In general, after seeing this scene, Lin Hai temporarily put his mind at ease about Meng Yangcheng's intelligence work.
As I said, professional matters should be left to professionals. As a leader, if you worry about everything, ask about everything, or even give instructions on everything, then the organization will not be far from falling apart.
This is also the experience that Lin Hai summed up in his previous life. After all, he had a leader who liked to give instructions on everything, so Lin Hai really can't make a joke like "the third crossbow is advanced 50 steps forward" now.
However, even if Nguyen Shihao's loyalty to Cambodia was limited, it was still there. So when Lin Hai returned to the prefect's residence, the postmaster delivered Nguyen Shihao's request to meet as soon as possible and start negotiations.
"Serve him delicious food and drink, and let him hang out for a few days before we talk." Lin Hai ordered, "Just say his identity is unknown. We'll ask the Cambodians to confirm it. Besides, I'm the Earl of Qinghe County. How can a minister of the Ministry of Revenue, who was promoted on a mission, just meet me whenever he wants?"
"Just tell him exactly what we're saying. While we can't be rude, we can't be too polite either. We have to make him feel that we don't want a ceasefire, and that we're just leaving him alone so we can make more military plans."
Come on, Lin Hai’s words are enough.
After returning to the posthouse, the postmaster served four dishes and a soup according to the standard to Ruan Shihao, who was waiting for a reply in the upper room. Well, according to the highest standard of Qinghe official meals set by Lin Hai, which even Lin Hai could not meet on weekdays. Then there were various daily necessities. He even asked Lord Ruan with a sullen face if he had any other needs, and if so, he could ask.
Yes, there was nothing wrong with the etiquette, except for the postmaster's dark face that made people feel creepy.
"Sir, are you from Qinghe?" Although the postmaster seemed difficult to talk to, Ruan Shihao still wanted to find out some information. After all, it was clear that the higher-ups required the postmaster to treat him with courtesy. So even though he looked unhappy, he wouldn't really do anything to Ruan Shihao. This made Ruan Shihao feel a lot more relieved for the time being.
"Yes." The postmaster stood aside with his hands crossed, but did not lower his head. He just looked at Ruan Shihao expressionlessly, as if he was answering a question that had nothing to do with him.
"Then sir, did you enter the city with the army?" Ruan Shihao didn't care. To be honest, if he wasn't really short of money, according to convention, he should have given a reward first and then asked questions.
Seeing Ruan Shihao's embarrassment, the postmaster couldn't help but add: "Master Ruan, don't be embarrassed. According to the rules of Qinghe, we will not accept any rewards."
"Well, I'm indeed being rude. Sigh." Ruan Shihao didn't shy away from this. After all, he had been poor for many years and was used to not being able to pay. "But why can't I even accept the reward? Is it because the laws of Qinghe are too harsh? But this is also inconsistent with the laws of Daliang."
"Lord Ruan, you're joking. Qinghe is an inseparable part of the Daliang Empire, so of course their laws are the same. As the saying goes, there is no two suns under the sky, and no country has two laws. How can Qinghe have its own laws?"
Speaking of this, the postmaster's face was still very dark, but it could be said that he was more serious.
"In Qinghe, not only do I not accept tips, but no one else does either. This is actually a local custom, and it should have been explained to Lord Ruan at this point."
"No one accepts it? Why?"
"I've heard that you've been an official for many years, so you don't know. The reason we, the postmasters, used to ask for bonuses was simply because no matter which court in the four kingdoms of the world, we couldn't pay the full salary. There was only so much silver a month, and not only could we not pay it in full, we had to delay it. If we could pay January's salary in June, we were considered honest officials. Normally, we only paid 70%, and even the silver was moldy and black. If we really had to replace it, 50% was the limit."
Having said that, the postmaster withdrew his gaze from above and shook his head, as if trying to completely shake off the memory of the past from his mind: "I have a large family at home, both old and young, so if it weren't for the rewards from the adults who come and go, I really can't survive.
Besides, although the silver handed down each year is small, the filial piety to the superiors cannot be less. For the superiors' birthdays, the four seasons and the eight festivals, no matter how much, it always costs some money. In the past, if it were not for the generosity of the past officials, I am afraid I would not have survived until today."
"So, if you don't accept money now, does it mean that Qinghe's salary can be paid in full, or that your superiors will stop accepting gifts?" How could Ruan Shihao, who started out as a low-level bureaucrat, not know that what the postmaster said was the truth.
But it has been like this for so many years, and he doesn't believe that there will be any changes if he is replaced by the Earl of Qinghe.
"Now, of course, it's full pay. And it's not the stingy full pay of Daliang back then. It's the full pay negotiated by the Earl of Qinghe based on workload and prices. It's 30% more than the full pay before."
When he said this, a light appeared in the eyes of the postmaster. From Ruan Shihao's observation, he knew that what the postmaster said was definitely not a lie, but he was really proud of it.
"Moreover, the Earl of Qinghe has issued a strict order that everything should be done according to the rules. Since Qinghe County has paid me enough salary, I have no reason to ask for your reward.
Besides, Qinghebo made it clear that the non-payment of wages is entirely the wages' business, and to put it bluntly, it is his business. If anyone really withholds wages again, they should report it to the Supervisory Department of the Ministry of the Interior, rather than trying to collect money from other places to make up for it. "
"That makes sense." Ruan Shihao, who had worked in the Ministry of Households, knew that what Lin Hai said was correct "nonsense."
If everyone obeyed the law and followed the rules, there would be no need for gifts or rewards. Almost all officials knew this, but according to the Khmer Ministry of Revenue, "We will work towards this goal, but we will never reach that day."
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