In three days, it will be May, and Yan Maoqing is waiting for the fire in a hurry. As mentioned above, in the three months of first, fifth and ninth months, the five elements belong to fire, and the word 'minister' of the courtiers is pronounced 'Shang' in ancient pronunciation, Shang belongs to gold, and fire is gold, so we should avoid these months.

So once he can't take office in these three days, Yan Maoqing will have to take office in June, which is not just a matter of one month or 30 days late, because May is the month of collecting summer taxes, and Yan Zhongcheng, who came with a huge responsibility for corruption, how can he let it go?

After breakfast on the 28th, he took a small sedan chair and personally brought gifts into the city, and when he arrived outside the governor's yamen, he ordered his family Yan Cai to hold a pair of red prayers and go forward to ask to see.

The soldier guarding the door looked at it, only to see that the post read: 'Yan Maoqing, a person from outside the city', saw that the name of the three words and so many strokes, he knew that the new governor was coming, and hurriedly nodded his head while going in to report.

Yan Maoqing and Yan Cai waited for the middle door to open, came out silently and hurriedly, and said in a loud voice: "If you miss the distance, forgive your sins!" 'That's it.

Who knew that after waiting for a long time, the gate was still not moving, but the door came out again, and said meaninglessly: "Yan Zhongcheng, we Zhongcheng said that we wanted to come out to greet us, but I was afraid that people would see that it would lose your physique, so I still ask you to come in quietly through the side door and then make amends to you." ”

Yan Maoqing thought about it, he was indeed abrupt, and before he handed over, he rushed over, which really made people laugh. But he really can't help it, the one-eyed dragon in the capital, with his mouth wide open, will ask for 500,000 taels of silver this year, if he misses the summer tax, just counting on the autumn tax, he will not be tired to death of his old man.

Thinking of this, although he complained a little and silently held the official seal and didn't let go, he still held back his anger, put down the sedan curtain and said, "Let's go in......"

The sedan chair was slowly carried into the governor's yamen, and it was not until he entered the third hall that Yan Maoqing saw Shen Mo come out to greet him. I wanted to ridicule him and say that he was 'really big', but when I saw the silence, all the words were forced back - I saw him dressed in white and his face haggard, obviously immersed in some kind of pain of life and death.

Yan Maoqing had no choice but to change the question to comfort: "Lord Shen wants to mourn...... The two had a relationship in Yanjing, but there was no need to introduce themselves.

Shen Moqiang laughed and said: "It's really rude, Lord Yan, my uncle is newly mourned, and the lower official helped the coffin to send him on his last journey, because he was thinking about the handover, he didn't even attend the funeral, so he came back in a hurry......" said and covered his face and sobbed: "Every time I think of my uncle's voice and smile, I can't help myself......"

Yan Maoqing had already heard that the great Confucian Tang Shunzhi passed away, and the people of Ningshaotai wore filial piety for him, and officials from Jiangsu and Zhejiang provinces went to Wujin to pay their filial piety, even Hu Zongxian, the governor of the southeast.

The two entered the signing room, saluted each other, gave way to sit down to watch the tea, Yan Maoqing saw that although Shen Mo was described as haggard, he was still handsome and elegant, and his demeanor was outstanding, and he couldn't help but be a little secretly jealous, and after a while he put down his thoughts and said: "When I was in Beijing before, I was fortunate to see the abundance of Jingchuan Gong, that is really a character among the immortals, why is there no way to speak?" ”

Shen Mo said: "Uncle Shi has been practicing hard in the mountains for 16 years, although the avenue has been completed, the whole person is tired, and he should have been recuperating for several years, but he went out of the mountains to fight against the Japanese, and fought at sea all the year round, and was invaded by the wind and waves, and finally he couldn't afford to get sick. ”

Yan Maoqing's face showed regret, and said, "It's really jealous of talent." Talking about the topic, he said, "What are the plans of Brother Humble Yan?" ”

Shen Moxin said, it seemed that he really couldn't wait, so he said: "To be honest, I was very touched by the death of my uncle, who has been in the southeast all these years, shouldering the heavy responsibility of one party, and I have been exhausted." I just hope to be able to go back to Beijing to have an idle time, and spend the past few years in peace, so I learned from Tao Yuanming and went home. ”

Yan Maoqing felt that Shen Mo's words were actually thorny, and he had already brought Shen Mo's latest appointment - the Zhan Shifu Department and Economic Bureau to wash the horse. It stands to reason that the Zhan Mansion is specially designed to teach the prince, the chief is the three products of Zhan Shi, and there are three departments under the left and right Chunfang and the Department of Economic Affairs. The right spring fang is in charge of the attendants, dedication, and playing, and the chief is the right concubine; The Bureau of Economic Affairs is in charge of the system of classics, all kinds of books, for the prince to consult the imperial review, and the chief is Shen Mo, the Bureau of Economic Affairs, washing horses.

But now that the Ming Dynasty doesn't even have a prince, what use can this department have? In fact, after Chenghua, the prince's lectures and readings out of the cabinet were filled by other officials. The Zhan Mansion has completely become the order of the Hanlin official transfer, and it has long been unworthy of its name. This has a special name, called 'Kaifang', and Shen Mo naturally knows it.

However, the 'open workshop' is also divided into large and small, and there is a difference between a large and a small open workshop -- generally Hanlin compiles and reviews and upgrades to a level that is the Zhongyun of the Zhan Shifu, Zanshan and other officials, and then after a year and a half, you can be promoted to the chief of the Beijing officials, the prefect of the local officials and other middle-level officials, which is called a small open workshop...... At this level, silence has long passed.

Then, when the term of office of the chief and prefect expires, if the imperial court has the intention of promoting, it will be transferred to the left and right Chunfang or the division and economic bureau to which the Zhan Shifu belongs, and become the left and right concubines, the left and right Zhongyun, the left and right Zanshan, or the horse washing, and then after a year and a half, they can be appointed as the little Jiuqing among the Beijing officials - Taichang Siqing, Taifu Siqing, Guanglu Siqing, Zhan Shi, Hanlin Bachelor, Honglu Siqing, Guozi Priest Wine, Yuanma Siqing, Shangbao Siqing; Or it is the promotion of the magistrates, the left and right according to the envoys, the left and right political envoys, and even the governor, which is called the big open workshop.

In fact, above the Dakaifang, there is also a level, that is, for the envoy of the school, the feudal officials and the like, will be appointed as the bachelor of the Hanlin Chamberlain, the bachelor of the lecture, after a year and a half, you can be promoted to the Great Nine Secretaries - the six books and the Imperial History of the Imperial Palace, the envoy of the General Administration and the Dali Temple, or to the local governor, become the top official of the Ming Dynasty - if you are appointed as the secretary of the Ministry of Rites, then congratulations, in two or three years, you can enter the cabinet to worship the prime minister, a very human minister.

Therefore, this level is more advanced than Dakaifang, and although Shen Mo has not opened Dakaifang, he is already the dignified governor of Su Song, and he has made so many great and so many contributions, so he should use this level as the level of relocation.

However, in the end, he only served as the secretary to wash the horse, which was equivalent to two years of governor doing it in vain, so Yan Maoqing felt that silence must be unpleasant with his own heart and his belly. He smiled and said: "Shen Da is less than thirty years old, just like Xu Dongsheng, why do you want to retreat bravely like this?" ”

Shen Mo sighed and said: "Uncle Shi often said: 'The turmoil in the sea is really difficult to love for a long time. 'I've been working all night and night, scared, and infamy, and I'm tired and tired. In the past, when the wind and dust were tired, every time I had the thought of growing forests and abundant grass, but now I can get the idle endowment of "Sui Chu". Said with a smile: "With the piano, bottle, furnace, several, medicine bar, and flower pavilion, it is the best destination for my generation of scholars." ”

Yan Maoqing persuaded: "Brother Clumsy, I'm going to say two sentences about you, you have a high bosom and go away with a crown, which is also a good story." He said earnestly: "I haven't thought about your father, it's easy to look forward to your high-tech Dingjia, and I want to enjoy a few years of blessings, you can't just leave." ”

Shen Mo shook his head resolutely, and said: "Lord Yan, life is not virtuous, but it is not in the name of the family. There are a few acres of thin land in my hometown for my father, and the grass is not open, but it can also shelter from the wind and rain; I only wish to return to the field with my father as soon as possible, so that I can be happy with the water, which is the happiest thing in life. ”

Yan Maoqing praised: "It seems that Brother Humble Yan really has the legacy of the Wei and Jin Dynasties, and a layman like me can't compare!" He thought of all the strange forms before the silence, whether it was to set up an ancestral hall for Wang Yangming, or to skip work for more than ten days, to support Tang Shunzhi, or to ignore himself, not enthusiastic at all, all these abnormal phenomena, and his remarks today, he came to the conclusion that this young governor, under the strong strength of his own side, felt a strong sense of frustration, so he was already discouraged, and began to have a strong sense of retreat of 'tired birds love the old forest, pond fish think of the old abyss'.

Yan Maoqing even sympathized with Shen Mo, such an excellent person but not a strict party person doomed him to be unable to enter the house in his life. Thinking like this, those dissatisfaction with the silence disappeared, and their hearts suddenly brightened, and they pretended to comfort a few words, and said bluntly: "Since Lord Shen has made up his mind, let's hand over to the lower officials earlier." ”

"Of course, the sooner the better." Shen Mo didn't hesitate at all, nodded and said: "But adults don't have to worry too much, the lower officials have been here for a few years, cloth, vegetables and food, and not extravagant, but it is still a Confucian behavior." The surplus accumulated over the years, as well as the income from human exchanges, is about 30,000 taels. You can now send someone to count what is lacking in the barns, horses, miscellaneous goods, and so on of the yamen, and even if you fill it with the money. As he spoke, he smiled considerately and said, "Knowing that there are many people who are appointed as Beijing officials, and the eunuchs are bitter, I won't let you help fill the holes." ”

Yan Maoqing was full of joy when he saw that he said generously and cheerfully...... He saved the belly of others with his own heart, and estimated that Shen Mo must have exposed half and hidden half, saying that there were 30,000 taels, but there were at least 60,000 taels in his hands.

But there is a way to be an official for thousands of miles only for money, and if Shen Mo doesn't make some money, it will really surprise Yan Maoqing. Yan Maoqing didn't let Shen Mo pay out of his own pocket to mend the holes, so he shook his head and said generously: "Lord Shen, where is this?" Kyoto rice is expensive and expensive, so why don't you keep the money and use it when the time comes...... As for this, you don't have to worry about it anymore. ”

Shen Moqian gave in a few times, and when he saw that Yan Maoqing was unwilling, he said with a hint of relief on his face: "Then let Lord Yan suffer." As he spoke, he instructed the outside: "Hurry up and prepare the table, I will invite Lord Yan to drink." ”

Yan Maoqing heard this, and couldn't help but smile bitterly in his heart: "It seems that if I don't say that, I won't even be able to eat a meal surnamed Shen." ’

The movements of the people below were still very fast, and after a while, they put on the wine, and silently invited Yan Maoqing to take a seat, Yan Maoqing insisted on refusing, and let him sit for a long time, and after a brief meal and drink, Yan Maoqing asked slowly: "Xiaguan has just arrived, and there are many places to ask Lord Shen for advice. ”

"Lord Yan just ask," Shen Mo nodded and said, "I will definitely know everything, and I will say everything." ”

Yan Maoqing thanked him again for silence before he asked softly: "I won't tell you anything, although my brother and I have always been an official in Beijing, I have worked in the Ministry of Industry and the Ministry of Household for many years, and I am by no means like an ordinary nerd." Saying that, he smiled and said: "But how to get it here in Suzhou, I don't know the bottom at all...... Local people, ordinary government affairs still say, but I don't know anything about how the city's shipping department operates and how to make profits, and I ask Brother Shen for advice. ”

"Hehe," he pondered silently for a moment before he said slowly: "Actually, whether it is a regular government affairs or a matter of the city, in the final analysis, it is all about dealing with people, and in my opinion, there is no big difference...... At the beginning of the preparation of the city, it was indeed very troublesome, but after a few years, after the operation, I no longer need to pay attention to the details of those processes, as long as I manage the people below and let them do things according to the rules, only important decisions must be checked by themselves. He said with a faint smile and said: "It's still the same sentence, just like ordinary government affairs, the affairs are in peace and resting with the people." Even if the puppets below are unruly, as long as they can complete the task, they don't have to be too picky. That's what happened anyway, and then there was a tax money rolling in. ”

He is completely evasive, which sounds very reasonable, but in fact it is not useful at all. Yan Maoqing had never experienced the complicated surnames of that system, so when he heard the words, he believed the truth, and couldn't help laughing: "According to Lord Shen, this is really an idle errand, I don't know what you are busy with?" ”

"I served two terms as an official in Suzhou, and I had no other benefits, so I only ended up with a lawsuit and a simple sentence. I spend most of my time teaching juniors to read, meeting with people, and having fun with colleagues. Shen Mo smiled as if he remembered something: "I still remember that when Lord Wang, the governor of Shandong, was an official in Songjiang, he always liked to say to people: 'I can hear that in Lord Shen's yamen, there are always three sounds. ”

Yan Maoqing asked with interest: "What are the three?" ”

He said silently: "It's the sound of reading, singing, and falling." ”

Yan Maoqing couldn't help laughing when he heard this: "That Lord Wang is a wonderful person, and Lord Shen is even more so. "The strings that had been tense in my heart were finally sent down, and I secretly said: 'This kid is so lazy and slack, he can complete the annual task, as long as I use more snacks than him, I will definitely be fine.'

But he heard the silence and said: "Lord Yan's dragon horse spirit, cheer up in the future, I'm afraid that I will have to change three sounds." ”

Yan Maoqing asked curiously: "What are the three things that I am?" ”

He said silently: "It's the sound of the gang, the abacus and the board." ”

Yan Maoqing couldn't hear that this was ridiculing him for trying his best to make money, but because he integrated his mind, he was a little excited, so he replied: "Although I want to be as free as my brother, I have no choice but to bear the trust of His Majesty and the elder of the pavilion, but I am afraid that I have to be so serious." ”

"Seriously, seriously." Shen Mo praised again and again: "In this world, what I am most afraid of is these two words. ”

"Of course, if Lord Shen has any old friends, as long as you say a word, the lower officials will be a little accommodating." Yan Maoqing also felt a little high-profile, and smiled embarrassedly: "And in Beijing, if something happens, it's still good to report the name of a brother." ”

Shen Mo is an official of the two generations who has been tested by alcohol, and he knows that the friendship at the wine table is like a fart, it stinks for a while, and then the taste is gone, so he doesn't take it seriously at all, but he is still grateful on his face, and he toasts again and again. He has practiced a lot of alcohol, and Yan Maoqing is also the best to drink the things in the cup, pass the cups to each other, and eat until the head is slanted.

Seeing that Yan Maoqing already had wine, Shen Mo handed over the letters, accounts, keys, and documents with him, and explained the things that must be explained to his face according to the regulations, and did not let him go back until the middle of the moon.

Finally, on the twenty-ninth day, the inauguration ceremony was held, and Shen Mo said: "If I go out of the city that day, it will make the gentry in the city embarrassed, and it is natural to greet the adults, but it is impossible to say that I am not given this 'old man'." ”

Yan Maoqing was in a good mood, and said generously: "It's okay, it's okay, let them send the adults first." ”

"That's not necessary, I like to be quiet." Shen Mo smiled and declined: "I don't like the Wanmin umbrella, Jiansheng Temple and the like the most, I still secretly leave a day early, and go out of the city on the evening of the twenty-eighth, which saves a lot of trouble." ”

The two argued for a while, and Yan Maoqing finally said, "That...... It's good. "The heart said, 'If you don't want to take it yourself, then I can't do it.'" Then he should come down and happily go back to the inn to live.

On the afternoon of the 28th, Yan Maoqing sent someone to send Shen Mo two thousand taels of silver, which meant something, so Shen Mo took his wife, son, and family, only loaded a boatload of calligraphy and paintings, and went out of the city at night.

According to the "History of the Ming Dynasty", Shen Gong was an official in Suzhou for five years, cracking down on the powerful and punishing corrupt officials. He built water conservancy and dredged the river, completely cured the flood of Taihu Lake, which had been harmful for a hundred years, and saved the people of Susong from floods; With only careful planning and no big fight, he surrendered Xu Hai, a giant who endangered the East China Sea, so that the people of Susong could enjoy peace; He also opened the market, solved the financial problems of the imperial court, made the Susong area rich in the world, only the financial income of a government, much more than the inland provinces, the people of Susong thanked him for his kindness, built a shrine to worship, hundreds of years of incense endlessly.

(To be continued)