Enduring the pain of the flesh, he ordered someone to take two pieces of silver from the treasury and sent the Ye shopkeeper, Shan Zhifu was still angry, glared at Gu Tongzhi, and said in a deep voice: "The Japanese government will personally go to meet this Xu to participate in politics for a while." ”

Xu Liang had long expected the arrival of Governor Shan's mansion, and after the two sides met in the hall on the first floor of the Yunlai Inn, Xu Liang welcomed Governor Shan into a private room, and ordered the shopkeeper to serve tea.

"Cough, Xia Guan has been busy with the recruitment of the people's army recently, so he has neglected Lord Xu, and please don't be surprised." Shan Zhifu took a sip of tea and said apologetically to Xu Liang.

"Where, where." Xu Liang hurriedly waved his hand and said, "This official knows that Master Shan is busy with official business, and he didn't intend to bother Master Shan originally. This official is here, it is originally a routine business, and it is enough to have Lord Gu with him, and Lord Shan's official business is important. ”

Governor Shan nodded, and asked again: "It's been a few days since Lord Xu came to Gongchang Mansion to count the truth, I don't know if my lord is still satisfied with the implementation of Gongchang Mansion's decree?" ”

Xu Liang smiled slightly, glanced at Gu Tongzhi approvingly, and said, "Master Gu is very familiar with government affairs, and he has accompanied the official in the past few days, so that several tasks of the official's spot check have been carried out very smoothly. Hmm, Qi Nian, how many decrees have we checked these days? ”

Wang Qinian hurriedly arched his hand and said: "Lord Hui, I have already read the nine decrees, and the situation in Gongchang Mansion has been implemented relatively well. ”

"How many are left?"

Wang Qinian said: "A total of 16 decrees have been drawn this time, and seven have not yet been verified. ”

Xu Liang smiled at Governor Shan's mansion: "Lord Shan, it seems that in ten days, the official's trip to Gongchang will be successfully concluded." ”

Listened to this. Gu Tongzhi's hand holding the teacup couldn't help but shake, and a few drops of tea splashed out.

Shan Zhifu said in his heart. Like Xu Liang, he grinds foreign workers, but he has to eat well and live well. At the end of the day, a small amount of money will cost four or five hundred taels of silver, and in another ten days, won't the treasury of the Shan prefect be emptied?

Shan Zhifu smiled dryly: "Lord Xu is really careful. In fact, the Gongchang Mansion's decrees on the court and Shangfeng have always been strictly enforced. It is not necessary for the adults to verify the same, you can list the decrees, and the subordinate officials will arrange for someone to write a report on the implementation and submit it directly to Lord Xu. In this way, Lord Xu can rest assured. The people below are also relaxed. ”

Xu Liang listened, knowing that the meaning of Shan Zhifu's words was to end Xu Liang as soon as possible, so as not to eat him and use his. Xu Liang took a sip of tea and said with an aftertaste: "This official came to Gongchang Mansion, and the verification work is only one aspect, in addition, I heard that there are many local specialties and scenery in Gongchang Mansion, and I also took a look at it by the way." Hey, don't say it, Master Shan, the customs and folklore of Gongchang Mansion are really very different from those of Hanzhong Mansion. This official has seen it in the past few days, and he also thinks it is very interesting. ”

Shan Zhifu scolded in his heart, Gongchang Mansion is located in a desolate place in the northwest, and the people are generally so poor that they can't even eat. Where will there be any special folklore?

Xu Liang then smiled regretfully at Governor Shan's mansion, "Alas, these days this official is in Master Shan's Gongchang Mansion. Live well, eat well, play well, I'm afraid that even my mouth will be raised. This is if you go back to Hanzhong Mansion. I don't know how many times I'll miss it. ”

Shan Zhifu had a calm face and did not answer.

Xu Liang glanced at him. Seeing that he didn't go to the Tao, he said to himself: "Hey, Qi Nian, you said that this time you went back to Hanzhong Mansion, do you want to bring some local products from Gongchang Mansion back, so that Lord Song Chaodu can also try it?" ”

Wang Qinian smiled and said: "My lord is very right, the lower officials will let their subordinates buy some tomorrow." ”

Shan Zhifu still didn't answer, Gu Tongzhi on the side heard something wrong, glanced at Shan Zhifu inquiringly, and saw that Shan Zhifu was like an old monk in meditation, and his face sank like water, so he also pretended to be deaf and dumb.

Seeing this, Xu Liang secretly hated this Shan Yuxiong for being so unreasonable, so he smiled and looked at Shan Zhifu quite kindly and asked: "Master Shan has been in charge of Gongchang Mansion for a long time, and he must also know some about Gongchang's local specialties. ”

Wang Qinian responded, Shan Zhifu finally couldn't pretend to be deaf and dumb anymore, raised his eyelids, arched his hand towards Xu Liang, and smiled stiffly: "Although Xiaguan has been in charge of Gongchang Mansion for two or three years, he has never paid attention to what local products are in Gongchang Mansion. ”

"Oh, yes? That's a pity. Xu Liang listened to it and sighed regretfully.

After that, no one spoke in the private room for a long time. Gu Tongzhi held the teacup in front of him nervously, carefully looking at the faces of Xu Liang and Shan Zhifu.

Governor Shan's nai was finally exhausted, and he got up and said to Xu Liang: "Lord Xu, the lower official also made an appointment with Master Song to discuss the matter of Zhao'an, and it is not appropriate to stay for a long time, so I will leave and come to visit Lord Xu another day." With that, Shan Zhifu strode out without looking back.

"Master Shan walks slowly, and the official will not be far away." Xu Liang shouted indifferently.

As soon as Shan Zhifu left, Gu Tongzhi stayed in the house like a pins and needles, and his heart was entangled for a long time, and finally he got up and confessed to Xu Liang, and hurriedly chased after Shan Zhifu.

The prefect of Shan went straight back to the yamen of the prefect of Gongchang Mansion, and a servant reported to him that Song Shiwen, the master of Yang He, the governor of the three sides, had already arrived in the study.

Shan Zhifu breathed a sigh of relief, adjusted his expression, and entered the study.

Although he was well disguised, Song Shiwen was an old oilman in the officialdom, and he was the most observant, and when the two met, Song Shiwen saw that Governor Shan's expression was wrong, and asked with concern: "The old man looked at Master Shan with a look of annoyance, but what tricky things happened?" ”

Shan Zhifu was originally idle in Xu Liang's place, but at this time, he heard Song Shiwen ask, thinking that Song Shiwen was the person of Yang He, the governor of the three sides, and after a while, he was not an outsider, so he told Song Shiwen about Xu Liang's despicable behavior with an annoyed face.

When Song Shiwen heard this, he felt quite the same hatred for the enemy, and said angrily: "This Xu Liang, when he was the prefect in Pingliang, was arrogant and arrogant, and there was no one in his eyes. Lord Yang, the governor of the three sides, has been quite dissatisfied with this person. I can't imagine that he was promoted to Shaanxi to participate in politics or act so arrogantly, and he didn't know how to advance or retreat! ”

Shan Zhifu also said: "Isn't it, like him, he relies on the Gongchang Mansion in the name of verifying the decree, and the food and clothing are counted on the head of the Gongchang Prefect's yamen." Even if I have a mountain of gold in my storehouse, I can't afford him to fight so piecemeal. Today, Xu Liang actually hinted to the official to ask for a bribe. Bah! ”

Song Shiwen thought about it and said, "Lord Futai doesn't have to worry. If he wanted to drive Xu Liang out of Gongchang Mansion, he only needed the old man to repair a book, and he Xu Liang had to obediently get out of Gongchang Mansion. ”

Shan Zhifu listened to it and knew that Song Shiwen, as the master of Yang He, the governor of the three sides, would definitely not be untargeted when he said such a thing, and couldn't help but be pleasantly surprised: "Mr. Song can help the official solve the problem of getting rid of Xu Liang, and the official is really grateful." ”

Song Shiwen said with a smile: "It's a trivial matter, don't be polite to the old man." ”

Three days later, Xu Liang received an official letter from the Shaanxi Provincial Political Envoy.

Xu Liang passed the official letter to Wang Qinian and Tietou to read. After the two finished reading, Xu Liang couldn't help but ask Wang Qinian: "Qi Nian, Qian Yongtai suddenly ordered me to go back to Xi'an Mansion to meet Shaanxi Xuezheng and prepare for this autumn?" Why didn't I hear anything about this beforehand? ”

Wang Qinian thought for a while and said, "My lord, today's autumn exam is the first autumn exam since His Majesty ascended the throne, and it is understandable that Lord Qian attaches great importance to it. ”

Xu Liang shook his head and said, "That's not what I'm talking about. Among the few political envoys in Shaanxi, I am the youngest, and I am from a prominent background. With no experience in preparing for scientific expeditions, why did Qian Yongtai choose me? And I'm so anxious that I have to rush to Xi'an Mansion within five days? ”

Wang Qinian thought for a while, shook his head and said, "This." The lower officials didn't know. ”

Xu Liang said regretfully: "It seems that our trip to Gongchang is going to end early." Damn, I hinted so obviously to Shan Yuxiong, Shan Yuxiong actually pretended to be stupid with me! ”

Although Xu Liang may not take Qian Yongtai in his eyes. But Qian Yongtai ordered Xu Liang to return to Xi'an Mansion through an official letter from the Political Envoy, so that. Xu Liang respected Shangguan's superficial work and still had to do it, and immediately ordered the iron head to pack up. Hastily communicated with the yamen of the Gongchang prefect, and hurried to Xi'an Mansion.

Shaanxi Xuezheng is named Ding Shiyou, a jinshi in the last years of Wanli, and he is old and serious, and he is an old man in Shaanxi officialdom. Because Xu Liang had asked Ding Xuezheng for help through Lu Yifa, the prefect of Pingliang, to get Xu Jiang's student status to Shaanxi, of course, Ding Xuezheng did not take any benefits.

Therefore, Ding Xuezheng welcomed Xu Liang into Xi'an Mansion School, so he was polite and personally ordered someone to serve tea to entertain him.

"A few days ago, the lower officials asked Lord Qian to appoint a political officer to come over and preside over the preparations for the Autumn Festival, I didn't expect that Lord Qian would appoint Lord Xu to come, what a surprise." Ding Xuezheng stroked his long beard and said with a smile.

Xu Liang arched his hand and said, "Lord Ding said that he was a joker, this official is only a shallow scholar, how can he preside over such a big thing as preparing for the autumn festival of a province." Lord Qian sent the official to come, that is, to support a scene, Lord Ding is knowledgeable and experienced, everything is still based on Lord Ding, and the official helps run errands. ”

Xu Liang raised Ding Xuezheng like this, Ding Xuezheng was very relieved, and he had received a generous thank you gift from Xu Liang before, so he became more and more polite to Xu Liang, and said: "Lord Xu is serious. In fact, the preparation of Qiu Yu sounds solemn, and the people below are almost ready for the matter, and the adults and the subordinates only need to check it. That, Brother Xu Jiang Gongzi is not a shallow learner, and he will definitely be able to go to high school this time, and the next official is here to congratulate Master Xu first. ”

Xu Liang heard Ding Xuezheng mention Xu Jiang, so he glanced around and said to Ding Xuezheng: "The autumn season has not yet begun, and Lord Ding is too early to speak." ”

"Hey, Lord Xu is too modest." Ding Xuezheng said disappreciatively, "Although Gongzi Xu Jiang has studied in Xi'an Mansion School for less than a month, the lower officials dare to assert that Xu Jianggongzi's knowledge can at least rank in the top ten among the students in Xi'an Mansion. ”

"Oh, really?" Previously, Xu Liang had also received a letter from Xu Jiang, saying that in order to improve the quality of the middle school in Shaanxi Province, Shaanxi Xuezheng specially asked all prefectures to recommend the first ten students with excellent knowledge to enter Xi'an Fuxue, and Ding Xuezheng personally organized a review and teaching to prepare for the autumn season.

In order to curry favor with Xu Liang, Lu Yifa, the prefect of Pingliang, reported Xu Jiang's name. So, Xu Liang entered Xi'an Mansion a month ago.

Although Ding Xuezheng and Lu Zhifu did this to curry favor with Xu Liang, Xu Jiang's matter must not be something that could be put on the table, so Xu Liang didn't want to talk about it deeply, so he smiled.

Ding Xuezheng is not a stupid person, and after understanding what Xu Liang meant, he changed the topic and said, "Does Lord Xu know which adult is the chief examiner of our Shaanxi Qiuyu this time?" ”

Xu Liang shook his head and said, "This official really hasn't inquired carefully. Xu Liang still received Qian Yongtai's order five days ago, and hurriedly rushed from Gongchang Mansion to Xi'an Mansion.

Ding Xuezheng said to Xu Liang with a mysterious expression: "I heard that it was Lord Xu Guangqi, the left attendant of the Ministry of Rites, who personally served as the chief examiner in Shaanxi. ”

Xu Liang was taken aback, Xu Guangqi, the left attendant of the Ministry of Rites, was a hot courtier, the emperor of the Son of Heaven. Xu Guangqi naturally had no problem serving as the chief examiner, but Xu Liang couldn't figure out that Xu Guangqi would come to Shaanxi to be the chief examiner.

"For ...... Why Lord Xu? Xu Liang asked hesitantly.

Ding Xuezheng listened, his expression was a little proud, he has been an official in Shaanxi for more than 20 years, and he has been a scholar for nearly ten years, and there are not a few protégés and old friends who are officials in the court, and the relationship with officials in the Ministry of Rites, the director, and Lang Zhong officials has always been very good, and naturally they can also find out some inside stories one step ahead of others.

Ding Xuezheng looked outside the gate, moved closer to Xu Liang, and said in a low voice: "I heard that Your Majesty attaches great importance to this Emperor of Heaven, and has the idea of promoting Lord Xu to be a cabinet minister. This time, let Lord Xu serve as the chief examiner of the province, and there is a plan to pave the way for Lord Xu to enter the cabinet. ”

Xu Liang said: "With Lord Xu's qualifications, it is a matter of time before he enters the cabinet. The strange thing about this official is that the two capitals and thirteen provinces of the Ming Dynasty, and the provinces with better conditions than Shaanxi, why did Lord Xu choose Shaanxi? ”

Ding Xuezheng nodded slowly, and also said with a puzzled expression: "This is also what the lower officials don't understand." If Your Majesty is to enter the cabinet for Lord Xu, then it is the best choice to put Lord Xu in Zhejiang and Jiangsu to serve as the main exam. However, the lower official heard that it was Lord Xu himself who insisted on going to Shaanxi to be the chief examiner. ”

When Xu Liang heard this, his expression moved, and after thinking about it for a while, he didn't come up with a reason.

Xu Liang discussed with Ding Xuezheng in Xi'an Mansion about the preparation of the Autumn Festival, and just returned to the purchased mansion in Xi'an Mansion, there were soldiers from the Shaanxi Governor's Yamen who came to report: "Lord Xu, the Governor heard that Lord Xu has returned to Xi'an Mansion, and the special order came to ask Lord Xu to come over tonight." With that, the soldier respectfully presented an ordinary letter of worship to Xu Liang. (To be continued......)