Ye Panjiu didn't leave her name either. Before the Wang family was eliminated, getting involved with her might not be a good thing.
The two found an inn on the road, took a bath, and changed into clean clothes.
Only then did he take the travel permit and arrive at the gate of Yangzhou city.
Yangzhou has always been a prosperous place. Even though the Wang family embezzled tens of thousands of taels of tax grain, Yangzhou's tax revenue still ranked among the top three.
Located north of the Huai River and south of the sea, it is the most important water and land transportation hub in southeastern Daliang.
The city guards, seeing that the two were well-dressed and had valid travel permits, quickly let them pass.
But the poor people, dressed in patched clothes, would pester them relentlessly, refusing to see them off until they received money.
Ye Panjiu saw all this and led Ma Chao forward.
This is a prefecture where corrupt officials hold power, wielding absolute authority and setting a bad example for those below them; there is no question of fairness.
Yangzhou is not only prosperous and populous, but its streets and alleys are also beautiful.
Weeping willows line both sides of the road, and exquisitely carved painted bridges span the riverbanks. The babbling brook appears and disappears amidst the lush greenery.
Compared to the ruggedness of Shuzhou in the northwest, Yangzhou is much greener.
Ye Panjiu looked around and strolled slowly along the river.
She loves ancient clothing, as well as these pavilions and towers, layered upon layered, all of which are picturesque.
Finally, we arrived at Yangzhou Wharf, just as the sun was setting.
She remembered a line of poetry.
"As the sun sets, merchants' boats clasp to each other; in the spring breeze, wine is served at every wine shop."
This is exactly the scene right now!
In the middle of the group of ships, there was a giant ship several times larger than the others, with at least several hundred people busy unloading cargo.
Ye Panjiu moved closer and could hear the shouts from the boat.
"Get to work quickly! We have to unload this cargo tonight. Another big ship needs to dock tomorrow morning, and I can't afford to be late! Hurry, hurry, hurry!"
"Slap! Slap!"
Mixed in with the sounds of whips striking flesh were the sounds of whips striking flesh.
At this moment, Heng Tong grabbed her arm and gestured for her to look in a certain direction.
A man was kicked off the giant ship and struggled to swim back up.
On the boat, two yamen runners were hitting him hard with oars, laughing loudly.
Those busy with their work kept their eyes straight ahead, none daring to look.
Heng Tong whispered in her ear, "Miss, take another look to the west."
Ye Panjiu then shifted her gaze toward the sun. A corpse was floating on the river, its face swollen from being submerged in the water.
The people around them seemed to have gotten used to it and ignored it.
Ye Panjiu was horrified; this hell hidden beneath the glitz and glamour made her feel nauseous.
She didn't want to stay any longer, so she walked towards the largest inn by the dock—Hailezhai.
"Please come upstairs, gentlemen. Would you like a meal or lodging?" The waiter slung the cloth over his shoulder.
"Accommodation, a superior room," Ye Panjiu replied.
"Alright, come with me."
The two followed the waiter upstairs; the upper rooms were all on the third floor.
The first floor is the lobby, where people who come to eat are mostly wealthy fishermen who have come from the dock.
The second floor was the lower floor, where most of the residents were small business owners who traveled between the two places for trade and fishing.
On the contrary, the people living in the upper rooms on the third floor were dressed in fine clothes, and their identities and backgrounds were all unknown.
Ye Panjiu kept her veil on, blocking all curious glances.
After the waiter led the two to the room, he said, "Please rest well, sir. If you need hot water, just let me know downstairs."
Ye Panjiu took out a silver ingot and handed it to him.
The waiter beamed from ear to ear, "Thank you so much, sir! I won't bother you any longer!"
After saying that, he turned around and closed the door, but he didn't leave; he just leaned against the doorway.
Heng Tong and Ye Panjiu exchanged a glance, but neither of them spoke.
Ye Panjiu took off the package she was carrying, being extra careful not to let it get wet.
She arranged the brush, ink, paper, and inkstone, and began to write.
In Yangzhou, there are two out of every ten officials of the sixth rank or above, and they all share the surname Wang.
She had written them all down before she came, and now she had grouped the yamen runners she encountered that day under their respective officials.
Then you'll know which officials issued these orders.
Looking further upwards, following the vines to find where the profits and money lead, that may be the chain of evidence.
Heng Tong watched from beside her.
Ye Panjiu then took out the dragon heads of various trades in Yangzhou that she had previously asked Su Yan to write for her.
This wharf is under the jurisdiction of the Grand Canal Transport Bureau, and the current Grand Canal Transport Commissioner is the highest-ranking official.
His name was Wang Yichun, the biological son of Wang Helu, the elder brother of Wang Yinian, and the nephew of Consort Wang.
The position of Prefect of Yangzhou was held by Wang Helu, who recommended him. He was a puppet of the Wang family and was completely at their mercy.
She sorted through this complex information one by one. Information in ancient times was extremely opaque. If it weren't for Su Yan, it would have taken her at least a month to sort out this information about Yangzhou.
She eventually circled a name and pointed to it with her finger.
Jiang Le'an, the largest maritime merchant in Daliang.
...
Yan Yu rode swiftly and returned safely to the capital. Thanks to Su Yan's seemingly smooth and discreet demeanor, no enemy had yet dared to attack Yan Yu.
When they offended someone, Ning Xuan and Su Yan cleverly shifted the blame, making the person who was sentenced only remember to hate the other.
It was already 3:45 AM, and Su Yan was heading towards the Meridian Gate after leaving the main gate.
He was used to having to go to the morning court before dawn, and he even lit candles in his carriage while reading official documents.
There are many officials in Daliang, and every day there are all sorts of things, big and small, and all the memorials must pass through his hands.
Important things, things that must be shown to His Majesty, are set aside.
For matters that are customary, have established laws, and are not controversial, he would approve them directly, and then the six ministries would review them separately.
Any objections should be directly sent back to His Majesty.
Therefore, the emperor and the prime minister had to read countless memorials every day.
I really hate it when the opening is full of empty flattery and sycophancy, which is a waste of time.
Su Yan frowned. A large black ink circled the document, with a cross next to it. It was a memorial from Yangzhou, ten lines long. Nine of the lines were respectful greetings to the Emperor. The last sentence read: "The weather is unpredictable, and maritime disasters are frequent. Fishing boats go out and five out of ten do not return. We earnestly request that this year's tax exemption be granted."
Without hesitation, he placed the memorial on the stack addressed to His Majesty.
Just when I was wondering why I had no reason to go to Yangzhou, they handed me a branch.
It was completely dark that day, and not a single message from Yangzhou reached the imperial court.
"grown ups!"
Yan Yu's urgent voice rang out.
Su Yan quickly lifted the carriage curtain, "Have you had a safe journey?"
Yan Yu smiled and nodded, then handed over the letter.
Su Yan took it and said, "Go back and rest first, get some more sleep."
Yan Yu obediently reined in her horse and headed towards the Su residence.
He treated the adults like family, while he was a beggar child on the roadside, about to freeze and starve to death.
An adult took him in and found someone to teach him martial arts.
Adults are his only family.
Su Yan lowered the carriage curtain as he watched him leave.
These are two letters, one of which is very thick.
Su Yan felt a surge of warmth in his heart; he was certain the thicker one was for him.
After all, Pan Jiu had been writing to him quite frequently.
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