Everyone sat down one after another, Guo Song beckoned Cao Wannian to sit down too, Cao Wannian was very familiar with Zhang Lei, and he also knew Li An, so he was not polite and sat down directly, Zhang Lei hurriedly ordered the bartender to serve wine and food.

Li An is still in the confusion of being knighted, in fact, he has a knighthood, Daizong Li Yu in recognition of his contribution to the imperial business, specially named him a baron, he almost forgot, but today he was actually promoted from a baron to a county duke, this span is too big, it really made him not come back to his senses for a long time.

"Your Highness, why do you want to crown me as a high lord?" Ang Lee couldn't help but ask.

Guo Song smiled slightly: "The appointment of you and Zhang Lei Gaojue is to commend the two of you for your contributions to the stability and prosperity of Chang'an, and also to commend your long-term contribution to the transportation of military expenses to the Hexi Army. ”

Guo Song said that it was the truth, the two of them have been selling goods for Hexi for a long time, especially Zhangye wine, marketing Guanzhong, Bashu, Hedong, and the Central Plains, so that the Hexi military can obtain a stable source of military finance, both of them have made great contributions, and this alone should be rewarded, especially when the two of them took over the official residence sold by Zhu Zhu, leaving a large number of official residences for Guo Song, and solving the most important worries for the officials and generals of the Hexi Department to enter Chang'an in the future.

Zhang Lei was a little dissatisfied and said: "Lao An, hurry up and shut up!" Otherwise, the junior brother will think that you are too small to be a knight, so learn from me! Even if I am crowned as my father, I can face it calmly. ”

Everyone laughed, and Guo Song said angrily: "Be content!" I haven't been on the battlefield once, it's already very good to be able to seal the county duke, my subordinates have commanded and made a lot of achievements, and now the highest title has only reached the county duke, you are still dreaming of the duke of the country! ”

"Huh! I'm just kidding. ”

Zhang Lei hurriedly diverted the topic, filled the wine glasses of Guo Song and Cao Wannian, and asked Cao Wannian: "What is Lao Cao doing in Xinfeng County?" I'm familiar with that, see if I can help you with anything? ”

"Are you familiar with Liu Yiming, the commander of Xinfeng County?" Cao Wannian asked with a smile.

Zhang Lei laughed and said: "That guy is my drinking friend, how can I not be familiar?" ”

Guo Song is a little interested, Du Wenxing recommended Liu Yiming as Jingzhao Shaoyin, Guo Song went to inquire about this person's reputation among the people today, but the result was ruined, which is a bit contradictory.

"Senior brother, tell me, what kind of person is he?"

"Actually, I know Lao An very well, let me say first, Lao An can be added." Zhang Lei is a little weak-hearted, although he knows Liu Yiming, the county magistrate, he doesn't really know each other, and the wine table is often different from real life.

"Say it! I listened. Guo Song picked up his wine glass and smiled lightly.

Zhang Lei scratched his head and said: "This Liu Yiming is a native of Chang'an, there are dozens of acres of land at home, there are two shops in Chang'an, and the family has a huge fortune, this is the accumulation of several generations of his family, and it has nothing to do with him as a county magistrate, he likes Meishou wine the most, and he comes to the Xishi wine shop when he has nothing to do. ”

"Wait!"

Guo Song interrupted him and asked with a smile: "I heard that the low-level people in Guanzhong are more supportive of Zhu Jun, why do you want to kill the word?" In addition, Zhu Jun does not contact the people at the bottom! It's right to kill the people who are the ones who are the county commanders, is he scolding himself? ”

"This ..... I had forgotten about this at the time, and Lao An came to add. ”

Zhang Lei felt that this topic was a little hot, and quickly pushed it to Li An, Li An said unhurriedly: "I also asked Liu County Order this question, I remember very clearly, this topic is that each county has different taxes, and it is mainly for residents in the city, some counties levy alcohol tax, and some counties do not levy alcohol tax, in fact, Zhu Jun is still confused in the matter of whether to levy taxes, and many of his decrees are self-contradictory, he said that all taxes in the Tang Dynasty will be abolished, but at the end of the year he will blame officials for too low taxes." ”

"Secondly, it is also mentioned that Zhu Jun appoints officials to do whatever he wants, many county officials are illiterate in big words, like Xinfeng County Cheng Zhou Wei, originally Zhu Jun's personal soldiers, old, not suitable for the army, Zhu Zhu appointed him as Xinfeng County Cheng, not a word, all day long pondering to make money, his best trick is to frame the rich to fornicate with the Southern Tang Dynasty, and then arrest the master, force the family to go bankrupt, pay money to ransom people, Liu County ordered to scold and kill the people, that is, he is Zhu Zhu's personal soldier, so together with Zhu Zhu scolded, scolded Zhu Zhu indiscriminately sealed the official, These officials spend their days trying to exploit the people. ”

Zhang Lei also said: "Zhu Jun is not really kind to the people at the bottom, but the people at the bottom have no oil and water, he doesn't look down on it, he doesn't collect money through taxes, but lets his subordinates exploit the rich to accumulate wealth, which is completely a bandit's practice, so the rich people in Guanzhong hate Zhu Jun, and the people at the bottom support him, that's why." ”

Guo Song nodded, and asked Li Andao again: "How is this Liu Yiming's character?" ”

Li An thought for a while and said: "I don't know about other aspects, but one thing I can be sure of, he is not greedy, the main thing is that his family has money, he is not an official to make money, he can also do some facts, such as the bridge connecting Xinfeng County to Bashang, which is in disrepair, it is in Wannian County, and it should be repaired by Wannian County, but there has been no movement for so many years, he can't bear it, so he raises money everywhere to repair the bridge, Zhang Lei and I have donated 100 yuan each, judging from this matter, he still has something to do." ”

"His only problem is greed!"

Zhang Lei added with a smile: "If you want to appoint him as a general, he may drink and make mistakes, but he should be able to do other official positions." ”

Guo Song drank another glass of wine and asked with a smile: "You have been in Chang'an for many years and have rich life experience, how do you think you can judge whether the state and county officials in Guanzhong are qualified?" ”

Zhang Lei was the most energetic about this kind of problem, and he immediately said: "It's very easy, first of all, whether Zhu Zhu appointed it, if it is appointed by Zhu Zhu, he will be dismissed and arrested, and after cleaning up his greedy money, he will kill those who should be killed and let go, and he would rather kill three thousand by mistake than let one go." ”

Zhang Lei's method was simple and rude, Guo Song didn't bother to pay attention to him, and turned back to ask Li An, "What about Uncle An's suggestion?" ”

Li An smiled and said: "In fact, the fat man's words also have some truth, Zhu Jun appointed officials to collect money for him, and their duty is to collect money, like Liu Yiming's county order, he was finally forced to resign, but in my opinion, it should still depend on how many practical things he has done for the people, how many bridges he has built, how many roads he has built, and how many schools he has run, what does His Highness think?" ”

"I've taken your advice to heart, come on, we've toasted this!"

…………

Coming out of the restaurant, Guo Song rode back to Xingqing Palace, and he asked Cao Wannian with a smile, "What do you think they say?" ”

Cao Wannian nodded, "I think what they said makes a little sense, first of all, the officials appointed by Zhu Zhu should be dismissed, this is a matter of principle, Zhu Zhu is not the previous dynasty, he is a usurper and rebellious, and a national thief, we can keep one or two by chance, but it is really inappropriate to keep them on a large scale, and then liquidate, those who are corrupt and bribe, and those who exploit the people must force out his stolen money, and finally kill those who should be killed, and those who should be released!" ”

Guo Song pondered for a moment and said, "Get rid of them, then who will serve as the county commander?" ”

"Former prefectural ordinance ......"

"No!" Guo Song vetoed it.

Cao Wannian immediately realized that this suggestion should not be made, the previous county orders were all loyal to the imperial court, and they were now local officials who needed to be loyal to the Jin Palace.

Cao Wannian hurriedly said again; "This spring, we admitted a group of scholars for the imperial examination, there are 200 people in the Shike alone, they are officials everywhere, the evaluation of the Ministry of Officials has come out, we can select a group of outstanding people, and then select some experienced people from the local officials of the Jin Palace, the shortage of officials in various parts of Guanzhong can basically be solved, as for the vacated positions, we can evaluate and promote from the Ming Jing Department of admissions."

Guo Song thought about it, this plan was not bad, and he said happily: "Immediately notify Pan Liao to select officials, and hurry up." ”

"This matter will be dealt with immediately, and there is another suggestion for the lowly position."

"I am worried that if the news spreads, these officials will flee with their money, it is better for His Highness to summon all the officials above the ninth rank in Guanzhong to come to Chang'an for a gathering, meet the King of Jin, and then check the officials appointed by Zhu Zhu, and those who take the initiative to confess will not die, if they are found to be corrupt and killed, what does Your Highness think?"

Guo Song was still weighing the pros and cons, and Cao Wannian persuaded again: "Use thunderbolt means to show the heart of the Bodhisattva, for the sake of the people, Your Highness must not be soft." ”

Guo Song smiled: "I didn't say no, I was just thinking about some auxiliary measures, and the subordinates you sent are all gone!" “

"All gone, they will get the most detailed information!"