In the evening, Fang Zian, who had just led people from Niuwei Alley to help people clean up the collapsed houses, hurried back to the Yamen with mud and water all over his body, because the soldiers came to report that the fire officer Zheng Xie came to the Fangyu Army Yamen to look for him and asked him to

Go back to see him immediately.

At the gate of the yamen, Fang Zian saw seven or eight tall horses and tall soldiers in full armor. They were wearing the finest chainmail, and hanging from their waists were long and narrow standard swords. These were from the Song Dynasty Forbidden Army.

Top equipment.

Fang Zian was a little confused, so he hurried into the Yamen compound and saw Zheng Shee sitting in the lobby, as well as a tall, majestic-looking old man.

Seeing Fang Zian coming in from the yamen door, Zheng Shee stood up and said something to the old man beside him. The old man nodded and glanced at Fang Zian with a pair of majestic eyes.

"My official Zian Zian has met Mr. Zheng. I don't know that Mr. Zheng has come and kept you waiting for a long time." Fang Zian entered the lobby in two steps and saluted Zheng She.

Zheng Xie frowned and looked at Fang Zian's body covered with mud and water, and shouted: "What are you doing? Why do you look so disheveled to others? It's unbecoming."

Fang Zian said: "I just took some brothers to help the people clean up the collapsed houses on Niuwei Street. I didn't know that you are here. I hope you won't blame me. I will go and clean up."

Zheng Xie waved his hand and said: "That's not necessary. Fang Zian, this is Mr. Yang from the Privy Council, who came with me to inspect the Fangyu Military Yamen. Why don't you come to see me?"

Fang Zian turned to look at the old man and found that the old man was also looking at him with embarrassed eyes. So he hurriedly raised his hands and saluted, "Your Majesty, Zian Zian has met Mr. Yang."

The old man nodded slowly, cupped his hands and said in a deep voice: "Master Fang, there is no need to be polite."

Fang Zian was curious about the identity of Mr. Yang, an official from the Privy Council? He was considered to be a Shangguan of Huozheng Yamen, because Huozheng Yamen was under the jurisdiction of the Privy Council. He didn't know what Mr. Yang was sent by the Privy Council.

"Two adults are here, but I don't know what my orders are." Fang Zian said.

Zheng Xie looked at Mr. Yang and whispered: "Sir, do you want to ask this yourself, or should I lower my rank and do it for you?"

Mr. Yang said in a deep voice: "You can ask, I will listen."

Zheng Xie nodded hurriedly, turned to Fang Zian and said: "This time Master Yang and I came to you to ask about how you and your people have rescued the people in recent days. I heard that your hurricane is coming

In the middle of the night that day, the entire army went out to rescue the people. One to two thousand people were rescued, and hundreds of people were injured. Is that true? Tell us about the specific situation."

Fang Zian smiled and said: "It turns out that your Excellency is asking about this matter. What's there to say? This time the hurricane hit and the people in the city suffered, how can we stand still. Although our defense army mainly sets fires to put out fires, but

When encountering such a disaster, it is just like a fire. Water and fire are both disasters, so it is natural to rescue them. There is nothing to say. Do you blame us for being troublesome?"

Zheng Xie waved his hand and said: "Of course it's nothing troublesome. I just want to ask you..."

The burly old man on the side waved his hand and interrupted: "Master Zheng, I'd better ask."

Zheng Xie hurriedly said: "Okay, Mr. Yang, please."

Mr. Yang nodded, staring at Fang Zian and said: "Sir Fang, I was entrusted by the imperial court to verify your Fangyu Army's rescue of the people. Someone has already reported this matter, and the emperor is already aware of it. Therefore,

The Emperor ordered the Privy Council to investigate, and I will come here with Mr. Zheng to ask you what happened."

Fang Zian was shocked and said: "Have you alerted the emperor? Oh, I don't dare to take that seriously. We didn't want to alert the emperor. This made the official feel a little panicked. I...how should I answer?"

Mr. Yang said in a deep voice: "What is this? You can answer whatever you want, just tell the truth. Is it possible that you are still making up lies?"

Fang Zian hurriedly waved his hands and said: "Don't dare, I don't mean that, I heard that the emperor was alarmed, and I was a little panicked. Lord Yang, don't worry, Lord Yang is just asking, I know everything, and I will tell you everything."

Mr. Yang nodded and said: "Okay. I want to ask you, how did you think of going out to rescue the people that night when there was a hurricane and heavy rain. After all, that is not your duty. If you don't rescue, no one will blame you."

Fang Zian frowned and said: "My lord, I don't agree with this. We Fangyu Army are soldiers and horses of the imperial court. We receive the imperial court's salary and silver, so we have to serve the imperial court loyally and share the worries. Besides, the imperial court's salary comes from the people.

, in fact, it is the people who support us. Therefore, the court supports us, and it is natural to help the people solve their problems. When the people have disasters, whether it is fire, floods or other disasters, we should rush out without hesitation.

.There is nothing wrong with this. I think this is actually the responsibility of me and my yamen soldiers."

Mr. Yang stretched out his hand and patted the table gently, and shouted in a deep voice: "Well said! I didn't expect you to be so enlightened, which is surprising."

Zheng Xie smiled and said: "Mr. Yang, I have already said that Fang Zian is very good. Although he has just been in the position for a short time, he has great ideas and abilities. I also give him a lot of advice on weekdays, and he understands it very quickly.

The officials have high hopes for him."

Fang Zian didn't understand Zheng Xie's intention. Zheng Xie wanted to take the credit for this achievement.

"What Mr. Zheng said is very true. Mr. Zheng always gives more teachings, and I will keep it in mind. Thank you very much, Mr. Zheng, for your advice. I will ask more of Mr. Zheng for advice."

Zheng She nodded repeatedly, with a smile on his face, and thought to himself: You are wise enough to put gold on my face.

Mr. Yang asked again in a deep voice: "I saw the plaque hanging in the lobby. You said it loudly. 'Benefiting the common people'? Do you know who dares to hang such a plaque?"

"That's right, that's right, Fang Zian, you are so shameless. How dare you hang such a loud plaque at the entrance of the government office? Take it away immediately." Zheng Shee said hurriedly.

Mr. Yang suddenly shouted angrily: "Mr. Zheng, are you asking or me? What did you say?"

Zheng Xie's face turned pale with fright, and he hurriedly smiled and bowed: "Your Majesty, please ask, Your Majesty will ask, I will stop talking."

Fang Zian watched coldly, becoming more and more curious about the identity of Mr. Yang. Obviously, Zheng Xie was extremely afraid of Mr. Yang. He was also an official of the Privy Council, so he seemed to have a good background. But he couldn't think of the Privy Council for a moment.

Is there any official named Yang among them? After all, he has been an official for a short time and is not very familiar with court officials.

"Fang Zian, what are you thinking about? I'm asking you about the plaque." Master Yang asked again in a deep voice.

"Mr. Yang, I don't think that's a loud statement. It's exactly what I want to do in my heart. 'Benefiting the people' is my goal after I've been working hard. Besides, this plaque is the sign of the people beating gongs and drums in the morning.

The lower official did not accept the wine, meat and fruits they sent as a thank you, but he thought the plaque was quite meaningful, so he accepted it and hung it up. Firstly, it spurred and encouraged himself, and secondly, it also made everyone in the yamen feel happy.

The glory on your face. If you feel it is inappropriate, you can just order someone to remove it." Fang Zian said.

Mr. Yang looked calm and said slowly: "I see. Your ambition is not small. Didn't you think of being loyal to the court and the emperor after you became an official? Why did you think about 'benefitting the people'?"

Fang Zian said: "My lord, I think this is not a contradiction. To benefit the people is to be loyal to the emperor and to the court. This is the same thing."

Zheng Xie couldn't bear it

He said anxiously: "Nonsense, how can this be confused with the same thing?"

Master Yang shouted: "Master Zheng, can't you control your mouth?"

Zheng Xie hurriedly folded his hands and shut up, winking at Fang Zian, hoping that Fang Zian should stop talking nonsense.

Fang Zian said softly: "Master Yang, this is what I think. The foundation of our country in the Song Dynasty is the people. As the saying goes, 'water can carry a boat and capsize it', the people are the water, and the court and the emperor are the boats.

"Benefiting the people means sharing the emperor's worries. When the people live and work in peace and contentment, the court will be stable, and the emperor will naturally have no worries. This is the greatest loyalty. The lower officials are stupid and don't know whether this idea is right or not."

Mr. Yang nodded slowly and said: "Yes, your idea is right. I didn't expect that you, a small Fangyu officer, could actually understand this truth. It's a pity that there are so many people in the imperial court who have much higher official positions than you, and not all of them.

Understand this. Very good. Very good."

Fang Zian said hurriedly: "Thank you for the compliment, sir. There is a small mistake that needs to be corrected. Your Majesty is not a fangyu officer. His official position is that of the yamen master. At present, he is only acting as a fangyu officer temporarily. The previous one

Mr. Xia, the Fangyu official, died in the line of duty."

Mr. Yang looked at Fang Zian strangely, and said with a smile: "Are you implying that I should be granted the official position of Fangyu Officer?"

Fang Zian felt a little embarrassed that his little cleverness had been exposed. He hurriedly said: "This...this...how could this official have such intention?"

Mr. Yang did not continue to pursue the matter, and said in a deep voice: "Fang Zian, this time you made a contribution to the Fangyu Army, and the emperor also praised it. If the imperial court rewards you and asks you to make some requests, what requests will you make?

?”

Fang Zian was surprised and said: "Does the Emperor approve of it? That's great."

Lord Yang frowned and said, "Answer my question."

Fang Zian thought for a while and said: "Personally, it doesn't matter. I just want to ask for a few good words for my brothers. Although the soldiers of our Fangyu Army Yamen are also part of the imperial army, but...actually they don't count.

Formal soldiers and horses. Apart from anything else, the soldiers' pay is half less than that of regular soldiers and horses. The lower official feels that this is very unfair. If the imperial court can treat everyone equally and allow our officers and soldiers of the Fangyu Army to be treated the same as regular soldiers and horses, that is

This is the greatest compliment to us. I think the brothers will be more inspired and will work harder and more actively in the future."

Master Yang's eyes showed a look of approval, and he said solemnly: "You do think about your subordinates."

Fang Zian said: "Of course, without them, I am nothing. In this disaster relief operation, no one complained or acted as a coward. They all risked their lives to rescue the people. But, when I think of it,

Their treatment is much worse than that of regular soldiers, so the lower officials feel uncomfortable and unfair."

Master Yang nodded slowly and said in a deep voice: "Are there any other requirements?"

Fang Zian thought for a while and said: "Also...that is, the equipment in my yamen is old and is not conducive to fire-fighting and rescue work. If we can have some generous funds, we can build some new fire-fighting equipment and tools, then everyone can start it

Things will become easier as they come, and you will get twice the result with half the effort.”

Mr. Yang nodded and said: "It's still a matter in your yamen, what about you? Is there any reward you want?"

Fang Zian shook his head and said: "If I can meet the above two requests of Xiaguan, I will be satisfied. I don't want anything else."

Mr. Yang said in a deep voice: "Don't be pretentious. There is no store after this village. Just ask for whatever you want."

Fang Zian smiled and said: "Xiaguan really doesn't want anything, and I'm not greedy. If I want you to give me some advice, I have an idea."
Chapter completed!