I want to ruin the country

The boat docked, the boatman put up the gangplank, and Lin Zexu and You Zongtang got off the boat one after another.

I saw the famous Lin Zexu, wearing a dark brown long gown and a mandarin jacket, a melon-shaped hat with the Chinese characters for "Six Harmonies and One Unity" on his head, and holding a piece of beautiful jade at the door.

Xing Guodong and Li Mengxiang bowed and saluted.

"Your humble servant greets His Excellency!"

When Lin Zexu saw Xing Guodong, he saw that he was about forty years old, with a fair complexion, narrow eyes, a thin mouth, and a yellow beard on his lips.

He returned the greeting and said,

"Thank you for waiting, Lord Xing!"

Seeing that there was a skinny official in a fourth-rank official uniform beside him also saluting him, Lin Zexu asked,

"Who is this lord?"

Li Mengxiang quickly saluted again,

"I, Li Mengxiang, the Shandong Grain Storage Commissioner, come to see you, Your Excellency. I happen to be in Dezhou on official business. It is truly a great honor to meet you, Your Excellency!"

You Zongtang saluted Xing Guodong,

"Cousin meets cousin!"

Xing Guodong hurriedly grabbed his hand and said affectionately,

"Don't be polite, cousin. I've been waiting anxiously for you. Let's go back and talk!"

After exchanging greetings, everyone got on the sedan chair and went to the prefectural yamen!

After entering the back hall and being served tea, Xing Guodong began to report the situation in Dezhou to Lin Zexu after a few words.

As soon as he opened his mouth, Lin Zexu stopped him.

"Master Xing, I'm just passing by. I'm not your superior, nor am I an imperial envoy inspecting the area. You have no obligation to tell me this. Let's just catch up!"

Xing Guodong had no choice but to stop.

“Although the current emperor has not allowed the Lord Zhongtang to inspect the local areas, everyone knows that the emperor is going to make great use of the Lord Zhongtang!

Congratulations, sir! Congratulations, sir! "

Lin Zexu said,

"Master Xing, please don't talk nonsense. The emperor hasn't given me a real job yet, so whether I can be of any use to you is still uncertain. Moreover, I have a serious illness and I'm afraid I can't bear such a heavy responsibility!"

Since Lin Zexu refused to listen to the work report, Xing Guodong and Li Mengxiang could only chat with him about local customs and poetry.

Lin Zexu noticed that Xing Guodong's eyes were wandering and his words were vague while he was speaking.

After a short conversation, it was time for dinner.

"Master Zhongtang, I have already arranged a simple meal at Huixianlou, the most famous restaurant in Dezhou. I have also prepared Dezhou's most famous roast chicken. Please move over!"

Lin Zexu said,

"We are old friends and family, so a simple meal is enough. There's no need to go to great lengths!"

You Zongtang knew that Lin Zexu was unwilling to show off, but as the host, his cousin could not be too simple, so he bowed and said,

"Since my cousin has already made the arrangements, I will do my best to help him!"

You Zongtang's relative was very respectful to him, so since he was here, Lin Zexu could not refuse and agreed!

At the dinner table, Lin Zexu was ill and did not drink a drop of alcohol.

Since he didn't drink, Xing Guodong and Li Mengxiang naturally couldn't relax, and Li Mengxiang kept frowning. Xing Guodong asked him what was wrong and said he had a stomachache.

You Zongtang was not in a position to drink heartily either, so he only took a sip and stopped drinking. Xing Guodong did not dare to refuse him too much, so the banquet ended soon.

After dinner, it was still early, so Lin Zexu said he wanted to go back to the boat to rest, and set sail early the next morning.

Xing Guodong insisted on not giving in.

"Your Excellency has been traveling for days, and I have already arranged accommodation for you. Please do not refuse!"

You Zongtang sympathized with his teacher's difficulty in getting enough rest on the boat and tried his best to persuade Lin Zexu, who had no choice but to agree.

After making arrangements for Lin Zexu, Li Mengxiang said goodbye and went to rest.

Xing Guodong and You Zongtang reminisced about the past for a while before sending You Zongtang back to his room to rest!

Lin Zexu usually had the habit of getting up early and usually woke up at the hour of Yin.

Lin Zexu usually had the habit of getting up early and usually woke up at the hour of Yin.

However, he got up a little late today. The reason was that he had not slept very well on the boat these days and was very tired. The accommodation arranged for him by Xing Guodong today was very comfortable. He did not get dressed and get up until the early hours of the morning.

When he arrived at the main hall, he saw You Zongtang and Xing Guodong already waiting for him. He thought they were waiting for him to have breakfast, so he smiled apologetically and said,

"Master Xing, you got up early. I'm sorry to have kept you waiting for so long.

Pu Cun, you didn't even call me, making Master Xing wait again. Please wait a moment, I will wash up right away!"

You Zongtang said awkwardly,

"Your Excellency has misunderstood. I have long suggested that you should get up, but my cousin refused, saying that you have been traveling for days and I cannot bear to disturb you!"

Xing Guodong looked embarrassed, bowed and stammered,

"Sir, I did get up early, but I haven't slept in the middle of the night!"

"Why?"

Xing Guodong's face was full of bitterness. He made a deep sound and said in a crying voice,

"Sir, Lord Li died of a sudden illness last night!"

"what!"

Lin Zexu was stunned and asked,

"Which Lord Li?"

"It's Li Mengxiang, the grain storage official!"

Lin Zexu was startled.

"what?!"

This was a problem. He had just come ashore to have a meal and stay overnight, but he encountered such a big thing. Lin Zexu thought it was ridiculous.

Originally, no matter how many people died in the local area, it had nothing to do with him as a passer-by. However, the person who died was a fourth-rank official, and they had eaten at the same table last night, so he could not be separated from him.

Besides, although he has no real job now, the emperor has already issued an edict, and he cannot escape the identity of Zhongtang. A senior official of the court died inexplicably, and as a first-rank official, he absolutely cannot ignore it!

"Master Xing, what exactly is going on?"

Xing Guodong said with tears in his eyes,

"Last night, I slept until 10:00 AM. A servant came to report that Li Daotai's entourage had come to report that Brother Li Nian had suddenly developed diarrhea after returning home, and it was getting worse and worse. They called a doctor, who said it was dysentery and prescribed medicine!

Unexpectedly, the medicine not only did not work, but made the condition worse. Brother Li Nian was almost unable to get out of the toilet.

The servants were afraid of an accident, so they came to report it quickly!

When I heard this, I immediately got dressed and rushed to the post station, but when I arrived there, Brother Li Nian was no longer able to speak!

I quickly sent for the doctor, and when he arrived, he took a look and said that Lord Li had passed away. I was completely bewildered and had no choice but to report this to the Lord, the Minister, and ask you to make the decision!"

Lin Zexu was speechless.

"Can dysentery kill someone so quickly?"

Xing Guodong also frowned and said,

"I'm also confused. He was fine last night, how could he pass away? Dysentery can't die so quickly!"

After listening to this, Lin Zexu frowned and said,

"Come on, let's go over and take a look!"

Yining suddenly received two memorials, one of which was from Dezhou by Lin Zexu, whom he had been thinking about day and night.

Originally, he was very happy when he saw the memorial from Lin Zexu, but when he read the content, he found that it was about the death of Li Mengxiang, the grain storage and transportation director of Shandong, in Dezhou.

It talks about what happened after he arrived in Texas, and also about Li Mengxiang's sudden death.