After hesitating, Su Ziji walked a few more steps, and the wild Taoist hurriedly followed him. He found that the rain was still falling, and the raindrops fell on his face. Facing the wind of the rainy night, even the wild Taoist could not help but close his clothes.
"Your Highness!" When they reached the end of the path, there were many figures under the two lanterns, and someone suddenly shouted.
"who?"
Just as Su Ziji paused, the wild Taoist immediately took two steps forward, looked around cautiously, and was suddenly shocked.
"You were careless. Next time you will bring the guards in instead of staying outside."
Just looking at it made me feel more at ease. I saw some people gathered around, most of them seemed to be lifting people. They all had a bookish look. They took off their shirts and knelt down in front of Su Ziji.
This scene happened so suddenly that Su Ziji was surprised and didn't understand what happened.
Could it be that he wanted to ask for orders from him?
"Everyone, it's a cold rainy night and the ground is cold. Get up quickly to avoid hurting your body. If you have anything to do, you can stand up and tell me. Please get up, everyone!" Su Ziji said hurriedly, saying to himself He also symbolically helped Juren who was kneeling in front.
As a result, these people were still kneeling on the ground and did not get up.
The Juren who was supported by Su Ziji had an even serious look on his face: "Your Highness, we are not only kneeling to your great grandson, we are also kneeling to your great grandson's kindness!"
"Xing Ye hanged himself to death. This is probably just a trivial matter in the eyes of nobles. Grandson, you actually paid for someone to send someone to take the coffin home. If anyone knows about it, Xing Ye will burst into tears. We feel the same way. Please I'll wait for you!"
With that said, he took the lead and bowed to Su Ziji solemnly.
Only then did Su Ziji know why they did this. It turned out to be for Xing Ye?
Su Ziji asked himself, in the past, he had done a lot of things to cultivate a good reputation, but providing money for Xing Ye was really not for reputation. He simply felt that although Xing Ye's death had its own reasons, it was still a disaster for Chi Yu. Got this idea.
Unexpectedly, I had no intention of inserting willows into the trees.
Su Ziji sighed inwardly, but stood firm without any stage fright. He sighed and said, "I'm very sorry to hear about this."
"Unfortunately, it's not just Xing Ye."
"Gu is also a child student, a scholar, a scholar, and a scholar step by step. He knows that it is not only ten years of hardship, but also twenty or thirty years. Only those who have experienced the hard work will know."
"But I can't plead for Xingye, because the government and the court are not wrong. Some of your sons are from humble backgrounds, some are gentry, country officials, and even Yin Gongsheng. But no matter what kind of background they are, at this stage, they are all The men of the country, when they come here, they are ready to jump over the dragon gate."
"The state recruits scholars every three years, and the purpose is to recruit you to assist in government affairs, to care for local areas, and to regulate people's sentiments. What the state wants is actually to have the court's heart as a public mind and to be loyal to the best of your abilities."
"The so-called official administration needs to be rectified, and this is what it is about. It's a pity for Xing Ye. I can only fulfill my personal friendship and human kindness, but I can't refute the public opinion and ask for God's favor."
"You are grateful to Gu. In fact, Gu has nothing to be grateful for. Only when you are grateful to the court can your heart be at peace."
All the people in Juren were silent after hearing this, but the leader of Juren kowtowed again and again: "Your Highness's relief is to fulfill the duty of a friend, but to admonish us is to promote the great cause of the imperial court. We are deeply touched by this, and we are really moved. Only I will repay you with all your heart and soul, just in case.”
This man spoke in a sonorous tone, with a faint sound of gold and stone, and led the group of people to worship together. Not only did he lift people, but the people around him heard it, and they also bowed down in silence.
Fortunately, he knew that his grandson would not be here forever. After kneeling down and worshiping, he watched Su Ziji get on the bullock cart and then slowly dispersed.
After the wild Taoist got on the bullock cart, he couldn't help but smile: "Lord, I already know that the leader is named Tian Fu. I'm afraid he seems to be clinging to me."
"Many ordinary people despise clinging. In fact, clinging is not simple. It means that at least others are optimistic about the lord. Under the current situation, they are betting on the lord."
"It's a good thing that you have such a reputation. Your hard work has not been in vain."
Su Ziji also smiled, but then retracted it suddenly: "Tian Fu wants to get attached to him, and he is going to be elected, so I will give him this opportunity. If he can pass the exam, I will send him a note and invite him to the house to meet him."
"yes!"
Su Ziji let out a long breath. Just as the wild Taoist said, clinging seems to be derogatory, but in fact, another word means taking sides. Being able to be chosen by others does indeed accumulate a lot of prestige.
But such a reputation is actually inseparable from previous accumulation.
For example, when Su Ziji eradicated the shrines in the capital, many people were not optimistic about it. They felt that doing so was laborious and offending, and would only end up with a reputation for violence and cruelty.
Unlike the King of Shu, his business reputation is based on choosing light and convenient projects, which also gives people a very noble feeling, without any dust, as if just doing this can win everyone's love.
Su Ziji felt that everything had pros and cons.
It’s not like there are only one or two smart people in this world who can pass the exam, but how many of them are really stupid?
Anyone with knowledge will know that dealing with the temple is laborious and offending, but they will also understand that doing so is beneficial to the people, the country, and many things. The only disadvantage is one's own reputation. That’s all.
In this way, some people will be offended, but it will also leave the impression of being pragmatic in more people's minds.
How could a person who can do things pragmatically be worse?
Su Ziji himself was talented and learned. Before he was recognized, he was a famous talent. Under his subsequent management, his reputation spread widely.
Now that he has gained a reputation for kindness, this is a good thing for Su Ziji.
"Actually, these are all useless efforts."
"Pragmatism and ability are the work of ministers, not the virtues of the king. Kindness is a little bit, but it is difficult to get into the palace. It is just a little cleverness."
"The emperor and his ministers don't know how to laugh at me!"
"But the plank road can be built openly and secretly. The way of Taixue, to put it bluntly, is a subtle education. Real education is based on years. It will take three to five years before the initial results can be seen."
"Mystical powers can be advanced several times, but such magical powers must still have a basis and a reason."
"My practice of these useless ways actually gives my supernatural powers a reason."
"Tian Fu and those who have passed the exam are certainly investing in me, my great-grandson, for the sake of their future, but normally they would have to wait and see for a few years instead of clinging to it now."
"This is actually proof that the Tao of Taixue has achieved initial results."
"Whether it is an old man or the princes in the court, they are all outstanding people. If I keep hiding my capabilities and bide my time, not only will I be more suspicious, but I will also be pushed around."
"Don't you want to hide your capabilities and bide your time? Then simply remove your power and status and just wait for death!" Su Ziji couldn't help but laugh when he thought of some people's cleverness.
Anyone who truly understands officialdom understands that pretending to be a pig will really turn you into a pig, and power can only be gained dynamically.
"The various efforts I made were not only in line with human nature, but also gave them the confidence that I had everything under control. However, no one could have imagined that it would take three to five years to seven or eight years for the results to take effect, but it would only take one or two years for them to take effect."
"Scholars and citizens may have gradually returned to their hearts, and as long as these two groups can return to their hearts, they will be more and more prepared, so that the army can seriously consider it..."
Su Ziji thought for a moment, then turned the cart around and ordered: "Go to Yulin Guard."
(End of chapter)
