golden scales

The rule of Ming Dynasty is to be a low-ranking official. .

Officials cannot serve in their hometowns, and officials will not leave their hometowns.This was originally to prevent local tyrants like the end of the Han Dynasty from appearing, covering the sky with one hand, and the fish and meat township, but it turned out to be a small official politics with distinctive characteristics.

When he took office and received the seal, the first thing the county magistrate had to do was to dig out the local files, or to settle the grain tax first, or to clean up the prison administration first, and these were all in the hands of the house officials.If the officials do not cooperate, the new official can only find out the yellow book of fish scales created during the last imperial census.As far as the county magistrates in the 16th year of Chongzhen were concerned, the latest document they could rely on was the record of Zhang Juzheng measuring the acres of land in the world during the eighth to tenth year of Wanli.

The county magistrates from outside are often scholars with top three and Jinshi backgrounds. These people have studied hard all year round, and most of them are from gentry families, so they have no idea about common affairs.However, officials are handed down from generation to generation, and the private books in their hands are far clearer and more accurate than official books, which directly helps them to complete various tax tasks.Without them, the achievements of officials will not be settled at all, and it will even be a problem to pass the examination.Therefore, county magistrates often pursue peace and coexist peacefully with these officials.Just wait until the term of office expires, take the umbrella of Wanmin, and be happy to be promoted to an official elsewhere.

Because the magistrate was also promoted by the county magistrate, he knew everything about the abuses below, so he wouldn't press too hard.It turned out that Luoyang Mansion was like this. I didn't expect to run into the hands of the prince, and I didn't expect that the prince would ask Shangfang sword to send a fourth-rank official to prison for investigation because of "laziness". .

For a moment, everyone in the entire Luoyang Mansion was in danger, huddling together like a hedgehog, pointing their thorns at the incoming East Palace.

Zhang Shiqi brought more than a dozen of his subordinates to the lobby of the Luoyang government office, and what greeted him was the vigilance and rejection hidden under the flattery.

"This mansion is loved by His Royal Highness the Crown Prince, and the government affairs in the office require the support of all gentlemen." Zhang Shiqi summoned the staff of the sixth house, gathered in the lobby, and divided the manpower he brought from Ruyang, without concealing his disdain at all. It turned out that the officials were suspicious.He said: "Let's gossip less, now the army is fighting a bloody battle with the thieves, and I will sit in the rear and prepare food and grass. The gentlemen of the house, and some of you have to work to sort out and submit the yellow scales of the house."

There are six departments in the center, and six rooms in the localities.Housekeeping is in charge of all household registration, land tax, taxation, and marriage registration in the area under its jurisdiction. It is the most inescapable room for new officials to take office.The officials in this house are also the most difficult to deal with. I don’t know how many files are concealed in their hands. Many new officials who go to Fujian and Guangdong to take up posts often have problems with going out to buy vegetables because they offend the house officials.

Luoyang was recently recovered, and these officials did not dare to be too disrespectful to Shangguan.Anyway, the murderous Sun Chuanting is in Luoyang, and the prince who dismissed him like a stunned young man is also sitting here, who dares to mess around in the limelight?

"I'll sort it out overnight today, and I'll definitely put it on the lord's desk tomorrow." The head official came out and responded, with a docile and kind appearance.

Zhang Shiqi nodded, and said again: "The third master please leave a statement, and the others prepare their case files in recent years for future reference."Xingde and prudent punishment is something every magistrate has to do, even if he has no interest, he has to go through such a formality.

Everyone in the mansion agreed with one voice, and went back to their respective offices to deal with their errands.

After all, Zhang Shiqi is old, and his energy is different from that of young people. He only asked a few words before serving tea to the guests, and even the judge thought it was too perfunctory.As soon as the judge left, Zhang Shiqi came to his senses, laid out paper and ink, and wrote down a list of colleagues who were acquainted in the attendant's room, ready to borrow from His Royal Highness the Crown Prince.

Such things did not need to alert the prince, but Wu Weiye was expelled, and there was no real leader in the attendant room for a while.Zhang Shiqi would rather alarm His Highness the Crown Prince than the old Wu Ge who he was not familiar with.After all, His Highness the Crown Prince acts vigorously and swiftly. Originally, the stay in Luoyang was only a short time, and he could not afford to be wasted.

——It would be good to drive out that bookworm who can only recite poetry and composition.

Zhang Shiqi has a vivid photographic memory, his writing is like flying, and he still has time to distract himself from thinking about Wu Weiye.

Naturally, this also contains the resentment of those who have failed in the test for a long time towards the second place in the juvenile ranking.

……

"Brother Meicun, why do you have to act like a little girl!" Although Hou Fangyu lived in Wu Weiye's home, he couldn't help but lose his temper with Wu Weiye who was crying and drinking to relieve his worries.

Wu Weiye was nine years older than Hou Fangyu, but still couldn't stop crying, choked up and said: "Brother Yu studied hard since childhood, once he was ranked first, he worked hard, who would have thought that he would be dismissed without fault, I hate it! I hate it!"

Hou Fangyu didn't know how to persuade him, thinking that he came all the way to Henan, not to mention persuading the prince to come forward to pardon his father, he would not even be able to meet him.Originally thinking that Ruzhou is a place where soldiers are fierce and dangerous, the prince is devoted to military matters, and it is reasonable that he has no time to meet him, and he only cares about it when he arrives in Luoyang.Unexpectedly, on the first day of entering the city, his "bridge" was broken.

——Being a filial son, how come there are so many difficulties and obstacles!

Hou Fangyu looked up to the sky and sighed, and Wu Weiye brought out the feeling of crying. He felt his nose sore, and tears seemed to be pouring out.He didn't want to cry with Wu Weiye, turned his head and secretly wiped his tears, pretending to be calm: "The room is so boring, I'll go out for a walk."

Wu Weiye just poured wine for himself and drank heavily, his face was covered with tears and snot, and he didn't hear Hou Fangyu say goodbye.

Hou Fangyu walked out of Wu Weiye's temporary residence, out of the square gate, and the government office was diagonally opposite.It just so happened that the people inside came out after work, chatting in twos and threes.The Henan dialect floated past his ears, and Hou Fangyu heard it clearly: It was impressive that he was talking about the words of the old and incompetent Xinfu Zun.Hou Fangyu knew that the current Luoyang Mansion was an old Juren who came from the servants of the Eastern Palace, and a flash of inspiration suddenly flashed in his heart!

——Since the road to Wumei Village doesn't work, why not try another road?Zhang Mingfu was originally just a scribe, and occasionally heard Meicun say that he has a photographic memory, and that's all.Since he has been reused by His Highness the Crown Prince, why not make him a close friend, and he can be regarded as entering the East Palace!

Hou Fangyu glanced at the unrestrained officials, and was about to go to the government office, but stopped at the door.Anyway, he is also the ruler of a family, how can he be so Meng Lang?He immediately went back to his residence, changed a set of clothes, and dug out the excerpts of the manuscripts prepared for meeting the prince, as well as his identity certificate and customs clearance documents for traveling as a student.After everything was ready, Hou Fangyu called the book boy, took his things and went to the government office.

Zhang Shiqi arranged for someone to send out the list of people who needed to be seconded, ordered someone to boil a bucket of hot water, sat in the back hall, took off his official boots that were not yet warm, and soaked his feet comfortably.All the exhaustion from the journey was dissipated by the scalding hot water. Although the heat made him sweat all over and his feet were red, he felt very comfortable.

"Master! There is a scholar outside asking to see you." The attendant came in to report, holding a famous card in his hand.

Zhang Shiqi half-opened and half-closed his eyes, and murmured, "Where is the scholar?"

"He gave his name, but it's a pity that the younger one didn't remember it. It seems that his father is also a high-ranking official." The entourage gave a foolish smile and handed over the name card: "The master will know it after looking at it himself."

Zhang Shiqi is old and expensive, and he has no grandeur with his servants, he took the famous assassin with his mouth open, and he was "Ministry of the Ministry of War, Governor of the Seven Towns Military Affairs", and immediately scared his sleepy bugs into nothingness.Looking back, it turned out that this "Minister of the Ministry of War" also had the word "Qian" on it, and his surname was Hou Yuxun, so he was not an unknown person.

"Well, he's Hou Junmen's son?" Zhang Shiqi and Hou Xunshi had no relationship, but out of respect, he still said, "Let him in."

"Master, you..." Chang Sui pouted at the wooden barrel under Zhang Shiqi's feet.

"It's okay, you won't be able to see it under the table." Zhang Shiqi raised his feet slightly, asked his attendant to move the bucket under the table, and said, "Add more hot water."

The entourage was helpless, but he only took Hou Fangyu's five qian and brought the words with him, and the master also allowed him to meet him, whether he met him when he washed his feet or took a bath!

Hou Fangyu waited in the foyer for a long time, watching the sun set, fearing that someone would say: Master is taking a rest, please come early tomorrow.

"Master sent you in." The chief follower came out and squinted at Hou Fangyu.Considering that my master is not even willing to wear boots, he might not be a big shot.

Hou Fangyu felt relieved, thanked the long-term follower with a bow to the end, and walked like flying.The long follower quickly stopped him: "You can break into your house casually? Follow me!"

"It's me, Meng Lang." Hou Fangyu quickly restrained his expression, straightened his clothes, and was still excited about his wise decision.

The two entered the back hall of the Fu Zun master one by one.

It was October, and the stove had not yet been fired in the main room.Zhang Shiqi was used to suffering, but he didn't expect that his servants would be lazy if they could.Hou Fangyu was born in a Gaoliang family, and he rolled in the gold-selling cave. He had a good grasp of the details of life. As soon as he entered the house, he found that the room was cold and moldy, and there must be no fire.He looked at Zhang Shiqi again, at the age of five or sixty, sitting behind the desk, his face flushed with sweat, his forehead was sweaty, and in front of him was a pile of old documents from the government.

At first glance, he is a loyal and hardworking official!

——No wonder the prince dismissed Wu Weiye and reused Zhang Shiqi, it's not unreasonable!

Hou Fangyu took a quick glance, and immediately bowed to the end: "Student Hou Fangyu, pay homage to the master!"

Students can see the officials without kneeling, and call themselves students, but Hou Fangyu can't wait to kneel and kowtow to Zhang Shiqi, just hoping to see the prince, and hand in the bloody and tearful petition.

"Give me a seat." Zhang Shiqi raised his dizzy eyes, looked at Hou Fangyu, and said, "Naifu and I are also officials in the same dynasty, so don't be cautious. Today, why did you come to see me?"

"The students know that the master is a model of officials in the world, and they only want to listen to the master's case in order to gain knowledge." Hou Fangyu responded loudly with the prepared manuscript. (To be continued.)