Chapter 2611 - 2584: Business Trip

Lord Tang thought for a moment and nodded, "His Majesty holds Bai Shan in high regard. This is an opportunity for growth, and His Majesty should not object."

Previously, the Emperor had intended for Bai Shan to assume the position of county magistrate of Wannian County. If the Emperor truly plans to promote Bai Shan, this is a great opportunity.

Thus, Tang He requested personnel from the Emperor.

Although the Emperor had dismissed the idea of letting Bai Shan take over Wannian County, he still allowed Bai Shan to accompany Tang He.

This was indeed a great opportunity for experience.

Bai Shan, excited, rushed home to tell Manbao, "This is the first time I, as an official, will interact with the tenant farmers under my jurisdiction."

Manbao asked, "Is it dangerous?"

Bai Shan nodded, "There is some danger. I heard some tenant farmers, believing false rumors, destroyed their grown crops in a fit of anger."

Manbao frowned, "Destroying crops? That’s a serious crime."

Bai Shan nodded, "A group of people was arrested in Qizhou for this, which further enraged the tenant farmers. To avoid further deterioration of relations, Senior Brother Tang decided to set off tomorrow."

"So soon?"

"Yes," Bai Shan held her hand and smiled, "But don’t worry. Though it looks dangerous, I’ll be fine."

He laughed, "I made an agreement with Senior Brother Tang that once we reach Qizhou, we’ll first use gentle persuasion, but if that doesn’t work, he’ll play the bad cop, and I’ll play the good cop to stabilize the situation."

Manbao looked at him skeptically, "Everyone in court knows your close relationship with Senior Brother Tang. Will they believe your disagreements?"

Bai Shan laughed, "We’re facing the people of Qizhou, not the officials. I doubt they know who Senior Brother Tang and I are."

Manbao nodded, "Bring Daji with you to protect you."

"Hmm."

This was Bai Shan’s first business trip, and Manbao was hesitant to see him go. She poked his palm, "Be safe, don’t get into conflict with them. If things go wrong, just run."

Bai Shan nodded in understanding.

Manbao then stood up, "I’ll pack your luggage."

Bai Shan rolled up his sleeves, "I’ll help you."

The two organized clothes, shoes, and socks, placing them neatly in the trunk. Just when they finished packing, Daya, serving Old Madam Liu, came in carrying a pile of shoes and socks, "Young master, young mistress, Old Madam said that since you might not be able to sit comfortably at the Governor’s Mansion or the County Governmental Office in Qizhou, you should bring some shoes and socks..."

Bai Shan and Manbao looked at the trunk, already a third full with shoes and socks, and said in unison, "We’ve packed enough."

Bai Shan said, "I only brought three sets of clothes, all light and convenient. The most we packed are these shoes and socks. If we add more, they won’t fit."

Daya smiled, "Young master, don’t let Old Madam worry. It’s better to take them. There’s still space in the trunk; squeeze them in."

The two had no choice but to squeeze them in. Then Manbao went to the medicine room in the west wing and brought back many bottles and jars, packing them into his bag and stuffing them in the trunk’s gaps, "Shouldn’t you bring another trunk?"

"Better not. We’re going on official duty, accompanied by Senior Brother Tang and two censors from the Censorate. Bringing too much is inappropriate."

Unlike their previous trip to the Western Regions, where they could bring as much as they wanted, this was a business trip. Carrying too much stuff and too many people would appear too pampered.

Manbao had no choice, so she meticulously wrapped bottles and medicine packages, stuffing them into the trunk. Those unsuitable for the trunk were tied in a separate bundle.

Manbao said, "This is Huoxiang pill, a prescription I specially found and personally made. It treats damp-heat disorders. The weather is getting muggy, with occasional rain, and during this trip to Qizhou, when you’re out in the fields, you might need it for vomiting, diarrhea, fever, and chills."

"This one treats heat symptoms and cough from external wind-evil. With Dragon Boat Festival approaching, the outdoor wind is full of evil qi, so you need to be careful."

"This is for mosquito bites; mosquitoes are a big nuisance. I’ve prepared mosquito repellant packs, wrapped in oil paper and boxed. Take one pack daily and carry it in your bag."

Bai Shan nodded continuously, seeing her chatter on, he leaned over to stop her mouth, releasing her after a while. He whispered, "I know, you labeled all these bottles. It’s not my first time seeing them, I can tell them apart."

He hugged her and kissed her forehead gently, "Don’t worry. Qizhou isn’t far from the capital. A quick horse ride would take a day to reach there. If I really miss you, I can sneak back to see you."

Manbao blushed, threatening him softly, "Don’t dare come back, if caught, it’d be desertion, and I won’t save you then."

Bai Shan chuckled, "If you don’t save me, you won’t have a husband anymore."

Manbao cupped his face, kissed him, and whispered, "You must come back safely."

Bai Shan nodded vehemently.

Bai Shan only brought Daji and two guards, carrying one trunk and a bundle, thinking it was minimal enough. But at the city gate, he saw Lord Tang only brought Mingli and two large bundles, and so did the two censors. Even after simplifying, Bai Shan still had the most.

He silently dismounted and saluted Tang He.

Tang He nodded, "Since everyone is here, let’s go. We have a carriage, and it might take until tomorrow to reach Qizhou, but we should enter the city earlier."

The other three responded and mounted their horses.

Riding alongside Tang He, Bai Shan turned and asked, "Senior Brother Tang only brought this little?"

Tang He, unconcerned, said, "Traveling isn’t convenient, you make do with what you have. You still haven’t traveled much."

The other censor laughed, "Lord Bai lacks experience, definitely a pampered gentleman."

Bai Shan:... Pampered?

He prided himself as the least pampered among noble sons; who else at his age had rolled up their trousers to sow seeds in the fields?

Throughout the journey, Bai Shan realized he may indeed be pampered.

The two censors, one from a poor family but now wealthy, and the other also of noble birth, galloped without blinking. During rest, they took out dry food from bundles, directly eating it with cold boiled water from bamboo tubes—no heating, let alone soaking the buns to eat.

Arriving in Qizhou, they not only had to deal with Qizhou officials and local gentry but also face angry tenant farmers. Late at night, they slept in the open fields without tents, just a layer of dry grass beneath.

The hardship wasn’t due to their frugal nature, but the tenant farmers they met today were too furious, not listening to explanations, even brandishing hoes to strike them. They had no choice but to retreat from the village, too late to return to the city, so they made do in the fields overnight.