After a while, Lin Fan returned and saw that his father was still sitting in the living room, as if he was closing his eyes and recuperating. Lin Fan didn't want to disturb his father's rest, so he deliberately slowed down.

Lin Ruxian's eyes were slightly closed, as if he was pondering something. It wasn't until he heard Lin Fan's footsteps coming in that he opened his eyes again.

He looked at Lin Fan and asked, "Fan'er, what do you think of our Lord Zhizhou?" ”

Lin Fan was stunned for a moment, feeling that this question was a bit sudden, and then understood that his father was taking the school examination himself.

He sorted out his thoughts for a while, and then replied: "Now that the situation in Jiangzhou is getting more and more difficult, it is really not easy for this Lord Wei to be able to maintain the stability of Jiangzhou in the current situation, and he can be regarded as a capable minister."

Lin Ruxian glanced at him, and suddenly laughed: "You are still hiding it from me!" Why, don't you dare to say it to me? You're right, he is indeed a capable minister; But under the ability, his hidden ambition is not small! Lin Ruxian sighed.

"Oh, please make it clear to my father!" Lin Fan was pierced by his father and scratched his head.

Lin Ruxian said angrily: "What is it explicit? I don't believe you kid didn't see it! Now there are Manzhen iron cavalry pressing step by step, wanting to break through the pass and go south to take the Central Plains, but the imperial court is difficult to resist, and has been defeated repeatedly, losing its division and losing its territory. ”

"There are displaced people from all over the north, and the officials and soldiers are fighting everywhere in order to suppress bandits and quell chaos, but thieves are coming and going, making it difficult for the court to suppress bandits."

"Now, the war is becoming more urgent. Therefore, from the government and the opposition, from His Majesty to the civil and military officials, the eyes of everyone in the court are focused on the war on the front lines everywhere. ”

"And it is precisely because of the stability of Jiangzhou that except for the imperial court asking Jiangzhou for the taxes that should be paid, I am afraid that no one will take a second look at Jiangzhou here."

It is a pity that although the hundred officials live in the temple, except for a few people of insight, most of them do not know that only stability can ensure the normal collection of taxes. Only with money can we continuously provide food and salary to the officers and men in the front, and only then can the officers and soldiers have combat strength and fight wars. ”

"Maintaining stability is no less important than fighting on the front lines, but unfortunately most people in the world are only focused on what is in front of them and do not understand this truth. Therefore, what Wei Tao did is destined to be buried and difficult to know, and even if he knows, he will not care too much and attach importance to it. ”

Lin Fan pretended to be curious and asked, "Then why does he still want you to submit a letter to the imperial court and ask the imperial court to allocate food?"

Lin Ruxian smiled: "You kid, I'm still starting to take the school exam!"

"This is where Wei Tao is smart, he obviously knows that it is impossible to ask for food from the imperial court this time, why does our Lord Wei still let me go to the imperial court?"

"He just wants to borrow my mouth to let everyone in the world know that he Wei Tao is a capable minister! It was he who single-handedly ensured the stability of Jiangzhou's tax-paying land with his own efforts to ensure the stability of Jiangnan's tax-paying land. ”

"After this incident, in the imperial court, he can go directly to the Holy Hearing, so that His Majesty and courtiers will notice his merits and abilities, and look at him differently, which is the capital for him to become an official in the future."

"In the people, you can let the people know that he is asking for the people's life, and he is a sunny man who loves the people like a son. He worked tirelessly to help the victims, and even did not hesitate to ask the court for food. This can allow him to gain a good official reputation and be loved by the people. ”

"In this way, whether it is above the temple or far away from the rivers and lakes, he can gain great prestige."

Lin Fan asked: "As the governor of Jiangzhou, Wei Tao has a very heavy authority and has the right to do things. Then why should he just write a report directly to His Majesty, why should he find his father to do this? ”

Lin Ruxian raised his hand and knocked on Lin Fan's head, but he was worried that Lin Fan would be in pain, so he rubbed it dotingly.

After doing this, he smiled and said, "So he's really smart!" The most important thing in this matter is that these words cannot come out of his mouth, otherwise the effect may be greatly reduced, and maybe someone will be labeled as a fame and reputation. ”

"And now it just so happens that I am being reinstated by the imperial court, which gives him a chance. These words can only be more convincing and convincing when they come out of my mouth. Otherwise, why do you think that he is a dignified and well-known state and a feudal official, why should he complain to me here? ”

"Father, since you know everything, why do you still promise him, are you willing to be used by him?" Lin Fan was puzzled, this was what he really cared about.

Lin Fan was a little apprehensive in his heart, staring at Lin Ruxian, as if he was afraid of something.

Lin Ruxian smiled: "Why don't you agree? What about using me, and what is there to lose for us? It was precisely because he used me that he agreed to take care of our Lin family. With the care of the local chief officer, plus these village warriors, even after we leave, we can have no worries. ”

"In addition, after I entered Beijing, I really needed a chance to show my existence, and this is just such an opportunity. So it's not so much a take-off, it's more of a know-it-all deal. ”

Seeing Lin Fan's increasingly disappointed and gloomy expression, Lin Ruxian picked up the tea at hand and took a sip, looking at Lin Fan jokingly: "I know what you're afraid of!" Why, do you feel that I am complicit in others for the sake of personal gain? ”

He took a long breath and said, "Fan'er, when you used to study, you could distinguish good and evil in black and white so clearly. But now that you are an official, you must understand that there is no absolute purity and turbidity in this world, and there is nothing black and white; More often than not, most people fall somewhere in between. ”

"And, stinky boy, you don't want to know who I am? I'm your dad! If it's really just self-interest, how can I agree that you don't believe me? ”

"The reason why I am willing to agree to him is mainly because in today's Jiangzhou, there needs to be a person who can serve the people with virtue and prestige, so that the people can be appeased."

"With such a person, the people will believe in him, and the people will believe that there is hope for the future and everything will be better. Only in this way will the people not be in turmoil and the current situation can be maintained. ”

"At present, among the officials at all levels in Jiangzhou, only Wei Tao is the most suitable. Although he also has his own interests in his heart, the path he chooses is as beneficial to the people as possible, which shows that this person still has his own bottom line as an official. ”

"Fan'er, you have seen the suffering of the people during this period of time, as long as a person can really do things for the people, as for whether he really loves the people like a son, or is it just for his career and ambition. In your opinion, is it really that important? Or do you think that ordinary people really care about this? ”

"All along, the people of my big cloud have been too bitter to go on like this. As long as the people can be saved from the suffering of war and the people can live a stable life, don't say that you want to use me, even if you kill me Lin Ruxian, what's the matter! ”

Lin Fan's eyes became brighter and brighter, and he blushed embarrassedly and said, "Dad, the child knows that he is wrong, he shouldn't doubt you!"

Lin Ruxian had a little helplessness on his face, and reached out and tapped Lin Fan's head: "You, everything is good, but you are too smart, and you think too much in your head!" ”

Then his face sank, and he said solemnly: "Fan'er, do you know why I told you so much? It's because I know that although you are intelligent by nature and have a good heart, you can understand everything at a glance. ”

"But once a person embarks on a career, there are too many entanglements of interests, you will face all kinds of temptations and choices, and when the time comes, a little step will be wrong, I am afraid that you will go astray step by step, and eventually lose your heart. You can be as ambitious as Wei Tao, and you can play some tricks for your career, but you have to remember not to hurt the people at any time! ”

"My Lin family has done good deeds and accumulated virtue for generations, if you really become such a person who only wants to do anything for your own interests and career, regardless of the life and death of the people, it will disgrace my Lin family. Then don't blame me for not recognizing your son, and even killing my relatives in righteousness! Lin Ruxian's face was melancholy at this time, and he was a little resolute.

Lin Fan naturally would not doubt the truth of his father's words, his face was firm when he heard the words, and he suddenly knelt on the ground.

He choked up and said, "The father's good intentions, the child knows everything!" Please rest assured father, all children will abide by the Lin family motto and father's teachings in the future. Heaven and earth are a mirror, if there is really the day you said in the future, the child is willing to cut himself off in front of the house, and after death, he will not enter the ancestral grave of my Lin family, and he will not be able to see my Lin ancestors in the ground. ”

At this time, Gu Shi happened to come out of the back hall, saw Lin Fan kneeling on the ground, and hurriedly said, "Fan'er, what are you kneeling there on such a cold day?" Hurry up and be careful not to catch a cold! ”

She hurriedly stepped forward and wanted to pull Lin Fan up, but she couldn't pull him up.

was so anxious that Gu's tears rolled in her eyes, and she asked Lin Ruxian anxiously: "Master, what mistake did Fan'er make, and you punished him like this?" Get him up. ”

Lin Ruxian glanced at his wife, and knew that today's goal had been achieved, and there was no need to let his son kneel down again.

"Alas! Fan'er, get up, what I said today, you can keep it in mind, and think more about things in the future. Okay, let's go back to the house with your mother, don't let your mother worry. ”

In order to ease the atmosphere, Lin Ruxian quipped to the Gu family again: "Madam, everyone is so old, you don't want to spoil it like this, and you are not afraid to spread it out and make people laugh."

Gu Shi glanced at him with disgust: "No matter how old he is, he is my son, I am willing to do this, I want you to take care of it!" Let's go, Fan'er, let's go back to the house and ignore your father! ”

When Lin Fan heard this, he secretly glanced at his helpless father with a smile, and then stood up with Gu's support.

He didn't care about his sore knees, and obediently helped Gu Shi to walk towards the courtyard. Lin Fan comforted his mother with kind words while walking, which finally made Gu let go of what he had just done and burst into laughter.

Lin Ruxian sat alone in the living room at this time, quietly staring at the mother and son who entered the back hall, quiet and peaceful.

He unconsciously stroked the beard under his chin, although he seemed expressionless, but inadvertently, there was still a few smiles between his eyebrows.

After Wei Tao left, it was the turn of the chief officials of other counties in Jiangzhou and neighboring states and counties to pay their respects.

These people were hated and envious in the face of Chucheng County, who had taken the lead due to the favorable location.

The county commanders of Jiangzhou are afraid that they will be hated by the newly appointed Yushi Lord if they come late, in case they wear small shoes for themselves at that time, even if there is only a few words into the ears of today's saints, it will be very bad for their future career!

For the generous gifts they brought, Lin Ruxian neither accepted them in full, nor did he return them all. He just picked out one or two worthless things from each copy and returned the rest. At the same time, he also asked Steward An to make a record and return the gift.

The local officials in Jiangzhou are fine, but the officials in neighboring prefectures and counties are bitter in their hearts.

They also wanted to befriend Lin Ruxian, an upstart in the court, but because of their official positions, these people did not have the courage to leave their posts without permission.

They had no choice but to send letters and gifts, all of which were due to the fact that there were many official duties near the end of the year, and it was inconvenient to come in person, so they sent letters to confess their crimes.

The tone of their letter was how humble and humble they were, most of them were some flattering words, and Lin Ruxian just smiled when he saw it, and then ignored it. The gifts they received were also dealt with in the same way as before.

In addition to the official figures, the neighboring families also sent people to congratulate them.

After that, even the governor's palace and the yamen of the Jingfu envoy were alarmed and sent letters to express their greetings.

And this is even more incredible, for a while, the forest house that had just been deserted became lively again, and there was an endless stream of visitors.

In addition, the Chinese New Year is coming soon, and the house needs to buy New Year's goods, and the Lin Mansion is very busy.

In this way, time passed quietly, and the new year was quietly approaching step by step, and the end of the year was approaching.