Tongzhou Zhangjiawan Pier seems to never be quiet here. Countless guests coming from north to south meet here all year round.
In the 14th year of Jiajing's reign, he became a Jinshi and resigned as county magistrate. Chen Feng, a native of Nanjing, got off the boat and took a deep breath.
Three years later, he finally arrived in the capital again!
Some of the Nanjing trio who passed the Jinshi examination together seemed to be already bachelors, while others also went to the Hanlin Academy to study writing. Only I was struggling in other places!
Now I’m finally back! Rest tonight in Tongzhou and get up early tomorrow to head to the capital!
Suddenly, Chen Feng caught a glimpse of a person disembarking from another boat in the distance. He seemed very familiar. He walked closer and took a closer look, then called out: "Hu Meilin!"
Another outgoing magistrate, Hu Zongxian, had just stood firm on the shore when he suddenly heard someone calling his name. He looked along the sound and recognized the person.
They both took the Southern Zhili Township Examination in the 13th year of Jiajing's reign in the same year, and both participated in the capital competition in the 14th year of Jiajing's reign.
It's just that Hu Zongxian didn't become a Jinshi until last year, the 17th year of Jiajing, and he became a junior for nothing.
After seeing the ceremony, Hu Zongxian asked Chen Feng: "Why are you here? Are you going back to Beijing or going south?"
Chen Feng said proudly: "I was released as county magistrate in the 15th year of Jiajing. After three years of excellent performance in the assessment, I was promoted to head of the Ministry of War. So I rushed to the capital to declare my duties and took office."
This kind of promotion is indeed something to be proud of. Going from county magistrate to chief executive is not just as simple as being promoted to a rank.
According to the concept of officialdom in the Ming Dynasty, Beijing officials are more valuable than local officials, let alone the core six ministers.
Being promoted from a county magistrate to a chief executive is a rare promotion. Don't mention being promoted like this after only three years as a county magistrate. There are more than 1,400 counties in the world, and few can have such treatment.
Although Chen Feng didn't know exactly what happened, he guessed that it had something to do with Qin Dewei. Who else but Qin Dewei could help him like this?
However, when Hu Zongxian heard about Chen Feng's fate, he was indifferent and did not show even a little bit of envy.
This made Chen Feng feel uncomfortable showing off, so he also asked: "Why are you here?"
Hu Zongxian replied with some confusion: "I have only been serving as magistrate of Yidu County, Shandong Province for one year. I was suddenly appointed as the censor, and I also went to Beijing to take up my post."
Chen Feng: ""
Being selected as a censor from a county magistrate is called "Xingqi" in the jargon. It is also called one of the best ways out for a county magistrate. It is no worse than being promoted to chief yourself!
The key is that Hu Zongxian has only been the county magistrate for one year, but he has been there for three full years! Thinking of this, Chen Feng was not in the mood to show off.
I couldn't help but want to get to the bottom of it and ask, "Why were you taken away? Who was supporting you?"
Hu Zongxian really didn’t understand, and he’s still confused to this day, “I don’t know either.”
Chen Feng could think of Qin Dewei because he had a special close relationship with Qin Dewei. Hu Zongxian and Qin Dewei were not that close, so he didn't think of it.
Chen Feng also murmured in her heart, Hu Zongxian was born in Huizhou, the imperial examination was also very prosperous, and it was also a wealthy place. Could it be that there was a Huizhou boss in the court secretly supporting Hu Zongxian?
The two stayed together that night and set out for the capital together the next day.
When he saw the city wall from a distance, Chen Feng asked Hu Zongxian: "After entering the city, I will temporarily stay at Qin Banqiao's house. How do you plan to arrange it?"
You might as well stay with me in Qin Mansion, the place there is big enough to accommodate you and me, and it won't be too late to move out after we find a place to live."
Hu Zongxian already had an idea and waved his hand: "Brother Chen, don't bother me. I'll go to Jiaofangsi Hutong for a monthly subscription first!"
Chen Feng was filled with envy when he heard that. Unfortunately, he didn't have as much money as Hu Zongxian's family, so he didn't have the courage to pay for monthly subscriptions at every turn!
Hu Zongxian said again: "But first I will follow you to visit the Qin Mansion."
The capital city is not only about romance and romance, but also about the world’s sophisticated people.
After entering the city, the two went straight to the west city. During the imperial examination, Chen Feng stayed at Qin Dewei's house and became familiar with it.
However, when I arrived at the place this time, I saw that the door of "Zeng Mansion" was closed tightly, and no one seemed to be welcoming guests at all.
Chen Feng was surprised by this. He heard that Qin Banqiao was doing well, so the gate shouldn't be so deserted.
Could it be that while he was on his way, Qin Banqiao lost power again?
Hu Zongxian pointed to the wall next to the door and said: "There is a document."
Looking closer, I saw a notice on the wall saying: "Those who are visiting Scholar Qin, please continue eastward."
The two of them were speechless, and then walked a hundred steps east along the road, and saw two gates, standing next to each other dozens of steps apart.
What the hell is this? Chen Feng looked at both sides curiously. One door had "Tianwen Kui" hanging on it, and the other door had "Ci Lin Huaxuan" hanging on it.
The two door plaques look very much like Qin Dewei's house.
There are another couplets below "Tian Wen Kui". The first couplet is "Penghao is connected to the Forbidden City three times, and the body is covered by the rain and dew of the world."
There are also couplets below "Ci Lin Huaxuan". The first couplet is "Morning glow and evening dew, the wind roars in the stone spring", and the second couplet is "Yunsu palace wall trees, water birds chattering in the morning smoke".
Chen Feng looked at it horizontally and vertically, and what was revealed between the lines was "excessive anger" and boasting about being banned from entering and exiting the palace.
Qin Banqiao has not been seen for three years, and his wanderings are becoming more and more endless! One gate is not enough, and there is no one who can show off with two gates!
As a horse rider, I suddenly feel inferior when standing here. How can I break it?
Hu Zongxian was also confused and had difficulty choosing. Which gate should he enter through?
Just at this time, Zhang San, the chief steward in charge of the gate and vestibule area, came here to inspect, saw Chen Feng, and quickly came up to greet him: "I've seen Mr. Chen! When did you arrive?"
While exchanging pleasantries, Chen Feng was invited in through the middle door and led to the outer study.
Chen Feng asked: "Is your master at home?"
Zhang San smiled and replied: "Mr. Chen, please be patient. My master has gone out to see someone off and is expected to be back soon."
Chen Fengqi asked: "What kind of big shot are you that can actually bother your master to deliver it?"
Zhang San knew that Chen Feng and his father were close friends from the same hometown, so there was no harm in telling some family matters, so he replied:
"My master has hired the Li family as a new member of the side family, and transferred Li's brother back to Liaodong Town to serve as general officer of the Guangdong branch. Today he is going to see off the eldest brother of the Li family."
Chen Feng was speechless for a long time. After three years of not seeing each other, Qin Banqiao was really different.
Under the current garrison system, under the commander-in-chief and deputy commander-in-chief, there is a staff general, who has certain command rights. If he rises to a higher level, he can wear the deputy general's seal, and he is definitely a senior military attache.
A concubine's brother can be appointed as a general. What kind of powerful minister can do this?
Chen Feng sighed endlessly. Qin Banqiao had changed. He was no longer the naughty young man who was arm-in-arm with him, gathering in the study room, and sharpening his guns together for the exam.
－－－－－－Digression－－－－－
Damn it, something has happened again in the past two days. I am most afraid of something happening when writing code, especially if it affects my meditation and thinking.