"Mr. Zibu's guess is right, if you don't want to work for me, I can only make this decision in order to prevent it from happening. Even if I will be abused by the world, I will not hesitate! Zhang Yan was resolute and said categorically.

"Haha...... What a good one! Zhang Hong suddenly laughed, "It's beyond my imagination that adults can be so despicable." However, it also shows us what adults are, so that we can see it clearly, and we also have some understanding of you......"

Speaking of this, Zhang Hong glanced at Zhang Zhao and asked, "Brother Zibu Xian, do you have anything else to say?" ”

Zhang Zhao smiled: "I don't like to be imprisoned like a prisoner, I still want to walk around with my feet." ”

"Since that's the case, then let's stop tossing, hurry up and visit the lord, it's important to rescue the family!" Zhang Hongdao.

Zhang Zhao nodded, and together with Zhang Hong, he bowed to Zhang Yan: "The lord is above, please accept me and worship!" ”

Zhang Yan was stunned there, just now he was arguing with Zhang Zhao and Zhang Hong, why did Zhang Zhao and Zhang Hong start to worship themselves after a while.

His head was a little dazed, and he didn't think about what was going on for the time being, and the whole person stayed there.

Chen Qun smiled happily when he boarded, and then he knew that Zhang Zhao and Zhang Hong were deliberately testing Zhang Yan just now. Seeing that Zhang Yan was motionless, he immediately pushed Zhang Yan and said, "Lord, the two gentlemen have already agreed to go out!" ”

After Zhang Yan heard Chen Qun's words, he suddenly realized and was immediately happy. But after a while, he was a little depressed, looked at Zhang Zhao and Zhang Hong, and asked, "Have you really agreed to be a leader?" ”

Zhang Hong said: "A gentleman's word is difficult to chase, since we have decided to go out, we will never regret it." The fact that the lord can show such a frank behavior in front of us shows that the lord is sincere to us and has not concealed it, although we are partly forced to be helpless, but it is much better to fall under the account of the lord and this real villain than to follow those hypocrites. ”

"Not only that, but the lord's determination to never give up until the goal is achieved, as well as the means used to do everything, have impressed us." Zhang Zhaodao.

Zhang Yan was sure that Zhang Zhao and Zhang Hong were sincerely committed to him, and while he was happy, he immediately appointed Zhang Zhao as a different driver and Zhang Hong as a member of the government.

Subsequently, Zhang Yan set down a banquet and asked Chen Qun and Chen Qi to accompany him, so that he could entertain Zhang Zhao and Zhang Hong.

At the banquet, Zhang Zhao and Zhang Hong knew that Zhang Yan was eager to seek talents, so they recommended three talents to Zhang Yan together, namely Yan Jian from Pengcheng, Buqi from Huaiyin, and Zhuge Jin from Yangdu.

Yan Ji, Bu Qi, and Zhuge Jin are all in Jiangdu at present, and they have all visited Zhang Zhao and Zhang Hong, and Zhang Zhao and Zhang Hong have each written three letters.

Zhang Yan then sent people with these six letters, hurried to Jiangdu, recruited Yan Zhen, Bu Qi, and Zhuge Jin, and ordered Chen Deng to send people to escort Zhang Zhao and Zhang Hong's families to live in Pengcheng.

In the hall, everyone was happy, and Zhang Yan was even more happy because of Zhang Zhao and Zhang Hong's refuge.

Suddenly, Xu Sheng walked in from outside the hall with a heavy face, walked straight to Zhang Yan's side, lowered his body, put it in Zhang Yan's ear, and whispered a word.

After Zhang Yan heard this, his originally joyful face suddenly became gloomy, and the wine lord in his hand also fell to the ground because of shock.

When Chen Qun, Chen Qi, Zhang Zhao, Zhang Hong and others saw it, they all asked in unison: "Lord, what's wrong?" ”

Zhang Yan slowly stood up and said sadly: "Tao Yuanjun has gone to the west of the crane last night......"

Hearing the news, all the people were saddened.

Zhang Yan arched his hand towards everyone and said: "If there was no Tao Envoy, there would be no me today, Tao Envoy Jun died of illness, how could I not go?" I'm going to Tancheng, where the hospitality is not good, and I ask Mr. Zibu and Mr. Zigang to bear with me......"

Chen Qun hugged his fists and said: "Lord, it is important to deal with the aftermath of Tao Envoy Jun, so the lord should go quickly." Two Mr. Zhang, I will entertain them on behalf of the lord. ”

Zhang Yan nodded, said goodbye to everyone, and then left.

He went out of the hall, had someone bring his dark cloud stepping snow horse, jumped on the horse, and headed to Tancheng in the starry night.

At this time, Tancheng was overcast, and the news of Tao Qian's death had spread in Tancheng, and the entire Tancheng was wearing filial piety for Tao Qian.

Zhang Yan kept going, sleepless, and rushed to Tancheng when he was a child, and before he entered the city, he felt a sense of sadness.

When the soldiers defending the city learned of Zhang Yan's arrival, they hurriedly opened the city gate and informed Zhang Yan of the location of Tao Qian's Mourning Hall.

Tao Qian's mourning hall was set up in Tao Qian's mansion, and all the famous figures in Tancheng attended, and even Sun Qian, the prime minister of Langya, also appeared here, full of sadness.

Zhang Yan strode into the mourning hall, and his appearance immediately attracted everyone's attention, and countless pairs of eyes stared at him.

"My lord, my father is ...... He ......, "The two brothers Tao Shang and Tao Ying walked over together, and said with tears in their eyes.

Zhang Yan comforted Tao Shang and Tao Ying, and walked straight to Tao Qian's coffin, Zuihou glanced at Tao Qian, sighed heavily, and then took two steps back, knelt directly on the ground, and kowtowed a few times towards Tao Qian's coffin.

"Tao Envoy-kun! Please go all the way! I will inherit your legacy, good haode management of Xuzhou! Zhang Yan said with tears in his eyes.

The onlookers all looked carefully, and when they saw that Zhang Yan was so affectionate and righteous to Tao Qian, they admired Zhang Yan even more.

It stands to reason that Tao Qian has stepped down, and after his death, Zhang Yan, as the new state pastor, can come or not.

However, Zhang Yan not only came, but also came so quickly, in front of everyone to see off Tao Qian, this affection will definitely be appreciated.

"Lord, let's mourn and change!" Donghai Taishou Mi Zhu walked to Zhang Yan's side and said slowly.

"When is the funeral?" Zhang Yan asked unhurriedly.

Mi Zhu said: "Now that the weather is hot, after the burial, it is not advisable to leave it for too much time, so as not to damage the body." I discussed with Tao Yuanjun's family, and we all unanimously decided that the funeral will be held tomorrow! ”

Zhang Yan didn't speak again, and kept kneeling in front of Tao Qian's spirit, never wanting to get up. Mi Zhu wanted to help, but Zhang Yan said that he wanted to keep a night spirit, and was persuaded by Mi Zhu, Sun Gan and others, so he got up, and the pottery merchant and Tao Ying guarded the spirit, and he was taken to Mifu to rest.

Early the next morning, Tao Qian began to go out of the funeral, Zhang Yan, Mi Zhu, Sun Qian and others came one after another, buried Tao Qian's on a high post five miles east of Tancheng, and sent people to guard the tomb.

After dealing with Tao Qian's funeral, Zhang Yan returned to Mifu with Mi Zhu and Sun Qian.

"How's the progress of the matter I handed over to you to make official salt?" Zhang Yan wanted to avoid Tao Qian's topic, so he asked Mi Zhu casually.

"Preparations are underway. However, official salt has been abandoned for a long time, illegal salt is rampant in the territory, and most of the people in the eastern coastal areas rely on the sale of illegal salt for a living, and they have never paid any taxes. Now not only do they have to pay official salt, but they also have to collect salt taxes, and I am worried that those salt merchants will instigate the people to make trouble. Mi Zhu said.

Zhang Yan said: "There are no rules, there is no circle, when Tao Yuanjun was in charge of Xuzhou, it was because he was too laissez-faire, which made the people of Xuzhou deviate, the officialdom was chaotic, too observant, the county order, and even openly opposed the state government." This kind of thing is absolutely not allowed to happen under my rule. Those smuggling salt dealers, on weekdays, do not use fake salt pits to harm the people, they are cunning and cheating, manipulating the salt market, and the price of salt is even higher. What's more, I didn't prohibit private salt, but just asked them to pay taxes, if anyone doesn't pay taxes, don't want to be a salt merchant in Xuzhou! Taking advantage of this time, Cao Cao and Yuan Shu are recuperating, and it is time for me to reorganize Xuzhou. It used to be a bureaucracy, but now it's the turn of salt and iron! ”

Seeing Zhang Yan's resolute attitude, Mi Zhu said: "Don't worry, I will definitely do my best to complete the task of the main bus agent!" ”

"Gongyou, how are you doing in Langya?" Zhang Yan changed his words and glanced at Sun Qian.

Sun Gan said: "Before Langya, there was a garrison of Zangba, and the public order has always been good, and the counties under his rule are all safe, and everything is peaceful. ”

"That's good, if you are the minister of state in Langya, I will rest assured. However, you must always pay more attention to Qingzhou, and by the way, assist Mi Zhu to deal with the affairs of the salt and iron official camp, if this matter is done well, it will be a great achievement! ”

"Whoa!" Sun Qiandao.

The next day, Zhang Yan got up early in the morning, and after breakfast, he was about to return to Pengcheng, who knew that Mi Zhu ran over in a panic, and said breathlessly: "Lord, it's not good, the salt merchants of Qu County colluded with the pirates and rebelled together, not only killing the county commander of Qu County, but also capturing Qu County." In addition, they also spread news everywhere to induce salt merchants and salt farmers to gather to make trouble......"

After Zhang Yan heard this, he was really afraid of something, and yesterday Mi Zhu also reminded him that he was afraid of the salt merchants making trouble, and this time it came true. However, he didn't have much to worry about, some salt merchants, what big waves can be stirred?

He sneered and asked, "How can some salt merchants have such courage?" How many soldiers and horses are there in the city? ”

"Less than three thousand." Mi Zhu said.

"Five hundred horses?" Zhang Yan asked again.

"Only three hundred!"

"Three hundred is enough, you stay in the city, I will take three hundred cavalry to Qu County, I want to see which salt merchant dares to make trouble openly, I will kill whom!"

As soon as the words fell, Zhang Yan immediately stepped on the dark clouds and stepped on the snow horse, ordered three hundred cavalry, and then left Tancheng and headed towards Qu County.

Mi Zhu saw that Zhang Yan's injuries had not healed, and he was worried about Zhang Yan's safety, so he asked Mi Qiang to follow with another thousand people.

Qu County is the easternmost county of Donghai County, close to the sea, and is also the hometown of Mi Zhu. The reason why Mi was able to become the richest man in Xuzhou was indeed by selling illicit salt. However, unlike others who sell illicit salt, Mi has always been sincere, and the price of salt has not changed for decades.

To this day, there is still a big salt pan in Qu County.

Later, after Mi Zhu became an official, he stopped doing business, and the world was not good, so the salt fields were also sold to others, but the price of private salt has been manipulated since then, and the tide has risen.

Zhang Yan led 300 cavalry and marched all the way, and soon arrived in the territory of Qu County in the evening of the same day, and went directly towards the county seat of Qu County......