In August of the ninth year of Wanli, Wang Peng, a scholar from Shandong Province, traveled thousands of miles with his wife and three children and finally arrived at Kainan Mansion, the capital of Bagan Province.
Wang Peng's family came with the Ming army who were changing defenses, and there is no need to elaborate on the pains along the way.
After settling his family, he arrived at the governor's Yamen under the escort of a small group of Ming troops. He saw that the Yamen was a complex of buildings covering an area of about ten acres. Its architectural style was very different from that in China, with red tile spires and full of exotic customs.
Before Wang Peng entered the official residence, he was greeted by a governor's staff member named Qi who was standing at the door. The staff member led Wang Peng up the steps and introduced: "Because the land is humid, the house can only be built as high as possible. Don't look at the fact that the front of this official house is covered with stone steps, and the back is full of wooden pillars, and the bottom is empty."
Wang Peng also saw this kind of building when he came all the way south, and he nodded to express his understanding. When he arrived at the entrance of the official hall, Mr. Qi motioned to Wang Peng to take off his shoes.
Because he had to meet the Shangguan, Wang Peng wore official boots, which were full of sweat. He blushed and just took off his shoes, when the sour smell hit his forehead.
Seeing that he was embarrassed, Mr. Qi waved his hand and said with a smile: "It doesn't matter, Mr. Cai doesn't care about this. You can wear cloth shoes or sandals from now on. These official boots are not allowed in Myanmar."
While talking, the two entered the official hall. Wang Peng saw that the official hall was covered with golden mats and a circle of rattan chairs were placed around it. Except for the table in front of the governor, which was in a domestic style, the other wood carvings and ornaments were not similar to those in domestic official halls.
The governor of Bagan is named Cai Yingyang, who was promoted three levels from the post of prefect to here. When I met Wang Peng, my face was full of joy. Before he could bow down and pay homage, he supported him and said, "We don't like this kind of kneeling ceremony here. Magistrate Wang has worked hard all the way. Sit down quickly, sit down quickly."
After saying that, he asked Wang Peng: "Brother Wang, do you like to sit on the floor or in a chair?" After saying that, he pointed to the wicker chair leaning against the wall and made a gesture.
Although the governor did not ask him to kneel down, Wang Peng still bowed and saluted and replied: "I will listen to you, sir."
Cai Yingyang just said a polite word and sat down on the soft cushion on the floor. Wang Peng wiped the sweat from his head and found a bamboo mat to sit on.
Governor Cai sighed: "Hey, I arrived half a year before you, and I'm still not used to the customs here. - Come, serve tea!"
The accompanying staff member gave the order, and then a row of dark-faced girls came in. Some were holding small tables, some were holding teak tea trays, and knelt down to serve them while they drank tea.
Magistrate Cai smiled and said: "Although this place is barren and its prosperity is incomparable to that in China, there are many women and good wood. This woman is not worth mentioning. But the wood is good - Brother Wang, please see, under the mat we are sitting on and This building is all made of teak.”
Wang Peng felt puzzled when he heard that this old man was still chatting with him. He smiled and said, "My lord, it is true that this Yamen is quite unique."
Governor Cai laughed and said, "I can't help it, it's hot and humid here, and I can't live without living upstairs! This was originally a chieftain's home, and he cleaned it up and turned it into the governor's office."
Seeing that Wang Peng kept wiping his sweat, he smiled and said: "We two don't have to pretend to be polite, and we can't pretend to be polite here! Take off your official uniform!" After saying that, he reached out and started to unbutton his clothes.
Wang Peng was startled and speechless. But when he saw that the superior officials who were several levels above him were all taking off their robes, he reluctantly took off his official robes. Hey, once he took off his silk official robe, it was like untying an airtight thermal cover, and every pore in his body seemed to be singing joyfully.
The two chatted for a while, and Governor Cai sighed: "We have a serious shortage of officials in Bagan! In the six months since I have been here, the management of this place still relies entirely on the local garrison - Governor Luo said this is called military control. You This is the ninth county magistrate here. I think this place is still an empty yamen." Then he pointed to the staff around him and said, "It was all thanks to the help of Mr. Qi that things didn't get messed up."
After speaking, he asked Wang Peng: "Brother Wang, is he a scholar?" Wang Peng's face turned red again, and he nodded: "Yes."
Governor Cai slapped his thigh and said in annoyance: "What a pity! All of you here are scholars. If you have the honor of being a civil servant, the prefect or even the deputy envoy can easily get it! Hey, I wonder when my Yamen here will be established."
After saying that, the governor stretched his neck and looked out the door, as if someone would suddenly notify him of the arrival of officials from the country. Then he said: "I don't know if the thousands of scholars in this country are stupid. Don't be an official for nothing. Brother Wang - a smart man!"
Wang Peng could only smile and reply: "It's really hard to leave my hometown. I'm not afraid of adults' jokes. Before the official came, the grape shelf at home was overturned. I had no choice but to bring my wife and children with me."
Governor Cai's eyes lit up after hearing this. He laughed and said, "How wonderful! You and I share the same fate! My old woman also came with me, saying she was afraid that I would leave evil descendants in this daughter's country - she almost suffocated to death because there was no one to talk to in the past six months."
After saying that, he looked at Wang Peng eagerly and said: "I have a heartfelt request. Can you please stay here in your county for a few days? It would be good for your wife to talk to my old lady - or, let her come to you It’s okay to stay there for a few days.”
Wang Peng was speechless after hearing this, thinking to himself, what if I took your wife into my home? Governor Cai observed his words and comforted him: "I am fifty years older than I am, and my old woman is older than me, so you don't have to worry about it. She is really bored. She fights with me every day, and she is looking for death."
Wang Peng saw that the governor had no official power, and he was very close to him in his heart. Hearing his sincere request, he reluctantly said, "It all depends on your orders."
When Governor Cai saw his promise, he smiled so hard that his eyes almost closed. He said to him: "Brother Wang, don't worry. Governor Luo said that the most important thing for us is to set up this government office. As for the money, food and criminal assessment, we will talk about it in three years. As long as you can support yourself, you can ensure the security of the garrison." Money and food, the rest doesn’t matter.”
Wang Peng was relieved after hearing this. He cupped his hands to Governor Cai and said, "Thank you, sir, for your sympathy. When I came here, my eyes darkened. It was all thanks to your advice."
Governor Cai smiled and said: "There are not many Han people here. If we are separated again, can we still do things? Can you bring some of our own people?"
Wang Peng said: "Well, I brought a companion and a staff member - I can't afford more."
After hearing this, Governor Cai said: "Okay! It doesn't matter if there are few people, as long as they are Han people. You can give their names to Mr. Qi later. Well, they can also be done by an official."
Wang Peng was dumbfounded after hearing this, and asked hurriedly: "Sir, how can I become an official when my subordinate, Dang Dou, can't read a single Chinese character?"
Governor Cai waved his hand and said: "It's okay! The blank letters of appointment here were transported back from the Governor's Yamen on elephants, so you can count how many there are! We are lacking everything here, even official hats! Treat yourself to your own people. What's the big deal with a few petty officials? Let your companion learn to read quickly, it doesn't matter."
The staff member surnamed Qi also raised his hand and said to Wang Peng: "Don't worry about Wang County. I was born as a scholar. I was impatient to be a county magistrate, so I worked in your residence. Unexpectedly, your Excellency directly gave me a vacancy in the Civil Affairs Bureau - Qi. Taste."
Wang Peng was puzzled after hearing this, wondering if he should ask Huo Lin, a fool, to carry a letter back to the northeast and call a few more people from Huojiacun. He estimated that if Huolin could read, then sows could climb trees!
After chatting with Wang Peng, Governor Cai told him: "When Brother Wang arrived in Dagon County, all he relied on was the garrison - well, I will arrange for sixty garrison troops and two interpreters at your place."
Wang Peng heard this and stammered: "Six...sixty people? What are you doing?"
After hearing this, Governor Cai laughed and said: "Don't be afraid - Marshal Liu has already killed them all. These sixty people are enough for you. Let me tell you, Marshal did not kill indiscriminately. They were all Burmese." Rich, and killed cleanly.”
These words were bloody, Wang Pengruo was well-informed, and his heart was trembling. Governor Cai continued: "There are more than a hundred Han people who have migrated from the north in your county, and they also understand some Burmese. They are all landowners with slaves at home - you have to rely on them to govern."
"The first thing is to organize the Burmese people to divide their land. The Burmese people used to have a commune system. It is said to be shared, but in fact it is all controlled by the chieftains and their close people. Most of the gains of the poor Burmese people are given to the chieftains. People. As long as you divide the land fairly, it will be easy to win the hearts of the people."
"The second thing is, after allocating the land, immediately put down the guards. Just remember one thing: no contact between the guards. If there are any offenders, all the guards will sit together. They will keep a close eye on them themselves."
"Third, if all are managed by Han people, people will be separated and wait. This is a taboo in governance. You just have to focus on a few key points. The first is the soldiers, needless to say. The second is the officials. Do you understand this?"
Seeing Wang Peng nodding to indicate understanding, Governor Cai said: "As for the trial of the case, you should follow the Ming law, but don't be strict. Basically, it is 'three chapters of the contract'. Do you know the three chapters of the contract?"
Seeing that he had no airs, Wang Peng became more courageous and said with a smile: "Sir, I am also a scholar."
Governor Cai was stunned for a moment, then laughed loudly, patted his forehead and said: "Blame me, blame me. You don't know, the person from your neighboring county is a fool. This guy came to me and tried to reason with me, saying Myanmar already has a commune system, so we have to restore the well fields first, and then restore the ritual music—his grandma’s legs!”
Wang Peng was speechless after hearing this and said with a smile: "I didn't expect that there are still such pedantic people today."
Cai Yingyang said: "That's right, I scolded him. Then I asked him what book he had read, and it turned out to be something that even Su Dongpo didn't know who he was! Well, when you came, didn't the court have control? "
Seeing Wang Peng shaking his head in embarrassment, Cai Yingyang helplessly frowned and closed his eyes, looking up to the sky and sighing. Then he smiled at Wang Peng and said: "Forget it, let's not talk about that disgusting thing. Brother, remember the two most important words. It doesn't matter how many Burmese people you use as an official who is close to the people. The key to control is the word 'public'. The word 'incorruptible'."
"The word 'public' is easy to do. There are no township parties here, and there is nothing involved. The Burmese people don't dare to mess with the Han people. You should be more fair and let the Han people not bully them."
"The difficulty lies in the word 'incorruptible'. You understand what it means to be an official thousands of miles away. This is not the case here, of course! There is an Integrity Office in the Governor's Yamen, and several people are stationed here; you also have two people there, they If nothing else, just focus on whether your county is clean or not - I guess there are spies everywhere. These people are directly under the governor's office - I can't control it, and neither can you."
But don’t worry, the development of all Myanmar is in the hands of the Governor-General’s Office and the governor’s offices. By the end of the year, it will be easy for each county magistrate in Bagan to pay dozens of times their salary - you can also use this money to support your integrity. Never put the word 'incorruptible' on your head! "
Wang Peng laughed and said, "Don't worry, sir. I have been in business for several years and am quite wealthy. I haven't taken this idea to heart yet."
Governor Cai said another good word and asked with a smile: "I'm here to test you. The country has not yet arrested officials in this way, why is it done here?"
"Reply to the adults, but 'Integrity breeds authority'?"
"Exactly! We use less to control more. As long as we are 'honest' and 'honest', we can become a million-strong soldier!"
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