A Good Landlord in the Tang Dynasty: Emperor Yuan Cong

Chapter 1241 Do You Want to Regret the Engagement?

Xuanyangfang,
Taiwei Mansion.

The mansion that occupies one eighth of the area is particularly lively today. Everyone gathers around to greet the wife, concubines, children, housekeeper, accountant, servants and maids with concern. Their concern is very sincere.

Wu Huaiyu was not only good to his wives and concubines, but also to his servants.
Heart for heart,
When the news of his assassination in Luoyang came back, his family members cried with worry, and everyone wanted to go to Luoyang to take care of Alang.

Wu Huaiyu was touched by the greetings and concerns, and felt warm in his heart.
This is home.

Doorway,

The third brother Huailiang, dressed in a green robe, supported the gray-haired old Wu who stood there. The old Wu was seventy-six years old and had a hunched back, leaning on a crutch.
"Erlang," the old man waved to him.

Huaiyu stepped forward, "Aye,"

Lao Wu pulled him up and looked him up and down, "Glad that you're back, come home quickly."

The family came in together.
quickly,

The eldest sister Yu'e also came with several children, and then the second and third sisters' families, and the fourth sister Wanniang also came with her children. The eldest sister-in-law Cheng, who lived with her in Yongxingfang and was her next-door neighbor, also came with her family.

They are all brothers and sisters.

Even the fat man Wu and his father from the clan came.

Many people came after hearing the news, but they were all turned away. Today we were not welcoming any outside guests, just a family reunion.

Rao is so,

The house is also very lively.

The Wu family is indeed prosperous. Wu Huaiyu himself has more than fifty children. Although Old Wu has stopped taking concubines and having children in recent years, he was still crazy about it for ten years. Now he has more children than Wu Huaiyu.

The eldest brother Huaiyi has fewer children, but he still has more than twenty children.

The third son, Huailiang, has been married for only a few years and spent three years in mourning. He now has seven children.

The three older sisters and one younger sister who were already married also had many children. The eldest sister had five biological children, the second sister had seven, the third sister had six, and the fourth sister Wan Niang had also given birth to three.

Now Chengsi and Yingluo are about to get married.

However, the record for the most fertility in the Wu family belongs to Fatty Wu's father, the late patriarch of the Wu family. He actually took concubines and had children until he was eighty years old, and had more than a hundred children.

Lao Wu also brought all his children here today.
Wu Huaiyu couldn't recognize all of these dozens of brothers and sisters. The oldest ones were fifteen or sixteen years old, just like Chengsi and his friends, and the youngest ones were only six or seven years old.

Lao Wu drank tea and looked at these young children with great satisfaction. He said to Huaiyu, "Erlang, next year, you will also be a grandfather."

"Time flies by so fast." Wu Huaiyu also sighed.

Sixteen years seem to have passed in the blink of an eye.

"It's a pity that the eldest brother didn't come back to Beijing this year, otherwise the whole family would be reunited."

Wu Huaiyi went to the Western Regions to serve as the Grand Protector of Anxi. He had been there for less than half a year and the journey was long, 7,480 miles from Chang'an, so it took several months to go back and forth.

"Sanlang, how are you doing as the magistrate of Xunyang County?" Huaiyu asked the third brother. The former fat boy had completely changed. He was tall and strong, had a beard, and was wearing a green round-collar official robe. He looked very dignified when sitting there.

"With my brother's help, things have been going smoothly in Xunyang over the past two years. I was just summoned by the Ministry of Personnel for a talk yesterday."

Huailiang was appointed magistrate of Xunyang County. However, his mother died soon after he took office. He was dismissed from office for three years during the mourning period, and was reinstated after the mourning period and served for another two years.

The county magistrates of the Tang Dynasty implemented an annual examination system. The county magistrates were limited to four examinations, and those without a replacement should be given a fifth examination. In other words, a county magistrate's term of office was a maximum of four years, and if there was no replacement, it could be extended to five years at the discretion of the court.

Under normal circumstances, the transfer will be completed after four examinations.

However, if one's performance in the examinations is particularly outstanding, he can be promoted after three examinations.

If the county magistrate had such a direct access to the emperor, he might be promoted after two examinations, which was a special promotion. Of course, some county magistrates with poor performance were demoted or even dismissed before completing their term.

As the chief official of a county, if the county magistrate serves for too short a period of time, it will be very disadvantageous to the local area.

Therefore, the imperial court now has an unspoken rule that the capital counties, the capital counties, and the upper counties generally require five examinations before they can be transferred. The middle and lower counties must also pass four examinations.

Xunyang County was originally a medium-sized county, and the county magistrate was of the seventh rank, so he had to serve a full four years.

But now the court specially summoned Wu Huailiang to Beijing, and the Ministry of Personnel talked to him and gave him two choices. One is that the population of Xunyang County has exceeded 6,000 households, and it will be upgraded to a higher county after the new year. Wu Huailiang can continue to serve as the magistrate of Xunyang County, and his rank will be directly promoted to the sixth rank.

The second is to transfer to another position.

"What position do you want to be transferred to?" Huaiyu asked. He knew that Huailiang was a newly-appointed Jinshi and was directly selected to be the seventh-rank county magistrate of Zhong County. This was due to his connections. And his outstanding achievements in Xunyang in the past two years were also due to the huge resources of the Wu family. Wu Huaiyu not only equipped him with a luxurious team of staff, but also sent many people to Jiangzhou and Xunyang to develop there.
Jiangzhou also has excellent location advantages, important water and land ports, freight, shipbuilding, warehousing, and an important commodity distribution center for the Jiangnan West Road. In addition, driven by industries such as minerals, tea, and porcelain, Xunyang County is indeed a unique one.

However, Huailiang's current promotion is still inseparable from the Wu family and his current status.

"It is planned to transfer to the position of Doctor of the Imperial Academy."

The Doctor of Taichang is of the seventh rank, the Zhongxian Magistrate is of the seventh rank, and the Shangxian Magistrate is of the sixth rank. If we only talk about the rank, it is better to stay in Xunyang and be promoted to the sixth rank upper county magistrate.

but,

If we really talk about the value, it is actually the lowest-grade Taichang Doctor.

Although the Doctor of the Imperial Household was an academic official, he was highly respected by the Tang people and was very noble. The next step for the Doctor of the Imperial Household was often to be transferred to the sixth-rank Yuanwailang of the six ministries.

Yuanwailang can be said to be one of the most important official positions among the six ranks.

If a Yuanwailang performs well, he will be promoted to a higher position, usually to Langzhong. The best ones can be promoted to Zhongshu Sheren. There are also cases of transfer to local areas, with Yuanwailang being promoted to Governor of a middle or lower state.

People without connections may pass the imperial examination and become Jinshi, but they may not get an official position even after waiting for ten years. Even if they are finally given an official position after waiting for ten years, they often have to start from the ninth rank of county magistrate or county lieutenant. They may still be in the position of county magistrate after twenty years.

Wu Huailiang had Huaiyu as his strong backer, and every step he took would take others several years or even decades. After passing the imperial examination, he was directly selected as a county magistrate, and even a middle-ranking county magistrate. After only two years in office, he was promoted to a sixth-rank upper county magistrate, or a doctor of Taichang.

At this rate, after four examinations, the Doctor of Taichang would be promoted to the sixth rank Yuanwailang, and four years later he could seek the position of Governor of a lower state, which would directly jump to the fourth rank.

Or the Doctor of the Imperial Household, then the Recorder, then the Secretary of the Imperial Secretariat.

That's all Yangguan Avenue.

Others at the same rank may have to endure ten years or even longer, but for a prime minister's brother like Wu Huailiang, a son-in-law of five surnames, his official career is very easy. As long as he does not make big mistakes, there will be people who pave the way for him, help him achieve political achievements, and help him establish connections.

"What do you think?" Huaiyu asked.

"I want to go back to Chang'an," Huailiang said frankly. Although Jiangzhou is also quite prosperous, it is not as prosperous as the capital. "Brother, do you think I should stay in Xunyang or come to Chang'an?"

"Doctor Taichang is indeed a rare opportunity, but if you consider the long-term, I still suggest that you stay in Xunyang for another two years to lay a solid foundation. You are still young, so there is no need to rush."

Officials like Wu Huailiang do not need to worry about opportunities for advancement in their careers. The most important thing is to hone their abilities, otherwise it will be difficult for them to have a bright future even if they reach the fifth or sixth rank.

He gave his brother a suggestion: if he continued to work in Xunyang, he would be promoted to the sixth rank when Xunyang County was upgraded. After working for another two years and passing four examinations, he would be able to become a county magistrate in Beijing at least, based on his outstanding political achievements and the help of the Wu family.
Whether the Yuanwailang serves as a county magistrate in the capital, a secretary of the Secretariat, a secretary of the imperial court, or a governor in a border state, it can make his resume look better and hone his abilities.

In the future you will be able to go further and higher.

The rules for not having served in a prefecture or county, or being nominated for a provincial government post, will become increasingly strict in the future. Cases like Ma Zhou, Liu Li, and Wu Huaiyu, who were able to rise from humble beginnings to become prime ministers in just six or seven years, will become less and less common.

"Then I'll listen to you, brother," Huailiang nodded in response.
Lao Wu laughed and said, "It's right to listen to Erlang. You will be able to reach the fifth rank in six or seven years."

"Did you find out who assassinated you?"

“It has not been found out yet.”

"The imperial court can't find out?"

“No results yet.”

Lao Wu sighed and said, "I have heard many rumors recently. Could it be true?"

Wu Huaiyu knew that the rumors that Lao Wu was talking about were nothing more than that his achievements were so great that they frightened his master, and that the bow was hidden after the bird was killed. He smiled and said, "These rumors are all nonsense. If that were the case, how could I come back alive?"

"But, if it weren't for that, how could we not find out?"

"Don't worry, we can find out eventually."

"I'm afraid that someone will randomly push out a scapegoat," the third brother also suspected that the emperor was behind this.

After chatting for a while, Lao Wu felt a little sleepy, so he asked Huailiang to help him to rest first so that he could get enough energy to attend the New Year's Eve reunion dinner.

Concubine Gao Huian came in with Erlang Chengye.

She had a look of joy on her face.

"Erlang, hurry up and thank your father-in-law."

Erlang Chengye is also sixteen years old, tall and big. As a concubine's son, this child is relatively honest and obedient. When Wu Huaiyu planned to divide the family a few years ago,

It has been agreed that the Wu family’s assets in Jiaozhou will be handed over to Erlang in the future.

This time, Wu Huaiyu returned to Chang'an and was reinstated as prime minister. He was promoted to the position of Grand Marshal and appointed as the Prince's Grand Tutor. His son Wu Chengye was also promoted from Baron of Chiyang County to Marquis of Chiyang County for his merits.

Chengsi just told his second brother the news, and Chengye told his mother Gao Huian, who then brought her son to confirm it with Wu Huaiyu.

The Wu family is not like ordinary princes, nobles or aristocratic families. Concubines are not allowed to call their biological mothers "mother". They can only call them "aunt". There is no requirement to call their stepmothers "mother".

The children in the family all have a very close relationship with their biological mother, and of course they also respect Xuanfu, their stepmother.

"Tomorrow, I will take you to the palace to meet the emperor and thank him."

Wu Huaiyu asked Erlang to stand up. "You will also marry the daughter of the eldest grandson of the state uncle next year. After the wedding, you will serve as a guard in the Northern Yamen Imperial Army."

"Yes." Chengye responded. He previously studied at Chongxian Hall, and now he studies at the Imperial College. As for the future, he completely obeys his father's arrangements.

Just like his marriage, he was engaged to the concubine's daughter of Changsun Guojiu when he was only a few years old. Changsun Wuji's younger brother Changsun Wuyi also married a daughter as a concubine.

When a concubine's son marries a concubine's daughter, it is a match made in heaven.

Gao Huian whispered to Huaiyu, "There have been some rumors recently saying that Alang was assassinated by his eldest grandson? Then can our Erlang still want his daughter? Besides, our Erlang is now a county marquis, and his concubine's daughter is not worthy of our Erlang."

"Stop gossiping," Wu Huaiyu shouted at Gao Huian in a low voice, "The engagement has been made a long time ago, do you want to break off the engagement?"

"I'm not afraid that the Changsun family has bad intentions. If it's really Changsun who murdered Alang, how can we let Erlang marry the daughter of our enemy?"

"Stop talking about this. The marriage has been arranged a long time ago and will be held in a few months. Why are you still talking about this now?"

Wu Huaiyu felt that it was very unlikely that Zhangsun Wuji would plot against him.
Moreover, even if there was a conspiracy, the two would not be able to go back on their children's engagement unless they openly broke up.

In fact, Gao Huian still felt that his son was now a marquis, and even though he was a illegitimate son of the Wu family, his status was different, so he looked down on the illegitimate daughter of Changsun Wuji's family, and Wu Huaiyu scolded her.

Wu Chengye didn't have that idea. He completely obeyed his father's arrangements regarding his marriage with the young lady from the Changsun family.

His father wanted to arrange for him to go to Beiya after the New Year, and he obeyed completely.

He didn't know that his father planned to arrange for the eldest son Chengsi to be the magistrate of Luoyang County after the new year and to arrange for him to enter the Northern Yamen. In fact, he was going to take over the eldest son's job as the emperor's guard, or to be a hostage to the emperor.

Of course, this is also a very good arrangement. Starting from working in the Northern Yamen and serving as the emperor's personal guard for a few years is also a very important qualification.

(End of this chapter)