At first glance, this group of southern scholars seem to be self-admiring and pretentious, but objectively speaking, their accusations are based on facts and are not without reason.
Zhang Yangquan took a deep breath and said: "Ma Yulin is also a famous scholar in the south of the Yangtze River. What is his evaluation among the southern scholars?"
Qian Yongren said: "They think highly of Ma Yulin's talents, but they criticize a lot of his personal ethics!"
Zhang Yangquan frowned and said, "What's wrong with his personal ethics?"
Qian Yongren stood aside and said, "I heard that Ma Yulin once had an affair with his widowed sister-in-law. Such a person, no matter how talented and learned he is, will not be recognized by the scholarly community!"
Zhang Yangquan and Qin Lingjun looked at each other and suddenly thought that why Ma Yulin didn't marry a wife, maybe it had something to do with his widowed sister-in-law.
"Wang Meng is a celebrity in Hangzhou and a hermit. They can't find fault, right?" Zhang Yangquan asked again.
Qian Yongren said: "Wang Meng's original evaluation was pretty good, but then it got worse and worse. He was said to be too lazy and unable to restrain the officials below him. As a result, the biggest corrupt official in Jiangdu was under him!"
The more Zhang Yangquan listened, the more frightened he became. These southern scholars were mean, but they would hardly be unintentional. He asked again: "What about Liu Bowen?"
Qian Yongren said: "Liu Bowen, like Wang Meng, originally had a pretty good reputation in the scholar circles, but after he came to Jiangdu, his reputation began to deteriorate sharply."
Zhang Yangquan was stunned and said: "Why is this?"
Qian Yongren said: "At the Songjiang Cultural Conference a few days ago, Lu Juren criticized Liu Ji in public, saying that he was different from what he appeared to be and pretended to be noble!"
Zhang Yangquan frowned and said, "Does he have an explanation for why he said Liu Ji is different from what he looks like?"
Bian Yuanheng said: "He said that Liu Ji always likes to show that he is indifferent to fame and wealth. However, if he really wanted to be a hermit, he would have hid in the mountains and forests long ago. Wouldn't he come to Jiangdu just because of a letter?"
Qin Lingjun snorted coldly: "That's nonsense! Master He invited him to join the Talent Recruitment Hall several times, but he refused every time! Isn't this indifferent to fame and fortune?"
Qian Yongren said: "Some people also refuted this at that time."
Qin Lingjun said: "What did Lu Juren say?"
"He said that among truly smart people, who would go to the talent recruitment center?"
Qin Lingjun asked in surprise: "What do you mean by this?"
Qian Yongren said: "He said that Liu Ji deliberately solved the case in Daming Temple to show off his abilities. As a result, he was favored by the general manager and appointed as the imperial censor. It is much better than going to the recruitment hall!"
Qin Lingjun shook her head when she heard this: "This person always thinks about the ghost land, and he is clearly judging the heart of a gentleman with the heart of a villain!"
Qian Yongren hesitated for a moment and said: "Although I hate Lu Juren, his words are not unreasonable. Nowadays, both the scholar circles in the north and the south feel that Liu Ji's words and deeds are contradictory and inconsistent."
Zhang Yangquan suddenly said: "It is true that Liu Ji is indifferent to fame and fortune, so he does not want to become an official. It is also true that he cares about the suffering of the world, so he wants to become an official. Why is it surprising that he has such contradictory behavior?"
Qin Lingjun smiled: "That's right!"
Qian Yongren was stunned and said with a wry smile: "It's really enviable that Liu Ji can gain such trust from you two."
Zhang Yangquan smiled and said: "In my opinion, Qian Bianzhuan is also a frank and trustworthy person. I know your difficulties. If you are willing, I can quietly bring your family to Jiangdu."
In fact, Qian Yongren had long wanted to switch to the rebel army, otherwise he would not have said those words just now.
After listening to Zhang Yangquan's words, his eyes turned slightly red. He stood up, bowed and said: "General Manager Cheng has troubled me so much, and I have nothing to repay. I can only smear my brains on the ground to express my gratitude for my great kindness!"
Zhang Yangquan said happily: "Great, I am about to invite a right prime minister, and then this position will be left to Mr. Qian!"
Qian Yongren hesitated for a moment, then gritted his teeth and said: "Thank you for your consideration, General Manager, but if the General Manager wants to take over the world, he must not use me as prime minister, otherwise he will be criticized by the Southern scholars with words and writings!"
Zhang Yangquan was just testing him and said: "Then can you recommend a suitable candidate for me?"
Qian Yongren hesitated again and again and said: "If the manager wants to win the hearts of Jiangnan scholars, it is best to appoint a southern scholar as the prime minister!"
"Lu Liangzuo or Lu Juren?"
"Yes, but there is a difficulty in this!"
"What?"
"I just said that scholars from the Southern School do not advocate becoming an official. They value Qingming the most. As long as they become an official, they will feel that Qingming is tainted!" Qian Yongren explained.
Zhang Yangquan said: "Is there any way?"
Qian Yongren muttered: "They value reputation the most. As long as we take the right medicine based on this, it is not difficult to get them out of trouble!"
Zhang Yangquan asked: "How to do it?"
Qian Yongren smiled slightly and said: "You can announce to the outside world that you want to choose one of the northern and southern scholars to be the prime minister. In this case, they will take the initiative to fight for it!"
Qin Lingjun raised his eyelids and said, "Is it just to outdo you Northern Scholars?"
Qian Yongren said with a smile: "That's not necessarily the case. In the past, if they became officials, they would be ridiculed by the scholar circles. If there is a dispute between the north and the south, becoming officials at this time will not only not reduce their reputation, but also increase it!"
Qin Lingjun shook his head, obviously unable to agree with the behavior of these people.
Zhang Yangquan touched his chin and said: "In that case, push Sun Hong out to compete with them."
Qian Yongren said again: "To be sure, you can also deliberately ask Sun Hong to suppress them, and these people will be more determined to become officials!"
Zhang Yangquan was surprised: "Why is this?"
Qian Yongren sighed: "These people have been suppressed and marginalized by the northern scholars for a long time, and they are resentful. The more you suppress them, the more they will arouse their fighting spirit to resist and take the initiative to fight!"
Zhang Yangquan smiled and said: "Okay! Editor Qian, you continue to be the envoy of the Yuan Dynasty first, and I will find a reason to detain you. When your family arrives in Jiangdu, I will appoint you to an official position!"
Qian Yongren said nothing more, stood up and gave a big gift.
When we left the Yangzhou Restaurant, it was already afternoon, the warm wind brought the scorching heat, and the sound of cicadas chirped one after another.
Qin Lingjun said nothing along the way. Zhang Yangquan glanced at him and said, "Madam, do you think you shouldn't invite a southern scholar to be your prime minister?"
Qin Lingjun was silent for a while and said, "I really don't have a good impression of them."
Zhang Yangquan smiled and said: "Do you think these people like to point out the country and talk on paper?"
Qin Lingjun glanced at him sideways: "Since you know this, why do you still value them so much?"
Zhang Yangquan said slowly: "Actually, these people can be regarded as the clear stream among literati. They have been marginalized for a long time, so they hate the darkness of officialdom and do not trust any political power. Naturally, they will look at everything with a critical eye!" p>
Qin Lingjun showed a thoughtful expression.
Zhang Yangquan said: "Do you still remember their attitude towards Sheng Wenyu?"
Qin Lingjun chuckled and said, "Of course I remember, thanks to Sheng Wenyu's good temper, I wouldn't be able to bear it anymore."
Zhang Yangquan said slowly: "Sheng Wenyu is so polite to them, which shows that these two people are indeed talented and hardworking. It's just that we have less contact, so we can't look at them objectively."
Qin Lingjun was silent for a while and said softly: "Yes, we have only occupied Jiangdu for a year, and the changes in this year have been too great."
Seeing that he had convinced her, Zhang Yangquan stretched out and said with a smile: "Okay, I have the right and left prime ministers, and then I will find a few more political officials, and I will be able to completely settle down!"
Qin Lingjun glanced at him and said, "Don't patronize civil servants. How are you going to promote military generals?"
Zhang Yangquan thought for a while and said: "Just like the civil servants, set up two marshals on the left and right, two deputy marshals, and a few generals!"
"Which marshal do you want to choose?"
"In terms of merit, Xu Baisheng is naturally the best choice for Marshal Zuo. As for Marshal Right, which one do you think is more suitable, Shanzhu or Uncle Fang?"
"Mountain pig is more suitable."
Zhang Yangquan nodded and said: "Okay, Marshal Right will choose the wild boar!"
Qin Lingjun suddenly said: "Don't forget about Liang Rong. He has made a mess of the city's defense management. He needs to be punished to warn others!"
Zhang Yangquan smiled and said: "Remember!"
……
On the fourth day of June, two days before the King Ceremony, a major event happened in Jiangdu City.
Zhang Yangquan, the general manager of Jiangdu, told the officials at a meeting that he wanted to appoint a scholar from the north or the south as the right prime minister.
The officials of the General Administration Office were divided into two groups. One group was headed by Guo Niansheng and elected Sun Hong as the right prime minister; the other group was headed by Wang Meng and elected Lu Liangzuo as the right prime minister.
The two sides couldn't argue, and Zhang Yangquan couldn't make a decision for a while.
The news spread quickly throughout the city.
When Lu Juren got the news, he was discussing Zen with Abbot Faming in Daming Temple. He hurriedly left Daming Temple and returned to a house in the east of the city.
This house is the property of Lu Liangzuo's in-laws, Xia Shize, and they have been living here since they came to Jiangdu.
Lu Juren had just returned to the door of the mansion when he suddenly saw a scribe in green robe walking out of the house. He held his head high and his chest high, with an arrogant look on his face. He also warned the room: "You have thought it through, don't regret it!"
After the other party left in the carriage, Lu Juren hurriedly entered the house and saw Lu Liangzuo sitting on the stone table in the courtyard drinking tea.
"Brother Lu, I heard that Manager Zhang wants to appoint you as the right prime minister. Do you know?" He asked quickly.
Lu Liangzuo said calmly: "General Manager Zhang hasn't decided yet. He just wants to choose someone from the scholars from the north and the south."
Lu Juren sat down on a stone bench and said seriously: "Recently, there has been a resurgence of Northern scholars. I heard that Zhang Shicheng has several Northern scholars."
Lu Liangzuo glanced at him and said, "You mean, I should become an official?"
Lu Juren said solemnly: "General Manager Zhang offered the position of Right Prime Minister, which shows his sincerity. Moreover, if it is occupied by the gang of powerful villains from the Northern Sect who can adapt to the wind, the world will never have peace!"
Lu Liangzuo nodded and said with a smile: "You don't need to persuade me, I have decided to become an official. Even if I can't become the right prime minister, I will enter the recruiting hall!"
Lu Juren was surprised and said: "You...this change is too big, isn't it?"
Lu Liangzuo said calmly: "Did you see the man in green robe just now?"
"I saw it, and I was about to ask you, who is he?"
Lu Liangzuo said coldly: "One of Sun Hong's subordinates wants me to leave Jiangdu immediately!"
Lu Juren was furious: "Wow, they are so arrogant!"
Lu Liangzuo said calmly: "There's nothing surprising. If they don't do this, it's abnormal."
Lu Juren stood up and said: "No need to say more, let's go find Wang Meng and meet Manager Zhang. As long as Manager Zhang meets you, the matter will be settled!"
Lu Liangzuo couldn't help but smile and said: "It's not as easy as you said. I have to think about my words carefully and go to see Wang Meng tomorrow!"
Lu Juren laughed and said: "Then you should concentrate on preparations. I will go to Wang Meng alone and ask him to send a few people to protect us in case Sun Hong uses destructive tricks to plot against you again!"
On the fifth day of June, in the early morning, Lu Liangzuo met Zhang Yangquan under the introduction of Wang Meng.
The two sides chatted for more than an hour. Zhang Yangquan admired Lu Liangzuo very much and immediately invited him to attend the king ceremony tomorrow, and will worship him as the right prime minister at the ceremony.
Lu Liangzuo happily accepted and resigned with satisfaction.