The tiger roared at the city gate, shaking half of Jinling.
What the common people talked about was that the tiger was huge and unparalleled in power. The scholars were thinking about what words to use to compose a poem to record this situation, while the officials were concerned about the man behind the tiger, Gu Zhengchen, the magistrate of Jurong County.
In the dusk of September, Gu Zhengchen's reputation quietly spread to the ears of hundreds of officials. Even Wu Lin, the Minister of Civil Affairs, couldn't help but clapped his hands and recited: "Jurong captured the tiger and brought peace to the people. The Duke conquered the country." Capture all directions. There are heroes in the world, and all the writing and swords rule..."
Chen Ning, the imperial censor, gritted his teeth with hatred and threw the tea bowl on the ground, leaving the servants in silence.
Chen Ning left Chen's Mansion and went straight to Hu's Mansion. He barged in without waiting for anyone to notify him.
Hu Weiyong had just finished dinner when he saw Chen Ning walking over with a gloomy face. The servants who had notified him could not stop him, so he frowned slightly: "Why are you in such a hurry?"
Chen Ning sat down uninvited and snorted: "Just now, Gu Zhengchen, the magistrate of Jurong County, sent a beautiful tiger, which shocked the capital. Countless people clapped and applauded. The name of Gu Zhengchen seemed to have spread throughout Jinling. , some people even call it ‘defeating the county with a tiger attack’!”
Hu Weiyong frowned slightly and said seriously: "Take a tiger to magistrate the county? Haha, a mere magistrate is worthy of your mentioning it five times. Old Chen, you need to be more open-minded. Gu Zhengchen is not in Jinling, no matter how hard he tries, Things outside Jinling have nothing to do with the overall situation of the government. People outside the chessboard are not worthy of our concern."
Chen Ning took the tea bowl brought by the servant and said solemnly: "Hu Xiang, don't underestimate this Gu Zhengchen. Now he is just an inconspicuous character, a small seventh-grade county magistrate, but don't forget that, Standing behind this person are the Crown Prince and His Majesty. If this person is allowed to grow, you may not be able to replace him one day!"
"Just him?"
Hu Weiyong laughed loudly and shook his head disdainfully: "This person has no background and no qualifications. How can he control Zhongshu? You don't think that just one person can sit in the position of prime minister, do you? Haha, don't do it I forgot that only six years after the founding of the People's Republic of China, Korean Duke Li Shanchang retired, Yang Xian, who had been the lord for a while, died, and Wang Guangyang, the loyal and diligent uncle, was demoted to participate in the politics of Guangdong Province."
"Even if Gu Zhengchen is a talented person, he would never have entered the Zhongshu Province without ten years of officialdom. Ten years, haha, it doesn't take ten years for us to do things, right? It's time to put a stop to your vengeful character. If you don’t restrain yourself, disaster will happen sooner or later.”
Chen Ning lamented: "I just can't bear to see this villain succeed!"
Hu Weiyong stood up, stretched his body, and said with a smile: "It's not appropriate to touch him now. We have more important things to do. It's almost winter. I think Wei Guogong Xu Da will return to Jinling. This man is not good for treasures, not good." It's hard to make friends with people who are drunk and flirty. It seems that we need to take a detour. I heard that there is a gatekeeper in Wei Guogong's mansion named Fu Shou, who has been with Xu Da for many years. This person may be able to win over him first. "
Chen Ning nodded repeatedly: "Wei Guogong has been away on the expedition for a long time. It's time to come back. It's time to move around more..."
Liu Mansion.
Liu Jing walked in carrying a fish and walked briskly towards the study.
When Mr. Fu saw it, he quickly stepped forward to take the fish.
After Liu Jing said hello, he asked, "Can father be in the study?"
Mr. Fu said with a smile: "Here, I am painting with your Sanniang. I will send someone to cook dinner, and you can chat for a while."
After Liu Jing thanked him, he knocked on the door and entered the study.
When Liu Ji saw his second son Liu Jing coming back, he put down his brush and said to Liu Jing after he saluted him, "How about taking a look at this picture of the moon among the pines?"
Liu Jing stepped forward, glanced twice, and looked at her father. Seeing her father blinking deliberately, she had no choice but to say against her will: "The bright moon shines among the pines, and the clear spring flows over the rocks. This painting is Wang Wei's "Mountain Dwelling in the Twilight", Good mood.”
After hearing this, Xiao Zhang felt a little sad between his eyebrows.
Liu Ji rolled his eyes at Liu Jing. I asked you to comment on the quality of the painting. Instead of asking you to comment on the artistic conception, why can't you just pick some good words to say?
Liu Jing didn't buy it and directly changed the topic: "Father, not long ago, a beautiful tiger was sent to Jinling City."
"Sent in?"
Liu Ji stared and said slowly: "The person who sent the tiger must be someone from Yushitai or Zhongshu Province, right?"
Liu Jing shook her head and said seriously: "It's Gu Zhengchen, the magistrate of Jurong County."
"Gu Zhengchen?"
Liu Ji frowned and thought: "I seem to have heard this name somewhere."
Xiao Zhang reminded from the side: "Mid-Autumn Festival Banquet in the East Palace, eating and governing the country."
Liu Ji suddenly realized, clapped his hands and said: "Yes, it's this person! Song Lian sighed several times and regretted not going to the East Palace for the banquet that day and not being able to meet this person. He had been in Jurong for only a month, and he couldn't fight a tiger. It's strange, but it's a bit intriguing to send him to Jinling. Is he seeking fame, or does he have some intention?"
Liu Jing shook his head: "Father, it's not clear what this person's intention is, but after the tiger, there are still four prisoners. It seems that a major case has occurred in Jurong."
Liu Ji frowned: "In the Jurong case, why did the prisoners be sent to Jinling? The county government made the judgment and sent the documents. It was reviewed by officials such as Tianfu and the Ministry of Punishment, and the prisoners were sent directly to Jinling. This move seems inappropriate. It's common sense, there must be a secret behind this."
"Father, when a child hears a piece of news, he doesn't know whether it is true or false."
Liu Jing was unsure and hesitated before speaking.
Liu Ji walked out from behind the desk: "Let's talk about it."
Liu Jing coughed softly: "It is rumored that Gu Zhengchen, the magistrate of Jurong County, lived in the Mu Mansion on the eve of his appointment. It was Mu Ying's recommendation and the prince's invitation. This is how the Mid-Autumn Festival dinner was celebrated."
Liu Ji nodded: "Song Lian mentioned this, it's not a rumor."
Liu Jing continued: "There is also news. Some people say that Gu Zhengchen and the prince have been exchanging letters. Even if they write memorials, they will bring a personal letter to the East Palace."
"What?"
Liu Ji was a little shocked.
To blatantly curry favor with the East Palace and dare to use the inn to deliver personal letters is simply courting death!
Liu Jing lowered her hands to her side: "This news may not be true, but I feel that Gu Zhengchen has a close relationship with the East Palace, and even has an unusual relationship with the Huagai Palace."
Liu Ji took a deep breath, feeling horrified.
A small county magistrate has a close relationship with the prince and the emperor at the same time! This is not something that a simple person can do!
Not even Li Shanchang, Hu Weiyong, or even himself could make good friends with the emperor and the prince at the same time!
"So, Gu Zhengchen is quite a powerful person."
Liu Ji calmed down.
Liu Jing didn't speak, just looked at Liu Ji quietly.
Liu Ji paced back and forth in the study, thinking for a long time, and then said: "I heard that there are Qingyuan Temple and Chongming Temple in Jurong. Are you interested in taking a walk?"
Liu Jing was a little worried: "Father, will leaving Jinling at this time arouse His Majesty's suspicion..."
Liu Ji chuckled, with a confident look on his old face: "We are not going home, nor are we traveling far away, how could His Majesty be suspicious. Besides, since we are going to travel, we naturally need to tell His Majesty and give us permission before going. Jurong.”
The next day.
As soon as the morning court ended, Liu Ji followed him into the Huagai Hall.
"I heard that there is a Taoist in Qingyuan Temple who is proficient in medical skills and folk remedies, which may be able to relieve my abdominal pain. I hope that Your Majesty will have mercy and allow me to go to Jurong..."
Liu Ji knelt down.
Zhu Yuanzhang looked at the sick Liu Ji, and finally couldn't bear it: "Get up and talk. Do you want to go to Maoshan to see a doctor, or do you want to go to Jurong to see Gu Zhengchen?"
Liu Ji knew that he could not hide it from Zhu Yuanzhang, so he simply admitted frankly: "Your Majesty, I am old and may not live for more than two years. I heard that the magistrate of Jurong County is young and promising. He has solved major cases in the local area and has made great achievements in his administration. I want to see him. Stop by to heal your ailments.”
Zhu Yuanzhang knocked on the table and considered whether it was safe to let Liu Ji go to Jurong.
Gu Zhengchen had no official background, unlike Liu Ji, a leader in eastern Zhejiang. If Liu Ji were to meet Gu Zhengchen, there would be nothing to worry about. Gu Zhengchen was not from eastern Zhejiang and could not become the leader of the gentry in eastern Zhejiang and Jiangnan.
It's just that Liu Ji has some tricks and scheming, and he is also a profound and experienced person. Gu Zhengchen is still young, if he is fooled and becomes lame...
"It's okay if you want to go to Jurong."
Zhu Yuanzhang thought for a while and agreed.
Just when Liu Jigang wanted to thank him, Zhu Yuanzhang already said: "The day after tomorrow, a group of more than 2,000 prisoners will be sent to Jurong. I am worried that there is no suitable person to handle the documents. Since you want to go to Jurong, then go with them." , return to Jinling after the prisoners are properly settled."
"I obey the decree."
Liu Ji was a little depressed.
It could be seen that the emperor was still worried about him. Although he did not specify the time for his return to Jinling, he also warned him that he could not meet Gu Zhengchen alone or stay in Jurong for too long.
But it’s also a good thing to get out of Jinling and get some fresh air.
Looking at Liu Ji leaving, Zhu Yuanzhang picked up another document and squinted at it: "Zhao Hailou, Wang Liang and other twenty sergeants actually want to study? What kind of ecstasy soup did Gu Zhengchen pour into them? These vulgar men have the idea of studying? Chuan Muying."
Muying entered the palace and saluted.
Zhu Yuanzhang shook the document in his hand: "What on earth is going on with Zhao Hailou and the others? Why are they so enlightened that they want to study?"
Mu Ying said helplessly: "Your Majesty, I was shocked when I heard this. I thought I heard it wrong. But the twenty sergeants all said that they would like to read and be literate, so that they can learn the art of war in the future and fight against the Hulu for your Majesty. Expanding territory. According to Zhao Hailou and others, Gu Zhengchen told them before leaving that only by reading and literacy can one practice military strategy and be promoted to a general officer."
"That's it?"
Zhu Yuanzhang couldn't believe it.
Mu Ying nodded, roughly so.
Zhu Yuanzhang was a little depressed. Which soldier didn't understand this?
But to let them study, it is better to kill them. The pen is heavier to them than a three hundred kilogram stone lion.
How could these unenlightened roughnecks actually become enlightened after a trip to Jurong?
Zhu Yuanzhang didn't quite understand, but he still issued a decree: "There is no shortage of rough men in the army, but there is a shortage of generals who are capable of literature and military skills. Since they want to learn and be literate, let the military scribes be their teachers. In addition, , promoted Zhao Hailou and Wang Liang to the rank of Thousand Households, and other sergeants to the rank of Hundred Households."
