Do you know that it starts with Meng Tong?

Thousands of officials from nine prefectures and four prefectures in Henan ranked first in the evaluation!

This is a great honor.

But this also means that Wei Chen will not stay in the position of Yuzhou magistrate for too long. If nothing else happens, he should be promoted soon.

Perhaps after this pilgrimage to Beijing, Wei Chen will be left in Bianjing by the court to hold a more important position.

During the two and a half years Wei Chen was in Yuzhou, Zhao Ceying learned a lot from Wei Chen. He respected Wei Chen's knowledge and personality from the bottom of his heart, so he was reluctant to leave Wei Chen.

When Wei Chen saw Zhao Ceying's eyes were slightly red and full of reluctance, he couldn't help but feel a little emotional. He patted Zhao Ceying on the shoulder and said, "Before going to Beijing, all matters related to Yuzhou were entrusted to Huang Tongpan. , although his ability is inferior, Xiao Gui and Cao Sui can still do it. If you assist him well, everything will be the same as when you were the teacher. In this way, even if the imperial court really asks you to step down as the governor of Yuzhou, you can rest assured. Already."

"Students, please remember this." Upon hearing this, Zhao Ceying bowed to Wei Chen with tears in her eyes.

Zhao Zongquan also stood up and saluted Wei Chen and said, "Our father and son have taken great care of Xingyun over the years. I wish you a smooth journey and a bright future."

The children of the clan in a place like Zhao Zongquan were inevitably subject to the control and supervision of local officials. When Wei Chen was the magistrate of Yuzhou, he not only did not feel sorry for Zhao Zongquan, but also taught Zhao Ceying earnestly. Zhao Zongquan was naturally grateful to Wei Chen.

Facing Zhao Zongquan's congratulations, Wei Chen smiled and nodded, but he felt quite helpless in his heart.

From June of the sixth year of Tianyou's reign to the end of the eighth year of Tianyou's eighth year, Wei Chen has been serving as the magistrate of Yuzhou for less than three years. Logically speaking, there is no talk of promotion at all.

During this pilgrimage to Beijing, Wei Chen originally just wanted to report on his duties, take the opportunity to marry Rulan Minglan, and then continue to return to Yuzhou to serve as an official, wait for the opportunity, and then return to Bianjing with Zhao Zongquan and his son.

Unexpectedly, Yuan Yingdao, the governor of Henan Province, directly promoted Wei Chen as the number one official in Henan Prefecture.

Although this result has to be submitted to the Ministry of Civil Affairs for review, the opinion of the immediate superior has always been the most important in official evaluation, and the Ministry of Civil Affairs generally will not refute the governor's face. Now Wei Chen really wants to be promoted even if he doesn't want to be promoted.

ride a piggy

Chapter 248: Taking Off the Boots to Leave Love

In the back office of the state government, Yuan An was leading a dozen servants to pack their belongings and pack their belongings.

Considering Wei Chen's status, the Wei family did not have many servants. The total number of men, women, old and young was only about thirty. They were all working people and were not raised for entertainment.

Usually when you reach the level of a state official, it is normal to maintain a team of domestic prostitutes and a music troupe, but Wei Chen did not put any thought into this matter.

The family has a small population, so the luggage is naturally simple. We started packing a few days ago, and today, most of the boxes and cages have been bundled and loaded onto the carriage.

Wei Chen had already changed his clothes, put on his fifth-grade official robe, and stood with his hands behind his back in front of the rising sun screen in the court hall.

At this time, footsteps were heard in the hall. It was Huang Shouzheng, the general judge, who had just arrived from his official office after hearing the news that Wei Chen was leaving today.

Seeing Wei Chen looking up at the bright mirror hanging in the court hall, speechless for a long time, Huang Shouzheng said with a smile: "I still remember that Lord Zhizhou got out of the car and heard many important matters in this court hall. , so that the people's grievances can be redressed, and the people therefore respect the Lord Zhizhou as Yuzhou Qingtian."

When Wei Chen heard this, he turned around and said with a smile: "Brother Huang, when I am not in office, you must also make the judicial system of Yuzhou clear and free from corruption. Remember, virtue is the leader and punishment is the supplement."

Huang Shouzheng hurriedly bowed and said: "Don't worry, my lord, I have compiled the files that Lord Zhizhou has examined in the past and placed them in the study room so that you can receive instruction at all times."

Wei Chen smiled, just listen to these words, don't take them seriously.

He looked at Huang Shouzheng and said slowly: "I am going to Bianjing now. Maybe the imperial court has another appointment. The position of governor cannot remain vacant for a long time. If the officials ask for my opinion, I will recommend Brother Huang."

Huang Shouzheng trembled when he heard this, with a look of surprise on his face. He immediately bowed to Wei Chen and said, "Although I don't have any enterprising talent, I will definitely follow Xiao Gui and Cao, and I will never let down Lord Zhizhou these three years." My hard work in Yuzhou!"

Wei Chen nodded, took out the statement he had already written, and explained clearly to Huang Shouzheng one by one the government affairs of the state government after leaving office.

At the end, he supported Huang Shouzheng's arm and said solemnly: "From now on, all matters big and small in Yuzhou will be entrusted to Brother Huang."

The officials in the state government couldn't help but admire Wei Chen when they saw that he was still meticulous in his work even after leaving office.

They had known for a long time that Zhizhou Wei Chen was about to go to Beijing for pilgrimage, but when the day came that Wei Chen was leaving, they still felt sad.

During Wei Chen's tenure, he was not only diligent in political affairs, but also very strict with his subordinates, which made these subordinate officials who were accustomed to laziness complain endlessly.

But on the other hand, Wei Chen does not hesitate to reward his subordinates who perform well and promote them in a timely manner, which is a real benefit.

In particular, Wei Chen took the initiative to raise the salaries of low-level officials in the state government, which had never happened before.

Therefore, everyone in the state government had mixed feelings about Wei Chen, the magistrate of the state, with half respect and half fear.

Seeing Wei Chen saying goodbye to Huang Shouzheng, boarding a carriage and driving out of the state government office, most likely never to come back again, the officials in Yuzhou felt both relieved and a little disappointed.

In the end, all the complicated emotions converged into one sentence: "Master Zhizhou, take care of yourself on the way to Bianjing!"

compared to this

Without these officials, the minds of the people of Yuzhou would be much simpler.

Wei Chen served as the magistrate of Yuzhou for only two and a half years, but this did not prevent the people of Yuzhou from loving Wei Chen.

When the news that Wei Chen was leaving spread, the streets of Yuzhou City were deserted. Men, women, and children came out and stopped Wei Chen's carriage at the city gate.

These people were not forced out of the city by officials, but came to see Wei Chen off voluntarily because of his kindness.

Simplifying lawsuits, increasing taxes, strengthening the treasury, easing corvee service, building dams, eradicating epidemics, promoting Yi Xue, encouraging farmers and mulberry...

Any local official who can accomplish one of these during his term of office is considered a capable official, and Wei Chen accomplished them all.

Moreover, in addition, Wei Chen also left many virtues in Yuzhou.

The Leaze Garden where corpses are buried, the Salesian Home where orphans are taken in, and the Futian Home where orphans are cared for...

These public welfare institutions have actually been around for a long time, but because they have to pay all year round, they often exist in name only, or they don't exist at all. This means that big cities like Bianjing are relatively complete.

But now, under the auspices of Wei Chen, Yuzhou City and the following Xinzheng County and Mi County have successively established these institutions. Wei Chen also specially allocated official land to maintain daily expenses.

In today's world, local officials often do not like to deal with the mundane affairs in the yamen, but are more willing to invite the wind and admire the moon.

As long as they have some spare money in the treasury, they will probably build some pavilions and pavilions for recreation, and write poems to memorize them for future generations to sing.

As for Wei Chen, as a powerful Wen Zong, he had been in Yuzhou for nearly three years. Except for a long poem about Jun porcelain, he had made few achievements in poetry and articles, which made the literary circles regretful.

However, for the people of Yuzhou, this was a great good thing, which meant that every ounce of Wei Chen's energy and every copper in the treasury was used on the people.

Wei Chen got out of the carriage and looked at the crowds of people, which were like a lantern market in Bianjing on Yuan Dynasty night, and couldn't help but feel warm in his heart.

Serving as an official will benefit one party.

The three years he spent in Yuzhou were finally not wasted. He was worthy of the people and his own conscience.

At this time, several elderly squires elected by the people came to Wei Chen on crutches.

"Master Zhizhou has been in Yuzhou for three years. The weather in the territory has been smooth, the grain has been plentiful, people have not picked up things on the road, and the houses have not been closed at night. The rule of the three generations has been nothing more than this.

Now that Mr. Zhizhou has left office and entered the capital, he will surely make great progress and take further steps. We dare not make any nonsense to stop him. We only ask Mr. Zhizhou to leave his official boots to show his love for the people of Yuzhou. "

Wei Chen couldn't laugh or cry when he saw this.

These "legacy boots" originated from Confucius. When Confucius was the governor of Zhongdu, he was deeply loved by the people. When he left office, an old man hugged his legs and cried to persuade him to stay.

Confucius was greatly moved, but he couldn't delay because of his fate, so he took off one of his boots and left it as a souvenir to the people of Zhongdu.

But later on, the official's decision to take off his boots and keep his boots after leaving office became like the Wanmin Umbrella, which turned into a farce. It was mostly a trick directed and performed by the official, just to win the reputation of being honest and caring for the people.

Wei Chen thought that unlike those corrupt officials, he was unwilling to engage in these formalisms, so he had to refuse immediately.

Unexpectedly, when the elders heard Wei Chen's refusal, they threw away their crutches and knelt on the ground, begging Wei Chen to take off his boots. If Wei Chen refused, they would not be able to kneel down.

These senior citizens, who were in their seventies, went to the Chongzheng Hall, and the emperor was embarrassed to ask them to kneel down.

Wei Chen was so virtuous that he could accept such a great gift. He was shocked and had no choice but to do as they said and take off his official boots as a gift.

At the same time, Wei Chen was also deeply touched. Although taking off boots was a formality, if people did it from the bottom of their hearts, the meaning would be completely different.

After the elders got what they wanted, they stood up slowly with Wei Chen's help. Holding the official boots that Wei Chen had just taken off in their hands, they stepped away respectfully.

Wei Chen breathed a sigh of relief when he saw this and asked Yuan An to get a new pair of boots for him.

Then, another person came up with a glass of water and wine, and then another person broke off a willow branch and brought it...

After making three concessions and urging him to go in, the people of Yuzhou reluctantly let Wei Chen leave.

Wei Chen took one last look at the city he had devoted his efforts for three years, turned around and boarded the carriage. The coachman raised his whip and scolded the carriage slowly towards the official road leading to Bianjing.

Chapter 249

After sending off the Kitchen God, the New Year atmosphere in Bianjing became more intense, and the crackling of firecrackers could be heard from time to time.

At this time, the heat wave for people in the city to buy new year's goods has not yet subsided. The broad streets are busy with traffic, and peace carts pulled by more than a dozen horses are shuttled back and forth in the streets and alleys.

After five days of driving, the Wei family's motorcade, which had just entered the city from the west gate, was now struggling to move among the bustling pedestrians and the endless flow of carriages and horses.

Several servants that Wei Chen had hired in Yuzhou looked left and right as they walked, their mouths wide open in surprise.

They were all natives of Yuzhou. The current prosperity of Yuzhou has shocked them, and the colorful world in Bianjing City in front of them makes them feel that their eyes are not enough.

Wei Chen opened the car curtain and looked at the crowds of people on the street, and couldn't help but sigh in his heart.

After nearly three years of absence, Bianjing is still the splendid city that ranks first in the world. Even the city of Yuzhou cannot match the prosperity of the peaceful and prosperous times.

As he got closer to home, Wei Chen became more and more determined to return home. Seeing that the road ahead was blocked and difficult to travel, he stopped keeping a low profile and ordered someone to hang out his title plate to clear a road for his own fleet to pass.

Bianjing was originally a place where dignitaries gathered, and now it was the time when foreign officials came to Beijing for pilgrimage. It was not unusual at all to meet a high-ranking official like the prefect of the state on the road.

However, when Wei Chen and his entourage hung out their title signs, the cars, horses and pedestrians on the street took the initiative to get out of the way and respectfully stayed aside.

Just because I saw the content on the title plate.

"God bless five years of liberation!"

"God bless you for six years!"

"God bless the champion in six years!"

"Six dollars passed!"

"Hand-picked Hanlin!"

"Mr. Chaoyi!"

"Extended book!"

"Zhan Shizhongyun!"

"Yuzhou knows the state!"

There are so many officials in the city of Bianjing who are born in the two rankings and have Jinshi status. If you drop a brick, you might be able to hit one.

However, officials who are qualified to play the titles of Jieyuan, Huiyuan and Zhuangyuan are rare even in Bianjing.

After all, there are only 24 Jie Yuan in three years, and Hui Yuan and Zhuang Yuan only have one in three years.

As for collecting all three titles, there is even one more official with the title of "Six Yuan". Needless to say, there is only one official in Bianjing and even in the entire Zhou Dynasty.