Chapter 1052: Taking It

The whole prefecture began a great investigation, and Wang Yan also welcomed a new chapter in his Great Song life.

The matter of taking a concubine had already been negotiated properly. Wang Yan was willing to take one, Hualan had no opinion, and the Sheng family's main branch was willing to marry her off, so naturally, the sooner it was done, the sooner it would be settled.

So after the Lantern Festival, a team set off from Youyang and arrived in Hangzhou by water.

The specifications for a concubine were certainly not as complicated as those for a proper wife marrying in, and there was not as much liveliness or a big scene. Relatively speaking, taking a concubine was simpler, and it was often just a matter of finding a few people to carry a red sedan chair to the house and it would be finished.

However, the Sheng family's main branch had already wronged their daughter. After all, their daughter could still marry someone else as a proper wife. They couldn't climb too high, but it wouldn't be too bad either. So in the original drama, they chose that Sun Xiucai, which was an investment in the future; they just didn't expect Sun Xiucai to be unpromising.

Now Wang Yan was in his prime, awesome to the point of collapse. It only took him more than a month to seize the power of Hangzhou, and then he pressed the wealthy families of Hangzhou to the ground and rubbed them. There were really too many awesome deeds, and he was also really reliable as a person. Moreover, his proper wife was also a member of the Sheng family, and Hualan had long had a reputation for virtue, so she wouldn't really bully people to death. Comprehensively, being a concubine for Wang Yan was better than being a proper wife for many people.

The Sheng family's main branch could also be considered a wealthy family; it was just that they had no backing, and their family assets were all floating wealth. To make an analogy, the consultation meeting Wang Yan convened in Hangzhou, even if the Sheng family's main branch was wealthier than many people attending the meeting, they couldn't be opinion representatives, and even wanting to attend the meeting had to be in the last row listening, with no chance to speak.

But it was a solid family business. Even if they sent their eldest daughter to be a concubine, the lineup was still very large, and there were quite a few people sending the bride. They brought four maids, two servants to handle affairs, and a large boat of various things transported by people. And various land deeds, house deeds, and other industries such as pawnshops, dyeing workshops, and tea mountains.

In summary, it was only a little less than Hualan's dowry, still taking care of Sheng Hong's face.

Of course, land deeds and the like were mentioned in Sheng Wei's letter, showing the family's financial strength and also raising Shulan's weight.

Wang Yan took care of Hualan's thoughts. This morning, he talked to her at home and sent the steward Wang Youyin to the pier to pick up the people.

Seeing the time getting closer, Hualan sighed and said: "Master, after drinking tea, I won't be in the way. Sister Shulan is eighteen; it's better to give birth to a child early."

Wang Yan hugged her shoulders: "Is it urgent?"

"Why does Master have to ask when he knows?" Hualan glared at Wang Yan, "Although I knew it early, I haven't had an easy time these two years. Master probably doesn't know that my mother sent me many prescriptions. She also said she would send a doctor over to take a look secretly. Since Master took in Sister Shulan, it has been a year, but there has been no movement. She also asked me to find a doctor to check Sister Shulan, and the result was that there was no problem at all.

This made me suspect it was Master's problem. I found a famous master in Bianjing City who said that Master has too much killing karma and it is difficult to have offspring. My mother goes to Daxiangguo Temple to burn incense and pray for blessings on the first and fifteenth of every month, just to help Master resolve disasters and give birth to offspring."

Shulan really had no problem; Wang Yan was sure of this at the beginning. However, considering family harmony, Wang Yan didn't let Shulan get pregnant. After all, he was going to be a loyal minister for a long time this time, but he also had a proper wife. No matter how close the relationship was, it was inevitable that there would be many messy things; this was a social environment problem.

Or maybe not. After all, even a thousand years later, the matter of children of wealthy families fighting for family property was not uncommon, and there was still a distinction between elder and younger, and legitimate and illegitimate.

This delayed Shulan.

Hualan's pressure these two years was also real. Not to mention far away, Fan Chunren's wife gave birth to another one. The noble ladies and commoners in Hangzhou also had many discussions.

However, Hualan firmly endured it and finally reached today.

"Which master said that?"

"Master Zhishan of Daxiangguo Temple."

"The old monk can't control his mouth. When I get to the capital next year, I will meet him." Wang Yan silently remembered this dharma name and turned to help Hualan take off her middle clothes, "Whether it can be born, we have to try to know."

"Please have mercy, Master~"

Hualan was full of shyness, and her voice was charming...

Finally, the room was rounded. Hualan's whole spirit was different. She pestered Wang Yan every day, hoping for an early birth. Wang Yan naturally wouldn't drag it on, nor did he forget Shulan, who was also very embarrassed. He treated every woman fairly, opened the valve, and nurtured new life...

Just like this, two months apart, Hualan and Shulan confirmed their pregnancies one after another.

It was also in this process that he spent his third New Year in Hangzhou and completed all the work of this year. Although the tax ranking was still fifth, the numbers increased substantially compared to last year, and the lives of the people in Hangzhou were naturally much better.

It is no exaggeration to say that the current Wang Yan's influence in Hangzhou and surrounding areas is unprecedented. It is truly worshipped by ten thousand families. Except for a few people, the vast majority of commoners hope that Wang Yan can live a long life and can be an official in Hangzhou for a long time.

Obviously, it is because they are really living well. Compared with it, the current Hangzhou cannot see the appearance of the past at all.

With the blessing of such things, Hangzhou's officials and commoners received commendations from Zhao Zhen, and a special imperial edict came to praise and highly recognize the work of Hangzhou's officials.

After the New Year, the personnel changes that had been debated endlessly were finally settled.

Wang Yan was promoted to *Zhuozuo Zuolang* (Assistant Secretary of the Imperial Library), *Zhi Kaifengfu Junjunshi* (Military Inspector of Kaifeng Prefecture), *Zhi Jixianyuan* (Member of the Jixian Academy), and *Longtu Ge Daizhi* (Attendant of the Longtu Pavilion).

The official positions of the Song Dynasty are notoriously complex. *Zhuozuo Zuolang* is a proper official position, Grade Eight. The *Junjunshi* behind it is his proper work, responsible for the security of the capital, with the power of detention, interrogation, and arrest, managing criminal prisons. The *Jixianyuan* and *Longtu Pavilion* behind it are library and pavilion positions, with no actual power, but they are the standard configuration for high officials.

Wang Yan was originally qualified. As long as he didn't make mistakes in Hangzhou, he could arrange library positions when he returned to the capital. The original *Xingpu Zhuangyuan* Feng Jing was such a configuration. But he did too well, and his merits were too great, so it was not good to let him sit on the cold bench; there was no one who could suppress him. Coupled with the fact that Wang Yan was a famous ruthless person, he was allowed to manage the capital's security.

It looked good, but Wang Yan understood Zhao Zhen's vicious intentions as soon as he thought about it. That was that he wanted Wang Yan to be a lonely minister and continue to push his hand. Because Wang Yan had already shown that he was iron-blooded and would not collude with others. The capital was a place of right and wrong, with too many messy things, but people's relationships were very hard. Wang Yan was going to have a conflict with the high officials and wealthy families in the capital; this was certain.

There were many ways to suppress people, such as Wang Yan's three-year term in Hangzhou, which was one of them. Because he was too young and too capable. He couldn't not be used, and he couldn't be used too much, because rewards must be given for merits, and Zhao Zhen had to consider Wang Yan's future status, and even more consider Wang Yan's age.

It is not a good thing for an emperor to be an emperor for too long, and if a minister lives for a long time and has strong prestige, it will also make the emperor unable to sleep.

Zhao Zhen already felt that he couldn't hold on for too long, so he wanted to suppress Wang Yan and isolate Wang Yan. He both provoked the strife among his subordinates and left a ruthless person for his next class. Use it if you want, and keep it to fight fires if you don't. This is the proper art of the emperor.

Although the appointment was down, the time left for Wang Yan was very abundant; he could return to the capital to report on his work before May.

This was because the candidate for the new prefect had also been decided. Now Hangzhou was confusing. Wang Yan, the actual number one, had to make a handover of work with the new prefect, or rather, let Wang Yan cut off Hangzhou's power.

The relevant official document came with Wang Yan's promotion edict. After reading the document, Wang Yan couldn't help but have some expectations for the successor prefect.

Because the name of the new prefect was Wang Anshi.

This is really a name that is hard not to look forward to... ===== CHAPTER 1055 =====

"Does Master Fan know how these bandits were suppressed?"

Wang Yan smiled and shook his head, "I have been training the garrison soldiers for half a year. This time, suppressing the bandits, we took fewer main roads and more mountain roads, which lies in being elusive. We were not detected by the mountain bandits, and moved with the momentum of thunder to plow the courtyard and sweep the caves. This student first went to Renhe, then to Yanguan, and the main force of the garrison soldiers all went out from four sides, but in fact, they had already turned halfway and all went to Renhe and Yanguan counties. Once there was a battle, there would be reinforcements within two quarters of an hour at most. Any obstruction on the road could be wiped out with one hand.

Furthermore, this student had long since submitted a memorial to the Emperor, and the Emperor also replied 'Yes.' If I did not bring my wives and concubines, would it not make people laugh? The purpose of this student bringing my wives and concubines along is to make the families with evil intentions understand that this student looks down on them and wants to provoke them. I am not afraid of them coming; I am only afraid of them not coming."

"A gentleman is cautious when alone."

"This student understands." Wang Yan added tea for Fan Zhongyan and said, "Master Fan, you must keep a close eye on the Qiantang matter. The gains from one exit and one entry are quite abundant, and the human heart is unpredictable; Master Fan, you must be careful."

"When this old man was in power, Xu Ziyan was still in swaddling clothes." Fan Zhongyan smiled and drank tea.

Wang Yan smiled and bowed, "Master Fan is mature and prudent, a pillar of the country; a small Qiantang is naturally not a problem."

"You..."

After chatting for a while, Fan Zhongyan said, "Xu Ziyan, do you have time to persuade Chunren? How can it be successful to always guard by my side? It is not that there is no one to take care of me, so why does he need to worry? Moreover, you have been adjusting my body for this year and passed on the method of nourishing life, so my body has greatly improved, my spirit is better than in the past, and living another ten years is not a problem. A great man should contribute to the country, so how can he waste his youth by this old man's side."

"Brother Yaofu also has filial piety; he has achieved quite a lot in his studies and already has the aura of a master, and he will definitely be a great Confucian in the country in the future."

"I think he is just clearing the way for your Wang Learning."

"Master Fan has fiery eyes. It is really because this student is busy with official business and cannot get away. Once I have been to Hangzhou, measured the fields, and checked the households, everything will be stable, and there will be nothing left to do. By then, the academy will have been built, and this student will often go to the academy to lecture, staying until I am transferred away; serving as an official for one term can be considered a perfect merit."

"That also requires being able to come back alive; there is no foolproof method in this world." Fan Zhongyan shook his head.

He admired Wang Yan very much, but Wang Yan was too fierce, which was not very good. It always made him, an old man accustomed to the ways of the world, unable to help but feel terrified.

"Master Fan, rest assured, when I return after success, I will persuade Brother Yaofu. This student is leaving."

Wang Yan stood up and bowed solemnly, watching Fan Zhongyan stand up to return the salute, hurriedly waved his hand, turned around, and ran out, leaving only Fan Zhongyan shaking his head in disappointment...

Although Wang Yan had always been doing things with his life on the line, this time, he was definitely going to be hacked by someone. Where he would be hacked, he did not know; how many people would hack him, he did not know, but he would definitely be hacked.

Still the same saying, as long as Wang Yan died, then all problems would be solved. The two major problems of measuring fields and counting households would be directly settled. As for the cleaning fee, that had already been decided, but there was much more room for relaxation.

By the time Wang Yan thoroughly clarified the land and households, killing Wang Yan would be useless; the data had already been set, and next year's tax collection would be based on this number, and a large discrepancy would definitely not work.

Therefore, this inspection of the counties by Wang Yan was their only opportunity, and there was only one opportunity. Because the sworn attack was a sure kill; if they still did not kill Wang Yan, then Wang Yan would definitely carry out a major purge and would absolutely expand the scope of the attack. By then, all those who did not submit would be killed by Wang Yan, and the rest would not be able to jump, nor would they have the guts to jump.

Therefore, this was a siege operation that gambled on the fate of the great families of Hangzhou, and it was imperative.

Wang Yan's entourage when leaving the house was not small: one hundred garrison guards, thirty caravan guards of his own, and because he was bringing Hualan and Shulan, he also brought the dowry maids of both, and also brought the family cook. All living supplies and tools were transported by cart, and there were two large carriages, both specially made, spacious and comfortable, and also arrow-proof.

As for those thirty caravan guards, they were the contestants who had worked part-time as mountain bandits for a period of time before; some transferred back, and some brought the local people who joined in to change the territory. Since he had raised the team, Wang Yan naturally would not let them disband.

The army was much simpler; there was no shortage of supplies along the way, and eating and drinking were not so particular; they drove the carts themselves and walked slowly, which was very convenient.

Of course, in order to avoid being poisoned or having local officials bribed to tamper with the supplies, the entire supply process was still quite cautious...

And the reason for so many people was not that Wang Yan was afraid of death, nor was it that he wanted to enjoy himself, but that he wanted to ensure the scale of the people coming to siege him. If it was too small, do not come; it had to be a large number of people.

If the scale was too small, how could he make a big case?

Just like this, Wang Yan took Hualan and Shulan all the way, walking slowly, enjoying the scenery, and cultivating feelings. Occasionally passing through villages, he would also go to investigate the public sentiment, and if there were problems, he would deal with them directly.

Perhaps because it was not far from Qiantang, the process to Renhe County was very smooth. The process of handling affairs in Renhe County was also very smooth. It was nothing more than dealing with several great families, dealing with some officials, reshaping the structure of the county town, and forcefully pushing the investigation process.

He took action personally, and the purpose was to push forward quickly. The siege that the great families were bound to carry out was just one of the links. No matter what, it must be completed this year, otherwise, he would be transferred away...

The patience of the great families surprised Wang Yan; he dealt with Renhe County, then dealt with Yanguan County, and until the spring flowers were blooming, when Wang Yan had finished investigating Yuhang and was on his way to Lin'an, the siege from the great families of Hangzhou finally arrived...