It is said that since the news spread that Shi Shen was leaving the government, Li Tuiguan's reputation in the government office has risen to a higher level, reaching its peak.
Even a tolerant and generous person like Mr. Wang, the prefect, felt a little uncomfortable. He always felt that the government office was named Li. In fact, it was also his own lack of self-confidence. If it were Chen Xundao, he would never feel this way.
Not only for the government officials, but also for the subordinate officials in Suzhou Prefecture and even Jiangnan, Master Li has become a truly idolized person who looks up to him at high altitudes, and even has a tendency to be further deified.
Before Li Tuiguan started his career, he had worked as a government servant and a minor official, and he had the same background as them. But now, Mr. Li is well-known for his talents, celebrities, and has risen through the ranks. He is also famous, beautiful, and powerful. In addition, as a
When he got up, he came to the ninth rank to conquer the magistrate, and to the seventh rank to rush to the Taoist platform. He was so majestic.
All of the above are the dreams of subordinates, but Mr. Li has achieved them all. How can there be such subordinates in the world? The reality is indeed more dramatic than the novel. These former colleagues of Mr. Li are still
Looking at the master's face, he was scolded and slapped at worst. Comparing his situation, the gap between heaven and earth is simply there.
According to the Western model of conferring gods, in the hearts of tens of thousands of subordinates in the Jiangnan area, Li Tuiguan's faith value has exploded. At this time, you can consider lighting a sacred fire to confer a god. If he succeeds, he will be the god of subordinates.
If we change to the dynasty's model of deification of gods, after Li Tuiguan ascends to heaven, there may be temples such as Tuiguan Temple built and become a place for junior officials to burn incense. After hundreds of years of promotion, it is estimated that Mr. Li will be able to receive many blessings from the spirit of heaven.
There is less incense. Among the ranks of folk gods such as Du Kang, Lu Ban, Zhong Kui and Huang Po, there is an additional Yamen god Li You.
With people's hearts like this, Li You, who claimed to be ill, went to the government office once after recovering from his illness. However, he did not show off his views on matters. He only paid a visit to the prefect and then disappeared from the office. He behaved in a low-key manner, not being surprised by favors or humiliations.
The prefect Wang was very pleased and moved by this, and secretly praised Li Tuiguan for being sensible and a person who knew how to advance and retreat. It seems that although this person often cannot help but keep a high profile, he still respects him very much in his heart, at least in his own eyes.
The attitude here is very correct. As long as we have this awareness, we can still work together harmoniously in the future.
The move of the prefect Wang continued until the edict from the imperial court seeking talent arrived at the government office. This probably meant that he heard that Li You of Suzhou Prefecture was excellent in literature and was recommended by his supervisor. He was granted special permission to supplement his studies as a supervisor. If he wanted to, he could go to Beijing on a certain day.
So that’s it! Magistrate Wang suddenly realized that no wonder Li You had kept a low profile recently. He must have known about this. But why did he feel a little relieved suddenly?
Then he said to his left and right: "The imperial court has opened a grace prison. It is really gratifying and congratulatory for Mr. Li to have such an opportunity."
Someone responded: "The imperial court's order is not forced, but depends on people's volition. I feel that Mr. Li may not be willing to endure hardship and jail."
This... the prefect Wang is confused, even more confused than Li Tuiguan who just heard the news. He really hopes that he will go to study, and everyone will get to know each other, and start well and end well...
If Li You had no ambition and refused to go to jail, his own brilliance and the current popular aspirations in the government office made him, the fourth-grade prefect, almost out of control. Although this situation was not intentional by Mr. Li,
But the situation is stronger than the people.
"Send someone to invite Mr. Li here." Wang Zhifu said to Chang Sui. He was more concerned about whether Li You would go to jail than anyone else, and wanted to ask him face to face.
Half a day later, the yamen servant who went out to invite someone replied, "I went to Li's Mansion and found out that Mr. Li was not in the mansion, and I couldn't find anyone for a while. I only heard that he was always walking along the city wall on the west side of the city these days. I don't know why. .”
The prefect Wang raised his head and looked outside from the window. It was June, the hottest time of the year, when the sun was shining brightly. The west city wall was more than ten miles long. He walked along the city wall every day. Mr. Li had nothing to do.
"The west is the most prosperous and prosperous place in the city. This must be because Mr. Li has the intention to leave and is reluctant to leave, so he keeps wandering around." An aide added.
The prefect Wang frowned and pondered. Countless experiences, lessons and intuition told him that matters related to Li You would not be so simple. He also ordered: "Send more people to look for him and see what he does."
The summer was long, and in the evening, those who found Li Tuiguan reported back: "Master Li read a few poems in front of the sunset on the city and then returned home."
"What was read?"
"The little one just remembers the saying that Shen Yuan is not a restored pool or terrace."
This is Lu Fangweng's famous poem, and the prefect Wang recited it silently: "The setting sun on the city is painted with mourning, the sinking garden is no longer the old pool platform, the spring waves under the sad bridge are green, and the shadow of the startled roar once came."
There is no need to ask anymore, the poem is the voice of the heart, it seems that Li Tuiguan has already given up his mind, let's just let him go, the prefect Wang said secretly.
Two days later, the prefect Wang was taking a nap. He slept peacefully without any worries, but he was woken up. His chief attendant hurried into the house and reported: "Master! Official Li has summoned the craftsmen and soldiers and will A hole was blown in the west wall!"
"Is this person crazy?" Wang Zhifu stood up in shock. Are you kidding? What kind of behavior is this? He blew up the city wall of Suzhou Prefecture, and he, the prefect, didn't know about it? Li You didn't want to die?
Immediately the ceremonial guards gathered together and got on the sedan to go out on patrol. As they approached the place where the rumor was spread, the prefect Wang saw through the curtain of the sedan that a section of the city wall was missing. Hundreds of people below were moving broken bricks and stones, working in full swing, while Li Tuiguan and several craftsmen stood there They were pointing and pointing to the side, as if discussing something.
"The lower official has met the prefect." Li You saw the prefect's honor guard from a distance and hurried over to pay his respects.
The prefect Wang jumped off the sedan and asked, "What do you mean? Is this too daring?"
Li You calmly returned: "As a lower official, I am in charge of city construction, so I naturally have to do something."
"Then you shouldn't destroy the city wall without authorization, don't you fear the law?"
Li You took out the document and said: "Shi Dasen, the prime minister ordered by the imperial court to build the city of Suzhou, agreed, so why did he say it without permission?"
The prefect Wang was speechless for a moment. Although everyone knew that Shi Dacan was leaving, he had not officially left office yet. With his consent, it did not seem to be considered unauthorized...
In fact, others would still be unable to start construction without going through the prefect, but Li Tuiguan had the ability to directly organize craftsmen for civil service from the county, without disturbing the prefect's cleanliness.
"What on earth are you trying to do?"
Li You pointed to the city wall and said, "Your Majesty, please follow me to the city."
When they arrived at the top of the city, Li You and Wang Zhifu held the crenels in their hands and looked around. They saw a colorful world. It was densely populated everywhere, with shops and buildings everywhere, and boats on the water connected for several miles. A tower in the distance was the Changmen. As expected. The most prosperous place in the world, there is a poem that goes "Three thousand green sleeves above and below, gold and millions of water to the west and east."
"Looking at Fucheng, only the west side has the highest concentration of business travelers, and the northwest is the most prosperous because it is close to the canal and Huqiu. There are three west gates of Fucheng, and only Changmen is in the northwest. As a result, there are only three entrances to the city from Fengqiao on the canal and Huqiu. Being able to cross the Chang Gate has caused today's congestion problem, which is a major disadvantage of our government. Shi Dacan said that he wanted to expand the city wall, which is simply cutting off his feet to fit the shoes..."
Magistrate Wang interrupted Li You and said: "I understand, do you mean to open the door here?"
"That's right!" Li You nodded and said, "I have been inspecting this place for a few days. It is a good place. It is located due west and two miles south of Changmen. It is not far or near. A new city gate can be built. It can also be used to divert water and dig canals for communication. The canal, as well as the upper pond and mountain pond outside the Chang Gate. As long as the water and land gates here are repaired, the troubles of the Chang Gate will definitely be solved!"
Wang Zhifu sighed, no wonder he thought that Shen Yuan was not a restoration of the old pond. Li Tuiguan was not nostalgic but wanted to create something new. If there was a new one, it would not be a restoration of the old pond. As a result, he misunderstood.
At this time, the craftsman who followed the city wall shrank and said: "The old man in the alleys of the city said that the west belongs to gold, and based on the feng shui of our house, there will be wars and disasters if we open the west gate. Therefore, Chang Gate is in the northwest, Xu Gate, and Pan Gate are in the southwest. For many years, We won’t build the due west gate. Please think twice!”
"Nonsense!" Li You scolded.
The prefect Wang worriedly said: "But you say this, don't cause panic among the people."
Li You scolded the craftsman again: "What a brain! Don't you know this taboo? Who said that the doorway on the west side must open towards the west? If the city wall is surrounded by a bulge, wouldn't it work if the doorway opened crookedly towards the north?" I also wrote a prayer poem and burned it here to report it to heaven. What else do you have to say?"
The prefect Wang thought of another question, "Where does the money for this expense come from? The government office has nothing to spare now."
Li You said nonchalantly: "Of course there will be donations from big households."
Magistrate Wang finally remembered the business, "What are your plans regarding the Imperial College?"
Li You smiled mysteriously and said, "Guess, Master?"
The prefect Wang then walked down the city wall and returned to the government office. After thinking about it, he didn't know how Li You got so much enthusiasm to build the city gate. Could it be that he really wanted to do good things for the elders in his hometown?
It is said that Shi Shenzheng is indeed a fair and selfless person. A few days ago, Mr. Li, who was the assistant in charge of building the city, shamelessly reported the repairs to the city gate to the branch guard office. Shi Shenzheng, the soon-to-be-departed prime minister, was out of public interest and really gave me a report. Approved, after all, this matter benefits the country and the people.
This style made Mr. Li, who had other agendas, feel ashamed for a few moments.
The city wall is built quickly and slowly. On June 24th, as soon as the demolition was completed, Li You temporarily stopped the work. Because today is the Lotus Festival, which is a unique event in Suzhou Prefecture. On this day every year, there are a large number of people in the city. Women flocked out of the city gate to see lotus flowers in several famous lakes and ponds outside the city, especially the Shitang area in the west.
This year, in addition to the gates in the west city, the people in the city have another way to go, which is the gap in the city wall that Li You blasted. As the crowds came in and out, the news about Master Li's building of the new gate gradually spread, and it also won the praise of many people.
Although Li You seems to have committed a taboo by opening the west door, it is said that there is a way to resolve it and give him psychological comfort. People with a good reputation still have some advantages in doing these things and are more likely to be trusted by others, even if they are made up.
After that, wealthy families living near the gap donated money. After all, they were the ones who would benefit most directly after the city gate was repaired.
On this day, Li You came to the government office to attend to matters. The prefect Wang asked, "What is the name of this new city gate?"
"Some people wrote a letter and discussed it as the right door."
The prefect Wang thought it was the word "you" and was surprised: "Youmen? The word "you" in your name? You are really..."
Li You laughed loudly and said: "If the governor thinks so, that's fine, but it's actually the right of the left! The convention on the picture is that the west is the right!"
Youmen, Youmen... He definitely chose this name that sounded like a pun on purpose, the prefect Wang thought to himself.
However, the Wang Prefect could finally confirm that Li You was really going to the capital. This was probably just the last act of madness before leaving. If he still planned to serve as an official locally, he would never be so willful and public.
The name of a city gate may accompany the city for thousands of years. The prefect Wang suddenly felt a little envious. Only Li You can build this city gate now.
"It's better not to go to prison." Li You sighed again: "I owe Qian Huangshang a favor, and I have to help him with the river construction, so I don't plan to go..."
The prefect Wang blurted out: "This matter is taken care of by me! You don't have to worry."
