After abandoning the boat and going ashore, Fan Xian walked into the garden with a hint of doubt. Haitang greeted the old man fishing by the lake behind him, but he didn't have much mind for mingling with the people, looking at the fine horses outside the garden, his brow furrowed.

The official who had arrived on horseback had already entered the garden, actually leaving the horse outside without even tying the reins, which showed that he was indeed a bit anxious. The horse lowered its head and wandered about below the stone steps, snorting, sniffing the scent of freshly grown green grass on the ground, but unfortunately it was too tough to chew, and it could only be anxious without being able to eat it.

"My lord." The guards at the door saluted him, and a subordinate came close, preparing to explain something, but Fan Xian waved his hand to stop him. He had already recognized who the angry official was, and thinking that after a year, the other party still had the same temperament as before, he felt a little annoyed.

Intense arguments came faintly from the depths of the residence, and after passing the screen wall, the sound suddenly increased, the words filled with loud accusations, and disappointment and anger flowing from the bottom of the bones.

Fan Xian stopped, turned his head and smiled self-deprecatingly, and said to Haitang, "It's just a small matter, give me some face and don't come in."

Haitang smiled and nodded, walking towards the small path leading to the garden on the side.

Fan Xian straightened his clothes, patiently listening outside for a long time, then coughed lightly twice, putting on the airs of a teacher, placing his hands behind his back, stepping over the high threshold, and walking into the main hall.

In the main hall, two people were red-faced and thick-necked, confronting each other like two fighting cocks. On one side was Shi Chanli, and on the other side was Yang Wanli, whom he hadn't seen for a long time.

After last year's spring examination, Yang Wanli passed the third tier, and because everyone knew that he was a direct descendant of the Fan family, the official in charge of the Ministry of Personnel waved his pen and transferred him to a rich county in Jiangnan to serve as a county magistrate, which was quite a lucrative post. This was still due to the obstruction of Yan Xingshu, the Minister of Personnel, otherwise, with the prestige of the Fan family, it would not have been impossible to directly become a state administrator or a transport judge.

And Yang Wanli really lived up to his mentor Fan Xian's expectations, diligent in government affairs, close to the people and eager to learn. In just one year, he managed his jurisdiction in an orderly manner, so that no one picked up lost articles on the road, and doors were not closed at night. During the Ministry of Personnel's assessment during the autumn period, he received a rating of being clear, cautious, and distinguished, and fair and commendable. During the review by the Court of Justice, he also received an upper-middle rating. Although the term was not yet up, he could not advance, but he was now a dignified official of the sixth rank.

And Hou Jichang and Cheng Jialin, two of the four people under Fan's tutelage, are now officials in Jiaodong Road and the South respectively, and it is said that their official reputations are also good.

After Fan Xian entered the door, he watched Yang Wanli and Shi Chanli quarrel with a cold eye, and found that Yang Wanli was aggressive, but Shi Chanli was retreating step by step. After listening for a while, he knew the reason and sneered.

Yang Wanli turned his head and glanced at him, startled for a moment, frowned, but unexpectedly turned around and continued to express his heartache to Shi Chanli, "Brother Shi, it's fine if you don't want to become an official. Following the mentor, making up for his omissions and doing things with heart can also be considered as seeking welfare for the people... But now the teacher has obviously made a mistake, why don't you remind him when you are by his side? We adhere to the etiquette of disciples, and we must also speak frankly and admonish, which is the right way! Do you know how unbearable the rumors are in Jiangnan? They all say that Magistrate Fan is really a capable official, doing things and how he doesn't know, but this collecting money is blatantly ruthless!"

Yang Wanli was clearly speaking sarcastically, sneering, "...The Great River? I think that is a river of silver. If that ship doesn't scoop up all the silver from the various states, the people in the ship will not be willing to go ashore for a day!"

The more he spoke, the angrier he became, and he waved his sleeves and said, "Serving as an official, benefiting one side, last year the teacher left a letter asking us to do our job well and be good people... But... but... is this how officials are supposed to be? I... I'm almost ashamed to see anyone! Old Shi! I am so disappointed in you! Corrupt worm!伥货 (chang huo,伥鬼’s helper)!"

When Shi Chanli heard the last two adjectives, he was furious. He thought to himself, you kid is doing well as an honest official outside, where do you know how hard it is for me to be a brothel owner in Kyoto? And *chang huo*! You are criticizing the teacher as a tiger that eats the people's marrow... Good for you, Yang Wanli, you haven't been an official for long, but your courage has grown a lot. In a fit of passion, he retorted, "You unworldly pedant! If it weren't for the teacher in Kyoto, do you think you could get an excellent evaluation? You ungrateful fellow!"

Yang Wanli raised his face, his arrogance mixed with sorrow, and said, "Although I only govern one county, within a year, there are no bandits in the county, and the people live in peace... I have lived up to Little Fan's expectations."

In fact, Shi Chanli also understood why the other party was so angry and came directly to the door. The so-called greater the hope, the greater the disappointment. They all hoped to be able to follow Little Fan and make a career in Qing Yu Nian, and they were truly loyal and honest people, but Fan Xian is now in the Imperial Censorate, holding great power... What he is doing... is indeed like a powerful minister, but the gap with a famous minister seems to be getting bigger and bigger.

However, Shi Chanli has been with Fan Xian for many years, and knows the mentor's many difficulties, and his feelings are even deeper. He still subconsciously sneered and retorted, "No bandits? If it weren't for the state camp moving twelve miles into your Fuchun County... do you think those bandits could be scared away by your words of a sage? Twelve miles... insignificant, right? But do you, a small county magistrate, have this ability?"

Yang Wanli was stunned and frowned, asking, "What do you mean by that?"

"What do you mean?" Shi Chanli turned his head and glanced at Fan Xian, his brow furrowed, as if wondering why the guards in the courtyard didn't stop this person, letting outsiders hear his argument with Yang Wanli, which would be terrible if it spread.

...

...

At this time, the most innocent person was of course Fan Xian. The two students were arguing happily, and he, the master, had been standing outside for a long time, but no one paid attention to him. He was about to be dried by the wind. He continued Shi Chanli's words and said with a smile, "It doesn't mean anything. It's just that the old man at home felt sorry for you guys and wrote a letter to the command adjudant of the state."

Only then did the two people in the argument hear Fan Xian's voice, and they were shocked at the same time. After a long while, they said in surprise, "Is that the teacher?"

Fan Xian rubbed his temples with his hands, rubbing off the glue on the corners of his eyebrows, and his eyebrows returned to their original position. His handsome face was restored to its original appearance. He had forgotten to remove his makeup after entering the house, which made the two people who were arguing so enthusiastically not recognize him.

He smiled bitterly and said, "You have to argue behind closed doors. I heard it. If outsiders heard it... I'm afraid they would think that something had happened to the old Fan family that was rebellious and ungrateful."

...

...

The hall of the manor suddenly became quiet. Thinking that the content of their argument had all fallen into Fan Xian's ears, both Shi Chanli and Yang Wanli were a little embarrassed.

The two invited Fan Xian to sit in the middle, serving on both sides. Although Fan Xian was younger in age, the ridiculous seniority of teacher and student was here, so they had to do it properly.

Yang Wanli touched his head with a headache, and suddenly thought of Fan Xian's last sentence... Rebellious and ungrateful? He suddenly raised his head and shouted, "My lord! I didn't mean that."

Fan Xian looked at him amusedly, knowing that Yang Wanli was born in a poor and cold family in Fujian, and despised corrupt officials the most, and his temperament was straightforward and fiery, otherwise he would not have broken into the door in such a rash manner, and asked, "Fuchun County is two hundred miles away from Hangzhou. You, a civil servant, didn't bring any yamen servants and rushed here. You scolded me to my face as a tiger that eats people and doesn't spit out bones. What is this if not being rebellious...?"

He was joking, but Yang Wanli couldn't bear the weight of this joke. But Yang Wanli's temperament was really upright. He bit his teeth, walked to Fan Xian and bowed to the end, and said in a deep voice, "The student is wrong. The mistake is that he shouldn't have spoken ill of the adults behind their backs."

Fan Xian was slightly surprised, thinking how this guy turned around so quickly.

Unexpectedly, Yang Wanli changed the subject and said straightforwardly, "But since the teacher has returned to the mansion, I will say it to your face. You also know that I have never been afraid to speak frankly about the faults of my elders."

"Speak." Fan Xian said helplessly, "You just have this stubborn personality."

"This time, the adults are going to Jiangnan to manage the finances for the court. The student thinks that the adults have three shouldn'ts." Yang Wanli didn't listen to Fan Xian's evaluation of his temperament at all.

"Three shouldn'ts?" Fan Xian was taken aback, thinking that it was just the problem of Su Wenmao, that damned fellow, collecting money, but he didn't expect to have three shouldn'ts... You thought you were Chi Zhiqiang singing ten shouldn'ts in prison!

"The adults shouldn't condone their subordinates to plunder the people's wealth along the river and use the people's labor." Yang Wanli didn't sleep well all night before deciding to come to Hangzhou to "admonish" him face to face, and said painfully, "When the Beijing ships go south, the officials of the states and counties along the river deliberately curry favor and send gifts like mountains, and also drive the people to pull the boats. The water in Jiangnan is calm. If it weren't for the deliberate slow speed of the big ship, where would there be a need for trackers? This matter has already spread throughout Jiangnan and become a laughing stock. And where did the gifts sent by the officials of the states and counties along the river come from? Isn't it just adding exorbitant taxes and levies, plundering the people's income? The adults shouldn't be the chief of the Imperial Censorate, but ignore the national law, accept bribes, ignore the people's hearts, and enslave the suffering masses!"

Fan Xian pretended not to hear, waved his hand and asked Shi Chanli to pour a cup of tea, and drank it gurglingly.

Seeing his expression, Yang Wanli felt a little uneasy, wondering if the mentor was really angry, but it made his anger even stronger, and he said directly, "The adults shouldn't mobilize the navy ships of Jiangnan to escort them. Although the adults have the status of an imperial envoy, since they didn't make it clear from the beginning, but traveled in the stars and at night, this is already a violation of the system. Since it is a stealth trip, but also mobilize officers and soldiers to escort, in addition to violating the system, it is also overstepping the etiquette, disturbing the place, and relaxing the defense, which is a major mistake."

Fan Xian spat out the tea in his mouth with a puff, and scolded with a smile, "Do you want me to be hacked to death before you feel comfortable?"

He waved his hand to stop Yang Wanli from continuing, and said, "Let's talk about these two shouldn'ts first." He pondered for a moment, "I have also heard some rumors about the collection of gifts along the river. It does have a very bad impact. According to letters from Kyoto, this matter seems to have become a ridiculous joke in the Kyoto officialdom. They all say that I, Little Fan, was suffocated in Kyoto, and when I went to Jiangnan, I couldn't wait to scrape off a few layers of skin..."

Yang Wanli was slightly happy to hear him speak, and said, "That's right, not to mention the problem of violating laws and regulations, just talking about this impact will have a great impact on the adults' official reputation..."

"It has a great impact on your official reputation, right?" Fan Xian said mockingly, "You said earlier that you were ashamed to see anyone. Wanli, you are一心想做个青史留名的清官(single-mindedly wanting to be an honest official who will be remembered in history), but you have me, a greedy official mentor who makes a lot of money, so you must feel a little unhappy in your heart, and I understand. However..."

He changed the subject: "No matter how the Jiangnan officials see it, how the people see it, how the six ministries in Kyoto discuss it, I don't care about others... The problem is, you are my disciple, how can you think that I will be greedy for money?"

Yang Wanli was stunned, thinking that the great achievements of your big ship are facts, and the evidence is conclusive. Now people are rumored that the reason why Magistrate Fan went to Jiangnan to do it in such a mysterious way, dividing it into three routes in the north, middle, and south, was to greedily collect the tributes from the three routes at once. Is it wrong for others to say that about you?

"I have a lot of money." Fan Xian looked at Yang Wanli and scolded angrily, "Why do I need to be greedy for money? What's wrong with your head?"

"You and Ji Chang and Jialin receive silver sent from the old man in Kyoto every month. Why is that? Isn't it just to prevent you from being pulled into the water by the money of your surrounding colleagues? I have the same requirements for you, let alone myself?"

Since being released after the spring examination last year, Yang Wanli and the other two have been receiving silver notes sent from Kyoto every month, and the amount has long exceeded their salaries. This matter actually has nothing to do with Fan Xian. He didn't think of such details. It was all Fan Shangshu who was carefully taking care of it for his son.

With the silver, Yang Wanli and the other two were much more financially comfortable, and they also used the silver to do some practical things. He was touched by Fan Xian's concern for the details, and was frightened by Fan Xian's rare anger, and quickly replied, "Thank you, teacher."

Fan Xian scolded with a smile, "You thank me for giving you money. Don't you think about where the money comes from? ... Of course, it's not greedy. You know that I have several businesses under my name. I can afford to support you few officials."

Yang Wanli frowned and said, "But... the ship on the river?"

"What does that ship have to do with me?" Fan Xian's face was a little shameless, "If you want to make a name for yourself by scolding corrupt officials, go to the ship and scold those people. You came to Hangzhou to scold me to my face... Yang Wanli, your courage is really not small."

Yang Wanli said bitterly, "Teacher, those people are your subordinates!"

Fan Xian said with a smile, "Yes, my subordinates are collecting money, but I don't ask about it. It seems that everything is being carried out under my instructions? This is just a play, why are you in such a hurry."

Shi Chanli also persuaded from the side, "The adults must have a deep meaning. You barged in today, I'm afraid it will make many people laugh their heads off in the dark."

Yang Wanli thought that this was also the truth. Even if Little Fan wanted to be greedy, he wouldn't be so grand and so lowly. Could it be that he really thought wrong?

"There is not much deep meaning." Fan Xian sighed and said, "But there is a play to be performed in Suzhou on the third day of the third month. That play is too cheesy. I feel goosebumps just thinking about it. You will understand when you watch it."

Yang Wanli now believed Fan Xian's statement and didn't dare to say anything more. He regretted coming too rashly. If he delayed the mentor's plan to manage the treasury, it would be bad.

"Let's talk about the second shouldn't." Fan Xian frowned, "Wanli, you are too naive. Do you really think this is a prosperous age?"

Yang Wanli was slightly stunned, thinking that the country is peaceful and the people are safe, and the weather is good, where is the falsity? Fan Xian sneered and scared him, "If I don't mobilize the navy to protect the boat, that ship could be dragged to the bottom of the river by water ghosts at any time, do you believe it?"

Looking at Yang Wanli's expression, he knew that he would not believe it after all. Fan Xian shook his head and said, "I will not hide the matter of the inner treasury from you. What I have to deal with is not only the resident worms in the inner treasury, but also the powerful families in Jiangnan, and even the officials in the entire Jiangnan and the dignitaries in Kyoto... How did the Ming family start? How did they make their family business so big?"

Faced with this question, Yang Wanli shook his head. Shi Chanli also only recently learned about the secret report of the Imperial Censorate and Xia Xifei of the Jiangnan Water Village.

"Pirates!" A fierce look flashed in Fan Xian's eyes, "The Ming family received the goods from the inner treasury, went out to sea from Quanzhou, all the way north to Dongyi City, and all the way south to the洋鬼子 (yang guizi, foreign devils) outside the western sky. In these years, they would always encounter pirates after going out to sea. One out of three ships would always be lost..."

Yang Wanli frowned, thinking that he had also been in contact with the Ming family, and they were all gentle and kind wealthy men. It's not good to let them be responsible for encountering pirates at sea. Could it be that the adults' words have a hidden meaning?

Fan Xian said coldly, "In fact, those pirates are all from the Ming family themselves!"

Yang Wanli was shocked.

"The inner treasury's products encountered pirates, and the Ming family had to pay compensation to the inner treasury... It seems like they lost money, but in fact, they robbed the goods and secretly transported them overseas to sell them. They no longer have to pay the court's 60% dividend for a ship of goods, and they only pay the cost to the inner treasury... The profit from this ship is more than the profit from the other two ships. It's just a pity that there are so many dead souls at sea in these years."

Yang Wanli was dumbfounded and muttered, "They... the Ming family can't make much money. Why do they dare to take this risk of beheading?"

What Fan Xian said was what the Imperial Censorate and Xia Xifei had found out in cooperation in recent days. It was just a pity that they had never had any living witnesses. The Ming family had used this ruthless method to make a lot of money over the years. These people were extremely ruthless in their actions. The news was tight, and they were protected by dignitaries, so the whole court only thought that the voyage to the South was full of bad winds and dangerous waves, and pirates were rampant, but they never thought that the Ming family robbed their own goods, playing the trick of merchants and bandits being one family.

He stood up, stared into Yang Wanli's eyes, and said, "Once there is an appropriate profit, merchants will become bold. With 50% profit, they will take risks; for 100% profit, they will dare to trample on all Qing laws; with 300% profit, they will dare to commit any crime, and even risk being hanged, and not put the court in their eyes."

Yang and Shi both lowered their heads, shaken by Marx's famous words, and savored them for a long time.

"What's more... there have always been people in the court who are on their side." Fan Xian sneered, "If they earn money through proper exports, they have to register it. Where can they spend the money outside the account so smoothly and safely?"

This sentence was about the affairs of Xinyang. If it weren't for this ruthless method, it would definitely be much more difficult for the Princess to get money from the inner treasury under the long-term surveillance of the Imperial Censorate.

"Every copper coin is dripping with blood." Fan Xian educated Yang Wanli, "If you and I want to do things, we must ensure our own safety. The Ming family can kill people and will kill people. When the time comes to really fight to the death, they won't be afraid to kill me! At the moment of life and death, what are we talking about etiquette... You've been an official for too long, don't turn into a piece of朽木 (xiumu, rotten wood)!"

Yang Wanli was stunned. He had studied hard for ten years, and after becoming an official, he had the shadow of Fan Xian's big tree to protect him in secret. He had never really felt the dangers of the world. At this time, he was criticized by Fan Xian and finally woke up a little.

After calming down a little, Fan Xian waved his hand and said, "Forget it, let's not mention these things for now. Although you came to kick the door today, there are indeed not many guests in this garden. We haven't seen each other for a year. We always have some things to say. We will prepare some wine and dishes later, and we will have a good drink."

Yang Wanli was dejected, but knowing that the mentor still regarded him as the closest person, he was relieved, but he regretted his recklessness. He suddenly thought of one thing and asked hesitantly, "That third shouldn't..."

Fan Xian scolded with a smile, "You won't offend me to the end, it seems like you can't eat, say it."

Yang Wanli thought for a while, and felt that this matter was indeed wrong of the mentor, so he said with confidence, "Recently, auspicious omens have been appearing everywhere. Officials and people will always say a few words at the wine table. The student has never said it in front of others, but in front of the teacher, I have to venture to say, serving people with beauty will not last long, and flattering for favor is not the integrity that court officials should uphold. What the teacher did is really inconsistent with morality."

Fan Xian was stunned, knowing that although Yang Wanli was stubborn, he was still very smart. He could see that the auspicious omens everywhere were created by himself, but this kid actually... dared to scold himself for拍皇帝马屁 (pai huangdi map, sucking up to the Emperor) in front of him!

"滚滚滚 (gun gun gun, Get out Get out Get out)!" Fan Xian was really angry and scolded, "You don't even want to eat, go back to your Fuchun County and drink porridge!"

Yang Wanli was also straightforward at this time, allowing the teacher's saliva to wash his face, with a face full of righteousness, and said, "The student will drink porridge in Peng Garden today."

Fan Xian flapped his sleeves angrily and went out, and Shi and Yang quickly followed behind him, not daring to leave even half a step. Until this time, this young man who was not yet twenty years old finally had some of the appearance of a young man, and was no longer the teacher who sat upright, spoke cautiously, and pretended to be experienced and mature.

...

...

March 3rd, the Dragon Raises Its Head.

The convoy visiting relatives in Danzhou and the Beijing ships sailing down the Silver River all arrived at the pier outside Suzhou City on this day. And the night before, a team from Hangzhou had quietly boarded the ship. The three teams from Kyoto finally successfully met in Jiangnan.

On the pier, gongs and drums were sounding, firecrackers were exploding, officials of all levels in Jiangnan Road were in formal attire, under the guidance of the sign, looking forward to the arrival of the Taixue Siye (太学司业, Director of Imperial Academy) and Tai Changsi Shaoqing (太常寺少卿, Vice Minister of the Court of Imperial Sacrifices) and acting director of the Inner Treasury Transport Envoy Division (内库运使司, Inner Treasury Transport Envoy Division) and the chief envoy of the Imperial Censorate (监察院, Imperial Censorate) and the governor of Jiangnan Road (江南路, Jiangnan Road) and the Imperial Envoy... Little Fan, Fan Xian.

(Fan Xian has so many positions, this chapter is really difficult to write, I don't know why.)