After the lunch was over and all the officials had left, Chang Suining, Wang Changshi, Wang Yue, and Yao Ran went to the outer study together.
Wang Yue and Wang Changshi were chatting and laughing about what happened at the banquet. Yao Ran was sitting beside Chang Suining, as quiet as ever.
Yao Ran has a quiet personality and doesn't like noise in her heart, but she always stays by Chang Suining's side during formal banquets or important occasions and is rarely absent. Yao Ran knows that this is a reflection of how much the adults value her.
For Chang Suining, since she wanted Yao Ran to be her eyes and act on her behalf, she had to respect Yao Ran enough so that the people under her would pay attention to Yao Ran's voice.
And Yao Ran never let her down. Over the past year, Yao Ran's growth and progress are a microcosm of Jiangdu. Like Jiangdu, Yao Ran is also rapidly transforming himself.
As he spoke, Chang Suining smiled and looked at Yao Ran, then at Wang Yue and Wang Changshi, and said, "Over the past half year, thanks to you all being here, I have been able to feel at ease outside, and Jiangdu has been able to have the stable and upward situation it is today."
Wang Yue hurriedly said, "We are all following your steps. This is your achievement. How dare you, the subordinates, take credit for it?"
Since he took the lead, Wang Changshi naturally followed suit.
"Such a road cannot be created by one person alone. It must be the result of the concerted efforts of the people of Jiangdu." Chang Suining smiled without any modesty and said, "This is our achievement."
Wang Changshi stroked his beard and smiled, "Yes, yes."
Wang Yue also laughed.
A few people came to the outer study room while chatting and laughing. They were in a very good mood. Wang Yue, who had drunk a few glasses of wine at the table, looked at the spacious study room in front of him and suddenly felt emotional.
The governor's mansion is such a big business, so there are naturally far more staff than just him and Guanlin. But in this study, apart from Ms. Ran, the only people sitting there on weekdays are him and Guanlin, with Luo Ze helping them.
Those staff and clerks are all in the front yamen, and their number has gradually increased to nearly a hundred. According to the instructions of the adults and the chief secretary, they are roughly divided into seven departments, which are responsible for handling the affairs of the seven ministries of Jiangdu. Because the workload of each department varies, the number of people in charge of the household department is still the largest.
These seven front yamen are called the front seven halls in the governor's mansion.
After the initial hectic adaptation, the Jiangdu Governor's Office is now able to have clear duties and order from top to bottom.
On weekdays, the affairs of Jiangdu and the counties under its jurisdiction are mostly screened and handled by the first seven halls. Simple affairs are summarized together, and important affairs are picked out separately and sent to the outer study room together. They are handed over to Qian Shen and Wang Yue for verification and revision, and finally reviewed by Yao Ran and Wang Changshi before being distributed for execution.
Therefore, this outer study is the place where the Governor's Mansion makes important confidential decisions, and ordinary people are not allowed to enter.
Wang Yue privately felt that this study was roughly equivalent to the three ministries in the court in the entire Jiangdu city.
And with the promotion of the Lord to the governor of Huainan Road, the value of their study will probably be the best in Huainan Road in the future...
What a responsibility, what an honor! His career was originally difficult, and his temper was like a rotten melon in his mother's pot. He took advantage of his early arrival. Otherwise, if he had come at this time, he would at most have been qualified to work in the first seven halls.
Thinking of this, Wang Yue couldn't help but feel emotional again, and secretly decided to work harder and more attentively to repay the governor for his recognition and trust.
Wang Yue was so moved and excited that tears welled up in his eyes when he walked into the study, so he wiped them with his sleeves.
This scene happened to fall into the eyes of Luo Guanlin who stood up and saluted Chang Suining: "..."
Wang Wangshan was wiping his tears again - this was the fourth time he had seen his master do this since he returned home yesterday.
As soon as Wang Changshi stepped into the study, someone came to tell him that the Seventh Hall wanted him to go over and ask for instructions on something.
Wang Changshi bowed to Chang Suining and left with the messenger.
"Mr. Qian, are you ready for lunch?" Chang Suining asked Luo Guanlin casually as he sat down in the main seat.
"My lord, it has been used." Luo Guanlin's attitude was lukewarm, but "lukewarm" was already a great improvement.
He was destined to be unable to attend banquets with many people, but Chang Suining always asked people to invite him, and sometimes he would come in person, like yesterday.
When his mother, who came back late from the silk weaving workshop yesterday, asked him about it, he said that Chang Suining's action was just a face-saving move. He sneered at this, and the next moment, his mother's finger pricked his nose -
His mother poked his nose and forehead fiercely, scolding him as a "stupid thing": [What's wrong with saving face? The governor is so busy with all kinds of affairs, and he is willing to spend time and effort to save face for you. This is your blessing! Do you have to let the governor openly ignore you and let the subordinates look down on you, so that you can feel comfortable with your hard and smelly bones? ]
...The people under him did not dare to look down on him, but because he always refused, over time, rumors began to spread secretly in the governor's mansion that not only did he have a sharp appearance, but he was also very arrogant and eccentric and very difficult to get along with - although this was also true.
However, this makes people look up to and deify his abilities even more... He is ugly and has a bad temper, but he is still valued so much by the governor. How capable must he be?
"I will host a banquet for you alone tonight. I hope you will honor me with your presence." Chang Suining said with a smile.
"My lord, you are very busy, so there is no need to hold a banquet for me." Luo Guanlin acted indifferently, as if saying "I am not a fussy person."
"No matter how busy you are, you still have to eat." Chang Suining said, raising his hand to flip through the summary of affairs prepared by Yao Ran on the desk, and said, "Today, I'd like to trouble you two gentlemen to tell me in detail about the progress of everything."
Before Luo Guanlin could respond, Wang Yue had already cleared his throat and picked up the booklet he had prepared.
Wang Yue smiled and looked at his friend, using his eyes to convey his intention - give him more chances, he wants to stay by your side forever! Luo Guanlin fell silent.
Wang Yue and Yao Ran mostly spoke next, but Chang Suining would occasionally ask Luo Guanlin a few questions.
They talked like this for more than an hour, and after the third hour, Xier came to serve tea and snacks.
Chang Suining drank half a cup of tea when someone came to tell her something, which was reported by Azhi: "Girl, there is someone who wants to see you. It is said that his surname is Zheng. He claims that he has an appointment with you and is here to fulfill it."
Chang Suining reacted, his eyes suddenly lit up, and he hurried to meet him.
Seeing her leaving in a hurry, Wang Yue couldn't help but ask, "What is the origin of this distinguished guest? Why does the Lord value him so much? His surname is Zheng... Old Qian, do you know who he is?"
Hearing Wang Yue's voice getting a little hoarse, Luo Guanlin gave him a sidelong look and said, "Drink your tea and do your thing."
There was nothing that Wang Wangshan didn't ask about.
Luo Guanlin ignored the comments, but he was thinking in his heart. When the surname Zheng was mentioned, he would naturally think of the largest surname in the world, the Zheng family of Xingyang...
The Zheng family was nearly exterminated last year, but luckily managed to survive. However, all the members who escaped punishment were expelled from Xingyang. It is said that most of them are now looking for a way out... Could this visitor be related to this Zheng family? Chang Suining walked quickly to the front hall.
The man waiting here was wearing a long gray cloth gown, and his short beard seemed to have been specially trimmed before coming. He looked simple, with an elegant and calm temperament.
Hearing the salute from outside the hall, he turned around and raised his hand to salute: "Chang Shishi——"
"Mr. Zheng." Chang Suining walked up to him, raised his hand to support his arm, and said with a smile: "Mr., you finally remembered the appointment in Xingyang last year."
Zheng Chao raised his head and smiled: "Thank you, Governor, for remembering me."
"Mr. Guan Cang is such a great talent, how can I not miss him?" Chang Suining raised his hand and led Zheng Chao to sit down and talk, saying, "I haven't seen you for a year, you have lost weight."
Zheng Chao exchanged pleasantries and sat down. During this time, he also looked at Chang Suining. She had grown taller over the past year, and the gorgeous clothes of the governor's official robes made the aura between her eyebrows and eyes even more unconcealable.
Zheng Chao sighed inwardly. When he first saw her in Xingyang, he knew that this girl was definitely not an ordinary person. However, her achievements in just one year still exceeded his expectations.
He came all the way to Jiangdu City, and the longer he walked, the more he heard about her rumors and achievements.
Once we entered Huainan Road, the noises became even louder. Such a person was rarely seen in the world.
The two sat down to drink tea and talk. Chang Suining asked about Zheng Chao's experience in the past year. He also said, "I occasionally heard news about you in Jiangdu. You traveled all over the country and taught selflessly. Wherever you went, everyone was impressed and praised your virtue."
Mr. Zheng's efforts over the past year have not been in vain; it is no exaggeration to say that he has been rewarded with a golden reward.
Hearing the words "Everyone is impressed by Mr.'s virtue", Zheng Chao smiled and said, "No, no, no..."
Although it is exaggerated, it is indeed true.
Because he helped scholars from poor families all over the world, he did have a good reputation among the people. Wherever he went, the powerful and influential people or scholars would treat him with courtesy, either out of sincere desire to make friends with him or to win their hearts through him...
This is the "up" in "everyone from top to bottom was convinced".
As for "lower", in this chaotic world, it was thanks to his nephew's "martial virtue" that he was able to survive.
The nephew not only gave him "martial virtue", but also the capital for him to maintain his integrity and selflessness, so that he never accepted donations from others, but instead often helped others, thus his reputation and virtue became more and more profound...
But this "capital" is now broken.
Thinking of this, Zheng Chao sighed bitterly in his heart.
About four or five months ago, Ling An's funding suddenly shrank, and a month later, it became even smaller. Compared with the initial wealth, it was like a mountain of gold turned into two strings of copper coins.
Along with the letter, Ling An wrote in shame: [The military expenses are very high, Jing is getting poorer and can no longer support his uncle]
This was like a bolt from the blue for Zheng Chao... Since this kid didn't have much savings, he should have made it clear earlier so that he could spend it sparingly! Looking at the way he gave money to him before, he thought he would never be able to spend it all! The nephew's "stopping the payment" made Zheng Chao financially free, and too free, so free that he no longer wanted to be trapped in his pocket.
As the saying goes, it is difficult to go from extravagance to frugality, not to mention that he was born into a wealthy family. Although he had suffered injustice and indifference, he had never truly experienced the pain of being short of money for a single day.
At first, Zheng Chao had the idea of tightening his pants, enduring it, and practicing asceticism, but he soon found that it was not the case.
He needed silver for carriages, food and lodging. Not only did he have to support himself, but he also had to support the "martial virtues" given to him by his nephew... a group of guards who secretly protected him.
He never cared about it before, but after he was short of money, he found that those people could eat a lot, which made him sweat and feel uneasy.
He began to try to accept the gifts from his "close friends" along the way, but what was chilling was that his reputation of not accepting gifts from others had spread, and people gradually felt that giving him gold and silver was a humiliation to him, so no one dared to ask for it anymore...
The only thing to be thankful for is that I was willing to invite him to dinner.
But not every day someone would invite him, so Zheng Chao's traveling conditions quickly deteriorated from financial difficulties to poverty.
If not for this, he would not have been able to make up his mind so quickly to come to Jiangdu to join Chang Suining.
Later in the conversation, Chang Suining signaled Xier to go back and change the tea.
As Xier left, the other servants in the hall also left silently and knowingly.
"When we parted in Xingyang, Mr. Zheng mentioned that he wanted to find someone who could bring peace to the world. I wonder if you have a candidate in mind now?" Chang Suining asked in a consulting tone.
Zheng Chao sighed without commenting for a while before saying, "From what I see, the forces are now severely divided. Only the Rong Palace of Yizhou seems to be slightly united..."
He said frankly: "On this journey, many people have privately mentioned the virtues of King Rong to me, and I have also stayed near Yizhou... According to my own eyes, many knowledgeable people are indeed gathering in Yizhou, and King Rong has never turned them away."
Chang Suining was well aware of this. Not only knowledgeable people, but many forces and officials had also shown signs of secretly leaning towards Prince Rong, and wanted to support Prince Rong to "restore order" and revive the Li Dynasty.
Putting aside other things, when it comes to returning home, the identity of the Li family always has irreplaceable advantages in this chaotic situation.
Therefore, there is something that she should seriously consider.
In response to Zheng Chao's description of the current situation of Prince Rong's mansion in Yizhou, Chang Suining did not express his opinion, but only asked: "Since you have approached Yizhou, you must have been attracted by Prince Rong's reputation. If so, why did you pass by but not enter? According to your reputation and knowledge, if you take the initiative to go there, Prince Rong will definitely treat you with courtesy and use you."
Zheng Chao smiled and sighed, "To be honest, I did have this thought in mind before joining Prince Rong's sect."
Chang Suining waited for him to continue.
"But I thought about it again and again, and I still couldn't make up my mind..." Zheng Chao shook his head slightly, thinking: "In the past year, I first saw the suffering of the world, then the division of the overall situation, and then I saw my own ego."
He said: "Zheng has no ambitions, and does not yearn for a high position in the government. Fame, wealth and honor are just like floating clouds to me..."
If someone else had said this, Chang Suining might have thought twice, but when Zheng Chao said it, she had no doubt at all - if Zheng Chao really wanted to enter the arena of power, he would have had plenty of opportunities when the Zheng family was powerful.
So although she was looking forward to Zheng Chao's arrival, she was not worried that Zheng Chao would be kidnapped.
On the contrary, she had already expected Zheng Chao to come. This belief came from the fact that she was holding a "treasure" in her hand - this "treasure" was like a sack to Zheng Chao.
"As for supporting the 'wise ruler'... it seems that Zheng is not the only one who can help." Zheng Chao said self-deprecatingly and frankly: "Besides, power struggles are not what I like, nor what I am good at."
Thinking back to the past when he had to deal with those hypocritical faces in the clan, or those who disagreed with him, he would usually respond by going crazy and becoming depressed... If he were to go to Prince Rong's Mansion, with so many counselors scheming against each other, he was afraid that he would go crazy everywhere, and that would probably not be a good scene.
So, he made a decision from the heart - come to Jiangdu.
Thank you all for your monthly tickets and rewards. Good night~
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