In August of the eighth year of Chongzhen, the sun was like fire.

In a certain port in Dinghai County, Ningbo Prefecture, Zhejiang, officers and soldiers are like clouds, waving flags.

A large number of officers and soldiers used a human wall to tightly surround the wharf, and outside the human wall was a large area of ordinary people pressed by black, just like a raging tide. Fortunately, they were in good order and did not attack the human wall, otherwise the human wall surrounded by thousands of officers and soldiers would probably not be able to withstand a few impacts from them.

On the side of the wharf, there were dozens of officials wearing official uniforms, one of them was wearing a royal satin python robe, thin but his eyes were like torches, although he was drenched in sweat by the scorching sun, he still stood straight, motionless and looked at the few black spots on the sea level in the distance that were gradually getting bigger.

He is Li Fu, the current prime minister of Daming Customs, that is, the original prefect of Ningbo.

I think that in order to realize the ideal of benefiting one party, he did not hesitate to offend Donglin and open the sea ban without permission, and almost ended up with a broken family and a head on the ground.

However, because Qin Shuhuai strongly recommended Chongzhen, now he is not only promoted to the prime minister of customs of the second grade, but also because of the good management of the customs, the tariffs collected for the imperial court have increased significantly year after year, so that the dragon face is happy, Chongzhen has been in favor of him in the past two years, and he has been rewarded almost every year, and his python robe was given by Chongzhen at the end of last year.

Li Fu is a person who knows how to repay his kindness, and he knows that if he doesn't have a grandfather, I'm afraid that he will not even have to be an official now, but he will even be on the ground.

This is "grace" on a private level, in addition, as a member of the Ming Dynasty, he believes that the grandfather of the country is kind to all the people of the people.

If it weren't for the grandfather of the country, how could there be today's peaceful and prosperous world?

No, many scholars no longer say the word "Zhongxing", but directly say "the rule of Chongzhen" - this is to be compared with the "rule of Zhenguan"!

Therefore, although you are a second-class official, although you are busy with official business, although it is suspected of sneaking a horse to greet Grandpa Guo at the pier in person, when he heard that Grandpa Guo was about to land in Dinghai County, he decided to come to greet him in person.

If nothing else, just to tell Grandpa Guo that he was thinking of him, and to tell him what he said to him that day, he has not forgotten!

On that day, Grandpa Guo said, "I don't feel sorry for one less Wang Huazhen, but one less Li Fu, I feel distressed." In the Ming Dynasty, there is no shortage of Donglin Party, there is no shortage of corrupt officials, what is lacking is officials with conscience. ”

Since then, I have been using this every day to save myself, and even in the study, I still have the word "conscience"!

Just thinking about it, Li Fu suddenly heard a burst of cheers from the crowd.

He looked up, and it turned out that it was Grandpa Guo's ship docked.

Li Fu hurriedly led a group of officials to greet him, and there were not only a large number of high-ranking officials such as the Dinghai County Commander, the Ningbo Prefect, and even the Governor of Zhejiang.

Qin Shuhuai couldn't help but smile bitterly when he saw the surging crowd on the dock, and then at the officials who were standing sweating profusely.

If I knew it, I wouldn't have sent someone to inform Li Fu in advance.

The reason why he sent someone to make an appointment with Li Fu in advance was actually to give him some advice on optimizing customs work based on the experience of the customs declaration system and anti-smuggling methods in later generations.

I thought that this guy was such an honest and well-known person, and he would definitely not make a big move to pick him up, but I didn't expect him to really come, and the pomp and circumstance was so big.

In particular, even the governor of Zhejiang is here, if this is placed in a normal environment, he will be able to do it as an official - fortunately, Chongzhen now trusts him 100%.

But the governor of Zhejiang and Li Fu don't see it that way, they think that the grandfather who came to welcome the triumphant return of the country, this matter is a matter of course, no one can say that they are flattering or forming a party or something!

Why?

Just look at these people on the dock! Do you dare to say that these people came to greet the grandfather of the country to flatter?

In the overwhelming cheers, Qin Shuhuai led a group of generals ashore.

Li Fu and the others hurriedly came up to make a move.

"Xiaguan Li Fu meets Lord An Guogong!" Li Fu was the first to say.

Qin Shuhuai held Li Fu's hands, smiled, and said, "Lord Li, it's been a long time!

Li Fu hurriedly said, "The lower officials have only done their best, and the customs affairs are still only a little brow-raising." Fortunately, thanks to the recommendation of Grandpa Guo and the grace of the emperor, he did a little thing. I'm ashamed, I'm ashamed!"

I heard that last year, the customs received 17 million taels of silver? Haha, even my father-in-law didn't expect so much!"

"Grandpa Guo praised it falsely! The weather is hot, how about Grandpa Guo go to the shore teahouse with the next officials and others to rest, and then set off when it is cooler?"

Qin Shuhuai looked up and found that the vicinity of this wharf was full of teahouses, wine shops, and inns that had been built or were under construction, which was like a bustling small city.

It seems that Daming's foreign trade has developed rapidly in the past two years, otherwise it is impossible for a wharf to have so many supporting facilities - there will be people to open shops if there is business, right?

So he smiled and said, "Great! My grandfather has been floating on the boat for a long time, and he still feels like he is shaking! Go to the teahouse to sit and get used to the feeling of standing firmly and sitting firm!"

The words caused all the officials to laugh, and everyone relaxed a lot when they saw that Grandpa Guo was really as approachable as the legend.

The governor of Zhejiang said, "I expect that the grandfather of the country will not have to drink tea, but the lower official specially brought some authentic Hangzhou Longjing tea." Usually reluctant to drink, no, in order to be able to please Grandpa Guo, I specially brought it. ”

Qin Shuhuai said to the governor of Zhejiang, "Lord Chen, since you said that you used this tea to curry favor with my father, and my father went back and drank and took it, don't say that my father-in-law is black." ”

"Haha! If Grandpa Guo wants, he will send you a can every year in the future. Grandpa Guo can rest assured, the lower official only gives a small can, and it is definitely not at the price of three taels, so it is not considered a bribe. ”

There were a lot of gifts between officials in the Ming Dynasty, and it was difficult to put an end to them at once because of the "rites" that governed the country. However, Qin Shuhuai stipulated that the officials should be strictly governed, so the officials came up with a clever trick, that is, gifts of less than three taels can be given casually by officials, but more than three taels are considered bribes.

At this time, the voices of several people were drowned out by the overwhelming cheers.

So Qin Shuhuai arched his hand towards the crowd, which was regarded as thanking everyone, but he didn't want to cause even more cheers.

Qin Shuhuai said in his heart, this is really a good world!

This is probably the world I want?

Yes, on that sunny afternoon, Chongzhen and I longed for the world together.

After drinking tea in the teahouse, after staying for a little two, Qin Shuhuai got into the carriage arranged by Li Fu and came to the Yamen of the Prime Minister of the Customs together.

The reception banquet is indispensable, Li Fu chose a good restaurant, but he didn't pretend to be honest, and there were all kinds of delicacies on the table.

Qin Shuhuai looked at Li Fu's ruddy face, and knew that this guy's current life was very nourishing.

That's right, although the prime minister of customs is a second-class officer, but he is on par with a first-class officer, and today's first-class officer, a year's salary plus the rewards of each section, add up to at least seven or eight thousand taels, which is definitely enough to be a rich man.

After the banquet, Qin Shuhuai went directly to Li Fu's mansion and talked with him about the experience of customs governance.

Qin Shuhuai naturally didn't have much practical experience, so he just told Li Fu about some models of customs governance in later generations, and regarded it as an opinion. How to implement the compromise is very in line with the reality of the Ming Dynasty, so Li Fu will handle it. Having said that, even if he doesn't implement it after listening to it, it's good for him to know more.

Li Fu really shouted after hearing it, and then took a pen and wrote it down one by one.

The two talked for a long time in the study late at night before they went back to their rooms to sleep.

This conversation was later included by Li Fu in his "Mengxi Miscellaneous Records" in his later years, and became an important document for later generations to study the customs system in the Chongzhen period, which Qin Shuhuai did not expect.

On the second day, bidding farewell to Li Fu, Qin Shuhuai went to Hangzhou first, got on the boat after some fun, and arrived directly in Beijing after 15 days.

When he arrived in Jingshi, according to the old practice, he had to take a group of generals to return to Chongzhen.

On August 26 of the eighth year of Chongzhen, Chongzhen once again greeted Qin Shuhuai outside the Guanghua Gate.

There are not too many pretentious words, except for the routine etiquette, the two looked at each other and smiled, and then Chongzhen held Qin Shuhuai's hand, and walked into the Forbidden City under the welcome of hundreds of officials.

This time, Chongzhen only issued an order to reward Qin Shuhuai, and did not give him an official title.

It wasn't until he walked into the imperial study that Chongzhen said to Qin Shuhuai, "Brother Qin, I want to give you a big gift." I want you to know that I thank you! Thank you for bringing me this prosperous world, thank you for all this you have done for me in life and death! I want you to know that I truly regard you as a brother!"

Qin Shuhuai smiled slightly and asked, "Oh, I'm afraid that the emperor's gift is valuable, so the minister can't help but want to know." ”

Chongzhen smiled mysteriously, "I can't tell you yet." This gift will only be given to you in half a year!"

In fact, Qin Shuhuai has probably guessed it, especially the last sentence Chongzhen said, "I really treat you as a brother", which can already be seen.

However, he still pretended not to know and asked, "Brother Huang also chooses the time to send things, why do you have to wait for half a year?"

Chongzhen said in high spirits, "Before we set out on the expedition, we discussed a matter that you forgot? After Dongwu became a minister, a grand ceremony was held to let all nations come to the court and show the prestige of my Ming Dynasty! I want the people of the world to see that the prosperity of the Ming Dynasty has arrived! Let the people of the world know that I live up to the people! I also want to see with my own eyes with Brother Qin, the scene when the world we originally wanted really came!"

"The ...... we wanted in the world"

Qin Shuhuai lost his mind for a while, he didn't expect that after hearing Chongzhen's words, he didn't have much joy in his heart.

Yes, the world that I wanted at the beginning has finally come.

However, there is only about half a year left.

Half a year later......

"Brother Qin, why are you stunned?" Chongzhen asked.

Qin Shuhuai smiled, "It's nothing, it's just thinking back on the past and feeling a little nostalgic." ”

"Hehe, my peerless national warrior, the victorious general of the Ming Dynasty, the demon of the Ming Dynasty who has never frowned on a thousand armies, when did he become so sentimental?"

"Haha, it's probably old!" Qin Shuhuai smiled bitterly.

Chongzhen thought for a moment, "Hehe, yes! At the beginning, I was seventeen and you were sixteen, and they were two arrogant and ignorant children, who didn't see the mountains and rivers difficult to pick up, and the strong men were fierce, so they vainly said that they wanted to fight for a prosperous world......! Hehe, fortunately, I'm smart, I know where the danger is, so I'll let Brother Qin take it, who made you a demon?"

Speaking of this, Chongzhen paused, and then said with more emotion, "In a blink of an eye, now that I am twenty-four and you are twenty-three, time flies so fast." In the past few years, I have been like a dream. Sometimes I still think, this is not a dream, is it? I'm afraid I'll wake up from my dream one day...... But every time I see you, Brother Qin, I know it's not a dream!"

Qin Shuhuai nodded, "Brother Huang, sometimes I think it's a dream. I wonder if one day I'll wake up and find myself in my hometown bed with a book in my hand......"

"Speaking of which, I really want to know, where is Brother Qin's hometown?"

"Far away, far away......"

"Brother Qin didn't want to say it, so I won't say it, and I don't plan to break the casserole and ask to the end. I think your hometown is in the capital. No, your hometown is in the Forbidden City. In June of the second year of Chongzhen, the purple light of the Forbidden City appeared, and it was said that it was auspicious. I will take this auspicious time, it is you. ”

......

It was late at night when Qin Shuhuai came out of the Forbidden City, and then hurried back to China's mansion.

In the Guogong Mansion, Qi's family, Chen Qing'er, Chen Jing, Chen Li, and Chen Shu didn't sleep, sitting in the front hall, waiting for Qin Shuhuai to come back.

Chen Qing'er deliberately put on her customized clothes that cost a hundred taels of silver today, and she also carefully put on a costume, and she also wore a jade hairpin that Chen Jing specially bought from Dongwu on her head, which was particularly beautiful.

The night was very late, but even the Qi family sat with a stick, just waiting for Qin Shuhuai to come back.

At this time, a family member finally ran back quickly, shouting excitedly, "Grandpa Guo is back! Grandma Qi, Mrs., Grandpa Guo is back!"

Chen Qing'er stood up suddenly, the sleepiness on her face dissipated, and she said happily, "Where are you?"

As he spoke, he trotted out quickly.

Chen Jing, Chen Li, and Chen Shu also followed.

As soon as Qin Shuhuai entered the door, Chen Qing'er was the first to pounce.

The body was buried in Qin Shuhuai's broad chest, and he couldn't say anything for a long time, but he hugged it tightly.

Qin Shuhuai chuckled, "In the middle of the night, what do you do if you don't sleep? ”

Chen Shu interjected, "Brother-in-law, I heard that you are coming back, and my sister has not been able to sleep since three days ago." ”

Chen Qing'er was disgusted, "You talk a lot." ”

At this time, Qi came over with the support of Steward Qiao and said, "Okay, okay, the family is reunited." The dishes have been heated several times, so let's hurry up and eat. ”

Qin Shuhuai couldn't help but say to himself, it turns out that it's so late, everyone is waiting for me to have a reunion dinner......

In this world, the meaning of reunion is so important that it is engraved in everyone's bones.