The sun in May moved slowly in the blue sky, baking the earth. There was no wind, and waves of heat rushed towards him, but Lan Chongwen was completely unaware of it.
Just as he was thinking about it, he saw the Yamen opened wide, and He Qi and Lu Ming came out to greet him. The officials on the left and right stood neatly in a large area.
"Master Lan, why are you standing in the sun when you arrive? You will have to suffer from heatstroke. What rules do you follow on these days? Just go straight to the Yamen." He Qi waved his hand and said.
Lan Chongwen hurriedly took a step back and bowed in court: "How dare you? This is the rule of the court. I am here to pay my respects to Mr. He and Mr. Lu!"
Originally, there was no need for an eighth-rank official to bow to a seventh-rank official, but this was the first time they met, so they had to pay a grand tribute.
As soon as they could get up, Lu Ming held hands affectionately, and Lan Chongwen said nothing more, and together they entered the Yamen court, where there was already a written order from the official department.
As soon as I entered, I heard someone saying: "Everyone has gathered, please give orders to the officials."
The three of them immediately knelt down and listened to this man read out the official document from the Ministry of Personnel. This did not need to be so solemn, but with the emperor's consent, they knelt down.
The content in it is very simple, that is, He Qi was promoted to the sixth rank of Chengzhilang, which actually meant that he entered the ranks of retirement. According to custom, he would officially retire after serving for three years.
Lu Ming was promoted to the seventh rank and became the magistrate of Pingshou County.
Lan Chongwen was transferred at the same level and became the county magistrate of Pingshou County.
After standing up, He Qiqing's face was expressionless. He stroked his gray beard, his cheeks twitched, and he breathed a sigh of relief: "Come here, deliver the seal."
Someone was holding a gold plate with a set of county magistrate's official uniforms on it and a gold seal pressed on it. When he saw He Qi, he sent it to Lu Ming.
Lu Ming bowed deeply.
He took it and said, "Delivery seal."
Another person held a gold plate with a set of county magistrate's official uniforms on it and a gold seal pressed on it, and delivered it to Lan Chongwen.
This process was so quiet that no one could hear the coughing. Seeing that the delivery was completed, the three of them marched towards the north again. When they stood up, it was considered a ceremony.
"It's finally cooler after I put down this burden." He Qi stood up straight, his slightly swollen eyelids twitched, he sighed with a tired look on his face, then waved his hand and said, "Now that the ceremony has been completed, all the squires in the county came to celebrate.
, let’s meet together!”
This is a rule. Let all the squires in the county witness the delivery. They are said to be squires, but in fact they are talented scholars and above. Several people looked at each other. He Qi filed in and entered the hall. He suddenly felt a cool feeling on his body.
.
There are pieces of ice cubes placed on the ice trough in the hall. This is the treatment that only county magistrates and above can enjoy - the ice cubes stored by Tao Fa.
When I got inside, I realized that there were two rows of tables in the hall, all of which were single tables. There were about thirty tables on the right side, which was the number of scholars in the county.
On the left are the county officials. When they see the three coming in, they all salute. It's just that it's the first time for the officials to meet them, while the scholar only needs to bow deeply.
After the salute, although He Qi was the sixth rank, he no longer sat in the main seat on this occasion. Lu Ming was asked to take the seat. This was the rule. Lu Ming was humble and sat down, while Lan Chongwen sat on the right side.
In the distance was Yuan Shiwen, who couldn't help but smile.
He Qi glanced at Lu Ming, saw him nodding slightly, and said: "Everyone knows Mr. Lu. He was a Jinshi and now he is the county magistrate. This is a great joy..."
He Qi went on and on at length, but his ears were calloused after hearing this "principle" too much. The people present still suppressed their impatience and tried to listen carefully.
The former county magistrate seemed a little reluctant to leave. He spoke for a moment before he stopped talking... and then he listened and sipped his tea.
Lu Ming took his time and glanced around the audience, laughing: "I have only been serving as county magistrate in this county for a short time, so I am not very familiar with him. I just received the vote from the ministry yesterday to take up my actual duties."
"This county is in charge of government and only plans to do a few things. The first is to control the currency exchange in this county. It is normal for currency to fluctuate, but one tael of silver can only be exchanged for 800 yuan, which is abnormal. This is
This is something that banks, tax collectors, and merchants are all responsible for."
"The second is to build roads, and the third is to rectify the gangsters' warehouses."
Thieves' warehouse means bandits and gangsters. Lu Ming's words were gentle, but his words were so frightening that everyone present couldn't help but look at each other.
After speaking, Lu Ming looked at Lan Chongwen: "Master Lan, what do you have to say?
Lan Chongwen had already made up his mind and said with a smile: "I am just a scribe and not very proficient in county administration. I only follow the orders of the county magistrate."
After saying that, he shut up and Lu Ming smiled: "What I am saying is that I will rely on you all in the future. Now is the time for the banquet. Let's serve the banquet!"
After giving the order, everyone started to serve the banquet. After paying three respects, each table became lively.
Ye Qing looked up at this time and saw Lu Ming sitting in the middle. His chubby face originally looked very warm, but at this moment, he felt a kind of cold majesty at all times.
"Being a county magistrate will make things different." Ye Qing sighed.
He observed people, and others also observed him. Yuan Shiwen and a middle-aged man, sitting sideways, looked over and stared at Ye Qing.
After a while, Yuan Shiwen casually went out in the name of urinating. When he arrived at the steps of the courtyard, he saw a middle-aged man rushing over.
Yuan Shiwen walked to a corner where a wisteria was planted, climbing on the wall and blooming. The inflorescences were hanging down and the flower buds were light blue and purple. He stepped forward to take a whiff and asked: "Mr. Ma, how are you doing?"
?”
Mr. Ma lowered his hands and said with a sigh, "At first glance, I can see that the serious reddish color must have come from a scholar, and there is no flaw at all."
Yuan Shiwen frowned and said: "Although I am not good at this Taoist art, but according to common sense, this son is just the son of a branch in the county. To achieve this destiny without any flaws, it will take half a year, right?"
"It only takes half a year to one year to be promoted to the top in a white body, and three years for higher ones. Therefore, according to the imperial order system, promotion must be done every three years."
"But extraordinary people have extraordinary lives. There are many people who can adapt to three days, let alone three months. This is the innate value of human life."
Yuan Shiwen took a walk slowly, and Mr. Ma followed him. It was a large courtyard with an elegant garden and two rows of side rooms. There were people living inside, and the faint sound of human voices could be heard.
Yuan Shiwen leaned over and broke off a branch, sniffed it, then stopped and asked, "Then what kind of noble life is he?"
"I can't see it. Not only him, but also other nobles can't see it... You should know the prohibition of heaven." Mr. Ma said melancholy.
It was indeed possible to spy on the secrets of heaven in the past, but as early as 300,000 years ago, it was gradually banned. Looking at the qi can only see the surface and not go deep. It is said that it is for the smooth operation of humanity.
"It's okay to know this. It seems that he is not a talented person but a poor person." Yuan Shiwen smiled: "This way I can observe for a while and then I can go back to work.
"When will your lord go back?"
"In August, the state test will determine the winner!"
If you can pass the imperial examination, let alone become a bachelor, even the Sixth Prince behind you must take notice.
Just after returning to the banquet, I heard County Magistrate Lu laughing and saying: "Ye Xiucai, I heard that your poems are wonderful. Why don't you write a poem for today's banquet?"
Speaking of this, everyone immediately glanced over and saw that this young man had become a talented scholar in one fell swoop. He was also called "Tong Jinshi" by Lord Long, and his reputation spread throughout Yingzhou.
Ye Qing was startled, but did not hesitate. Naturally, he had poems to suit the occasion, the most famous one being "About to Enter the Wine". However, this poem was just one piece, and it was used to cause a sensation in Kyoto. How could it be used in such a small country?
At the county banquet, Magistrate Lu was new to the county magistrate and could not refuse. He thought for a while and said: "Sir, the student has drunk several times. How can he write poems and articles? But I went to the county to take the exam."
, I stayed in the countryside on the way, but I got a poem, and I ask you all to identify it."
After saying that, he stood up and chanted under the influence of wine:
Mo Xiao Nongjia wax wine is muddy,
In good years, chickens and dolphins are kept as visitors.
The mountains and rivers are full of doubts and there is no way out,
Another village is full of bright flowers and dark willows.
The flutes and drums follow the Spring Society,
The clothes are simple and old-fashioned.
From now on, if I am allowed to take advantage of the moon,
The stick knocks on the door all the time and night.
After this poem was sung, everyone was infatuated. After a long time, Lu Mingcai sighed: "It's such a good poem, especially the mountains and rivers where there is no doubt and there is no way out, the willows are dark and the flowers are bright and there is another village. It can be called an eternal famous line."
"I've seen it with my own eyes when I encounter the simplicity of the countryside and forget about it. Unfortunately, this county is located in the Beimang Mountain area, facing evil neighbors, and there are people who steal, rob and commit crimes. It relies on
There are eight hundred miles of Bei Mang Mountain, which is connected to the Northern Wei Dynasty. The government suppressed the banditry, so they fled away and came back when the storm subsided."
"The county just said that it is only going to do a few things. The first is to calm down the money exchange, the second is to build roads, and the third is to rectify the gangsters' warehouses."
"We must govern Pingshou County as described in this poem."
Everyone had different thoughts, and they all raised their glasses in agreement. The atmosphere became more and more lively. In the afternoon, the banquet was over and they left the Yamen.
After getting on the bullock cart, Ye Qing was a little drunk and was thinking deeply. What he was thinking about was the county magistrate.
I remember that Lu Ming did some practical things in his previous life, and the money exchange was basically settled, and it was restored to 950 yuan and one tael of silver.
The road construction has been completed, and several official roads have been opened up, making traffic more prosperous. However, the rectification of the bandits' warehouses has not been completed. It can even be said that they have failed halfway. However, a bandit group has been severely oppressed and has no way out.
, overnight, a massacre was carried out against the wealthy families in the county.
Seven big families were massacred, and 170 people died. This case became a big deal. As a result, the court was furious. Within three days, the bandit group was annihilated in the Beimang Mountain area, and the two men who were involved with the bandit group were killed.
One hundred and eleven people were either executed or exiled, showing the imperial court's power of control.
Although Lu Ming had political achievements and had someone behind him, he was still transferred out sadly. His rank was not demoted, but he was sent to Qingxian Yamen, let alone promoted. Several years of hard work were in vain.
But it was this opportunity that opened up more vacancies in the county, allowing the Ye family to rise to power and gain a few more years of livelihood when the catastrophe came.
Think of this.
Ye Qing squinted his eyes, and a cold light flashed through his eyes.