Chapter 106
Just then, Xiao Jieming returned with two old men and several followers. Han Jinan noticed that the three of them looked relaxed, even with a slight blush on their faces, clearly having made a good harvest.
At this time, the subordinates took turns, those who had eaten went out to guard, and those outside came in to eat.
The waiter was serving dishes skillfully when he accidentally tripped over one of his subordinates and the soup splashed onto an old man in a child's robe sitting at the next table.
The old man dodged, but unfortunately he was still splashed with two or three drops of soup.
The waiter realized that he had gotten into trouble and kept bowing and apologizing.
The old man frowned at his dirty robe and ignored the waiter.
The movement here quickly attracted everyone's attention.
When Xiao Jieming saw the old man, a gleam of light flashed in his eyes.
Han Jinan, realizing that his subordinates were involved, also came over, and Xiao Jieming followed.
"Lao Zhan, I'm so sorry for soiling your clothes. How about we compensate you with a robe?"
"No need." The old man glanced at them and refused bluntly.
"Old gentleman, you are drinking alone. How about we give you a drink as compensation?" Xiao Jieming sat down after saying that.
Han Jinan didn't understand why he had to meddle in other people's business. He sat down, so he had no choice but to sit down too.
The old man glanced at them but did not say anything to drive them away.
Xiao Jieming knew that he had acquiesced, so he asked the waiter to bring two more jugs of wine. Before the wine came, he first used the previous jug to fill him with wine, and then poured a glass for himself and Han Jinan, and then drank it with both hands to apologize.
After paying for the wine, the waiter also brought the drinks they ordered.
Xiao Jieming was in no hurry to leave. He poured wine while chatting with others, not caring whether they objected or not. "I don't know why the old man is drinking alone here, but I think life is short. If possible, we should all choose to live happily."
When the old man heard his advice, he sighed and said, "Yes, life is short. It's a pity that he is over fifty years old and still frustrated. This state will continue for who knows how many years. In short, there is no end in sight. How can he be happy?"
"That being said, how easy is it?"
"Old sir, are you unhappy with your work at the Jinxi Prefecture Governor's Mansion?"
The old man glanced at him and said, "Little brother, there is something behind your words."
"Don't blame me, old man. Let me put it this way: it doesn't matter who you work for. But if the people above you are not right and you are not happy with your work, it's better to cut the Gordian knot and look for another job. As the saying goes, a tree that moves dies, and a person who moves lives. Why be so obsessed with one city and one person?"
"You know me very well, do you know me?" The old man narrowed his eyes and looked at Xiao Jieming.
Xiao Jieming nodded and confessed, "Well, if I'm not mistaken, you are Xu Chong, the Xu Gongcao, right? I'm sorry I didn't say it directly before. Hello, Xu Gongcao."
Gongcao was an official under the prefectural governor's office. In addition to being in charge of personnel affairs, he was also allowed to participate in the government affairs of a county.
"What Gongcao? He's just doing the work of Gongcao Shuzuo." Xu Chong laughed at himself.
Gongcao Shuzuo is Gongcao's subordinate.
Xiao Jieming did know about Xu Chong's affairs, but all the information he knew came from the Intelligence Department, because he was also one of the talents his master wanted to recruit.
Yao Chunnuan sent out several caravans. Not only did Xiao Jieming take on a secret mission, but the other caravans also had the part-time task of recruiting talents.
Yao Chunnuan knew very well that Daliang’s current method of selecting officials was to select filial and honest people.
The purpose of selecting officials who are filial and honest is to better manage the country and unify people's thoughts, rather than to develop national strength.
They don't care about your management ability, at least your ideas are correct and you can obey the court and the royal family's management, that's enough.
The selection of officials based on filial piety and integrity easily resulted in the selection of some incompetent individuals with correct ideas. In ancient times, when transportation and communication were difficult, it was very appropriate to send someone with correct ideas but insufficient ability to be the head of a remote area.
Daliang's official selection process generally followed this principle. Examples include Lei Taishou of Yichun and Wei Yuanwang of Jinxi Prefecture. As long as their ideology was sound, they would be unlikely to rebel or cause chaos. However, if their abilities were insufficient, even if they did rebel, they wouldn't pose much of a threat.
Born into a declining noble family, Xu Chong was a capable and capable man with a strong domestic political mindset. However, he was also stubborn, somewhat extreme, and vindictive.
How can I describe his personality? I can only use the saying, "If you love someone, you want him to live; if you hate someone, you want him to die." He would always trample on his enemies twice, never just once. He also treats those who are kind to him sincerely.
Wei Yuanwang, the governor of Jinxi Prefecture, disliked his petty character, so he had been inferior to others and felt frustrated over the years.
In fact, the incompatibility between the two was foreseeable. This was because Xu Chong and Wei Yuanwang, the governor of Jinxi, were two opposite types of people in the Daliang officialdom. Xu Chong was a capable official who governed and developed the local state, while Wei Yuanwang was an incompetent person with correct ideas.
Daliang's way of selecting officials is a suppression of talent. Talented people cannot get ahead because they are always suppressed by a boss who has correct ideas but no talent.
It is not surprising that a boss who is virtuous but lacks talent and a subordinate who is talented but lacks character dislike each other.
It is precisely because Yao Chunnuan has a deep understanding of this that she knows that there are actually many knowledgeable and talented people in Daliang now, and even most of them are wasted because of Daliang’s official selection system.
However, she can only recruit talents secretly now. If she fails to recruit them, she can leave contact information like she is doing now. What if someone falls into her trap one day?
"Mr. Xu, maybe you should go to Yichun and take a look."
"I accidentally overheard you talking just now. Are you from Yichun?"
"I guess so." Han Jinan answered ambiguously. This old man sometimes gave people a sharp feeling, which made him feel like his hair stood on end.
Xiao Jieming rolled his eyes at him and replied readily, "Yes, we are from Yichun Juntun."
"Your accent is very mixed. I can't tell it's from Yichun. You must have been to many places, right?"
Han Jinan was alert.
Xu Chong glanced at him, then poured himself a glass of wine and drank it, sneering, "You don't have to be so nervous. After all, I'm just a frustrated old man. I have no interest in your affairs."
Xiao Jieming hurriedly said, "Mr. Xu, please ignore this idiot who is so stubborn in his words and deeds."
Xu Chong pointed at Xiao Jieming and said, "You are quite good. I will go to Yichun to see you if I have the chance."
"Okay, you're welcome anytime." Xiao Jieming took out a wooden sign from his arms and handed it to him. "Mr. Xu, when you arrive at the Yichun military settlement, give this sign to the gatekeeper and my master will arrange for someone to pick you up."
Xu Chong took the sign, looked at it, and threw it into his sleeve pocket. Not long after, he left.
After he left, the waiter came up to wipe the table reluctantly, "I'm sorry, sir. I caused you two to pay for Mr. Xu's wine. I'm sorry for the expense."
"Do you know him?"
"I know him. He comes here often. But I heard that Mr. Xu has a bad temper. Anyone who offends him will be severely retaliated by him. We dare not neglect him."
Xiao Jieming said, "Oh, so that's how it is."
"Sir, I just overheard you trying to persuade him to find another job. Are you trying to introduce him to someone? But you don't know that no one in the prefectural governor's mansion likes him. I'm afraid he won't be able to stay here any longer. I urge you to reconsider this carefully."
"Why?"
The waiter was stunned. He felt that he had explained it so clearly, so why was the guest still asking why? So he had to explain in detail, "He has a bad temper and is very petty. When he was in Jinxi Prefecture, he often took revenge on people over trivial matters, which often caused complaints in the prefectural government. If he went to the place you recommended, wouldn't you be afraid that he would cause trouble?"
A dark light flashed in Xiao Jieming's eyes, "Hey, what's the big deal. Who doesn't have his own taboos? If you know it, just avoid it. Besides, isn't it normal to be retaliated for offending others? You hurt others, and you don't allow others to punish you a little? And don't worry, the problem you are worried about will not happen. My master once said, I advise the God to shake himself up and send down talents in all kinds of ways. My master is quite unconventional in employing people. For example, the person in front of you, we were the master's mortal enemies in the past, but now he is working well under my master?" Xiao Jieming said the last sentence while pointing at Han Jinan.
This made Han Jinan feel embarrassed.
Yao Chunnuan has always believed that not everyone possesses both character and ability. When she hires someone, she needs character without ability. Furthermore, she can't deny someone's ability and ruin their livelihood just because of a minor flaw in their character.
The waiter looked at Han Jinan and shook his head, indicating that he really didn't expect it.
After the caravan had eaten and drunk their fill and rested for a while before setting off again, the waiter turned into a room on the second floor.
Not long after, a man's voice slammed the table and stood up, "What a great saying, 'I advise the God to shake himself up and send down talents in all kinds of ways'!" What a magnanimous mind, what a magnanimous pattern!
Finally, only a whisper remained, "Yichun..."
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