If you are prosperous, you can help the world; if you are poor, you can only take care of yourself.
These are the words of Yasheng Mencius to express his noble aspirations and principles of conduct, but they are also applicable to Zhao Junchen, a "corrupt official".
There are some things that he has seen and thought about, but due to the limitations of timing, environment, status, ability and other factors, it is not his turn to participate. He just has to be aware of it.
In Zhao Junchen's view, even if it cannot be said to be ridiculous, if he still thinks about the world when he is in a difficult situation, at least he is overestimating his own capabilities.
Therefore, the first thing Zhao Junchen has to do now is to reverse the unfavorable situation he is facing.
"All changes will begin with this locust plague in Lu'an Prefecture."
This is Zhao Junchen’s truest thought now.
…
A night of silence.
Although he suffered from insomnia for most of the night due to various reasons, Zhao Junchen's energy improved a lot when he got up early the next morning. The pain in his head became more severe and he recovered a lot after a night's rest.
Therefore, Zhao Junchen did not continue to lie in bed to recuperate as the doctors told him, but got up early in the morning.
Although he was not used to being served, in order not to expose any flaws, Zhao Junchen still allowed a group of maids and servants to wash his face and change clothes.
Maybe Zhao Junchen will gradually adapt to the corrupt life of the feudal landlord class, and even feel comfortable and accustomed to it in the future, but now, he just feels like a puppet on strings.
As Zhao Junchen's long-term follower, Xu Qingyan was very incompetent in some respects. Perhaps he was spoiled by Zhao Junchen, so he had always been lazy. When Zhao Junchen started to eat breakfast, he had just woken up and learned that
After Zhao Junchen got up early, Xu Qingyan hurried over.
After entering Zhao Junchen's room, he saw Zhao Junchen enjoying breakfast leisurely. Xu Qingyan couldn't help complaining: "Master, you were injured yesterday, why did you get up so early today? What should I do if it delays the recovery of the injury?"
"
This Xu Qingyan is not a good person in many aspects, but his concern for Zhao Junchen is sincere.
Therefore, Zhao Junchen was not angry at Xu Qingyan's complaint. He just smiled and said: "It's just that I was hit by a stone. It's not a big deal. If I lie in bed for several days because of this, it won't make a fuss."
It's going to delay the business."
Waving to the maids and servants waiting around him to leave, Zhao Junchen pointed to the seat next to him and said to Xu Qingyan: "The breakfast prepared by Governor Liu is quite exquisite, but it's just too much to finish. Now in Lu'an Mansion
There is a locust plague, so food cannot be wasted. Please sit down and eat with me."
After hearing what Zhao Junchen said, Xu Qingyan felt that he had heard wrongly and looked at Zhao Junchen in disbelief.
"Don't waste food" is definitely not something someone like Zhao Junchen would say.
Seeing the doubts in Xu Qingyan's heart, Zhao Junchen sighed softly and said, "I know what you are wondering about. Sit down and let's talk while we eat."
The relationship between Xu Qingyan and Zhao Junchen was that of master, servant, and brother. They often ate together before, so they did not refuse and sat next to Zhao Junchen. They did not touch the food on the table, but just looked at it with confusion.
Zhao Junchen, waiting for Zhao Junchen’s explanation.
Xu Qingyan has been with Zhao Junchen for too long, and he knows Zhao Junchen too well. Starting from yesterday, he felt that something was wrong with Zhao Junchen. He was completely different from the Zhao Junchen he was familiar with, as if he was a different person.
It is impossible to say that there are no doubts in Zhao Junchen's various performances.
On the other side, Zhao Junchen, who has already become a deadlock, must eliminate this doubt in Xu Qingyan's mind and explain clearly to Xu Qingyan what he is thinking now in order not to leave any loopholes and to enable Xu Qingyan to keep pace with him in the future.
The situation Zhao Junchen is facing now is very severe, with both short-term worries and long-term concerns. If he wants to change this unfavorable situation, he must start from now as well as from around him.
Seeing that Xu Qingyan did not take down his chopsticks, Zhao Junchen sighed softly, put down the chopsticks in his hands, and said: "Qingyan, just stay with me today. Don't go to those grain stores again. Come to Lu this time."
Anfu, our goals and means also need to change."
Hearing what Zhao Junchen said, Xu Qingyan couldn't help but be surprised and asked: "Master, are you not going to use this disaster relief food and grass?"
Seeing Zhao Junchen nod, Xu Qingyan became anxious and said: "Master, how can this be done? If this disaster relief grain and grass are sold to a grain store, it will be an income of hundreds of thousands of taels of silver! What's more, for this matter, we
We have spent a lot of money on everything. If we just give up, won't all that money be wasted? When have we ever done a business that suffered a loss? Also, the officials of Lu'an Prefecture have been staring at these batches eagerly.
As for the disaster relief food and grass, it would be hard to explain to them if we just gave up. What's more, even if we don't use the disaster relief food, the corrupt officials in Lu'an Prefecture will also take action after we return to Beijing.
At that time, we will not get any benefits, and we will give the advantage to others..."
Xu Qingyan said a lot of things in a rapid-fire manner, but he was actually very reasonable, which made Zhao Junchen look at him in a different light.
Although, Xu Qingyan's "reasonable and well-founded" all come from the theory of corrupt officials.
Shaking his head gently, Zhao Junchen said: "Qingyan, I was attacked this time and was hit on the head with a stone. On the contrary, it hit me. We have never been to this Lu'an Mansion, let alone been here."
I have done some evil things here, but the people here are so hostile to me, and they don't know it at all. I think because of the publicity of those innocent people, I am now infamous all over the world."
Hearing what Zhao Junchen said, Xu Qingyan looked indignant and said: "Those Qingliu are indeed nothing, but His Majesty doesn't like them now. They have no power in their hands, and they have no other ability except to confuse some common people and scholars.
Young Master, when did you start to care about these people and the people? Let’s do our thing and don’t care what they do!”
Zhao Junchen shook his head again and said: "It's wrong for you to think so. You don't like reading, but you have always heard of storytelling, right? Like Li Linfu, Qin Hui, and Yan Song, which one is not a saint's beauty? Which one is not powerful? And which one is not powerful? And
Which one of them ended up well? Why? It’s just that their reputations between the government and the public are too bad. People who don’t worry about the long-term must worry about the short-term. These people are a lesson learned from the past. Money is a good thing, but it also needs to be spent.
What's more, the money in our hands is enough now. Do we need to search everywhere anymore? What we need most now is not money, but a long-term way to live and work. My reputation among the government and the public is too bad now, and I have always allowed those who are innocent to waste money.
They slandered us, but this situation is now about to change."
When these words came out of Zhao Junchen's mouth, Xu Qingyan felt extremely awkward, but he understood Zhao Junchen's thoughts and asked hesitantly: "Young Master, what do you mean, Master, we won't use this disaster relief food and grass this time?
But use this disaster relief opportunity to earn a good reputation?"
Zhao Junchen smiled and said, "That's what I mean."
Xu Qingyan did not agree and said: "Master, your intention is good, but it won't work. These officials in Lu'an Mansion are just like other officials. They are all corrupt officials. They can't afford to start early without profit. Don't look at them now
Respectfully, but firstly, it’s because you, young master, have a high position and are favored by the saints. Secondly, they hope that young master can share some soup with them when they eat meat this time. If they don’t share some benefits in this disaster relief, they will
I am afraid that they will not sincerely serve the young master, but will resent the young master. After all, the distribution of disaster relief food and grass must be handled by them. If they continue to bully and conceal it, young master, your good reputation will not be earned, and they will provoke you.
The resentment and resentment of the people will also fall on you, young master."
At this point, Xu Qingyan shook his head one after another, with a businessman's face, and continued: "Master, we can't afford this deal. Is it possible that we have to pay out of our own pockets to benefit those corrupt officials?"
Although this Xu Qingyan was uneducated and incompetent, he was quite familiar with the evil ways and corrupt officialdom in the officialdom. This also made Zhao Junchen think more highly of him. After all, in the officialdom, such people are inevitable around him.
However, Zhao Junchen was very happy about Xu Qingyan's doubts, because Xu Qingyan could say this, which proved that he finally agreed with Zhao Junchen's thoughts and understood what Zhao Junchen meant. In this way, no matter what Zhao Junchen does in the future
Xu Qingyan would no longer have doubts about this matter.
Feeling a little more relaxed, Zhao Junchen said with a smile: "Of course I have already thought of what you said, and I have my own solution. In my opinion, as long as this matter is slightly modified, all the interests of all aspects can be taken care of.
, even the benefits we should get will be a penny, and if everything goes well, maybe the benefits will be even more."
Hearing what Zhao Junchen said, Xu Qingyan couldn't help but be overjoyed and asked quickly: "Master is still smart. Master, please tell me what to do. I will listen to you."
Xu Qingyan said that other people can't afford to start early if they don't have any benefits. In fact, he is the same. When he hears that he can get benefits, he immediately becomes energetic.
From this, we can also see Xu Qingyan's loyalty. After all, these benefits belong to Zhao Junchen. As a long-term follower, he cannot get much.
On the other side, Zhao Junchen was just about to explain when he heard a servant report outside the door: "Your Excellency, Master Liu Changan, the prefect, wants to see you."