After everyone dispersed, Zhu Che gathered with the counselors and sighed, feeling very depressed.
Seeing that everyone was speechless, Song Zhang directed his grievances at Wang Zhengui: "Since you expressed your feelings to the dean, why didn't you show mercy and give him the opportunity to borrow the donkey under the slope? What a person you are!"
Wang Zhengui looked at everyone, lowered his head and replied: "Although our academy is in a different direction from his in Nanjing, it is still controlled by others. Deputy Xia has given orders, and Wang does not dare to make mistakes."
"But he can't control you when you go to the Yamen." Zhu Che touched the beard under his chin.
"Well, that's the truth, but now we can't break up with Nanjing. We just want the government to save face, so that we can talk easily in the future." Wang Zhengui said.
"Jin Gui's words are exactly what I want." Zhu Che nodded, then turned to look at Song Zhang, "Governor Song, don't blame him too much. The fact that Jin Gui can say this to us proves that he and we are of the same mind. of."
"Also, Brother Song Xian should go check on Professor Yao's condition."
"I've been thinking about it," Song Zhang stood up quickly, "I'm just waiting for everyone to finish discussing it."
Zhu Che straightened his clothes and saw that everyone had nothing to say, so he said "dismissal", opened the bamboo curtain and went to the inner room.
"Oh, Professor Yao!" As soon as Song Zhang entered the door, he saw Yao Xiaogu wearing white clothes with a sallow face, being supported by his wife, walking down from the dormitory step by step.
"Go back and rest quickly. I'm no one. Why should I greet you in person?" He looked at Yao Xiaogu worriedly and urged him to go back.
"It doesn't matter, it doesn't matter." Yao Xiaogu gasped and shook his head feebly.
Song Zhang saw that it was extremely difficult for him to speak, so he bowed to Mrs. Yao and said, "Sister-in-law, what disease does Brother Yao suffer from?"
Mrs. Yao shed two tears: "He felt dizzy when he woke up in the middle of the night last night. He called the doctor and said that it was the cold weather that caused the cold. He would just take some medicine and it would be better. But no one thought that it would not help, and his illness would become worse day by day!"
Song Zhang comforted her for a few words, and then together they helped Yao Xiaogu back to the sickbed.
Yao Xiaogu opened his eyes briefly, pointed at the door, and signaled Madam to retreat; Madam Yao retreated whimpering.
He coughed several times, frightened Song Zhang, who turned pale and rushed to pat his chest, but was rejected by the former: "Don't worry, Governor, I am half a hundred years old and will be over sixty. My destiny is at hand, and I have long looked down on life and death. I hope you don’t have to worry about me.”
Song Zhang sighed heavily and returned to the chair.
"Has Xia Renying come to the academy?"
"Here we come." Song Zhang pursed his lips and did not dare to say more.
"Do you really agree with him?"
"..." Song Zhang was afraid of making him angry, so he remained silent.
Yao Xiaogu just covered his face and took a deep breath: "If I can move my body, I will always block the muddy current in Nanjing... What a pity, what a pity!"
"Brother Yao, don't think so bad. Wang Zhengui is Xia Yuanlong's confidant, but he has parted ways with us. Since he is working in the official position, with a little manipulation there, the situation will definitely improve."
Yao Xiaogu shook his head and said: "I'm afraid he can't survive alone. Why doesn't the governor help?"
Song Zhang smiled bitterly: "I have never cared about these mundane affairs. I have been working hard in the office, but an elegant and leisurely life is more suitable for me."
Yao Xiaogu suddenly stared at him with bright eyes and said: "Wang Zhengui has a sinister heart. If he continues to indulge like this, the academy may become a stepping stone for him. Governor Song is the only one with a title, so beware of him in everything." Convinced.”
Song Zhang disagreed, but considering his condition, he said against his will: "I understand."
"My illness won't be cured for a while," he stood up slowly and held Song Zhang's hand. "The position of deputy dean must not be vacant. To prevent it from being handed over to someone like Wang Zhengui in the future, please ask Governor Song to take on this important position!" "
Song Zhang hurriedly bowed several times: "Song has no talent or learning, how can he be better than other Confucian scholars?"
Yao Xiaogu gritted his teeth, stretched his head forward, and paused on the edge of the bed: "Governor Song, imitating the ancients is not a joke, this matter is related to the future of the academy..."
Several drops of sweat appeared on Song Zhang's forehead, and he bowed anxiously: "How can I accept Professor Yao's bow? I just agree."
"This academy can be saved for the time being..." Yao Xiaogu reluctantly showed a faint smile.
After Wang Zhengui went out, he quickly planned a plan in his head. Since it would be too disgraceful for the government to use the common people, we should first go to the local gentry to discuss it, and then use this to communicate with the prefect. It might be possible to achieve a peaceful solution in one fell swoop.
Having made up his mind, he went straight to the salt department to sit in the hall and discussed with his close scribes: "I want to call all the local sages in Suzhou to come, but I don't know what reason I can use."
The clerk replied: "During these days, the Salt Transportation Department has repeatedly told the branch office that there are several unowned salt fields in Suzhou. They are all sold by the government and there are no merchants to take care of them. I am very worried. Why don't you report to the transportation department of the branch office?" Master, please invite all the squires from Suzhou to come here and see if you can take over the salt farm."
Wang Zhengui was overjoyed: "It is indeed a good excuse to take over the salt field. Just write a document and bring it to the branch office. I will wait for the approval here."
The scribe took the order and left calmly.
The approval process still had to wait, so the academy was delayed for several days without any trouble. Although Xia Yuanlong came to urge him again and again, Wang Zhengui could always use the excuse that "the time has not come yet, and most of the officials are still dissatisfied, so I can try to persuade him". Yuanlong was also afraid of the power of local people like them and did not dare to insist. So he had no choice but to write a letter to Wei Huai stating the difficulties encountered in Suzhou.
While Suzhou was wasting away peacefully, there was an undercurrent surging in Nanjing. Wei Huai had obviously focused his attention entirely on this place, tossing and turning and having trouble sleeping. It was as if Suzhou had been forgotten and had become a remote corner of the map. As for how Nanjing has changed, we still need to look at Wanfu.
"How far is the search for Qi Zi?" Wan Heshun asked softly while pouring tea as he looked at the trembling cell leader kneeling in front of him.
"Reporting to the prince, Qi Zi's many bribery incidents have been investigated in detail..."
"It's important!" Wan Heshun's temper gradually became irritable.
"What's important, what's important is not yet..."
"That's all, that's all, I'm going to take a walk and read the files." Wan Heshun lifted his robe and said sternly.
"The file is small and I just brought it. Why should the prince leave in person?" Seeing his dissatisfied look, the prison boss felt extremely panicked.
Wan Heshun smiled kindly: "Wouldn't it be better to check the public sentiment in Nanjing and see how the land thieves arrange for me?"
"I'm afraid the prince won't be able to listen to those dirty words."
Wan Heshun gave a scornful "Humph" and said angrily: "I have been working for two generations of emperors. What troubles have I never seen? I have killed more people than you have ever seen. How come I am so scared that I can't leave because of one or two rumors?" Hu La? What a joke! The cell leader leads the way, and I sit in the sedan chair!"
