Chapter 873: Convince the Governor, Outside Mianzhou City
Chapter 873: Persuading the Governor, Outside Mianzhou City
"Then what do you think is more important, making the people live a better life, or your clear name?"
Li Tairan was stunned when he heard this and didn't know how to answer for a moment!
Wang Wu sighed, and then said leisurely, "Master Li, although I am just a petty official, I have been working in the yamen for half my life! In our Song Dynasty, it is not easy to be an official safely, and it is even more difficult to be an upright official.
easy!"
"If you want to be an official who makes decisions for the people, you must offend the powerful and profiteers. Otherwise, no matter how great your ambitions are, it will just be wishful thinking!"
"Master Li, you really shouldn't worry about this! You are just a scribe now, and you are not of much help to the country or the people.
But what if you are the magistrate of a county?
At least in this county, you can bring benefits to tens of thousands or even hundreds of thousands of people.
If you are the governor of the state, then you can protect tens of thousands or even millions of people!"
"But now you can only live with your name intact. Isn't this good for the people?"
"Besides, if the prefect can recommend you, do you think he will be interested in your wealth or your background?
To put it bluntly, the magistrate just wanted to promote you because he loved your talents and saw that you were an honest official.
You are lucky to meet an official like the prefect! In fact, if you don’t agree to the prefect, you can’t change anything. In this case, why not agree to come down and strive to get a high position, so as to serve the country and the people?
Woolen cloth?"
"Even, maybe one day, my lord, you can step into the court. Only then will you be qualified to make some changes..."
Wang Wu's words made Li Tairan open his eyes wide. He was a dull scholar who could endure a life of poverty for the sake of his reputation.
But at this moment, he had some doubts. Could it be that his choice and persistence were really wrong?
"Hey! You have simply rejected the prefect. In that case, there is no need to worry.
However, I am several years older than you, so I can give you some advice. If you have such an opportunity again in the future, you need to think more about it..."
Li Tairan was stunned for a long time, and then he suddenly raised his hand and said, "Thank you Uncle Wang for your advice, I...it seems I was wrong! When you return, I will go to you to admit your mistake! What Uncle Wang said is right, no matter what
, even if you can only change the people of one county, it is far better than being a scribe here for a lifetime."
Wang Wu blinked, "Um...haven't you already rejected the prefect?"
Li Tairan smiled bitterly, "Yes, but the prefect asked me to think about it carefully and give him a definite answer after he comes back!"
Wang Wu clicked his tongue twice when he heard this, and looked at Li Tairan with eyes full of envy! As a prefect, being able to give a small official a chance is already a great gift.
But I didn't expect that even if Li Tairan refused, the prefect would still be willing to give him another chance.
It is obvious that the prefect is very fond of this somewhat dumb Mr. Li.
"Come on, let's drink! It's like congratulating Mr. Li on his promotion in advance!"
Wang Wu filled up the wine, picked it up and drank it all in one gulp. However, the wine tasted a bit sour.
Shen Tang didn't know that Li Tairan had changed his mind because of a minor official's words, and even if he knew, he wouldn't be too surprised! Although Wang Wu was just a low-ranking minor official, he was very concerned about the affairs in the government. How could you not understand?
Even these low-level officials can see some things more clearly than the adults above the court.
This Wang Wu is the same, including Lu Feng.
But Shen Tang was leading a thousand troops and horses heading north. From time to time, disaster-stricken refugees could be seen walking aimlessly in one direction on the roadside! The road had become muddy due to the previous rain, but Shen Tang was heartbroken. It's a little urgent.
The victims he saw on the roadside and the rice ears soaked in mud and water undoubtedly showed the damage caused by this flood to the people.
Especially after entering the boundaries of Mianzhou, the number of refugees on both sides of the official road was even greater, and there were even men, women, old and children, and hundreds of refugees gathered together. It was obvious that what the local magistrate of Mianzhou did was completely incomparable to that of other states and counties in Chengdu Prefecture. compared to.
At least, Shen Tang has not seen this situation in many prefectures and counties in the north of Chengdu Prefecture! Even in Hanzhou, which made Shen Tang frown before, the situation is much better than in Mianzhou now.
"Hush!"
Shen Tang grabbed the reins, and the horse neighed twice. The horse's hoofs stepped in the muddy water a few times and then stopped.
"Now, how far is it from Mianzhou City?"
Shen Tang shouted loudly.
The guide behind him quickly came to Shen Tang's side, "Sir, we are still thirty miles away from Mianzhou City! Keep going, we can arrive there in less than an hour!"
"Pi Sheng, leave a hundred people behind to escort these victims to Mianzhou City!"
Not far from Shen Tang and others, there were two to three thousand refugees in ragged clothes walking slowly forward! This was the largest group of refugees he had encountered since entering Mianzhou!
"The general will obey your orders!"
Pi Sheng waved his hand, and then a small team broke away and headed towards the refugees.
Shen Tang took a deep breath and whipped the riding crop in his hand hard.
"drive!"
More than half an hour later, the tall Mianzhou City appeared in the sight of Shen Tang and others! However, in the past thirty miles, Shen Tang saw many disaster victims wandering in the wilderness.
Outside Mianzhou City, there were as many as 20,000 to 30,000 victims sitting or lying on the mud. Looking around, the figures of men, women, old and children covered the ground with no end in sight.
The gate of Mianzhou City is tightly closed. There are five thatched huts outside the city. In front of each hut, there are government officials or soldiers stationed there. You can smell the fragrance of porridge water slightly from a distance.
"Come here, bring out my Imperial Envoy's flag!"
After hearing this, Zhou Lu, who was behind Shen Tang, immediately took out the neatly folded flag from the oilcloth bag he carried with him! Several people beside him connected several wooden poles with the thickness of their wrists that they carried with them. , it’s almost ten feet long!
After installing the flag, Zhou Lu raised his hands. The red flag was lined with gold, and a huge Song character spread out in the wind!
"Imperial envoy Shen Tang, under the emperor's order, inspects the fifth northwest route!"
Zhou Lu rode his horse forward and shouted!
The government officials and soldiers guarding the hut noticed the movement here. When they saw the majestic momentum and the royal flag fluttering in the wind, they couldn't help but be dumbfounded. It took a long time before an official in green robe reacted. He trotted towards Shen Tang.
Before he came near, the junior official hurriedly saluted and said, "I respectfully welcome the imperial envoy..."