After the visitor left, Hu Zongxian was the only one left in the meeting hall of the Governor's Mansion.
"Why did your Majesty write so suddenly? Is it possible that..."
With all kinds of doubts in his mind, Hu Zongxian opened the envelope in his hand and began to browse the contents, only to see what was written above.
"Aiqing's health has been good recently. I promised earlier that after the Japanese pirates along the southeast coast are completely wiped out, I will officially transfer Aiqing to the capital, enter the Meridian Gate, and be assigned to Wenyuan Pavilion. Now, it's time for me to fulfill my promise. !”
"I plan to officially transfer you from Zhejiang to the capital after the local mulberry seedlings have officially matured. Before that, I hope Aiqing can make a good handover and try not to make any mistakes. In addition, I must appease the local mulberry growers. Miao mulberry farmers, the imperial court will purchase the raw silk from their hands at a high price..."
At the end of the letter, there was an additional sentence added: "In addition, dear, don't worry, I plan to let Zhao Zhenji take over your position!"
After Hu Zongxian finished browsing the contents of the letter, he remained silent for a long time, then put the envelope aside with trembling hands, knelt down on the ground quite solemnly, and bowed three times in the direction of the capital.
"Your Majesty, Hu Zongxian, thanks you. Long live my emperor!"
Immediately afterwards, after calming down, Hu Zongxian slowly stood up from the ground, called the guards, and gave instructions in a deep voice.
"Go and call Zheng Michang and Qi Jiguang to the Governor's Mansion and tell them that I have important matters to discuss with them!"
"As you command, Lord Governor!"
After receiving specific instructions from Hu Zongxian, the guards did not dare to neglect at all, and immediately left the Governor's Mansion as quickly as possible.
At this moment, in the Chief Envoy's Department, Zheng Michang was in the room, handling corresponding matters.
At this moment, there was a knock on the door, interrupting Zheng Michang's thoughts.
Immediately, Zheng Michang suppressed the impatience in his heart, put the brush in his hand back to its original position, and gave instructions.
"Come in!"
After Zheng Michang finished speaking, a subordinate official came in and reported respectfully.
"Sir, the Governor-General asked you to go to the Governor's Mansion. He said that he had something important to discuss!"
After listening to the report from his subordinates, Zheng Michang waved his hand quite casually and said.
"Okay, I know, I will be there right away!"
"Yes, sir!"
After his subordinates left, Zheng Mi Chang supported his chin with one hand and began to think about the intention behind this.
"Speaking of which, last time, the Governor asked us to pay more attention to the maturity status of mulberry seedlings. This time, it should be to learn about this situation from us!"
After Zheng Michang figured out all this, he immediately took a sedan chair and embarked on the road to the Governor's Mansion without much hesitation.
…
When Zheng Michang arrived at the Governor's Mansion in a sedan, he suddenly discovered that not only He Maocai and Ma Ningyuan were coming, but also Qi Jiguang and Yu Dayou were also arriving outside the Governor's Mansion.
When Zheng Michang saw this situation, he couldn't help but feel a thump in his heart, and immediately said to himself silently.
"Did something happen again?"
With such doubts in mind, Zheng Michang immediately got off the sedan chair and entered the Governor's Mansion with everyone.
After everyone entered the meeting hall of the Governor's Mansion, they discovered that at this moment, Hu Zongxian was sitting at the top, leisurely tasting the tea in the cup.
Seeing everyone arriving, Hu Zongxian put down the tea cup in his hand without haste, waved his hand, and gave instructions.
"Here you are, sit down, sit down!"
"I've met the Governor!"
After Hu Zongxian finished speaking, everyone sat down in their respective seats after saluting him respectfully.
Soon after, Zheng Michang took the lead and couldn't restrain his curiosity. He stood up from his seat and asked Hu Zongxian.
"My Lord Governor, I am very curious. Why did you come to us today?"
When Zheng Michang said this, he paused, looked carefully at Hu Zongxian who was sitting at the top, and continued.
"Could it be possible that something happened again?"
As soon as Zheng Michang finished speaking, the eyes of everyone present involuntarily fell on Hu Zongxian.
In their opinion, Hu Zongxian summoned everyone together for the first time. Something big must have happened. Could it be that the Japanese pirates have resurfaced?
Hu Zongxian seemed to have guessed what everyone was thinking, stroking his beard and laughing loudly.
"Things are not what you guessed. I called you here today mainly to announce something!"
As soon as Hu Zongxian finished speaking, everyone looked at Hu Zongxian with bated breath, for fear of missing any word.
Facing the extremely curious eyes of everyone, Hu Zongxian cleared his throat and looked around before speaking.
"Not long ago, I received a personal letter from His Majesty. After a while, when the mulberry seedlings in Zhejiang are completely mature, I will be transferred to the capital!"
Although Hu Zongxian's voice was not loud, it gave everyone present a great shock. Before coming, they never thought that things would turn out like this!
At this moment, Zheng Michang fell into a sluggish state after learning the news: "What, did I hear it correctly? After a while, the governor will be transferred to the capital to serve!"
After being shocked, Zheng Michang couldn't help but feel a strong sense of envy in his heart.
"Yes, the Governor has made great achievements with his hard work. He not only wiped out the Japanese pirates entrenched in the southeastern coast, but also captured Wang Zhi. He even personally led the army to suppress the rebellion from Jiangxi!"
"This one after another, each one, is a contribution that will be recorded in history in the future. It is understandable that His Majesty transferred him to the capital to serve!"
After that, Zheng Michang was the first to react, bowed to the ground, and said in a deep voice.
"I am here to congratulate the Governor!"
After Zheng Michang, everyone came to their senses one after another and expressed congratulations to Hu Zongxian.
"My congratulations to the Governor!"
Seeing this, Hu Zongxian's face was full of smiles. He immediately stroked his beard and asked everyone.
"By the way, do you know who will take over my position next?"
Hu Zongxian's words successfully aroused the curiosity of everyone, especially Zheng Michang and He Maocai. After all, if the next person to take over Hu Zongxian's position is someone from Qingliu, then they will suffer!
Because of this, they were particularly concerned about what Hu Zongxian was going to say next.
When Hu Zongxian saw that everyone was preparing for the attack, he looked back and spoke quite easily.
"Speaking of which, you all know more or less the person who will take over my position next."
"He is the supervisory censor who came to Zhejiang last time to investigate the case, Zhao Zhenji!"
Hu Zongxian's words immediately caused an uproar in everyone's hearts. They never thought that it would be Zhao Zhenji who would take over Hu Zongxian's position!
Zheng Michang on the side couldn't help but breathed a sigh of relief after hearing the answer given by Hu Zongxian. He exchanged glances with He Maocai and said to himself.
"Huh, no matter what, it's fine if you're not from Qingliu's side!"
Among all the people present, the happiest person is Ma Ningyuan, because his teacher Hu Zongxian will definitely be placed in an extremely important position by His Majesty with his accumulated achievements over the years!
On the one hand, Ma Ningyuan felt sincerely happy for his teacher Hu Zongxian, and on the other hand, he was happy for himself.
"Hmph, from now on I, Ma Ningyuan, can be considered someone with a backer!"
…
That night, in the capital, Yan Mansion.
Although the night was very late, the lights in Yan's study were still brightly lit.
"Father, I still can't figure it out. Why did His Majesty ask Zhao Zhenji to go to Zhejiang to take over Hu Zongxian's position?"
"Xu Xuemo is an honest and self-reliant person. He is the most suitable candidate in terms of talents and methods of governing the place. But why would your Majesty..."
Yan Shifan said this with a look of dissatisfaction on his face.
After Yan Song listened to Yan Shifan's complaints, the expression on his face did not change much. He just glanced at Yan Shifan rather flatly and spoke unhurriedly.
"Your Majesty, you have a reason to do this!"
"Besides, if you think about it on the bright side, wouldn't Xu Jie be able to take this opportunity to intervene in Zhejiang?"
When Yan Song said this, he changed the topic and continued to add.
"Perhaps it was because of this consideration that Your Majesty did not accept the candidate proposed by Xu Jie and I!"
When Yan Shifan on the side heard this, he seemed to have suddenly thought of something, a look of fear appeared on his face, and then he lowered his voice and said.
"Father, do you mean that Zhao Zhenji is also from His Majesty's side?"
When Yan Song heard this, a look of surprise suddenly appeared on his face, and he nodded and said slowly.
"Well, now it seems that it is possible."
"After all, last time Zhao Zhenji, as an imperial envoy, went to Zhejiang to investigate a case!"
When Yan Song said this, his heart was full of bitterness, and he said silently to himself: "Hu Zongxian, Tan Lun, Hai Rui, Zhao Zhenji, Zhang Juzheng, how come there seem to be more and more people on your majesty's side? Is there something behind this?" Is there anyone else I don’t know about?”
While Yan Song was still concentrating on whether he had omitted anything, Yan Shifan's indignant voice sounded again.
"Hmph, I knew that this Zhao Zhenji was not simple. He was extremely cunning on weekdays. When things happened, he would push things aside without taking any risks."
"Now it seems that all this was done intentionally to make us relax our vigilance. This Zhao Zhenji is really despicable!"
After listening to Yan Shifan's analysis, Yan Song couldn't help but have black lines on his face. He quickly came back to his senses and reprimanded.
"You idiot, stop making random guesses!"
"Let's not mention anything else. It's true that Zhao Zhenji is greedy for life and afraid of death, and is extremely cunning!"
After Yan Song's reprimand, Yan Shifan could only retreat to the side angrily, lowered his head, and did not dare to speak any more.
Immediately, Yan Song changed his subject, turned his gaze to Yan Shifan, and asked.
"By the way, how have you considered the matter regarding the clan and nobles?"
When Yan Shifan saw Yan Song mentioning this to him, he immediately became energetic and spoke excitedly.
"Father, the child has already thought of a countermeasure!"
When Yan Song heard this, a look of curiosity appeared on his face and he asked.
"Oh, what idea have you come up with? Let me know."
Yan Shifan heard Yan Song's words and after sorting out the words in his mind, he explained slowly.
"Father, this is what the child thinks. Since His Majesty said before, as long as the clan and nobles who have not entered the official career through the imperial examination have to set up an insurmountable barrier on their heads, they will not be able to take on the responsibilities they are capable of. Official positions are restricted!”
"There are no restrictions on those clans and nobles who have participated in the imperial examination and successfully obtained rankings!"
"In other words, His Majesty actually agrees with holding separate examinations for the clan and nobles in addition to the imperial examinations."
After listening to Yan Shifan's analysis, Yan Song nodded slightly and immediately spoke.
"Well, good, keep talking!"
After receiving Yan Song's encouragement, Yan Shifan became even more interested, and immediately spoke out the thoughts in his mind without thinking.
"In this case, we can only put some effort into the selection of officials and future supervision!"
"For exams for the clan and nobles, the Ministry of Rites should follow the usual practice, and the Ministry of Rites will come up with propositions, organize exams, organize exams, mark papers, and other channels for selecting talents, all of which are firmly controlled by our civil servants. in hand.
For those clans and nobles who pass the exam, they will be transferred to the grassroots level. They should set additional goals and conduct regular assessments. If they fail the assessment, there will be penalties. If they complete the goals, there will be rewards. "
After Yan Song heard what Yan Shifan said, he couldn't help but frown slightly, and immediately refused categorically.
"No, you absolutely can't do this. If you do this, sooner or later the fire will burn on us!"
However, Yan Shifan did not take Yan Song's concerns seriously. He turned his gaze to Yan Song and spoke words of comfort.
"Father, you can rest assured. Don't forget that the child is now the Minister of the Ministry of Personnel. What to do specifically is not a matter of a word from the child!"
"This measure is only used to target those clans and nobles, so you don't have to worry!"
After Yan Shifan's constant persuasion, most of Yan Song's doubts about this measure were dispelled.
"Well, according to what you said, this measure can firmly restrict the power of those clans and nobles to prevent them from threatening our status!"
When Yan Song said this, he seemed to be uneasy about it and turned to warn him.
"But you must be cautious about this matter, understand?"
When Yan Shifan heard this, he didn't take Yan Song's instructions too seriously, but replied in a perfunctory manner.
"Yes, father, the child knows!"
Seeing that the matter was almost done, Yan Song looked up at the night outside the window and then gave instructions.
"Okay, it's getting late, go back and rest early!"
"Yes, father!"
(End of chapter)
