Chapter 248 Take off your boots and leave your love behind
In the post office of the state government, Yuan An is leading a dozen servants to pack their belongings and pack their luggage.
Considering Wei Chen's status, there are not many servants in the Wei family. The total number of men, women, old and young is only about thirty. They are all working people and not raised for entertainment.
Usually, when you reach the level of a state official, it is normal to maintain a team of domestic prostitutes and a music troupe, but Wei Chen did not spend any time on this matter.
The family has a small population, so the luggage is naturally simple. We started packing a few days ago, and today, most of the boxes and cages have been bundled and loaded onto the carriage.
Wei Chen had already changed his clothes, put on his fifth-grade official robe, and stood with his hands behind his back in front of the rising sun screen in the court hall.
At this time, footsteps were heard in the hall. It was Huang Shouzheng, the general judge, who had just arrived from his official office after hearing the news that Wei Chen was leaving today.
Seeing Wei Chen raising his head and staring at the bright mirror hanging in the court hall, speechless for a long time, Huang Shouzheng said with a smile: "I still remember that Lord Zhizhou got out of the car and heard many important matters in this court hall.
, so that the grievances of the people can be redressed, and the people therefore respect the Lord Zhizhou as Yuzhou Qingtian."
When Wei Chen heard this, he turned around and said with a smile: "Brother Huang, when I am not in office, you must also make the judiciary of Yuzhou clear and clear of corruption. Remember, virtue is the leader and punishment is the supplement."
Huang Shouzheng hurriedly bowed and said: "Don't worry, my lord, I have compiled the files that Lord Zhizhou has reviewed in the past and placed them in the study room so that you can receive instruction at all times."
Wei Chen smiled, just listen to these words, don't take them seriously.
He looked at Huang Shouzheng and said slowly: "I am going to Bianjing now. Maybe the imperial court has another appointment. The position of governor cannot remain vacant for a long time. If the officials ask for my opinion, I will recommend Brother Huang." Huang Shouzheng trembled when he heard this, with a look of surprise on his face, and he immediately bowed to Wei Chen: "Although I have no enterprising talent, I will definitely follow Xiao Gui Cao, and I will never let down Lord Zhizhou these three years."
My hard work in Yuzhou!"
Wei Chen nodded, took out the statement he had already written, and explained clearly to Huang Shouzheng one by one the government affairs of the state government after leaving office.
Finally, he supported Huang Shouzheng's arm and said solemnly: "From now on, all matters big and small in Yuzhou will be entrusted to Brother Huang."
When the officials in the state government saw that Wei Chen was still meticulous in his work even after leaving office, they couldn't help but admire him.
They had long known that Zhizhou Weichen was about to go to Beijing for pilgrimage, but when the day came for Weichen to leave, they were still filled with sadness.
During Wei Chen's tenure, he was not only diligent in political affairs, but also very strict with his subordinates, which made these subordinate officials who were accustomed to laziness complain endlessly.
But on the other hand, Wei Chen does not hesitate to reward his subordinates who perform well and promote them in a timely manner, which is a real benefit.
In particular, Wei Chen took the initiative to raise the salaries of low-level officials in the state government, which has never happened before.
Therefore, everyone in the state government had mixed feelings about Wei Chen, the magistrate of the state, with half respect and half fear.
Seeing Wei Chen saying goodbye to Huang Shouzheng, boarding a carriage and driving out of the state government office, most likely never to come back again, the officials in Yuzhou felt both relieved and a little disappointed.
In the end, all the complicated emotions converged into one sentence: "Master Zhizhou, take care of yourself on your way to Bianjing!"
Compared with these officials, the minds of the people of Yuzhou are much simpler.
Wei Chen served as the magistrate of Yuzhou for only two and a half years, but this did not hinder the people of Yuzhou from loving Wei Chen.
When the news that Wei Chen was leaving spread, the streets of Yuzhou City were deserted. Men, women and children came out in droves and stopped Wei Chen's carriage at the city gate.
These people were not forced out of the city by officials, but they came to see Wei Chen off voluntarily because of his kindness.
Any local official who can accomplish one of these during his term of office is considered a capable official, and Wei Chen accomplished them all.
And, in addition, Wei Chen also left many virtues in Yuzhou.
The Leaze Garden where corpses are buried, the Salesian Home where orphans are taken in, and the Futian Home where orphans are cared for...
These public welfare institutions have actually been around for a long time, but because they have to pay all year round, they often exist in name only, or they don't exist at all. This means that big cities like Bianjing are relatively complete.
But now, under the auspices of Wei Chen, Yuzhou City and the following Xinzheng County and Mi County have successively established these institutions. Wei Chen also specially allocated official land to maintain daily expenses.
In today's world, local officials often don't like to deal with the mundane affairs in the yamen, but are more willing to invite the wind and admire the moon.
As long as they have some spare money in the treasury, they will probably build some pavilions and pavilions for recreation, and write poems to memorize them for future generations to sing.
As for Wei Chen, as a powerful Wen Zong, he had been in Yuzhou for nearly three years. Except for a long poem about Jun porcelain, he had made few achievements in poetry and articles, which made the literary circles feel regretful.
However, for the people of Yuzhou, this is a great good thing, which means that every ounce of Wei Chen's energy and every copper plate in the treasury is used on the people.
Wei Chen got off the carriage and looked at the crowds of people, which were like a lantern market in Bianjing on the Lantern Festival, and couldn't help but feel warm in his heart.
Serving as an official for one term brings benefit to one party.
I have spent the past three years in Yuzhou, and finally I have not wasted my time. I am worthy of the people and my own conscience.
At this time, several elderly squires elected by the people came to Wei Chen on crutches.
"Master Zhizhou has been in Yuzhou for three years. It can be said that the weather in the territory is smooth, the grain is plentiful, people do not pick up things on the road, and the houses are not closed at night. The rule of the three generations has been nothing more than this.
Now that Mr. Zhizhou has left office and entered the capital, he will surely make great progress and take further steps. We dare not stop him with any nonsense. We only ask that Mr. Zhizhou leave his official boots to show his love for the people of Yuzhou."
Wei Chen couldn't laugh or cry when he saw this.
These "legacy boots" originated from Confucius. When Confucius was the governor of Zhongdu, he was deeply loved by the people. When he left office, an old man hugged his legs and cried to persuade him to stay.
Confucius was greatly moved, but he couldn't delay because of his fate, so he took off one of his boots and left it as a souvenir to the people of Zhongdu.
But later on, the official’s decision to take off his boots and keep his boots after leaving office became like the Wanmin Umbrella, which turned into a farce. It was mostly a trick directed and performed by the official, just to win the reputation of being honest and caring for the people.
Wei Chen asked himself that unlike those corrupt officials, he was unwilling to engage in these formalities, so he had to refuse immediately.
Unexpectedly, when the elders heard Wei Chen's refusal, they threw away their crutches and knelt on the ground, begging Wei Chen to take off his boots. If Wei Chen refused, they would not be able to kneel down.
These elders and young people were said to be in their seventies, and when they went to the Chongzheng Hall, the emperor was embarrassed to ask them to kneel down.
Wei Chen was so virtuous that he could accept such a great gift. He was so shocked that he had no choice but to do as they said and take off his official boots as a gift.
At the same time, Wei Chen was also deeply touched. Although taking off boots was a formality, if people did it from the bottom of their hearts, the meaning would be completely different.
After the elders got what they wanted, they slowly stood up with the help of Wei Chen, holding the official boots that Wei Chen had just taken off in their hands, and stepped away respectfully.
When Wei Chen saw this, he breathed a sigh of relief and asked Yuan An to get a new pair of boots for him.
Then, another person came up with a glass of water and wine, and then another person broke off a willow branch and brought it...
After making three concessions and urging him to move in, the people of Yuzhou reluctantly let Wei Chen leave.
Wei Chen took one last look at the city where he had devoted three years of his efforts, turned around and boarded the carriage. The coachman raised his whip and scolded him, and drove the carriage slowly towards the official road leading to Bianjing.