Chapter 9: They are the pillars of the country, follow-up]
Ning Chen was so polite that Lu Gao was stunned.
But fortunately, he was a seasoned official, and he quickly recovered and became even more polite.
He led Ning Chen to a private room and sat down.
At this time, Fatty Wan made a very sensible excuse, saying there was something going on in the store, and left.
Fatty Wan has a sense of proportion. The big bosses want to talk about big things. If he stays here, he will indeed get the latest court information.
But if you don't do it right, your life will be in danger.
After Fatty Wan left, Lu Gao had someone bring up the banquet that had been prepared.
Looking at the table full of exquisite dishes and the fragrant grape wine, Ning Chen said with a half-smile:
"Mr. Lu, it is certainly not easy for such a small restaurant to produce such exquisite dishes.
Especially this fine grape wine, it’s even more rare.”
Lu Gao smiled honestly and explained: "This tavern is a property owned by a distant relative of my wife's family.
It can barely be regarded as my own business.
You know I have to entertain a colleague or something on weekdays, so I found a chef and prepared the wine with great care."
After listening to Lu Gao's words, Ning Chen felt that Lu Gao really had "a lot to do".
Everywhere is done with such care.
Ning Chen didn't dwell on the matter anymore and took a bite of the food. It tasted just as good as the chef at Wanhualou.
It can be seen that if you have money, there is really nothing you can't do.
"Master Lu, let's get straight to the point. What does Master Lu want from me?" Ning Chen put down his chopsticks and asked straight to the point.
"Has Master Ning heard anything?" Lu Gao did not say directly, but asked Ning Chen instead.
"What news should I hear?" Ning Chen asked again.
Seeing that Ning Chen really didn't know, Lu Gao apologized quickly and said, "It was Lu who was abrupt. Mr. Ning, Lu heard the news and the left prime minister planned to meet with His Highness tomorrow to propose a new version of the examination system to be implemented in the capital immediately.
"
Ning Chen frowned slightly after hearing Lu Gao's words.
Ning Chen really didn't expect this.
Originally, Ning Chen thought that after Zuo Xiang and others discussed it, why couldn't they delay the execution for a year?
As a result, the Prime Minister here comes directly and executes it immediately.
But after thinking about it for a moment, Ning Chen understood the meaning behind this.
Lin Dunxin planned to have a good arm wrestling match with Wu Zhao.
Wu Zhao directly appointed a minister of the Ministry of War as the right prime minister, and now he wants to implement the New Deal.
This is a challenge to Lin Dunxin's authority among officials.
So Lin Dunxin planned to counterattack.
Don’t you want to implement a new system?
Then I will help you implement it, but if trouble occurs, it has nothing to do with me, because I support you.
Ning Chen didn't know what Lin Dunxin was thinking.
But Ning Chen knew that this was a good thing for him.
If Lin Dunxin really leads the ministers to oppose it, postpone the implementation of this matter for a year or two.
Then my [neatness] is a big part missing.
On this issue, Ning Chen would like to express his gratitude to Lin Dunxin.
"It is also a good thing to implement it as early as possible. Your Highness's new examination system is still very complete and will be of great help in selecting talents." Ning Chen said in a relaxed tone.
After hearing Ning Chen's words, Lu Gao immediately said with a grimace: "His Highness's new policy is indeed good. But if it is implemented according to the new policy, my position as the right minister will not be guaranteed.
My entire family, including my wife, children, and children, all rely on my salary to survive.
If I were to be demoted, my whole family, wife, children, children, would be hungry."
Ning Chen glanced at the delicacies on the table and felt that Lu Gao must have never studied acting.
At this time, if you replace these delicious dishes with fried noodles and add a few cloves of garlic, it will be in line with the character.
You eat the best food and drink the most expensive wine, and then you tell me that your wife, children, and children are hungry.
This guy's acting skills are... bad.
Lu Gao looked at Ning Chen, looked at the dishes, and said on the spot: "Master Ning, these are my wife's distant relatives who prepared these for me in order to please me.
Mr. Ning also knows that in official circles, we have many things we cannot help ourselves.
They only wanted to please me because my position would make their business better.
But if I continue like this, I'm afraid they won't please me like this anymore.
And they also heard today that the person I want to entertain is Mr. Ning, who is in charge of the exams, so they are so willing to do so."
Ning Chen took a sip of wine and felt that it was still the same wine, and it still looked the same.
It is much stronger than the liquor without double distillation.
"I understand Mr. Lu's suffering. Is the tea cool when people leave?
This world is so realistic.
All the bustle in the world is for benefit, and all the hustle and bustle in the world is for benefit.
I very much believe what Mr. Lu said, if Mr. Lu doesn’t take the position of right servant tomorrow, your distant relatives won’t be able to let you even step into this house tomorrow.”
"They are distant relatives of my wife." Lu Gao corrected Ning Chen.
Ning Chen couldn't help but laugh when he saw Lu Gao's cautious look.
This is definitely a talent that can help him achieve great things.
"Yes, he is a distant relative of Mrs. Lu." Ning Chen said with a smile.
After a pause, Ning Chen said to Lu Gao: "Mr. Lu, although I understand your pain, this new version of the exam is not something I can decide.
Your Highness has these detailed assessment standards, and I can only implement them according to the standards."
When Lu Gao heard this, he quickly said: "Master Ning, what I know is that I checked myself according to the new version of the exam."
"Have you checked yourself? How is it?"
Lu Gao took out the records he had checked himself and handed them to Ning Chen.
One look at Lu Gao, it was clear that he was prepared.
Ning Chen is very satisfied with this kind of talented person who is willing and able to do things.
Taking the record of Lu Gao's self-examination, Ning Chen looked through it carefully.
I found that Lu Gao was indeed a talented person. He was mainly responsible for the branch and Cang department in the household department.
Duzhi is responsible for national financial and taxation statistics, and Cangbu is responsible for national grain statistics.
Statistics are the most difficult to do in later generations, let alone the Great Wu Dynasty in the ancient context.
But Lu Gao did really well. At least during the years when Lu Gao was in office, the accounts were very good.
The most rare thing is that in the past few years when Emperor Shun has been practicing Taoism, Lu Gao has been able to achieve a relatively balanced figure under Lu Gao's statistics and accounting.
Ning Chen didn't know how to do it, and didn't want to know.
"If what you said is true, even if you are really tested, you will not be demoted." Ning Chen put down Lu Gao's record and said.
Lu Gao smiled bitterly: "If there hadn't been those dozens of unwarranted impeachments against me for corruption, I wouldn't be worried.
But because there have been dozens of unwarranted impeachments against me, I’m afraid there will be points deducted in the exam.”
Wuzhao's new version of the examination is relatively strict in terms of "Shou" and "Integrity".
But it's unnecessary, Ning Chen can completely pretend that he doesn't.
Don't care if it's dozens or hundreds of times.
The more unfounded you are, the greater the chance that I will succeed in recommending you.
"Since it's unwarranted, don't worry about it, everyone is an official.
We all understand the truth that if the water is clear, there will be no fish.
Besides, who can have a family that doesn’t have both big and small affairs?
Marry a wife, have children, take concubines, take concubines again, concubines steal men, sows give birth to eight piglets, and old mothers remarry at eighty...
These and other things are not worth celebrating.
Since we are celebrating, it is not surprising that there are some exchanges of favors.”
Lu Gao listened to Ning Chen's words and nodded in agreement, but when he nodded, he suddenly felt a green light coming out of his head.
"Actually, in my opinion, even if it's not unnecessary, I think it's okay.
At least in my opinion, Mr. Lu is still doing his job.
It's better than those people who talk about being honest and loyal every day, but in fact they don't do anything.
If there is no third option, I personally tend to choose the former.
Of course, if you can find your way back and become the third option, I personally would welcome it."
This is pure scene talk.
Because Ning Chen simply didn't believe that a few words of his could change a greedy person's mind.
"Lord Ning, you have such great views. No wonder His Highness chose Lord Ning to be the person in charge of the examination. With your Highness having a talented person like Lord Ning to assist you, why worry about our Great Wu Dynasty not being prosperous!"
Lu Gao excitedly took Ning Chen's hand and said.
The more excited a person is, the less likely they are to return from their lost ways.
This wave has stabilized itself.
Ning Chen said with a smile: "Master Lu is also a minister of the Kudu. Over the years of Shundi's cultivation, it is very rare for Master Lu to be able to make the accounts so beautiful.
Even if Mr. Lu does accept a bribe, it can only be regarded as hard-earned money."
Lu Gao's eyes turned red after hearing Ning Chen's words: "Master Ning, finally someone understands my suffering.
Mr. Ning, I now understand what it means to be the parents who gave birth to me, and the ones who know me, Mr. Ning.
Over the years since the Holy Spirit has been practicing Taoism, the treasury has long been empty.
What can I do? I can only find a way to balance the accounts.
Those above need to keep good accounts, while those below need to keep their heads. It’s hard for me to be caught in the middle.
The people below gave me gifts and asked me to help them save their heads. I can't watch them die.
And I can’t keep any of the money they sent. I have to go up there and manage it for them.
In the end, I lost a lot of hard-earned money and a lot of notoriety."
After being excited, Lu Gao Gao raised a glass of wine and greeted Ning Chen: "Master Ning, Lu Gao has a glass of wine for you.
Lu Gao had never said anything to his wife and children just now.
Because Lu Gao understood, even if he told them, they didn't understand.
Only a virtuous minister like Mr. Ning can truly understand the pain in Lu's heart."
Ning Chen clinked glasses with Lu Gao, and after drinking all the wine in the glass, he smiled and asked Lu Gao: "Mr. Lu, do you know some people who are as reliable and as nice as you? Introduce them to me.
, I think Mr. Lu, you are all the pillars of the country."