In the tavern outside the Beijing train station, Zhao Shiheng, Tong Yan, Yuan Zhixu, Wang Fugui, and Huang Da were chatting.
They talked about the difficulties of the imperial examination and the joy of studying in the Imperial College.
Yuan Zhixu looked at the proud Zhao Shiheng, and he felt a little jealous. An ordinary Jinshi like him was incomparable to the No. 1 Scholar.
He picked up the wine glass and toasted: "We are all friends, and we don't engage in false courtesy.
The first glass of wine is for you and your wife to be harmonious and have a son soon. "
When the incident between Zhao Shiheng and Tong Yan spread, it immediately caused a commotion.
The two of them took this opportunity to go to the ancestral temple to get married before going to the Imperial College to study.
Yuan Zhixu drank the wine in one gulp and continued: "With the second cup, I wish you a smooth career. Brother Shiheng will stay in the General Affairs Department and Tong Yan will stay in the Ministry of Science and Technology.
You can all stay in the capital, but we have to go to the frontier to make some adventures.
Brother, if I wasted more than ten years in the border areas, Shi Heng would take advantage of me if he had the opportunity. "
After Yuan Zhixu finished speaking, he expressed his thoughts in a half-joking tone.
As the only lady, Tong Yan did not drink, but picked up the tea and drank it in one gulp.
"It is thanks to my husband's ability that I was able to get the opportunity to stay in Beijing.
In our current Jinshi class, there are only thirteen people who can stay in Beijing.
Most of the Jinshi went to local places to serve as officials.
I believe that with your abilities, you will definitely stand out from the rest. "
Tong Yan intervened temporarily to give her husband Zhao Shiheng time to think.
Zhao Shiheng waited until his wife Tong Yan finished speaking, and then he promised: "Don't worry, everyone, we are all friends.
When I really have the ability, I will definitely help everyone. "
Yuan Zhixu, who was deep-hearted, and Huang Da, who was relatively simple, immediately breathed a sigh of relief.
They are lucky to have friends like Zhao Shiheng.
Tong Yan took the opportunity to liven up the atmosphere and said: "We are about to say goodbye, this is a farewell drink.
We are all the future pillars of the empire, unlike those corrupt literati.
Everyone should stop reciting poems and talk about your plans for the future.
After graduating from the Imperial College, the Ministry of Civil Affairs assigned positions based on our performance in the Imperial Academy.
Even if we have outstanding abilities and support from noble people, we cannot leave our original position for five to ten years.
Let me start by offering some ideas. I work in the Finance Department of the Ministry of Science and Technology. This department is responsible for disbursing funds.
You only need to obey the orders of your superiors and release money according to the orders.
The job is easy, and as long as the money doesn't go wrong, there's almost no risk. "
Zhao Shiheng heard Tong Yan say it was easy, but she actually gave up a lot of things.
Tong Yan holds this position without any leadership skills and will not be able to be transferred to local governments in the future.
This has almost nothing to do with the cabinet department, and ambitious Jinshi will not choose it.
But this position is easy and has few tasks, so it is indeed more suitable for people without ambition.
Zhao Shiheng said with a slightly proud tone: "Everyone knows about the work of the General Affairs Department.
As a newbie, I am usually responsible for screening the memorials of local officials.
It is very likely that your future memorials will pass through my hands. "
After Zhao Shiheng finished speaking, everyone looked envious.
The way he looked at everyone was not surprised at all.
Officials in the General Administration Department are typical examples of low-ranking and powerful people.
They held the bridge of communication between foreign ministers and the emperor.
Officials in the General Administration Department were also equivalent to the emperor's staff, and they could easily demonstrate their talents in front of the emperor.
A thousand-mile horse often exists, but a bole does not always exist.
Liu Bang relied on the talents of Peixian to conquer the world, Li Yuan relied on the talents of Longyou to conquer the world, and Zhu Yuanzhang relied on the talents of Huaixi to conquer the world.
Taizu of this dynasty relied on the talents of southern Shaanxi to conquer the world.
The talents in one county are enough to conquer the world and govern the country.
Talented people are everywhere, but opportunities to showcase their talents are too rare.
The talents who usually come into contact with the emperor are all important ministers of the cabinet.
Only the two yamen, the General Affairs Department and the Shaofu, have a large number of young officials and can often see His Majesty the Emperor.
They have better promotion opportunities than ordinary officials.
Wang Fugui followed up and said: "I decided to repay my hometown and go to Australia to serve as an official.
The Ministry of Officials has approved me as the magistrate of Huangsha Prefecture. "
Tong Yan asked in surprise: "Wang Fugui, how is this possible?
The imperial court usually did not prohibit officials from traveling to their place of origin to take up their posts.
There are only two exceptions. One is that the minister returns to his hometown to take care of his old age and is given a false position.
The other is that no one really goes to this place, and the court forces the arrangement, and the officials will hang up their seals and leave. "
Wang Fugui smiled bitterly and said: "Yes, this is the situation in my hometown.
There are only a few oases among the vast yellow sand.
Most people in Australia live in bushveld areas.
Farming and breeding can be done there, and no one wants to go to an area filled with yellow sand.
The area of Huangsha Mansion is comparable to that of Henan, and its population is only 210,000.
Such a small population is not as large as the population of many counties in the empire.
It is said that the magistrate has less real power than the magistrate in the interior.
After all, this is my hometown. Without officials, I cannot apply for support from the court, and it has never been able to develop. "
Tong Yan was talking about Huangsha Mansion, his eyes lit up and he said: "I heard a rumor in the Ministry of Science and Technology.
There is a professor at the University of Technology and Mines who specializes in Australian minerals.
He believes that there is a very large iron mine in Huangshafu.
If you want to develop your hometown, you can find a way to find this professor.
It is definitely impossible to develop agriculture and industry in desert areas. The only thing that can be developed is the mining industry, which God provides for food.
If we can really find large-scale mineral veins, Huangsha Mansion will not worry about development at all. "
When Wang Fugui heard the news, he immediately raised his hands and thanked him: "On behalf of the 210,000 fellow villagers in Huangsha Prefecture, I would like to thank my brothers and sisters for their advice.
It really wakes up the dreamer. I know how Huangsha Mansion will develop.
Finding the minerals is the only chance to get out of trouble. "
Huang Da clenched his fists and said: "The place I chose is Meiya Province, the prefect of Zhongyi Prefecture."
Zhao Shiheng's eyes widened and he asked in surprise: "Brother Huang, you are crazy.
In the two places of Caucasus and Meiya, the officials forced those at the bottom to come and watch.
The Caucasus was pretty good, and there was no major conflict between the Empire and Russia for a long time.
Meiya was the Armenian territory of Ottoman Türkiye.
When the name of the province was established at that time, someone proposed the two names Armenia or Asia-America.
Prince Su Shu suggested not to take such a name. He joked that Meiya was also good, and it eventually became the official name of the imperial court.
According to the name of this place, it is the place where Armenian tribes gather in large numbers.
This is also the place where the empire clashed violently with the Ottoman Turks.
In other words, this place goes to the front line.
Go to the front line to gain experience. As long as you have merit, you will be promoted quickly.
But this is the front line, and the army can start fighting at any time.
Whether it is being captured by the enemy, local indigenous riots, or being disadvantaged in supporting the army.
This is all a matter of losing your mind. Brother Huang needs to think about the pros and cons. "
Huang Da took a swig of wine and placed the glass heavily on the table.
“I don’t have Brother Shiheng’s talents, so I can only rely on my own abilities to work hard.
On the day when the results were released, I was beaten up by the failed candidates and almost beaten to death in front of the Gongyuan Gate.
I made up my mind at that time that this kind of thing would never happen again in my life.
If I want to control my own destiny, I can only control power.
I believe that the strength of the imperial military cannot be resisted by the decadent Ottoman Turkey.
The empire will inevitably penetrate Ottoman Türkiye one day and fight all the way to Europe.
As long as I live, I can feel this happening.
I will take advantage of the east wind of this event and ride on the wind.
Don’t try to persuade me, I know I’m betting.
The governor is expected to win the bet.
If you lose the bet, you will probably spend most of your life in the border areas.
I was prepared for the worst, putting all my chips on the line and betting on the empire to win. "
Everyone looked at Huang Da's firm eyes and knew that he had made up his mind.
They all raised their wine glasses and teacups and toasted Huang Da with a glass of wine, admiring his courage.
Dare to risk everything and bet on the empire to win.
This kind of courage is not something ordinary officials have.
They would only admire Huang Da's success and not be jealous at all.
After Yuan Zhixu finished the toast, he expressed his choice.
“No. 1 Jing County, Qingyou Prefecture, Obsidian Province, Persian Region.
As soon as you hear the name of this county, you will know that this is an oil producing area.
I also took the initiative to choose this magistrate.
If I choose to go to the Caucasus or America and Asia, I can also become a prefect.
If you choose the Persian region, you can only become a county magistrate.
With my results, I couldn't even get the county magistrateship if I chose other regions.
I think Qingyoufu is rich in oil, so this area must be an area with extremely high taxes.
If there are official uniforms and taxes, then the place can be governed.
It is difficult for a clever woman to make a meal without rice, and the government cannot achieve any political achievements without money.
As long as you have money and serve as a local official, you will definitely have no shortage of political achievements, and you will receive first-class results every year.
I will be able to move up soon, and everyone can work together to encourage me. "
Zhao Shiheng looked at Yuan Zhixu's performance. He couldn't comment on whether this choice was right or wrong?
If Yuan Zhixu can really hold back and spend all his money on developing the local area, his future will definitely be unlimited.
But if you have too much money, it is difficult to maintain your original intention. Once you reach out randomly.
The censors in the Metropolitan Procuratorate love to focus on wealthy places.
Even if the method is secret, those censors can find it out.
At that time, let alone climbing up, there is a high possibility of being imprisoned.
With a bang, the bell tower in front of the train station rang a clear bell.
Yuan Zhixu and Huang Da stood up together. The train they were waiting for was about to leave.
Huang Da said excitedly: "Thank you all for seeing me off. Normally we can only contact you by telegram. We hope to see you again."
There is no such thing as a banquet that lasts forever. Sooner or later we will be reunited again. "
Yuan Zhixu clasped his fists and said: "I wish you all a successful career. It is my honor to know you.
Everyone kept in touch via telegram, and I wanted to go to the train station to catch a train. "
Zhao Shiheng replied: "Nowadays, telegraph is very convenient. Everyone keeps in touch and exchanges information.
There are close friends in the sea, and there are neighbors in the world. "
Huang Da and Yuan Zhixu said goodbye to everyone and headed to the train station.
Zhao Shiheng watched the two men fighting in close combat and said with emotion: "I hope we can meet again in the future."
Wang Fugui bowed and thanked him: "Thank you, my sister-in-law, for your advice. I will go to the University of Technology and Mining now to look for the rumored professor."
The farewell party is over.
Zhao Shiheng took his wife Tong Yan's hand and left here.
They have different life encounters, and they also have different life trajectories.
After parting this time, I don’t know what it will be like next time we meet again.
…………………………
Yuan Zhixu and Huang Da walked into the train station.
They each have their own worries, and Huang Da is a dull gourd, so the two of them have little communication.
The main reason why they can become friends is that both of them are friends of Zhao Shiheng.
The relationship between the two of them could only be regarded as acquaintances, not close friends.
Yuan Zhixu glanced at the train ticket, and then asked: "Brother Huang, which train are you taking?"
Huang Da took a look at the train ticket and then said: "The 249 train to Yili.
When I go to Meiya, I need to cross the Caucasus, and there are no trains there.
You can only get off at Yili Station and find a way to go to Meiya Province through official channels. "
Yuan Zhixu said in surprise: "Then let's take a train.
I also went to Yili Station first, and then transferred to Hongyanfu, Anxi Province.
There is no railway after Hongyanfu, so you need to take a car through the Persian area to Qingyoufu.
We took the same train for most of the journey, which was really fate. "
Huang Da took out the train ticket and said: "This should be a ticket purchased by the Ministry of Civil Affairs.
I believe that not only the two of us, but also officials heading to the western region took this train. "
Yuan Zhixu opened his mouth. He didn't know how to answer this sentence?
This is indeed true, but in such a chat, there is no topic at all.
Meeting a boring gourd traveling with me is a torment. I hope I can find someone with a similar temperament on the train.
They quickly saw this train and bought two carriages directly with the special tickets from the official department.
Most of the officials were familiar faces. Except for a few, they were all Jinshi in this imperial examination.
Yuan Zhixu saw his acquaintance Jiang Yihe at a glance, and quickly went up to say hello: "Brother Jiang, you are also riding this train."
Jiang Yihe nodded awkwardly, embarrassed to look at Yuan Zhixu again.
When Yuan Zhixu saw this situation, he just secretly thought it was a pity.
When Jiang Yihe entered the Imperial Academy, he found that Zhao Shiheng was an orphan and had the title of No. 1 Scholar.
He immediately turned around to curry favor with the young marquis, hoping to use his influence to get out of the quagmire in Persia.
The main task of these first batch of officials who went to Persia and other provinces was to establish imperial rule there and sinicize the local indigenous people.
This work has been demonstrated by the imperial predecessors in Southeast Asia, Myanmar and other places.
Officials with outstanding abilities will surely stand out.
But ordinary officials are unable to cope with such complex local conditions, and they will be lucky to waste their lives.
It is very likely that he will lose his life and become a negative example for the Imperial College.
When they were in the Imperial Academy, the teacher used these negative examples to tell these students what they must not do.
The train's ticket checking speed was very fast. They entered the train and found their sleeper berth.
These officials who went to unfamiliar areas were lying on hard beds, thinking about their next fate.
He stood out and became a world-famous governor.
I wasted my life and became the person I hate most.
Although he was vigorous and vigorous, his life was taken away by the natives, and he became a negative example in the imperial officialdom.
What life is like needs to be described through their own abilities. (End of chapter)