want to cause trouble.”
Xia Zhibai looked at Lin Shijia’s retreating figure meaningfully, and said with a smile: “I hope so.”
The two got back on the carriage and the group drove to Yuhang County in a swaggering manner.
The entrance to Yuhang City.
Zhou Ziliang, Wang Xuanfan and the salt envoy Li Benmo were already waiting outside.
They made a good posture to welcome Xia Zhibai.
Not only did people be sent to greet them from a mile away, but they also called almost all the officials with some real power from the Chief Secretary and the county government team of Yuhang County. They stood at the gate of the city and stood up. Hundreds of people, extraordinary momentum.
And so many people are just here to welcome the arrival of Xia Zhibai and others.
This is not unceremonious.
Li Benmo looked at such a grand scene in front of him, glanced at Zhou Ziliang imperceptibly, and couldn't help but murmur in his heart: "Officials like the local chief secretary are really good at showing off, and they do such a good job. It’s such a grand spectacle. If I didn’t know the truth, I would really think that they only depend on the imperial court.”
“But this Xia Zhibai is proud enough.” Zhejiang has never had such a grand event.”
"It's just that Xia Zhibai has been an official for less than two years. He has never seen such a world. He is afraid that if he is flattered by Zhou Ziliang and others, he will not be able to distinguish between north and south. But this is just right. These people should go back as soon as possible. . "
Li Benmo withdrew his gaze, then raised his head slightly and looked forward.
Some shadows can be faintly seen at the edge of the vision.
Coming!
Zhou Ziliang coughed lightly and said solemnly: "This time the imperial court is very concerned about our salt administration in Zhejiang. It specially sent an imperial envoy, as well as Duke Xin and other important ministers. We must fully cooperate. We must not Let the court be dissatisfied with Zhejiang.”
"The attitude must be respectful and respectful."
"Do you know?"
Zhou Ziliang glanced around.
The officials all around looked at each other and showed a sly smile.
The officials headed by Wang Xuanfan said in unison: "Don't worry, sir, we can save this matter."
"It will definitely make the court officials feel at home, and they will not be dissatisfied at all."
Zhou Ziliang nodded with satisfaction.
He had specially warned him during this period, and the officials of the Chief Secretary were all well aware of the truth and had already agreed. However, just in case, he still reminded him, and Zhou Ziliang took it back His eyes said: "Okay, here we come."
"Everyone cheer up."
After that.
Zhou Ziliang took the lead and stood at the front.
The rest of the officials stood according to their status.
After a while, the large group of people stopped.
Xia Zhibai also got off the carriage, and Tang He and others also got off the carriage.
Zhou Ziliang has never seen Xia Zhibai, but when he saw that the leader was a young man, how could he not understand that the person in front of him was Xia Zhibai, who had become world-famous in the past two years? Zhou Ziliang stepped forward , took the initiative and said: "I am the Chief Secretary of Zhejiang Province and I have participated in politics. I have met the imperial envoy and all of you."
"I have prepared a banquet in the city, ready to welcome you to the imperial envoy."
"I also invite you to the banquet." Zhou Ziliang's attitude was also very low, and he was very approachable.
Xia Zhibai took a look at Zhou Ziliang. Zhou Ziliang was a middle-aged man with a medium build, a slightly protruding belly, a lot of hair on his head, and some on his face. She is shiny, but does not look greasy, and her whole person is quite mature and steady, but there is a bit of gloom between her eyebrows.
It gives people a sense of sight like a smiling tiger.
Xia Zhibai said: "Thank you very much, Chief Minister Zhou, for your warm welcome."
"It's just that we are involved in political affairs after all, and it is really difficult for us to attend such a banquet. Please forgive me, Chief Minister Zhou."
Zhou Ziliang smiled and said: "I understand, I was negligent."
"I have arrived in Yuhang, and I have something to do. I want to inform the imperial envoy. Can we talk while we are walking?"
Xia Zhibai There was silence for a while, then he finally nodded.
Zhou Ziliang's face lit up, and he winked at the officials behind him, asking them to move out of the way.
Zhou Ziliang walked in front of Xia Zhibai, with a smile still on his face, but suddenly there was a hint of sadness and solemnity between his brows. He said softly: "Xia Qin Envoy, you may not know something. I have been waiting for the imperial court for a long time."
"In the past few months, troubles have continued in Zhejiang."
"Many of them are caused by kitchen households, which have seriously affected the normal business in Zhejiang. "
"Local people have a lot of resentment."
"And Xia Qinchao, you have been in the salt industry."
"You should know that the local chief secretary does not have much power to intervene in the salt administration. The salt administration is mostly handled by the Salt Transportation Department under the household department. In Yuhang After the turmoil broke out, I wrote to the court many times to explain the pros and cons of the salt policy, but the court did not accept it."
"I am very concerned about the reform of the salt policy that you mentioned in court. I also appreciate it very much."
"Don't worry, Xia Qin sent you."
"I, the Chief Secretary of Zhejiang, are all officials of the imperial court."
"We will obey the orders of the imperial court and there will never be any excuse or obstruction."
"Therefore, Envoy Xia does not have to worry about us, just go ahead and do it, feel free to do it, we will fully cooperate with you."
Zhou Ziliang spoke with determination.
The face of the loyal minister seemed to have been worried about the salt government for more than half a year.
I have been looking forward to ‘Master Wang’ for a long time.
Xia Zhibai smiled, letting the breeze blow on his cheeks, and said calmly: "Don't worry, Chief Zhou, I am here this time to thoroughly investigate the salt policy issue, and not only the salt policy, I also want to tell the chief ministers in the south One thing."
"The world is about to change."
Zhou Ziliang's eyes darkened, his expression uncertain.
Xia Zhibai said: "Zheng Envoy Zhou may not know the wonderful use of this steam engine. Now the steam engine is only used for making salt, but after the whole night research of the engineers in my hands, other uses have been developed. , such as making steam carriages, steam ships, or other power tools"
"The world will gradually transition to the steam age"
"Perhaps the chief minister can't imagine it for a while, but I can give a rough description."
"The emergence of steam carriages and steam ships will make communication between various places closer, whether it is transporting people or transporting people The goods will be very convenient and fast, and it can also greatly reduce the number of people employed in the place and produce more valuable and meaningful things."
"Nowadays, most of the people in the world are trapped in the fields. "
"It will gradually break away in the future."
"This will not be changed by place, nor by human power."
"This is the general trend."
Xia Zhibai looked at Zhou Ziliang meaningfully, as if he had already seen what Zhou Ziliang was thinking, but he did not deliberately expose it, but used it to reveal his purpose. Said it clearly.
Zhou Ziliang's face changed slightly.
He looked deeply at Xia Zhibai and said with a smile: "Heroes really come from young."
"The world is really lucky that Xia Qinchen has such great ambitions. ”
"I, Zhou Ziliang, am really fascinated by it."
"But all this will take time, won't it?"
"I still hope that Commissioner Xia Qin can focus on the people in front of him. If this civil unrest turns into civil unrest, no matter how good the idea of Xia Qinchen is, it will all come to nothing. Zhejiang has been in peace for too long, and the people cannot bear such a big fluctuation. "
"I only hope that Commissioner Xia Qin can be more considerate of the people."
"Don't go on the opposite side of the people."
"Don't make a mess in Zhejiang. People's livelihood is difficult. As court officials, we should think more about the people."
Zhou Ziliang looked worried about the people.
Xia Zhibai stood tall and looked forward calmly.
He sighed: "In prosperity, the people suffer; in death, the people suffer; many times there is no control over it. The only thing I can do is to let the people benefit from it. Maybe one day, I, the Ming Dynasty, can abolish agricultural taxes. , can abolish corvee and bring peace to the people."
Hearing this.
Zhou Ziliang was stunned.
Abolition of agricultural taxes and abolition of corvee.
There was a strange color on his face. How is this possible?
Without agricultural taxes and corvee labor, where would the court collect money?
Will it fall from the sky?
Xia Zhibai's idea is really whimsical.
(End of this chapter)