In August of the ninth year of Wanli, Wang Peng, a scholar from Shandong Province, traveled thousands of miles with his wife and three children and finally arrived at Kainan Mansion, the capital of Bagan Province.
Wang Peng's family came with the Ming army who were changing defenses, and there is no need to elaborate on the hardships along the way.
After settling his family, he arrived at the governor's Yamen under the escort of a small group of Ming troops. He saw that the Yamen was a complex of buildings covering an area of about ten acres. Its architectural style was very different from that in China, with red tile spires and full of exotic customs.
Before Wang Peng entered the official house, he was greeted by a governor's staff named Qi who was standing at the door. The staff led Wang Peng up the steps and introduced: "Because the land is humid, the house can only be built as high as possible. Don't look at this official."
There are stone steps in front of the building, and there are wooden pillars in the back, and the bottom is empty."
Wang Peng also saw this kind of building when he came all the way south, and he nodded to express his understanding. When he arrived at the entrance of the official hall, Mr. Qi motioned to Wang Peng to take off his shoes.
Because he had to meet the Shangguan, Wang Peng wore official boots, which were covered in sweat. He blushed and just took off his shoes, and the sour smell hit his forehead.
Seeing that he was embarrassed, Mr. Qi waved his hand and said with a smile: "It doesn't matter, Mr. Cai doesn't care about this. You can wear cloth shoes or sandals from now on. These official boots are not allowed in Myanmar."
While they were talking, the two entered the official hall. Wang Peng saw that the official hall was covered with golden mats and a circle of wicker chairs were placed around it. Except for the table in front of the governor, which was in a domestic style, the other wood carvings and ornaments were different from those in domestic official halls.
A bit similar.
The name of the governor of Bagan was Cai Yingyang, who had been promoted three times from the post of governor to this place. When he saw Wang Peng, his face was full of joy. Before he could bow down and pay homage, he supported him and said, "We don't do this kind of kneeling ceremony here.
Magistrate Wang, you have worked hard all the way, sit down quickly, sit down quickly."
After saying that, he asked Wang Peng: "Brother Wang, do you like to sit on the floor or on a chair?" After saying that, he pointed to the wicker chair leaning against the wall and made a gesture.
Although the governor did not ask him to kneel down, Wang Peng still bowed and saluted and replied: "I will listen to you, sir."
Cai Yingyang just said a polite word and sat down on the soft cushion on the floor. Wang Peng wiped the sweat from his head and found a bamboo mat underneath to sit on.
Governor Cai sighed: "Hey, I arrived half a year before you, and I'm still not used to the customs here. Come here, serve tea!"
The accompanying staff member gave the order, and then a row of dark-faced girls came in, some holding small tables, some holding teak tea trays, and knelt down to serve them tea.
Magistrate Cai said with a smile: "Although this place is barren and its prosperity is incomparable to that in China, there are many women and good wood. These women are not worth mentioning. But the wood is good. Brother Wang, please see, under the mat we are sitting on and
This building is all made of teak.”
Wang Peng was puzzled when he heard that this old man was not being honest and was still chatting. He smiled and said, "My lord, it is true that this Yamen is quite unique."
Governor Cai laughed and said, "I can't help it, it's hot and humid here, and I can't live without living upstairs! This was originally a chieftain's home, and he cleaned it up and turned it into the governor's office."
Seeing that Wang Peng kept wiping his sweat, he smiled and said: "We two don't have to pretend to be polite, and we can't pretend to be polite here! Take off your official uniform!" After saying that, he reached out and started to unbutton his clothes.
Wang Peng was startled and speechless. But when he saw that the superior officials who were several levels above him were all taking off their robes, he had no choice but to take off his official robes. Oh, this silk official robe seemed to be untied as soon as it was taken off.
With an airtight hot cover, every pore in his body seemed to be singing joyfully.
The two chatted for a while, and Governor Cai sighed: "We have a serious shortage of officials in Bagan! I have been here for half a year, but the management of this place still relies entirely on the local garrison - Governor Luo said this is called military control. You
This is the ninth county magistrate here. I am still an empty yamen here." Then he pointed to the staff around him and said: "It was only thanks to the help of Mr. Qi that things didn't get messed up."
After speaking, he asked Wang Peng: "Brother Wang, is he a scholar?" Wang Peng's face turned red again, and he nodded: "Yes."
Governor Cai slapped his thigh and said in annoyance: "What a pity! All of you here are talented people. If you have the honor of being a civil servant, the prefect or even the deputy envoy can easily get it! Hey, I wonder when my Yamen here will be established."
After saying that, the governor stretched his neck and looked out the door, as if someone would suddenly report that an official was coming from the country. He also said: "I don't know if the thousands of scholars in this country are stupid and in vain.
Don’t be the official you picked up. Brother Wang is a smart man!”
Wang Peng could only smile and reply: "It is indeed difficult to leave my hometown. I am not afraid of adults' jokes. Before the official came, the grape shelf at home was so overturned. I had no choice but to bring my wife and children with me."
After hearing this, Governor Cai's eyes widened. He laughed and said, "How wonderful! You and I share the same fate! My old woman also came with me, saying she was afraid that I would leave evil descendants in this daughter's country. In the past six months, no one has spoken to me.
She almost suffocated to death."
After saying that, he looked at Wang Peng eagerly and said: "I have a heartfelt request. Can you please stay here in your county for a few days? It would be good for your wife to talk to my old lady - or, let her come to you
It’s okay to stay there for a few days.”
Wang Peng was speechless after hearing this and thought to himself: What's going on if I take your wife into my home? Governor Cai observed his words and hurriedly comforted him: "I am fifty years older than I am. My old woman is older than me. You don't have to worry about her."
I'm really bored. If you make trouble with me every day, you're just looking for death."
Wang Peng saw that the governor had no official power, and he was very close to him in his heart. Hearing his sincere request, he reluctantly said: "I will obey your orders."
When Governor Cai saw his promise, he smiled so hard that his eyes were almost closed. He said to him: "Brother Wang, don't worry, Governor Luo said, our most important thing is to set up this government office. As for money, food, and the assessment of criminal names, it will be done in three years."
Besides, as long as you can support yourself and ensure the money and food for the garrison, the rest doesn't matter."
Wang Peng breathed a sigh of relief after hearing this. He cupped his hands to Governor Cai and said, "Thank you for your sympathy. When I came here, my eyes darkened. It was all thanks to your advice."
Governor Cai smiled and said: "There are not many Han people here. If we are separated again, can we still do things? Can you bring some people to help us?"
Wang Peng said: "Well, I brought a companion and a staff member - I can't afford more."
After hearing this, Governor Cai said: "Okay! It doesn't matter if there are a few people, as long as they are Han people. You can give their names to Mr. Qi later. Well, you can also give them to an official."
Wang Peng was dumbfounded after hearing this, and asked hurriedly: "Sir, how can I become an official when my subordinate, Dang Dou, can't read a basket of Chinese characters?"
Governor Cai waved his hand and said: "It's okay! The blank letters of appointment here were transported back from the governor's office on elephants, so you can count how many there are! We are short of everything here, even official hats! Treat yourself to your own people.
What's the big deal with a few petty officials? Let your companion learn to read quickly, it won't matter."
The staff member surnamed Qi also raised his hand and said to Wang Peng: "Don't worry about Wang County. I was born as a scholar. I was impatient to be a county magistrate, so I worked in your mansion. I didn't expect that your Majesty directly gave me a vacancy in the Civil Affairs Bureau - Qi.
Taste."
Wang Peng was puzzled after hearing this, wondering if he should ask Huo Lin, a fool, to carry a letter back to the northeast, and call a few more people from Huojia Village. He estimated that if Huo Lin could read, the sows would be able to go to school.
Tree!
After chatting with Wang Peng, Governor Cai told him: "When Brother Wang arrived in Dagon County, all he relied on was the garrison - well, I will arrange for sixty garrison troops and two interpreters at your place."
Wang Peng listened and stammered: "Six...sixty people? What are you doing?"
After hearing this, Governor Cai laughed and said: "Don't be afraid - Marshal Liu has already killed them all. These sixty people are enough for you. Let me tell you, Marshal did not kill indiscriminately. They were all Burmese."
Rich man, and killed very cleanly."
These words were bloody. Wang Pengruo was well-informed, and his heart was trembling. Governor Cai continued: "There are more than a hundred Han people who have migrated from the north in your county, and they also understand some Burmese. They all
You are a landowner with slaves at home - you rely on them to govern."
"The first thing is to organize the Burmese people to divide their land. The Burmese people used to have a commune system. It is said to be shared, but in fact it is all controlled by the chieftains and their close people. Most of the gains of the poor Burmese people are given to the chieftains.
Man, as long as you divide the land fairly, it will be easy to win the hearts of the people."
"The second thing is, after allocating the land, immediately put down the security guards. Just remember one thing: no intercourse between each security guard. If there are any offenders, all the security guards will sit together. They will keep a close eye on them themselves."
"Third, if all are managed by Han people, people will be separated and wait. This is a taboo in governance. You just focus on a few key points. The first is soldiers, needless to say. The second is officials, do you understand this?"
Seeing Wang Peng nodding to indicate he understood, Governor Cai said: "As for trying the case, you should follow the Ming law, but don't be strict. Basically, it is 'three chapters of the contract'. Do you know the three chapters of the contract?"
Seeing that he had no airs, Wang Peng became more courageous and said with a smile: "Sir, I am also a scholar."
Governor Cai was stunned for a moment, then laughed loudly, patted his forehead and said: "Blame me, blame me. You don't know, the person from your neighboring county is a fool. This guy came to me and tried to reason with me.
Myanmar already has a commune system, so it is necessary to restore the well fields first, and then restore the rituals and music - his grandma's legs!"
Wang Peng was speechless after hearing this and said with a smile: "I didn't expect that there are such pedantic people nowadays."
Cai Yingyang said: "That's right, I scolded him. Then I asked him what book he had read, and it turned out to be something he didn't even know who Su Dongpo was! Well, when you came, didn't the court have any control?
"
Seeing Wang Peng shaking his head in embarrassment, Cai Yingyang frowned helplessly and closed his eyes, looking up to the sky and sighing. Then he smiled at Wang Peng and said: "Forget it, let's not talk about that disgusting thing. Brother, remember the two most important words, you are an official who is close to the people.
It doesn't matter how many Burmese people are employed, the key to control is the word 'public' and the word 'honest'."
"The word 'public' is easy to use. There are no township parties here, and there is nothing involved. The Burmese people don't dare to offend the Han people. You should be more fair and let the Han people not bully them."
"The difficulty lies in the word 'incorruptible'. You understand what it means to be an official thousands of miles away. This is not the case here, of course! There is an Integrity Office in the governor's office, and several people are stationed here; you also have two people there, they
If you don't do anything else, just focus on whether your county is clean - I guess there are spies everywhere. These people are directly under the governor's office - I can't control it, and you can't control it either."
But don’t worry, the development of all Myanmar is in the hands of the Governor’s Office and the governors’ offices. At the end of the year, it will be easy for each county magistrate in Bagan to pay dozens of times his salary - you can also use this money to support your integrity.
Never put the word 'incorruptible' on your head!"
Wang Peng laughed after hearing this and said: "Don't worry, sir. I have been in business for several years and am quite wealthy. I haven't taken this idea to heart yet."
Governor Cai said another good word and asked with a smile: "I'm here to test you. The country has not yet arrested officials in this way, why is it done here?"
"Replying to my lord, but 'Integrity breeds authority'?"
"Exactly! We use less to control more. As long as we are "honest" and "honest", we can become a million-strong soldier!"