On the ninth day of August in the eleventh year of Jinghan, in the early dynasty, Emperor Zhou Zhe of Jinghan passed the promotion and appointment of several officials, including the decision of Li Pin, the former commander of Nanhe County, to be promoted to the deputy envoy of water and land transport on Hedong Road.

In the Wu Dynasty, the transfer envoy all the way was already an official position equivalent to the governor of later generations when he was at his most powerful. In the capital, it is usually the prime minister who directly controls the power of transshipment across the country, which shows the dignity of his status.

Of course, the deputy envoy for the transfer is an official from the fifth grade, which is not very big in the capital, and his position is also the lowest among the officials who have been received because of his promotion. However, Li Pin was originally the county commander of Qipin, and this time his term of office has not expired, and he is directly promoted to the position of deputy envoy with real power, which can indeed be called a promotion of three levels in a row.

It is also for this reason that among the several officials who have been promoted, he is still quite eye-catching.

“…… Nowadays, there is a kind of atmosphere among the scholars, which is very bad. After the early dynasty, when a few courtiers were summoned to meet him, Zhou Zhe said a few words about this matter, "I want to be an official, but I am afraid of being a foreign official, especially for a local official, a parent official, afraid of being a city, and a county commander, which is the most serious, and I am very heartbroken." ”

"In the three years of Jinghan, there was a shortage of 135 people in the county order of the whole country, and in the seventh year of Jinghan, there were still more than 90 people in the shortage, especially in the Guangnan area, some people had a real shortage, but they were unwilling to go to work, procrastinate in Beijing, and run their own doors! I know the way. ”

"Of course, the position of county commander has heavy responsibilities and strict examinations. I understand these things. But parents officer! What is a parent officer! The so-called prefectural magistrate is the most basic official in this country. Get closest to the people! They, talking about ten years of cold windows, serving the country, in fact, but picking fat and thin, once hired, they want to be Beijing officials! To be honest, if you get the position of county order, but you don't go to office, it will be difficult to have an official in the future! These. I have an account in my heart. ”

Since the serious early dynasty has passed. In order to show closeness, this summons, Zhou Zhe arranged to take a walk near the Imperial Garden, which can be regarded as making the atmosphere more relaxed. But speaking of these things at this time. The calm emperor carried his hands behind his back. The tone became serious. The courtiers who followed behind followed suit, and they were sincerely afraid.

Zhou Zhe raised his hand, signaling that they didn't need to be so nervous. Still moving slowly.

"I once said that whoever can be a good county commander can do anything well. Since the third year of Jinghan, there has been more than one county commander who has been promoted. Dexin, you are the role model of the county order, and this time you were promoted to the deputy envoy of the transport, many people spoke, but I saw your performance in Nanhe, and still decided to give you this position. When you go to Hedong, you have to do Liu Congming a favor, do it well, and don't disappoint me. The situation in Hedong is very tricky. The Liu Congming in his mouth is Li Pin's Shangguan after that, and the capital of Hedong Road.

Li Pin, who was walking in the rearmost rear, bowed his head: "The minister must go all out and live up to the expectations of the saints." ”

Zhou Zhe showed a slight smile on his face, turned his head and waved his hand: "It's not to live up to my expectations, but not to live up to the expectations of the local people......" He stretched out his hand and pointed to the others behind him, "You, it's the same." Now this martial arts dynasty in the world, it seems that singing and dancing are leveling, and they are beaten with iron, but in fact, there are internal and external troubles. ”

As he spoke, he stepped on an arched bridge in front of him: "Outside, the Liao people have already gone, but don't think that the Jin people are good with each other." They also came out of the poor mountains and bad waters, and the wolf ambition is difficult to domesticate. Before the end of this war, they tore up the former alliance, if it weren't for the efforts of Tong Shumi, General Guo and many people, the sixteen states of Yanyun would not be able to get back an inch of land......"

“…… Speaking of China, this time, the north and south roads have been affected, and millions of people are in dire straits. At this time, there are still many ants and moths that are ready to move, and they want to destroy the roots of this country! All these things will be kept in my hearts. If the matter is messed up, I won't do anything to you, and the thousands of people below will not let you parents go. You guys...... Remember these words, this is what I expect from you. ”

Zhou Zhe said this, the purpose of this summoning has actually been achieved, and then the monarch and the ministers chatted a few more words, and Zhou Zhe even asked about the family affairs of several of the courtiers. Although Li Pin was not singled out again, he actually made a lot of limelight in this call. After the audience, everyone went out all the way, and several of them also expressed their closeness to Li Pin and made an appointment to eat together at noon. When he left the imperial city, he saw several carriages waiting outside, and the person in front of the carriage was the shopkeeper of Zhuji, who was obviously waiting for him.

Li Pin thought that Ning Yi was going to invite him to celebrate, and went over to say hello, wanting the other party to go first, this meal for himself and his colleagues must be eaten. However, the shopkeeper bowed down with a smile: "My owner knows that Lord Li will definitely have a small gathering with you at noon today to talk about personal friendship, so I just let the villain wait here, and where the lord goes, you can let the villain help arrange it." ”

"Oh, Liheng ......"

A total of eight officials will be promoted this time, and most of them, regardless of their official positions, will be released in other places. Their relationship in the capital is also deep and shallow, but in any case, the meal used to enhance the important relationship in the capital will be mostly held in the evening, and this noon, the eight people will have a dinner together. Listening to Ning Yi's arrangement, Li Pin couldn't help but smile, but there was not much joy in that smile.

This kind of businessman's behavior that can be arranged one step in advance makes him a little worried. Especially after the saint just said that, he immediately saw this kind of thing related to wealth and power, which made him unable to rise in his heart after all.

However, seeing that Li Pin has these relationships, others are somewhat interested. For them, although Li Pin's official position is still small, it is obvious that there are people in Beijing. For this kind of thing, everyone usually guesses, at this time, from Zhuji to the Xiangfu, from the Xiangfu to Qin Siyuan, Li Gang This line, it is a good thing to be able to get close. And the other two officials who were close to the prime minister's office, because they were older and more experienced, were able to enjoy all this with peace of mind.

It wasn't until noon that the shopkeeper asked where Li Pin had gone. By the way, he conveyed that Ning Yi wanted to help him celebrate.

Li Pin has just been promoted, and in the first few nights, he naturally wants to have a relationship with some important people, such as Qin Siyuan, who is now his backstage, is the most important. Ning Yi was nothing more than a businessman in the capital, and it was impossible to invite him to dinner and celebrate that night, but Li Pin thought about it for a while and said, "I will trouble Shopkeeper Li to send me to the Right Prime Minister's Mansion later, and I will be promoted this time." I want to go back to Xie Xiangye. But...... Please also ask the shopkeeper Li to tell Liheng, if Xiangye is not free tonight, I don't know if Liheng has time tonight, let me ...... Prepare drinks. Thank you. ”

The shopkeeper Li naturally nodded in response. Then let the cart send Li Pin to the Prime Minister's Mansion. He replied to Ning Yi and Li Pin's words. When he came to Ning Mansion to find Ning Yi, Ning Yi was in the courtyard, holding Ning Xi to teach him one, two, three, four. Su Tan'er sat on the edge of the pavilion not far away, embroidering flowers while watching the father and son, and when Shopkeeper Li came, Ning Yi let go of the child and asked him to staggered towards his mother.

After listening to Shopkeeper Li's words, Ning Yi was a little puzzled: "Prime Minister Qin has an appointment with Taishi Cai tonight, he is not free, you go and prepare a better dinner, by the way...... Call them above, as long as they are free, they can go over and join in the fun. Li Pin is still a good person, they have a relationship with each other, it's good to be familiar, I'll call Qin Shaoyu again, well, it should be about the same. ”

Su Tan'er walked over there with the child in her arms, and when the shopkeeper Li came out, she asked softly: "These things, is it okay for you to have a meal in private, and Wen Ding Wen Fang and them went over, didn't they add to the chaos?" ”

Ning Yi shook his head: "I know Li Pin, and our dealings are all above board. Now that he has been promoted, since he wants to be invited, he might as well use it as a gathering among friends to celebrate, but he is at ease. What's more, in Yushan Academy before, he occasionally helped to give lectures, and they didn't know each other with Wending Wenfang, so it's still okay, I'm strange...... How could he invite me today. ”

Su Tan'er laughed: "Maybe he thinks in his heart that he can be appreciated and promoted by Prime Minister Qin, all because of you." ”

"Not necessarily." Ning Yi smiled, "Officialdom belongs to officialdom, personal friendship returns to personal friendship, he has just been promoted, and this time things are not easy to do, it is time to pull some relationship between the left and right, so that the road in the future is a little better." These things, he won't fail to understand......"

"It's your men's business anyway." Su Tan'er shrugged his shoulders and lifted the child up and teased him a few times. When she married Ning Yi, although she was gentle, she finally had the edge of a girl, but at this time, the exposed edge had gradually converged, and she and Ning Yi had become more compatible. In fact, she is still twenty-one or twelve years old after all, young and beautiful, calm, and still full of gratifying vitality.

At home, the relationship between the two people and their status in the eyes of others are also clearer. Ning Yi is calm and reliable, and Su Tan'er, the housewife, also has enough majesty and convincing ability. Almost any matter that is reported to one of them must have a way to deal with it, although the style is slightly different, when both of them can actually handle the other person's side of the matter very well.

After saying a few words at this time, Su Tan'er no longer paid attention to Li Pin's side. On this night, Ning Yi set up a banquet in Zhuji to invite Li Pin, during which Su Wending, Su Wenfang and others, together with Qin Shaoyu and others, accompanied him, and also called several beautiful women from the alum building. This was done until the banquet was about to disperse and everyone was fighting with the woman without any image, Ning Yi went to the balcony of the box to watch the night scene outside, and Li Pin walked over with a wine glass.

After Zhu Ji and Alum Lou cooperated for some business, the two sides had close contacts, and Su Wending and the others were also old acquaintances with several Alum Lou women who came over this time, and they were happy in the box. Li Pin looked at the lively scene of pedestrians coming and going and merchants hawking on the street not far away, chatted with Ning Yi casually, and opened his mouth anyway.

"Liheng, this time I entered Beijing, and the foolish brother had a lot of emotion in his heart. I know in my heart that to be able to get to this position, Liheng you have helped in it. I have this in mind, but because of this, there are a few words that I have been holding in my heart, not vomiting or unhappy. But I also hope that Liheng will not misunderstand that I am the kind of arrogant villain who picks on the wrong place after being promoted......"

Ning Yi glanced at him: "But it doesn't hurt to say it." ”

"I want to know what Liheng is doing?" Li Pin thought about it. A little embarrassed, he opened his mouth, "You and I met Yu Pingmo, there are many things, and there is no need to beat around the bush." When I was in Jiangning, you and I met, I admired Liheng's knowledge, and I was also curious about Liheng and other people. Why did it go to the redundancy? For this matter. Liheng has never answered positively, and I can only say that everyone has their own ambitions. Although Liheng didn't care about his identity at that time, he had many positive thoughts in his lectures and teaching. Would you like to say it to those students? I always believed in my heart. Liheng wants to do something after all. ”

He paused: "I have never doubted these in my heart. Liheng is knowledgeable, and his ideas may be different from others. But the avenue is the same after all. Liheng has always been very capable of various things, including...... Things about Gu Yanzhen. ”

Ning Yi frowned. Li Pin smiled knowingly: "...... Including the later affairs of the imperial merchants, including your later distress in Hangzhou, including the Liangshan bandits, Liheng's ability to do things has always been undoubted. But...... When I came to the capital this time, I saw these things, saw this bamboo record, the big carts you sent out, and saw the things you studied. I have to say that you are really successful in this business, and the money you have earned is already a lot, which is your ability. But what are you going to do? ”

He asked in a deep voice. Ning Yi tapped his fingers on the railing on the terrace and nodded slightly, Li Pin paused for a moment, and lowered his voice again: "Liheng is a smart person, and when it comes to this, the foolish brother doesn't plan to hide it." These days, the foolish brother is thinking in his heart, this is the way to make a fortune for a wealthy gentry, but Liheng, what road do you want to take? These wealthy gentry and businessmen, on the surface, seem to have a lot of money and beauty, but in fact, where have they ever been looked up to, they ...... It is a tree without roots, a ping without water, even if it can help the prime minister manage the financial accounts, what can it be. Liheng is so smart, it is impossible not to see that this road has reached the very end, and it will not go anywhere, and it may even ......"

He hesitated for a moment, and finally lowered his voice to the lowest: "Maybe even ...... It's the way to die. ”

The hustle and bustle in the distance and the hustle and bustle in the room were coming, and after Li Pin said this, the terrace became silent, Ning Yi's fingers lightly tapped the railing, and his face smiled slightly. In fact, from the first sentence, Ning Yi roughly understood what the other party meant, and also understood that if he didn't really regard the friendship between the two as a gentleman's friendship in his heart, Li Pin would not have been able to say this sentence at this time, not to mention that he wasted the first day of promotion, a time when he could have a relationship with others.

It's just that there are many thoughts in his heart, and there is no way to tell others, he nodded, and at this time, he also thought about it for a long time, and when his fingers stopped, he opened his mouth: "Dexin, I want you to do something, do you think that this time I arranged you in the position of deputy envoy for transport, what do you want to do?" ”

Li Pin frowned: "At this time, there is famine on both sides of the north and south, and the situation is urgent. I know that Liu Congming and Lord Liu are secretly also Qin Xiang's people, but after all, I am a fresh face, and I can manage things, even if I offend people, I naturally have to ensure that the disaster relief grain channel is unblocked, so that the disaster relief food can be distributed smoothly. I'm mentally prepared for these things. ”

“…… Not really. Ning Yi laughed, for a moment, and shook his head, "Your biggest responsibility this time is not to ensure the smooth flow of disaster relief grain, but to ensure the smooth flow of business." This matter, it won't be long before you will understand. ”

"Business?" Li Pin was puzzled.

But I heard Ning Yi say over there: "The post of the county order, even promoted to the third level to the deputy envoy of transport, and the post of transport is a really important position, Dexin, this matter is tantamount to arsenic for people with slightly less ability, and even for you, it can only be regarded as a great tonic." The medicine of the tiger and wolf can sometimes make you struggle for thirty years less, but if you are not careful, it will backfire on yourself, and you seem to have a certain psychological preparation, which is the best. ”

Hearing Ning Yi break this matter, Li Pin's expression really became serious, and he suddenly understood at this time that about this matter, and even all the inside stories of his promotion, Ning Yi in front of him knew much more than he imagined. In this way, Ning Yi's position in the Prime Minister's Mansion is probably far more simple than he once thought......

He frowned, waiting for Ning Yi to continue. (To be continued......)