Chapter 1184
Chapter 1184
Chapter 1184
Wang Ji didn't agree with Qu Yutong's statement, and shook his head to retort: "My Ming Dynasty and Haihan haven't formally established diplomatic relations, how could there be high-level intermarriage? Even if Haihan had such an idea, the royal family would never agree Intermarry with this small barbarian country."
Qu Yu said in unison, if Haihan is a small barbarian country, then I, Daming, was bullied by him to the doorstep and could not fight back, so what level is this?Of course, you can only think about this in your heart, and it would be disrespectful to say it.At the moment, he still defended himself politely: "It's the lower officials who made a mistake. The so-called high-level officials do not specifically refer to the royal family, but the local high-ranking officials. It is well known that the Haihan people claim to have crossed the ocean from the east. They come from the sea, the country they built in the South China Sea is just a branch, and there are actually not many Haihan people with authentic blood. These people are all nobles in the Haihan Kingdom in the South China Sea, such as the commander of the Haihan Navy that your lord met earlier Tom was one of them."
"What Master Qu means is to try to match up and arrange a marriage between the high-ranking officials of this province and the high-ranking officials of Haihan?" Wang Ji understood what Qu Yutong meant this time, and said in a deep voice: "Your idea is a bit interesting, if it can be done. , but it can be regarded as a useful attempt. However, the Haihan people are foreign barbarians after all, and the risk of doing this kind of thing is not small. Except for businessmen, I am afraid that it is difficult for anyone to be willing to take the initiative."
What Wang Ji said was also true. Higher-ranking local officials like him and Qu Yutong would not easily bet on their political future.Marriage with a foreigner who has not yet established formal diplomatic relations with Haihan is definitely not a politically correct choice. If there is any ups and downs in the relationship between the two countries in the future, this marriage relationship may have a negative impact on the political future at any time.And with Haihan's routine of threatening soldiers with force at every turn, it's really hard to believe that they will behave honestly from now on.
Qu Yutong was silent for a while, then lowered his voice and said to Wang Ji: "Your official is willing to be such an outstanding person for Daming."
Wang Ji's face changed drastically when he heard the words. Fortunately, they were talking alone in the study, and no one was listening, and no one except Qu Yutong noticed his little gaffe.
"Master Qu, this kind of thing...isn't just a joke!" Wang Ji still didn't quite believe that Qu Yutong had such a bold idea: "Have you considered the consequences carefully when you want to try this kind of thing?"
Qu Yu said with a serious face: "Since the lower official raised this matter in front of the adults, he naturally considered the possible consequences. But if this matter can be effective, in the long run, it will benefit the country and the people a lot. For the benefits, I think it is worth a try."
Seeing that he was serious, Wang Ji became serious immediately: "You know that if there is any mistake in this, people will be said to be colluding with foreign countries, which will be very harmful to your official reputation in the future."
Qu Yu said in unison that I naturally understand the truth, but how can you understand the strength of Haihan, a big backer, if you haven't been to Zhoushan to see it with your own eyes.If it hadn't been for the initiative to marry Shi Diwen, the chief official of Zhoushan, how could Haihan trust himself and plan this drama to protect his prefect position.How ruthless the Haihan people are in their actions, we can see one or two from this bitter trick. Now that we have made up our minds to hold on to Haihan's thigh, then naturally we can no longer look forward and back, and go back on our word.
Haihan has hinted to him many times that if the Ningbo government is unwilling to cooperate with Haihan's trade and immigration policies, then they may take some unconventional means to ensure that their rights and interests in Zhoushan are not threatened.As for what these unconventional methods were, Qu Yutong didn't ask and didn't want to know, as long as the other party has the ability to keep his official position.Even if it may affect his official reputation in the future, Qu Yutong must continue to implement the established plan, otherwise it may not be the degree of losing his official position, but his foundation in Ningbo will be given by Haihan. Shoveled off by the roots.
Regarding Wang Ji's doubts, Qu Yutong also had a plan in advance, and immediately responded solemnly: "My lord, Zhoushan was originally under the jurisdiction of Ningbo Prefecture, but now it is occupied by Haihan people. If their hearts are not peaceful, they will always make troubles in Zhejiang and make people feel dissatisfied. Ning, how can the official voice of the next official be any better? Why don't you try your best, if it can be effective, it can be regarded as fulfilling the responsibility of parents and officials.
Qu Yutong's words were righteous and awe-inspiring, as if he were an upright official who went to great lengths for his country, but this kind of drama may be useful to deceive the common people, and it is still a little bit short of trying to fool Wang Ji, an old fritter who has been in the officialdom for decades skill.Wang Ji didn't believe that Qu Yutong's mind could be so simple, or in other words, it is impossible for an official who can get into the position of magistrate to think about problems in such a simple way and depth.
"Master Qu, there are no outsiders here, and you don't have to make such an awe-inspiring look." Wang Ji decided to give the other party another point: "The Haihan people are doing business in the area under the jurisdiction of Ningbo Prefecture. If you say they didn't pay you tribute, this official is determined I don't believe it. Mr. Qu, tell me the truth, is your idea of getting married related to the benefits they gave you?"
Qu Yutong's heart trembled, and he quickly denied it: "The Hai Han people did show their favor, but it has nothing to do with the intermarriage mentioned by the lower official. If you are greedy for the benefits they give, the lower official will not take the initiative He applied to come forward to negotiate with him, but stayed in Ningbo Mansion to live a peaceful life."
Qu Yutong also knew that if he completely denied it, it would be unreasonable. It is well known that Haihan always uses money to clear the way and use force to complement his actions.They stayed in Zhoushan for more than a year. If they hadn't contacted the yamen of Ningbo Mansion, and didn't offer bribes and gifts to Qu Yuping and other local officials, it was obviously impossible.Moreover, since Haihan entered Zhoushan, it has almost never had a direct confrontation with the Ningbo government. Before the Haihan army entered Hangzhou Bay, they had not heard of any major moves in the territory of Ningbo. The two sides have to insist There is nothing tricky, it is obviously a lie.So Qu Yutong also took advantage of the situation to admit it, but he would never admit that the idea of marriage was to gain more benefits from the Haihan people.
The most powerful evidence that Qu Yutong was able to clear himself up is that he came forward to negotiate for the Zhejiang government this time.From the perspective of outsiders, including Wang Ji, fortunately, Qu Yutong had a deep enough understanding of the situation of the Haihan people, so that he could grasp the psychology of the other party during the negotiation process, persuade them to give up the practice of military confrontation, and negotiate a peace agreement. way to solve the current crisis.Of course, Qu Yutong could choose to stay in Ningbo Mansion to watch the excitement. After all, Haihan rabbits don’t eat grass by the side of their nests, and the chaos in Hangzhou Mansion was turned upside down, but in Ningbo Mansion, he just passed by. But he still chose to take the risk and stand out. , This is undoubtedly a move that won Wang Ji's favor.
Sure enough, Qu Yutong's defense was understood by Wang Ji. Wang Ji nodded and said, "Of course I believe you, otherwise I would not have given you the full authority to handle the negotiation. If you really colluded with the Haihan people , then asking you to negotiate would not be a move to lure wolves into the house?"
Qu Yutong felt ashamed in his heart, and the matter happened exactly as Wang Ji guessed. He and the Haihan people had already discussed a whole set of operation plan, and the whole incident was just a well-written script.Fortunately, his acting skills are good. Although some people questioned him during the process, he finally finished the whole play smoothly.However, Qu Yutong also knew that Hai Han had no intention of aggressively invading Daming, so he was willing to act in accordance with Hai Han's plan. In his own opinion, it could not be considered a lure into the house, at most it was a loss of public welfare.
Wang Ji continued: "It is a good thing that you have the heart to serve the country, but there is no precedent for this matter in Zhejiang, so you must proceed with caution. In my opinion, it is best not to publicize it before it is done. Those who know The less the better. And if it does happen, do it as quietly as possible so as not to gossip too much.”
Qu Yutong bowed deeply and said: "My lord's admonition is right, I must keep it in mind."
Wang Ji continued: "Someone mentioned to me earlier that Ningbo Mansion had a close relationship with Haihan, and it was suspected that there was a secret collusion, seeking profit and betraying the country. It's just that Ningbo Mansion has been relatively peaceful in the past two years, and Mr. Qu has governed the area. It can be regarded as doing your best, and there is no major fault. Therefore, I have been suppressing this matter and not reporting it to the court. Mr. Qu, you have your own way of governing, and you have the means to deal with the Haihan people. This is not a problem, but you must remember yourself. Don’t do anything disobedient and disloyal because of your identity. I think it’s better to manage this Ningbo Mansion under your command, do your best, and don’t let me down!”
Wang Ji's words were already very straightforward, and Qu Yutong's back was covered with cold sweat.Obviously, Wang Ji was not ignorant of his movements, but in the end he decided to trust him under the premise of considering the overall stability, and Wang Ji also probably understood that even if another person went to Ningbo to govern, it would not help the matter. Like Qu Yutong, he became a fence-sitter with an ambiguous attitude.Now that Qu Yutong is still available, and he has the channel to communicate with the Haihan people, there is no need to replace him.
After hearing these words, Qu Yutong knew that the problem he had been worrying for a long time finally had a relatively ideal result, and he was greatly relieved at the moment, and quickly thanked Wang Ji again, already thinking about waiting for Wang Ji. When Ji celebrates his birthday this year, he has to arrange a big gift for him.
The conversation was divided into two parts. After Wang Tom and Wang Ji signed the peace agreement, the Haihan army quickly left Hangzhou and returned to Zhoushan Island in the East China Sea by boat.The lower reaches of the Qiantang River, which has been banned from sailing for more than ten days, has finally resumed its former bustling sailing race, and anxious businessmen and ship owners can finally start their own businesses again.
Just as the officials in the city held a banquet to celebrate the peaceful settlement of the matter, the sailboat carrying a new batch of Haihan cargo had already quietly arrived outside Hangzhou.The Haihan army spent a lot of military expenses in this mission, and the Dinghai Port Management Committee also hopes to restore trade to the pre-war level as soon as possible, and recover the military expenses spent during the operation.Because they were able to accurately grasp the progress of the armistice negotiations, before the agreement was signed, this batch of goods had already departed from Zhoushan, and the action could not be described as unpleasant.
In addition to profit considerations, there is another reason why Haihan redistributed the goods so quickly, which is to use this method to build confidence for local partners-as long as the war stops, the business can continue. No one can drive Haihan out of Zhejiang, not even the government.Moreover, according to the official agreement signed by the two parties, in the future, these transactions will change from an underground and gray nature to a legal public transaction. Buy the relevant yamen.
Although the armed confrontation between Daming and Haihan had just ended for more than half a month, this small-scale war did not seem to affect the enthusiasm of the local business community for Haihan goods. In half a day, it has been evacuated.
Naval intern officer Pan Yan got the vacation granted by Wang Tom before he left, so he didn't withdraw to Zhoushan with the large army, but changed into civilian clothes and entered Hangzhou City as a merchant.
When Pan Yan entered the city, he took a closer look at the city defenses of Hangzhou. The title of the largest city in the south of the Yangtze River was indeed well-deserved. The city walls were high and thick. .However, Haihan has never advocated forcibly attacking fortified cities because of its elite soldiers.Pan Yan feels that even if they attack freely, there is little hope that the Haihan army can break through Hangzhou City in a short time.
Of course, if Pan Yan knew how Haihan broke through Hue City in Annan, he might not think so.Although the city of Hangzhou is well built, it is not impeccable.As long as Haihan makes full use of the black technology at hand, it is only a matter of time before he breaks through the city.
After Pan Yan entered the city, he followed the instructions and went straight to find a shop called Fengsheng Rice Shop on a certain street in Nancheng.The owner of this shop is Lin Si, the second of the three Lin brothers, and it is also one of the intelligence stations of the Haihan Security Department in Hangzhou.
After Pan Yan passed the identity check, he was taken to the backyard to meet Lin Si.During his temporary stay in Hangzhou, he could live in Fengsheng Rice's guest room every day, which was much safer than staying in an inn outside.
Lin Si didn't know Pan Yan before, and didn't know that he came back from the north with Tom Wang, but Pan Yan's letter of introduction stated that he was a senior military officer who enjoyed commissioner treatment, so he had to be treated well.The so-called commissioner's treatment refers to the naturalized senior cadres who are directly assigned by the local management committee or executive committee to perform official duties in the locality.Although Pan Yan did not join the Haihan nationality, his status as a foreign military student won him the temporary treatment of this commissioner.With this identity, he will be taken care of by special personnel for eating, drinking, and safety issues during his stay in Hangzhou.
(End of this chapter)
Wang Ji didn't agree with Qu Yutong's statement, and shook his head to retort: "My Ming Dynasty and Haihan haven't formally established diplomatic relations, how could there be high-level intermarriage? Even if Haihan had such an idea, the royal family would never agree Intermarry with this small barbarian country."
Qu Yu said in unison, if Haihan is a small barbarian country, then I, Daming, was bullied by him to the doorstep and could not fight back, so what level is this?Of course, you can only think about this in your heart, and it would be disrespectful to say it.At the moment, he still defended himself politely: "It's the lower officials who made a mistake. The so-called high-level officials do not specifically refer to the royal family, but the local high-ranking officials. It is well known that the Haihan people claim to have crossed the ocean from the east. They come from the sea, the country they built in the South China Sea is just a branch, and there are actually not many Haihan people with authentic blood. These people are all nobles in the Haihan Kingdom in the South China Sea, such as the commander of the Haihan Navy that your lord met earlier Tom was one of them."
"What Master Qu means is to try to match up and arrange a marriage between the high-ranking officials of this province and the high-ranking officials of Haihan?" Wang Ji understood what Qu Yutong meant this time, and said in a deep voice: "Your idea is a bit interesting, if it can be done. , but it can be regarded as a useful attempt. However, the Haihan people are foreign barbarians after all, and the risk of doing this kind of thing is not small. Except for businessmen, I am afraid that it is difficult for anyone to be willing to take the initiative."
What Wang Ji said was also true. Higher-ranking local officials like him and Qu Yutong would not easily bet on their political future.Marriage with a foreigner who has not yet established formal diplomatic relations with Haihan is definitely not a politically correct choice. If there is any ups and downs in the relationship between the two countries in the future, this marriage relationship may have a negative impact on the political future at any time.And with Haihan's routine of threatening soldiers with force at every turn, it's really hard to believe that they will behave honestly from now on.
Qu Yutong was silent for a while, then lowered his voice and said to Wang Ji: "Your official is willing to be such an outstanding person for Daming."
Wang Ji's face changed drastically when he heard the words. Fortunately, they were talking alone in the study, and no one was listening, and no one except Qu Yutong noticed his little gaffe.
"Master Qu, this kind of thing...isn't just a joke!" Wang Ji still didn't quite believe that Qu Yutong had such a bold idea: "Have you considered the consequences carefully when you want to try this kind of thing?"
Qu Yu said with a serious face: "Since the lower official raised this matter in front of the adults, he naturally considered the possible consequences. But if this matter can be effective, in the long run, it will benefit the country and the people a lot. For the benefits, I think it is worth a try."
Seeing that he was serious, Wang Ji became serious immediately: "You know that if there is any mistake in this, people will be said to be colluding with foreign countries, which will be very harmful to your official reputation in the future."
Qu Yu said in unison that I naturally understand the truth, but how can you understand the strength of Haihan, a big backer, if you haven't been to Zhoushan to see it with your own eyes.If it hadn't been for the initiative to marry Shi Diwen, the chief official of Zhoushan, how could Haihan trust himself and plan this drama to protect his prefect position.How ruthless the Haihan people are in their actions, we can see one or two from this bitter trick. Now that we have made up our minds to hold on to Haihan's thigh, then naturally we can no longer look forward and back, and go back on our word.
Haihan has hinted to him many times that if the Ningbo government is unwilling to cooperate with Haihan's trade and immigration policies, then they may take some unconventional means to ensure that their rights and interests in Zhoushan are not threatened.As for what these unconventional methods were, Qu Yutong didn't ask and didn't want to know, as long as the other party has the ability to keep his official position.Even if it may affect his official reputation in the future, Qu Yutong must continue to implement the established plan, otherwise it may not be the degree of losing his official position, but his foundation in Ningbo will be given by Haihan. Shoveled off by the roots.
Regarding Wang Ji's doubts, Qu Yutong also had a plan in advance, and immediately responded solemnly: "My lord, Zhoushan was originally under the jurisdiction of Ningbo Prefecture, but now it is occupied by Haihan people. If their hearts are not peaceful, they will always make troubles in Zhejiang and make people feel dissatisfied. Ning, how can the official voice of the next official be any better? Why don't you try your best, if it can be effective, it can be regarded as fulfilling the responsibility of parents and officials.
Qu Yutong's words were righteous and awe-inspiring, as if he were an upright official who went to great lengths for his country, but this kind of drama may be useful to deceive the common people, and it is still a little bit short of trying to fool Wang Ji, an old fritter who has been in the officialdom for decades skill.Wang Ji didn't believe that Qu Yutong's mind could be so simple, or in other words, it is impossible for an official who can get into the position of magistrate to think about problems in such a simple way and depth.
"Master Qu, there are no outsiders here, and you don't have to make such an awe-inspiring look." Wang Ji decided to give the other party another point: "The Haihan people are doing business in the area under the jurisdiction of Ningbo Prefecture. If you say they didn't pay you tribute, this official is determined I don't believe it. Mr. Qu, tell me the truth, is your idea of getting married related to the benefits they gave you?"
Qu Yutong's heart trembled, and he quickly denied it: "The Hai Han people did show their favor, but it has nothing to do with the intermarriage mentioned by the lower official. If you are greedy for the benefits they give, the lower official will not take the initiative He applied to come forward to negotiate with him, but stayed in Ningbo Mansion to live a peaceful life."
Qu Yutong also knew that if he completely denied it, it would be unreasonable. It is well known that Haihan always uses money to clear the way and use force to complement his actions.They stayed in Zhoushan for more than a year. If they hadn't contacted the yamen of Ningbo Mansion, and didn't offer bribes and gifts to Qu Yuping and other local officials, it was obviously impossible.Moreover, since Haihan entered Zhoushan, it has almost never had a direct confrontation with the Ningbo government. Before the Haihan army entered Hangzhou Bay, they had not heard of any major moves in the territory of Ningbo. The two sides have to insist There is nothing tricky, it is obviously a lie.So Qu Yutong also took advantage of the situation to admit it, but he would never admit that the idea of marriage was to gain more benefits from the Haihan people.
The most powerful evidence that Qu Yutong was able to clear himself up is that he came forward to negotiate for the Zhejiang government this time.From the perspective of outsiders, including Wang Ji, fortunately, Qu Yutong had a deep enough understanding of the situation of the Haihan people, so that he could grasp the psychology of the other party during the negotiation process, persuade them to give up the practice of military confrontation, and negotiate a peace agreement. way to solve the current crisis.Of course, Qu Yutong could choose to stay in Ningbo Mansion to watch the excitement. After all, Haihan rabbits don’t eat grass by the side of their nests, and the chaos in Hangzhou Mansion was turned upside down, but in Ningbo Mansion, he just passed by. But he still chose to take the risk and stand out. , This is undoubtedly a move that won Wang Ji's favor.
Sure enough, Qu Yutong's defense was understood by Wang Ji. Wang Ji nodded and said, "Of course I believe you, otherwise I would not have given you the full authority to handle the negotiation. If you really colluded with the Haihan people , then asking you to negotiate would not be a move to lure wolves into the house?"
Qu Yutong felt ashamed in his heart, and the matter happened exactly as Wang Ji guessed. He and the Haihan people had already discussed a whole set of operation plan, and the whole incident was just a well-written script.Fortunately, his acting skills are good. Although some people questioned him during the process, he finally finished the whole play smoothly.However, Qu Yutong also knew that Hai Han had no intention of aggressively invading Daming, so he was willing to act in accordance with Hai Han's plan. In his own opinion, it could not be considered a lure into the house, at most it was a loss of public welfare.
Wang Ji continued: "It is a good thing that you have the heart to serve the country, but there is no precedent for this matter in Zhejiang, so you must proceed with caution. In my opinion, it is best not to publicize it before it is done. Those who know The less the better. And if it does happen, do it as quietly as possible so as not to gossip too much.”
Qu Yutong bowed deeply and said: "My lord's admonition is right, I must keep it in mind."
Wang Ji continued: "Someone mentioned to me earlier that Ningbo Mansion had a close relationship with Haihan, and it was suspected that there was a secret collusion, seeking profit and betraying the country. It's just that Ningbo Mansion has been relatively peaceful in the past two years, and Mr. Qu has governed the area. It can be regarded as doing your best, and there is no major fault. Therefore, I have been suppressing this matter and not reporting it to the court. Mr. Qu, you have your own way of governing, and you have the means to deal with the Haihan people. This is not a problem, but you must remember yourself. Don’t do anything disobedient and disloyal because of your identity. I think it’s better to manage this Ningbo Mansion under your command, do your best, and don’t let me down!”
Wang Ji's words were already very straightforward, and Qu Yutong's back was covered with cold sweat.Obviously, Wang Ji was not ignorant of his movements, but in the end he decided to trust him under the premise of considering the overall stability, and Wang Ji also probably understood that even if another person went to Ningbo to govern, it would not help the matter. Like Qu Yutong, he became a fence-sitter with an ambiguous attitude.Now that Qu Yutong is still available, and he has the channel to communicate with the Haihan people, there is no need to replace him.
After hearing these words, Qu Yutong knew that the problem he had been worrying for a long time finally had a relatively ideal result, and he was greatly relieved at the moment, and quickly thanked Wang Ji again, already thinking about waiting for Wang Ji. When Ji celebrates his birthday this year, he has to arrange a big gift for him.
The conversation was divided into two parts. After Wang Tom and Wang Ji signed the peace agreement, the Haihan army quickly left Hangzhou and returned to Zhoushan Island in the East China Sea by boat.The lower reaches of the Qiantang River, which has been banned from sailing for more than ten days, has finally resumed its former bustling sailing race, and anxious businessmen and ship owners can finally start their own businesses again.
Just as the officials in the city held a banquet to celebrate the peaceful settlement of the matter, the sailboat carrying a new batch of Haihan cargo had already quietly arrived outside Hangzhou.The Haihan army spent a lot of military expenses in this mission, and the Dinghai Port Management Committee also hopes to restore trade to the pre-war level as soon as possible, and recover the military expenses spent during the operation.Because they were able to accurately grasp the progress of the armistice negotiations, before the agreement was signed, this batch of goods had already departed from Zhoushan, and the action could not be described as unpleasant.
In addition to profit considerations, there is another reason why Haihan redistributed the goods so quickly, which is to use this method to build confidence for local partners-as long as the war stops, the business can continue. No one can drive Haihan out of Zhejiang, not even the government.Moreover, according to the official agreement signed by the two parties, in the future, these transactions will change from an underground and gray nature to a legal public transaction. Buy the relevant yamen.
Although the armed confrontation between Daming and Haihan had just ended for more than half a month, this small-scale war did not seem to affect the enthusiasm of the local business community for Haihan goods. In half a day, it has been evacuated.
Naval intern officer Pan Yan got the vacation granted by Wang Tom before he left, so he didn't withdraw to Zhoushan with the large army, but changed into civilian clothes and entered Hangzhou City as a merchant.
When Pan Yan entered the city, he took a closer look at the city defenses of Hangzhou. The title of the largest city in the south of the Yangtze River was indeed well-deserved. The city walls were high and thick. .However, Haihan has never advocated forcibly attacking fortified cities because of its elite soldiers.Pan Yan feels that even if they attack freely, there is little hope that the Haihan army can break through Hangzhou City in a short time.
Of course, if Pan Yan knew how Haihan broke through Hue City in Annan, he might not think so.Although the city of Hangzhou is well built, it is not impeccable.As long as Haihan makes full use of the black technology at hand, it is only a matter of time before he breaks through the city.
After Pan Yan entered the city, he followed the instructions and went straight to find a shop called Fengsheng Rice Shop on a certain street in Nancheng.The owner of this shop is Lin Si, the second of the three Lin brothers, and it is also one of the intelligence stations of the Haihan Security Department in Hangzhou.
After Pan Yan passed the identity check, he was taken to the backyard to meet Lin Si.During his temporary stay in Hangzhou, he could live in Fengsheng Rice's guest room every day, which was much safer than staying in an inn outside.
Lin Si didn't know Pan Yan before, and didn't know that he came back from the north with Tom Wang, but Pan Yan's letter of introduction stated that he was a senior military officer who enjoyed commissioner treatment, so he had to be treated well.The so-called commissioner's treatment refers to the naturalized senior cadres who are directly assigned by the local management committee or executive committee to perform official duties in the locality.Although Pan Yan did not join the Haihan nationality, his status as a foreign military student won him the temporary treatment of this commissioner.With this identity, he will be taken care of by special personnel for eating, drinking, and safety issues during his stay in Hangzhou.
(End of this chapter)