Madam, protect me!

Li Nuo did not expect that the member Zheng who died tragically at home was actually a Jinshi in the eighteenth year of the Holy Spirit.

Although his ranking is not high, he can at least get a ninth-grade official job. How could he become a businessman?

This moment aroused his curiosity.

In Daxia, the status of merchants is not high, and officials, even if they are only ninth grade, are superior to others. It is hard to imagine that someone would give up their fame and abandon their official positions to engage in business.

He looked at Song Zhe and said, "Father-in-law, show me this Zheng Tianxing file too..."

The Ministry of Personnel, the archives of records.

Before the two of them finished the game of chess, Feng Lingshi left and returned, saying helplessly: "Fang Zhanggu, I need to trouble you to find the files of an official named Zheng Tianxing..."

Fang Zhanggu also whispered in surprise: "What happened today? Why did Mr. Song suddenly want so many sealed files..."

Feng Lingshi said: "It's not Mr. Song, but his son-in-law who wants to see it. Last time at Mrs. Song's birthday party, I met him once. This son of Mr. Li, the minister of Dali Temple, seems to be really not stupid anymore. …”

Fang Zhanggu didn't ask any more questions, took out the key again and walked into the warehouse.

At this time, the young Zhang Gu stood up slowly and said to the warehouse: "Master Fang, I have something to do. I have to go out and will be back in a moment. I will leave this place to you..."

In the empty document library, a slightly ethereal voice came: "Go ahead, I am here..."

The young Zhang Gu looked back, turned around and left in a hurry.

At this moment, in a certain room of the Ministry of Personnel, Li Nuo was flipping through a new file.

It is Zheng Tianxing's dossier.

Zheng Tianxing and Gu Wenhan were both Jinshis in the 18th year of the Holy Spirit, and they were both ranked at the bottom of the Jinshi list. They even worked in the same place for their first jobs.

Gu Wenhan was the clerk of the Internal Affairs Bureau of the East Palace, and Zheng Tianxing was the clerk of the Internal Affairs Bureau. They were both civil servants responsible for the prince's studies. It is very likely that the two knew each other and were probably friends.

However, after the prince died of illness and the East Palace was disbanded, their lives took different trajectories.

Gu Wenhan chose to stay in the officialdom, and step by step he rose from the rank of ninth-rank county magistrate in a remote lower county to the rank of seventh-rank county magistrate in the prosperous land south of the Yangtze River. His experience was quite inspiring.

It is a pity that he gradually degenerated in the officialdom and finally ended up with a tragic ending of his family and his family.

Zheng Tianxing was different from him. Perhaps he had no interest in officialdom, or perhaps he felt that there was no hope of promotion. After leaving the East Palace, he completely abandoned his official position and went into business.

He is no longer an official, and the files about him in the Ministry of Personnel are recorded here.

Because he had personally handled his case, Li Nuo knew what happened after Zheng Tianxing became a businessman.

If you can pass the imperial examination and become a Jinshi, even if you are at the bottom of the Jinshi, you will be the best among people.

Zheng Tianxing's business talents were also outstanding. In just a few years, he accumulated a huge amount of wealth and became a famous wealthy businessman in Chang'an.

Li Nuo felt that his ability to accumulate capital rapidly in such a short period of time was inseparable from his connections as an official.

He remembered clearly that on the day of Zheng Yuanwai's fiftieth birthday, many court officials came to his home.

These connections may not allow him to do anything in the officialdom, but if he just wants to make money, it will be really easy.

Zheng Tianxing's choice was undoubtedly smarter than Gu Wenhan's.

The water in official circles is much deeper than that in shopping malls.

High-end business wars often use the simplest methods.

But high-end party struggles can quietly swallow up the dregs of people.

If you lose in the market, you will just lose some money.

When officials lose, it is common for them to confiscate their families and exterminate their families.

Although Zheng Tianxing's final outcome was not very good, and could even be called a useless death, at least the Zheng family was still there, which was undoubtedly much better than the Gu family who had their family confiscated and exterminated.

Regarding Zheng Tianxing, Li Nuo just happened to see a familiar name and learned about it on a whim. After reading it, he returned the file, said goodbye to his father-in-law, and left the official department with his wife.

Butler Wu's carriage was waiting outside and asked, "Master, Madam, where are you going?"

Li Nuo thought for a while and said, "Go home first and take some books to Song Mansion."

Song Jiaren took another look at Li Nuo. It seemed that he wanted to stay in Song Mansion forever?

She moved her lips, but finally just got into the carriage silently.

Just as the carriage was driving towards Li's Mansion, a young figure had already arrived in front of a certain government office in Chang'an.

After being informed by the concierge, a young official named Zhao He slowly walked into this tall official office and looked around curiously.

Although he is in the Ministry of Personnel, the head of the six departments, he is just a low-ranking official looking after the warehouse. I don’t know when he will be able to have real power in his hands...

After passing through a ceremonial gate and walking through several long corridors, he came to a tall and magnificent government office.

An official took him into the government office, then exited and closed the door.

Zhao He stood in front of a screen and could vaguely see a figure sitting next to the table behind the screen.

He took one look and lowered his head, not daring to look again.

Not long after, a faint voice came from behind the screen: "What's the matter?"

Zhao He raised his head and said quickly: "My lord, half a year ago, you told me that if anyone consults the files of Qinghe County Magistrate Gu Wenhan, he will report to you immediately..."

The sound of tables and chairs rubbing together came from behind the screen. It seemed that the man got up from his chair and asked, "Has someone checked Gu Wenhan's file?"

Zhao He said: "The son of Lord Li, the Minister of the Dali Temple, just went to the Ministry of Personnel and retrieved Gu Wenhan's files."

He glanced behind the screen, wondering what kind of status this Lord had, and why he cared so much about a dead seventh-rank county magistrate?

A figure sat down again behind the screen.

At today's morning court, because of the assassination of Li Xuanjing's son, Gu Wenhan's case from a year ago was also brought up again.

The assassin was related to Gu Wenhan's case, so it was not surprising that someone retrieved his files.

If it was just to retrieve the files, there was nothing to worry about.

Gu Wenhan deserved to die, and he borrowed Li Xuanjing's knife, so no one could find out about him. I'm afraid even Li Xuanjing didn't know that he was being used.

At this time, Zhao He hesitated for a moment and couldn't help saying: "Sir, I have always kept your instructions in mind. I dare to ask, when will you transfer me from the Ministry of Personnel..."

"What's the hurry?"

The voice behind the screen said lightly: "Although Zhang Gu is only a small official, it is also a good position to hone you. Now the officialdom of Daxia is so complicated and full of crises. If you don't calm down and hone yourself for a few years, how can you survive in the officialdom in the future?

"You are my fellow countryman. I will need you in the future, but I don't want you to die so soon and unclearly. Cheng A stepping stone for others to be promoted..."

"But..."

"Don't say but. Do you think it's easy for a Jinshi who ranks last to stay in Chang'an? Under normal circumstances, you can only be a lieutenant in a county. Although the Ministry of Personnel is small, it is the core of the court. It will be very convenient for promotion and transfer in the future...

"It's rare to have a fellow countryman in the court. You just need to work hard for me. After a few years, when your character has been tempered, I will naturally help you. I guarantee that you will be promoted at least five levels within ten years. If you are not my fellow countryman, you will not have this opportunity... …”

Zhao He counted on his fingers. He was now a ninth-rank official. If he was promoted five levels, he would be a sixth-rank official. Although he was still a little short of his dream of being in the imperial court, he still had a long way to go. As long as he had a backer, it was only a matter of time before he could rise to prominence…

He seemed to have seen that day. He knelt on the ground with a plop, kowtowed several times in succession, and said excitedly: "Thank you, sir, thank you, sir!"

The figure behind the screen shook his head and said: "Look, you forgot what I just said. Remember, being calm even when Mount Tai collapses is the foundation of being an official. , even if something terrible happened, it can't be seen by others..."

"Yes, yes, I will remember your teachings..."

Zhao He got up from the ground and nodded repeatedly. Thinking of something, he said, "By the way, sir, in addition to Gu Wenhan's files, that person also retrieved files from several other counties in Xuanzhou and an official named Zheng Tianxing..."

"What!"

Behind the screen, there was a shocked voice, followed by the sound of tea cups falling and breaking, the sound of tables and chairs being knocked over, and the sound of people being burned by hot tea. The scene was in chaos...