65 Chapter 65
◎Original Intention◎
Jiang Jingyun, who could only stay outside the palace, knew nothing about the disputes in the court.
Until the end of the court, people kept looking at him with meaningful eyes, and some even sneered and mocked him, "You should be thankful that you are lucky enough to have found a good teacher."
Jiang Jingyun then realized that someone in the court might have attacked him, but his teacher helped to fend it off.
Hanlin Academy.
Looking at Master Zhao, who was sitting at the head with a frown on his face and a low-pressure aura, Jiang Jingyun cautiously asked, "Teacher, did anyone cause trouble for me in the court today?"
Mr. Zhao raised his eyebrows, finally showing some self-awareness.
He didn't answer but asked: "Why, are you scared?"
Jiang Jingyun shook his head, then nodded, "I'm afraid of bringing trouble to the teacher and my family."
"Isn't it a little too late to worry about this now?" Today, Master Zhao's taunting skills were fully activated, and he would confront anyone he saw. "I thought you were brave enough to risk your life and not fear life and death. Why are you scared now?"
Jiang Jingyun lowered his head and dared not refute, he only said: "The student knows his mistake."
"Humph, I don't see what you did wrong." Although Scholar Zhao was harsh in his words, he was very protective of his students and would not tolerate others slandering and defaming his students in person. "Today in the court, an official impeached you and listed three crimes. I refuted them one by one on the spot. Afterwards, the emperor suppressed the matter and issued an imperial decree that it should not be mentioned again."
"So, are you relieved now?"
"Teacher is so awesome, thank you for saving my life." Even at this time, Jiang Jingyun did not forget to flatter him.
"Stop laughing and joking there. You are so dishonest." Master Zhao glared at him. Sometimes he couldn't figure out what kind of person his student was.
Sometimes timid, sometimes courageous.
Even if you like to take shortcuts, you can still be fair and just.
How can there be such contradictory people?
Scholar Zhao looked at him with complicated eyes, "Today is just a warning, they won't let it go, do you have any plans in mind?"
"Yes," Jiang Jingyun nodded, "The student wants to apply for an external position."
"Is this the solution you came up with?" Master Zhao frowned and raised his eyelids to look at him, "Why, you want to escape in the middle of the battle?" He asked the question in a very serious manner, as if he would expel Jiang Jingyun from the sect immediately if he didn't explain the reason right away.
Jiang Jingyun smiled bitterly, knowing that the teacher would be angry if he said it out loud.
But if you touch someone else's cake, you must be prepared to be hurt. Although you may have the teacher's help this time, you may not be so lucky next time. Moreover, it is easy to dodge an open attack but difficult to guard against a hidden arrow. Instead of living in fear here, it is better to hide away and avoid the limelight.
Anyway, he didn't like staying in the depressing capital city. If he went out to be an official, maybe he could do something practical for the people.
After hearing this, Zhao Xueshi scoffed at his naive idea and said, "Do you know that once you are assigned to a foreign post, it is very likely that you will be stuck there for the rest of your life and never come back?"
Everyone is trying their best to climb up and return to the court, the center of power. But there is a fool who does not know how lucky he has and actually wants to run away.
Jiang Jingyun smiled awkwardly. In fact, it didn't matter if he couldn't come back. He didn't have any lofty ambitions anyway, and there was nothing wrong with settling down in one place.
But he couldn't say this directly, otherwise he might be beaten out by the teacher with a stick as soon as he finished speaking.
He flattered her with a flattering look on his face: "Others may not be able to come back, but don't I still have you, my teacher? You won't ignore me, right?"
"Hmph, you wishful thinking. I'm just a fifth-rank official and I can't help you that much." Master Zhao snorted coldly, ruthlessly puncturing his fantasy.
After spending a long time together, Jiang Jingyun, who knew that the teacher was hard-mouthed but soft-hearted, was not afraid of his cold face at all, and continued to flatter him with a smile: "Hehe, then teacher, you have to work harder and move up quickly."
"When you achieve enlightenment, don't forget that there is a student in a remote village who hopes you can help him and help him rise to higher levels."
Scholar Zhao was so angry that he laughed after listening to this. It was the first time he saw someone so shameless, who spoke of climbing up the social ladder so bluntly and confidently.
But looking at the man in front of him who was smiling frivolously but with a determined look in his eyes, he confirmed again: "Have you really decided?"
"Yeah." Jiang Jingyun nodded seriously.
Mr. Zhao has a headache.
This was the first time I accepted a student on a whim, but I didn't expect it to be such a headache.
Never mind. This is probably the only one I'll have in my lifetime. "Submit your application to the Ministry of Personnel. I'll see if I can use my connections to get you a better place."
"Yes," Jiang Jingyun replied, bowing his head respectfully as he did when he first became a disciple, "Yingxing, thank you, teacher."
Master Zhao sighed and reached out to help him up, "Don't regret it in the future."
"No," Jiang Jingyun smiled and stood up, taking out the gift he had been holding in his arms for a long time. Inside was the ink pad and Hui ink that he had given before.
Ever since he learned that Master Zhao had used these two things to buy him a chance to show his face in front of the emperor, he had been thinking about sending another one. However, these two things were time-consuming and laborious to make, and he finally finished them two days ago. He happened to bring them here today. "Teacher, please don't give this one away again. Keep it for yourself, but don't be reluctant. I'll send it to you when I make it next time."
"Shut up," Zhao Xueshi leaned forward slightly and took the box. "Go away. I'm annoyed when I see you."
"Well, I'll take my leave now." After saying that, Jiang Jingyun ran away happily.
Ten days later, Ministry of Personnel.
The Minister of Personnel came over with a document and asked his superior, "Sir, please take a look at this."
The Minister of Rites was sitting there leisurely sipping tea. Hearing this, he took the tea and glanced at it nonchalantly before sneering, "I was wondering why that old man Zhao Mengcheng was so kind the other day and even invited me to drink. It turns out it was for his students."
It turned out to be the application document Jiang Jingyun submitted yesterday for an external post. After reading what was written inside, the Minister of Personnel's eyes shone with brilliance: "Although this kid is naughty, he also knows how to take a step back and avoid being attacked. He is smart but not self-righteous. He is decisive and smooth. He is really a good seedling. It's a pity that he was picked up by Zhao Mengcheng first."
The Minister of Rites seemed to admire this man and said hesitantly, "Then, how should we deal with this document?"
"Let's put it aside for now. After all, he has shown his face in front of His Majesty. I'll find a chance to get the upper hand in a few days and then make arrangements."
Not to mention that Jiang Jingyun has offended a lot of people, now if he wants to leave, it all depends on whether others agree.
Just talking about the location of this overseas assignment, it is difficult to decide.
If the place they are sent to is too good and it is easy for them to make political achievements, then that group of people will definitely not give up; but if they are sent directly to a poor and desolate place, they will not be able to withstand the madness of Old Dog Zhao and they will bite people, and it will be very painful if they don't die.
It would be better to let His Majesty make the decision, so that he won't offend anyone no matter what.
Thinking of this, one morning during the court session, the Minister of Personnel saw that the emperor was in a good mood today, so he stepped forward and reported, "Your Majesty, a few days ago the Ministry of Personnel received a document from a Hanlin editor applying for an external appointment. I don't know how to deal with it, so I came to ask for your instructions."
"Just follow the rules and do what you should do. Why do you ask me about such a small matter?" The old emperor was dissatisfied. People just took salaries without working and only cared about making themselves fat and bloated. They couldn't even handle the smallest things.
This is true under normal circumstances, but the main reason is that this person's identity is a bit special now. However, after being reprimanded by the emperor, the Minister of Personnel hesitated whether he should say it.
Seeing that he was hesitant to speak, the old emperor became even more annoyed: "If you want to speak, just say it. Why are you hesitating here?"
At this point, the Minister of Personnel could only bite the bullet and say, "It was Jiang Jingyun from the Hanlin Academy."
"Hmm?" This kid has a quick and useful brain and works efficiently. The old emperor likes him quite a bit. He is doing well in the Hanlin Academy, so why does he suddenly want to apply for an external appointment?
Could it be that even though he had clearly prohibited it, there were still people who were threatening him because of the law of the previous day?
After thinking about it, the old emperor's face suddenly turned cold, and his eyes glanced down sharply, "What's going on?"
The Minister of Rites, who was innocently implicated, wiped the cold sweat from his forehead and knelt down to reply, "I don't know either."
Before the situation became stalemated, Zhao Xueshi took the initiative to step forward and explained: "The purpose of studying is to gain knowledge and experience. Young people need to go out and gain experience for a few years, and do some practical work for the people at the bottom of society. That's why I requested to be assigned to an external position."
"Yes, that's right." The Minister of Personnel responded.
"He is truly worthy of being Mr. Zhao's favorite student. He is of high moral character and wholeheartedly serves the people. He is truly admirable." Someone nearby complimented.
Following the voice, I saw a meaningful and playful face. The Minister of Rites stepped forward and said with a cupped hand, "I hope Your Majesty will allow me to fulfill my sincere heart."
The old emperor snorted coldly: What noble character and loyalty, it's nothing but youthful vigor and arrogance. If he has to eat coarse food for a few days, he will surely come back crying. Not everyone can be like him in the past... In this case, this ignorant kid should be made to suffer a little and learn a lesson! After thinking about it, he looked at the Minister of Personnel and said, "Where is the vacant position now?" This meant that he was allowed to be sent abroad.
When asked, the Minister of Personnel hurriedly stepped forward and replied: "There are vacancies for county magistrates in Pingliang in the northern part of the Saibei, Wuxian in the south of the Yangtze River, and Fuxian in Guangzhou." There are good and bad people from all over the country, it's up to you to choose. The main thing is to please no one and offend no one.
The old emperor frowned, and was a little hesitant to make a decision for a moment.
The Minister of Rites smiled and said, "In my opinion, the northern frontier is a good choice. After the lost territory is recovered, it needs a capable person to govern it. Jiang Bianxiu is both virtuous and talented, and he is the most suitable person."
"No." The emperor shook his head. Although the northern frontier had been pacified, there were frequent invasions by foreign races, constant wars, and the people were fierce, making it difficult for non-natives to gain a foothold there. He had a good impression of Jiang Jingyun. He thought that if he was well trained, he would be a capable and practical minister. He didn't want to let him die so early for the time being.
Since going north is not an option, the only option is to go south. The emperor made the final decision: "Let him be the magistrate of Fujian County."
"Your Majesty is wise." Finally there was a conclusion, and the Ministry of Personnel breathed a sigh of relief and followed the order.
【Author’s words】
[1] From Lu You’s “Reading” in the Song Dynasty: “I would rather not have a five-acre garden when I return home, for the true purpose of reading is to be content with the vastness of the land.” Although my eyesight before the lamp is not as good as before, I can still finish 20,000 words.
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