I

Guangxin Fucheng (Shangrao).

Fei Yinghuan handed over the invitation to the government office and returned to the inn to wait.

He followed Bing Beidao into battle and annihilated the Taihu water bandits. When he performed meritorious service, he was given money and was finally promoted again. Now it is the prefecture of Funing, which governs Fu'an and Ningde counties. It is a poor and rich state.

Poverty is due to insufficient food production and the people's lives are miserable.

The reason for being rich is that smuggling is rampant on the sea. As long as you cooperate honestly with the gentry pirates, there will definitely be money to be made.

Fei Yinghuan went to Fujian to take up his post and happened to pass by his hometown. In fact, he had long wanted to go home and have a look. He heard that Jiangxi was full of rebels and bandits, and even his hometown was in trouble. He had been worried about something going wrong.

When passing through Guangxin Fucheng, Fei Yinghuan came specially to see the prefect and wanted to ask the prefect to take more care of the Fei family.

At this moment, Zhang Yinggao, the prefect of Guangxin, was paying homage to the remains of Xin Qiji's Jiaxuan Manor.

Hearing that the magistrate of Funing had paid a visit to him and that he was a descendant of the Fe family, Zhang Yinggao immediately returned to the government office and sent someone to invite Fei Yinghuan to come as a guest the next day.

Zhang Yinggao was from Beizhili and had nothing to do with the Donglin Party. The younger brother of Jiangxi Commander-in-Chief Li Ruolian, who had just been demoted and transferred, was a good friend of Zhang Yinggao, and both of them studied under Zhu Zhengse at the same time.

Zhu Zhengse is also very interesting. He was promoted by Zhang Juzheng, but when he was a local official, he severely investigated Zhang Juzheng's brother for corruption and bending the law. The officials of the Ministry of Personnel were frightened and wanted to remove Zhu Zhengse, but Zhang Juzheng said that the investigation was good and let Zhu Zhengse stay there as an official.

In fact, it was Zhang Juzheng who knew that his tribe was messing around and sent Zhu Zhengse to govern his hometown!

Why was Zhang Yinggao, the prefect of Guangxin, able to quickly wipe out the Qianshan religious bandits? His whole body ability is learned from Zhu Zhengse. Zhu Zhengse managed the Yellow River, served as a border minister, and even innovated weapons and tactics.

Today, Guangxin Prefecture has five thousand local warriors, and their combat effectiveness far exceeds the pacesetters of the Jiangxi governor.

"Fei Yinghuan, who was born late, pays homage to Dan Rugong!" Fei Yinghuan's attitude was very respectful. After all, he was the parent official of his hometown.

Zhang Yinggao said with a smile, "Dazhao doesn't need to stick to etiquette."

Fei Yinghuan said: "The Qianshan cult bandits were able to be exterminated quickly, all thanks to Danru Gong's soldiers as gods."

Zhang Yinggao said: "Thanks to Fei's help, otherwise how would I have the money and food to feed the troops to fight?"

Both sides complimented each other, and the guest and host were immediately in harmony, and the atmosphere was in place.

After chatting for a long time, Zhang Yinggao suddenly said: "Although the Qianshan sect bandits have been wiped out, the Nanfeng sect bandits are still there. The Luling Zhao bandits have even taken over the three prefectures and fifteen counties. The villagers of Guangxin Prefecture cannot Come on, we still need Da Zhao to persuade the elders of the Fei clan on this matter."

The sweeping king, Sailu Bu, these rebels were all regarded by the court as Zhao Han's tribe.

Therefore, in the eyes of the imperial court, the territory of the Luling Zhao thieves already included three prefectures and fifteen counties.

As for Zhang Yinggao, the prefect of Guangxin, his current situation is also very embarrassing. He wants to continue training troops to fight across the prefecture. But the local gentry disagreed, because the Qianshan religious bandits had been wiped out and Guangxin Prefecture had been stabilized. Why should they donate money and food to raise soldiers and go to other state capitals to fight against the rebels?

The gentry are short-sighted and only focus on their own one-third of an acre.

Zhang Yinggao added: "Rebellion against thieves and rebellion is not a matter for one prefecture or one county. If the Zhao thieves are allowed to grow bigger, how can Guangxin Prefecture be spared?"

Fei Ying hugged his fists and said, "Don't worry, Mr. Dan Ru. I will tell the elders in the clan and advise them to support Fu Zun's military training."

"Thank you so much." Zhang Yinggao said with a smile.

Fei Yinghuan asked: "Didn't the Luling Zhao thief only have three counties? How come there are three prefectures and fifteen counties?"

"Alas," Zhang Yinggao sighed, "in May of this year, the governor led nearly 20,000 land and sea troops to fight the Zhao thief in Linjiang Mansion. The two sides faced off for more than a month, and by mid-June, the army was defeated. Fifteen thousand The land division was almost completely wiped out. Only half of the navy division of more than 2,000 people escaped back to Nanchang."

Fei Yinghuan said in shock: "That Luling Zhao thief is so good?"

"If this were not the case, how could the imperial court allow Guangdong, Guangxi and Fujian to join in the encirclement and suppression campaign?" Zhang Yinggao said, "The guest soldiers from Guangdong, Guangxi and Fujian are now suppressing bandits in southern Jiangxi. If the Zhao thieves cannot be put down quickly, when the guest soldiers from other provinces enter in large numbers, the people of Jiangxi will have to Lives are ruined."

Fei Yinghuan finally paid attention and said, "The younger generation will definitely lobby the elders of the Fei clan to help them with money and support. If the Zhao thief is not eliminated, how can Jiangxi be stable?"

The two chatted more and more harmoniously, and Zhang Yinggao invited Fei Yinghuan to have a banquet.

Although there was wine and meat, it was not extravagant or extravagant. Fei Yinghuan admired his integrity even more.

In comparison, Fei Yinghuan was really a corrupt official. He made a lot of money during his tenure, and he also liked to enjoy extravagant things.

The next day, Fei Yinghuan took a boat home, followed by Mo Xiang, who was holding a two-year-old child in his arms.

Well, Fei Yinghuan has another son, named Fei Rugao.

On his way home this time, he wanted to give Mo Xiang the title of mother and son, officially take Mo Xiang as his concubine, and name his youngest son in the family tree.

Mr. Lou would not object and had already promised Mo Xiang to take a concubine.

When Fei Yinghuan returned home this time, the battle became even bigger, after all, he is the prefect now. Mr. Fei ordered the whole family to go out and ask his second son and third son to go directly to the dock to greet him. There were more than two hundred people in the team. Except for the servants who chopped firewood and made the fire, and the eldest maid beside the master, all the other servants went to the dock.

After talking with his parents and brothers for a long time, it was not until evening that Fei Yinghuan had time to discuss business with his wife.

Mo Xiang handed her son over to the nanny, and she seemed to have turned into a maid again, serving Lou's side respectfully.

Mrs. Lou didn't treat her harshly either, she just smiled and asked Mo Xiang to sit down, and even called her younger sister affectionately. The wives and concubines are harmonious, and the scenes are beautiful, but they are all trained by Lou.

After Fei Yinghuan came in, he immediately dismissed the maids and sent Mo Xiang away as well.

There were only the couple left in the room. Fei Yinghuan suddenly looked serious and asked, "I have urged you many times in my letters to send Ru Lan to Huzhou to get married. Why have you kept pushing back?"

Lou smiled and said, "Husband, Ru Lan is already married, and she sent a letter saying she is pregnant."

"Who is the husband?" Fei Yinghuan was very unhappy. As a father, he didn't even know who his daughter would marry.

"The one you brought home." Lou replied.

"Zhao Han?" Fei Yinghuan said confusedly, "Didn't he have his honor revoked?"

Regarding Zhao Han, Fei Yinghuan was also very unhappy, but after all, it was his own father who did it, and he couldn't just cause the father and son to turn against each other because of an outsider.

"well!"

Mrs. Lou sighed: "Does your husband know about the Zhao thief in Luling?"

Fei Yinghuan nodded and said, "I have heard that this thief has taken over three prefectures and fifteen counties."

Mr. Lou corrected: "There are no three prefectures and fifteen counties, only two prefectures and eight counties. The other rebels only respect his name and are not with him."

"How do you know so clearly?" Fei Yinghuan asked doubtfully.

Lou smiled and said, "The Zhao thief in Luling is Zhao Han."

"What?"

Fei Yinghuan jumped up in shock: "How is that possible? He is only eighteen years old!"

Mr. Lou put away his smile and said seriously: "It's really him."

Fei Yinghuan was completely confused. After a while, he said angrily: "This guy has become a rebel. How can you marry your daughter to him?"

Mr. Lou sighed: "It's not like you raised a good son."

"Ruhe?"

Fei Yinghuan suddenly felt great fear, his eyes widened and he said, "Isn't Ruhe also a thief?"

Lou said: "Zhao Yaonian, the number one general under the Zhao thief in Luling, is your good son Ruhe."

"boom!"

Fei Yinghuan suddenly slumped down in his chair, as if his soul had been emptied out, and he was confused and completely lost the ability to think.

"Husband, husband!"

After a long time, Fei Yinghuan was awakened by his wife. His mouth was dry and he gritted his teeth and said: "They have done a great job. They want to wipe out the Fei family!"

Lou said: "Since your son rebelled, I have been reading the Tang newspaper every month. I feel that the Ming Dynasty is definitely coming to an end, and Zhao Han and Ruhe may not be able to succeed. Even Jishui Li Meng'an has already left the country long ago. Thief. And the prefect of Yuanzhou has also become a thief this year. Jiangxi officers and soldiers are no match for them."

"Let me think quietly."

Fei Yinghuan gradually regained his consciousness and began to think seriously. His son had rebelled, and he had to think carefully about the pros and cons.

He is the foster father of the rebel leader. Even if he is not the real foster father, his identity will definitely be confirmed in the future. His son is Jiangxi's No. 2 rebel. His daughter has married a rebel leader and seems to be pregnant.

What's the difference between this and his own rebellion?

Suddenly, Fei Yinghuan's breathing became a little rapid. While he was scared, he was also a little excited.

If Zhao Han can really succeed, isn't he the head of the country?

His son is at least the founding minister!

Don't think like this, don't think like this, Fei Yinghuan warned himself to be loyal to the emperor.

But the more he thinks about it, the more he can't stop, because the reality is already like this, he can no longer be loyal to the emperor, he can only rebel against the thief!

Lou suddenly added: "Your fourth brother is also in Brother Han's army. Fei Chun is in charge of money and food matters. Fei Yuanjian over at Henglin is now the anti-thief magistrate. Even Fei Yuanjian's book boy has It's brother Han's secretary, equivalent to the court's Zhongshu Sheren."

Fei Yinghuan was already numb to hearing this, and said with a wry smile, "The Fei family really has a lot of talents."

"My husband has to make a decision." Lou reminded.

After serious thinking, Fei Yinghuan said, "I'll go to Ji'an Mansion first, how can I explain the specific situation clearly in the letter?"

The husband and wife were reunited, and after a few days of being tired, the status of Mo Xiang's mother and child was settled, and Fei Yinghuan took Wei Jianxiong to set off.

The youngest son stayed at home, and Mo Xiang and a maid followed him to take care of him.

Taking advantage of this time, Wei Jianxiong went to have a tryst with his old lover, and he had a very pleasant time.

On board, in the cabin.

Fei Yinghuan asked: "Jianxiong, do you think the imperial court can still be saved?"

"I don't know," Wei Jianxiong said, "If the Northwest Bandits can't be wiped out, the imperial court won't be able to get better."

The people who bear the heaviest burden are not Shanxi, Shaanxi, and Jiangxi, but the prefectures in the south of the Yangtze River! According to Zhang Juzheng's statistics during the reform period, the land taxes in Nanzhili and Zhejiang together accounted for one-third of the country's land taxes.

Of course, in terms of taxes per acre, Guizhou ranks first, Sichuan ranks second, Yunnan ranks third, and South Zhili ranks fourth.

South Zhili has always been stable solely because of its developed industry and commerce.

As for Yunguichuan, there have been constant uprisings.

The reason why bandits appear in Shanxi and Shaanxi is simply due to severe drought for several consecutive years, and at the same time, agricultural yields per mu are very low.

Anyway, after staying in Jiangnan for several years, Wei Jianxiong saw that the people were miserable.

Fei Yinghuan walked out of the cabin and stared at the scenery on both sides of the Taiwan Strait in a daze. He never dreamed of being involved with the rebellion.