rebirth first official

Jiazhou is in Shu, after a long journey, Gao Zhanming and his party finally arrived at the territory of Jiazhou Prefecture in September.

Gao Zhanming was sitting in the carriage, the weather in Sichuan was hot, he had been on the road for days, he was already exhausted, and was dozing off, when the officers and soldiers driving outside raised the curtains and poked their heads in, he said: "Sir, sir, wake up."

Gao Zhanming rubbed his eyes sleepily: "It's here?"

The officers and soldiers said: "Sir, look, there is a boundary marker ahead, and if you go further, you will arrive at Jiazhou."

Gao Zhanming raised the curtain of the car and looked out. As expected, he could see the stele not far ahead, and beside the stele stood a group of officers and soldiers in black.

Gao Zhanming was taken aback: "Why are there so many people?"

The officer and soldier said: "I think they are here to welcome you, sir, please get ready, we are about to hand over."

Whenever Gao Zhanming went to a place, the local chief would order officers and soldiers to escort him. The carriage he was riding in was sent by the prefect of the previous state to escort him.

The car drove to the boundary marker, Gao Zhanming got off the car, and the two teams handed over.

Gao Zhanming handed over the government's letter, and the people sent by Jiazhou government confirmed Gao Zhanming's identity, and the officers and soldiers from the previous state went back to the government and handed Gao Zhanming over to the officers and soldiers who came to welcome him from Jiazhou.

The leader of this group of officers and soldiers was a dark-faced, simple-looking man. After confirming Gao Zhanming's information, he hurriedly saluted Gao Zhanming: "My subordinate Wang Zhang, I have met Mr. Gao."

Gao Zhanming hastily ordered him to stand up, and said, "Who are you?"

The big man hurriedly handed over his official document: "My lord, I am your lord's Si Cao, and I will work under your lord's command from now on. If your lord has something you don't understand, just ask your subordinates."

Gao Zhanming nodded.

When Wang Sicao saw that after the officers and soldiers from the previous prefecture withdrew, Gao Zhanming was left with only one lead crane, and he couldn't help wondering: "My lord only brought one servant?"

Gao Zhanming said: "This is my attendant."

Yinhe hurriedly greeted Wang Sicao.

Wang Sicao was very surprised, he couldn't help looking back and forth between Gao Zhanming and Yinhe.Before Gao Zhanming came, he had already investigated Gao Zhanming's identity. This master is a direct descendant of the Gao family in the capital, a nephew of the current empress dowager's direct nephew, and the champion of the Sanyuan in the current discipline. Before meeting Gao Zhanming He has already imagined what Gao Zhanming looks like in his mind - although Jiazhou is not rich, there are some rich and rich youngsters who spend money like water.However, compared with the children from Gao's family in the capital, those land gentry can only be regarded as tricksters.

The Gao family in the capital!People in the whole world don't know the emperor, and there is no one who doesn't know the Gao family. In the eyes of the common people, the Gao family eats gold, draws silver, and tears are pearls. Wang Sicao had already prepared it. Mentally prepared, in order not to make a fool of himself in front of the new chief, he told himself that even if today he saw that the sedan chair for Gao Zhanming was made of eight-carrying jewels and gold seals, he should not show any surprise, otherwise it would be bad for the new chief to be ugly. .

However, he really saw Gao Zhanming. This new judge not only looked so young, but also dressed very plainly. He didn't even bring a servant with him, but only a bookboy. He was surprised.

Seeing Wang Sicao staring blankly at him, Gao Zhanming smiled and said, "What's the matter, is there something wrong with my appearance?"

That Wang Sicao was confused and said what was in his heart: "Where is the golden sedan chair?" As soon as he said the words, he woke up suddenly, and hurriedly apologized: "This subordinate is rude, this subordinate offended, my lord forgive me."

Gao Zhanming was startled, and soon understood what he was thinking.When he was in Wu County, he also thought about whether the feces from the Gao family were all golden. When he really entered the Gao family, he realized that the Gao family was nothing more than that. High position and weight, ordinary people have shortcomings, the Gao family also has the same shortcomings, nothing rare.

He joked with a smile: "Gold is so soft, the sedan chair made of gold may not be able to support my lord."

Wang Sicao scratched it in embarrassment, and looked more simple and honest: "My lord can really joke." He thought that Gao Zhanming would be a very difficult master, and when he came out this morning, he was still thinking about whether he should wear more clothes under his clothes. Protective gown, in case the new master's temper is too bad, if he offends with a word, he will be punched and kicked, so it is good to have a defense.I didn't expect Gao Zhanming to look so approachable and even joke with him, he was overjoyed.

Gao Zhanming glanced at the pitch-black officers and soldiers around him, and said, "This is..." The chiefs of each prefecture will send people to escort him, there are more than a dozen officers and soldiers, and there are as few as five or six officers and soldiers, but today Wang Si He roughly counted the troops brought by Cao, at least forty or fifty.Could it be that because of his background, he deliberately put up such a big battle to welcome him?He is just a judge released from outside the capital, no matter what, this posture seems too grand.

Wang Si Cao hurriedly explained in a low voice: "My lord doesn't know something. In the past two years, there has been a plague of locusts in Sichuan. The people are in dire straits, bandits are everywhere, and there are many thieves on the road. In order to protect the safety of your lord, I have no choice but to borrow these people." come out."

Gao Zhanming was surprised.Before he came here, he had heard a little about the locust plague in Shu, but the reports from the area under his jurisdiction only said that the disaster was minor and not serious.Hearing Wang Sicao's words, it seems that the disaster situation is not as light as it was reported in the local report.However, this kind of thing is also strange. After all, Gao Zhanming grew up among the people. He knows that in order to keep his black hat, the local governor will have to report the disaster unless it is too serious to be controlled. Otherwise, he can always suppress it. down.Once the disaster situation is taken seriously by the central government, although the central government will allocate funds to help, it will definitely send officials to either directly replace the officials in the area under its jurisdiction, or to decentralize power, so local officials have developed a habit of reporting good news but not worrying bad habits.

Wang Sicao said: "My lord, hurry up and get in the carriage, don't tell me it's ruined by the scorching sun."

Gao Zhanming nodded, and got into the carriage with Yinhe.

Wang Sicao drove Gao Zhanming himself.

While driving Gao Zhanming, Wang Sicao chatted with him: "My lord, I originally wanted to borrow more people to pick you up. After all, there are too many bandits on the nearby hills, especially Heigangzhai near Leshan. But the prefect said that this would be too disturbing to the people, so he just asked his subordinates to bring these people out." After all, Wang Sicao originally thought that Gao Zhanming would bring several chariots and horses with him, and he was afraid that someone as eye-catching as the Gao family's children Identity will attract the minds of rogues.If Gao Zhanming was robbed, it would be a trivial matter for him to lose his official position, but it would be a major matter if he lost his head.Fortunately, Gao Zhanming didn't bring much, and his attire was not eye-catching.

Gao Zhanming nodded, but he didn't think too much about it, he just thought that the prefect was sensible.

Wang Sicao was afraid that Gao Zhanming would think that the prefect looked down on him, so he said: "The prefect can't do anything, the government's manpower is really not enough, and we have to go to meet the new governor tomorrow, the new governor is from the south, and we are not on the way, so we must Otherwise, it’s good to go together, and my lord will also meet the new governor by the way.”

Gao Zhanming was a little surprised.He hadn't heard of a new governor in the Jiazhou Society before: "New governor?"

Wang Sicao said: "Yes, I heard that he is a child of the royal family."

The post of governor is actually an idle job in this dynasty. Although the rank is high, he doesn't manage many things.If you say you want to take care of it, you can take care of everything. If you say you don't want to take care of it, the people below perform their own duties, so there is no need for him to take care of it.For positions like the governor, the imperial court often assigns some of the royal family's children to take up a leisurely job and a generous salary, enjoying privileges.Wang Sicao said that the new governor is a son of the royal family, and Gao Zhanming also felt that it made sense, he let out a sigh, and asked casually: "Which prince's eldest son?"

Wang Sicao said: "It seems that it is not the prince, but Xiangcheng..."

Before Wang Sicao finished speaking, Yin He suddenly called out: "Master, Lord, look over there."

Gao Zhanming hurriedly followed what Yinhe pointed out, and looked out the car window.

The sky in the distance is dark and dense, like dark clouds, but if you look closely, it is thicker than dark clouds, and its shape changes from big to small, sometimes high and sometimes low, and sometimes gathers and sometimes disperses.

Gao Zhanming said in surprise, "That's..."

Yin He said: "Is that a dark cloud? The sky here is still bright, but the weather in Jiazhou is different from that in Beijing."

Seeing the strangeness, Wang Sicao said, "Oh, that's not a cloud, it's a locust. My lord, please close the car curtain, lest insects fly in."

Both Gao Zhanming and Yinhe were taken aback.That turned out to be locusts!Such a big slice!

Gao Zhanming used to live in a land of fish and rice, and there was no serious locust plague, so he had never seen such a spectacular sight.And Yin He grew up in the Gao Mansion, serving Gao Zhanming since he was a child. Even if he is a slave, he has no worries about food and clothing. He has never even been in the fields, let alone saw locusts.

Gao Zhanming has seen the sentence "locusts cross the border, no grain harvest" in the article. When I saw it today, it was really amazing!

Yinhe was so frightened that he hastily lowered the curtain of the car, worried: "Master, the locusts won't attack us."

Wang Sicao outside said: "My lord, don't worry, those locusts are far away from us. It seems that they are not flying towards us."

The new governor's words were interrupted, so he suppressed it.

After driving for half a day, it went smoothly. There were no rogues on the way, and the group arrived at the government.

When Gao Zhanming arrived at the government office, the county magistrate led a group of officers and soldiers to greet him personally.

Although the county captains and judges in the state capital are not high-ranking officials, they are all official positions that started as Jinshi, and they are often just a step up. If there are officials at the top and recommended by the prefecture and county, they can be promoted quickly and enter the imperial court to serve as officials. Langguan Yushi, it's hard to say who will be more powerful in two or three years, so the local county magistrates often treat such officials with courtesy.This Gao Zhanming is not an ordinary Jinshi. Needless to say, the Sanyuan and the No. [-] Scholar in the current discipline, the most powerful thing is his background - he is a direct descendant of the Gao family. In terms of background, he is worthy of an unfavored palace Where is the son!

The county magistrate's name was Zhang Pin, and when he saw Gao Zhanming get off the carriage, he immediately greeted Gao Zhanming with a smile on his face: "Gao Judge, you are finally here." Make a big ceremony of three knocks and nine bows.

Wang Sicao whispered in Gao Zhanming's ear, "This is Lord Zhang, the county magistrate."

Gao Zhanming looked at his official uniform, and hurriedly saluted him: "I have seen Mr. Zhang."

Zhang Pin was very flattered and helped him up: "You don't need to be polite, the high judge. The journey was hard. I heard that you came here today and ordered someone to prepare the mansion for you. You go back to wash and rest for a while. I will prepare it for you in the evening." Let's welcome the wind banquet and introduce you to my colleagues from this state."

Gao Zhanming said: "Master Zhang has a heart, thank you."

Zhang Pin ordered his subordinates: "Hurry up, hurry up and help Lord Judge carry the luggage."

Gao Zhanming said: "Don't bother your lord, I don't have much, just lending me one or two official errands is enough."

While speaking, Wang Sicao and others had already moved Gao Zhanming's things out of the car. Apart from a package of government documents, there were only two bags of clothes and dry food.

Zhang Pin was taken aback, and met Wang Sicao's eyes. Wang Sicao nodded, indicating that Gao Zhanming really only had these luggage and no other luggage.

Zhang Pin laughed dryly, nodded to two people, and said: "Take Mr. Gao to his mansion quickly."

Gao Zhanming thanked Zhang Pin, and took his things back home.

Zhang Pin and Wang Sicao walked into the government office together, and after driving away the crowd, Zhang Pin asked suspiciously: "Did you encounter robbers on the road?"

Wang Sicao quickly waved his hands: "No, no!"

Zhang Pin frowned so much that he could squeeze a fly to death: "That's all he has to salute? What about the luggage? He just brought a servant?"

Wang Sicao scratched his head in confusion: "This subordinate also finds it strange that Mr. Gao really didn't bring much, and that slave said he was his schoolboy companion."

Zhang Pin whispered: "Could it be that he was really sent out of Beijing by Zuo?"

Wang Sicao said: "Maybe it's true."

When Zhang Pin heard that the imperial court had sent a great ancestor surnamed Gao to Jiazhou, he was so frightened that he couldn't eat or sleep, for fear of causing himself any trouble.He wrote specifically to ask his friend Gao Zhanming in the capital why he was transferred out of the capital. His friend wrote back to him, saying that he had never heard of Gao Zhanming offending any dignitary or emperor, and he stayed in the Imperial Academy for several months. It seemed that there was something wrong. It was not done properly, so I was sent to Jiazhou to practice for two years.

In this dynasty, the central government in the capital will sometimes send some high officials left to serve in prefectures and counties. These people are often released because they offended the powerful or did something wrong. People secretly call it "Left descending official".Local bureaucrats, who have winks, usually treat them differently and will not treat them as subordinates.The imperial court will also hold an amnesty every year, and transfer the "left down officials" back to the imperial court, and hold important positions.

This kind of ups and downs is often only between day and night. It is said that during the Taizu period, there was a clerk who was sent to the prefectures and counties by the emperor because of his words, and he was directly demoted from the first rank to the seventh rank. Sesame Officer.The official of the state government where the relegated shuxiang was located just because of the slap in the eye, made things difficult for him during the two years when the shuxiang was left. Prime Minister, the official position is still first rank, and the Prime Minister directly returned to the court with the evidence of the state official's crimes, and the state official's head fell to the ground before the tears fell.

Zhang Pin recalled the experience of that unlucky official, shrank his neck in fright, and said: "Whatever the reason is, he is a great ancestor, and it is right to serve him well." The emperor and the queen mother changed their faces more than June The sky is fast, if you are pleasing to the eye today, half of the country can give you away; if you are not pleasing to the eye tomorrow, it is possible to ask you to feed the horse and sweep the floor; if you miss you the day after tomorrow, I will give you glory and wealth immediately.The emperor's mind, who knows.If you want to get along in this officialdom, the quality of your performance is still secondary, the important thing is to have a wink, and you must never offend people who shouldn't be offended.As long as Gao Zhanming survived for a day, he would have the possibility to turn himself into a powerful man, and there would be no loss in supporting him.

Gao Zhanming entered the mansion, the mansion that Zhang Pin arranged for him was just behind the official mansion, of course it couldn't be compared with his Gao mansion in central Beijing, although it was smaller, it was still clean and refreshing, with a good orientation.

Zhang Pin also purchased a few servants for Gao Zhanming at his own expense. Hearing that Gao Zhanming arrived, those servants had already boiled the water and cooked some snacks to welcome Gao Zhanming.

Gao Zhanming asked the official sent by Zhang Pin: "How close is the prefect's mansion to here?"

The official replied: "It's not far away. It only takes a stick of incense to pass by with a car and a horse."

Gao Zhanming said: "Oh?" He hurriedly said to Yinhe, "You tell the servants not to be busy, it's still early, I'll change my clothes and go to see the prefect first." He came here for the first time, out of courtesy, he should visit The prefect is.To save the etiquette, lose the tongue.

Yinhe was about to move, but the official said: "Lord Gao...it's getting late, why don't you take a rest and go tomorrow."

Gao Zhanming was startled, seeing the official who was hesitant to speak, he couldn't help wondering: "Why?"

The officer looked puzzled, and said: "In short... you are tired from the journey, and today is not in a hurry."

It was already late afternoon, and although it was not time to close the door, it was indeed not too early.He thought about it and felt that it made some sense. Although it can be seen that he attaches great importance to the prefect in the past, he is in a hurry after all, so let's wait until tomorrow when the ceremony is ready and everything is in order.

So he said: "Alright, then I'll go and rest for a while."

Gao Zhanming took a shower, slept for an hour, changed into clean clothes, and went to the welcome banquet prepared by Zhang Pin for him.

At the welcome banquet, many officials from the prefecture came, and many who were not in the county also rushed over because they heard that a Gao family descended from Beijing Zhongzuo.Therefore, taking this opportunity, Gao Zhanming recognized all the colleagues who will work with him in the future.

Everyone didn't expect Gao Zhanming to be so young and handsome. Although it was heard that Gao Zhanming would only get three yuan next year, he was even more powerful than Su Yu back then, but the rumors were rumors after all, and people were still very surprised to see the real person.

Gao Zhanming is tall and tall, with a face like a crown of jade. Although he has the demeanor of a nobleman in his gestures and gestures, he has no airs. He speaks very kindly. If people treat him courteously, he will show more enthusiasm. polite.And what is very rare is that when everyone introduced himself, he immediately memorized his name and official position, he could always remember who was who when he spoke, and his attitude was just right, which surprised everyone.

After a meal, Gao Zhanming took Yinhe back home, only to see that Yinhe's face was rosy and shiny.Naturally, Yinhe would not be at the table to dine with Gao Zhanming's official servants, but he also had a banquet with several of his other adults' servants, it seemed that he had a good time.

Sitting on the carriage going back, Yinhe's eyes were shining, and he whispered to Gao Zhanming, "Master, you guessed right, just now the attendants of those people have been beating around the bush to ask the slave why Master came to Jiazhou. of it."

Gao Zhanming smiled and said, "What did you say?"

Yinhe chuckled twice: "Of course I follow my master's instructions, saying that my master is here to do practical things."

Gao Zhanming hummed: "How many benefits have you received?"

Yin He stuck out his tongue, and unwrapped a package beside him: "It's all here."

Gao Zhanming glanced at them, they were some small jade pendants and jadeite beads, they were nothing particularly valuable, they were just a wish.Those officials asked their subordinates to please Yinhe, firstly, they wanted Yinhe to say something nice in front of Gao Zhanming, and secondly, they wanted to please Yinhe.After all, Gao Zhanming came from the capital, and only Yinhe was with him, which meant that Yinhe said he was a confidant, and if they wanted to know any news in the future, they would probably have to ask Yinhe for information.

Seeing that the things were not too expensive, Gao Zhanming hummed, and said, "Take it. If someone sends something in two days, the person who gave the money will not accept it. If the gift is appropriate, you can accept it according to the circumstances, and then evaluate it." Buy a return gift of comparable value to send back to someone."

Yinhe hastily responded.

Gao Zhanming said: "In the past year, you followed me and Liu Da and learned a lot about housekeeping and financial management. Do you know why?"

Yinhe rubbed his ears in embarrassment: "It's my honor to cultivate slaves."

Gao Zhanming joked: "Do you think that the good life in this capital city will not let you live, so you come to this poor place?"

Yinhe waved his hands again and again, and said sincerely: "How dare you slave, you are lucky to be able to follow the master!"

Gao Zhanming said with a smile: "I see you are clever and loyal, so I asked you to look after the house."

Yinhe was originally just a small companion slave, how could Gao Zhanming treat him so generously, how could he not be moved?Moreover, his master has become more and more approachable in recent years, treating him like a friend, unlike the ladies and gentlemen in the house next door, who would pull the slave out to kill and abandon the corpse if something goes wrong. He said that the three lives are lucky, Not his polite flattery, but his sincere words from the heart.

Hearing that Gao Zhanming wanted to promote him as a housekeeper, Yinhe's eyes turned red when he was moved. He wiped away his tears quietly and said firmly, "This servant will definitely not disappoint you, and will take good care of you."

Gao Zhanming patted his head, looked out the window, and said, "Here we are, get out of the car."

Gao Zhanming slept very well that night due to the exhaustion of the journey for several days, and did not wake up until dawn.He was going to have an audience with the prefect today, so he specially changed into clean and decent clothes, washed and dressed properly.

Yinhe woke up early in the morning, Gao Zhanming had finished his breakfast, and asked him, "Are the rituals ready?"

Yin He smiled and said, "It's ready."

The gifts Gao Zhanming prepared were Maojian and air-dried peony tea brought from the capital. He wanted to have an audience with the officer. If the gift was too expensive, it would appear ill-intentioned;So he thought about it, and ordered Liu Da to prepare a lot of famous tea and dried peonies for him before going out. They were considered special products of Gyeonggi, neither expensive nor shabby, but also thoughtful.

After everything was ready, Gao Zhanming went out.

Not long after, the carriage drove outside the prefect's mansion.

Gao Zhanming went to visit the post in person, and the gatekeeper looked at Gao Zhanming's post: "A new judge from the capital?" He was not surprised, as if Gao Zhanming was expected to come.

Gao Zhanming said politely, "Please inform me, Your Excellency."

The gatekeeper said impatiently: "Oh, just wait." After speaking, he went in and asked Gao Zhanming to wait outside the gate.

Yin He came with Gao Zhanming, and when the gatekeeper left, Yin He whispered dissatisfiedly in Gao Zhanming's ear: "Why is that servant so rude? He's so arrogant."

Gao Zhanming remained silent.The gatekeeper didn't look surprised, he seemed to know that he would come to visit.His identity has already been spread in Jiazhou. When he just left the mansion, many common people crowded the streets to watch. Although he didn't want to be like this, it was the fact.Logically speaking, the guards in the prefect's mansion shouldn't be unaware of his identity.

If you want to say that a little guard is not polite and neglects him, it is better to think about it from another angle, maybe it can show the prefect's opinion of him from the side.

Before coming here, Li Wan once helped Gao Zhanming find out who this Jiazhou prefect was - Jiazhou prefect's name was Liu Rukang, but he had a funny name in court, and was called "Liu Sanpai" in private. Because of his short temper, he would pat the table when he got angry, no matter what the identity of the other party, even the emperor would still dare to pat.However, Li Wan said that although Liu Rukang has a bad temper, he is not a bad official. You can see from the policies he introduced that he is considerate of the people.

With Liu Rukang's temper, of course he offended many people, but he was able to keep his prefect's black hat, naturally because of his background.Li Wan once told Gao Zhanming not to have too much involvement with Liu Rukang, because it was none other than the Zhao family who supported Liu Rukang behind his back—Liu Rukang's mother was the legitimate daughter of the Zhao family, the aunt of Concubine Zhao Gui.

Gao Zhanming waited for a while, the guard came out and opened the side door: "Go in."

Gao Zhanming was a little surprised, and Yinhe was even more annoyed: he didn't let them go through the main entrance, the condescension was so undisguised!

Yinhe was about to get angry, but Gao Zhanming stopped him, motioned him to be calm, and calmly walked into the prefect's mansion through the side door.

The author has something to say:

Regarding the system of Zuojiang, it also refers to the Tang Dynasty. I think the Tang Dynasty is really interesting. Hahaha. Everyone always thinks that the feudal dynasty is very serious. If a small matter is not handled well, people will fall to the ground. But I think no matter how serious the ancient times are There will be no modern seriousness, after all, it is a society ruled by law.In the past, it was a society ruled by men, and there were so many nonsense things that you couldn't understand.Today is a first-rank officer, and tomorrow I will let you go to a small place to be a military officer (seventh rank), and let you go back to continue to be a first-rank officer the day after tomorrow, which is very interesting.