……

……

"Linqing prefect Zhang Jizhi?" After hearing Xu Qingyan's report, Zhao Junchen pondered for a moment, then nodded and said, "Let him in." ”

Regarding Zhang Jizhi's intention, Zhao Junchen can probably guess something, which is nothing more than Zhang Jizhi leading the officials to intercept Li Jiamin today, but was stopped by Emperor Deqing and Zhao Junchen.

Moreover, Emperor Deqing's attitude towards Li Jiamin was very gentle, and he also arranged Li Jiamin to enter the list of southern tours, which made Zhang Jizhi a little uneasy, not knowing if he had done anything wrong, and for fear that he would offend Emperor Deqing and Zhao Junchen because of this, so he asked to see him this time, it should be to test Zhao Junchen's attitude.

If that's just the case, now Zhao Junchen still has a lot of things to do, but he doesn't bother to explain anything to Zhang Jizhi, it's just a prefect, Zhao Junchen won't meet him.

However, Zhao Junchen was very interested in Zhang Jizhi, so Zhao Junchen finally decided to meet Zhang Jizhi.

Soon, Xu Qingyan had already led the uneasy Zhang Jizhi to Zhao Junchen's room.

As always, Zhang Jizhi's appearance is very unbearable, with a sincere fear and a look that he can't even speak.

"Xia, Xiaguan Linqing Governor Zhang Jizhi, I have seen and seen Lord Zhao." Zhang Jizhi looked apprehensive and saluted Zhao Junchen.

Between the words, the two skimmed. The rat's whiskers continued to tremble, adding a lot of obscenity to his otherwise positive image.

Zhao Junchen frowned slightly, looked Zhang Jizhi up and down for a moment, and asked, "You...... Is it a stammer? ”

Zhang Jizhi was slightly stunned, and only after a moment did he realize what Zhao Junchen meant. Hurriedly shook his head and explained, "Go back to your lord." The subordinate and subordinate officials are not stammering. ”

Zhao Junchen's brows furrowed even tighter, and he asked, "Since you are not stammering." Then why did I see you three times and you stumbled every time you spoke? If you are nervous, speak slowly, and then speak after you have thought about it, otherwise what is the official etiquette like you? How to win the trust of Shangguan? And how to win the trust of the people? ”

"Yes, yes, Xia Guan understands." Hearing Zhao Junchen's accusation, Zhang Jizhi became more and more nervous, and he was still a little unspeakable. But under strong self-control, it is finally much better.

Zhao Junchen sighed, and no longer pursued, but asked: "Say, you ask to see me, what is the matter?" ”

Zhang Jizhi explained with a worried expression: "Lord Zhao, the lower official asked to see you this time, I want to ask you to explain to His Majesty on behalf of the lower official, the reason why the lower official stopped Li Jiamin and Miss Li today. It was because of Cao Jin's entrustment from Huaiyin Zhixian that since Li Xin was imprisoned, the Li family has been under the care of Cao Jin and Master Cao, but I didn't expect that Li Jiamin and Miss Li escaped from it. and came to Linqing, after Lord Cao Jin learned the news, he sent an official letter to the lower officials. said that Miss Zhang wanted to disturb the holy driver, and asked the subordinate to send her back to Huaiyin. That's why the lower officials stopped her with the officials, and hoped that Lord Zhao would see it. ”

Zhao Junchen nodded. I didn't care about Zhang Jizhi's explanation, in Zhao Junchen's eyes, these were just small things, and he just said: "Are you afraid that Your Majesty will misunderstand you?" Don't worry, this kind of little thing, His Majesty will not take it to heart, and he will not blame you for this kind of thing. What's more, if someone wants to collide with the Holy Driver, you should go and stop it as a local official. So you can rest assured about this matter, there is no need for me to explain it to His Majesty, and it will not cause you trouble. ”

Hearing Zhao Junchen's relief, Zhang Jizhi's expression relaxed a lot, thanked Zhao Junchen again and again, and kept wiping the cold sweat on his head with his sleeve.

Seeing Zhang Jizhi like this, Zhao Junchen shook his head, and finally expressed the doubts in his heart, and said: "I really can't understand, with your timid and fearful appearance, when you built a palace for Your Majesty, you dared to deceive and fool things?" Don't you know that compared to such a small thing as you blocking Li Jiamin, if His Majesty really lives in the humble palace you prepared, the consequences will be even stricter? ”

After a pause, Zhao Junchen reminded again: "Also, don't think that this matter is over, because your audacity almost made all the officials in Shandong make a fool of themselves in front of His Majesty, although His Majesty finally lived in Li Yuan and did not cause any turmoil, but your reckless behavior has already offended all the officials in Shandong, so, compared to His Majesty's blame, I advise you to think about the difficulties of your colleagues in Shandong in the future." ”

Hearing Zhao Junchen's reminder, Zhang Jizhi's cold sweat that he had finally wiped clean ran down again, but he complained to Zhao Junchen: "Lord Zhao, this matter is really wronged." ”

Zhao Junchen asked, "Oh? Wronged you again? Let's talk about it, why did you wrong? ”

Zhang Jizhi explained: "Your Excellency, you also know that His Royal Highness the Crown Prince is responsible for the preparations for the Southern Tour, and His Royal Highness the Crown Prince has always been thrifty, and only allocated less than 30,000 taels of silver to Linqing, but in order to welcome His Majesty's Southern Tour, the lower officials not only have to repair and expand the docks, but also to repair and decorate the palace, and also to purchase all kinds of supplies. But under the strict order of the imperial court, the lower officials did not dare to increase taxes privately, requisition the people's power, and increase the deficit, so, so the lower officials thought of a compromise solution,"

Speaking of this, Zhang Jizhi hesitated slightly, and finally gritted his teeth and explained: "That is, all the silver is used to repair the dock and buy supplies, and His Majesty's palace is just hastily repairing the outer door wall, and if you don't enter the inside, you can't see the flaws, and then after Your Majesty arrives, you will move to Li Yuan to live, just like today, and use Li Yuan as a temporary palace." ”

Zhao Junchen was slightly stunned, and said in surprise: "Oh? Using Li Yuan as a temporary palace and letting His Majesty move Li Yuan to live temporarily, did you come up with the idea? ”

Zhang Jizhi nodded again and again, and said: "It was Xiaguan who came up with it, when the governor Lord Lu discovered the flaws in the palace, the Xiaguan mentioned it to Lord Lu, but Lord Lu felt that such an idea was too risky, if His Majesty did not agree, he would find the simplicity of the Linqing Palace, and then all the officials in Shandong would be implicated, so he was still angry at what the Xiaguan did, but fortunately, with the help of Lord Zhao, this matter was finally resolved." ”

Zhao Junchen didn't care, just smiled: "I really didn't expect it." You've got that kind of strain mind, but at the end of the day. After all, you are fooling Your Majesty by doing this, and your courage is still not small. ”

Zhang Jizhi smiled bitterly: "Lord Zhao." Xia Guan really can't do this, limited by the shortage of silver, he can only do this, don't hide it, since such a decision, Xia Guan has been panicking all day long, for fear that his plan will fail, and attract the wrath of His Majesty, and he has been unable to sleep for many days and nights. ”

Zhao Junchen did not mean to blame. Just shook his head and said, "Where is there not a shortage of silver taels?" But what magistrate would dare to deceive and fool the Holy Lord like you? Now the silver money of the imperial court is not rich, and it is already a lot to allocate nearly 30,000 taels of silver to you Linqing for preparation, as far as I know, there are many places where less than 20,000 taels of silver have been allocated, if you only get so much silver, won't you even be able to repair and expand the wharf to welcome the dragon ship of Your Majesty? ”

Originally, Zhao Junchen just teased casually, but he didn't think that Zhang Jizhi would think about it for a while. actually replied seriously: "If you go back to Lord Zhao, if the imperial court only allocates 20,000 taels of silver to Linqing, then the lower officials will still repair and expand the wharf, after all, Linqing has today's scale and prosperity by relying on the canal merchant ships." The repair and expansion of the wharf can not only welcome His Majesty's dragon boat, but also greatly benefit the prosperity and people's livelihood in the future of the Linqing Dynasty. Therefore, the lower officials will reduce the amount of silver they buy for supplies. ”

Zhao Junchen raised his eyebrows and looked at Zhang Jizhi in front of him seriously. After pondering for a moment, he asked, "Reduce the amount of silver you buy supplies?" Majesty's daily food and clothing. There are rules, and the officials who accompany them to the south are also accustomed to a luxurious life, if you reduce the amount of money you buy supplies, what will you use to entertain Your Majesty and the officials? At that time, His Majesty and the officials feel that they have been neglected, how should you bear the consequences? ”

Zhang Jizhi continued to explain: "If you return to Lord Zhao, if the lower officials reduce the purchase of silver, they will not let His Majesty live in Li Yuan, but will repair the Longquan Temple in the Phoenix Ridge, and move to the Longquan Temple to live. After His Majesty and the accompanying people live in the Buddhist temple, they are afraid that they will subconsciously restrain their luxurious temperament, live in the monk's room and eat vegetarian food on weekdays, and in their leisure time, they are in the Phoenix Ridge to go on a picnic, so that the cost of purchasing is naturally greatly reduced, and under the leisure, they will probably not blame the lower officials for neglecting them. ”

After a pause, Zhang Jizhi said: "Actually, Xiaguan originally planned to do this, but the probability of success of such a plan is only half, it is not as likely as living in Li Yuan, and the large amount of silver purchased is used locally, which is also spent on the people and merchants, which can drive the prosperity and people's livelihood of Linqing, so Xiaguan still did not adopt this plan in the end." ”

After finishing speaking, Zhang Jizhi suddenly found that he seemed to have said too many things that should not be said, and after these words, his intention to fool Emperor Deqing was revealed, and he couldn't help but think in his heart, and secretly looked up at Zhao Junchen, for fear that Zhao Junchen would blame himself.

However, after Zhao Junchen heard Zhang Jizhi's plans, he looked at Zhang Jizhi in front of him with a smile, and he couldn't help but be surprised.

Originally, Zhao Junchen thought that this Zhang Jizhi was just a good official with a cowardly temperament but who loved the people, although this kind of person was rare, Zhao Junchen would not pay too much attention to it.

However, Zhang Jizhi's words showed his talent and ability, but Zhao Junchen was impressed.

First of all, this Zhang Jizhi has extraordinary adaptability, and can make full use of the resources in his hands, how many resources he can give him, how many things he can accomplish, with this ability, even in the later generations, he is definitely a rare talent.

Secondly, what is even more commendable is that Zhang Jizhi still has a simple economic vision, and even understands the driving role of infrastructure construction and large-scale purchases on the local economy.

Although Zhao Junchen is in charge of the household department, and the household department is in charge of the world's money and grain, Zhao Junchen knows very well that now in the household department, except for himself, no one has such an economic vision, and those officials in the household department can only settle accounts at best.

Finally, Zhang Jizhi adheres to the idea of "the people are noble and the king is light", although he is timid and cowardly, but looking at what he does, he never infringes on the interests of the people, for this bottom line, he will even try his best to fool Emperor Deqing! How to say it. In Zhao Junchen's eyes, this is an excellent quality. Because this means that Zhang Jizhi is not so stupid and loyal to Emperor Deqing......

And Zhang Jizhi's own cowardice also means that he does not touch his bottom line on the premise. This person is actually very controlling!

"I didn't expect to meet such a rare talent." Zhao Junchen sighed a little and was a little happy, but after seeing Zhang Jizhi's rat whiskers that were constantly trembling because of the panic in his heart, he subconsciously shook his head and said: "I didn't expect that such a rare talent has such a bad temperament." ”

However, since it is a rare talent, Zhao Junchen naturally wants to recruit him under his command. Use it for yourself.

Therefore, just when Zhang Jizhi regretted and panicked because he had said too many things that he shouldn't have said, Zhao Junchen suddenly asked, "Next, what are your plans?" ”

"Intended?" Zhang Jizhi was slightly stunned, and he didn't understand what Zhao Junchen meant.

Out of appreciation for Zhang Jizhi, Zhao Junchen was quite patient at this time and explained: "In any case, you didn't seriously repair the palace this time, and you also hid it from the officials in Shandong. Almost let them be blamed with your majesty, you have completely offended them, and then you will inevitably be suppressed and excluded, so you can't stay in this place in Shandong. If you continue to be an official here, you may be framed by them, so that's why I asked you. What's next for you? ”

Although Zhao Junchen did not blame Zhang Jizhi for his nonsense, the scene described by Zhao Junchen. still made Zhang Jizhi a little flustered, but he was just a prefect. Faced with such a situation, he was helpless, so after thinking about it for a while, he said with a bitter face: "Xia Guan doesn't know." ”

Zhao Junchen shook his head secretly, it seems that although this Zhang Jizhi is a rare talent, he is not good at intrigue, if other officials hear Zhao Junchen's inquiry, they will inevitably understand Zhao Junchen's intention to buy, at this time he has knelt down and shouted, "Ask Lord Zhao to save me, from now on, the next official must only be Lord Zhao's head".

Therefore, Zhao Junchen had no choice but to be more straightforward and said: "You can't stay in Shandong, and you can only go to other places to be an official in the future, but the transfer of official positions is always more troublesome, what do you have to do with the ministry to move around?" If not, I can help you. ”

After hearing Zhao Junchen's hint, Zhang Jizhi finally understood even if he was sluggish, Zhao Junchen wanted to let himself join him!

Considering Zhao Junchen's bad reputation, Zhang Jizhi couldn't help but hesitate, but then thinking that he had no other choice, and Zhao Junchen's reputation seemed to be gradually improving, he finally nodded hesitantly and said: "Lord Zhao, since you are willing to make the decision for your subordinates, you will obey your arrangement as soon as you qiē and qiē as soon as you want." ”

In this way, Zhao Junchen can be regarded as receiving Zhang Jizhi under his command, which is unexpectedly simple.

Next, Zhao Junchen and Zhang Jizhi talked about many things, most of which were about Zhang Jizhi's arrangements, and by the time Zhang Jizhi left, it was already late.

After the moon rose and the moon set, the repair of the Southern Patrol fleet in Linqing finally ended, and Emperor Deqing had no interest in continuing to play because of Li Jiamin's matter.

So, the next day, under the will of Emperor Deqing, the Southern Patrol fleet set sail again and continued to sail in the direction of Jiangnan, and the Shandong officials, from the governor Lu Yuan'an down, all took the opportunity to accompany them.

On the third day, that is, the eleventh day of the southern tour, the southern patrol fleet came to Liaocheng, Shandong, which is different from Linqing, the officials of the place have been fully prepared in order to welcome the arrival of the Deqing Emperor, and the palace prepared for the Deqing Emperor is also extremely luxurious, but the Deqing Emperor is used to seeing such a palace, but he is not too interested.

After a night of rest in Liaocheng, the Southern Patrol fleet continued southward and arrived in Jining on the thirteenth day of the Southern Tour, and then arrived at Taierzhuang on the fourteenth day of the Southern Tour.

In this case, it is naturally inconvenient for the officials in Shandong to continue to follow, and they all look like they are dependent on other things, and Li Lide, as the new political envoy of Shandong, also got off the boat here, and followed Lu Yuanan, the governor of Shandong, to Jinan to take office.

Then, on the seventeenth day of the Southern Tour, the Southern Patrol fleet finally came to Nanzhili and arrived at Xuzhou, the "thoroughfare of the five provinces".

……

…… (To be continued......) I1292