As the saying goes, there are three things a new official should do when he takes office. This does not mean that the new official must accomplish something. In fact, the main purpose is to establish an image.
There is heaven above, and there are Suzhou and Hangzhou below. Especially in a famous cultural city like Hangzhou, image building is an indispensable task for officials who take office.
Qin Dewei and Qin Zhongtang left Zhejiang and Fujian. Although they did not do anything in a big way after getting off the ship, they showed their image.
For example, directly announcing the implementation of the examination method expresses a pragmatic and rigorous attitude.
Another example is that after taking office, he didn’t do anything else and just thought that going to the Yuewang Temple to worship first would be a way to quickly establish his image.
Moreover, Qin Zhongtang shoulders the task of quelling the Japanese rebellion. Yue Fei, who went to worship the great enemy of foreign invaders, is also a counterpart, and can better express his ambition and determination.
In terms of image creation, Qin Zhongtang is considered an expert who is hundreds of years ahead of his time.
While he was thinking about it, he told his subordinate Chen Feng: "If you want to go to Yuewang Temple to worship, the sooner the better. You have to go tomorrow, but you can't go in public with great fanfare. You go and prepare now!"
Chen Feng asked, "Why not make it public? If others don't know, then wouldn't it be in vain for you?"
Qin Dewei replied: "If you go to worship in an official capacity and have people cheering and supporting you in public, you can achieve a certain effect, but it is a bit too deliberate! The traces of performance are too heavy, and it may make the audience feel that they are putting on a show.
Less than optimal results.”
Chen Feng: There are many people going to worship, but you, Qin Dewei, have the most trouble!
Qin Dewei added: "I should have gone to the Yuewang Temple in a low-key identity as a private person to worship, and then my true identity was discovered inadvertently! Compared to a public and deliberate performance with great fanfare, this way it would be more like true feelings, and the effect would be better.
better!"
Chen Feng was stunned. We have known each other for more than ten years. You, Qin Dewei, have never been so low-key in showing off.
Qin Dewei sighed: "This is the same as the other. I was nothing at the beginning, but I wanted to strive for the top, so I was high-profile and arrogant in order to leave a deep impression on others. Now I have reached the top of the mountain and I am the peak. It is no longer necessary.
If you are open to the outside, you need to be restrained in your techniques, which is what is called returning to nature."
Then Qin Dewei said: "The person who reveals my identity needs to be chosen carefully. It is best to be a local celebrity, or someone who is particularly sensible and good at flattering, so that the effect can be truly maximized! We have Jinling Gudongqiao
That’s enough level, don’t be like Wang Fengyuan, who can’t do anything and can’t even pretend!”
Chen Feng couldn't help sighing with emotion. It was the first time in more than ten years that he heard positive affirmation of the old leader Gu Dongqiao from Qin Dewei's mouth.
"Find someone like this!" Qin Zhongtang said casually as he found that he had a good person under his command.
Chen Feng was speechless. He had met quite a few officials. You, Qin Dewei, had the most troubles and asked the most detailed questions. You had to worry about who could reveal your identity!
Just find someone, when they arrive at the designated place, shout "You are Qin Zhongtang" and that's it, right?
Chen Feng said a little impatiently: "I am also a newbie here and I am not familiar with the place. I don't know who is the most suitable one!"
As the only subordinate official in the shogunate, he had just arrived in Hangzhou City and had a lot of trivial things to do. How could he have time to examine a candidate for a supporting role who might only have one line?
Moreover, as a fellow countryman and the same age, Chen Feng had the capital to make a fuss in front of Qin Zhongtang.
Qin Dewei said helplessly: "Then I will take advantage of the opportunity tomorrow. Anyway, there are tourists and scholars around the West Lake. I'll see if I can find one now, maybe it can be more natural."
Just as Chen Feng was about to stand up and leave, Qin Dewei stopped him again and said, "There are also people from Yuanfenghao Bank who followed me. You can also help investigate the address."
Chen Feng, who already had a lot of work on hand, was speechless and said with great resistance: "I am not a local official in Hangzhou!"
Qin Zhongtang patted Chen Feng on the shoulder kindly, "If you do a good job, maybe you can become the prefect of Hangzhou."
Chen Feng: "Damn it, a real man can't cheat when he's rich!"
Early the next morning, Qin Zhongtang disguised himself as a rich man and brought his concubine, Lady Li, with him.
When Ma Er went out, of course there were a number of personal guards scattered around to protect him.
Then a group of people left the city through Yongjinmen and came to the West Lake. This place is probably located on the southeast bank of the West Lake, and the Yuewang Temple is on the northwest bank of the West Lake on the side of Qixialing.
So now there are two options, either walking along the lake shore or taking a boat across the lake. After comparing the level of fatigue, Qin Zhongtang decisively chose to take the boat.
At this time, there was a large and eye-catching boat parked by the lake. After Ma Er went to inquire about it, he came back and reported to Qin Dewei: "That is the boat of Zhao Cuicui, a famous local prostitute. She is also going to the other side of the lake. Stop here.
I just want to bring a few lucky people along the way to go with me."
Qin Dewei laughed when he heard this and said: "This beauty knows how to do business. It's not her who has the final say on what a destined person is."
Ma Er also flattered and said: "As long as the master comes forward, there will be a fate!"
Ma Er has been following Mr. Qin these years and has met so many famous prostitutes and courtesans. As long as he can pass them by with a poem, coupled with the master's age and appearance, it will be a win-win situation!
But at this moment, Qin Dewei took out a silver ingot, slapped it in the horse's hand, and said, "Go and ask again! Is this silver ingot enough to be destined?"
Ma Er held the silver and looked at Qin Dewei in astonishment.
Sir, you have changed and become vulgar. You have actually started to rely on money to speak your mind. Have you exhausted your talents?
Madam Li curled her lips and couldn't help but said angrily: "It seems that the slave family shouldn't come with us!"
Qin Dewei explained: "Aren't we in a hurry? It will take a lot of time to look for ships elsewhere! It's better to just use this ready-made one."
"Besides, I am going to the Yuewang Temple to worship this time, and I need someone to spread the word. Well-connected prostitutes like this are a good spreading channel. If you come across it, let's take advantage of it."
Silver was very useful as a hard currency. Qin Dewei got on the boat smoothly, greeted the host, Meiren Zhao, generously, and found a place with a good view to sit down.
Madam Li looked at Beauty Zhao and felt that she was not a big threat, so she sat obediently behind Qin Dewei.
Zhao Cuicui may not have very good luck today. There are not many people waiting for her, including Qin Dewei and another young scholar.
This kind of profession naturally requires a certain discernment of people. Zhao Meiren could tell on the spot that of the two people on the boat, one seemed to be a rich man from out of town, and the other was an unknown young scholar. Neither of them seemed to be of very high quality.
high.
It was getting late, and it was impossible for the boat to wait endlessly, so we set off towards the other side of the lake.
Today, it is not only Zhao Meiren who is looking for a destined person, Qin Dewei and Qin Zhongtang are also looking for a destined person, a destined person who can reveal his identity at the right time.
It doesn't matter if you can't recognize yourself, as long as you give some hints at the right time, you won't be able to identify yourself if you don't believe me!
Qin Dewei looked at the young man on the same boat with him. He was seventeen or eighteen years old and looked like a talented man.
He took the initiative to start a conversation and said, "May I ask this friend's surname? Where is his family name?"
The young man replied: "Yi Heng is from Shimoda and is a local."
Qin Dewei thought for a moment and had no impression of this name, which meant that he was not a historical celebrity and had never been a prostitute.
Then Qin Dewei asked again: "Have you ever entered school?"
Entering school means being a scholar. Tian Yiheng replied again: "I have never entered school."
Qin Dewei was immediately disappointed. Scholars in the 1770s and 1880s had not yet been selected as scholars. There were only two possibilities, one was ordinary talent, the other was ordinary family background.
No matter which one he is, he is not the destined person he is looking for.
And if you don’t go to school, you can’t truly integrate into the local scholar network, and your influence will definitely be limited. How can you help promote yourself?
Qin Dewei secretly observed the situation and found that the owner of the boat, Zhao Cuicui and Zhao Meiren, did not know Tian Yiheng and did not treat Tian Yiheng with much enthusiasm.
This further shows that Tian Yiheng is not doing well in the local area or is unknown. Otherwise, he must be registered in the flower world, and Zhao Meiren would not be able to treat him coldly.
The meticulous Qin Zhongtang, based on the above situation, can judge that Tian Yiheng is really not a suitable candidate.
Therefore, Qin Dewei instantly lost his enthusiasm for continuing the conversation, and his attitude towards Tian Yiheng also obviously cooled down. It was better to take a look at the lake view, and then wait until we docked.
Tian Yiheng, a young man, saw that Qin Dewei was dressed richly and wanted to continue the conversation, so he asked, "May I ask your surname?"
Qin Dewei didn't want to talk to him anymore. He turned his head and didn't answer. He just treated this young man as nothing. There was no need to waste time on him!
This sudden change in attitude was like a bucket of cold water poured on his head. Tian Yiheng was so angry that he no longer wanted to pay attention to Qin Dewei.
He went to talk to Zhao Meiren again, but found that Zhao Meiren only communicated with Qin Dewei.
After all, in Zhao Meiren's eyes, Tian Yiheng is like a person with no talents, no money, and no power. He can figure it out after just a few words of conversation.
And Qin Dewei on the other side is rich and handsome after all! When choosing a general among the dwarfs, of course he would choose Qin Dewei.
Qin Dewei had the same idea. If he couldn't find a suitable scholar to speak for him, a famous prostitute like Zhao Cuicui could be used.
Therefore, when Qin Dewei faced Zhao Meiren, he also regained some of his enthusiasm: "I am a new arrival here and am not familiar with the place, but I admire the deeds of my ancestors and am about to go to the Yuewang Temple to worship."
Zhao Meiren responded politely and said, "It turns out that the young master is also a loyal person."
Qin Dewei took the opportunity to invite and said: "If you don't give up, I'll be bold enough to invite the young lady to go to the Yuewang Temple together."
Zhao Meiren frowned and said: "The West Lake Poetry Society has an elegant gathering at the foot of Qixia Mountain today. I heard that they need to raise money to buy land and build a separate property as a gathering place. The slave family is going to attend this gathering, so they can only endure the pain.
I refuse your kindness."
Without saying a word, Qin Dewei took out two silver cakes and placed them in front of Zhao Meiren's case: "Is that enough?"
Zhao Cuicui covered her mouth and smiled: "When I feel the sincerity of the young master, I will be more respectful than obey my orders."
When three people are together, whoever is left out will be embarrassed, and Tian Yiheng is the one who is left out in the cold at this time.
The young man was already impulsive, but now he was even more angry. He stood up and accused Zhao Meiren: "If you promised to go to the gathering of the West Lake Poetry Society, how could you go back on your word?"
Zhao Meiren retorted: "The slave family didn't receive any deposit, and they didn't come to the scene. Why can't they regret it on the way?"
Qin Dewei sneered and said: "What kind of gathering do you have to do with me, little brother? What are you accusing here with righteous indignation? It's like a dog meddling in another's business!"
Tian Yiheng couldn't bear the squeeze and said angrily: "My father respects Tian Rucheng!"
After Qin Dewei and Zhao Meiren heard the name, they both reacted.
The father Tian Rucheng mentioned by Tian Yiheng was a Jinshi in the fifth year of Jiajing reign, and he was appointed as the Zuo Councilor of Guangxi. He is currently the one with the highest literary level among the local scholars in Hangzhou, and can be regarded as the leader of the literary circle in Hangzhou.
What's even more coincidental is that Mr. Tian has returned home this year due to illness, making it easier for him to preside over the Hangzhou literary scene.
Since Qin Dewei came to Zhejiang to be an official, he must know something about local celebrities before coming. This is the basic homework of an official, so he knew who Tian Rucheng was.
As a famous concubine from the Hua Kingdom who often interacts with scholars, how could Zhao Meiren not know about the leader of the local literary circle?
I secretly screamed in my heart that I had made a mistake. I didn't expect that this inconspicuous young man was actually the son of leader Tian!
In fact, it is not to blame that Zhao Meiren was mistaken. Tian Rucheng spent most of the past ten years as an official in other places, in remote places like Guizhou and Guangxi.
Since Tian Yiheng was ten years old, he has been traveling around with his father and has rarely been in Hangzhou. It was not until the month before last that he settled down in Hangzhou again when his father resigned and returned to his hometown.
So it is normal for Meiren Zhao not to recognize Tian Yiheng, not to mention Qin Dewei.
The relationship between a beautiful prostitute and a celebrity is all about being a woman, ah no, they complement each other.
In any case, since the mistake has occurred, we must find a way to make up for it. Zhao Meiren's thoughts changed rapidly, and she
He stood up and was about to greet him again.
But he saw that Qin Dewei had taken the lead and sat directly next to Tian Yiheng, saying loudly: "It turns out that it's Mr. Tian who is the leader of the Alliance in front of you. You are disrespectful and disrespectful!"
Tian Yiheng snorted coldly and sneered unceremoniously: "Why are you so arrogant in front of you and respectful in the back? It seems that you are also a follower of others!"
Qin Dewei didn't seem to take it seriously, as if he didn't hear the sarcasm. Now that you are the Lord of the Central Hall, you can be said to be the prime minister's heart, and he is more generous than before.
Then he asked: "Where are you going, friend Tian? Is it also to the gathering of the West Lake Poetry Society?"
Tian Yiheng seemed to refuse and said: "It has nothing to do with you!"!
Qin Dewei warmly invited him: "I am not familiar with this place, and I dare to invite my friend Tian to be a guide. Wouldn't it be nice to go to Yuewang Temple with me and write poems as a souvenir?"
Tian Yiheng......
I have lived for seventeen or eighteen years, and I have never seen such a shameless person in my life! I just made a mockery, and just pretended that I didn't hear it? Who are these people? Tian Yiheng sarcastically said in disgust: "Forget it, I see that
Yue Fei is not worthy of your worship!" Then he ignored Qin Dewei and said to Zhao Meiren: "Do you have an appointment today, beauty?" Zhao Cuicui looked at Qin Dewei, immediately threw the money back, and smiled charmingly at Tian Yiheng
He replied: "I wonder what the young master's instructions are? I'll just listen to you."
Tian Yiheng glanced at Qin Dewei proudly. A country bumpkin from out of town, have you seen that the sky is too high?