However, Ruan Yuan could not relax. When autumn turned to winter, Ruan Yuan invited famous doctors to diagnose and treat Ruan Chengxin, which also made Ruan Chengxin's condition somewhat better. At least the severe pain that day had gradually gone away. But Ruan Chengxin still felt that

His legs were weak and he could not walk normally. The doctor also said that Ruan Chengxin's illness was basically due to old age and weak blood circulation, so he had to stay in bed for recuperation. The family took good care of him, but they could never let Ruan Chengxin recover.

In the winter of the ninth year of Jiaqing, Ruan Yuan also continued to clean up Hangzhou's waterways, gradually dredging the Liufugou in the city, and excavating and removing the silt at the mouth of the West Lake outside the city and the West Lake. By the end of winter, Hangzhou's waterways finally began to improve.

At this time, Ye Ji was called to Hangzhou again by Ruan Yuan because of his success in quelling the robbers one after another.

"Ye Jiaoyu, you helped to suppress the pirates last year, thank you for your hard work." Ruan Yuan took the initiative to say to Ye Ji: "And in the past two months, you assisted Li Zhenjun in Wenzhou to intercept Huang Kui, which is also your own merit. With these achievements of yours,

I can report to the emperor that if there is a vacancy in the coastal county magistrate, let the emperor give priority to filling you as the county magistrate. How about it?" At this time, Wenzhou's commander-in-chief was replaced by Li Jingzeng, and Ruan Yuan called him Li Zhenjun.

"Zhongcheng, I have only served as an eunuch for two years and have not been able to do what I should do. Why did Zhongcheng promote me like this?" Ye Ji also said modestly.

"Ye Jiaoyu, what you have done has already surpassed that of many mediocre county magistrates. Now the coastal areas are in shortest need of capable people. You are quite popular there. If you are appointed magistrate, you can do it."

Let you better display your talents there, right?" Ruan Yuan's idea was very firm.

"In that case, I would like to thank Zhongcheng." Ye Ji bowed to Ruan Yuan.

"Wait a minute, you don't have to thank me in such a hurry. I asked you to come today because I have a puzzling matter. I hope you can tell me the truth this time." Ruan Yuan's words suddenly became serious and he continued: "

Four years ago, I met you at the seaside. I once asked you why, as a health care worker, you frequently traveled to the coastal counties to interact with people. I can believe you when you said that it is better to travel thousands of miles than to read thousands of books.

You. But I have also discovered in the past few years that there are actually many security chiefs and elders along the coast who have a good relationship with you. Although there are also people from poor family backgrounds among them, they may be the elders, and most of them have quite rich family income.

I'm not wrong, right? Ye Jiaoyu, in those days you mostly interacted with wealthy people on the seaside, maybe it wasn't as simple as traveling thousands of miles, right? If you really have difficulties, I think you can respond to everything on the seaside?

"

"Lord Zhongcheng, what you mean by this is..." Ye Ji seemed to be a little nervous.

"I believe you, at least right now, you have no intention of betraying the imperial court. If you are the magistrate, I think the people on the coast will naturally be convinced. But today, there are only you and me in Fuyuan Yingzhou, so I want to listen to you

Tell me the truth. Even before I came to Hangzhou, the things you did with each other were just to expand your knowledge, and you had no intention of harming the government or the court?" Ruan Yuan's words made Ye Ji sit on pins and needles.

, but looking at Ruan Yuan's face, he was as kind as ever. It seemed that even if Ye Ji said something inappropriate in the study, Ruan Yuan would not reveal it to outsiders.

"This...since Zhongcheng's words have reached this point, there is something that Xiaguan wants to ask Zhongcheng first. Zhongcheng will give Xiaguan an explanation, and Xiaguan will naturally tell the whole truth. How about that?" Ye

Ji asked.

"But it doesn't matter." Ruan Yuan seemed to really not care whether Ye Ji's words were "rebellious".

"The official heard that Zhong Cheng also served as a member of the Hanlin Academy. He also heard that the emperor's interpretation of "Mencius" was also found in the imperial palace. The official wanted to ask Zhong Cheng, "The people are the most valuable, and the country is second."

"You are too light." How does it explain the sentence in the court's explanation of "Mencius"?" Ye Ji asked.

"Are you talking about the "Richie" of the Holy Ancestor Dynasty?" Ruan Yuan was no stranger to this issue, so he explained to Ye Ji based on the words of Kangxi's "Richie": "The country is not as valuable as its people, but the people are the most valuable.

The foundation of a country is to consolidate the country's peace. What is the use of the so-called Sheji? As mentioned in "Ridian Talk", it is to establish a Sheji to repay the foundation and to establish the Sheji to pray for grain. Therefore, it can be said that the Sheji is established for the people, but it cannot be considered

The country is placed above the people. If the people pray for rain and grain, but God does not respond, should the people just sit back and wait for death? No, as the "Rijiao" said, it is to move the old and seek the new. It can be seen that the people are above the country.

Above. What is the purpose of establishing the king in the world? The king serves the gods for the people, and his use is under the country. If the country is in danger, more sages will be established. Not to mention where does the king's dignity come from? If the people cannot love him

The monarch, the gods and the country cannot protect the monarch, how can the monarch still have the position of superiority? In order to be respected by the world, the monarch should naturally respect the country and govern the people diligently.

It should be clear to everyone. "Mencius" also said that if the king treats his ministers like dirt, then the ministers will treat the king like a bandit. As explained in "Rijiao", it is the king who should treat his ministers with courtesy, so that the ministers can be loyal and loving.

If you don’t believe it, there is also a separate volume of the book "Richie" in Wenlan Pavilion. How about I take a copy and look at it with you?"

"If this is the case, it seems that the emperor should be clear about the saint's intention. Mr. Zhongcheng, I believe that what you say is true." When Ye Ji said this, he couldn't help but sigh a little more, and said: "

But ten years ago, this was not the case in Zhejiang. When Zhongcheng was doing academic affairs here, he might have heard that the officials in the lower counties were mediocre and incompetent.

He was aggressive and aggressive, and he not only ignored the bad official rules, but also allowed them to be tolerated. As time went by, the bad rules only got worse day by day. At that time, the governor only wanted to make up for the shortfall and did not care about the livelihood of the people. Zhejiang like this, sir, you say,

How much hope can I give to Xiaguan? So when Xiaguan traveled all over the coastal counties, although his original intention was still to make friends, in fact... I did think about what I should do if I really couldn't stand such a court.

.To be honest with Zhongcheng, I even thought at that time that if there were one or two pirates among the pirates who could petition for the people, I would also help him. Fortunately, I had not done that before Zhongcheng came to Taizhou."

"Then you were willing to supervise Baojia later, and then..." Ruan Yuan asked.

"It's because of Zhongcheng." Ye Ji said: "On that day, because of the injustice, the official went to Taizhou to ask for orders to protect the people for his subordinates. At that time, the official could see that Zhongcheng was not only a person who was determined to stabilize the sea, but also

There are practical ways. Moreover, Zhongcheng's policies are all based on the suffering of the people. Although it is good for coastal defense finance, it is not good for the people's fertility. Zhongcheng will never do it. Such a person is Zhejiang

Fortunately, Zhongcheng had never served as an official to govern the people before, but he was used by the emperor to this extent. The emperor's employment naturally has its own uniqueness. In this case, what is the need for a lower official to work with Zhongcheng?

What about the enemy? What's more, I have seen many incidents of pirates over the years. Although many of them are poor and forced to join the bandits, there are no ambitious people. They robbed property and only knew how to satisfy their selfish desires and compete with the Prime Minister.

A judgment has been made. In this way, the lower officials should also perform their duties in order to protect the people of the area."

"Really..." After Ruan Yuan heard this, he gradually showed a look of satisfaction. It seemed that he could trust the authenticity of Ye Ji's words. But even so, Ruan Yuan was silent for a while, and then continued to Ye Ji: "

You can rest assured about what I said today, I will never mention it to outsiders again. As for the rest, just continue to stick to your job from now on. If you have merit, I will report it truthfully."

"Zhongcheng has been so kind to me. I should try my best to repay Zhongcheng's kindness!" Ye Ji paid homage to Ruan Yuan again.

After discussing the strategy of coastal defense for the next year, Ye Ji also said goodbye to Ruan Yuan and returned to Taizhou. But Ruan Yuan couldn't help but sigh for a long time when he thought about the words he had spoken to him before. It seemed that in the past five years, he had been

Zhejiang's rectification and governance finally achieved results. At this time, Zhejiang not only had visible people's well-being and increasing deficits, but also many unknown things. Perhaps it was because of its own changes that it was gradually eliminated.

This invisibly maintained the peace of Zhejiang...
Chapter completed!