Li Zhi, don't be a coward

Chapter 325 Take off your boots and stay in office
Not long after Li Qinzai became the governor, he is more like a policeman handling cases with the official position of governor. This is also the original intention of Li Zhi to transfer him to Bingzhou. The purpose is not to let him govern, but to investigate cases and settle things.

But the people in Bingzhou didn't know about Li Qinzai's mission. They only knew that this new governor had done a lot for Bingzhou.

It is no exaggeration to say that Li Qinzai gave the people of Bingzhou a way to live and a future for the people of Bingzhou.

Suppress food prices, raise food relief, and let the people overcome the current difficulties.

Building reservoirs, digging ditches, and attracting water from the Fen River will make Bingzhou no longer suffer from drought. This future can last for thousands of years.

During his short term, Li Qinzai's name has been deeply engraved in the hearts of the people.

Not only Li Qinzai had never seen the scene of thousands of people kneeling to see each other off, but neither had Liu Ahsi and the Li family members.

Even the old man had never experienced such a scene back then, and the people in front of him worshiped Wu Shaolang from the Li family.

Shocked by the scene, Liu Asi and the trilogy members were also emotionally infected. They all sat upright on the horse, with expressionless faces, but their faces were flushed, and they stood upright behind Li Qinzai like javelins, fighting with Li Qinzai. There is honor.

After being dazed for a moment, Li Qinzai hurriedly helped up the two elders who were kneeling and worshiping, and said: "How dare the younger generation be a big gift from the elders, it will be a shame to the younger generation."

But the two elders refused to get up, broke free from Li Qinzai's support, and bowed to him three times upright, with reverent and pious expressions, as if they were worshiping a god who descended from the sky.

It took Li Qinzai a bit of strength to help the two elders up, then he looked up at the dark crowd, and said loudly, "Get up, you don't need to do such a great gift!"

After Mr. Su got up, tens of thousands of people followed suit.

An old man was crying, holding Li Qinzai's hand tightly and trembling, choked up and said: "This old man has lived for decades, and there have been many natural and man-made disasters. This year is the most dangerous. I thought I wouldn't survive this year. Fortunately, Li Qinzai The governor saved lives and gave the people of Bingzhou a way to survive..."

"It's very fortunate for the people of Bingzhou to be governed by Li's governor, and it's very fortunate for the emperor to be able to get Li's governor's power!"

Li Qinzai smiled wryly and said: "The elder speaks too seriously, Li just did a few things according to the emperor's will, so don't praise me too much."

Mr. Su shook his head: "Saving the lives of thousands of families and establishing the merits of thousands of years, what Bodhisattvas cannot do, Governor Li has done. The people of Bingzhou have received the eternal favor of the governor, but they have nothing to repay. It is a great favor owed to you by the people."

Speaking of the two elders weeping and kneeling again, the common people also bowed silently.

"Is Inspector Li willing to stay in Bingzhou? The people are willing to submit a book of ten thousand people to the emperor, asking the emperor to take care of the people and leave Bingzhou with a clear sky."

Li Qinzai helped Mr. Su up, and said with a wry smile, "The emperor has...other appointments for me, I'm sorry."

Mr. Su wiped away his tears, nodded and said: "Yes, it is a shame for a minister as capable as Li Inspector Li to stay in Bingzhou. If Li Inspector can rule the court, he will surely bring blessings to the world, not just in Bingzhou. The people of Bingzhou cannot be selfish."

Said the elder Su respectfully and authentically: "The four counties under the jurisdiction of Bingzhou have set up shrines for Inspector Li, and worshiped them with incense for generations. I am old but not talented. On behalf of the people of Bingzhou, please perform the ceremony of taking off your boots, and ask Inspector Li to fulfill the wishes of the people."

The two elders stepped forward and bowed down respectfully, then one elder gently lifted Li Qinzai's right leg, and the other elder took off the Qingyun official boot on Li Qinzai's foot.

After taking off his official boots, Mr. Su held the official boots with both hands, raised them above his head, and showed them to the people.

Thousands of people suddenly shouted like a landslide and tsunami: "Stay, stay."

"The merits will last forever, and the blessings will last forever. Thank you, Inspector Li, for your life!"

The shoe-off ceremony began in the Han Dynasty. When local officials left office, the people had no choice but to keep the official's boots to show that the people hoped that they would stay in office.

This is the highest courtesy one can receive as an official.

Amidst the shouts that shook the sky, Li Qinzai looked around in a daze, his eyes flushed.

Water also carries a boat, and water also capsizes a boat.

At this moment, what he heard was the ebb and flow of the tide, and those voices that were most likely to be ignored by history books were extremely real at this moment.

Amid the earnest shouts, Li Qinzai pursed his lips, bowed to the common people, and did not get up for a long time.

Liu Ahsi and the trilogy members were also moved to tears, dismounted one after another, and bowed with their sabers.

After the long resignation, Li Qinzai boarded the carriage, and the people consciously gave way to a road, kneeling down and watching the carriage drift away.

Sitting in the carriage, Li Qinzai couldn't calm down for a long time.

His soul seemed to have undergone a thorough baptism. What he did in Bingzhou these days, he originally acted according to his conscience, but he did not expect that the people would remember his kindness deeply.

Everything makes sense.

He has finally done something that he can show off to his children and grandchildren. When he grows old, his children and grandchildren will be around his knees. He can tell stories to them with a smile, which is the real story of his youth.

Even if there is no light in this life, the only thing is to live up to this life and future generations.

…………

The carriage bumped and wobbled, and finally arrived in Chang'an after traveling for more than ten days.

The familiar city of Chang'an was far away. Li Qinzai sat in the carriage and stretched his sore arms and back for a long time, and let out a long breath: "Finally home..."

After entering the city, Li Qinzai first went to the official office of the Ministry of Officials, handed over the official seal of the governor to the official office, and then went to Taiji Palace after leaving the official office.

After noon, Li Qinzai didn't wait long in front of the palace gate, and soon an eunuch came out and respectfully led Li Qinzai into the palace gate.

In Anren Hall, Li Qinzai saw Li Zhi again.

Entering the hall to salute, just bent down, Li Zhi rushed over to support his arm, patted his shoulder vigorously, and said with a big smile: "Jing Chu is considered to be back, not bad!"

Li Qinzai still said sternly: "The minister obeys His Majesty's order, and the governor of Bingzhou is fortunate enough not to disgrace his order, so he returns to His Majesty."

Li Zhi seemed to be in a very happy mood, and said with a smile: "I know, I have heard about it, haha, Jing Chu is worthy of being a great talent in the Tang Dynasty, any errands entrusted to you can be handled properly, this time the task of Bingzhou is especially special." Li Suo, after reading your memorial, I can't help applauding you."

"Your Majesty's absurd praise, I'm just doing my duty." Li Qinzai said humbly.

Li Zhi shook his head: "If it's someone else, I'm afraid it won't be as good as Jing Chu's ability, and it will be done in a sloppy manner, which also violates my original intention."

"Only Jing Chu knows what I mean. This trip suppressed grain merchants, lowered grain prices, and brought down the corrupt officials in Hedong Road, eliminating the calamity of the disaster year. The credit is not small. I am very fortunate at this time, fortunately At the time, you were appointed governor of Bingzhou, otherwise there would be no guarantee that there would not be a civil uprising."

Li Qinzai blushed a little after being praised by Li Zhi. After all, when he first took office, he didn't have such a great and noble purpose, he just had the mentality of completing the task.

Li Zhi laughed again: "I heard that when Jing Chu returned to Chang'an, he was sent off by all the people in Bingzhou, and please take off his boots?"

Li Qinzai hurriedly said: "Everything is the favor of the emperor, and the minister is just accepting it on behalf of the emperor."

Li Zhi sighed: "Boots off ceremony...Since I came to the throne, I have rarely heard of local people performing this ceremony. There were a few cases in Zhenguan, and it was only because officials had great kindness to the local people that they were eligible to receive this courtesy. To be honest, I really envy Jing Chu..."

(End of this chapter)