"Zhang Jizhi, the prefect of Linqing?" After hearing Xu Qingyan's report, Zhao Junchen pondered for a moment, then nodded and said: "Let him come in."
Zhao Junchen could probably guess a little bit about Zhang Jizhi's reason for coming, but it was nothing more than the fact that Zhang Jizhi led the government officials to intercept Li Jiamin today, but was stopped by Emperor Deqing and Zhao Junchen.
Moreover, Emperor Deqing's attitude towards Li Jiamin was very gentle, and he even included Li Jiamin on the list for the southern tour. This made Zhang Jizhi a little uneasy, wondering if he had done something wrong, and he was also afraid that he would offend Deqing.
Emperor Qing and Zhao Junchen, so he asked to see him this time to test Zhao Junchen's attitude.
If it were just like this, Zhao Junchen still had a lot of things to do, but he was too lazy to explain anything to Zhang Jizhi. He was just a prefect, and Zhao Junchen would not see him.
However, Zhao Junchen was very interested in Zhang Jizhi, so Zhao Junchen finally decided to meet Zhang Jizhi.
Soon, Xu Qingyan led the uneasy Zhang Jizhi to Zhao Junchen's room.
As always, Zhang Jizhi's performance was very miserable, looking frightened and unable to even speak.
"Come on, I'm down to you, Zhang Jizhi, the prefect of Linqing. I've met Mr. Zhao." Zhang Jizhi looked anxious and saluted Zhao Junchen.
As he spoke, his two whiskers kept trembling, adding a lot of obscenity to his originally positive image.
Zhao Junchen frowned slightly, looked Zhang Jizhi up and down for a moment, and asked: "Are you...a stammerer?"
Zhang Jizhi was stunned for a moment, and it took him a moment to realize what Zhao Junchen meant. He quickly shook his head and explained: "Return to your lord. Exit, I am not stuttering."
Zhao Junchen frowned even more and asked: "Since you don't stutter, then why do you stutter every time I see you three times? If you are nervous, speak slowly and think carefully before speaking.
Otherwise, if you look like this, where is the official etiquette? How can you win the trust of the superior officials? How can you win the trust of the people?"
"Yes, yes, I understand." Hearing Zhao Junchen's accusation, Zhang Jizhi became more and more nervous, and he was still a little awkward when speaking. But under control, he finally got better.
Zhao Junchen sighed and stopped pursuing it. He just asked, "Tell me, why do you want to see me?"
Zhang Jizhi explained with an anxious look: "Mr. Zhao, I am asking you to see me this time because I want you to explain to Your Majesty on your behalf. The reason why I stopped Miss Li Jiamin and Li today is because of the request of Cao Jin, the magistrate of Huaiyin County.
, since Li Xin was imprisoned, the Li family has been under the supervision of Mr. Cao Jin. Unexpectedly, Miss Li Jiamin and Li escaped and came to Linqing. After Mr. Cao Jin learned the news, he reported it to the official
An official document was sent, saying that Miss Zhang wanted to disturb the Holy Master, and asked the official to send her back to Huaiyin. So the official took her with the officials and stopped her, hoping that Mr. Zhao would learn from it."
Zhao Junchen nodded. He didn't care about Zhang Jizhi's explanation. In Zhao Junchen's eyes, these were just trivial matters. He just said: "Are you afraid that His Majesty will misunderstand you? Don't worry, Your Majesty will not let such trivial matters go.
In my heart, I won’t blame you for this kind of thing. What’s more, if someone wants to ram the holy cavalry, it’s your duty as a local official to stop him. So you can rest assured about this matter, and there is no need for me to report it to Your Majesty.
Explain, and it won’t cause you any trouble.”
Hearing Zhao Junchen's relief, Zhang Jizhi's expression became much more relaxed. He thanked Zhao Junchen repeatedly and wiped the cold sweat on his head with his sleeves.
Seeing Zhang Jizhi's appearance, Zhao Junchen shook his head and finally expressed his doubts, saying: "I really can't understand that you, who are so timid and fearful, dare to build a palace for His Majesty.
Did you resort to fraud to get things done? Don’t you know that compared to a small matter like your blocking Li Jiamin, if Your Majesty really moves into the simple palace you prepared, the consequences will be more serious? "
After a pause, Zhao Junchen reminded again: "Also, don't think that this matter is over, because your audacity almost made all the officials in Shandong embarrassed in front of His Majesty. Although His Majesty finally moved into Liyuan, he did not
No matter what kind of trouble it may cause, your wanton behavior has offended all the officials in Shandong, so rather than blaming His Majesty, I advise you to consider making things difficult for your colleagues in Shandong in the future."
Hearing Zhao Junchen's reminder, Zhang Jizhi shed a cold sweat after finally wiping it off, but he complained to Zhao Junchen: "Master Zhao, I am really unjust in this matter."
Zhao Junchen asked: "Oh? Have you been wronged again? Tell me, why have you been wronged?"
Zhang Jizhi explained: "Your Excellency, you also know that His Highness the Crown Prince is responsible for the preparations for the Southern Tour. His Highness has always been frugal and only allocated less than 30,000 taels of silver to Linqing. However, in order to welcome His Majesty's Southern Tour, I have
It was necessary to repair and expand the pier, repair and decorate the palace, and purchase various supplies. After all, the money was not enough. However, under the strict decree of the imperial court, the lower officials did not dare to increase taxes privately.
, Requisitioning people's power will increase the deficit, so the official thought of a compromise method, "
Having said this, Zhang Jizhi hesitated slightly, and finally gritted his teeth and explained: "That is to use all the money to repair the dock and purchase supplies, while His Majesty's palace only repaired the outer door and wall hastily, and it cannot be seen without entering the interior.
We will wait for His Majesty's arrival and propose to Your Majesty that we move to Li Garden to live as we do today and use Li Garden as a temporary palace."
Zhao Junchen was slightly stunned and said in surprise: "Oh? It was you who came up with the idea of using Li Garden as a temporary palace and letting His Majesty move to Li Garden to live temporarily?"
Zhang Jizhi nodded repeatedly and said: "The lower official came up with it. When the governor Lu discovered the flaw in the palace, the lower official mentioned it to Mr. Lu. However, Mr. Lu felt that such an idea was too risky. If your majesty hadn't
If you agree, you will find that the Linqing Palace is shabby, and then all the officials in Shandong will be implicated, so I am still angry about what I have done, but fortunately with your help, Mr. Zhao, this matter was finally resolved smoothly."
Zhao Junchen didn't take it seriously and just smiled and said: "I didn't expect you to have such an adaptable mind, but in the final analysis, your approach is just to fool His Majesty, and you are still very courageous."
Zhang Jizhi smiled bitterly and said: "Master Zhao, I really have no choice but to do this. Due to the shortage of silver, I have no choice but to do this. To be honest, sir, since making this decision, I have been panicking all day, for fear of myself."
My plan failed and caused His Majesty’s wrath. I have been unable to sleep for many days and nights.”
Zhao Junchen didn't mean to blame him. He just shook his head and said: "Where is there a shortage of silver? But which local official dares to cheat like you and fool the emperor? Now the imperial court is not rich in money, so it can be allocated to you near Linqing."
Thirty thousand taels of silver are used for preparations, which is a lot. As far as I know, many places have only allocated less than 20,000 taels of silver. If you only get this much silver, wouldn't you even have a dock to welcome His Majesty's dragon ship?
Will it be renovated and expanded?”
Originally, Zhao Junchen was just joking a few words casually, but Zhang Jizhi, after thinking about it for a moment, actually replied seriously: "In reply to Mr. Zhao, if the imperial court only allocates 20,000 taels of silver to Linqing, then the lower official will still repair it.
After all, Linqing owes its current scale and prosperity to the traffic of canal merchant ships. Renovating and expanding the pier will not only be able to welcome His Majesty's dragon ships, but will also have a great impact on Linqing's future prosperity and people's livelihood.
Benefits. Therefore, lower officials will spend less money on purchasing supplies."
Zhao Junchen raised his brows and looked at Zhang Jizhi in front of him seriously. After pondering for a moment, he asked: "Reduce the money for purchasing supplies? Your Majesty's daily food and clothing expenses are all in accordance with the rules, and the hundreds of officials accompanying you south
We are also accustomed to a luxurious life. If you reduce the money for purchasing supplies, what will you use to entertain His Majesty and the officials? At that time, Your Majesty and the officials will feel that they have been neglected, and how should you bear the consequences? "
Zhang Jizhi continued to explain: "Returning to Mr. Zhao, if the official reduces the purchase money, he will not let your majesty live in Liyuan. Instead, he will repair the Longquan Temple in Fenghuang Ridge and suggest to your majesty that he move to Longquan."
His Majesty worships Buddhism, and Fenghuangling is also picturesque. With His Majesty’s temperament, there is a 50% chance that he will agree to it. And after His Majesty and the people accompanying him live in the Buddhist temple, I am afraid they will subconsciously restrain their luxurious temperament.
On weekdays, they live in a monk's house and eat vegetarian food, and in their free time, they go out for picnics in Fenghuang Ridge. In this way, the cost of shopping is naturally greatly reduced. With their leisure time, they probably won't blame the officials for neglecting them."
After a pause, Zhang Jizhi continued: "Actually, this is what Xiaguan originally planned to do, but the probability of success of such a plan is only half, not as high as the possibility of living in Liyuan, and spending a large amount of money on purchases.
Locally, it is also spent on the common people and merchants, which can promote Linqing's prosperity and people's livelihood, so Xiaguan did not adopt this plan in the end."
After finishing speaking, Zhang Jizhi suddenly realized that he seemed to have said too many things that he shouldn't have said, and with these words, he clearly revealed his intention to fool Emperor Deqing. He couldn't help but think about it in his heart, and secretly looked up at Zhao Junchen.
He was afraid that Zhao Junchen would blame himself.
However, after Zhao Junchen heard Zhang Jizhi's various plans, he looked at Zhang Jizhi in front of him blankly, and he couldn't help but be surprised.
Originally, Zhao Junchen thought that Zhang Jizhi was just a good official with a cowardly temperament but who loved the people. Although such a person was rare, Zhao Junchen would not pay too much attention to it.
However, Zhang Jizhi's words and the talents and abilities he displayed impressed Zhao Junchen with admiration.
First of all, this Zhang Jizhi has extraordinary adaptability and can make full use of the resources at his hands. He can accomplish many things with as many resources as he has. With this ability, even in later generations, he will definitely be regarded as a rare talent.
.
Secondly, what is even more rare and valuable is that Zhang Jizhi actually has a simple economic vision, and even understands the role of infrastructure construction and large-scale purchases in driving the local economy. With this knowledge, Zhang Jizhi is better than most people in the DPRK who only understand
"Zhihuzheye" and officials vying for power are much better.
Although Zhao Junchen is in charge of the Household Department, and the Household Department is in charge of the world's money and food, Zhao Junchen knows very well that no one in the Household Department except himself has such economic vision. Those in the Household Department
At best, officials can only settle accounts.
Finally, Zhang Jizhi adheres to the idea of "the people are noble and the emperor is of the least importance". Although he is timid and cowardly, judging from what he does, he never infringes on the interests of the people. For this bottom line, he will even try every means
Fooling Emperor Deqing! How should I put it? In the eyes of Zhao Junchen, this is an excellent quality. Because it means that Zhang Jizhi is not so stupidly loyal to Emperor Deqing...
And Zhang Jizhi's own timidity also means that this person is actually very easy to control as long as his bottom line is not touched!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"I didn't expect that I would meet such a rare talent." Zhao Junchen sighed and was a little happy, but after seeing Zhang Jizhi's trembling whiskers because of the panic in his heart, he subconsciously shook his head and said: "More
I didn’t expect that such a rare talent would have such an unbearable temperament.”
However, since talents are rare, Zhao Junchen naturally wants to recruit him for his own use.
So, just when Zhang Jizhi was regretting and panicking for saying too many things he shouldn't have said, Zhao Junchen suddenly asked: "What are your plans next?"
"Plan?" Zhang Jizhi was slightly startled, not understanding what Zhao Junchen meant.
Out of admiration for Zhang Jizhi, Zhao Junchen was quite patient at this time and explained: "In any case, you did not seriously repair the palace this time, and you also concealed it from the officials in Shandong. You almost caused them to be blamed by your majesty together with you.
If you have completely offended them, you will inevitably be suppressed and excluded, so you cannot stay in Shandong. If you continue to be an official here, you may be framed by them, so I ask you
.What are your plans next?”
Although Zhao Junchen did not blame Zhang Jizhi for his nonsense, the scene described by Zhao Junchen still made Zhang Jizhi a little flustered, but he was just a prefect. He was helpless in the face of such a situation, so after thinking about it for a moment, he felt bitter
He said with a straight face: "I don't know."
Zhao Junchen secretly shook his head. It seemed that although Zhang Jizhi was a rare talent, he was not good at intrigues. If other officials heard Zhao Junchen's inquiry, they would definitely understand Zhao Junchen's intention to bribe him. At this time, he was already on his knees.
The subordinate shouted, "Please save me, Mr. Zhao. From now on, I will only follow Mr. Zhao's lead."
Therefore, Zhao Junchen had to speak more bluntly and said: "You can't stay in Shandong anymore. You can only work as an official elsewhere. However, official position transfers are always troublesome. Do you have anything to do with the Ministry of Personnel?"
What kind of relationship allows you to move around? If not, I can help you."
After hearing Zhao Junchen's hint, Zhang Jizhi finally understood, no matter how slow he was, that Zhao Junchen wanted to surrender to him!
Considering Zhao Junchen's infamous reputation, Zhang Jizhi couldn't help but hesitate, but then he thought that he had no other choice, and Zhao Junchen's reputation seemed to be gradually improving, so he finally nodded hesitantly and said: "Master Zhao, since you are willing to do this for me,
The official makes the decision, everything, everything will be subject to your arrangements."
In this way, Zhao Junchen took Zhang Jizhi under his command, which was surprisingly simple.
Next, Zhao Junchen and Zhang Jizhi talked about many things, mostly about Zhang Jizhi's arrangements. By the time Zhang Jizhi left, it was already getting late.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
After the moon rose and the moon set, the Southern Patrol Fleet's repairs in Linqing finally came to an end, and Emperor Deqing had no interest in continuing the tour because of Li Jiamin's incident.
So, on the next day, under the order of Emperor Deqing, the southern patrol fleet set sail again and continued to sail south of the Yangtze River. Shandong officials from the governor Lu Yuanan down took the opportunity to accompany it.
On the third day, which was the eleventh day of the southern tour, the southern patrol fleet arrived in Liaocheng, Shandong. Unlike Linqing, the officials there were already fully prepared to welcome the arrival of Emperor Deqing.
The palace was also extremely luxurious, but Emperor Deqing was used to seeing palaces like this, but he was not very interested.
After resting for one night in Liaocheng, the Southern Patrol fleet continued southward and arrived at Jining on the thirteenth day of the Southern Tour, and then arrived at Taierzhuang on the fourteenth day of the Southern Tour.
Once here, if you go further south, you will reach the territory of Nanzhili. Under such circumstances, it is naturally inconvenient for the Shandong officials to continue to follow, and they all look reluctant to say goodbye. As the newly appointed Shandong Chief Envoy, Li Lide is also there.
We got off the ship here and followed Lu Yuan'an, the governor of Shandong, to Jinan to take up his post. It was thought that with Lu Yuan'an's care, Li Lide would have less trouble during his tenure in Shandong.
Then, on the seventeenth day of the southern patrol, the southern patrol fleet finally arrived at South Zhili and arrived at Xuzhou, the "thorough of five provinces".
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...(To be continued, please search Piaotian Literature, the novels will be better and updated faster!