On November 26, the 11th year of Zhengtong, the first snow in Shandong Province came later than usual.

After Cheng Jing returned to Beijing, he reported the results of the river engineering survey to Zhu Qizhen, Emperor Yingzong of the Ming Dynasty, and confirmed the charge of King Lu's rebellion.

Not long after, Shen Yichen received an urgent report from the capital. The emperor had ordered him to be summoned back to the capital to resume his duties, and he was given the imperial edict to return home.

This also means that the water control project in Shandong, which lasted for one year and one month, has come to an end.

After moving away from the desk where he received the decree, Shen Yichen looked at the bright yellow scroll in his hand, with mixed emotions in his heart. Looking back on the experience of the past year or so, it felt like it was just yesterday, and it still cannot be forgotten in his mind.

The Zhangqiuzhen resident officials standing on both sides of the lobby did not have much joy in their faces after hearing the imperial edict calling Shen Yichen to return to Beijing, and their hearts were not as happy as they had imagined a long time ago.

I remember when I worked under Shen Yichen, I was extremely busy every day, and the various rules and regulations were so strict that it made my scalp numb. I don’t know how many officials and servants were hoping that Shen Yichen could return to the capital as soon as possible, so that he and others could You don't have to be as tired as an animal.

But people's hearts can change. The incentive of double salary can not only improve the lives of parents, wives and children, but also eliminate the need to bear the infamy and guilt of corruption.

After all, if you can become a parent official who benefits one party, who wants to be the corrupt official who is scolded by the people?

But salary and salary can buy service, but they cannot buy loyalty. What really made the entire Yanggu County, and even the entire Yanzhou Prefecture, officials change their attitude was Shen Yichen himself who set an example and explained what it means to do what one preaches!

After more than a year, there was no formal ceremonial of officials sent to the capital, no greed for pleasure of high-ranking officials in scarlet robes, and no condescension of high-ranking officials.

What they saw was that Shen Yichen walked at the river construction site and in the countryside all year round. He lived in a simple dwelling in Zhangqiu Town, and ate the same food as a river worker, and his overall treatment was not even as good as that of an ordinary gentry!

And from the beginning to the end, Shen Yichen has not changed. He has never opened a small stove, changed his residence, and has no maids or concubines.

Frankly speaking, the officials serving under Shen Yichen in the Yanzhou Prefecture believed that they could never do what he did. If the censors of all the dignitaries could do this, how could they have the face to complain?

As millions of refugees gradually settled down, as the river industry gradually stabilized, and as farming and production gradually resumed, the officials of Yanzhou Prefecture began to experience a different kind of experience.

That is, the common people no longer fear officials like tigers and hold all kinds of resentments and curses behind their backs. Instead, they often take the initiative to greet them and regard them as their parents and officials who truly benefit one side.

This kind of respect and reverence brings a sense of accomplishment that I couldn't feel before.

Now that the overall situation of the river industry has been decided, various busy affairs have begun to be greatly reduced, and the official administration has been made clear, reducing a lot of repetitive and chaotic government affairs.

Compared with more than a year ago, the double salary and real salary were several times higher, but the government affairs were reduced. This magical change was unimaginable before, but it was realized under Shen Yichen's hands.

But the originator of all this is leaving.

After a long silence, the county magistrate Jiang Pei forced a smile on his face, cupped his hands towards Shen Yichen and said: "Qian Xian returns to Beijing and will be appointed to the cabinet to pay homage to the prime minister in the future. I am here to congratulate Qian Xian in advance."

With Jiang Pei taking the lead, other officials such as Chen Tao also raised their hands and said: "Congratulations to Qian Xian."

But there was also a wry smile on their faces.

Shen Yichen looked at the expressions of his subordinates, smiled and joked: "Why, I'm leaving my post, shouldn't I be happy?"

Shen Yichen said this with a smile, but when Jiang Pei and others heard it, they felt sad for some reason.

"Qian Xian, to be honest, there was a time when we were looking forward to your departure."

"But now, I feel more reluctant to give up."

Jiang Pei trailed off, probably because he realized that if he didn't say something now, he wouldn't have the chance to say it in the future. Other officials and servants expressed their feelings one after another.

"Qian Xian, it's really hard to leave the official position. I have been an official for so many years and I have never met a good official like you."

"Yeah, I'm busy but I still have passion in my heart and I've regained my original intention of being an official."

"It was Qian Xian who made the officials see what it means to truly serve as an official and benefit one party."

"Qian Xian, I will follow your instructions carefully and put the people first in the future!"

Listening to the voices of the officials and servants present, Shen Yichen didn't know what to say.

He could only bow his hands and say: "It is also an honor for me to work with all my colleagues in this life. I hope that we can encourage each other in the future as officials, put the people first, and take the people of the world as our responsibility."

"We will keep it in our hearts!"

The officials and servants present in the lobby all bowed to Shen Yichen. Many people's eyes turned red at some point.

Now that he has received the imperial edict to return to the capital, he naturally cannot delay any longer in Shandong. In the next few days, Shen Yichen arranged the affairs on hand one after another to prevent chaos in government affairs after leaving office.

At the same time, Shen Yichen took over the guard sergeants at Chaoguan and Salt Fields, and ordered them to be handed over to local officials, and then returned to the guard station. This extraordinary method, once the name of the censor of Qiandu is no longer in charge, he can only rely on the guards It is impossible for the soldiers to control them for a long time.

I have to say that this is a regret in Shen Yichen's heart. With his own strength, he can only change it for a while, but not for a lifetime.

I only hope that after I leave office, the past administrative strategies and changes can bring some inspiration to the officials who take over, so as to continue to keep Shandong's trade routes open and not go back to the original starting point overnight.

Finally, there was the great cause of river engineering. Shen Yichen wrote a memorial, recommending Chen Tao, the chief registrar of Yanggu County, to be appointed as the doctor of the Water Cleansing Department of Shandong Province, in charge of the boundary waterways and river engineering in Shandong.

I believe that with the achievements in flood control and the importance of water transportation, the imperial court will not reject this recommendation. With Chen Tao taking over the future protection of the river embankments, at least there will be no need to worry about the crisis of the Yellow River bursting its embankments.

Everything was arranged well, and on the fifth day of the twelfth month of the eleventh year of Zhengtong, Shen Yichen, led by Bian He, Cang Huo and other close associates, took advantage of the dim light of the sky and left the Zhangqiu Town station.

Shen Yichen did not intend to alarm anyone, nor did he plan to hold a grand departure ceremony. He left quietly, just as he came quietly at the beginning.

After walking out of the city gate, Cang Huotou asked: "Proprietor, should we stop at the inn along the way?"

Since Bian He's unauthorized actions occurred, the Fujian miners under Cang Huo's first-class escort officially worshiped Shen Yichen as their master. They no longer addressed themselves as Mr. Shen, but changed to the title of proprietor.

In addition, the imperial edict "Give Chi Chi Post to Return" means to reward Shen Yichen with the right to use the post station to return to the capital.

This kind of reward from the emperor's imperial edict is different from the treatment you get when you go to a post station to stop. It is equivalent to an explicit order to inform the officials of the local post stations along the way that important officials of the imperial court are passing by, so they must greet them respectfully and show their kindness and honor!

"No need. After passing Zhangqiu Town, we will find a pier to board the ship and take the waterway back to Beijing."

Shen Yichen understood that with his current official title and his extraordinary achievements in flood control, if he followed the imperial edict of "returning by horseback", the reception standards would not be much lower, and there would undoubtedly be great consequences for the local government. A big burden.

Although the territory of Shandong has recovered a lot compared to last year's tragic situation under his own governance, it is not a prosperous place after all, and Shen Yichen will naturally not do such things that waste people and money.

"Yes, I understand, little one."

Cang Huotou raised his hands and said yes, but a mysterious smile appeared on his face.

Not only him, but also his entourage looked as if they were expecting it when they heard that Shen Yichen was going to return to Beijing by water.

In addition to the main commercial port and pier, Zhangqiu Town also has many civilian piers. Shen Yichen plans to rent another sand boat and go back as he came.

But before he reached the pier, he could already see a dark crowd at the pier from a distance.

This scene made Shen Yichen feel puzzled, so he asked Bian He beside him: "Mr. Bian, is Zhangqiu Town so prosperous now, and is the dock outside the town so lively?"

"I don't know, but maybe the trade is booming as the new year is approaching and there are not enough berths at the Zhangqiu Town wharf. Some merchant ships may choose to unload their cargo outside the town."

Yeah?

With this doubt in mind, Shen Yichen and the group moved closer and closer, and soon the dark crowd could be seen clearly.

They were not merchants, but officials and common people from the Chief Secretary of Shandong. Standing near the pier, they could not see the end at a glance. They estimated that there were at least tens of thousands of people. Previously, under the cover of the hazy morning light, Shen Yichen had not noticed that there were so many people. exaggerate.

"This is?"

Shen Yichen's face was full of surprise. He had specifically told Cang Huo's first-class entourage to keep a low profile and not disturb the people on the day he left. How did these people know this?

"Proprietor, it was a drunken man who didn't keep his mouth shut and leaked his departure schedule. Please punish me!"

Before Shen Yichen could come to his senses, Cang Huotou immediately handed over his hand to plead guilty, but there was no look of guilt on his face.

Making a mistake while drunk?

Hearing this reason, Shen Yichen really didn't know whether to laugh or cry. This guy Cang Huotou doesn't drink much at all, and he can't make up a good story!

"Shen Qianxian left office and returned to Beijing. I would like to wish you a prosperous journey and a bright future!"

Hong Ying, the chief envoy of Shandong Province, saluted Shen Yichen. Behind him stood the officials of the Chief Secretary of Shandong Province, no less than a hundred people in total, and as far as his eyes could see, they were covered in scarlet robes!

Hong Ying's advice to the court can be said to have played a key role in helping Shen Yichen block the local impeachment. Especially in the end, he signed a petition with the Palace Chief Shi Jianning to second the proposal of King Lu's rebellion, which had the final say.

Even if the two parties did not have a deep friendship, Shen Yichen had to express his gratitude for both affection and reason.

"Hong Fantai and all my colleagues are seeing me off. I really can't bear it. Shandong has taken care of me a lot during this time when I was out of town. I will always remember it in my heart. Please also pay me my respects."

After that, Shen Yichen bowed to Hong Yingchang, thanking him for helping him at the critical moment.

"Shen Qianxian doesn't need to be polite. Seriously, we all have to be grateful to you."

"The superiors will live up to the world, and the people below will live up to what they have learned. I will also bear this in mind!"

Hong Ying led the Chief Secretary officials and returned a salute to Shen Yichen. He couldn't help but recall the scene of discussing the impeachment of King Lu that day.

Who would have thought that this young man in front of him, with his bravery and passion, could really defeat King Lu and cleanse the turbid and dark officialdom of Shandong.

In the future, the world of Ming Dynasty will at least have a touch of immortal light!

"He Jin, the magistrate of Yanzhou, leads the government officials to send Qian Xian back to the capital!"

"I am sent to Cao Zheng, the magistrate of Dongchang, and I will lead the government officials to send Qian Xian back to the capital!"

"I am going to serve as Deng Wenbin, the magistrate of Qingzhou, and lead the government officials to send Qian Xian back to Beijing!"

…

Not only officials from the Chief Secretary of Shandong Province were present, but even the prefects of the six subordinate prefectures came here to see Shen Yichen off his post and return to Beijing.

When he went out to control floods in Shandong, Shen Yichen saved more than just Yanzhou. He subsequently built hundreds of miles of river embankments, excavated and constructed various water conservancy facilities, and protected tens of thousands of people in Shandong.

They should be grateful for everything Shen Yichen has done!

"Wu Dong, the humble general of Dongchang Guard Quan Dai Qian, led the brothers of Dongchang Guard and respectfully sent Qian Xian back to Beijing!"

"Han Bin, the humble commander of Tai'an Guard, led the brothers of Tai'an Guard to send Qian Xian back to Beijing!"

"Ren Xu, the commander of the Jinan Guard, who is in his humble position, leads the brothers of the Jinan Guard to send Qian Xian back to the capital!"
To be continued...