Under Wang Xiaolie's rule, officials and businessmen were not allowed to entertain each other. It doesn't matter if you do it once or twice. If it happens more than once, you have to make it clear and you will be punished. However, the yamen has official money, which is used by officials, which is quite loose.
The banquet held for Zhang Di in Yichun Garden was done with the minister's money, and there was no need for Mo Yuan to pay the bill.
We went up to the second floor and just as we sat down, the county magistrate Cao Yuping and the chief clerk Yang Kai arrived. Zhang Di greeted everyone and took their seats respectively.
Yang Kai ordered tea, and several people sat and chatted. It was nothing more than asking Zhang Di what Cai Feng Yuan did, how officials like them were treated when they came out, and all sorts of other things.
After a while, the food and wine were served, and Cao Yuping raised her glass and said, "Zhang Guan has been in this county for many days, and I haven't been able to help you. I'm really ashamed. Come on, have a full drink, and we'll keep you company."
Everyone had a drink, put down their cups and ate their food.
After a while, Cao Yuping raised her cup and was about to speak when she heard a noise on the stairs.
An official rushed over and said to Cao Yuping: "Mr. Magistrate, there are people coming from Luoyang City! I heard that it was the Xuanfu Secretary General who took many people to Xin'an County for official business! He is now ten miles away. , the county magistrate will welcome you quickly."
Cao Yuping put down her wine glass with a displeased look on her face. However, when someone from the Xuanfu Division came, he did not dare to neglect them. He bowed his hand to Zhang Di and said, "We have to go out of the city to meet someone from the Xuanfu Division, so we can't accompany the officials. We will invite the officials in a few days when we have time."
Zhang Di said: "Since I'm from Xuanfu Division, should I go too?"
Cao Yuping waved her hand: "No need. You are collecting customs in our county, and you are not working in the county government. Why bother with these common things!"
After that, he took the chief clerk and the county captain and left.
Zhang Di stared at the backs of several people for a while. The food and drinks have been ordered, but we can’t return them, so we might as well sit down and continue enjoying them.
After returning to the county government office and changing into official uniform, Cao Yuping and the county captain went out of the city gate.
Wang Xiaolie stipulated the rules for welcoming officials. Regardless of whether they were big or small, they would all greet them at the city gate and no longer go out of the ten-mile pavilion. It was the same even when Wang Xiaolie went out on patrol, without exception.
Cao Yuping and others stood under the big willow tree outside the city gate, looking eagerly at the way from Luoyang. Not long after, I saw people making noises and horses neighing, and the messenger had arrived.
Several people rushed forward to greet him. Seeing the two people walking in front of the cavalry, they hurriedly stepped forward to salute.
He Qi got off his horse and looked at a few people. He said: "I am the Secretary General of Xuanfu, He Yan, and I should know him from Cao Zhixian County. This person is Chen Yu, the signator of Henan Prefecture, and we deal with him on weekdays. The two of us came to Xin'an County on Xuanfu's orders to handle some miscellaneous matters. "
Cao Yuping asked: "I don't know what chores you have?"
He Wei said: "A few days ago, the official Zhang Di wrote a story, which is said to be based on the affairs of Xin'an County. It is said that there is a Mo Yuanwai who colludes with the government and covers the sky with one hand in the county. Xuanfu After seeing it, I was extremely angry and ordered us to investigate."
Cao Yuping said with a smile: "Except for me, who else in Xin'an County dares to say that he can cover the sky with one hand! Even I don't dare to say this."
He Yan said: "It's not the best. From today on, the Xuanfu will be investigated within fifteen days. After fifteen days, no matter what the result is, the county magistrate, chief bookkeeper, and county lieutenant must all be transferred. The three of you, starting from today Get ready.”
"Transferred?" Cao Yuping was confused. "Why are you being transferred?"
He Wei said: "If you don't transfer, how can people in the county dare to tell the truth? If the facts are true, of course the county magistrate and officials will be punished. If it is not true, you will be transferred to a county that is far worse than Xin'an. It just depends on what happens. , determine your future."
Hearing this, Cao Yuping's face darkened.
It is certainly true that Yuan Mo was relied upon by many officials. However, Cao Yuping didn't know what Yuan Mo was like among the people. Whether he could dominate Xin'an County with one hand. As a county magistrate, what does he know about that?
He Yan said: "These days, the three of you are together, don't separate. It's best to deal with official matters in front of us, don't deal with it in private. We are not allowed to meet with county officials in private. No matter what happens, someone must be present." Everyone, if you want others to know nothing, you must not be clever unless you do nothing yourself. As long as you are found to have done anything in private, you will be dismissed immediately and there is no need to report it."
After hearing this, Cao Yuping couldn't help but said angrily: "Doesn't this treat us as prisoners? This is really unreasonable!"
He Wei said: "When you were officials, Xuan Fu repeatedly told you not to have selfish motives when you were an official. When you became an official, you accepted this condition. You can also say that you are treated as prisoners. When I investigate you, You must cooperate. If you have no problems, of course you will be rewarded, just think of it as compensation for accepting the investigation. If there are problems, there will be different penalties depending on the size of the problem. You should understand that we are not here to discuss with you, but They’re investigating you.”
After saying that, He Wei ignored Cao Yuping and walked towards the city.
Cao Yuping was furious and followed with the county lieutenant and the chief registrar.
The officialdom of the Song Dynasty was different from that of later generations. County magistrates were not subordinate to state officials and had a higher status. Generally speaking, if a court official or a capital official serves as a county magistrate, he is called the magistrate of county affairs, and the person who chooses the county magistrate is called a county magistrate. Selected people of the fourth rank are called magistrates and county magistrates, and their status is much higher than that of state-level magistrates and various military enlistments. Unless they are state-level judges or referees, they are also officials in the imperial court in various ways, such as signing judgments and registering military matters.
He Yan was the official of the Xuanfu Division, and his status was much higher than that of the county magistrate. It would be inappropriate if only the Henan government came to sign the contract.
When he arrived at the county government office, He Zhen went to rest on his own while other officials explained their work in the county government office.
Seeing the officials he brought discussing the daily affairs of the county with the chief registrar and the county lieutenant, Chen Yu, the magistrate of Henan Prefecture, said to Cao Yuping: "County magistrate, you don't have to be so angry. This is something that officials often encounter." You have had little contact with Fu Fu’s temperament, and may not have a deep understanding of it. Those of us who are often around him all know that one is one, two is two, and follow the rules and regulations. He Gan’s words are not nice, not because he is right. If the county magistrate has any prejudices, but he comes down to investigate, this must be the case. If you don't do this, the He Gan Office will be unqualified. If you are not qualified, you will be sent to a suitable place."
Cao Yuping asked: "What do you mean?"
Chen Yudao: "What Xuanfu cares about is whether an official is qualified for office, not other things. If you are qualified, you will be promoted or promoted, if you are not qualified, you will be demoted until you reach the right position. The rules stated by He Ganban , it’s all for this, nothing else.”
Cao Yuping thought for a while and said, "What does this have to do with me?"
Chen Yudao: "I'm telling the magistrate. It's not that He Ganban has any objections to you or even wants to cause trouble for you. It's that He Ganban needs to handle this matter and has nothing to do with the magistrate. These days, the magistrate only needs to handle government affairs as usual. Just wait until the new magistrate takes office. If the magistrate cannot handle government affairs as usual, or even makes mistakes in the first place and wants to use these days to make up for it, then even the gods will not be able to save you."
Cao Yuping didn't speak, just closed her eyes and thought.
Chen Yu's words sounded nice, but if Yuan Mo was really like what was said in the story, wouldn't he face punishment? What's difficult now is that I don't know what Yuanwai Mo is like or what his reputation is in the county. And Mo Yuanwai's reputation determines whether he will be rewarded or punished.
This is really unreasonable! How can such a thing exist in the world? As a county magistrate, political performance should be determined by the money and food of the county. How can it be decided by a common person? In this case, how can officials still govern in the local area?
Cao Yuping was a county magistrate before Jingkang. In the past few years, she had gone round and round and came back to be a county magistrate. Just when I was trying to make some achievements in Xin'an County and get promoted based on my political performance, something like this suddenly happened. The things outside Yuan Mo were completely different from his previous handling style, which made me feel a little at a loss.
He Wei changed into casual clothes. After coming out, he asked someone to find Zhang Di.
Zhang Di had a full meal in Yiyuanchun and staggered back to Tongfu Inn. As soon as he arrived at the inn, he saw an official waiting outside and asked him to go to the county government office.
Zhang Di turned around and saw many people gathered in the yard next to him. He didn't know what was going on. Seeing the boy coming, he hurriedly stopped him and asked, "Why are there so many people here today? What happened?"
The boy said: "Ms. Han lives in this courtyard. She gave birth today. Who knew that her life was not good? After the child was born, she died of dystocia. Alas, pitiful! By the way, the officials had a relationship with her a few days ago. Something unpleasant has happened, so don't keep it in your heart. The person is dead, and all the grievances in the world are over."
Zhang Di said: "I'm not a stingy person. Why do I care about trivial matters? It's a pity that I died like this."
As he spoke, he entered his small courtyard, changed some clothes, and washed his face vigorously. He said to the official who came: "I drank some wine at noon, but I'm afraid the taste is a bit unpleasant. The person in charge won't blame me, right?"
The official said: "Why would the officer blame the official for such a trivial matter?"
Zhang Di tidied up in front of the mirror again, opened his mouth and exhaled vigorously, but there was no strong smell. Then he followed the officials and went to the county government office.
When I arrived at the county government office, I went to the official hall to see He Zhen and obeyed his orders below.
He Wei said: "You wrote a story a few days ago. Xuanfu saw it and was very angry. Under Xuanfu, officials should think about the people. How could something like Mo Yuanwai happen, covering the sky with one hand? I was specially ordered to come here to find out what is going on. Let me ask you, is what you wrote true?"
Zhang Di was startled for a moment and said: "It's roughly true, but it's just embellished. Ganba, Xuanfu said that the story in Shiqing can be embellished! Besides, it's a matter of Zixu Kingdom Wuyouxiang, There is no name for Xin'an County."
He Wei nodded: "Yes, you are right. But what about what you said in public opinion? Is it true?"
Zhang Di turned his head and looked at Cao Yuping on the side, feeling a little embarrassed. He bit the bullet and said, "Of course it's a fact."
(End of chapter)
