As the new year is approaching, the "Western Inspection" work planned by Uncle Cao suddenly ended early, and all three thousand honors and two hundred special honors were released... Not only did the time come earlier than expected, but the treatment was also very fair.
Of course, this is a feudal society, and it is a feudal era where internal conflicts have completely intensified. Coupled with this scale, it is impossible to be completely fair in discussing merit. But everything is most afraid of comparison. Compared with someone's previous promises that clearly exceeded the limit in the city and his subsequent denial, as well as his self-destruction and secretiveness after returning, Uncle Cao Huang's behavior can truly win the hearts of the people.
Zhang Xing also saw his name. Like Qin Bao, as one of the people who went out of the city to ask for help and brought back the reinforcements, he also became one of the two hundred special honors. The sixth rank became the fifth rank, but his position remained unchanged. .
From a certain perspective, this seems unsatisfactory because there are no direct benefits.
But in fact, according to the political traditions of the Wei Dynasty and even the previous dynasties, it is really fair... Mainly because judging from Zhang Xing's current position and achievements, he will be the fifth rank before that, and the fifth rank Local officials often mean the actual military and political chiefs of the local area. In the army, they are also Zhonglang generals who lead more than a thousand regular troops. In the central government, it is even more remarkable. They are basically just transitional. When they are established, they serve as ministers, and when they retreat, they serve as supervisors of some temples. hold office.
This is a ceiling for the career of people from the so-called humble common people, or even third-rate aristocratic families, which is also the origin of the so-called method of entering the palace.
Even because of the rapid expansion and reproduction of the Guanlong clan and other aristocratic families, some members of the more unlucky aristocratic families have to be subject to this restriction at certain stages, such as Li Ding.
Like Zhang Sanlang, Li Silang was also recognized as having meritorious service, but his meritorious service was still not enough to allow him to cross that threshold... So, after two frustrated middle-level bureaucrats in the Wei Dynasty met and drank a bottle of wine, Then they turned around and went to run for and buy offices, destroying the fine feudal traditions of the Wei Dynasty.
Of course, compared to Li Ding, who had not saved much money, Zhang Xing obviously had an advantage in this regard... He had a large fish pond slush fund, rich connections, and seemed to be more relaxed, which was for a runner. As far as officials are concerned, isn't everything in place?
But soon, Zhang Xing realized that, just as Bai Yousi said, what he thought was too beautiful.
First of all, his low-level connections are of no use... The power of personnel appointment lies with the emperor, the grassroots officials belong to the emperor, and the core dispatching power in the middle, which is the so-called power of selecting people, lies with Nanya. Zhang Xing wants to Regardless of whether he is transferred to another place, promoted, or assigned a special person to be transferred, he will inevitably have to fall into the hands of the prime ministers of Nanya.
However, the husbands are not easy to get along with, and you have to follow the rules when using money to clear the way.
Su Wei is a hereditary prime minister, and he wants face. Officials are valued for their background, reputation, morals, and qualifications. You are bringing shame on yourself by giving money.
Niu Hong is a small version of Su Wei, for the same reason.
Uncle Cao Huang... is too stubborn. Not to mention the harsh words and face issues before, the key point is that this wave is the plan given by others. If you still go to him, wouldn't it be a slap in the face?
Bai Hengqiu... Theoretically, because of Bai Yousi's existence, he should be the main collaborator in the future. It seems natural to find him. But the more this is the case, the less Zhang Xing is prepared to accept the other party's political investment too early... Not only It's a matter of the right to speak, and it's also because there is a vague desire to treat Bai Yousi and Bai Hengqiu separately.
Regardless of whether this person is a careerist or has a certain destiny, when the matter comes to a head, one must be on guard.
Zhang Shizhao... is so smart, and he has such a bad fate... To be honest, Zhang Xing is a little scared of him.
Sima Changying, after that night, Zhang Xing was not sure whether the other party had seen him. It would be great fun if he was thought to be here for revenge... If he was killed by someone from the Sima family in the Sima mansion Here, do you think Sima Erlong will report himself to the official position?
So after tossing and turning, there are only two people, Yu Changji and Zhang Han.
Zhang Han is at the forefront of the storm. Although it is the most convenient, it is by no means the first choice... On the other hand, Yu Changji, according to this person, started breaking the rules very early. While catering to the saints, he concentrated on selling his official position. He has already made a name for himself and should be a skilled worker. , you can give it a try.
Thinking of doing it, Zhang Xing went to inquire about the market that day. It turned out that at Xianggong Yu's place, a county guard only needed 10,000 taels of silver to wrap the circle. The price was a bit expensive, especially after the big golden pillar was erected. There is a slight premium, but the important thing is to ensure quality and quantity. As long as you pay the money, it will be done.
Zhang Xing liked this the most, so he went to the fish pond that night and dug out 400 taels of gold... This was actually a further involution and premium with a preparedness mentality. Theoretically, 400 taels of gold could be exchanged for 10,000 taels on the black market. Silver, however, still has a price but no market, and gold is more valuable in terms of gifts... But considering that Zhang Sanlang still has regional needs to go to Hebei, it cannot be excessive.
Four hundred taels, equivalent to twenty-five kilograms, is a bit heavy, but not large. As long as it is tied to the clothes inside like a grenade, it can be carried by one person with Zhang Xing's cultivation.
Just like wearing armor.
However, bringing some gold is not a problem, but having to queue up late at night in the twelfth lunar month is a bit annoying.
That's right, in Shunlufang, where Prime Minister Yu's house is located, the West Street of Cross Street is brightly lit all night long, and the convoy of gift-giving vehicles is lined up from the inner gate of Prime Minister Yu's house to the intersection of Cross Street.
This is the rule. Once the street is closed, people outside the intersection must go home by themselves. Otherwise, the view will not be good, and they will not be able to handle it.
But on the other hand, as long as you get in line in time, you will definitely see Xiahou Yan, son of Xianggong Yu, tonight, and Mr. Xiahou will naturally give you advice.
In addition, along the way from Xianggong Yu's house to Cross Street, there are members of the Yu family bringing local officials, street cleaners and helpers to maintain order, and provide tea, snacks, and stools for the elderly and the weak... the service is excellent. Said to be extremely considerate.
In this way, after chatting with the colleagues in front and behind him about official gossip all night, Zhang Xing finally arrived at the entrance of the luxurious Yu Mansion at the second watch. Then the more powerful person in front of him just asked the servants to rush him. After getting in the car, there was a sudden disturbance inside the door.
"It's not silk, but you can at least get a few thousand horses and give them away, so that you can buy clothes for the servants before the New Year... You gave me a cart of 180 horses, what's the use? Is there anything else? Hidden goods?
"No?
“Leave if you don’t.
"The cars are also driven away... I don't have to go out with others. I have worked so hard to save a load of silk, but our family has ignored it... A load of silk can't do anything, and our family doesn't look down on it... Take it away, take it away, Go through the side door over there and don't turn."
"Next person."
Zhang Xing listened with interest. He suddenly heard someone shouting, and a middle-aged official standing on the steps in the cold winter night raised his hand and pointed at him. He immediately strode up and walked in the door proudly.
As soon as he entered the door, he saw a young man wearing a white fur robe sitting in the door, with a stove behind him and several cases in front of him, holding tea to drink.
When this person saw Zhang Xing, he couldn't help but frown while holding tea: "You just kicked out the guy who gave a cart of silk, and here comes the guy empty-handed?"
"But Mr. Xiahou?"
Zhang Xing had already inquired clearly and knew that all the dirty things related to Yu Changji's family were handled by his stepson Xia Houyan brought by his step-wife. However, his own brother and two legitimate sons had nothing to do with it, and they had always had a "clear name". He handed it over and asked directly.
"That's right, what's wrong? Did you bring anything?" Xia Houyan was busy with a lot of money, and his tone became more and more impatient.
Knowing that it was the rightful owner, Zhang Xing nodded immediately, unhurriedly untied his belt, and pulled his coat to both sides. The golden light immediately blinded the eyes of those around him:
"Four hundred taels of gold, twenty-five pounds. According to the market price, it is exactly ten thousand taels of silver. Please carry it with you... Please give me a Hebei County Sheriff."
Xia Houyan was definitely not an ignorant person, but even so, he was still stunned for a moment. He took a sip of tea, then exhaled a white breath next to the lamp and replied as usual: "Guest's name, official position? The county governor is very Level six and above are not allowed."
"Zhang Xing of the North, deputy regular inspector of Fulongwei, from the fifth rank." Zhang Xing spoke simply.
"Do you have a name?"
"How can Fulongwei be famous?" Zhang Xing responded calmly. "But don't worry, Mr. Xiahou, no one dares to pretend to be Fulongwei."
Xia Houyan nodded, put down the tea and turned around to wave: "The king is in charge, take the distinguished guests directly to the small living room at the back. According to the rules, the activities of the fifth rank must be seen by the adults in person."
The trip went as smoothly as possible.
When they came to the small living room, there were only two people waiting here. After waiting here for more than a quarter of an hour, Zhang Xing received the second summons and transferred to a small flower hall further back, where he met Yu Changji, Prime Minister Yu. myself.
This judge, who should be considered the youngest in fact, is lowering his head and writing something seriously... It seems to be some kind of calligraphy work, not a formal letter.
"No need to be polite." Mr. Yu just raised his head and glanced, then continued writing with his head down. "I remember you...Fulongwei's deputy inspector, you should be the one who is really in charge of several inspections... Someone, are you the son-in-law of the eldest lady of the Bai family?"
Zhang Xing was startled for a moment. He didn't expect that the first question would be this, but it didn't stop him from changing his expression and his heart was pounding. Then he nodded immediately: "There is such a thing... but it has reached the ears of Mr. Yu." ?"
Yu Changji glanced at the person coming again, lowered his head and asked: "Then why do you come to me for this kind of thing? Isn't it just a casual matter for your father-in-law?"
"Aren't you afraid that your father-in-law will arrange your official position and you will be regarded as a son-in-law in the future?" Zhang Xing answered confidently and confidently. "Being a human being requires some ambition. If you don't have ambition, what's the difference between you and the salted fish hanging from the eaves in winter?"
Yu Changji looked at the other party again, and then continued to lower his head and write: "You have made meritorious service since you went out on tour, and you have reached the fifth rank, and now you want to be transferred to Hebei to be a county guard?"
Grain bracelet
"yes."
"Why Hebei?"
"It's close to the north." Zhang Xing said sincerely. "I am from the North, but the North is too far away, so I can only do the next best thing."
Yu Changji didn't nod or shake his head, he just wrote seriously. After finishing writing in one breath, he stopped writing and stood up. Then he wiped his hands and looked at the other party: "There is something I have always been curious about. You may know it, and if you know it, you might as well Tell me and I can leave some dowry money for you depending on the situation."
Zhang Xing suddenly remembered something, and then his heart skipped a beat.
"Shortly after the death of Princess Dachang, did Sima Xianggong have any trouble with the saint in Renshou Palace?" Yu Changji's words were plain and crisp.
really.
Zhang Xing screamed secretly in his heart, but after thinking about it for a while, he finally understood the whole thing clearly. Now, lying to his face may not be effective: "Actually, that night, the saint suddenly had a dream …”
After hearing this, Yu Changji was silent for a long time, and then he slowly spoke: "So, you want to go to Hebei, not because it is close to Beidi, but because it is close to Taiyuan and your father-in-law, but you don't have to be bound by him, right?"
Zhang Xing was stunned for a moment, and then grinned... For a person who has gone from being a human being to being a prime minister, even if his background and strength are a little bit behind the others, he can quickly hit the point with a piece of information. Nothing to say... To put it bluntly, Zhang Xing didn't have any good intentions to cover up his 'father-in-law'.
"So, forgive me for not being able to do this deal with you." Seeing this, Yu Changji sighed and immediately blocked the road.
Zhang Xing kept smiling. He deeply doubted that whether he had acted or not had affected the result. However, he did not delay his last attempt: "If it doesn't work, I will become a magistrate and magistrate, and my official rank will not change." , it’s not impossible.”
"It's not about this...there are three reasons."
Yu Changji immediately refuted it and explained calmly.
"First, you have been the deputy general inspector of Fulongwei for less than a year. It is not that you cannot be transferred and promoted, but this is a super-level and special case. It needs to be reviewed by Nanya, and several gentlemen can see it;
Secondly, you are the person Cao Zhongcheng once wanted to adopt as his adopted son, and he also promoted you to the fifth rank for this honor. Once it is reviewed and exposed, I will definitely offend Cao Zhongcheng for you. It is not worth it;
Thirdly, you are Miss Bai's favorite person, but you avoided Mr. Bai and did this. I don't want to cause dissatisfaction with your father-in-law because of this.
Frankly, you are too outstanding, you are not a nameless person, and the situation in Nanya is very serious now, I don't want to offend anyone for you. "
Zhang Xing nodded, expressing his understanding and understanding... What else could he do?
"Well, let's go back early." Yu Changji raised his hand to see the guest off.
Zhang Xing didn't move at all, but he asked with a smile on the spot: "It's a fair trade in Yu Mansion... Mr. Yu won't do my business, but shouldn't I get the promised discount back?"
Yu Changji was stunned for a moment, and finally smiled: "Yes, the news just now is extraordinary and worth a few thousand taels, but do you want me to give you a few thousand taels in return?"
"I would like to ask for calligraphy treasures." Zhang Xing pointed to the words on the case and held his hands in front of them. "Otherwise, it will be difficult for everyone to calm down."
At best, these words sound heroic and heroic, but at worst, they sound like a lack of self-awareness. However, Yu Changji was not angry, but laughed outright.
After laughing, the husband actually took his private seal again, stamped it calmly, rolled up the almost dry text, and handed it directly forward to the official buyer standing on the threshold, and then came to look at it. other side:
"Are all young people today so self-reliant?"
Without waiting for Zhang Xing to say anything, Yu Xianggong sighed again: "Yes, no matter how young or weak you are, you have your own strength, and you are indeed qualified to rely on yourself, unlike me... However, as time goes by, God's will is unpredictable. Only when the situation changes, should we always grasp our own strength and keep our strength with us."
"Yu Gong's teachings must be kept in mind." Zhang Xing listened with interest and learned the other party's calligraphy. Without hesitation, he thanked him directly, then turned around and walked away.
Come quickly and leave quickly.
However, not to mention that Zhang Xing's gold delivery to other people's homes would only be in vain. As soon as Zhang Xing left, a slightly younger man who looked similar to Yu Changji, but was dressed in ordinary commoners, slowly walked around from the back of the flower hall. Enter... it is none other than Yu Changnan, his brother who is as famous as Yu Changji, and is currently living in the house.
"It's okay for eldest brother to promise him." Yu Changnan sighed sincerely. "The saint is getting more and more anxious, but the more so, the more people see through the saint's reality. However, the leader Cao Zhongcheng has a temper that doesn't know how to restrain himself. He thought that Nanya was the Nanya of a few years ago, and thought that people's hearts were broken. , can squeeze it back with strength... If I continue like this, it will be nothing more than a saint putting everything on the line like a gambler, losing everything, and Uncle Cao can only hold on, and then the situation will be very bad... This In this case, a warrior with some ability and courage like this can save lives."
"I know." Yu Changji, who had already started writing the second character, quietly waited for the other party to finish and responded calmly. "But do you think I can really survive until then? On the contrary, for now, I can only avoid it for a while."
Yu Changnan opened his mouth to speak, but didn't know how to answer. After a long time, he asked in a low voice: "Brother, are you complaining about me?"
"What do I blame you for?" Yu Changji's face was expressionless and he wrote calmly, as if it was a trivial matter. "Although our surname is Yu, we are not Yu from the Eight Families. When we came to the Northland, even though our name was important for a while, surrendering people is still surrendering people. If we don't rely on the saint and act flatteringly according to his wishes, the family may not be able to survive. . And I am the eldest brother. If I don’t do such dirty things, who will do it? And how do you know that I am not happy with this? Just like that child Xia Houyan, do you think he really doesn’t know that I am using him as a rag, okay? To protect Xi'er and the others? But he is a shameless person and has no abilities, so wouldn't he be willing to do this?"
Yu Changnan became even more depressed: "I'm just afraid that once the big tree falls, Xi'er and the others will not be able to protect themselves, especially since they are extremely filial and regard their elder brother as their god."
"I didn't ask you to protect my heir." Yu Changji stopped writing and looked at his own brother with a strange expression. "Everyone has his own destiny... As for me, the saint has given me power and position for more than ten years and allowed me to enjoy all the wealth and honor in the world, so I naturally have to be loyal and try my best. As long as he is around, I will follow his wishes. Flatter him and make him feel comfortable. Once he loses power, if he is imprisoned, I will accompany him to jail. If he is killed, I will accompany him to die. This is a matter of course. As for my sons, if they feel that they should follow their father as sons, It can only be that he is my son, Yu Changji!"
Yu Changnan was completely silent. After a long while, he finally spoke: "If this is the case, I will only do what a younger brother of mine should do."
"That's your idea, it has nothing to do with me." Yu Changji paused for a while, then took off his private seal again and stamped it on another piece of his work tonight. "That Zhang Sanlang has suffered a big loss. My calligraphy is not as good as yours, and I am not worth the news... On the other hand, if your calligraphy is in the state I am in tonight, it can be called a fair trade... It seems that the real family Revitalization still depends on you.”
Yu Changnan was silent for a moment, then suddenly nodded heavily: "I'll pay him back if I have the chance."
Yu Changji just sneered.
Just when the Yu brothers fell into some strange emotions, Zhang Xing also met Xia Houyan again, who was about to move the table.
"Go out from the main entrance? Didn't you stay overnight?" Xia Houyan was extremely surprised. "Are you really just asking for a Hebei County Sheriff? No other conditions?"
"No." Zhang Xing raised the calligraphy treasure in his hand, shamelessly. "Mr. Yu, I am a man, and I dare not do my business... Instead, I wrote a letter to apologize."
Xia Houyan was dumbfounded, but quickly shook his head: "You are just a person, how come you even have to buy it from a county governor?"
Zhang Xing laughed dumbly, kept silent and walked out of Yu Mansion without answering.
In fact, despite Zhang Xingxing's open-mindedness, he was actually speechless. Because the New Year was approaching, no one knew what new tricks the increasingly anxious Mao Rensheng would come up with. At the same time, Cao Zhongcheng was not aware of it at all. He actually went even harder to do what he wanted to do, which made the saint even more uneasy.
If this continues, sooner or later there will be an epic jar-breaking fall.
"Zhang Sanlang is late." Two days later, just before the New Year's Eve, in the Nanya government office, Mr. Zhang Han, who had just finished the public discussion, listened carefully to Zhang Xing's story and laughed on the spot. "If you had come two days earlier, thinking about the kindness of sending me to Nanya that day, I would have done it for you as a county magistrate if you were not the governor, because I really don't have to care about the attitudes of Cao Zhongcheng and the British Duke... But now It’s really too late, even if you try to do it now, it’s too late for you.”
Zhang Xing didn't react for a moment.
Seeing this, Zhang Han just continued to smile and said: "Tomorrow the Golden Pillar will be officially opened, and big things will happen then. If you want fame and a future, you don't have to go to Hebei... Listen to me, and go back and wait." That is the will.”
Deputy Changjian Zhang, who seemed to realize something, instinctively wanted to touch the scimitar at his waist, but before he could touch it, he turned to hold on to his belt and nodded in agreement.
This is the south government office, and Governor Niu will be here in a moment.
Looking for death?
It is necessary to have a useful body and accumulate feasible strength, so that strong force can always be with me.
ps: Book recommendation, sacrifice, "If You Get Lost on the Love Map".
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