Fang Xuanling's visit was like flipping a switch. In the next few days, many visitors came to Fan's house. Not only did Fan Wenjin feel shocked, but even Chu Suiliang found it a bit incredible.
First, General Pang Yu came to visit in person. This was easy to understand. Pang Yu had partnered with Fan Wenjin in Liangzhou for several years and they were considered old friends.
Pang Yu was extremely affectionate as soon as he saw Fan Wenjin, and repeatedly complained that he was late because he had just learned that Manager Fan had returned to Beijing to report on his work.
Due to his status, Pang Yu did not stay in Fan Mansion for a long time. He was the general of the Wei Mansion. Fan Wenjin used to be a local minister. Now that he has returned to Beijing to report on his duties, he will definitely serve as a civil servant.
Therefore, they should pay more attention to their interactions. In the former Sui Dynasty, this kind of thing was relatively loose, because many generals had other duties, and the distinction between civil and military officials was not very clear.
But it's different now. Among the generals, apart from serving in the Ministry of War, they can no longer hold other civilian positions.
It's not difficult to notice this change as long as you pay attention. Pang Yu has been back to Beijing for more than half a year, so he naturally understands it, so being able to visit Fan Wenjin in person can be said to be a great honor to Fan Wenjin, because he has
Bearing political risks.
After Pang Yu, Xu Shiji, the general of Zuo Xiaowei, also sent someone to greet Fan Wenjin.
This was a friendship forged when Xu Shiji led his army to Liangzhou to fight against Tibet. The two did not have much contact, but as Fan Wenjin, when he heard that he returned to Beijing to report on his work, Xu Shiji also expressed a little.
In addition to these two people, family members of Liangzhou confidants such as Yuwen Fuzang also came to the door one after another. This must have been a decision made after waiting for a long time. Otherwise, after such a long period of time, it would be enough for them to welcome Chang'an.
It's outside the city.
Everyone who came to the door gave a lot of gifts, all kinds of gifts, nothing too expensive, all of which were thoughtful. The main thing was that they all left messages. If there is any inconvenience, please feel free to ask, as long as we can do it, we can do it.
Done for you.
These are basically expected, for example, Pang Yu and Xu Shiji, even if they ignored them, Fan Wenjin still planned to take the time to visit them on their doorsteps.
Since he really didn't know anyone in Beijing, he naturally wanted to get close to these two.
Then... the people who came to the door were a bit mixed. Ashina Danai, Chen Li and others had not yet left because they had escorted people from the Three Kingdoms of Shannan to Beijing, so they sent people to inquire.
No one showed up in person and acted very appropriately.
The most surprising thing is that the neighbors were very enthusiastic and sent people to greet them, with gifts in their hands, as if they were visiting during the New Year. Fan Wenjin was also very confused. He had not been to Chang'an for many years, and all the nobles in Chang'an were like this.
Is it easy to deal with?
Asked Chu Suiliang, Chu Suiliang was also very confused. Where did these people get the news?
Most of the families in the imperial city are relatives of foreigners. It is common to see people with noble surnames in the capital, but there are only a few who are truly powerful.
For example, the neighbor to the east of Fan Mansion is Wang Shiwei, the Marquis of Guining. He is the younger brother of Wang Shichong and the father of Concubine Wang De in the palace. He only knows how to eat, drink and have fun, and is the most reassuring person.
The other families who moved into the imperial city were roughly the same as Wang Shiwei. Among the nobles in the palace, their parents and brothers were not very powerful, and it was usually their uncles and elders that people cared about.
In the end, even the two sons-in-law of Wu King Li Fuwei came to the door and presented a blood coral. They were very heroic and in line with the character of King Wu. However, Fan Wenjin was shocked. This was the first time he had seen such a precious thing.
.
I didn't dare to accept it rashly, but I was persuaded by Chu Suiliang. Afterwards, Chu Suiliang laughed and said, King Wu's family has a lot of wealth and is as rich as the country. If the general manager does not accept the things sent from his house, King Wu will definitely come back and hear about it.
He thought that since the manager looked down upon him, he would not want to have any contact with him in the future.
After King Wu returned to the Tang Dynasty, he made a lot of jokes when making friends with people in the capital. Du Fuwei used gifts to pave the way for him to integrate into the circle of powerful people in the capital.
Such a crude method really didn't work. The troubled nobles looked down on this country bumpkin and nouveau riche. King Wu was also upset. He felt that the high walls of the house prevented him from entering, so he stopped interacting with others.
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A few years ago, the King of Wu married his daughter, and the son-in-law he hired was very good. He was a rising star of the Du family in Xiangzhou. Later, Du Fuwei was sent to the East China Sea to lead the army and made a lot of achievements. It is estimated that he will be different when he returns to Beijing this time.
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People in Guanxi attach great importance to military achievements. When King Wu Du Fuwei returns to Beijing, he may not have to fawn over others, but others will rush to pay homage to him.
What's even more surprising is that Mrs. Chengguo's house also sent gifts. The visitor also relayed the lady's words and talked about how King Wei was doing. It seemed that it was for the sake of King Yang Shuang that he let him
The door that people come to.
Fan Wenjin was frightened and thought about it several times. He thought to himself, "Don't you come here to ask questions?" In terms of seniority, King Wei is still the wife's uncle.
"Dengshan, should you accept this... gift or not?"
Chu Suiliang...
Ever since he suggested that Fan Wenjin accept gifts from King Wu, Fan Wenjin would ask this question whenever anyone came to give gifts, which made Chu Suiliang realize that Manager Fan was a little weak and seemed to treat others normally.
But the thought is definitely enough.
It's just that I hide my clumsiness inside and won't show it easily.
Of course, with Manager Fan's experience, how can he be an ordinary person? Can a mediocre person be in charge of a place like Liangzhou for so many years?
Therefore, the problem does not lie with Fan Wenjin, but with himself. He, Chu Suiliang, is a bit meddlesome. He is not the manager of Fan Mansion, so he needs to be careful with his words.
After staying in Fan Mansion for a few days, he was somewhat confused by Fan Wenjin's behavior. He became half the master of Fan Mansion, so why should he be polite to you?
"Madam has always ignored foreign affairs, but the gift she...sent cannot be returned. It is better to accept it and just return the gift in the future."
After saying this, Chu Suiliang felt that he had become the manager of Fan Mansion. This feeling was not very good for him, so he prayed that the emperor would summon Manager Fan quickly so that he could get away as soon as possible and go to work as a manager.
His knights are often at his service.
As for why the people in the imperial city became so strange, Chu Suiliang also had some guesses. Maybe there was some news coming from the palace, and people came to add icing on the cake.
Fang Qiao... No matter how well-connected he is, it is impossible for people in the imperial city to treat General Manager Fan with such courtesy after such a trip, right?
Maybe his prayers had an effect...
This evening, it was just getting dark.
The Fan Mansion was a large place, but there were not many people there. In the darkness, candlelight was lit, and dinner began to be cooked in several kitchens.
Fan Wenjin was reading in the study room of the mansion at this time, and what he was holding in his hand was the work of He Chou, the Duke of Pi. He had heard about this book when he was in Liangzhou, and knew that it was a book recommended by the imperial court.
It's just that most people in Liangzhou don't like to study. Fan Wen follows the local customs and doesn't show his diligent and studious appearance in front of others. He can only use the excuse of poor health in winter to read quietly and practice in the study room of the governor's house.
Words or something.
But he has not had the opportunity to read such contemporary masterpieces as He's Works.
When he arrived in Chang'an, he had some time to spare. Chu Suiliang recommended to him this engineering textbook, which is almost a must-read for people in the imperial court. Fan Wenjin picked it up without hesitation.
This definitely does not depend on his interest, but is just a matter of morals. Since everyone in the court has to read it, then if he wants to serve in Chang'an, he must keep up with the rhythm.
It's just that... the book written by Duke Pi is too difficult and boring. It only contains a lot of arithmetic and mathematics. Why are there some weird symbols in it?
Moreover, Fan Wenjin was not very interested in the various skills mentioned in the book. However, Fan Wenjin could still read the descriptions of bows, crossbows, and armor, because he had led troops with the King of Wei.
I have been dealing with soldiers and generals in Liangzhou.
So he was very concerned about military matters.
He's artifacts involve many categories, which are even more complex than the "Qi Min Yao Shu" written by Jia Sixie during the Northern Wei Dynasty. Moreover, after nearly a hundred years, many techniques have been improved.
After Fan Wenjin briefly read two volumes, he realized that He's craftsmanship was essentially the work of craftsmen and had nothing to do with the ministers of the court.
However, the book is about He Chou, Duke of Pi State, and it was recognized by the imperial court and vigorously promoted. The book He's Works will definitely become a magnificent masterpiece in the world.
Everyone in the court had to come and take a look first, which does not mean that they are interested in it. In fact, just like Fan Wenjin, they took it for a rough look and had a clear idea of what He's work was talking about.
This is the scope of officialdom.
And it also shows the trends and ethos of the imperial court. For example, in the past two years, the imperial court began to repair bridges and roads. So does it mean that the imperial court lacks craftsmen, so He's artifacts came into being?
Even if the imperial court intends to implement it, will the old saying that craftsmen's houses are not allowed to be sold will be completely abolished in the future?
It has to be said that although the Nine-Rank Zhongzheng System has been abandoned for many years, some divided levels still remain, just like the caste system in the South Asian subcontinent later. Even if it was abolished, people would still act according to its rules.
The Nine-Rank Zhongzheng System is such a system that clearly divides people into three, six, and nine grades. Even though it has been abolished for decades, the residual poison is still there.
One of the rules is that craftsmen's houses are not allowed to enter the craftsman's house, and the craftsmen are firmly suppressed at the bottom. This also ensures that the master craftsmen all come from noble families.
This is an all-round monopoly behavior and the most stubborn barrier to social progress.
More than a thousand years later, the poverty and chaos in the South Asian subcontinent are rooted in the caste system. People's classes have been solidified, ensuring that a few parasites live a luxurious and luxurious life, while most people are reduced to the bottom and struggle.
But there is no hope at all.
In addition, it is mixed with the influence of many Buddhist ideas, which brainwashes people and makes them lose their sense of resistance and believe that people are born to be divided in this way.
Look, is this very similar to the Nine-Rank Zhongzheng System?