Because it was a bandit, it was natural to go into battle lightly, and the heavy siege equipment and grain and grass were not carried.

Three thousand soldiers, dressed in half-iron armor, each carried only three days' rations, except for their weapons.

As for the grain and grass, after the extermination of the bandits, there will naturally be it.

It's really not possible, and the counties and towns along the way can also borrow money temporarily.

After leaving the barracks, Liu Qi went straight to Weizhou, which was the hardest hit area of bandits, after Zhang Wanxian was exterminated, his subordinates dared to die and flee.

Some pretended to be homeless people and went to other state capitals to beg for a living, and more defeated soldiers chose to drill into the mountains, occupy the land as the king, and started the business of robbing homes and houses.

……

……

"County magistrate, Liu Dutong led 3,000 soldiers and went out of the camp to suppress bandits, and Han Shizhong and Wu Jue were also among them."

In the main hall, listening to Lao Jiu's report, Han Zhen couldn't help but smile slightly.

With this step, when they return from suppressing the bandits, they will be able to naturally arrange positions for the two.

"Hmm."

Han Zhen nodded and continued to deal with government affairs.

Now that the land of Shandong is stable, he can make drastic reforms after the supplementary officials who stood out in this lock hall test take office.

We must set the tone for reform as soon as possible.

Otherwise, if you want to reform after the stall is expanded, the difficulty will increase exponentially.

Without him, there is too much resistance.

Reform will inevitably touch some interest groups, and this is unavoidable.

If you don't take advantage of the moment to break them down, will you still want to wait for those interest groups to unite together?

Before you know it, the moon is in the middle of the sky.

Bang Bang Bang!

The sound of bangzi on the third watch day came from outside the palace.

Han Zhen put down the brush in his hand, got up and stretched.

As soon as he stepped out of the main hall, he couldn't help but pause, only to see the public hall on the left side of the courtyard, brightly lit, through the window, you can see people constantly walking.

Han Zhen instructed: "Lao Jiu, let the kitchen make some supper and send it to the ministry." ”

"Yes!"

Lao Jiu nodded, turned around and walked towards the kitchen.

All the way to the official office, Han Zhen pushed open the door, and saw Xie Ding and other officials busy in full swing.

"Nonsense, I don't know anything, inferior!"

"Which exam paper makes you so unhappy?"

"Let's see for yourself."

"Well, let the official take a look...... Under the plague of locusts, they tried in vain to burn all the grain in the fields to repay the country with death. You are dead, but what will happen to the millions of people you rule? Such a pedantic and stupid person, this official proposes to never hire him, otherwise the people will suffer greatly! ”

"This official seconded!"

Hearing this, Han Zhen said with interest: "I'll take a look." ”

As soon as the words fell, everyone was stunned, and then got up and saluted.

"I've seen the county magistrate!"

"No need to be polite."

Han Zhen motioned for everyone to sit down and stepped forward to take the volume.

After a moment, he chuckled and said, "Full of loyalty and enthusiasm, but lacking some flexibility, it is not suitable to be released as an official and govern the people, but it is not useless." The Inspectorate was newly built and understaffed, so he should be transferred. ”

The status has changed, and the perspective of looking at the problem has also changed.

Han Zhen is looking at a person now, not thinking about whether he can do this errand, but what kind of errand this person is suitable for.

I was born to be useful.

Knowing people and making good use of them is the way of thinking of a qualified superior.

Although this person is pedantic, he is strong between the lines, and he would rather take it straight than ask for it in the song.

Such a man is not suitable for governing the people, but he is a good minister.

"Wechen takes orders."

He Shilang hurriedly responded.

Putting down the exam paper, Han Zhen stepped to Xie Ding's side and asked, "How about this hall lock test?" ”

Xie Ding's face was tired, and he replied: "The vast majority of supplementary officials are trapped in their vision, and any county is already the limit. ”

There is no problem with the execution of the officials, they have experience at the grassroots level, know how the yamen operates, and understand the needs of the people.

But the disadvantage is also obvious, that is, the vision is not high.

Vision is related to a person's perspective on a problem.

In this era, there are only two ways to improve your horizons, travel thousands of miles and read thousands of books.

The more books I read, the more people and things I know, the more my horizons will naturally be broadened.

Xie Ding's evaluation is very pertinent, the vast majority of Xu officials, being a magistrate, is already the limit.

No matter how high it is, there is not enough vision to support it.

This is also why, Han Zhen obviously shouted the slogan of sharing the world with Xu officials, but he was still fighting for literati like Xie Ding and Chang Yukun.

Xie Ding's voice changed, and his tone was relieved: "However, there are still some good seedlings." ”

"Oh?"

Han Zhen was interested, raised his eyebrows and said: "To be praised by Xie Shangshu, I guess it must not be a mediocre talent, I don't know who it is?" ”

"The minister has discussed with your colleagues, and at present, only these two people can compete for the top spot in the examination papers!"

Xie Ding said, handing over the two exam papers.

The exam papers are all vague, and he doesn't know who it is until the dust falls.

After taking the test paper, Han Zhen examined it carefully.

In this examination paper, there are a total of five questions on current policy, and the most difficult question is about the locust plague.

In this day and age, the locust plague is an unavoidable hurdle and almost unsolvable.

According to the statistics of the book "The History of China's Famine Relief", the Qin and Han dynasties averaged once every 8.8 years, the two Song dynasties were 3.5 years, the Yuan dynasties were 1.6 years, and the Ming and Qing dynasties were both 2.8 years.

In ancient and modern times, I don't know how many capable officials are helpless in the face of locust plagues.

Even in later generations, when science and technology are so advanced, there are still many countries that have a headache in the face of locust plagues.

Zhang Shizheng of the Northern Song Dynasty recorded the tragic situation of a locust plague in "Kuo Yizhi": Xining Jiayin, Yimao year, locust drought in the world, to the father and son, the real birds and beasts are not as good. Sad husband!

Father and son smack!

With just these four words, we can deeply feel the despair and tragedy of the people in the face of the locust plague.

The answer given in the first exam paper made Han Zhen's eyes shine.

Locusts, meat also, served in the tiles to burn, delicious and crispy.

Eat locusts!

The government organized the people to hunt all the locusts and exchange them for money and grain, and then made the locusts into meat powder and sold them to the people at a low price, or sold them to other state capitals or even overseas in exchange for money and grain.

In this way, not only can the plight of the locust plague be relieved, but also a sum of money can be made to fill the treasury.

To be honest, this approach is a bit fanciful, but when you think about it, it makes perfect sense.

Then, Han Zhen picked up another volume.

The answers to this exam paper are decent, but they are unusually calm, step by step, and orderly progress.

The people were ordered to actively harvest food, and at the same time, the focus was on how to reassure the people, how to collect grain and grass, and how to provide disaster relief......

It can be described as in full swing and interlocking.

Such an old-fashioned and calm method is not like a Xu official, but more like a cadre with many years of experience.

These two exam papers are excellent, and it is no wonder that Xie Ding and the others are hesitant and don't know who to give their head armor to.

At this time, Xie Ding took the opportunity to kick the ball to Han Zhen: "Weichen and the others don't know how to decide, and they also ask the county magistrate to write the nomination." ”

After thinking for a moment, Han Zhen clicked on the second test paper: "This person should be the first one!" ”

"Yes!"

Xie Ding nodded, lifted the red pen, and drew a circle above the exam paper.

In fact, in his heart, he is more inclined to the second exam paper.

Wonderful ideas are not always available, but they are capable and calm, but they can accompany them for a lifetime.

Under the rule, we must be responsible for the people, and seeking victory in stability is the right way.

After chatting with Xie Ding for a while, Han Zhen said loudly: "You have worked hard, I have ordered the kitchen to make some supper and send it." ”

"Thank you, County Magistrate!"

Everyone was moved and thanked one after another.

Not long after, Lao Jiu and other guards came in with food boxes one by one.

In the evening, there were no ingredients, so the cook could only boil some rice porridge and simply stir-fry a few side dishes.

But as a late-night snack, it's already hearty.

After the officials finished eating, they continued to examine and approve the examination papers with great enthusiasm.

……

Following.

In front of the yamen, it was crowded with people early.

The black crowd blocked the street tightly.

There are supplementary officials for reference, there are people who watch the excitement, and there are also rich businessmen who catch the bottom of the list.

Catching the bottom of the list is a major feature of the Song Dynasty.

The nursing homekeepers with big shoulders and round waists were eager to try, and their eyes kept scanning the crowd.

"It's on the list, it's on the list!"

A quarter of an hour later, a group of soap officials strode from Shaoyang Palace.

Crash!

The crowd automatically split up and let the soap men pass.

All the way to the billboard, the soap officials took out the list and posted it one by one.

When the post was finished, the crowd immediately surrounded it.

"Alas!"

In the crowd, there were bursts of sighs.

Suddenly, a shout of surprise sounded: "I'm hit, I'm hit!" ”

As soon as the words fell, several family members immediately stepped forward and asked, "Dare to ask this official, what is the top and what is the top in high school?" ”

The supplement officer didn't care, and replied excitedly: "Eighth place in the second grade!" ”

looked the other party up and down, and saw that he looked quite neat, and a family member waved his hand: "Take it away!" ”

The next moment, several family members immediately grabbed the supplementary official and walked out.

"Hey, what are you doing?"

The supplement officer panicked, constantly flapping his legs, trying to break free.

Jia Ding said with a smile: "Don't panic, my family, Ah Lang, is the Xihong family in the city, and I want to recruit officials as sons-in-law." ”

The supplement officer cried and laughed: "Let me go quickly, I am already married!" ”

"It's okay to become a parent, everything is easy to discuss."

The family didn't care about it, and got into the sedan chair with the supplementary officer.

Seeing this scene, the onlookers laughed, just watching the excitement.

Qi Meng stood in the crowd, his heart was full of apprehension, and his eyes kept scanning the list one by one.

Top three, no.

Second, there is none.

Qi Meng's heart sank little by little, and he couldn't help but take a deep breath and move his gaze to the list of first-class students.

He asked himself about some talents, but he never thought that he would be able to get the top spot, because the theory of current policy is not his strong point.

Compared with those old officials, he felt inexperienced, so he looked up from the bottom as usual.

There were a total of ten people, and when he saw the top seven, he still hadn't found his name, Qi Meng couldn't help but chuckle in his heart.

"Brother Qi, congratulations!"

Just as he was lost, a familiar congratulatory voice sounded beside him.

When I turned my head, it was my friend Zhu Da.

Before he could react, he heard Zhu Da say with envy on his face: "Congratulations to Brother Qi for being the top of high school, and he will definitely rise to prominence in the future!" ”

Armor?

Qi Meng blinked blankly, turned his head to look at the list, and saw that the first place was not his own name?

For a while, Qi Meng's heart swelled with ecstasy.

After coming back to his senses, he couldn't help asking, "How is Brother Zhu, did you ever go to high school?" ”

As soon as the words fell, he saw Zhu Da looking at him with a strange expression.

Under the armor, the word Zhu Da was clearly written, and he even asked himself if he had been in high school.

(End of chapter)