Ji Tang

Chapter 778 Boil them to death
The camp built by Yao Chang and the others was very large and the materials used were very good. The whole camp was clean and tidy, which shows that they put a lot of thought into it.

When they arrived at the Chinese army tent, before Ji Song could sit down, Yao Chang and Liu Zhan suddenly bowed and said, "Yao Chang!"

"Liu Zhan!"

"See you Lord Hou!"

Ji Song looked back, and at some point the two of them had red eyes and excited expressions on their faces.

He sighed secretly and stepped forward to help them up one by one.

"Get up quickly!"

"It's been hard for you all these years."

Yao Chang shook his head repeatedly and said: "It's not bitter, it's not bitter. The one who suffers is the Marquis."

"What does our hardship mean? If it weren't for your help behind us, we would have been dragged away to farm at home. Although they have never made trouble for us on the surface, they have made things difficult for us secretly. If it weren't for Lord Marquis, you are working for us in Chang'an, how can you have our current status!"

Liu Zhan looked furious. They had been made things difficult for them over the years, but in the end they were all safe.Whether it is impeachment or someone secretly plotting against him, he will disappear quietly.

If there was no secret help from Mr. Hou, they would not believe anything they said!
"Okay, okay, as long as you are all fine, everything else is not important!"

Ji Song expressed emotion as he looked at the two people in front of him and remembered how they followed him back then.After all, he has grown up, and so much effort has not been wasted.

As they said, although he rarely showed up, he always paid attention to them.Whenever something happens, I will try my best to help, and the exchange of interests is also essential.

"Okay, this time when I come back, I will find an opportunity to let you go back. You have stayed outside long enough over the years, and it is time to go back."

Yao Chang and Liu Zhan raised their heads in surprise, their eyes full of surprise!
They had no doubt that the Marquis' skill might be a big deal to others, but in the eyes of this person, it was nothing.

Ji Song smiled and said: "Have you ever complained that I have ignored you all these years and stayed in office for ten years?"

"I can't wait!"

The two of them said with some panic.

Ji Song shook his head and said: "It's not that I can't let you go back, but what can you do when you go back? Those old ministers who have been with His Majesty for many years are still there, so what position can you sit in when you go back? That means you can stand up to the sky. To be an assistant officer is to spend all your time burying your head in papers."

"But it's different outside. Although Yao Chang is just the governor of a place, Liu Zhan is the head of the Shipping Department. But Mingzhou is generally half a rank higher than the governor of other places. Above the court, the honor is noble. Who among the aristocratic families and the royal family doesn’t want to serve in these four places? But why is it always you?”

Yao Chang and Liu Zhan looked at each other and looked at Ji Song in confusion.

"Because Your Majesty doesn't allow it!"

"These four places are all important tax-paying areas in the Tang Dynasty. At least [-]% of the tax collected in a year comes from these four places. Do you think they are important?"

"How could His Majesty and the Prime Minister not pay attention to such an important place? As local officials, they have paid special attention to you. They have not touched you or asked you to go back. The most fundamental reason is that they have not found anyone more suitable than you. Choose someone to replace you, and that’s why you are still here.”

Seeing the two people who were both happy and helpless, Ji Song was also extremely helpless.More than once, he said openly and secretly that it was time for these two people to make a move, otherwise they would break up.

But neither the emperor nor Fang Du were moved, saying that there was no suitable candidate.Damn it, there is no suitable candidate. There have been too many students graduating from the academy in recent years. Many of them are talented people. With a little training, they can be independent. Are you telling me that there is no suitable candidate?
It wasn't until he had a drink with Lao Du that he knew the real reason. It turned out that it was because he was in a difficult position in the middle of the court!

As long as you are a third-level official or above, you basically have a solid foundation. Maybe you are one of the pillars. If it moves, the people behind you will not be able to get angry?

But the governor was originally a fourth-rank official, and Yao Chang and the others were half a rank higher than the others at this time.He has made great achievements in governing the local area over the years and has contributed countless taxes to the country. Once he enters the court, he will definitely be promoted.

Both of them are hard-working officials, so they can be placed in the Sixth Department.Even the emperor Li Shimin would not be willing to do it if it were placed on top of his idle duties!
So just ignore it and stay where you are.I’ll talk about it later when I get a chance. Anyway, it’s been a few years, not less than a few years.

So, I stayed here for nearly ten years
After hearing Ji Song's words, both of them felt cold.

Shouldn’t the court be based on meritocracy?Shouldn’t the capable ones be promoted and the mediocre ones be demoted?How come there is no place for me when I get here?

They work very hard on weekdays and don't dare to make any mistakes, just for fear of leaving a stain on their resume.But what does that mean now?If there is no place in the court, just ignore it?So what are their efforts over the years?
"It's not fair."

Yao Chang, who has always been taciturn, said tremblingly.

Although Liu Zhan is a little better, after all, he has stayed in Liubu and has heard some things.But once this happens to me, it's a different story.

"Haha! Fair?"

Ji Song suddenly sneered: "Old Yao, I think your life has been in vain these years. Are you asking me to be fair? What on earth do you think?"

"Governing a country is not something you play house. All forces must be balanced. This cannot be solved with just a word of fairness. People spend several lifetimes paving the way for future generations, which is not what you can compare with in the past ten years. Maybe some people have the ability to live without food. Not as good as you. But behind them, they represent a force that even His Majesty cannot ignore. Once they are moved, will the forces behind them give up?"

"Don't be naive. If you still think that way, I think you should stay where you are, so that you don't even know how to die when you go back. With your achievements in the past few years, you are absolutely at home in the local area. There is no need to worry. What's that time for?"

Yao Chang blushed when Ji Song said it. He was so angry that he almost blurted out without even thinking about it!

"Master Hou! Yao Chang is wrong."

Ji Song snorted coldly and said angrily: "I see that you have been living like a dog these years. I originally had high hopes for you, but now it seems..."

After saying that, he shook his head, turned around and sat on the chair.

Liu Zhan gritted his teeth and stepped forward and said, "Master Hou, we know that you are speaking out of anger and that we are not living up to expectations."

"I also ask Lord Hou to forgive me!"

Ji Song opened his eyes, looked at the two people who were bowing and clasping their fists, and sighed deeply.

"Official life is like a battlefield. If you are not careful, you will end up in a catastrophic situation. Even I am trembling with fear and dare not slack off at all!"

"Don't worry, Lao Liu, you are not even fifty yet. Look at who in the court is not in his fifties or sixties now? Some of them are in their seventies or eighties."

"Why are you so anxious? At our current position, it's not about who has the most merit or ability, but who lives longer."

"As long as you survive them to death, you will be the final winner."

Yao Chang opened his mouth, listening to Mr. Hou's strange remarks, he really didn't know what to say.
(End of this chapter)