As for the civil servant exam, Zhu Yijun went back to the palace after the exam. He had nothing to do with the rest of the exam. However, the news about the civil servant exam spread quickly, such as the news that the emperor would come in person.
Some people were jealous, some were disdainful, and some were envious. There were all kinds of attitudes.
On the other hand, the Elementary Scholars who participated in the civil servant examination were all very happy.
As a Elementary Scholar, it was a great thing to be favored by the Emperor. If they were really chosen, they might have a bright future ahead of them.
Although there were all kinds of opinions, the news still caused a lot of discussion among the Elementary Scholars. Everyone was waiting to see who would pass the examination.
The capital was in chaos, while Yangzhou was in a state of panic.
The Imperial Court had beheaded a lot of people in Hejian Prefecture, especially the officials. Their properties were confiscated and they were exiled. This kind of punishment scared many people.
This time, the Imperial Court had sent an Imperial Envoy to Yangzhou. The salt officials in Yangzhou were really scared to death.
Whether it was Cao Yikui or Zhang Jing, both of them were famous in the salt field.
Not only the salt officials in Yangzhou, but all the salt officials in the two Huai Provinces were scared.
Although there were many places that produced salt in the Daming, everyone knew that the main production area of the Daming was the two Huai Provinces.
The two Huai Provinces produced seventy to eighty percent of the salt in the Daming every year. The oil there was like an oil depot.
Guarding such a large oil depot, everyone was like a rat. Now that the Imperial Court wanted to catch the rat, how could they not be afraid?
On the official ship heading to Yangzhou, there were tables and chairs in Zhang Jing's cabin. The atmosphere was good. There were music and beautiful dancers.
These people were arranged by Xu Weizhi, the heir to the Duke of Wei. Since they were in his territory, it was up to him to arrange.
"Eunuch Chang, come, this is our Duke's House's precious wine. Drink a few cups!" Xu Weizhi said to Zhang Jing with a smile.
Although Xu Weizhi had been trained in the Royal Martial Arts Hall for many years, he had never changed his playboy nature.
Even if he didn't indulge in sensual pleasures, he was still very familiar with it.
For example, this trip to Yangzhou with Zhang Jing was an opportunity for Xu Weizhi.
He had also entered the Education Palace, but he had entered rather late, so he could be considered a latecomer.
Compared to the people who had entered earlier, they were not just a little worse. Compared to Zhang Weixian of the House of Lords and Xu Xiti of the Dingguo Public House, they were even worse.
However, Xu Weizhi felt that this was a chance for him to overtake others. If he did well in Yangzhou, he would definitely be put in an important position.
If Zhang Jing put in a good word for him, that would be the best. Who didn't know Zhang Jing? He was the favorite of the current emperor!
"Thank you for your hospitality, Junior Duke!"
Zhang Jing raised his glass with a smile and made a toast to Xu Weizhi. Then, he drained his glass.
Regarding this trip to Yangzhou, Zhang Jing naturally attached great importance to it.
Although he was a favorite of the Imperial Majesty and was deeply trusted by the Imperial Majesty, Zhang Jing knew that the Imperial Majesty attached great importance to this task.
If he messed it up, his position would probably be gone, and he couldn't bear it.
Xu Xiti was the local tyrant of Jiangnan, and the distance between Nanjing and Yangzhou was very close. This time, he still had to rely on him!
The two hit it off immediately, and there was a tendency to regret not having met earlier. The more they chatted, the more congenial they became.
As for Cao Yikui, his face was cold. The two also knew that they wouldn't be in the same pot, so they simply didn't greet him.
On the other hand, the Chief Steward of the Ministry of Internal Affairs, Li Zhonghang, sat there and drank with a smile, looking like a little brother.
Although Li Zhonghang behaved like this, whether it was Zhang Jing or Xu Xiti, no one dared to look down on him.
Zhang Jing knew the arrangements and importance that the Imperial Majesty placed on Li Zhonghang, so he naturally didn't dare to offend him.
Although Xu Xiti didn't know what this Ministry of Internal Affairs was, if the Emperor arranged for him to come here, then it was definitely very important.
"Daren Li, these singers were all trained by our Duke of Wei Residence since they were young. They are very pleasant. If Daren Li likes them, why don't you gift them to Daren Li?"
Xu Xiti knew that this time, Li Zhonghang was here to clean up the aftermath. This meant that in the future, many things in the salt administration would be decided by Li Zhonghang.
Faced with such a big piece of fat meat like the salt administration, how could the Duke of Wei Residence not want to take a bite?
If they wanted to take a bite, they had to treat this Li Zhonghang well. Xu Xiti believed that he wouldn't not give face to the Duke of Wei Residence.
Li Zhonghang wasn't stupid. He was a businessman, and he was extremely shrewd. This time, when he went to Yangzhou, the Emperor didn't tell any Honours not to interfere with the salt works.
Obviously, this was the loophole that the Emperor left for him, so Li Zhonghang naturally understood.
In Jiangnan, the most powerful force was the Duke of Wei Residence. They could offend anyone but them.
Not to mention other things, the Duke of Wei Residence controlled the Military Governor's Office of the Five Armies in Nanjing. Perhaps they couldn't do good things, but they were the best at doing bad things.
Not to mention other things, just the soldiers who set up the checkpoints and guarded the city gates, if these people caused trouble for you, you wouldn't be able to bear it!
Although he had the Emperor backing him and wasn't afraid, if he obtained the support of the Duke of Wei Residence, then his career would definitely take off!
Along the way, Li Zhonghang and Xu Xiti chatted happily. They both had a tacit understanding in their hearts. A simple alliance of benefits was formed without anyone saying anything.
The two of them also gave each other some gifts, and it seemed like they wanted to become close friends.
However, Li Zhonghang didn't dare to accept the women that Xu Xiti gave him, so he quickly waved his hand to refuse.
"This official accepts Young Duke's good intentions, but I'm going to Yangzhou to work for the Emperor, so I absolutely don't dare to indulge in women!" Li Zhonghang said righteously.
Zhang Jing was right here, and now that he was smiling, who knew what he would say to the Emperor?
In addition, Li Zhonghang knew that the Emperor had an all-pervasive Inner Yard. Li Zhonghang absolutely didn't believe that there weren't people from the Inner Yard here.
Glancing at Li Zhonghang, Zhang Jing narrowed his eyes and smiled, "Then let's drink!"
In reality, Zhang Jing didn't know if there were people from the Inner Yard here. It should be known that Xu De from the Inner Yard was always sneaky, and Zhang Jing even frowned when he saw him now.
Faced with the elusive Inner Yard, he didn't have any confidence!
The three of them each had their own worries and thoughts, but they chatted happily.
Following behind them, Cao Yikui stood at the bow of the ship. This ship wasn't as brightly lit as the one in front, which made Cao Yikui feel like he was in darkness.
The dim yellow light from the bow shone on Cao Yikui's body, making him look somewhat terrifying.
The expressionless Cao Yikui looked at the ship in front of him, his eyes shining.
Yangzhou City, Yangzhou Transport Envoy Yan Huaiyuan's residence.
Compared to other people, Yan Huaiyuan was like a bird startled by the mere twang of a bow. He was very scared.
It should be known that when the court investigated the salt administration, he, the transport envoy, was the first to bear the brunt.
This was something that couldn't be avoided, and it couldn't be avoided.
Yan Huaiyuan, who was in his forties, was originally very high-spirited, and his entire person exuded a sense of shrewdness. However, at this moment, he seemed to have aged a lot.
There were more wrinkles on his face and the corners of his eyes, and his brows were even deeper. He seemed to have aged a few years.
Although there was wine and food on the table, and it was very sumptuous, Yan Huaiyuan didn't touch a single chopstick. He only sighed as he sat on the chair.
"Master, you should eat a bit!"
Yan Huaiyuan's concubine, Yun Niang, looked at Yan Huaiyuan and said with some worry.
Raising his head to look at Yun Niang, Yan Huaiyuan's expression became even uglier. He said unhappily, "Eat, eat, eat what? If you eat any more, your head will be gone!" As he said this, he slammed the table fiercely, "How did you catch up to me?"
Yangzhou's transport envoy was also an official position, and people would be replaced when it was an official position. Yan Huaiyuan didn't think about holding this position for long. After all, this was a lucrative position!
But why did this kind of thing happen when he was Yangzhou's transport envoy!
Raising his head to look at the pitiful Yun Niang, Yan Huaiyuan's expression was very complicated.
Yan Huaiyuan still remembered that when he first came to Yangzhou, Yangzhou's subordinates welcomed him.
During the meal, Yun Niang came to dance. That delicate face, that graceful figure, all of them attracted Yan Huaiyuan.
At that time, there were only four words in his mind: as beautiful as a peach!
That night, he drank a few more cups, and at night, Yun Niang was sent to his bed.
As a scholar, Yan Huaiyuan had seen this kind of thing many times. He didn't treat it as a big deal and directly did it.
What he didn't expect was that Yun Niang was still a virgin. This made Yan Huaiyuan overjoyed.
The next day, Yun Niang was sent to his own house and became his concubine.
From then on, he couldn't stop himself. Money, women, whatever he wanted, he got it.
If he liked antiques, he would buy them. If he liked houses, he would buy them. However, buying and buying were not the same. A Tang Yin's fan cost fifteen taels of silver.
Others said it was fake, but both he and the other party knew that it was real.
Tang Yin's fan was something that could only be found and not sought. There were people who wanted it for ten thousand taels of silver, and he spent fifteen taels of silver.
Recalling all of this, Yan Huaiyuan felt as if it was yesterday. He reached out and held Yun 'er's hand. Yan Huaiyuan sighed and said, "Tomorrow morning, pack up. Bring some gold and silver and leave with Qian' er!"
The Qian 'er that Yan Huaiyuan was talking about was the daughter that Yun Niang gave birth to for Yan Huaiyuan. She was just a little over one year old.
"I bought a house in Taixing. It's not big, and it's about a hundred mu of land. You can live there for a period of time."
Saying this, Yan Huaiyuan reached out to touch Yun Niang and smiled, "If I can make it this time, I will resign."
"Let's find a beautiful place. You play the zither and I will read."
Yun Niang listened to Yan Huaiyuan's words and kept shaking her head. Tears fell down her cheeks.
"If I can't make it, then you can live a good life with Qian 'er. If there's a suitable person, find someone to marry. Don't make yourself suffer.
You don't need to guard for me. I don't believe in that kind of thing. "Saying this, Yan Huaiyuan's eyes turned red.
"Master, why is it like this!" Yun Niang cried, "It's more than this!"
Yan Huaiyuan smiled and wiped away Yun Niang's tears, "Listen to me. Raise Qian 'er well and find a son-in-law for her. Remember that his surname is Yan. This can be considered as continuing the Yan family's lineage."