Chapter 81: This is a jumping clown, why should you take action?
Taimo County.

More than a month passed before Xi Zhicai was driven back.

The oil pressing work is coming to an end and he can relax a little.

In the past, Xi Zhicai would never have believed how difficult it was to govern a township with 3,000 households.

It was not until I used Jin Yun's method to manage it that I realized it was not that simple.

Unlike Yu Fan, Xi Zhicai came from a poor family. Even if he put aside his arrogance due to his talent, he was actually not much better than Jin Yun.

However, Jin Yun did much better than Xi Zhicai.

Jin Yun is Jin Mao's cousin, and the two brothers grew up together. Logically, Jin Yun would be a little arrogant after Jin Mao came to power, but Jin Yun is very humble.

Every time someone praised him, Jin Yun would say, "It's not enough. Zhongdi is much more tired than me. I still need to work harder."

Therefore, Xi Zhicai admires Jin Yun very much. Now that he can calm down and learn to do things, he finds that there are many tricks involved.

At the same time, he understood Jin Mao's purpose of wanting him to come and gain experience.

"This place is very different from the outside world. If I follow my previous experience and ideas, I'm afraid it will go in the wrong direction in governing it."

Xi Zhicai reflected: "If I rashly take a high position, how much disaster will it cause?"

However, Xi Zhicai did not agree with Jin Yun on many points. One person does not have so much energy to do everything himself, so he must share the burden with others.

However, no matter how many times Xi Zhicai persuaded him, Jin Yun remained determined: "If I can only govern one county, then I am willing to be a county magistrate for my whole life."

"If I am lucky enough to govern a county, I will die without regrets, and I will have done my part for my second brother."

Xi Zhicai was filled with awe. Compared to Yu Fan, he respected Jin Yun more.

To be honest, in Xi Zhicai's eyes, Yu Fan was a person who was strict with others but lenient with himself.

You can’t tell at ordinary times, but after we drink together, his drinking habits are really bad.

The most outrageous thing is that Yu Fan is unaware of this and thinks of himself as a gentleman.

Xi Zhicai didn't know what to say.

this day.

Liu Ping came to see Xi Zhicai as requested by Yu Fan.

"Red Talisman?"

Xi Zhicai stroked his chin and thought about it, but he did not change his opinion of Yu Fan.

But Yu Fan is just that kind of person. If you say he is upright, he is upright in a thoughtful way. If you say he is not upright, it is hard to find fault with what he does or says.

"Dong Xi went to Yuyao?"

Instantly, Xi Zhi guessed what Yu Fan was thinking and shook his head, "Not enough! Not enough at all!"

"You have to be brave! If you are going to do it, do it cleanly and neatly. Otherwise, how can you say that you are helping me to relieve my worries?"

Xi Zhicai stood up, pinched his fingers and began to calculate, muttering to himself: "I have to make Zhu Fu obedient, but I can't offend Qiantang Hou..."

"Have it!"

After hearing the plan, Liu Ping said in horror: "This is not good, right? What if something goes wrong?"

Xi Zhicai shrugged and said, "Yu Zhongxiang started this matter, so naturally he should take full responsibility. Besides, he was the one who asked me for my opinion."

Liu Ping:"…"

Wushang County.

Yu Fan was surprised and asked, "Did that demon really say that?"

Liu Ping nodded seriously, and couldn't help but worry about Jin Mao. It seemed that the two counselors were not getting along?
Just when Liu Ping was daydreaming.

Yu Fan said, "I will trouble you to go again and invite He Gongmiao, Ling Cao, Yang Lin and Huang Xing to come."

"Yes." Liu Ping agreed verbally but was shocked in his heart. Yu Fan was really going to adopt Xi Zhicai's strategy.

After Liu Ping left, Yu Fan put away the half-written letter and opened another bamboo slip. This time the recipient was Zhu Hao.

When the letter was halfway written, He Qi and the other four walked into the hall and said, "Greetings to County Magistrate Yu."

"Please take a seat, all four of you."

"Please tell me if you have something to say." He Qi and others reacted exactly the same as Dong Xi.

Yu Fan no longer exchanged pleasantries and went straight to the point, telling Xi Zhicai his strategy: "You just need to do this and that, and leave the rest to me."

"this…"

Everyone else was very hesitant, except He Qi who thought a little too much.

First of all, Yu Fan had done He Qi a favor by recommending him, and he had to repay him.

Secondly, He Qi thought it was necessary to share the worries of his lord.

Finally, even if things go wrong, there are people who will take the blame and cover the consequences, so what is there to hesitate about?

He Qi was the first to clasp his fists and say, "I am willing to share your worries!"

Once someone expressed his opinion, the other three followed suit. Yu Fan was very satisfied and continued writing the letter.

...

Zhujia, Shangyu County

There was a quarrel in the east wing, and the servants in the mansion dared not make a sound. This was the second time that the eldest and second sons had fought.

Zhu Hao angrily rebuked: "My father-in-law gave you the power of salt and iron, and you did this?"

"Brother, you disappoint me so much. I will write to Grandpa right now and tell him that he was wrong!"

Zhu Fu has been very sensitive lately. When he heard the words "salt and iron", he flew into a rage: "You always believe everything you hear!"

"I'm telling you! What Jin Mao said is all slander!"

Zhu Fu raised his head and said, "It's not the Southern Commander. Brother, don't worry about where I got the news. Please tell me directly whether the salt and iron were sold to the pirates."

Zhu Fu has really been sold before. The pirates have money and offer a high price, so why can’t it be sold?

"No!" Zhu Fu still denied it.

"Humph!" Zhu Hao snorted coldly and threatened: "If I hear about this matter again, brother! You will bear the consequences!"

After Zhu Hao left, Zhu Fu smashed furniture one by one with red eyes, and roared like a wild beast: "Zhu Wenming (Zhu Hao's courtesy name)! You are finally going to seize power!"

"From childhood to adulthood, Grandfather has always doted on you! The servants in the house only love you! Even the private soldiers..."

Zhu Fu roared, "I don't accept it!"

"Why should I do all the dirty work?"

"Why should all the good things be left for you!"

"I don't accept it! I don't accept it!"

Suddenly, Zhu Fu laughed like a lunatic again: "Jin Mao! What are you going to do without iron?"

"If you don't send those 2,000 hu of oil..."

"No! Now it is four thousand hu! Yes! That's four thousand hu!"

"Hahaha!!"

...

On the Zhejiang River between Qiantang County and Yuhang County, a fleet fully loaded with salt and iron was sailing.

Suddenly, shouts and screams came from the other side.

A group of thugs who looked like pirates rushed over in a boat.

Someone from the Salt and Iron Fleet immediately shouted, "How dare you rob the merchant caravan of Marquis Qiantang? Which island are you pirates from?"

The other party didn't say a word, just rushed forward and started chopping with a knife.

"No! You're not pirates!"

Someone immediately recognized that the criminal was no ordinary person.

This group of people are naturally He Qi and others.

Since they were recognized, He Qi and others didn't waste any more words.

"Leave no one alive!"

Within the time it took to stick up an incense stick, no one in the salt and iron fleet was spared, whether they were on the boat or those who jumped into the water.

He Qi sent away his wounded, collected his own bodies, moored the boat, and then stripped Zhu's private soldiers of their equipment.

One team guarded the ship, while the other team went to a distance to change the captain's flag, pretending to have discovered pirates and shouting "Kill the pirates".

In this way, the two groups fought in a "earth-shattering" manner.

In the end, residents on both sides of the county knew that the Zhu family caravan had been robbed and then recaptured by the Southern Commander’s troops.

Only a hundred bodies were left at the scene.

There were also some brave people who saw the soldiers of the Southern Commandery escorting dozens of carts of salt and iron towards Shangyu County.

Soon, the news reached Shangyu County.

At first, Zhu Fu was very worried, but later he became confused when he learned that the salt and iron had been recovered.

Finally, Zhu Fu was very sure: "This is the trick of Jin Mao's child!"

However, Zhu Hao did not see it that way, as Yu Fan's letter clearly stated the dealings between Zhu Fu and the pirates.

The caravan was robbed by pirates and then recaptured. It seemed exactly as Yu Fan had said.

So, the two brothers had another quarrel and this time Zhu Hao clearly stated that he would write a letter to complain.

Zhu Fu was not to be outdone: "You're the only one who can write a letter? I can, too!"

(End of this chapter)