Officialdom is always a minority of the winners and a majority of the losers.

Success requires not only ability and luck, but also opportunities, and Hu Xueyan is a clear example.

Hu Chuyuan really wanted to save Mei Qizhao and win over a real ally for himself in Zhejiang, but he didn't understand politics and didn't know what to do, so he asked Yan Shizhang: "Mr. Yan, if I want to take the opportunity to win over Governor Mei and save him, what should I do?" ”

Yan Shizhang said with a smile: "If others want to do this, there is no chance at all, but if the owner wants to do this, the opportunity is still not small." The reason why Mei Qizhao was unlucky was that he was ordered to transfer Zhejiang's taxes to the Hanhai Stone Pond, and now that the Stone Pond has been built, his official fortunes have come to an end, because he offended Zuo Zongtang and the entire Hunan officials.

You must know that He Jing, the governor of Fujian and Zhejiang, has a great friendship with Zuo Zongtang, why doesn't He Jing know the depth inside? Therefore, without Zuo Zongtang's hint that it is too powerful, He Jing will ensure that Mei Qizhao is meritorious in repairing the pond and proficient in water affairs, and it is appropriate to be promoted to the governor of Caoyun, or the governor of the East River and the West River. ”

Hu Chuyuan generally understood, and said: "I'm afraid the imperial court also knows that it is still very cost-effective to abolish a governor and ensure the peace of the situation for a while." ”

Yan Shizhang said: "Yes, the court knows it. For He Jing, it not only gave Zuo Zongtang a sigh of relief, kept his official friendship with Zuo Zongtang, but also shirked the responsibility of raising unfavorable military salaries. If the owner wants to protect Mei Qizhao, the key is to make a fuss about Zuo Zongtang and He Jing. For a while, I can't come up with any good countermeasures, but making a fuss about the salt industry should be the most suitable way to break the situation. ”

Hu Chuyuan nodded silently, and asked Yan Shizhang: "Do you say that Mei Qizhao knows his predicament in his heart?" ”

Yan Shizhang sneered: "How can he not know, these days, he has come to the Hu family's compound three times before. He wanted to give gifts to Zhongtang to accompany his crimes, but unfortunately he was also a clean official, and the things he took out were too light, let alone the salt industry military salary that Zhongtang really wanted. Owner, you might as well go and meet him for a while, if he intends to join forces, then it's not too late to help! ”

Hu Chuyuan thought about it, although it is very important to keep a good official, but it also has to be profitable, he will not do Lei Feng's things for nothing.

After making a decision, Hu Chuyuan asked Wang Baotian to choose a pair of official kiln Jun porcelain vases from the Song Dynasty from home, pack them, and go to the governor's yamen of Zhejiang with the post.

The Zhejiang Governor's Yamen is in Hangzhou, which is convenient to come and go, and Hu Xueyan has also visited several times and sent a small gift.

Hu Chuyuan's palanquin stopped outside the yamen, and the prayer post was sent by the old housekeeper Wang Baotian, who did not have any supplementary official position at the moment, only the secular position of Yun Caiwei, or the Qing court's courtesy.

Resting in Yanjing City, such a job is a fart, running all over the street, but in Hangzhou, this is very rare.

What's more, his surname is "Hu".

Hu Xueyan's Hu!

In the blink of an eye, a few staff members dressed in unpopular official uniforms hurriedly ran out of the yamen, led by twenty-six or seventeen years old, with handsome faces and slender figures.

As soon as this person came out, he said to Wang Baotian: "The official asks Master Hu to enter the house quickly!" ”

Hearing this, the sedan chair drivers carried the sedan chair into the sedan hall of the yamen, Hu Chuyuan walked out, there was already a burst of laughter in the flower gallery in the distance, and a big official wearing the governor's second-grade official uniform hurriedly walked out, thin and healthy, looking about forty-five or sixteen years old.

"Master Hu, don't come unharmed!"

When the second-grade official saw Hu Chuyuan, he smiled with his hands, and his voice was refreshing.

Hu Chuyuan took a few steps forward and said, "I've seen the governor!" ”

When Hu Xueyan was mourning, Mei Qizhao went to visit him in person, Hu Chuyuan still had a deep image of him, and he knew that it was him at a glance.

Mei Qizhao is a native of Nanchang, a senior scholar in the second year of Xianfeng, and later appointed the head of the Ministry of Officials, and worked seriously.

It is precisely because he is serious and meticulous that he was placed in this position to squeeze Zuo Zongtang.

Mei Qizhao smiled and looked very close, and said: "Chu Yuan, your father has mentioned you to me a few times, I have heard of it a long time ago, but I am busy with Haitang official business, and I have never had the opportunity to talk to you." ”

Hu Chuyuan smiled politely: "How can He De, dare to worry about the governor?" ”

Mei Qizhao said with a smile: "It's better to bump into the time, it's rare that you are here today, let's have a good chat." Your Hu family is quite influential in Zhejiang, not only the rich family, but also benevolent, enthusiastic and benevolent, praised by the people, and many government affairs in Zhejiang also need your support! ”

Hu Chuyuan continued: "Your Excellency is polite! ”

Mei Qizhao was still very enthusiastic, pulled the young man who went out to greet him, and said to Hu Chuyuan: "Chu Yuan, let me introduce you to you, this is my dog Mei Qian, and you can be regarded as a middle lift in the same year, but you are a lifter from Zhejiang, and he is a lifter from Jiangxi." ”

Hu Chuyuan hurriedly said to the handsome Mei Qian: "Brother Mei, look up for a long time!" ”

"Master Hu, look up for a long time!" Mei Qian smiled and said, "It's better to go into the hall and talk slowly!" ”

"Chu Yuan, then please!" Mei Qizhao obviously wanted to win over Hu Chuyuan, and invited Hu Chuyuan to walk side by side with him.

The governor of Zhejiang is at least equivalent to the secretary of the Zhejiang Provincial Party Committee, and being so co-opted and promoted by a provincial party secretary not only shows the value of Hu Chuyuan, but also shows the embarrassment of the provincial party secretary himself.

Entering the flower hall of the governor's yamen, Mei Qizhao opened Mei Qian and asked him to prepare a banquet and entertain Hu Chuyuan at noon.

As soon as Mei Qian left, Hu Chuyuan gave the gift and said with a smile: "The first time I came to meet an adult, a small gift is not a tribute!" ”

Mei Qizhao said: "Chu Yuan, you and I are too polite. I can't talk about being conceited, but I also have a small rule, it's okay to receive gifts, and it's okay to forget things that are too valuable. ”

Hu Chuyuan said: "It's just a pair of Jun porcelain, it's not valuable, but my father used to like it very much." Adults and my father have a close relationship, so I will give this pair of Jun porcelain to adults, see things and think about people, and sometimes think about my father! ”

Mei Qizhao sighed, knowing that things must be precious, but it is not easy to push back.

He smiled and said to Hu Chuyuan: "Thank you so much, this time I will make an exception!" ”

Hu Chuyuan nodded with a smile, asked for the surname not to go around in circles, and said to Mei Qizhao: "My lord, I can say that I have something to ask for something this time, and I can also say that I have something to help." Before begging for someone, I want to take the liberty of asking my lord, is it a little beyond my expectations that Zuo Zhongtang returned to the south so early this time? ”

Hearing him say this, Mei Qizhao could only smile awkwardly and said: "Yes, Zuo Zhongtang's victory is like thunder, and he will recover Xinjiang Province in an instant, and then return to Liangjiang, which is really unexpected by this official." ”