Chapter 2
The sun was setting in the west, and the last ray of light was swallowed up by the darkness. There seemed to be figures in the distance. Lin Shuge looked at the two figures in the distance, waved to them from afar, and shouted: "Ayuan, Axuan, I'm back."
When the two heard Lin Shuge's voice, they ran over here. Lin Qingyuan asked anxiously, "Where have you been, brother? You took so long to come back. Axuan and I were so worried."
"Brother, please come back earlier next time you go out." Although Lin Xuan was not as excited as Lin Qingyuan, she also looked worried.
Lin Shuge looked at the worried brother and sister and said with a smile, "Big brother promises you that he will come home early in the future and will ask someone to tell you if there is anything."
Someone nearby sneered: "You two have a really good relationship as siblings, but you should let me go home early."
Lin Shuge quickly pulled the two of them to greet Wang Ji and helped unload the rice from the wheelbarrow. "Brother Wang, please come in and have your meal. My humble abode is simple, so I'll treat you well."
Wang Ji smiled and said, "It's time for me to go home, otherwise it'll be too late and my wife will be worried." After saying that, he smiled at the three siblings.
Lin Qingyuan was so embarrassed that he hid behind Lin Xuan, but Lin Xuan ignored him.
Seeing that he was determined to leave, Lin Shuge took out a purse and put copper coins in it and gave it to him, "Brother Wang, you've been running all the way, so take this little money and buy some wine."
"Then I will be very sorry to refuse. I will take my leave now."
"Goodbye." After saying that, Lin Shuge took Lin Qingyuan and Lin Xuan into the house.
"Ayuan and Axuan, my brother has money now. He bought some meat and ribs. Let's try his cooking today."
Lin Shuge went into the kitchen to prepare a simple dish of fried pork with amaranth and stewed pork with radish. There were too few vegetables in winter, and the only things stored at home were amaranth, radish and cabbage. Fortunately, there were plenty of seasonings at home, which showed that the original owner's family was still wealthy before he fell ill.
Lin Xuan instructed Lin Shuge to cook rice in a clay stove nearby. There was plenty of rice, so the three siblings didn't have to share a bowl of millet rice like before.
Dice the radish and pork, blanch the pork, heat the oil and stir-fry, add pepper and rice wine to remove the fishy smell, season with dogwood juice, add salt when the meat is cooked, and the pork with amaranth is ready. Lin Shuge also made stewed pork with radish, which was perfect for eating in such a cold weather.
The moon was as cool as water, and the winter moon was cold and silent. The weather outside was chilly, but inside the house was warm. Lin Shuge brought the cooked dishes into the house and invited the brother and sister to eat.
On the table were fried pork with amaranth, pork stewed with radish, a plate of roast chicken, three bowls of rice, fried amaranth made by Lin Xuan, and three bowls of millet porridge. The rice was sweet and soft, the pork was fat but not greasy, and it was even more fragrant and delicious with the winter amaranth.
Lin Shuge smiled and said, "Let's eat. We are all hungry."
The three of them were already starving, but they didn't refuse. Some picked up dishes, some ate, and they enjoyed their meal to the fullest.
After finishing the meal, Lin Shuge told the two about what happened today. Lin Xuan asked, "Brother, do you want to pursue a career in politics?"
"Yes, my father and mother passed away, and we don't have any connections. If we want to be recommended as a filial and honest official, we need to let people notice me first. After I have made a name for myself, I can ask the county magistrate to recommend me." Lin Shuge said softly, thinking about the reaction of County Magistrate Li today.
"I estimate that if the trial is effective, the magistrate will summon me in a few days. That will be my chance."
Lin Qingyuan looked at his elder brother with a solemn expression and said, "Brother, you will definitely get what you want. I have never experienced such a warm winter. When the county magistrate sees such an effect, he will definitely report it to his superiors. With such achievements, maybe the county magistrate will be promoted to a higher level."
"I hope so."
"The warm kang you made is really great. Not so many people will freeze to death this winter. You are doing a great service to the people." Winters have become colder and colder in recent years, and many elderly people and children cannot stand the cold. Lin Qingyuan has naturally seen this.
Lin Shuge smiled and said, "If you are poor, you should take care of yourself. If you are rich, you should help the world. I don't think I am a saint, but just a small person. It is enough for me to take care of myself and support you two."
Lin Qingyuan seemed to want to say something but was stopped by Lin Xuan.
Lin Shuge watched the two people's actions, smiled and drove the brother and sister back to the house. It was getting late, and the important thing to do was to rest early.
Smoke rose in the distance and a few roosters crowed from somewhere. After breakfast, Lin Shuge cleaned up the kitchen and took the time to review local laws. The original owner's father was also a scholar and left a whole box of letters. Even after selling his land, the letters were still kept, including some related to laws.
The ability to read and write and be proficient in arithmetic and laws are the minimum standards for the appointment of officials.
Although paper had been invented in this era, the production technology was still relatively backward. The paper used was mulberry paper made from mulberry bark. The paper was rough and the ink sometimes blurred when written on it. Therefore, important official documents were still written on bamboo slips.
As Lin Shuge read on, he thought that if he had the chance, he could improve the papermaking technique so that it would be more convenient for him to use.
There was a noise outside the door. Lin Shuge put down the bamboo slips in his hand, got up and walked out of the house. "Ayuan, what's wrong?"
"Young man, the three-day deadline has come. I wonder if you have collected the money you owe to my master." The woman asked loudly that day, and there was a man following her who looked like a manager. Without waiting for Lin Shuge to speak, the woman said proudly, "This is Manager Cheng."
It turned out to be the helper he found after he suffered a loss last time.
"I keep my word. I have collected all the money." Lin Shuge went back to the house and got the purse.
Manager Cheng took the money bag, counted it, and showed satisfaction, "Not bad, it's enough, you know what's best for you, otherwise my master will make your whole family unable to stay in Ganzhou City."
"Who can't stay here?" A voice came from outside the door. It was Wang Ji.
"Oh, isn't this Lord Wang? What brings you here?" Manager Cheng had a flattering look on his face, without any trace of his previous arrogance.
Wang Ji looked at the purse in Manager Cheng's hand, then looked at the twins who looked unhappy, and immediately understood what was going on.
He snorted coldly and ignored him.
"Young Master, the county magistrate wants to see you," Wang Ji said excitedly, "The heated kang you presented last time worked. The county magistrate has reported the blueprints and the craftsmen to the county governor Zhang. The county governor was very happy and not only rewarded the county magistrate, but you will also be greatly rewarded. The news has spread throughout the county government. So the county magistrate ordered me to summon you over. It must be for your benefit."
Lin Shuge was delighted and said, "Thank you for taking the trouble, Brother Wang. I will go to the county government office with you now."
"Ayuan and Axuan, you two take care of the house. I will be back home after I finish my work." Lin Shuge reminded his brother and sister-in-law again.
"I got it, big brother." The brother and sister also looked surprised.
Upon hearing that Lin Shu Ge really wanted to meet the county magistrate, and hearing Wang Ji's words seem to praise Lin Shu Ge, Manager Cheng made a prompt decision, "Young master, this is a misunderstanding. How can I have the nerve to ask you for such a small amount of money? I offended you and your sister before, and it was the people under my command who did not do the job properly. Young master, please accept this little gift." As he said this, he took out a bag of silver, which was much heavier than the one Lin Shu Ge had just given him.
Seeing his expression, Lin Shuge said coldly: "Manager Cheng is right. It is only natural to pay back a debt."
The woman next to her turned pale and was about to say something, but Wang Ji waved them away and walked out of the yard with Lin Shuge.
In the same county hall as last time, Magistrate Li saw Lin Shuge and stroked his beard and smiled, "You should already know why I'm looking for you. In addition to this matter, I've also recommended you to the county governor. The county governor means that if you pass the assessment, you can be hired as an official in this county as an exception."
"Thank you very much for your recommendation." Lin Shuge leaned forward and bowed.
"Okay, okay. The test will start in a quarter of an hour. Do you have any objections?" asked the magistrate.
"It's up to you, sir." Lin Shuge replied.
Magistrate Li saw that he had a calm expression, as if he had everything planned out, and nodded with satisfaction.
"You take a rest first. Wang Ji will take you to the official residence to take the exam later. The examiner will be there in person." County Magistrate Li looked at him and said.
When they arrived at the official residence, a man was working with his head down. Seeing Lin Shuge, he asked, "Are you the Lin who invented the heated kang...Lin what?"
"Lin Shuge." Lin Shuge smiled helplessly.
"Yes, yes, yes, Lin Shuge, you know you are famous throughout the county. My family also uses that heated kang. My mother talks about the warmth every day and says it is your credit. By the way, why are you here?"
"Come to take the exam." Lin Shuge replied.
"Oh, that means we might be colleagues in the future. My name is Zhou Du, I'm from this county, the second child in my family, you can call me Erlang." Zhou Du said excitedly.
"Lin Shuge, whose courtesy name is Huaiting, is from Qingxi Town and the eldest child in the family." Lin Shuge replied.
"Cough cough" suddenly a cough was heard, and County Magistrate Li was standing outside the door, frowning at the two of them.
"Your Excellency the County Magistrate." The two men saluted hastily.
"There is nothing to do in the county government office today, so Zhou Erlang is quite free." County Magistrate Li smiled wryly.
Zhou Du was so anxious that he scratched his ears and cheeks, and sweat was almost coming out of his forehead. It is true that whether in ancient times or modern times, being caught slacking off at work by the boss is always a terrible thing.
"Okay, Lin Shuge, follow me in." said County Magistrate Li.
"Yes." Lin Shuge replied, and when he looked up he saw Zhou Du winking at him.
Lin Shuge laughed.
Lin Shuge walked into the inner house, where there were several tables and chairs. County Magistrate Li sat at the top and handed him a blank bamboo slip. "We will conduct a policy interview today," said County Magistrate Li.
Policy questions were the main form of the recommendation system, in which the emperor would ask questions, that is, write questions on bamboo slips, and the candidates would answer based on the questions, which was similar to the policy essays of later generations. However, unlike the high-level policy questions asked by the central government, the examination of grassroots officials was much simpler.
Sure enough, the first bamboo slip asked what "Zheng Bo defeated Duan in Yan" meant?
This is to test whether Lin Shuge has writing ability, whether he is familiar with the scriptures, and to see if there are any ideological problems. The imperial court ruled the country with filial piety and respected Confucianism as the official orthodoxy, so naturally it had to take Confucian benevolence, righteousness, propriety, wisdom and trustworthiness as the official ideology.
As for why this paragraph was published, it should be the county magistrate's selfish motive.
Duke Zhuang of Zheng was the first hegemon to emerge in the Spring and Autumn Period. He was the first to disobey the Zhou rituals. Whether he got rid of his own brother by means of flattery, or later blatantly took the wheat from Wen and the grain from Chengzhou, exchanged hostages with the Zhou emperor, and even destroyed the prestige and face of the Zhou emperor in the "Battle of Ju Ge", he can be said to be a hegemon of his generation.
The evaluation of him by later generations is mixed. Some people think that he is a man of great talent and strategy, while others think that he is insidious and cunning.
"Duke Zheng defeats Duan in Yan" happened in the first year of Duke Yin's reign. Duke Zhuang's mother had a difficult labor when giving birth to Duke Zhuang, so she disliked Duke Zhuang of Zheng and wanted to make her youngest son the successor. She repeatedly asked for a fiefdom for him, and Duke Zhuang indulged her again and again. His ministers could no longer tolerate it, but Duke Zhuang remained calm.
Sure enough, seeing his brother like this, his younger brother Gong Shuduan finally rebelled and wanted to kill his brother, and his mother Jiang even helped her youngest son.
In fact, Duke Zhuang had already mastered all of this. As soon as he saw the time was ripe, he stopped pretending and defeated his brother in one fell swoop, playing the game of praising and killing with great skill.
The Zuo Zhuan and Gongyang Zhuan gave different evaluations of this period of history. Lin Shuge guessed the preferences of County Magistrate Li and wrote, "Respecting parents in a proper way, loving mothers and filial sons, and caring for brothers are the great principles of human relations..."
First, the official ideology is mentioned, which is the human ethics respected by Confucianism. Then the "Zuo Zhuan" writes about the evaluation of this historical event. Calling Duke Zhuang of Zheng "Zheng Bo" is a satire on his failure to educate his brother. The attitude towards Jiang is that she is an unkind mother, and Gong Shuduan is not like a younger brother.
The tone of the writing changes again. Different from the Gongyang Commentary which considers Zhuang Gong's action as a "great evil", Lin Shuge lists Zhuang Gong's contributions in politics, economy, diplomacy and other aspects one by one, affirming his achievements as a small hegemon in the Spring and Autumn Period.
In a nutshell, the defeat of Duan and Yu Yan was indeed not in line with the Confucian culture of brotherly love and respect, but his achievements are indelible.
Lin Shuge handed the bamboo slips to Magistrate Li. After reading it, the magistrate nodded and handed him the second "exam paper". Lin Shuge looked carefully and saw that it said, "A is a guard in a city. The Xiongnu barbarians came to attack. He abandoned the city and fled to the barbarians. What should be done according to the law?"
This is a test of one's familiarity with the laws, Lin Shuge thought secretly.
"According to the Yan Law, if a person flees to the Xiongnu barbarians and does not defend himself but surrenders, he shall be beheaded, and his wife and children shall be punished as slaves and concubines."
Ganzhou County, including the five counties under the jurisdiction of Dingyuan Commandery, was located at the front line of the entire country's defense against foreign enemies. Deserters and even surrenderers to barbarians were dealt with severely. Not only would the person involved be beheaded, but his wife and children would also be implicated and punished as slaves and concubines. This was to prevent anyone from surrendering without a fight, which would greatly reduce the army's combat effectiveness.
Lin Shuge was so absorbed in answering the questions that he did not notice that Magistrate Li had walked up to him and was watching him answer the questions. When he had finished answering, he no longer stuck to the formal questioning format and asked another question about arithmetic. This test was designed to test Lin Shuge's simple arithmetic ability.
As a liberal arts student who has completed nine years of compulsory education, although my math skills are not as good as those of science and engineering students, I can still handle simple addition, subtraction, multiplication and division.
"Well, not bad, not bad. You are fluent in writing and proficient in law and arithmetic. This county happens to be short of a clerk. You can take a short break tomorrow and come on duty the day after tomorrow." County Magistrate Li raised his hand and patted Lin Shuge on the shoulder. "Go out and get your official uniform and seal from Zhou Erlang."
Lingshi is a subordinate of the county magistrate, in charge of documents and can be considered as the county magistrate's secretary. His duties include participating in household registration management, registering household registration information and being responsible for submitting household registration documents, registering trade exchanges, participating in proofreading and conveying laws and orders, etc.
With a monthly salary of nine hundred coins, he was considered the last level of civil servant in the entire Yan Dynasty's administrative system, but it also counted as a national establishment.
Lin Shuge said calmly, "Thank you for your recommendation, I will live up to your kindness. I have one more thing to say. I found out that there is a family in the county that lends money privately at a high interest rate, which has caused countless families to lose their fortunes. I hope you will enforce the law strictly."
"This group of thieves are so bold and reckless that they privately lend money to the children and exploit the people. I will investigate and will not let them off easily."
"Your Excellency is wise."
In this case, the families of those children would definitely not have an easy life, and countless families would be separated from their wives and children.
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