Liu Changqing was received first.
The royal study room is very large, and there is more than just one desk.
The chessboard in the hall has been set up and two cushions have been placed.
After Liu Changqing came in, Xiao Yuan told him that he didn't need to be polite, then pointed at the chessboard and said with a smile: "Come, Mr. Liu, the king of Japan is in a good mood today, please take a seat."
"This, yes." Liu Changqing hesitated for a moment, and after Xiao Yuan sat down, he also sat across from him.
Then, naturally, Xiao Yuan took the lead. He held the black chess piece, and at the same time he landed a piece, he casually said:
"Master Liu, among all the ministers, you are the most virtuous. However, there are many people who say something wrong with you. Why?"
I ask this sentence because Xiao Yuan has recently received many memorials to impeach Liu Changqing. Some of them said that he was perverse, slovenly and lazy, and had no regard for the dignity of Qin officials.
Some people say that he is clean and honest on the surface, but in fact he is just pretending to be honest and hiding dirt in secret.
Of course, Xiao Yuan knew very well what kind of person Liu Changqing was, so he naturally didn't pay too much attention to these memorials. It was just that there were too many impeachments, so he had to talk to him once.
When Liu Changqing heard this, he was not surprised and replied: "Spring rain is as precious as oil. Farmers like it because it moisturizes the crops. However, spring rain also makes the roads muddy and difficult for passers-by, which is evil."
"The moon of the Mid-Autumn Festival shines brightly in all directions, and talented men and beautiful women recite poems and compose poems. However, thieves hate its brightness, fearing that it will illuminate their ugly crimes."
"God cannot satisfy everyone, Kuang Weichen is just an ordinary man."
This is Liu Changqing's wisdom. Xiao Yuan was very happy after hearing this: "What I love you said is very good, I already know it."
But he is also unwise. For example, when he is playing chess with the king now, he has no intention of giving in at all, and he is pressing forward step by step.
Xiao Yuan was not proficient in Go. He was already on the verge of losing. As he was making a move, he asked again: "In my opinion, who can be qualified to be the governor of Yong'an County?"
Liu Changqing thought about it seriously and said decisively: "I believe that Mr. Wang Jiwang is the best candidate."
"How can you see it?" Xiao Yuan asked again.
Liu Changqing said: "Wang Ji is currently the governor of Yizhou. He has many contacts with Sichuan and Sichuan government affairs. He also knows the situation of Yong'an very well. He has always been diligent and has good political achievements. I think that if he is transferred, I dare not say that he can govern Yong'an. It’s great, but there’s no way it’s going to go wrong.”
"Well..." Xiao Yuan nodded slowly. There is no doubt that Liu Changqing, as a veteran of Qinzhou, would be more powerful than Yan Ming and others in recommending Shu officials.
This also illustrates Liu Changqing's character from the side.
At this time, Xiao Yuan held the sunspot in his hand and could no longer put it down.
Because Liu Changqing had already cornered him within a hundred steps.
Seeing Xiao Yuan like this, he even stretched out his sleeves, saluted and said: "In this chess game, the king has no way out, and the humble minister is lucky to win."
Call him smart. He played chess with the king and looked a little proud when he won.
Xiao Yuan glanced at him strangely, and then became happy again. Of course he would not be angry about this, but smiled gently and said: "Okay, Mr. Liu is one step ahead, and I am willing to be defeated."
As he spoke, he stood up and took out a small gift from the bookshelf.
It was a pen holder, made of sapphire, very delicate.
After taking it out, Xiao Yuan handed it directly to Liu Changqing: "This fight has been with me for a long time. Today, I will use it as Master Liu's reward for winning the chess game."
In that era, the things given by the king, regardless of their value, were a great honor for the ministers and represented the king's respect and trust in them.
When Liu Changqing saw this, he was immediately startled and hurriedly knelt down: "How dare a humble minister dare to give such a generous gift from the king?"
"I see that your family has nothing but nothing, so take it." Xiao Yuan said seriously.
"Ah? This..." Under the king's will, Liu Changqing did not dare to disobey. While moved, he raised his hands high, took it respectfully, and shouted loudly: "Thank you, Your Majesty, for your kindness——"
"Go ahead and ask Mr. Ding to come in." Xiao Yuan waved his hand.
"Yes, I will retire." Liu Changqing saluted and regarded the penholder as a treasure, because it was given to him by the king. For a person like him, the meaning is completely different.
After he left the study and went outside, he conveyed Xiao Yuan's meaning to Ding Rong, who also cast envious eyes when he saw the penholder in his hand.
In the study room, after Ding Rong came in, he trotted forward, knelt on the ground, put his hands on the side of his head, raised his buttocks, and shouted loudly: "See the king——"
"Master Ding, there is no need to be polite." Xiao Yuan pointed to the opposite side: "Sit down."
"Huh? Yes, yes."
After carefully sitting down on the same chessboard, Ding Rong also flattered him and said: "It is truly a privilege for me to be able to play chess with the king. If you dare, please show mercy to the king."
"Master Ding is joking." Xiao Yuan took the lead and said in the same way: "Ai Qing has done many good deeds as an assistant, but there are often people who say that you are tempted to be charming. Why?"
Hearing this, Ding Rong immediately panicked and quickly explained: "Your Majesty, don't listen to words of right and wrong. The loyalty of my ministers can be revealed by the sun and the moon. There must be despicable people who come up out of nothing and want to frame me."
Xiao Yuan glanced at him.
Ding Rong said more and more panicked: "I heard that there was a family in Liangzhou. There was a yellow dog in the house, which was loyal to the owner. When the thieves heard about it, they tried their best to kill the loyal dog first, and then they dared to attack the owner. Otherwise, the loyal dog would be killed. Dogs will fight for their lives.”
"And I am just like that loyal dog, Your Majesty..."
He said sadly, Xiao Yuan smiled when he heard the words, shook his head and said: "Okay, Mr. Ding, there is no need to belittle yourself."
"No, no, no, I speak from the bottom of my heart." Ding Rong said hurriedly.
"Okay, okay." Xiao Yuan changed the topic and said: "Speaking of which, in Master Ding's opinion, who can be appointed as the governor of Yong'an County?"
Seeing that Xiao Yuan no longer mentioned the matter, Ding Rong's heart finally dropped in his throat. He subconsciously raised the sleeves of his official uniform, wiped the cold sweat from his forehead, and then mused: "The Governor of Yong'an is no small matter, sir. I think this requires not only a person with outstanding talents, but also an experienced official who can cover a lot of places."
"Of the two, Mr. Wang Ji is superior."
"Oh?" Xiao Yuan raised his eyebrows. Unexpectedly, Ding Rong and Liu Changqing, two completely different ministers, gave the same answer.
He was stunned for a moment, then smiled and said, "Come on, let's play chess."
This time the chess game was completely different from Liu Changqing's.
To be honest, Xiao Yuan's Go level is not good, and the possibility of winning against these ministers is extremely slim.
Ding Rong has been an official for many years and was a minister of the imperial court before. You can imagine his chess skills, but in this game, he seemed to want to win but couldn't, and finally lost to Xiao Yuan.
After being defeated, he first shook his head with regret, then saluted and said: "The king's chess skills are exquisite, and the humble minister is really no match for him..."
Xiao Yuan was happy again, as if he had a clear mind.
