Caoyun Yamen is located in the heart of Huai'an Prefecture, adjacent to Zhenhuai Tower and Huai'an Prefecture. It covers an area of ​​45 acres and is spacious and grand.

Hanging in front of the door are the six characters "Governor-General's Water Transport Department".

The Cao Yuan Yamen has a huge deployment, with warehouses, shipyards, water defense depots, etc. under its jurisdiction, and there are about 20,000 people. In the Yamen's official office alone, there are nearly a hundred civil and military personnel.

Naturally, such a behemoth has no shortage of prisons—although in name, it belongs to the prison of Huai'an Mansion.

Wang Ruyan was imprisoned here.

When Wang Ruyan was first sacked, he went through several assassinations. It was not until news came from the capital that Hai Rui was going to supervise the case that it stopped. Everyone understood that this was no longer a simple corruption case.

After some people came to their senses, the pressure on the Governor of Water Transport, Wang Zongmu, increased day by day.

After all, it is a yamen. Many matters decided by Governor Wang have to be implemented by the subordinates.

Most of the water transport envoys, governors, prosecutors, officials, and governors under the water transport yamen are natives of Nanzhili, and their families and relatives are all local, so they will inevitably be affected.

This month was supposed to be the critical moment for Qiu Liang to arrive in Beijing, but the people below have been delaying it, and it has not been done until now.

Everyone is doing things according to the rules, but if every link is a little slower, things will be delayed.

A few days ago, the Ministry of Household Grain Department and the Warehouse Governor's Office were so anxious that they sent letters to remind them.

Wang Zongmu was helpless and had no other choice.

His troubles don't stop there. Recently, the governor of South Zhili has been impeaching him.

For example, he fabricated the incident of a storm in shipping, or impeached Wang Zongmu, deliberately sabotaging water transportation for the sake of shipping, etc. Even his book "A Detailed Study of Shipping" was said to be "using learning to disrupt government."

If you are impeached, you must defend yourself.

However, when the officials heard about the matter, he was able to make a solid defense. For example, when it came to the capsizing of his ship, the officials only had to mention the rumors, and Wang Zongmu would attach the oral statements of the accompanying officials and the accounts of the warehouse.

The amount of energy expended is incalculable.

Over and over again, I have been impeached and defended more times, and I still want to be impeached. I am obsessed with power and position, and I can't leave.

All in all, it made Wang Zongmu quite anxious.

At this time, Wang Zongmu was sitting in the Governor's Office, listening to a report from a governor.

"Caotai, Mr. Chen said that he has just arrived and needs some time to sort it out. I hope you don't rush Caotai. He will do it as soon as possible. I think it will be enough to wait another seven or eight days."

Wang Zongmu sighed after hearing this. Although he was anxious, he knew there was nothing he could do.

For some unknown reason, the Central Committee also changed the water transportation commander.

The previous admiral and chief water transport officer, Baoding Marquis Liang Jifan, was recalled to Beijing and replaced by Pingjiang Bo Chen Wangmo, who arrived only five days ago.

The handover will naturally take some time, otherwise it will be easy to bear the bad debts of the predecessor.

Although this is reasonable, the transportation of food will inevitably be delayed for several days.

Wang Zongmu thought for a while and said: "In this way, let's send out the seven ships agreed yesterday first. If the grain department asks about it, they will say that the remaining ones will be sent out soon."

There is nothing we can do if we are in a hurry. We can only give the household department a cushion first.

The governor copied an official document on the spot and gave Wang Zongmu his seal - the autumn grain shipment required the governor's seal.

Wang Zongmu picked up the seal and pressed it.

At this moment, Lu Mingzhang, the patrol censor, hurriedly rushed in.

When the governor saw this, he quickly took the paperwork and left, fearing that he would hear too much.

Seeing that there was no one around him, Lu Mingzhang was surprised and said: "Governor Wang, Governor Haigang Fenghai is here!"

Wang Zongmut stood up and asked: "Are you crossing to Huaiyin?"

Nowadays, Jianghuai is not at peace. As the governor, Wang Zongmu naturally knows who is fighting.

Now that he is being targeted, there is really nothing he can do. After all, it is a passive defense, so it is inevitable that he will be somewhat overwhelmed.

But the situation will definitely be much better once Hai Rui comes.

Even if you can't fight, you can still share some of the pressure.

Lu Mingzhang was out of breath as he spoke and shook his head quickly: "He said he would be at the Caoyun Yamen soon!"

Wang Zongmu was shocked, so fast?

I immediately realized that I was probably going to get off the boat and walk on land. At this juncture, I really shouldn't follow the planned itinerary.

He straightened his official hat and strode out of the Yamen: "Let's go, you and I will greet you personally!"

Lu Mingzhang quickly followed.

The two of them did not forget it on the way, and sent someone to tell Chen Wangmo, the commander-in-chief of water transport.

The two of them arrived at the door, and after waiting for a short time, they saw a group of people coming to the Caoyun Yamen.

Wang Zongmu passed by a bunch of young faces, and he immediately saw a crimson-robed official in his fifties, with a handsome and resolute face, and he knew who he was at a glance.

He stepped forward quickly: "Haigang Peak, I have admired it for a long time!"

Seeing Hai Rui looking over, Wang Zongmu walked down the five stone steps at the entrance of the Yamen.

"I am Wang Zongmu, the governor of water transportation."

Hai Rui quickly returned the greeting: "I have met the Governor-General Hai Rui and the Censor of the Water Transport Capital."

Then he looked at the person beside Wang Zongmu.

Wang Zongmu casually raised his hand and lifted Hai Rui up: "Haigangfeng, there is no need to be so polite. I have admired him for a long time. You might as well call me cousin, Xinfu."

Wang Zongmu was in charge of military and political power, but he was a real civil servant and a disciple of Miao Hong.

Privately, I like to pay attention to the character of a scholar and the tone of friendship between gentlemen.

He then pointed to his colleague beside him and introduced: "This is the patrol censor Lu Mingzhang, whose courtesy name is Fengyao."

Lu Mingzhang saluted: "Governor Hai, I have long admired you."

Hai Rui returned the gift and introduced the people around him.

"This is Gu Chengguang from the Zhenyuan Hou family. The Jin Yiwei is in charge of the affairs."

"This is the Prince of Pingjiang, Chen Yinzhao."

Wang Zongmu glanced at the latter unexpectedly and couldn't help but said: "Your master has gone on patrol and is not at the official office."

Chen Yinzhao saluted: "Governor Wang, this official is now the personal guard of Yushi Hai, and is not here to visit relatives."

Wang Zongmu understood clearly that this was a disguised form of urging Pingjiang Bo Chen Wangmo.

I was thinking that this way Uncle Ping Jiang would move faster.

He looked around: "Where is Chen Dong, the young minister of Dali Temple?"

Hai Rui smiled and said: "We got off the boat early at Qingkou Ferry, and they are still on the boat now."

Wang Zongmu nodded and did not ask any further questions.

The emperor's order was to have the Caoyun Yamen cooperate with Hai Rui on his salt inspection.

To put it bluntly, Nanzhili was unreliable. The Water Transport Office had a high enough position, had tens of thousands of soldiers, and was responsible for the delivery and transshipment of salt taxes, so it was naturally suitable to back up Hai Rui.

The leader was naturally the governor of the Lianghuai Salt Administration.

Lu Mingzhang, the censor of the patrol, reminded: "Governor Wang and the governor of the sea, you might as well go in and have a chat."

Wang Zongmu finally came to his senses and asked Hai Rui to go in and help him cleanse himself from the dust.

Hai Rui shook his head: "Forgive me, Governor Wang. Your Majesty is eagerly waiting for me. The cabinet has urged me several times. I'd better handle the case first."

"Is Wang Ruyan still here?"

Lu Mingzhang on the side understood to some extent why Hai Rui was not welcomed.

It's fine if you don't give me any face, just ask if the criminal is still there as soon as you come up, as if the Caoyun Yamen can deliberately let people escape.

Fortunately, Wang Zongmu is a generous person. After all, he is a man who can write books, compile history and write chronicles. The Prime Minister and Fu are not lacking in this kind of magnanimity.

He turned to look at Lu Mingzhang: "Feng Yao, please take the governor of the sea for a visit."

After saying that, Wang Zongmu turned to Hai Rui and asked: "Hai Gangfeng, are you going to interrogate him at the Caoyun Yamen, or are you taking him away?"

Hai Rui thanked him with a cupped hand: "I'm sorry for bothering Governor Wang. Let's go to the Caoyun Yamen to review it. Your Majesty said that when you come to South Zhili, the Governor and Ding Anbo are the first ones you can trust."

Wang Zongmu's expression moved slightly, but he said nothing. He waved his hand and asked Lu Mingzhang to lead Hai Rui to the prison.

…

At this time, the sky was getting dark.

The lanterns on both sides of the Yamen were lit one by one, and each was designated as "General Caobu Yuan".

Cao soldiers held their heads high and stood everywhere in the Caoyun Yamen, looking impressive.

Hai Rui was taken all the way outside the prison of Caoyun Yamen.

Lu Mingzhang said as he walked: "Wang Ruyan is inside."

Hai Rui looked at Lu Mingzhang curiously: "During the days when Wang Ruyan came in, was there no one at the Caoyun Yamen to interrogate him?"
To be continued...