Zhang Jun packed up his house that night and wrote a letter of resignation, preparing to send it to the Ministry of Personnel early the next morning so that he and his family could leave Huaixiang Town as soon as possible.

Having seen Mr. Zhao's methods, Zhang Jun felt that if he did not leave early, he might cause more trouble later.

Looking at the scenery of Huaixiang Town, Zhang Jun felt really sad.

When he first came here to serve as the county magistrate, the people here didn't quite trust him. Even if there were some major conflicts, they didn't dare to make it to the government office.

Later, as Zhang Jun accomplished one practical thing after another, the people became more and more convinced of him. Sometimes, they would even bring trivial quarrels between neighbors to the lobby.

Because they believed that Zhang Jun was an absolutely fair official.

But now Zhang Jun, the symbol of fairness, is leaving.

The people of Huaixiang Town are still unaware of the bad news.

But Zhang Jun could already see with his own eyes the bleak fairness of the future.

He sighed, urged his wife to pack her luggage, and let her take her son and daughter back home first.

"Forget it, forget it. Just think of it as returning to one's roots. Just think of it as me resigning from office and returning home a few years in advance!"

Zhang Jun secretly comforted himself, whispering softly.

However, a loud voice sounded from behind him: "Master Zhang, are you so willing to let a fool take over from you? You have managed Huai'an Town in an orderly manner over the years, and now this achievement, this peach, has been picked by a fool?"

At that moment, Zhang Jun's eyes were full of vigilance, and deep in his vigilance there was a hint of expectation.

When his men brought Zhang Jun over, Zhao Ji was helping the emperor sort memorials.

It was Zhang Jun's first time to come to a place like Silijian, and this place was not quite what he had expected.

He originally thought that since eunuchs were in power, they would focus on pleasure.

However, I didn't expect that the entire Silijian was so busy, and everyone was dealing with their own affairs.

It looks more organized than the Ministry of Personnel.

"Master Zhang is here to ask you to do something. I want to discuss it with Master Zhang's people, so I sent someone to ask you!"

Zhao Ji's attitude is very good.

This invisibly calmed the somewhat nervous Lord Zhang.

"I don't deserve it, I don't deserve it. If there is anything you need my cooperation with, Master Seal Holder, please feel free to ask. I will do my best to help you before I resign!"

Lord Zhang spoke carefully. Zhao Ji knew that Lord Zhang did not fully trust him at this moment, so he left some room for maneuver in everything he said and did.

"Look at what Master Zhang said. Master Zhang is in his prime now, why is he so anxious about this temple?"

"The court is lacking conscientious backbones like Lord Zhang, so we can't just leave like that..."

After Zhao Ji finished speaking, Zhang Jun laughed at himself and said, "As an official who has been rated as low for five consecutive years, I am afraid I am not qualified to stay here any longer!"

"How do you know that I am not qualified, Master Zhang? Our dynasty does not seem to have a rule that officials who have been rated as low for five consecutive years must resign and retire!"

"Master Zhang, I didn't ask you to come here to beat around the bush!"

Zhao Ji's eyes were as sharp as torches, and for a moment Zhang Jun felt that he couldn't look Zhao Ji in the eye.

He was afraid to see himself retreating in Zhao Ji's eyes.

"I am afraid I can no longer help you, sir. I have made up my mind to leave. Just think of me as tired of being an official!"

Zhao Ji smiled faintly: "If Master Zhang really doesn't want to make progress, if he is really willing to let Zhao Chun take your seat, I have nothing to say today!"

"If you, Lord Zhang, are a useless piece of mud, why would I, Zhao Ji, waste my time talking to you about this?"

"No one is willing to kick a dead dog. If Lord Zhang wants to be this dead dog, then please leave now, Lord Zhang, please return to your hometown and live your whole life on the road of resigning and escaping..."

"If everyone chose to back down when faced with a problem, there would be fewer difficulties in this world, right? Don't you think so, Lord Zhang?"

Zhao Ji's voice was obviously very calm, but Zhang Jun felt as if he had been stripped naked and had an extremely shameful feeling.

At this moment, Zhang Jun's heart and face were struggling equally. His ferocious expression was reflected on the outside, and the struggle in his heart was even more intense.

Zhao Ji seemed disappointed, and stretched out his hand to call for the attendant: "Send Master Zhang back, so that Master Zhang will not come here in vain today. Give Master Zhang a silver note of 100 taels, which will be regarded as the travel expenses for him to return home after he resigns from office and retires!"

Zhang Jun couldn't help himself after hearing this, and knelt down in front of Zhao Ji with a plop: "If you can give me justice, if you can restore a clean officialdom in Huaixiang Town, if you can say a word for officials like me who have no money and are unwilling to pay tribute in this court!"

Zhang Jun buried his head deeply on the ground, but shouted out in a loud voice: "I am willing to cooperate with you!"

Zhao Ji's eyes lit up slightly. This was the situation he was waiting for, this was the sentence he was waiting for.

Sure enough, Zhang Jun did not disappoint him.

"I tell you, I can! Sir Zhang, please believe me!"

Zhao Ji smiled and helped the man up.

Just happened to hear Zhang Jun’s uneasy thoughts.

[It's really risky... If I'm not careful, I might die young! ]

[But this Master Seal holder seems to be reliable. Just because he was able to go to Hua'an County to personally provide disaster relief and suppress the epidemic, I am willing to take a gamble on his integrity...]

[Zhao Chun, Mr. Zhao, I believe that besides the filthy and gloomy air in this world, there is also a bright and clear world. Today I am betting my life on this. I want to see whether the bright and clear world is more powerful or the filthy and turbid air is more oppressive! ]

Zhang Jun sat next to Zhao Ji, looking at something Zhao Ji handed over, unable to come back to his senses for a long time.

This document was a collection of information that Zhao Ji secretly asked his subordinates to investigate about Zhang Jun's actions over the years.

From big things like Zhang Jun suppressing bandits to small things like Zhang Jun mediating neighborhood conflicts.

Everything Zhang Jun has done is recorded in this booklet.

And there is a sentence in the last booklet.

[This is a loyal minister, this is a famous minister, this is an honest official, this is a minister who is the backbone of the court! ]

It was just this one sentence and this one comment that instantly brought Zhang Jun to tears.

At this moment, he suddenly realized that there really were people who knew everything he had done over the years, and there really were people who understood his original intention of serving as an official!

[I am willing to sacrifice my life for the Palm Seal. Even if this road ends in death, I am willing to take two more steps for the Palm Seal! ]

Before Zhao Ji's hand left, Zhang Jun's powerful voice could be heard. From this moment on, Zhao Ji had a reliable person on his front line!