After everyone talked for a while, Hai'an came back with the owner of the restaurant on the front street.

The fat owner of the restaurant kowtowed to Hai Mu and Hai Rui, and then diligently helped to serve the dishes.

The sea mother is embarrassed to say it, just let the guys do it.

The boss shook his head and said excitedly: "I never thought that I could do business with Hai Gong again in my life. This is enough for me to brag about for the rest of my life. Of course, I can't let others do it for me."

As he said this, he secretly glanced at Zhao Hao. He was the only young boy who looked like a guest in the room.

Why did Hai Gong do this unprecedented thing? Could this be his long-lost son? It doesn't seem like it... The boss didn't want to think about it anymore, for fear of blaspheming Hai Gong.

After the restaurant owner who made Mr. Zhao quite uncomfortable left, dinner began.

This meal consisted of eight dishes, eight bowls and two soups, with fish, meat and wild delicacies. It was a very sumptuous meal and cost almost one or two taels of silver.

Zhao Hao wanted to bring Hai Rui's family to Weijixian, or have Weijixian send a table of food over, but not to mention Hai Rui, Hai's mother would not agree.

People invited him to dinner sincerely, firstly to thank him for asking Li Shizhen to cure Wang, and secondly to thank Wan Mizhai for prescribing a prescription for Hai Rui to strengthen his body and replenish his energy, which made the old tree bloom and gave the old lady hope of having a grandchild again.

Of course, Mr. Zhao is still young, so the latter point cannot be said in front of him.

If we don't let them spend some money, I guess this family won't feel comfortable.

Besides, asking the Sea Warrior to treat him to a banquet would be something that could be recorded in history, so Mr. Zhao would certainly not refuse.

The host and guests had a great time at the dinner. The little girl ate so much that her belly was so full that she kept burping while sitting there.

The sea mother glared at her, pulled her into the inner room, and helped her digest her food.

Han cleared the dishes and Wang made some new tea, then they tactfully left the living room.

Zhao Hao asked Gao Wu to take the charcoal basin to the inner room for the old lady and the little sister. He and Hai Rui sat by the stove, drinking tea and talking.

As soon as the noisy family members left, the room quickly became quiet. The red fire in the hearth illuminated the two silent people dimly.

After a long while, Hai Rui finally spoke: "I told you not to get involved, but you didn't listen."

"Do you think I'm willing to get involved?" Zhao Hao rolled his eyes and complained, "Minister Lin came to Kunshan to announce his decree and have a heart-to-heart talk. How could I refuse?"

"Was Lin Zhongcheng...really murdered by someone?" Hai Rui asked in a deep voice.

"Although we only have Zheng Yuanshao's confession, it's pretty close." Zhao Hao looked down at the teacup in his hand and said, "It's also my fault. I handed Meichuan Yifu over to the Minister of Justice, which caused this incident."

"What does this have to do with you?" Hai Rui said coldly, "Some people are so cruel that they even dared to kill the governor of Yingtian! Who could have imagined this?!"

"Alas." Zhao Hao wiped his eyes and said, "Anyway, I have a responsibility in this matter. I always thought that it was wrong to fight but not break up with the Xu family. But I didn't expect that some people can't compromise and should be eliminated!"

"So you came to Nanjing..." Hai Rui pondered.

"I want to ask you to come out of retirement." Zhao Hao never speaks in secret, and he always speaks his mind to Hai Rui. "Avenge Lin Zhongcheng."

"What a big tone." Hai Rui laughed and said, "Does your words count?"

"I want to give it a try." Zhao Hao smiled noncommittally and said, "But before that, I need to hear your opinion. If you agree, I'll do it."

"..." Hai Rui fell silent, which surprised Zhao Hao.

"Don't force yourself, Lord Hai. If you don't want to come out, forget it." Zhao Hao smiled and said, "It's very likely that this thing won't be done anyway. Who can guarantee the game of the court?"

"Yes." Hai Rui nodded after hearing this, and after a long while he slowly said, "Let me think about it."

"Okay, don't force it." Zhao Hao nodded heavily and said, "You have done enough for Ming Dynasty. I shouldn't burden you any more."

After saying that, Zhao Hao changed the subject and started a pleasant argument with Hai Rui about the debate they had last year.

An hour later, Mr. Zhao stood up and said goodbye with satisfaction, and Hai Rui saw him to the door.

Watching Zhao Hao leisurely get on the carriage, Hai Rui moved his lips and seemed to want to say something several times, but in the end he said nothing.

The carriage slowly drove away, and Zhao Hao waved goodbye to him. He thought that this was fine, the Sea Warrior and his family had already sacrificed too much for the Ming Dynasty...

Don't force him.

~~

The carriage drove back to Zhao Mansion on the Qinhuai River.

Zhao Liben was drinking wine with his eldest son.

Seeing Zhao Hao coming in, the old man smiled and asked, "My dear grandson, who agreed?"

Zhao Hao shook his head and smiled bitterly, "His wife has just recovered from her illness, and his concubine is pregnant again. It's rare for him to have a few days of peace. It's better not to disturb him."

"Is that so?" The old man sighed in disappointment, then said with understanding: "This is normal. I was wholeheartedly serving the people back then."

Young Master Zhao secretly rolled his eyes and thought to himself that you are quite shameless.

"Then we have to think of another way." Zhao Liben said with a headache: "I have already got the list drawn up by Lord Xu. They are very powerful. Ordinary people are not qualified to compete with them."

As he said this, he handed Zhao Hao a small piece of paper with four names written on it.

'Wu Shilai, Zou Yinglong, Cao Sanyang, Jiang Bao'.

Uncle Wu is the third-rank Censor-in-Chief of Caojiang, Zou Yinglong is the third-rank Censor-in-Chief of Xunyan, Cao Sanyang is now the third-rank Governor of Yunyang, and Jiang Bao is the fourth-rank Chief Academician of the Nanjing Imperial College.

Both of them are high-ranking officials of the imperial court with both strength and reputation, and it is undisputed that either of them will take over as the Governor of Yingtian.

"If it really doesn't work, let your older brother give it a try?" Zhao Liben had obviously thought of the alternative option a long time ago.

Zhao Jin did a great job as the governor of Guizhou, and he made a bunch of chieftains obedient and called him "Dad Zhao". In addition, there was a group of people cheering for him, and he was known as a "capable official" in the court and the public.

"He is doing very well in Guizhou and is about to achieve results. If he leaves now, won't all his efforts be wasted?" Zhao Hao shook his head.

In fact, his main concern was that his elder brother had been rehabilitated by Lord Xu, and the two were fellow students of Xinxue. Wouldn't that be putting his elder brother on the spot?

To be honest, Hai Rui was unwilling to get involved in this mess, perhaps he had concerns in this regard.

If he hadn't had Lord Xu's protection, he would have died in the imperial prison long ago.

In fact, even Lin Run was promoted by Xu Jie.

This is not surprising. When Xu Ge Lao was under Yan Song, he protected many officials, both openly and secretly. After he came to power, he put things right and rehabilitated a large number of ministers who had been convicted for making suggestions. It is a bit of an exaggeration to say that he benefited the whole country, but it is not an exaggeration to say that he benefited the officialdom.

Among the officials above the fourth rank in the Ming Dynasty, how many could completely sever their ties with Xu Jie?

This is also the reason why Lord Xu still ignored the Governor of Yingtian after he retired.

Even though Zhao Hao has already sharpened the knife for the future governor, ordinary officials do not have the ability to slay dragons and demons.

So Zhao Liben thought of a few more candidates, and before Zhao Hao expressed his opinion, he rejected them first.

The old man had never been the chief examiner of the provincial or metropolitan examinations, nor had he worked in the Ministry of Personnel. Although he had friends all over the world, especially rich friends, few of his students and old friends were good enough to fight with.

"It really doesn't work!" Zhao Hao gritted his teeth and said, "I can only force Cai Guoxi to take the position!"

"Him?" The old man instinctively resisted that tall disciple, but he had to admit that the other party was indeed a good candidate.

"Didn't there just get into trouble in Suzhou? He will be criticized." Zhao Shouye reminded his nephew.

"It's nothing more than paying a higher price." Zhao Hao gritted his teeth. The Xu family must fall. There is no room for negotiation on this!

ps. This is the first of three consecutive updates. Please give me your monthly votes!