Three months ago, Su Zecheng was just a Confucian scholar, not even a scholar.
Not to mention being a Jinshi in the Imperial Examination.
Due to a coincidence, he was appreciated by the imperial envoy and was promoted to the Wenyuan Pavilion with an unusual rank, from the eighth rank.
And continue to participate in the promotion of the new policy of "sharing a small share with an acre".
During this period, he made two meritorious deeds and was promoted to a seventh-rank official in less than three months. Such an eclectic talent can be regarded as a stroke of luck.
But Qinghe County is a large county, and the county magistrate also has a sixth-grade title. The key is the chief administrator, who must be able to carry out his work independently.
"Zecheng is smart and capable, but my subordinates are worried about his lack of experience..."
Yang Shiqi didn't know how to respond appropriately, so he could only speak tactfully.
"This is indeed Su Zecheng's shortcoming. However, the court currently lacks talents. The Imperial Academy of the Imperial College has only been in operation for more than half a year. Many positions can only be improved by learning while working."
"The basic qualities of an official must be good, be able to read and understand the New Deal, be patriotic and caring for the people, and support the current emperor. Su Zecheng has these advantages, so let him give it a try boldly. Even if he takes some detours, it has nothing to do with the overall situation."
Seeing that Xu Qin had talked about this, Yang Shiqi was most worried and could not say anything.
Even if you talk a lot, you can't shake the imperial envoy's decision.
Yang Shiqi cupped his hands on horseback and said:
"The lower official returned to the Yamen and immediately mentioned this matter in the briefing sent to His Majesty the Emperor."
"Well, the post of county magistrate is the mainstay of the country and the country. It cannot be left without leadership and should be implemented as soon as possible."
Xu Qin nodded in praise.
The two communicated for a while and returned to Qinghe County Yamen unknowingly.
…
That afternoon, the sun was setting.
The imperial envoys who came from Qinghe County inspected the team, with flags fluttering and neatly dressed, approaching Huai'an Fucheng in a mighty manner.
The imperial envoy Xu Qin, wearing a purple official robe and a jade pendant, was riding on a tall and magnificent little snow pony and walked slowly in front of the team.
Behind them are more than a hundred Yilin Guard knights wearing armor and helmets, as well as accompanying officials, government servants, etc.
Finally, there are a group of transport troops and civilian servants.
It looks quite spectacular.
This kind of inspection formation was rarely seen by the people in the city even during the Hongwu period.
In the fifth year of the Jianwen Dynasty, Jianwen was busy cutting down vassals, and there were no senior officials in the capital who traveled to Huai'an Prefecture in the name of imperial inspection.
Civil servants do not carry eight-carriage sedans or four-wheeled official chariots, but ride on horseback to patrol. This is very rare.
What is even more surprising is that this imperial minister is actually a young man, only seventeen years old, who has a distinguished background.
This is a rare and unheard of thing.
Mei Chen, the magistrate of the Huai'an Prefecture and the commander of the Huai'an Guards, led the prime minister Wu Qingfeng, commanded the magistrates, Qian Shi and other civil and military officials to line up in front of the east city gate to greet him.
The city gate is wide open, and there are also flags on the city wall blocking out the sun.
The sun and moon dragon flags of the Ming Dynasty fly high.
"My lower official, Mei Chen, led by the civil and military officials of the government office, respectfully welcomes the imperial envoy, Mr. Xu."
"We are waiting to welcome the imperial envoy Mr. Xu."
"..."
Xu Qin dismounted in front of the welcoming team, strode forward, and lifted up Mei Chen who was kneeling on one knee with both hands.
Mei Chen, now thirty-five years old, is tall, handsome, and capable in both civil and military affairs.
He is the eldest grandson of Mei Sizu, the founding father of the Ming Dynasty and Hou Mei of Runan. He is now the young master of the Mei family of the Runan family and has a high reputation.
His father, Mei Yi, was originally the commander of the Liaodong Capital Division and a second-grade military attache. He was implicated in the Hu Weiyong case and was dismissed from the rank by Emperor Taizu Gao.
Now it is Mei Yin, the consort of Princess Ningguo, who inherits the title of Marquis of Runan.
He naturally became the head of the Mei family of the Runan family.
But Mei Yin was the son of Mei Si, and he highly respected Confucian orthodoxy.
Therefore, he devoted himself to cultivating his eldest nephew Mei Chen and returning the kindness he had received from his eldest uncle Mei Sizu.
"My lord Mei, please rise. All my lords, please rise. I have been entrusted by the emperor to inspect the blessed land of Huai'an. I would like to thank you for your support."
Xu Qin smiled brightly and bowed his hands slightly in salute.
As an imperial envoy, you must have a certain attitude when facing local military, political and civil officials.
"Don't worry, Mr. Xu, we will serve the imperial court with all our wisdom and loyalty."
"..."
After the opening remarks, Xu Qin and Mei Chen walked in front of the team returning to the city, walked through the city gate corridor, and arrived at the city.
There are welcoming crowds on both sides, everyone wants to see this legendary young imperial envoy after the military god.
"Master Xu, I am waiting in the official hall at the gate of the government office to welcome Master Xu and his party. Please move to the reporting hall to rest for a while before eating."
Mei Chen smiled and had a humble attitude.
"You don't have to be too polite, magistrate. I'm here from Qinghe County. It's not a long journey of fifty or sixty miles, and there's no dust to wash away."
Xu Qin's teasing and witty replies in later generations were really not used to the serious ancient people in the scene.
Mei Chen smiled awkwardly and led the way.
Xu Qin almost walked side by side with him.
Yang Shiqi was waiting to follow.
The Yilin Guards, led by Deputy Baihu, lined up in the square in front of the government office and were on standby.
Following Xu Qin into the hall, in addition to Yang Shiqi, bodyguard Xu Sanlang, and newly promoted Hundred Household Li Xiaoqi.
"Master Xu, please come this way!"
Mei Chen guided Xu Qin to a small building. The maid opened the left and right doors and they walked in.
The Hall of Affairs is where government offices listen to government affairs and discuss affairs, which is equivalent to the open conference hall in later generations.
The side hall of the reception hall is a luxurious VIP lounge.
The side hall is very spacious, elegant and clean, with all mahogany chairs and coffee tables.
There are several calligraphy and paintings hanging on the walls around the hall, all of which are works by famous artists.
“Huai’an is a great place!”
Xu Qin was quite impressed when he visited the official Yamen of the historic city for the first time.
"No wonder Master Mei is reluctant to leave this place. Huai'an Prefecture has always been a place of outstanding people. It is very good at salt and water transportation, farming and commerce, and the people are wealthy. Even when I am sent here, I am reluctant to leave."
I don't know whether these words were spoken out of emotion or had ulterior motives. This made Mei Chen, Wu Qingfeng and others all confused.
Two areas were specially selected, salt work and farming, which made Mei Chen and others feel numb and frightened.
Recently, the Huai'an government office has proposed a new policy of raising the price of salt. Both the Salt Transportation Division Yamen representing the imperial court and the Jin Yiwei representing Emperor Yongle are very concerned about this matter.
It's just that the two sides have completely different priorities.
The Yanyun Division is concerned about normal business, while Jin Yiwei is a drunkard who is not interested in drinking.
Ji Gang focuses on the secrets behind the new salt policy.
Of course Xu Qin was also concerned. He was analyzing and inferring what kind of strategies the Qingzheng Church and the Mei family of the Runan family would have.
As for farming, it is of course the top priority of the imperial envoy's inspection.
Divide the land into acres, re-measure and count all cultivated land within the jurisdiction, set taxes at different levels, abolish corvee, increase the input of labor in agricultural reclamation, and minimize or eliminate abandoned fields and wastelands.
All the officials present, big and small, knew this very well.
