Su Heng was from Changge County. The Changge Su family was also quite famous in Yingchang Mansion. Su Heng's father, Su Liang, served as the magistrate of Xuchang County during the Zhenghe period, and later served as an official in Yushitai for many years. After the fall of the Northern Song Dynasty,
Then he returned to his hometown to take some time off.
Su Liang had been looking forward to Wang Shi's Northern Expedition, but year after year, the gentleness of Jiangnan wore away the spirit of the Song Dynasty monarchs and ministers, and also wore away Su Liang's hope, so he agreed that his son Su Heng would go to Bianliang to join the Puppet Qi Dynasty.
He passed the imperial examination and passed the imperial examination in one fell swoop. He returned to his hometown with honor and was appointed magistrate of Xuchang County.
Although Su Heng was born in the imperial examination of the Puppet Qi Dynasty and is now an official of the Jin Kingdom, he was influenced by his father and was upright, able to distinguish between public and private matters, and his ability as an official was very good. He was deeply loved by the people, and was also highly appreciated by Wanyan Wushu.
, he was called to serve in Bianliang twice, but he declined both times because his father was in poor health.
Su Heng was really nervous when he heard that King Yong Chen Qing had summoned him. Although he had talked with Zhang Xiao, Chen Qing was different. Chen Qing was the lord and his fate could be decided with just one sentence.
Entering the back hall of the county government office, Su Heng bowed and saluted: "Su Heng, a humble official, meets His Highness King Yong!"
Chen Qing was admiring a plaque in the back hall with his hands behind his hands. There were four big characters written on it, "Justice is in the heart." The writing was quite sophisticated. Chen Qing pointed to the plaque and asked, "Whose calligraphy is this?"
Su Heng said quickly: "Reporting to Your Highness, it was written by my father and was given to the humble minister."
"The calligraphy is good, but do you understand its meaning?"
Su Heng didn't know what His Highness King Yong meant, so he had to tell the truth: "When I went to Bianliang to take the imperial examination, I was quite confused because it was a pseudo-Qi imperial examination. But my father said, you are not taking the imperial examination to be loyal to Liu Yu.
But to be loyal to the people of Xuchang, participating in the imperial examination is just a way to achieve the goal. As long as you are worthy of the people and justice, no matter whether the emperor's surname is Zhao or Liu, so my father wrote these four words to encourage me, I will become
The magistrate of Xuchang County also hung it in his inner hall to motivate himself all the time."
"It doesn't matter whether the emperor's surname is Zhao or Liu." This sentence deeply touched Chen Qing's heart.
"Why didn't your father think of going to Lin'an?" Chen Qing asked again.
Su Heng hesitated. Chen Qing saw his hesitation and smiled: "Tell the truth, my surname is not Zhao!"
Su Heng nodded and said: "My father said that in Yingchang Mansion, our Su family is still a figure. If we go to Lin'an, we may not even be as good as the watchdogs of the Prime Minister's Mansion."
Chen Qing laughed and said, "Your father is very wise and knows his position. Indeed, if he was not the Conglong sect who followed the emperor to Jiangnan, or a local famous family in Jiangnan, he would not have any hope of becoming an official. Many people would go south to join the imperial court.
Basically, most of the officials held false posts, lived in poverty, and died in depression."
Chen Qing asked Su Heng to sit down and asked: "I always thought that Yingchang Mansion was very wealthy and everyone could have enough to eat. But I asked the soldiers to help with porridge, but to my surprise, there was a queue in front of the porridge shed.
There’s a long queue, what’s the reason for that?”
Su Heng smiled bitterly, "Yingchang Prefecture is a major grain-producing area, but it does not mean that the people are rich, and food is not cheap. The price of food is the same as other places, costing two to three hundred coppers per dou, and the average family's monthly income is only two
The money is even lower, the price of salt is higher, and the people live in the same hardship.
In fact, the reason is very simple. If the food prices in Yingchang Prefecture are low and the people are rich, then people from other prefectures and counties in the Central Plains will come, and the county will be overcrowded. It is just that Yingchang Prefecture is slightly better than other prefectures.
, During the period of the Puppet Qi Dynasty, all kinds of taxes and taxes were so numerous that people everywhere had no way to make a living. It was normal for people to starve to death, but no one died of starvation in Yingchang Prefecture. Even if you became a beggar, you could still get a mouthful of food."
"I understand what you mean. Yingchang Mansion is just a group of poor brothers who have a slightly better life."
"Reporting to Your Highness, the biggest feature of Yingchang Mansion is that there are many official fields. Each county government can control a lot of food, and Xuchang County is no exception. Therefore, even in a humble position, I can help the elderly and orphans."
Chen Qing said calmly: "So there are not many honest officials in Yingchang Prefecture, and their reputation is not very good, just because they have too much food?"
"Your Highness, this also depends on the specific situation. For example, Beizhi's family is very wealthy. Our family also owns a large amount of land, and we harvest a lot of food every year. Therefore, Beizhi is not indifferent to official food, and can keep public and private affairs separate. Reputation is more important than money and a humble position. The only truly honest official is Li Zhixian of Yancheng."
Chen Qing nodded and said: "Shen Guotai recommended you to me. He praised you for your outstanding ability and your ability to distinguish between public and private affairs. It seems that he was right."
Su Heng blushed and said, "Shen Tongpan is too high-minded for his humble position!"
"You don't have to be modest. Since justice is in your heart, just try your best to do things well. From now on, you will serve as the general judge of Yingchang Mansion and stabilize Yingchang Mansion as soon as possible."
Su Heng was overjoyed and quickly bowed and said: "Thank you for your highness's love. I will definitely do my best to manage Yingchang Mansion for your highness!"
Su Heng hurried back to the mansion and met his father in the study room of the inner house. Although the Su family was a famous family in Changge, if they wanted to become a famous family in Yingchang mansion, they had to move to Xuchang County where the government office was located. Although the Su family's ancestral home and ancestral hall were They are still in Changge County, but the main characters of the Su family have already lived in Xuchang.
Su Liang is about fifty years old, very rich-looking, always squinting his slender eyes. His calligraphy is very good, and he is very famous both in the official circles of Yingchang Prefecture and in the literary circles.
When he closed his eyes, he played with Yingchang Mansion, but when he opened his eyes, he stared at the whole world.
How could he not see Chen Qing's forge ahead and growing strength?
But how can the Su family get into Chen Qing's eyes? Su Liang has been thinking hard. Unexpectedly, an accident always comes when he least expects it. The eldest son comes back and tells him that he has been appointed by Chen Qing as the general magistrate of Yingchang Mansion. It really made Su Liang ecstatic.
"Haier also talked with counselor Zhang Xiao. I heard that it was Shen Guotai who recommended Haier to King Yong."
"It's him!"
Su Liang really didn't expect it, so he asked in confusion: "How would Shen Guotai evaluate you?"
"He said that the child has a clear distinction between public and private affairs and has outstanding abilities. King Yong also attaches great importance to integrity. He also specifically talked to the child about why I can be an honest official?"
"Then what do you say?"
"Haier told the truth, my family is well off and there is no need to embezzle the government's food. Compared to food, I value reputation more. Then he appointed my boy as the general magistrate of Yingchang Mansion!"
"It's that simple?"
Su Liang was surprised. His son's answer was definitely not the best. Although he was very frank, in official circles, hypocrisy must be maintained. The superiors would never be satisfied with this answer. The reason is very simple. You look down on food because If your level is low, what if you have one million taels of silver in front of you?
The correct answer should be virtue. A gentleman is upright and aboveboard, worthy of his heart, his country, and his people. This is the answer that the superior wants.
Being favored by Chen Qing is definitely not because of his son's distinction between public and private affairs. Su Liang took a few steps with his hands behind his back and asked: "Didn't you talk about anything else?"
Su Heng thought for a while and suddenly said: "Prince Yong is very interested in the banner my father gave me. I am fair in my heart. Does my father still remember it? The child is hanging in the county government hall."
"Oh?" Su Liang asked quickly: "What did he say?"
"He asked his father what it meant to write these four words?"
Su Liang asked: "Then how do you answer?"
"The child told King Yong why I went to Bianliang to take the imperial examination, because my father told me that taking the imperial examination is not to be loyal to Liu Yu, but to be loyal to the people of Xuchang. Taking the imperial examination is just a way to achieve the goal. As long as you have a clear conscience
The common people are worthy of justice, regardless of whether the emperor's surname is Zhao or Liu."
Su Liang slapped his forehead and he understood, that was the last sentence, 'It doesn't matter whether the emperor's surname is Zhao or Liu!'
This is the real reason why Chen Qing favors his son. An official should be worthy of the country and the people, regardless of whether the emperor's surname is Zhao or Chen.