Chapter 1055: Close Friend Wang Anshi

As the saying goes, Qiantang has been prosperous since ancient times, so when Wang Yan governed for three years, it was even more prosperous, pushing Qiantang's prosperity to a new height.

This was very necessary and was Wang Yan's intention. If all nine counties of Hangzhou developed in a balanced way, it would be mediocre and not conducive to governance. As the seat of the prefecture, Qiantang received the most resources.

On the other hand, it was necessary to develop Qiantang into an economic center, making the wealthy families of the other counties run to Qiantang. In local county towns, one could only buy ordinary daily necessities and slightly higher-end commodities, but when it came to high-end, it had to be in Qiantang. Gathering big merchants in one city and one place intensified competition, improved commercial vitality, and also carried out the construction of industrial clusters.

This was the necessity of making Qiantang more prosperous. Not only did it absorb the wealthy families and talents of the whole prefecture to gather, but it also swallowed the nutrients of surrounding prefectures and counties. In ancient times, it was impossible to support a big city with the power of one prefecture; it was necessary to absorb the nutrients of surrounding areas...

Outside Qiantang City, it was a lively scene of all living beings.

There were scholars traveling in groups in the warm spring, ladies from wealthy families playing together, caravans transporting goods from all directions, and rough men leading clean children in rags. There were nobles in carriages and officials walking quickly. Around them, there were catchers in groups of two, wearing light armor and touching their waist knives, their eyes constantly scanning the crowd, giving people a strong sense of oppression.

And not far away, there was a newly built market. People were shouting to sell, strolling, very lively.

In this bustling crowd, there were two carriages, one with a carriage box added to carry people, and one with oilcloth to pull goods. Following them were a few servants in shabby clothes, strong men driving the carts, old nannies sitting in the carts, and little maids walking behind the carts.

In front of the team was a man dressed simply. He had thick eyebrows, big eyes, a square face, dark skin, and a thin body. He stood with his hands behind his back, slowly following the crowd into the city.

At the city gate, it was divided into two teams. One team was commoners, and the other team was also commoners.

But obviously, it was divided by class. On one side were teams with carriages, and on the other side were ordinary commoners entering the city, some carrying goods, some carrying bundles.

The inspection process was also different. Those carrying poles who looked like commoners entering the city to sell were just simply flipped through by the minor officials and soldiers. If there were any small fruits, they would take one to taste and let them in happily. Those carrying bundles had to be opened to take a look before they would be released. The rest of the people were not even asked.

It was different on the side with carriages. Some people carried passes, and they were released after a rough check. Some people had to get down for inspection, and they had to be turned inside out before they would be released.

This person's team, unsurprisingly, received a strict inspection. The wife and children in the carriage were all called down, and the cloth on the carriage pulling things behind was also lifted, and it was searched carefully.

The minor official looked at the soldiers checking carefully and asked with a smile: "With so many family belongings, are you moving to Qiantang?"

"Exactly." The dark-faced, thin man nodded with a smile, and then asked, "I don't know why we are checked so strictly, while others enter the city directly?"

"The Assistant Prefect has registered the vehicles in the city. Those people are families holding transit documents, living in Qiantang for a long time, and their faces are quite familiar, so they are easily released. This gentleman looks like he is here for the first time, so it is necessary to check in detail, and then issue documents. In the next few days, go to the yamen to register and get documents before you can move freely."

"I heard that Assistant Prefect Wang was surrounded and killed by local wealthy families. Is it because he is afraid of bad people carrying contraband and entering the city to assassinate?"

"Heh..." The minor official sneered, shook his head and said, "My Assistant Prefect is proficient in both literature and martial arts. On the day when hundreds of thieves surrounded and killed him, he didn't change his face, went straight into the thief's formation, and no one dared to move. How could he be afraid of any assassination? You will know the reason sooner or later. I will tell you. The entry and exit of vehicles in the city, regardless of cargo or riding, must be registered, which costs money. The Assistant Prefect calls it a road maintenance fee. Road repair, horse manure disposal, and street sweeping are all used for this."

"Oh? Then what about the cleaning fee?"

The minor official didn't answer, looking at him with a smile: "Gentleman, you talk too much. Please show your household registration for record."

This person waved his hand, and the old servant behind stepped forward, took out a document from the small bag he was carrying, and presented it respectfully: "This is my master's official appointment and transfer order. You should check it carefully."

The minor official was stunned for a moment, then opened the appointment, read the transfer order, and looked at the dark, thin man in front of him. At this time, household registration had to specify the person's appearance, not just fooling around, but writing down the person's appearance characteristics so that people could match them at a glance. The official appointment document was also the same, which was the most basic.

After reading it once, the minor official didn't panic, because he didn't say anything excessive, and such a big figure wouldn't care about him. After all, like his own Assistant Prefect, who could remember his name, and would buy roast chicken and sit at the city gate to eat and drink with them, there was no such thing...

He bowed and performed a formal salute: "Greetings, Prefect. The residence and official office have long been arranged by the Assistant Prefect. This little person will take the Prefect there."

After saying that, he let the checking soldiers stop, and sent people to the academy to tell Wang Yan that the new prefect had taken office.

In the yamen, fools couldn't stay. They had to be clever, sensible, know how to look at people's faces, know how to speak, and be able to handle things well. Otherwise, they couldn't keep this decent, high-welfare, and powerful job...

This dark, thin man was naturally Wang Anshi, who took over Wang Yan's work.

He asked curiously: "Is Assistant Prefect Wang lecturing at the academy?"

"Exactly. I heard that the Assistant Prefect's scholarship has improved again, and he has been going there more frequently recently."

Wang Anshi nodded and followed the minor official into the city to the house arranged for him. Along the way, he found everything strange and kept asking the minor official about the situation.

The minor official was also sensible. Later, without Wang Anshi asking, he started chanting. From the street to the process of renovation and construction, from the shops on the roadside to the commercial development of Hangzhou in recent years, he would occasionally mention who the wealthy families were now and what industries they had, saying it clearly and clearly.

This made Wang Anshi very strange and couldn't help but ask: "Why are you so clear about the prefecture affairs?"

"It is because the Assistant Prefect specially opened a printing workshop in the yamen, and published a *Di Bao* (Gazette) every half month, so that we minor officials also know the prefecture affairs and understand how Hangzhou is developing."

"Oh? There is such a thing? Tell me in detail."

Wang Anshi was very interested in everything in Hangzhou.

The heart of reform did not arise suddenly; it must be that he had a certain understanding of the country and society, discovered some problems that needed to be corrected, and developed some thoughts, which led to the intention of reform. Wang Anshi was like this; he had already been thinking about these problems and had also deeply studied Fan Zhongyan's failed reform.

It was also in the process of his research that a generation of "forcing kings" was born, first worshipping Ouyang Xiu as his teacher, becoming famous for his calligraphy, then establishing the Dao with four sentences during the prefecture examination, then publishing "Wang Yan Says" in the capital, and then becoming a *Xingpu Zhuangyuan* and Assistant Prefect of Hangzhou.

Wang Anshi's scholarship was also very deep, and he had read the books Wang Yan published, understanding some of Wang Yan's ideas. At that time, he wanted to contact Wang Yan, but there was no opportunity. Later, the thing he heard about Wang Yan was the Ever-Normal Granary.

Wang Yan used the Ever-Normal Granary to make trouble, expand the scope of the strike, and seize power. This was something that people with discerning eyes could see. It was just that it was too fierce and too fast, so people didn't react. Later, it was the cleaning fee incident that shocked the world. Wang Yan submitted a memorial to Zhao Zhen, measuring fields and checking households nationwide, and increasing commercial taxes. And then, only in Hangzhou was the cleaning fee incident realized.

Later, it was the vigorous measurement of fields.

People in the ruling class all understood that Wang Yan and Fan Zhongyan were making trouble in Hangzhou, openly setting off a climax of reform again. Even many people knew that the Hangzhou incident was entirely initiated by Wang Yan, and Fan Zhongyan's contribution was not to stop it.

What the world paid attention to was still Wang Yan daring to defy the world, increasing commercial taxes, measuring fields, and checking households. The key was that this matter was done, and the wealthy families of Hangzhou were all tossed away by Wang Yan. Arresting people killed a batch, a batch died on the way to the Northwest, and a batch died when they arrived at the place, and it also implicated many officials and exposed the military's sale of military equipment.

But no one paid attention to how Wang Yan governed Hangzhou, or perhaps people paid attention but didn't speak out. Because many things were built on the prefecture having money. From beginning to end, the money Wang Yan spent in Hangzhou was all raided from raids, which others couldn't learn.

However, Wang Anshi wanted to learn, because his ideas coincided with what Wang Yan did. That was to damage the surplus to supplement the deficiency. He checked all of Wang Yan's operations and found that Wang Yan only did one thing, and that was regulation. Regulating grain, regulating land, regulating population, regulating the commercial environment. He believed that Wang Yan was on the same path as him...

"I have long heard of Assistant Prefect Wang's great name and have been friends in spirit for a long time. Meeting today is truly my luck."

Wang Yan shook his head with a smile: "Prefect, you are flattering me. Meeting the Prefect is my luck. When you were the *Qianpan* (Assistant) in Huainan, you practiced benevolence, did everything yourself, and I had heard of it before I passed the examination. After I left my teacher Ouyang Gong, I heard that you abandoned the library and pavilion to be a county magistrate, vigorously built construction, and promoted literature and education. Later, when you were the *Tongpan* (Assistant Prefect) of Shuzhou, you were diligent and loved the people, and your governance was remarkable. I admire you very much."

It was originally intended to gather prefecture officials to hold a welcoming banquet for Wang Anshi, but Wang Anshi refused; he didn't like this set. At the same time, he also understood very well that the other prefecture officials were useless; he only had to win Wang Yan's support to carry out work in Hangzhou. He also needed Wang Yan to explain it to him before he could do things.

So he very directly expressed that he wanted to have a good chat with Wang Yan. Wang Yan naturally welcomed it, so he invited Wang Anshi's family to his home for dinner.

Now it was the two of them eating and drinking in the front hall, while Wang Anshi's wife took her seven-year-old son to the backyard, entertained by Hualan and Shulan. At the same time, Wang Yan was also very generous, letting the kitchen make good wine and dishes, and sent them to Wang Anshi's mansion to entertain his servants and maids...

After hearing Wang Yan's words, Wang Anshi also became serious. Because if it was just about the *Qianpan* matter, it could only be said that Wang Yan knew his name, but Wang Yan talked about the later matters, which meant he really paid attention to him. Obviously, the degree of importance was different.

"I have received Ouyang Gong's guidance and support. You are Ouyang Gong's inner-room disciple, so don't be so polite. You and I should just call each other by our courtesy names."

"Then I won't be polite. Brother Jiepu?"

"That should be it, virtuous brother Ziyan."

The two laughed loudly, toasted a cup of wine, and Wang Anshi shook his head and sighed: "Carefully speaking, that I can come here to know Hangzhou affairs is all thanks to you, virtuous brother."

Wang Anshi was fourth in the imperial examination. Although he became an official seven years earlier than Wang Yan, in these seven years, he was only at the same level as Wang Yan before. According to normal procedures, he was still half a level away from being a prefect and lacked experience in the capital. That is to say, he was at least three to five years ahead of schedule and sat in the position of prefect. He was even faster than Wang Yan, the *Xingpu Zhuangyuan*.

Wang Anshi was thirty-one this year, and Wang Yan was twenty-two. As far as the current situation was concerned, Wang Anshi looked more like a *Xingpu Zhuangyuan* than Wang Yan.

Of course, the times make heroes. Others didn't dare to come, didn't have Wang Anshi's ability, didn't have Wen Yanbo's recommendation, and didn't have the emperor's appreciation. For Wang Anshi, it was a matter of course...

"Not so. It is because you, brother, can do what others cannot and dare to do what others dare not. If it weren't for this, Hangzhou, a place of fat and richness, would have been fought over." Wang Yan said with a smile, "I heard it was recommended by Prime Minister Wen in front of the emperor?"

"Exactly. Prime Minister Wen said that although my qualifications are shallow, I can handle things. But Prime Minister Wen is over-praising me. To tell you the truth, before coming here, I was confident that I could clear up Hangzhou affairs, but after seeing and hearing along the way, I realized your great talent, Wang Ziyan."

Wang Yan smiled slightly. What did it feel like to be flattered by Wang Anshi? If it were when he first received the favor of the living father, his heart would be flying. However, now, it was just plain, because he had seen too many awesome figures.

Wang Anshi was not as black as in many works, as if in legend, Wang Anshi was blacker than Old Bao. In fact, it was just a little bit black, which was tanned by the sun for a long time, and the skin was also rougher.

Although looking at the time of the Xining Reform, Wang Anshi wantonly excluded dissidents and sent those who didn't support his reform to travel, in fact, in the short time they spent together, Wang Yan had already noticed that Wang Anshi was not so arrogant.

He was just practicing his own ideals in the cracks of reality; he was a person who did practical things. Of course, no matter how practical he was, now that he was flattering Wang Yan, he didn't change his face. He might not be skilled in business, but he had seen pigs run.

If the historical image was brought into such a scene, it would bring some comedic effect with its own conflicts and contradictions, so the corners of Wang Yan's mouth also raised a greater arc.

If you bring the historical image into such a scene, it comes with some conflict and contradiction, so the corners of Wang Yan's mouth also raised a greater arc.

However, Hangzhou is my hard work, and the great situation must not be buried. I see you are a pragmatic person, and I am not a person who talks big. Since you have seen and heard along the way, I don't know how you plan to know Hangzhou affairs?"

"Nothing else, just follow the rules." Wang Anshi said, "To tell you the truth, virtuous brother, I also have the heart to reform. What you have done in Hangzhou is very much to my liking. Now the situation in Hangzhou is very good; I don't need to do anything, just continue to curb the wealthy families, strictly investigate corruption and bribery, and clarify laws and discipline, and Hangzhou will naturally be worry-free."

Seeing Wang Yan nod, revealing three points of satisfaction, Wang Anshi continued, "It's just that there are still many items that are unclear, and I still need you to solve my doubts..."

"Brother, just say it; I will definitely know everything and say everything."

"I heard that you have exempted many miscellaneous taxes..."

Wang Anshi had many questions, but they mainly revolved around the economy, and only a few were discussing the significance of the existence of wealthy families with Wang Yan. This point could also be seen from the Xining Reform; they were all about raising money.

Of course, speaking of it, prosperity is to make money a lot; this is no problem. It's just that in the process of making money, it becomes grabbing money from the commoners, which is not very good.

This exchange lasted from the afternoon until the afternoon of the next day. Wang Yan talked about a lot of political economy, talked about currency, and fundamentally, talked about how to make the market bigger and let everyone participating in each link make money. Later, it was no longer limited to Hangzhou, but talked about some problems at the national level and some solutions.

In short, it was Wang Yan giving Wang Anshi a small reform classroom, explaining the essence of some struggles, the root of some problems, and corresponding solutions.

Wang Anshi also accepted the knowledge Wang Yan instilled in him very well, highly recognized Wang Yan's methods, and decided to keep in line with Wang Yan.

Undoubtedly, this was a historic meeting and conversation. Wang Yan changed Wang Anshi's fate trajectory, opened up his vision, instilled more advanced ideas, and the future seemed to have been set at this moment...

In fact, it was earlier, when Wang Yan appeared in the landlord manor of Wang's Village on an afternoon in the eighth year of Qingli...

Of course, both of them knew it well and didn't say it, but what wasn't said was Wang Anshi's real mission in coming to Hangzhou.

To put it bluntly, with Wang Yan's influence in Hangzhou, even if Zhao Zhen came to Hangzhou, his words wouldn't be as useful as Wang Yan's, which was too terrifying. So transferring Wang Yan away and sending someone over to weaken Wang Yan's influence and truly inherit the Hangzhou transformed by Wang Yan was the most fundamental purpose of Wang Anshi's coming.

Of course, raising money was also important. It was to ensure Hangzhou's stability, ensure continued money-making, ensure that it increased year by year, and carry out de-Wang Yan-ization.

However, people were also quite calm. Wang Yan was awesome, so let him go again. It was just that no one was willing to be the person who let Hangzhou fall into ruin. Incompetence was one aspect, and it was easy to lose one's life, and affecting the family was a more important aspect...

After making arrangements, Wang Yan returned to the official office with Fan Zhongyan.

"Is it okay?"

"Thanks to Master Fan's blessing, I am unscathed. Master Fan, look, there is not a trace of blood on the student's clothes."

Fan Zhongyan really let Wang Yan turn around and looked carefully before he was relieved. He sighed, "These people are really bold."

"Didn't I think of today long ago? After all, it's me who is causing trouble now. As long as I am solved, naturally everything will be worry-free."

"I am still here."

"Master Fan has lost power and is in the wild, not like before. Since they have done it, they naturally have a way to arrange for Master Fan."

"Yes, at worst, kill me together with you, and everything will be fine." Fan Zhongyan shook his head and turned to say, "What are your plans? Are you afraid?"

"The student doesn't even know how to write the word 'afraid'." Wang Yan smiled. "If it weren't for the people from the capital being here, today's siege would have been a good raft. Whoever dares not obey, just let the assassins point out which family bought the killer to kill the official. This time collecting the cleaning fee, even measuring fields and checking households could all be done together."

"And now?"

"Naturally, use the momentum to force them to agree. However, the regulations, especially how to deal with the taxes evaded in the past, still need Master Fan to make the decision."

"You..." Fan Zhongyan pointed at Wang Yan, but still spoke his thoughts.

Ever since he knew what Wang Yan wanted to do, Fan Zhongyan had carefully thought about these problems and had long had ideas. Of course, he also said them out for Wang Yan to refer to. He now trusted Wang Yan very much, because everything in the past proved Wang Yan's steadiness, ruthlessness, and wisdom. Since he had let go, he didn't intend to interfere too much, just let Wang Yan toss...

Knowing that Dongliang had returned home covered in blood, and hearing that Wang Yan had been surrounded and killed by more than twenty people, Hualan was very worried and kept sitting and standing uneasily, walking back and forth at home. It wasn't until the little maid guarding the door ran back to tell her that Wang Yan had returned that she let out a long sigh and hurriedly ran out.

"Master, Master, you are finally back."

Seeing Wang Yan enter, Hualan anxiously circled around Wang Yan, looking here and there, fearing that something might happen.

Wang Yan cooperated by opening his arms and standing on the spot: "Do I look like something happened to me?"

"Go back to the room and take off your clothes. Dongliang is covered in blood and was slashed twice. Such long knife wounds, I saw them. You were surrounded and killed by more than twenty people; you must be lying to me..."

Wang Yan shook his head amusingly, but still cooperated with Hualan, returned to the room to take off his clothes, and let Hualan check it once before it was over.

"Master is truly divine."

"That's right, I told my father-in-law last year that if it weren't for our dynasty valuing literature over martial arts, I would have joined the army long ago and definitely beaten the Liao and Xia to run away with their heads in their hands."

"Isn't it the same after Master became a civil official?" Hualan said worriedly, "Master, I think let's forget about this cleaning fee. Commercial taxes belong to the court and the emperor, not our Wang family, but life is one's own."

This was really a simple and good idea, and the so-called elites a thousand years later thought the same.

"Forgot what I said last year? For heaven and earth... Now everyone says I have established the Dao, and I am not humble enough to create my own theory and clarify my own propositions. Having reached this point, where is there any retreat? A person lives for a face; now that things have come to this, even if I don't want to do it, I can't. Moreover, I still have some ambitions.

As the saying goes, sailing against the current, if you don't advance, you retreat. If I am afraid this time, then I will be afraid for a lifetime. If I want to straighten my back again, I fear it will be difficult. So I must hold this breath and fight them to the end. The situation in Hangzhou is tense now; don't worry about me, but you must be more careful."