When Chen Bai and others went to get the files, Zhao Gao had nothing to do, so he called the boy waiting on the side and asked him to walk around the official office to familiarize himself with the environment. This official office is a unique place in the Zhisu Neishi Mansion. There is a street market next to the wall outside. It is also close to the house that Zhao Gaoxin purchased. Even though it is far away from the Guowei Mansion where he currently lives, it takes less than half an hour to drive back and forth every day. .
In fact, positions related to salt affairs have always been a good vacancy, so the government offices here are much more elegant than other government offices under the jurisdiction of Zhi Suuchi Shishou. Zhao Gao walked for a long time and still couldn't visit every place. However, Zhao Gao had been mentally prepared before coming. The more fat the person, the more tricks there would be. Today, when he asked for a file, the people under it were so hesitant. He expected that it would be a mess when he looked at it.
However, you can’t ignore some things just because they are messy. After all, the implementation of the salt guide method is very involved from top to bottom. Only by clarifying the previous structure can we have a direction and a place for real action. Focus.
When the time came, Zhao Gao returned to the main hall with Shi Shiran. At this time, everyone had already piled things on the big black desk. With a quick glance, he saw that the files on the table were piled neatly. Zhao Gao said, "Thank you for your hard work, everyone, please sit down." Then he walked to his seat and knelt down, picked up the first volume on the right and started reading. I flipped through the pages very quickly, and after a while I read two or three volumes in a row, and stopped reading any more.
In fact, these files appear to be neatly arranged on the surface, but upon closer inspection, you will find that they are not even divided into categories. The people below tried to mess up the file and get away with it, hoping to wait until he got tired of looking at it before giving up. However, he was also surprised. He did stop reading after reading two or three volumes, but he didn't say anything, and his expression was not abnormal. He just seemed to be arranging his sleeves nonchalantly, and then stood up calmly.
The boss suddenly stood up. Who dared to sit down? The salt officials all got up from the ground in a hurry and looked at him without knowing what was going on. The servant who was originally serving in the official office was beside him, but Zhao Gao did not give any orders to him. He walked slowly to the door, closed the door with his own hands, and then turned to look at everyone.
As soon as the door closed, the light in the main hall dimmed, and Zhao Gao's expression became more and more unpredictable. Everyone could only listen to him say in a good-tempered way: "From now on, the Salt Affairs Department will seal the seal. When did we sort out these things? When will we start working again? If there are things submitted by the counties and you can't handle them in time, it doesn't matter if it takes ten days and a half. Anyway, don't worry, I will bear the blame for dereliction of duty together with you."
Dereliction of duty is a big deal, who can rest assured? Who dares to rest assured? The salt officials never expected that a person who seemed so amiable and cheerful could turn out to be such a ruthless person. Everyone here understood what he said: Since you want to be lazy, then let's all be lazy together. Don't do official business. If something happens, I will bear it with you. No one can run away anyway.
Sure enough, as soon as Zhao Gao finished speaking, everyone immediately apologized and said with a smile: "I was not careful when I was stacking them just now. Don't blame me, Prime Minister. I will sort out the files right now." Zhao Zheng slowly walked back to his seat and sat down, his expression calm. , making people unable to see any emotion, he said after a while: "Well, thank you for your hard work."
In the afternoon, after the salt officials finished handling the day's affairs and left the Salt Affairs Office, they passed by the main hall and saw him sitting in front of the case, reading the files. His plain white clothes formed a strong contrast with the dark case, and everyone couldn't help but look at each other. , I called him several times but he didn't notice, but the boy couldn't help but pat him to get his attention back.
"I'm sorry, my reaction when looking at things is slower than usual." Zhao Gaoshen said apologetically as he saw a group of salt clerks looking at him indifferently. The salt officials just felt creepy when they looked at him now. It would be fine if he was gentle and polite in dealing with people like now when nothing happened, but they remembered that he was calm and calm when he threatened people just now, which made people feel miserable.
After hearing what he said, many people quickly apologized and said, "Your Majesty has set an example, and I feel ashamed." They were just polite words, and Zhao Gao didn't expect them to be sincere. After a moment of silence, he asked, "Do you have anything else to do?" Those people shook their heads. Zhao Gao also knew what they were thinking, so he took the initiative to let them go: "Everyone has been tired for a day. Just go back and rest. Don't worry about me."
Many people finally breathed a sigh of relief after leaving the Salt Affairs Bureau. Thinking about today, their life was more difficult than when Ling Cheng was the last one. After such a comparison, they suddenly felt that although the last one was difficult to talk to and had a hot temper, he was very good at getting along with him. After a while, you can just follow his temperament, but the person in front of you is completely unpredictable.
"Hey, I won't mention it anymore, I won't mention it anymore, my family is still waiting for me to go back for dinner. Brother Li takes his leave."
In the evening, when Zhao Gao came out from the Salt Service Department, there was no one on the street. He suddenly missed the horse that Guo Kai gave him, but it was a pity that the horse was temporarily placed in Zhao country. Fortunately, although the air is cold in late autumn, the wind blowing on the face is still a bit refreshing. He was detained at the Salt Bureau for a day and felt very uncomfortable, so he thought it would be a good idea to take a walk.
On the road, he saw a man riding a fast horse passing by. It seemed that there was an urgent report from the front. Looking at the man's anxious expression, Zhao Gao knew that Wei Liao must have guessed correctly that day. After murmuring the word "Li Mu", he fell into a trance. He walked for half an hour, and when he entered Guo Wei's Mansion, he was dragged and scolded by Wei Liao. However, as Wei Liao cursed and scolded like this, Zhao Gao suddenly thought of his relatives in two generations, and actually felt some warmth from it.
Therefore, he suddenly became solemn and bowed to Wei Liao in an upright manner: "I'm sorry for you, senior." Wei Liao was startled when he saw this, but when he came to his senses, he didn't scold him anymore. He just said, "Nai Wai, Tai." I'm so tired." He turned around the corridor in a few steps and disappeared. At that moment, Zhao Gao watched him leave, looked at his slightly broad back, smiled as warmly as the spring sun, and winked at the maids around him.
The house Zhao Gao purchased in Xianyang City was already ready, so it was completely taken care of on his third day as Ling Cheng. Zhao Gao was an old man and he didn't have much to move. Except for the clothes he put in Guo Wei's Mansion, it didn't really matter.
Ordinarily, according to Zhao Gao's temperament, there is no need to buy such a big house, but he thought that there would be many people living there in the future, and this happened to be a so-called "haunted house". Although the location was not good and was a bit out of the way, it was suitable for him. He said that it was not too far to go to the palace or go to the Salt Bureau, and the price was extremely low, so he made the decision without any further hesitation.
The design of the house is strange, not a layout commonly used in this period. In fact, it is five independent small courtyards enclosed within a wall. Although the yards are really small, they are extremely convenient for people to live in. If Zhao Gao brings over his family in the future, they can live in separate courtyards to ensure their own privacy and ensure communication with each other on weekdays.
The appearance of the small courtyard is actually very simple, with little decoration. However, the original owner likes flowers and plants and planted a lot of them. In addition, there is a small garden more than ten steps wide in the middle, which adds a lot of color to the house.
Zhao Gao saw that this place was close to the Salt Service Department, so he moved here first. As for Wei Liao, who occupies a huge Guowei Mansion, he can't just move. He still has to deal with things here, so he hasn't moved yet. Fortunately, Zhao Gao was naturally indifferent, so he didn't think anything of living alone in an empty house and spent the day peacefully.
When he went back the next day, he found an "uninvited guest" standing in the yard waiting for him. Yanyan's pine-like figure is matched with a smart black suit. If he is not his own king, who is he? He subconsciously called out: "Your Majesty?" Zhao Zheng was still looking at the furnishings in his house and didn't notice that he was back. When he called him, his mind moved and he immediately turned to look at him.
"Xiao Gao has lost weight again." Zhao Zheng looked at him for a long time and said with some heartache. Without waiting for Zhao Gao to explain, he added: "I'll leave the court tomorrow. If I don't stay and watch you, I'm afraid you'll go to the Salt Affairs Bureau again." Zhao Gao smiled helplessly: "I have just taken over the affairs there. The file is After looking at it for five or six days, there are still some left, so I can’t let them go.”
Zhao Zheng stepped forward angrily and dragged him in. As he walked, he said: "I order you not to watch tomorrow." As long as the two of them were alone, Zhao Zheng would always act like a child in front of Zhao Gao, and would explode from time to time. A quarrel or an awkward moment often makes him angry and funny. Knowing that he couldn't defeat him, Zhao Gao didn't struggle: "Okay, I won't look at it."
Seeing that Zhao Gao had to make food by himself after a long day's work, Zhao Zheng felt uncomfortable and wanted to give him a blow, but he was afraid that he would cause trouble for him because of his clumsiness, so he couldn't help complaining: "You don't have the same attitude at home. Find a few servants, if you don’t have money to hire them, I’ll find them for you.”
"In a few days, the senior will also move here from the Imperial Palace. At that time, I will pick a few people from other Imperial Palaces and give them some money on a monthly basis. But I don't know that the king is coming today, and there is no one at home. No matter what ingredients are prepared, I have no choice but to let the king and his ministers eat a bowl of noodles together."
"What are noodles [1]?" Zhao Zheng asked puzzledly. Only then did Zhao Gao remember where the term noodles existed at this time, and he simply explained: "It's similar to pancakes, but not exactly the same. Anyway, please wait, you will know after you eat it." Zhao Gao himself made it in advance for convenience at home. Prepare some flour, mix it, ferment it, drive it out and make it dry for later use.
After dinner in the evening, Zhao Gao thought of Li Mu and took the initiative to say: "Your Majesty, this time Huan Jue was defeated like a mountain against Li Mu, so I have an idea." Zhao Gao gave birth to Li Mu, and Zhao Zheng was also doing it. With a headache, when Zhao Gao mentioned it, he immediately suppressed his other thoughts and said seriously: "Xiao Gao, tell me."
"Four words: alienation, surrender." After Zhao Gao finished speaking, Zhao Zheng hesitated: "I told Xiao Gao about Li Mu's temper back then. Even if the alienation could be achieved, he would not be used by Qin and was forced to a dead end. He would definitely rather die than surrender, Xiao Gao..." Zhao Gao shook his head and said: "Although he is loyal and upright and not afraid of life and death, he has a fatal weakness..."
In this way, Zhao Gao talked until midnight. He and Zhao Zheng lay together and talked about Li Mu and the state of Qin until they were both very sleepy and fell asleep unknowingly. The next day, Zhao Zheng and Zhao Gao slept until noon. They dressed neatly and applied lotion on their faces before inviting each other out.
