Longyang Prefecture Government Office.
Song Gongwen was sitting in the inner hall.
In her hand was a cup of freshly brewed hot tea.
In front of him stood a middle-aged man who was about forty years old.
This man had a tall and straight figure, was dressed in an official uniform, and had sharp eyes as he stared at a white jade pendant in his hand.
After a long while, the middle-aged man slowly put down the white jade pendant and murmured, "This is indeed the teacher's personal jade pendant."
After saying this, he placed the jade pendant on the table and bowed slightly, performing a standard Confucian disciple's etiquette. He then turned to look at Song Gongwen and said, "Greetings, Master Song."
"Brother Shouyuan." Upon hearing this, Song Gongwen immediately put down his teacup, stood up and said with a smile.
"You and I are both your students. Calling you sir is really too formal."
"From now on, in front of outsiders, just call me Brother Gongwen!"
That’s right, this middle-aged man in official uniform.
It was the newly appointed prefect of Longyang.
Wang Shouyuan!
After hearing this, he hesitated for a moment, but still said, "Okay, Brother Gongwen."
Since the teacher is willing to hand over the jade pendant he carries with him, he must be trustworthy.
"Hahaha!" Song Gongwen laughed, then restrained his smile and said solemnly, "I've heard about your situation from the teacher. Brother Shouyuan, you've really worked hard these past five years!"
"Have you heard my story?"
Wang Shouyuan was stunned for a moment, but still said softly: "This...this is what I should do."
However, after hearing this, Song Gongwen shook his head and spoke.
"I know Brother Shouyuan is a man with ideals and ambitions."
"Of course I understand that you've had a harder time than anyone else these past five years. I went through a similar experience myself, so I understand your feelings better than anyone else. Teacher, please give me that jade pendant. Brother Shouyuan should know what it means."
"Since you and I are family, we should be honest with each other. Brother Shouyuan, if you have anything to say, you can really say it out loud."
During those years, Song Gongwen was suppressed and excluded, and his colleagues secretly talked about him.
He knew very well that these days were very difficult.
Even to the end.
Some of them couldn't hold on any longer and wanted to resign.
The other person's five years of experience were even more depressing than his own, so he could empathize with him.
I wanted to guide him and let him vent the pain he had been feeling over the years.
Sure enough, these words.
Wang Shouyuan, who had been expressionless just now, suddenly changed.
Because he could feel the sincerity in Song Gongwen's words.
For five whole years.
This is the first time someone said this to me.
Suddenly, his hands began to tremble and his expression was not as calm as before. Finally, he couldn't bear it anymore.
"I've been in Longyang Prefecture for five years!"
"I've seen the ugly faces of those nobles for five years, and I've flattered them for five years. They've lost their integrity and their ideals. I don't want to be like this. I want to live an upright life!"
"Five years, a full five years. Do you know how I spent these five years?"
At first, Wang Shouyuan's tone was still calm.
But the closer it gets to the end, the more excited I get.
He is a man with ideals.
He was very talented back then and came from a famous family, so he attracted a lot of attention.
However, due to a plan of the late emperor and Zhang Zhengming, he came to Longyang Prefecture and faced the gentry whom he hated the most every day.
You have to keep smiling and saying nice things all the time. Even if a person is mentally strong, after such a long time, even if he hasn't gone crazy, he will reach his limit.
And now, there is finally someone who understands me, and they are from the same school and worthy of trust.
In this situation, how can I not let it all out?
He has been suppressed for too long.
"Brother Shouyuan!"
Seeing this, Song Gongwen quickly said, "I understand, I understand everything, that's why the teacher sent me here."
"Ever since I heard your story, I've been fascinated by you all along the way, wanting to meet you as soon as possible. Now I've come to Longyang Prefecture to work with you to deal with those nobles!"
At this moment, he did not care about the other party's loss of composure, but instead admired him even more.
Because if it were me, I would never be able to survive these five years.
"Brother Gongwen, I know."
Wang Shouyuan calmed down a bit and continued, "I've received the teacher's handwritten letter. He said you have great talent and asked me to fully cooperate with you to implement the land tax system!"
In fact, he was still somewhat convinced of this new fellow disciple.
We can all think of national policies such as the land tax and the tax distribution.
It is exactly as the teacher said.
What a talent!
"That's just teacher's false praise, Brother Shouyuan, don't worry about it."
Upon hearing this, Song Gongwen smiled and said modestly.
Although the two met for the first time today.
But there is some sympathy between them.
It was like old friends at first sight.
Maybe it’s because they have similar experiences, or maybe it’s because they have the same teacher.
Especially after a brief chat, I began to feel that we had met too late.
In fact, the age difference between the two is not that big.
However, one was in the capital, and the other was in the countryside, so they had never met. Therefore, they all felt it was a pity that if they had met earlier, perhaps they would have had another close friend.
But soon, Song Gongwen's smile began to fade. He frowned and said, "Brother Shouyuan, after reading the teacher's handwritten letter, you should know our future plans. The implementation of the land-based tax system will require your help, so you still have to..."
He didn't say anything, but his meaning was very clear, which was to let the other party continue to be a faction of the aristocracy.
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