Zhang Ning casually asked Wang Yu and Liang Yan to be "consultants" and asked them to go back and prepare to come to the signing room in two days. They didn't know what the power of "consultants" actually was. The literal meaning was to participate in discussions, which was roughly equivalent to
The position of counselor? At first glance, it seems like a very suitable job, because Wang Zhixian is obviously not good at fighting. He led one or two hundred people to defend the city bravely, but only injured a few Zhang Ning and was defeated and lost the city. His level can be imagined
And know.
Two days later, the two of them came to the signing room. Seeing that Zhang Ning was very busy, they didn't pay much attention to them. Later, Zhang Ning arranged something for them to organize a bunch of messy finger accounts into a file. Wang Yu didn't say anything.
He took Liang Yan and set up a desk in the signing room and started working.
This pile of accounts is very troublesome and difficult, not only the issue of money and food, but also the supplies and equipment reported by a certain general that need to be allocated, military pay and silver rewards, etc. The key point is that many of the notes are not written in a standardized way, and there is no seal certificate... to determine the authenticity.
There is only one way to check the general's previous handwriting by referring to the name on the note. And there are some things that are not in the treasury. It is necessary to arrange for the county officials to recruit civilians to raise and make them. It is necessary to use words to describe how to handle what things. In short
It's quite cumbersome.
Fortunately, Liang Yan is a good hand at sorting out the income and expenditure of money and goods. Before Wang Yu became an official, he was the general manager of several Wang family stores. He has rich experience and is very skilled in various accounting and summarizing methods.
But some things were related to military affairs and were not easy to handle. Wang Yu wanted to ask Zhang Ning some difficult things, but saw that Zhang Ning had no time to talk to him. There was always someone talking to Zhang Ning, and when no one was around, he
The little girl named Xu was also tinkering with the note on the wall with him. When Wang Yu saw this, he knew better than to disturb it... because many difficult things were actually trivial matters that he didn't have in his hands.
Something important.
In Wang Yu's eyes, there was one characteristic of Zhang Ning that impressed him deeply. Zhang Ning was not an ordinary patient person. From nine o'clock in the morning to one o'clock in the evening, he was entangled in all kinds of complicated things, but he still
Being able to deal with things calmly and calmly always makes everyone who comes to see him leave satisfied; he can also say a few words of comfort to some generals who come in to complain.
The rebel warlords who captured the city were so virtuous, which was beyond the expectations of Wang Yu and others.
Zhang Ning spoke very quickly, but his words were clear, his tone was low but reasoned, gentle yet sharp. It was as if this person had never had any emotions.
In the evening, I finally got through an unpleasant day. The officers, officers and guards in the custody room all stood up, raised their left arms, stepped vigorously, and made a strange courtesy. Wang Yu and Liang Yan
I was in a daze for a moment, so I had to bow my fists and say goodbye.
Wang Yu and others dragged their exhausted bodies out of the county government office. When they returned home, they first went to the mourning hall to burn incense. He seemed dissatisfied with his new position. He originally hoped to be treated as a counselor, but ended up being treated as an official.
In the Ming Dynasty, officials and officials were separated. Officials were actually officials who specifically handled government affairs; officials had decision-making power. Obviously being an official is better because you don’t have to do so many trivial things and you have power. What Wang Yu is doing now is obviously
What an official should do.
Wang Yu complained a little, but Liang Yan persuaded him: "At present, I think the situation is very good."
"Mr. Liang is saying that His Highness is testing us by keeping us around to do trivial matters?" Wang Yu pondered.
Liang Yan said: "It's not necessarily a test. The third prince must believe that we can't defect to the court. On the contrary, I think he really wants to reuse us. The young master also saw it today. The third prince is busy with worldly affairs and has to do everything by himself. Why? There is no one around him who can do it."
There are only a few military generals in Kanda's civil service; now he is short of manpower and is very hungry for talents... It's just that the third prince is different from the people of Zhou Gong and Cao Cao, who usually seek talents and can be passed down as good stories."
Wang Yu touched his chin: "What Mr. Liang said does make some sense. In this way, it is actually better to have someone like His Highness Tou San. Mengde people are very kind to others when they are good, but ruthless when they fall out;
A master like the Third Highness is more practical."
"Indeed, what the young master said is wonderful." Liang Yan said with a smile, and then remembered that the Wang family's mourning hall was still in the yard, so he quickly suppressed his smile, "In addition to reading and being literate, the only thing we can really do is be a local official. For the young master,
The official has only served as the county magistrate in Shimen County for a few years. The third prince did not let you continue to take charge of the local power. Perhaps he wanted to train you to think you would be important, because in places like Shimen County, officials below Wang Dianshi can be qualified. The third prince
Let Wang Dianshi take charge of Shimen County government affairs, does he really trust Wang Dianshi?"
Wang Yu's face showed contempt: "How can you trust such villains who are capable of intrigues and have no moral integrity?"
Liang Yan said calmly: "That's it. The third prince allows us to stay at the center where we issue orders. Over time, we will surely know about their military aircraft. If he didn't believe us, he would never arrange it like this. Besides, as long as the lord is in charge,
The people around you are easy to talk to if you are close to them, and in time they will definitely become important ministers."
The two discussed it, and Wang Yu was in a better mood, but sighed: "It's just that some of those trivial matters are too difficult to deal with."
Liang Yan smiled and said: "Since the third prince explicitly asked us to do it, we have to weigh it carefully. If we make some mistakes, it is understandable. There is no need to be too careful."
…
The next day, Wang and Liang went to the county government office to sign up for the custody room as usual.
There were a lot of things, big and small. An urgent report came at noon, and Wei Bin's troops captured Lizhou. King Huayang had fled earlier with his family and guards, and the Suzaku Army occupied the palace and captured twenty or thirty people.
Young palace maids. Zhang Ning issued an order: The unmarried soldiers in the army were asked to voluntarily select them in order of merit in the war, and the palace maids were given to the soldiers as wives in exchange for the silver reward for the battle merits; the soldiers were not allowed to disturb the people, burn, kill, rob, or rape the women of the people.
Case Military Law Office.
When the soldiers who stayed in Shimen County learned of this order, they all complained that they were not allowed to participate in the war. Because there were rumors that King Huayang's maids were beautiful girls selected from various places in Chengdu and Huguang... The soldiers who attacked Lizhou were so fair and beautiful.
My wife didn’t even spend the betrothal gift, which really made those who didn’t get a share very envious.
In the afternoon, Chen Maocai, who went to Chenzhou to contact the Miao people, returned to Shimen County. Except for the accompanying attendants, all those who came back with him were safe and sound. They also brought the Miao envoy and his entourage. I heard that the envoy was a woman. Zhang Ning ordered that first
The envoy was well accommodated and entertained, and Chen Maocai was immediately summoned to meet at the signing room.
There is a room in the signing room where Zhang Ning occasionally sleeps and rests. It is also used as a reception room for secret meetings with important people. He, Lao Xu and Hou Mao were waiting for Chen Maocai in the reception room. Xu Wenjun was also present, and she was busy doing something.
It was about serving tea and water. But when bringing tea, everyone would always politely thank her, and no one treated her as a maid. This girl was not only the granddaughter of Zhang Ning's confidant Lao Xu, but she was also inseparable from Zhang Ning.
When Chen Maocai walked into the reception room, he looked calm and calm. He greeted everyone one by one and during the greetings, it seemed that he and the altar master Hou knew each other. The altar master Hou also made a joke: "I heard that Mr. Chen was on an envoy to Miao territory before.
If you want to use a beauty trick, can you really win the daughter of a powerful Miao man?"
Others said that he was handsome, but Chen Maocai didn't mind. He touched his hair with his hand, his movements were quite narcissistic, and said with a smile: "Altar Master Hou is joking. Although the Miao envoy who came here is a woman,
Her original identity was just that of a maid. But her master has some background, she is the daughter of an old man who proclaimed himself King of Miao."
Hou Mao smiled and said, "All the personal maids are here with you. This is a promising thing."
Chen Maocai said: "It's a pity that Bai Fengjiao, the daughter of the Miao King, has already married a son-in-law. The old man has a daughter and a son. Bai Fengjiao is the eldest daughter. His younger brother is only twelve or thirteen years old and has a weak temperament. Therefore, Bai Fengjiao is highly valued by the Miao King.
, quite powerful. After I got there, I figured out the joints and gave Bai Fengjiao a heavy gift, and we were able to make friends with her. Fortunately, compared to other Miao people, she didn’t have much ill feelings towards the Han people, and she was very fond of the Chinese poems, songs, calligraphy and paintings.
He was also very interested, so I gave him some calligraphy and paintings and talked about the elegant writing..."
Zhang Ning said: "The old man's son-in-law should also be an important person?"
Chen Maocai said disapprovingly: "This man is the son-in-law who came to visit me. I have even forgotten his name. In short, he has no status or power in the Bai family, so there is no need to spend too much time on him. But Long Da Chong, who was born in Zhenxi, is worth making friends with.
This man raised an army in Zhenxi and elected the old man as the Miao King. He himself has a large number of troops and is very powerful among the Miao people. However, because of his tight schedule, I could not find a chance to contact him."
Zhang Ning nodded and said: "Mr. Chen's trip has fulfilled his mission. He has built a bridge of communication between us and the Miao people. He has completed his mission."
Chen Maocai sighed: "His Highness has a clever plan, and it is as expected. At present, we can only have this level of relationship with the Miao people. According to my judgment, the Miao people do not pay attention to us. They may think that our strength is too small. Later, they inquired about Your Highness."
After defeating the Yongding guards and capturing Cili and Shimen counties, the attitude changed slightly, but that was the end of it. As for forming an alliance, they randomly sent people over to form an alliance, but I don't think it is practical; the Miao people's idea is that they
The situation in Chenzhou is critical, a little more rescue is better than nothing, they just want to take advantage of us."
"We should be happy that we have value." Zhang Ning said with a smile, "We have nothing to do with the Miao people. We can only talk to each other because we are part of the same people who rebelled against the imperial court. Their purpose of using us is obvious, so cooperation would be counterproductive
It's reliable; if some strangers want to help us with unknown destinations and don't know what they want to do, that would be a bit dangerous."
Everyone agreed, thinking that this was the truth.
Zhang Ning added: "You must treat the Miao girl who is the envoy with courtesy, and do not despise her just because she is from a humble background. Although this person is a maid, she is close to the important person Bai Fengjiao. If you are not careful, you may end up with her.
Relations between the Miao people and those in power have deteriorated.”