In a small fishing village by the Ru River west of Yancheng, Zhang Jun put away his fishing rod, looked at a few small fish in the bucket, and secretly cursed bad luck. Everyone else can catch big fish, but he can only catch a few small fish after exhausting all his methods.
After entering the village and arriving at a large courtyard, Zhang Jun opened the door and walked into the courtyard surrounded by bamboo fences. Place the bucket under the pomegranate tree and wave to the cat under the eaves. Said: "I went fishing just to feed you! I haven't caught a big one in a few days!"
The kitten ran over like a wind, lay on the bucket, and kept fishing for fish in the bucket with its paws.
Lu Cheng sat on the stool next to the door, leisurely basking in the sun. Seeing Zhang Jun come back, he asked, "How many fish did you catch today?"
Zhang Jun said: "How can I remember? Anyway, there is no big one, so I have to feed the cat."
After saying that, he moved a stool and sat down next to Lu Cheng. Staring at the setting sun on the horizon in a daze, I didn't speak for a long time.
Lu Chengdao: "Xie Zhizhou came to Yancheng just a few days ago. He was preparing to deal with Feng Hui when he suddenly went to Xiangyang. Observe, what urgent matters do you have? Let's see if the Jin army is going to fight a big battle in October. Already?"
Zhang Jundao: "Wu Shu led his army to Shaanxi. Where can we fight a big battle? Don't think too much, it's the governor who has something to say. It is said that all the state and county officials have gone to Xiangyang, not one is left out. I am a soldier If you don’t win, you’ll have to go!”
"Oh——" Lu Cheng nodded. "I wonder what Zhenfu is going to say to cause such a big commotion."
Zhang Jun said: "Don't think too much. Under Zhen Fu, just do things with peace of mind. Thinking too much is not good for you."
Lu Chengdao: "From here to Xiangyang, it takes less than half a month to get back to Zhizhou, but we can't come back. We are here to bask in the sun every day, which is a bit bad."
"What's wrong?" Zhang Jun was a little impatient. "Baking in the sun and drinking alcohol every day, isn't this a good life?"
Outside Xiangyang City, Xie Linong looked at the towering towers and said: "I was about to clean up Feng Hui and his gang, but I was called back to Xiangyang. I don't know what big thing happened, and all the state and county officials were coming. Caizhou is on the front line, and it's from other places. Comparable?"
As he spoke, he dismounted and led his men into the city gate.
When they arrived at the post house, Yi Cheng personally picked him up. After sending Xie Linong to his residence, Yi Cheng said: "I'm reporting to the magistrate, this time the governor has summoned all the state and county officials under his command, and there are really many people. Except for a few magistrates who have separate residences, the rest of the officials have to share the dormitory. The magistrate is here. , only two subordinates can stay, and the rest of the entourage will have to stay in the inn outside. The lower official has made arrangements, and the magistrate can just order them to go out and find the postmen."
After hearing this, Xie Linong said displeasedly: "It's such a big post house, can't even a few followers live in it?"
Yi Cheng said: "Zhizhou, although the post station is large, there are too many officials coming. There is nothing I can do about it."
Xie Linong nodded with a dark face. Said: "Okay, I understand, you go out first."
Yi Cheng said goodbye and went out. Xie Linong sat there alone and sulked for a while. Who are you? When Wang Xiao hunted hundreds of people, he was his general. Now, there is not even enough accommodation.
After being sulky for a while, Xie Linong ordered his subordinates to see if Cao Zhiyan, the magistrate of Ruzhou, was here. If you arrive, please come and speak.
Not long after, Cao Zhiyan arrived. As soon as he saw Xie Linong, he said with great joy: "I haven't seen my brother for many days, and I really miss him so much. Yesterday Yang Shen came to see me and said he would invite me to a riverside restaurant for dinner today. My brother is here, and we just happen to go together!"
Xie Linong said: "There has been no news from Yang Shen for many days. How is he doing?"
Cao Zhiyan said: "I met him yesterday and asked him about the latest news. Zhenfu has built many facilities in Xiangyang, which are under the supervision of Yang Shen. Recently, these places have begun to make money, and they are making a lot of money every day. I am very proud of it!"
Xie Linong nodded: "That's the best! Several generals under Zhenfu rarely get together since arriving in Xiangyang. Sometimes when I think about it, I can't help but miss those days. By the way, the other old brothers, there are How many people have arrived in Xiangyang?"
Cao Zhiyan said: "Yu Huan is also coming. But he walks slower and has not arrived today."
Xie Linong said: "He is as far away as me, and he walks a little slower on the road."
While chatting, Xie Linong asked Cao Zhiyan to sit down and make a pot of tea.
After taking a sip of tea, Cao Zhiyan said: "This year, the town has brewed a new tea. It is a good tea from Xinyang, smoked with jasmine flowers, brew a pot and the whole house will be filled with fragrance! Those of us will be given a pound. Then It’s really delicious!”
Xie Linong said: "Jasmine doesn't grow here in Xiangyang. Isn't it very troublesome?"
Cao Zhiyan said: "Zhenfu planted some in Yingzhou in the south, and the growth is very good. But I heard from people that it can't compare with the fragrance in Sichuan."
Xie Linong was not interested in tea. After chatting for a while, he asked Cao Zhiyan: "A few days ago, there were a series of major cases on the other side of the Ru River. The governor was very angry and transferred me from Tangzhou to Caizhou. I had just arrived in Yancheng and was about to arrange an encirclement and suppression campaign when suddenly I was ordered to come to Xiangyang. .What the hell is this big deal?”
Cao Zhiyan said: "I also got a general idea when I arrived in Xiangyang. I heard that a Huizi was printed this year, and with the good weather, there was a good harvest of food. In addition, many businesses under Yang Shen's supervision began to make money, and new ones were opened. In the bank, the governor has loose money. Now that he has money, the governor is thinking of giving us a salary increase. This time he came to us just to raise our salary."
How can Xie Linong be trusted? He squinted and said, "If you want to increase your salary, why bother recruiting people? Once you have the money, who wouldn't say yes?"
Cao Zhiyan saw that Li Nong didn't believe it, so he sighed and said, "I'm telling you, the salary will indeed increase. But there are other things. The news I got in the past two days will make it difficult to be an official in the future."
Xie Li Nong said: "What is a bad practice?"
Cao Zhiyan said: "I heard it from one ear to the other. Brothers, please don't tell anyone about the chat. A few days ago, Counselor Wang came back from Caizhou, and the governor said something. At that time, everyone listened, but they didn't think much of it. Take it seriously. Who would have known that in the following days, Zhen Fu really followed what he said that day and began to adjust the yamen and arrange the officials below. After a few days, he ordered us to be recruited to Xiangyang. "
Seeing Li Nong's puzzled look, Cao Zhiyan said: "I don't know how to do it specifically. From what I heard from other people, they summarized it in three words. For subordinate officials, what the governor does is: raise salaries, delegate power, Strict management. A salary increase means an increase in salary. According to the governor, it is to let the officials under him live a decent life. Delegation of power means further delegating power to the state and county officials under them, so that they can manage the civil affairs of the place. The most important thing is, This is the word "strict management". I heard that Counselor Wang replaced Councilor Chen and took charge of the Yamen of the town and envoys. Councilor Chen set up a new official, just like the previous envoy, but he no longer controlled the money and food under his control, but only supervised the officials. "
Xie Linong said: "Supervisory officials have been around since ancient times. How could there be such a need for such a big movement?"
Cao Zhiyan said: "Of course it's because the new supervisor is different from the old one. I'll let the governor tell you how it will be in detail. What we are talking about now is just gossip. It cannot be taken seriously and only confuses people's minds. I am a monk, and the monks have nothing in common. . It was only when the Jin captives came south and the mountains and rivers were shattered that I returned to secular life and fought against the Jin people. I will do whatever the governor says, without so many worries."
Xie Linong was silent for a while, thinking about it in his mind. Wang Xiaolie was strict under his command, but would it be even stricter this time?
