Since Guangwu re-established the Han Dynasty, the prefect has been the chief official of the local area. He is extremely noble. Except for major cases such as genocide and other major cases, all life and death in a county can be decided by the prefect himself. Even if there are checks and balances from the governor and the decentralization of power by lieutenants, But if the prefect insists on his own opinion, unless the emperor issues an edict, the prefect can still do what he wants. Because of the prominent status of the prefect, there is often a saying among the people that "a man's life is worth two thousand stones."
But things in the world are different, and people are not the same. There is also a huge difference between prefects and prefects. Some prefects can eat well all day long and have nothing to do, and then they can become prosperous, while some prefects can only live in panic, without caring about the day or night.
Nowadays, there is such a jingle circulating in the court: "Henan is the best, followed by Nanyang. Yanji Xiaoke is still waiting for the king of Shu. It is difficult to leave Qingxu, but Jiangbiao is fine. It is better to go back and enjoy the quiet and cool scenery."
The general idea is that as a prefect, it is best to be Yin of Henan, and you will be able to fly high in the near future, or you can go to Nanyang County, the most prosperous county, Guangwu Imperial Township, where you will be rich and rich. The governor of Yanzhou and Jizhou is okay, but he is still not as happy as the governor of Bashu. You can't go to Qingzhou or Xuzhou, so there's nothing wrong with hanging around in Yangzhou. If I send you to the four states of You and Jiaoliang, then you might as well resign and go home. If you take office and live long enough to be dismissed by His Majesty for dereliction of duty, then you will be considered a success as a prefect.
Obviously, the prefect of Xihe is in the worst category. The current prefect of Xihe, Xing Ji, has submitted his resignation five times, but he has been stranded in the palace because there is no one to replace him. This time Chen Chong volunteered, and not only did the emperor readily agree, but the Shangshutai also handled it extremely quickly. In the past, the transfer order could only be completed in ten months, but this time it took only seven days, and all the processes were arranged.
Even the Xiaohuangmen who came to convey Chen Chong's order this time did not embarrass him for the first time. After Chen Chong received the edict, Xiao Huangmen patted Chen Chong on the shoulder with concern. This look on the martyr made Chen Chong dumbfounded. Chen Chong invited Xiao Huangmen to have lunch at home, but Xiao Huangmen also declined politely. , and then went straight back to the palace.
"Yi Yu is kind in his heart, and even though he died nine times, he still has no regrets." Chen Chong looked at the faint figure retreating from Xiaohuangmen, a funny feeling came to his heart, and he couldn't help chanting. Then he was slapped on the head by Cai Yan, and his wife said angrily: "What bad words are there? Do you want me to be Zhuo Wenjun?"
Chen Chong repeatedly accused him and said: "How dare you, madam, forgive me. My husband means that my husband has nine lives. Even if he is hit by thousands of arrows, he can still survive. I will never let my wife get married again." After saying this, He hugged Cai Yan, caressed the beautiful woman's back, and whispered: "A Yan, this time I finally flew into the cage like a bird and ascended to the nine heavens again." Seeing her husband's rogue behavior, Cai Yan was ashamed and annoyed, and Seeing Wei Yan approaching from a distance, he hurriedly broke away from Chen Chong's arms and went to the study to sort out the books.
Wei Yan had the habit of practicing martial arts in the morning. In the past few days, he ate and lived with Chen Chong. He was immersed in watching the people coming and going in the Chen family, and he read poems and books at night, which made him more elegant. When he saw him, he saluted Chen Chong and imitated the imperial student and said, "Mr. Chen, I just saw a group of people walking past here. They were all dressed in palace attire. Has your order arrived?"
Chen Chong raised the edict in his hand and said with a smile: "Long article, there are joys and sorrows."
Wei Yan received the edict, read it carefully, and then he was shocked and said: "Chen Jun, how come you are the only one to go to Bingzhou? Where is the school captain?"
Chen Chong took back the edict, dusted Wei Yanyi's shoulders, and then smiled and said: "Why, Wen Chang, didn't the edict say it! Qingzhou can't do without Xuande now, and he will be with me next year." We can only wait until March or April to get together, can't you wait?"
Wei Yan looked crooked when he heard this. He blew on his still fluffy beard and said dissatisfiedly: "Mr. Chen, please don't deceive Wei Yan. Although I, Wei Wenchang, am young, I am not ignorant. I remember when I joined the army the year before last, The county prince told us that after one year of joining the army, we would be paid ten thousand yuan, but after one year, we had no money. Wei Yan only met Jun and Jun as officials. Now the emperor said that in the future, he can transfer the captain to Yanzhi sees that it is out of tune. Chen Jun was chatting and laughing with Yan the day before yesterday. There were merchants who were here and there. Now, the emperor should be a merchant, and Chen Jun is the monkey's ear!"
After saying these words, Chen Chong laughed heartily for a long time, then wiped away his tears and said: "Wen Chang, Wen Chang, what you said has come out of your mouth and reached my ears. Don't talk to outsiders again! What you said has reached my ears. What you said is not unreasonable, but you don’t understand the way of the Emperor. Although His Majesty’s current behavior is absurd, he is deeply respected by the Emperor and will never act like this.”
General Wei Yan said suspiciously: "Mr. Chen, are you serious about this?"
"Seriously!" Chen Chong joked again: "What? Without Xuande, Yun Changyide and the others, and only Wen Chang, you, can't protect me?"
Wei Yan blurted out: "What are you talking about, Mr. Chen! If one or two rats dare to misbehave against Mr. Chen, I will kill them for Mr. Chen! If there are thousands of rat persons who are unfavorable to Mr. Chen, I will reject them for Mr. Chen!" He stood in front of Chen Chong. In front of him, his expression was solemn and heroic, and his eyes seemed to contain thousands of things, encompassing the world.
"Good!" Chen Chong patted his shoulder and praised him: "What an angry Wei Wenchang! Wen Chang, I still need your help with something now." He handed the name to Wei Yan and asked: "Wen Chang, do you still remember Zheng Zheng? Where is the Doctor’s residence located?”
Wei Yan recalled for a moment, and then asked: "Dr. Zheng, whom Chen Jun is talking about, is the one who is surrounded by people like mustard?"
This statement described Zheng Xuan, the "spiritual god", as greedy for fame and fortune like a buffoon. Chen Chong laughed and scolded: "No big or small! Wen Chang, I thought you had learned a lot with me these days and had improved in self-cultivation. Why do you speak so meanly? Go ahead." When you invite Dr. Zheng, you must be respectful and don’t be so annoying again!”
Wei Yan lowered his head and left in a depressed state. Chen Chong then called Cai Yan, went to the backyard to greet the students, and asked a dozen people to clean up the front hall. He took a few people to the kitchen, caught a few grass carps from the water tank, and tied up the students who had been there a few days ago. We went to Luoshui for an outing and caught dozens of crabs. We processed them carefully, sprinkled them with some pepper and salt, poured some white vinegar and soy sauce on them, and steamed them thoroughly on the stove.
Then I cut two large pieces of homemade tofu, sliced one piece and fried it, and divided it into several plates. Dig a few holes in the other piece of Chen Chong, drill the eel just bought in the morning, then put it in a casserole, pour in the white pork rib soup, sprinkle ginger and garlic, simmer over low heat, wait for half an hour, Chen Chong opens the pot again and sprinkles some more The fragrance of the egg liquid made him intoxicated.
At this moment, there was a sound of cars and horses neighing outside the door. It must be that Zheng Xuan and his party had arrived. Chen Chong arranged for Cai Xun to help control the last stage of the fire. He washed his hands and went out to greet him: "Brother Zheng has arrived? Brother Zheng, something very special has happened. I asked you to come to the house to talk to me rudely. I hope Brother Zheng will forgive you."
But I saw a few young people in front of the carriage helping an old man out of the carriage. The old man was only fifty or sixty years old. He was wearing a blue shirt and a white belt. His hair was already gray, but his steps were as steady as a mountain and his spirit was very strong. Especially his eyebrows, which are as bright as lightning. Looking at him makes you feel like you are on the battlefield, as if this old man will fight with you anytime and anywhere.
But the old man immediately smiled, and his smile spread slowly like a chrysanthemum. He only heard him say: "Zheng is responsible for offering wine. As an official of offering wine, how can Zheng Xuan dare to refuse?" Chen Chong also laughed with him. , went forward and hugged Zheng Xuan heavily, chatted with this man who was nearly forty years apart, and said with a smile: "Brother Zheng, don't make fun of Yu Chong. Who doesn't know that Dr. Taixue needs His Majesty's approval before he can perform his duties. Brother is the God of God ', knowledge is more important than anything in the world, and there is a matter that only my brother can do, so I have set up a banquet, and I hope that I will not refuse!"
Zheng Xuan said "Oh", let go of his hand and turned back to his disciples: "You guys, can you hear the words of sacrificing wine? This is a banquet at Hongmen! You guys must work hard to add more meals, don't make the teacher regret that it's not worth it!" The young people responded with a bang.
Everyone immediately went to the hall to sit down. The hall of Chen Chong's house was not big and could not accommodate so many guests. He immediately asked the students in the backyard to bring some vegetables to the backyard first, and only selected a few of his most popular disciples. Cai Yan asked Cai Yan to arrange the seats, and then he and Zheng Xuan sat down together.
Zheng Xuan took the first seat, and Chen Chong took the second seat. The two students took their seats in turn. After they were seated, Chen Chong and Zheng Xuan said seriously: "Brother Zheng, I always advocate that husband and wife should be consistent, so I always arrange for A Yan to have dinner together. I hope Brother Zheng won't be surprised. "
Zheng Xuan said with a smile: "It doesn't matter, Xuan often hears the music of the harp and harp in Jun's house, and it is a good talk for the Imperial Academy. What's more, your wife has a face that melts into the morning mist, and she looks like a god. She can not despise Xuan and other worldly things. She is already Xuan." Wait for luck."
Chen Chong then invited Cai Yan to come into the hall and sit down at the same table with him. Then he picked up the wine cup and said with a polite smile: "Brother Zheng, you and I have known each other for five years, I think. Looking back on the five years we have worked together, Chong is very emotional, so I would like to propose a toast to you first."
Zheng Xuan solemnly raised his wine cup and said in reply: "Brother Chen started by recalling the past. The request may not be a good deed. Could it be that Brother Chen wanted to give up his post and Ding You because of the death of Duke Taiqiu?"
Both parties drank the wine in one gulp, and Chen Chong sighed: "I'm not resigning, I'll tell you the truth. Brother Zheng, I want to be promoted to the post of prefect and leave by the Masi River. The transfer order has just been issued, and Chong will take office in a few days."
After listening to Zheng Xuan, he knew that Chen Chong was not afraid of the ridicule of the people and devoted himself to the country. He couldn't help but feel deep admiration and sorrow for him. He asked: "Xuan also heard about the incident in Xihe. There are white waves in front, Xiongnu behind, and thieves are rising. , Isn’t it easy to do this?”
But who would have thought that Chen Chong waved his hand and said: "This is all a trivial matter. Although there are many thieves, they are just minor illnesses. Brother Zheng, what I am worried about is that if the court system is not good and the edicts are not smooth, the disaster will arise from the heart and heart, and then it will happen again." out of hand."
Zheng Xuan stroked his beard silently, and then said: "This is the words of Brother Chen's "On the State System". I have read it. Brother describes the changes in the state system based on the eight hundred years of changes in the Eastern Zhou Dynasty. It is profound and subtle. It is really a masterpiece. But now The situation cannot change in one day. It can only be planned slowly and cannot be forced."
Chen Chong tapped the table lightly, adjusted his tone, and then said slowly: "What Brother Zheng said, Chong also knows. So I would like to recommend Brother Zheng as a doctor to offer wine. Doctor Jiji is the head of the doctors and leads the academic style of Taixue. Zheng Brother, you should know that Taixue is located in the eastern capital, and students come from all over the world. After completing their studies, they benefit the local area, which is the foundation of the country's future. If the academic style is prosperous, the country will be prosperous, and if the academic style is prosperous, the country will be prosperous. I have worked hard at Taixue for five years. Here, I am going to Bingzhou now. I am afraid that the Imperial Academy will weaken, and then its morals will decline, and the avenue will be destroyed. I hope Brother Zheng will not refuse."
These words were sincere and full of ambitions for the family and the country. Zheng Xuan is a great Confucian sage today and has many different political views from Chen Chong. He was also moved by him. He saluted Chen Chong during the banquet and said: "Brother Chen has such high hopes for me, Xuan Ruo If I refuse, wouldn't it show that I, Zheng Xuan, have no responsibility? Although Xuan is already in his old age, he is particularly passionate about serving the country. I would like to offer this cup to Brother Chen!" Then he poured himself a cup and drank it all in one gulp.
Then he sighed: "I still remember that ten years ago, Brother Chen refuted He Shaogong. With the reputation of Xiping Longshou, he couldn't help but have the desire to win, so his disciple Guangluo Chen's remarks were able to read Brother Chen's "Heaven". "Elegance", "Mutual Assistance" and "Zhu Shi Lun" all opened Xuan's eyes and fell in love with him. Unexpectedly, five years later, my brother looked around the humble house and invited Xuan to be a doctor of Taixue. My brother and I lived together and walked together, and then we learned about the three generations. Who are the sages?"
At this point, Zheng Xuan raised his glass again, invited all the disciples present to toast Chen Chong, and said loudly: "Brother, I have been with Wu since I was born, and now I have been appointed to Xihe. I believe that Xihe will be cleared soon. Xuan is here to congratulate the people of Xihe!"
Chen Chong's disciples also took advantage of the situation and stood up. Xu Shu took the lead and saluted Chen Chong and said: "Sir, you always taught us to be self-disciplined and to have the world in mind. Now that you are practicing the Tao, how can we fall behind? I hope you will bring your students with you."
Chen Chong stood up slowly, pointed his finger at his heart, and said in one word: "Everyone's thoughts are filled with tears, but this heart is so bright that there is nothing more to say."
Everyone drank it all and the guests enjoyed themselves.
