"To bring benefits to the people and eliminate harms, to uphold the people's virtues, and to teach them the people."
Jingzhao, Shangluo County.
Shangluo is located in the southeast of Jingzhao, close to the Qinling Mountains, with mountains and rivers. Going south along the Danjiang River and Wuguan Road is Lantian County, and further south is Jingzhou. This is a thoroughfare, and there have been civil unrest in Guanzhong.
The refugees fled and settled here to reclaim mountains and forests to make a living. One day, if the war spreads here, they will go south from Wuguan to Jingzhou. It was only because of the appearance of the emperor that everything changed. With the stability of Guanzhong, many refugees began to
When they returned to their hometowns, some people who had no land at home became villagers or farmers here. Over time, the number of households here increased instead of decreasing, and it became a large county.
The current Shangluo Ling was transferred from Kanto at the end of the year and served as Pang Tong, a Jingzhou native who served as Cangcaobu in Dongwuping County.
Because he was a well-known scholar of the younger generation in Jingzhou, and he had participated in the court's crusade against Yuan Shao and organized supplies for the rear, so after the siege, Pang Tong was immediately worshiped as the county magistrate. Logically speaking, with Pang Tong's ability and talent,
As the head of the county, he should be able to achieve some political achievements quickly. However, since Pang Tong took office, not only did he not achieve anything, but because he delegated all the customary affairs in the county to his subordinates, it led to the
The governance level of Luoxian County is much worse than that of its predecessor. In particular, there is no news at all about the most important tasks of the court, such as checking household registration, slave registration, changing slaves and calculating money, etc.
This year, not only might Shangluo County fail the Jingzhao Licao exam, but it may also affect the entire Jingzhao Licao exam.
Hu Miao was deeply dissatisfied with Pang Tong's inaction and cold treatment of policies. His initial idea was to impeach the other party directly, but seeing Pang Tong's blatant appearance, he couldn't help but think more and worried about what the other party was up to. So he hugged
With such an idea and concern about Situ Huangwan's power, Hu Miao wanted Su Ze to cast stones to ask for directions, so as to involve the Guanxi scholars. Going deeper, it was something Su Ze didn't understand.
.
Jun Cheng's bus was full of traffic all the way, and finally arrived in Shangluo County in the afternoon.
The car stopped next to a big mulberry tree at a fork in the road. The shaking of the car woke up Su Ze who was still thinking about his purpose. He opened the curtain and looked out the window and found that he was still on the side of the road. When he was about to speak, he saw a strong man
The young coachman jumped down from the shaft and walked to the window: "Su Cheng, why don't we go to the county building first, take a bath and have a good meal, and then send the Luo County officials to see us?"
Su Ze did not answer his words first, but nodded with satisfaction: "In just six months, you have made such progress, you are much better than your brother."
The strong coachman in front of him is Ma Chao's second brother Ma Xiu. He has a good physique at a young age. He originally wanted to take the route of guarding Ma Dai and join the palace as a guard. However, Ma Chao gave him directly to Su Ze and let him
He served as Su Ze's bodyguard and coachman, because Ma Chao always remembered that Su Ze's family was ruined because of them. This was to apologize to Su Ze, and secondly, it was to give Su Ze a helper that he could use with confidence.
"I don't dare. I just followed Su Cheng and learned a little bit." Ma Xiu said. From the time when Su Ze became the county magistrate until now, he has been following Su Ze for more than half a year. From the beginning of resentment and contempt to the present
The reason for admiration was that he had witnessed Su Ze's extraordinary talents many times. Under the influence of his own eyes and ears, Ma Xiu also gained some knowledge. He knew that when a county magistrate like Su Ze visits a county, he must first show off his power.
It would be better to have the county magistrate and others come to see him. Although the county magistrate is only a rank of 600 shi, which is the same level as Shangluo Ling Pang Tong, because Su Ze is from an upright background and comes from the county government, he is more or less superior to the local government.
So when they come here in a hurry, they usually take enough rest first to wait for their work.
However, Su Ze had no intention of doing this. After casually affirming Matthew, he then said: "There is no need to pass on these old customs. You can just drive to the county residence."
Matthew was doubtful, but he didn't say anything more and had no choice but to do as he was told. After asking for the road clearly, Matthew jumped back on the cab, waved his whip, and drove forward along the road that could only accommodate two cars parallel.
From time to time in the Shangluo County Residence, several minor officials were walking in and out of the main hall with documents in their hands, looking very busy. The main seat where the county magistrate was supposed to sit was vacant, but the second seat was sitting with his head bent.
A young man with a dark face and resolute features, and a pair of bright eyes staring intently at the lines of writing under his pen.
There were piles of documents on the table in front of the young man. Whenever he finished approving one, he would pick it up and pass it forward without raising his head. Then a clerk would take it and hand it over.
Take it down and hand it over to the subordinate responsible for the corresponding affairs.
While hurriedly flipping through the documents and picking up his pen for review, the young man occasionally made some movements to spread his sleeves, revealing a sword he wore at his waist and a copper seal wearing a yellow ribbon.
According to the Han system, all officials with a rank of 200 to 600 shi should wear a yellow ribbon with a copper seal.
Apart from Pang Tong, the only person who can approve the documents of the whole county, sit on the second seat, and wear a yellow ribbon with a copper seal, the only one who can review the documents of the county is the county magistrate.
After approving a document, the county magistrate breathed a sigh of relief. Pang Tong did not manage county affairs and entrusted him with all the affairs, but he was very tired. If he had known this, he should not have believed the other party's words at that time.
He came from afar from Jingzhou and received a salary of 400 dan to do a job of 600 dan.
"Eh..." The county magistrate sighed softly, put down his pen, and while resting, he asked the chief clerk on the side: "If I haven't forgotten the day, is it the county magistrate Su Jun who is coming today?"
"Only." The chief clerk replied: "According to the route, he will enter the city this afternoon. According to the past rules, Su Juncheng will go to the hotel to rest first. In the evening, the county will host a banquet to entertain the distinguished guests."
"I think the time has come." The county magistrate looked up at the sky, then looked down at the few remaining documents, and breathed a sigh of relief, as if he had put down a huge stone: "Can you please go to the library?"
Come on, the Lord of the County will entertain Su Cheng with me, sit with us and chat for a few words, I will be there shortly."
As soon as the chief clerk said "here" in a low voice, the panicked voice of the chief of the pavilion suddenly came from outside the door: "Xu, Xu County Cheng, Su County Cheng from Jingzhao is here!"
Xu County Cheng was suddenly startled. He raised his head and looked outside. Before he could put down his pen, he saw two people walking from the door one after another. The man walking in front was tall and tall, with a handsome face and a high-spirited demeanor.
, it was Su Ze, the Prime Minister of Jingzhao County. Behind him was the guard Ma Xiu. Ma Xiu had a long sword on his waist. He pushed aside the blockage at the door for Su Ze and escorted him all the way. Just as he was about to leave,
Suddenly he glanced at Xu County Cheng's waist, his eyes flashed, and then he retreated to the door.
"Is this the magistrate of this county?" Su Ze glanced at the other party and said in a gentle tone.
The Prime Minister of Xu County was stunned for a moment, then quickly stood up from the table, raised his hands and said: "Exactly, I am Xu Shu, a native of Yingchuan. Because I have a close friendship with Pang Shiyuan, now that he is serving in Shangluo, I have been specially appointed to help him." Xu Shu.
I smiled bitterly in my heart. I didn't expect that the other party's actions were so unconventional, which disrupted my plan. Now that the other party had already attacked, I had no choice but to fight hard: "Your Majesty, please take a seat. Pang Ling will be here in a moment."
After saying that, he repeatedly waved his hand to signal the chief clerk to go to the back hall and call Pang Tong, while Xu Shu looked at him curiously.
Little did he know that Su Ze was also observing Xu Shu: "Is Xu Jun a stranger? It seems that he has been tried by the officials?"
As the emperor made a series of changes to the system of recruitment and recommendation, cracks gradually appeared in the chain of interests formed in the past based on nepotism, fellow villagers, masters and apprentices. Nowadays, counties can recruit scholars from other places to serve as Cao Cao, and even at the county level
Foreigners could be recruited as county magistrates, which greatly destroyed the monopoly of local power by the powerful.
In addition, the conscripted scholars will also be uniformly assessed by the superior officials or officials. After passing various aspects, they can formally serve and enjoy the imperial salary. And if the conscripted scholars are in three years
If there is a situation within the territory where the name is not worthy of the name and the talent is unworthy, the conqueror will be jointly and severally liable to varying degrees.
These various restrictions on both sides of the conquest have made many people who have the power to conquer conquests no longer dare to do so at will. They do their best to investigate every time they conquest, and they no longer follow the conquests and use them as they used to.
The phenomenon of being inferior to a chicken was beginning to be curbed, and with the gradual rise of the Imperial College's policy and examination system, the system of inspection and examination was also unknowingly radiant with vitality.
Xu Shu followed the path of the county magistrate Pang Tong, who passed the assessment of Jingzhao officials and was officially appointed. The officials who passed through this process were often more talented than their colleagues: "Actually, I have longed for the goods in Guanzhong, and now I just got the favor of my friend.
Invited, he also said that he would not form a relationship with me as a monarch or a minister, but only as a brother. So I came over via the Wuguan Road, successfully passed the Licao Ceremony Examination, and was selected as an official."
Speaking of this, Xu Shu couldn't help but look at Su Ze. Compared with himself, Su Ze was the real young man who became famous. After one trial, he became the county magistrate with 600 shi. I heard that the county will be changed in the future.
The county Cao's rank will be raised to one thousand dan by the county magistrate, and his future future will be almost limitless.
"So that's it." Su Ze nodded.
"Your Majesty is worthy of being a highly educated scholar. He was favored by the Emperor in the palace examination... The Emperor is very knowledgeable about people. When I heard that your Majesty was ordered to pay homage to the Prime Minister of Jingzhao County, I told Pang Ling that this was the common people of Jingzhao County.
"Blessing." Xu Shu said flattering words bluntly, with a hint of unnaturalness on his dark face: "Now I see you looking around, visiting people's illnesses on bicycles, and never having a moment to spare. It's really admirable, but...
…”
"It is urgent to seek help from the people." Su Ze smiled faintly, ignored the matter, glanced at the documents on Xu Shu's desk, and said directly: "When I came here, I saw many people holding official documents in their hands.
When I come in and out, I see your case again. Is this a day's official work in Shangluo County? It seems that it will catch up with Jingzhao County."
This question is a bit difficult to answer. Shangluo County is not big, and there are not many official duties in a day, but I can't bear Pang Tong's procrastination! Although Xu Shu is the county magistrate, he has certain authority to handle trivial matters, but those important matters
Pang Tong could only intervene in the matter, but Pang Tong insisted on suppressing it!
Xu Shu hesitated for a while. He didn't want to make excuses to cover up. In front of a smart man like Su Ze, lying was useless, so he could only avoid the important things and said: "It's the autumn harvest, and there are always many complicated things to deal with in the country pavilion down there.
In the past, I was quite leisurely, not as good as Jingzhao County Prefecture."
"Really?" Someone came forward and gave Su Ze a bowl of tea. Thinking that the county magistrate Pang Tong hadn't shown up yet, he couldn't help but feel a little annoyed: "Is Xu Jun busy with the county magistrate's affairs?"
Xu Shu's face changed. Fortunately, his face was already dark, and no one else could see the change even for a moment. He immediately said: "Your words are serious!"
In fact, these days when he found out that Su Ze came from Chang'an to check on the government affairs of Luo County, he had been busy with this matter, because Pang Tong didn't care about Su Ze's arrival at all, and he still had to eat and drink, but
Xu Shu did not dare to be careless and negligent. In his opinion, if this was not done well, wouldn't it be a problem for Hu Miao and Dong Cheng behind the scenes?
So Xu Shu thought about sending people to hold Su Ze back when he came, and he would clear all the squeezed official duties, so that he could have an explanation. As for the other party who asked him why he had not carried out the household registration check for so long, the servant's
Work, Xu Shu has also thought of appropriate words.
However, Su Ze did not ask in this direction for the time being. He already had a document in his hand that Matthew had cut off halfway when he came. He looked at the content and the instructions given by Xu Shu, nodded and said: "
Xu Jun has surrendered his talents to serve as the county magistrate, you should be the county magistrate."
Xu Shu's face looked a little ugly, and he was about to say something when he suddenly heard a careless yawn coming from the back hall:
"I have always said that Xu Yuanzhi is a talented person in the state and county. He can travel thousands of miles like a horse. Others don't believe it. I didn't expect that Su Juncheng, who I have never met, agrees with me."
Su Ze's eyes darkened slightly, he put down the document and slowly turned his head to look
A young man with an ordinary appearance and a short stature was walking forward slowly and leisurely, with a simple yellow ribbon and copper seal tied around his waist. This unattractive man was none other than Shangluo Ling Pang Tong. He yawned in the room that had been vacant for a long time.
They sat down on the main seat. Since both of them were officials of six hundred stone, when they met each other, it was just a courtesy.
"Pang County Magistrate is free and easy. He actually leaves all the trivial matters to his subordinates to do and spread the word. He is well versed in the way of doing nothing." Su Ze only glanced at the other party briefly and quickly looked away.
go.
"If you can get cured by doing nothing, why not do anything else?" Pang Tong said with a calm smile as if he didn't hear the thorn in his words.
Su Ze said coldly: "The imperial court advocates doing something, but the county magistrate calls it inaction. If it can be managed, it will be fine. Is this really the case in the precious county? As a county magistrate, he never manages affairs and entrusts all official duties to his subordinates.
There is a backlog of documents, the people cannot complain about their sufferings, and the government cannot pass the government. The people in Shangluo County are hidden, there are many powerful slaveholders, and the county is barren. Seeing this, you are just doing nothing?"
"I don't know what the matter is." Pang Tong did not change his understatement at all under Su Ze's questioning. He looked at Xu Shu playfully and said with a smile: "It turns out he thinks I didn't do anything."