"Because of the fatigue all the way, plus a few more drinks the night before, my body was really not so refreshing yesterday, so I didn't see a few adults, I hope you will forgive me." After meeting with Gao Qianzhong and other officials, Lu Zhen first explained apologetically.

These officials hurriedly replied: "Don't dare." If you are unwell, we will not dare to disturb you. "Anyway, they wish the new governor had been resting in the garden.

Lu Zhen smiled bitterly: "As a minister, with the emperor's order, I don't dare to rest more." How many people in the capital are still looking at me? ”

"Lord Futai is serious......" Everyone laughed a little embarrassedly, and then the topic was revealed.

Lu Jin's gaze swept over these subordinates who were a little nervous one by one, and then he got to the point: "We all knew each other at the banquet the night before, so some things were said by the official. What exactly is the purpose of my order to patrol Shandong this time, I think you have already understood, right? I have invited you here today to discuss this matter. ”

"...... so soon" He Yuan, who was sitting at the bottom, heard this and couldn't help muttering in a low voice. He thought that Lu Zhen couldn't hear it when he sat on it, but as soon as the words fell, the governor's eyes fell: "Don't worry, now that the Chinese treasury is empty, how many people are waiting for rice to be cooked, but I have made a military order to Your Majesty." ”

This explanation made He Yuan's face red, and he hurriedly lowered his head, not daring to say anything more. And some of the surrounding officials also changed their faces slightly, it seems that this time the matter is really difficult, at least it is not easy to move the governor.

After being silent for a while, Gao Duzhong spoke: "I naturally admire Lord Futai's loyalty, but when it comes to the opening of the sea, it is still difficult. ”

"Yes, Lord Futai, although my Shandong is close to the sea, I have never had any experience of interacting with overseas for many years, and even those who go out to sea to fish have almost disappeared in the past hundred years. is so bottomless, I'm afraid it's really going to disappoint the adults and the court. Zhou Chaoxian also cooperated.

Later, several other subordinate officials who understood their intentions also put forward similar arguments, bluntly saying how inconvenient and unwise it was to impose a ban on the sea in Shandong. I almost told Lu Zhen directly that opening the sea here was whimsical, and it was a decision made by a fool or a madman.

Listening to them, you and I denied that they could open the sea ban in Shandong, although Lu Jin's face still had some smiles, his heart was full of bitterness. He knew that this move would definitely encounter a lot of obstacles, but he didn't expect that it would be resisted by almost all his subordinates.

But even so, he was not discouraged, and only waited for everyone to say almost everything before he looked at them and said, "Of course this official knows that this matter is difficult. Not only in Shandong, but also in the three southeastern provinces, it is by no means easy to reopen the sea ban. But there are many things in this world that do not allow us to retreat from the difficulties, and we should rise to the difficulties, otherwise how can you and I be worthy of the appreciation of the court and the official uniform of this body? ”

As soon as these words came out, everyone immediately bowed their heads and did not dare to argue. But in their hearts, they were very unimpressed, because everyone can say big things, but it is much more difficult to do things than to speak.

Lu Jin's eyes froze, and he continued: "And this official summoned you here today, not to discuss whether to reopen the sea ban, but how to reopen the sea ban. Do you know what I mean? ”

What else I don't understand about this is that there is no need to negotiate! Everyone could only whisper yes, but then there was a silence, making it clear that they would not cooperate well.

Lu Jin's face also sank, and after a while, he shook his head and smiled bitterly: "I know you are embarrassed, after all, I have forbidden the sea for a hundred years, whether you or others, you have long taken it for granted." But have you ever thought about it, if I can really open the sea in Shandong, how much benefit will it bring to the local people and to officials like you and me? Not to mention, trade income alone can make Shandong leap to the first place in the entire financial revenue of the Ming Dynasty, and then you and I will all become meritorious ministers, and the court will naturally not treat you and me badly. ”

When these words were spoken, the expressions of the people below did not change much. Everyone is not a rookie who has just entered the company, and the attraction of this kind of blank check is naturally not too great. Everyone knows that once something is done, it will naturally make a lot of contributions, but if you want to succeed, you need to take risks, and the criticism and difficulties you suffer are also very great. In their minds, there is little chance of success in doing so, and it will only bring trouble to themselves.

Of course, it was not easy for them to really reveal this idea in front of the governor, so after the silence, Gao Duzhong spoke on behalf of everyone: "What Lord Futai said is naturally reasonable, but we are really powerless in this matter, and we have no experience at all. ”

Lu Zhen glanced at him before he said: "There is always a first time for anything in the world, not to mention that there is already the experience of predecessors to learn from going to sea to build a port, as long as you and I are of the same heart, we will not worry about it." Do you have no faith in your own rulers, or do you not have faith in yourself? ”

"No...... Can't. Of course, everyone would not say that they had no confidence in Lu Jin, the governor, so they quickly shook their heads and denied it. And Lu Zhen wanted this sentence, and immediately said: "That's it, since you can trust this official, as long as you are willing to obey the dispatch and work together, you will naturally be able to do the errand well." ”

Unexpectedly, a few words were taken by this young man, and the faces of Gao Qianzhong and the others changed again. But having said that, they really can't postpone the objection anymore, otherwise they will annoy the young and vigorous governor, who knows if he will take someone for the sake of prestige. If that's the case, it's not worth it.

So after being stunned for a while, everyone had to say yes, saying that they would definitely obey the instructions of the adults and try their best to do a good job in the errand of opening the sea. Of course, this is not what they really think in their hearts, and if they promise in their mouths, they will agree, and when it comes to doing things, they will still be pushed if they should be delayed, and they will still be pushed.

Lu Zhen naturally saw this, but he couldn't attack it for the time being. He knew very well that he had just arrived and had no foundation in Shandong, and it was impossible to subdue the following old fritters in the officialdom by relying only on his status as a chincha. Therefore, they are called here today more just to show their determination and at the same time to occupy the name of righteousness.

Although it will take some time and means to make these people truly obey the dispatch, after receiving a verbal agreement, Lu Jin knew that it was better to strike while the iron was hot and decide something to talk about. So he said: "In this case, let's discuss first, and where to set the port after the opening of the sea in the future." ”

"Huh?" I didn't expect him to be so resolute, he didn't even have a word about it, and he had already begun to decide on a place, and everyone unconsciously showed a surprised expression.

Lu Zhen didn't give them a chance to oppose at all, and immediately greeted: "Come on!" ”

One of the guards immediately brought in a topographical map of the prefectures and counties of Shandong that he had prepared, and then hung it on the wall at the side.

Lu Zhen got up and came to the map, and pointed out the states and counties near the sea one by one, and his mouth was full of words: "Weihai, Dengzhou, Laizhou...... These places are all close to the sea, and we could have chosen one of them as the first pilot port for this opening. Of course, when this official first came to Shandong, he knew very little about the specific geography of these prefectures and counties, so he still had to rely on the selection and selection of the adults. ”

When everyone saw him put on an appearance that he had to set the location of the port today, they immediately looked at each other and were speechless for a long time. In the end, Gao Duzhong said helplessly: "I hope that Lord Futai will not be surprised, I am afraid that the officials will not be able to come up with an idea for a while." After all, Xia Guan and the others never thought that one day there would be an opening of the sea, and they did not dare to say whether the local area was suitable as a port. ”

"Yes, Lord Futai, this matter is very important, it is better to let the lower officials and others send someone to investigate and understand before making a decision." Several other people also quickly came back to their senses, and immediately used the procrastination trick of a hundred spirits again. As long as Lu Zhen nodded his head, they would be able to find an excuse to drag on for a few months.

Lu Zhen immediately nodded: "What you said is true, then it is decided." Just when everyone was overjoyed and felt that they had finally passed the hurdle temporarily, he suddenly added: "But this matter is very important after all, how can this official just keep you busy?" In this way, I will send a few Jinyi guards to follow the people from your various yamen, so that the official can also understand the local situation more intuitively. ”

Well, everyone sighed in their hearts, but they were happy in vain. I didn't expect this young man to act so well, and he didn't give himself any excuse or opportunity to delay at all. But in front of him, they naturally didn't dare to object, so they could only say that everything was arranged by the adults.

After this was finalized, the next few people could no longer discuss matters related to the opening of the sea. So after some meaningless nonsense, Lu Zhen served tea and sent off the guests, and sent these worried subordinates out of the governor's house.

Looking at the distant backs of these people, Lu Jin, who was standing in the hall, couldn't help but sigh again: "This time it's really a long way to go......

And after several officials went out, they were also looking at each other and sighing secretly, and everyone had an extra pimple in their hearts.

Although today's meeting was just a test between each other, the result was unsatisfactory to anyone, and everyone knew that the coming days would be difficult.

Now, they can only count on one thing - if only they could stabilize Governor Lu by paying bribes!