The eunuch finished reciting the imperial edict, carefully folded it in half with both hands, held it in front of Fang Zheng, and said with a smile on his face: "Uncle Fang, please accept the edict."
Fang Zheng was confused by this long list of "Zhi Hu Zhe Ye" and didn't understand a word at all. Seeing the eunuch holding the imperial edict over, Fang Zheng had no choice but to take it and imitate the singing on TV: "Fang Zheng, a common man, takes it.
Long live my emperor, long live the emperor!"
The eunuch hurriedly said: "Uncle Fang, now that you are an imperial earl, it has been registered in the imperial court. You can no longer call yourself a commoner in the future. Please remember this."
What do you mean? Why did I become an earl? Fang Zheng vaguely heard that it was because of the matter of retreating from the Turkic army. The emperor gave him a title or an official position. But when he proposed the plan, he had not agreed with the fat man that he would not be an official.
What? Could it be that this kid has forgotten?
Mr. Fang saw the opportunity quickly, and quickly took out a banknote from his sleeve, stuffed it into the eunuch's hand calmly, and said with a smile: "Thank you for your hard work, father-in-law. Please accept this for your joy, father-in-law."
The eunuch skillfully put the banknotes into his sleeves and said with a smile: "Congratulations to Mr. Fang and Uncle Fang. Uncle Fang has been on a meteoric rise since then and his future is limitless."
Upon hearing this, Mr. Fang stroked his beard and laughed, saying, "Thank you very much, father-in-law for your kind words."
The eunuch then ordered the sergeant to bring up the ready-made court uniforms, the imperial palace badges, and the title certificates, etc., and then said goodbye to Mr. Fang and Fang Zheng and left.
After the eunuch left, the servants of the Fang family looked at each other and suddenly burst into cheers. Mr. Fang stroked his long beard and laughed heartily. Mrs. Fang was so happy that she rubbed Fang Zheng's head. After cheering, all the servants cheered.
They rushed to Fang Zheng and threw Fang Zheng up and down. Fang Zheng was so frightened that he shouted in mid-air: "Don't pull your pants! Who, who is acting like a gangster..."
Surprisingly, Master Fang did not stop everyone in the Fang Mansion, but looked at Fang Zheng with a smile and relief. After Mrs. Fang was overjoyed, she had already turned away and secretly wiped her tears.
Fang Zheng was thrown into a daze. After falling to the ground, it took him a while to regain his balance.
Taking advantage of everyone's calm, Fang Zheng approached Mr. Fang and asked, "Dad, what did the emperor grant me? The father-in-law just read it too fast, and the child didn't hear it clearly."
Mr. Fang smiled and said: "Didn't you hear that clearly? I'm afraid you didn't understand? Zheng'er, you should study more in the future. You are already an official of the imperial court, and you also have an imperial title. If you continue to be as ignorant and incompetent as before, you will be disgraced.
It’s your own face.”
Fang Zheng smiled awkwardly and said yes.
Mr. Fang explained: "The emperor gave you the same background as a Jinshi, which means that in the future you will be a person of merit and honor. He will make you a Zhongyongbo, which is an earl. He will also grant you the right to serve as a regular attendant. Do you understand?"
"What kind of official is Sanqi Changshi? What rank is he?"
"I have a false title as Chao Sanqi's Regular Attendant, fifth rank. I serve beside the emperor and give him some advice. Although I have no real power, my position is very important. Zheng'er, you have to do your job carefully."
"Aren't those who accompany the emperor all eunuchs?" That's how it's often shown on TV. Aren't those people who follow the emperor with all their might, all hairless and rootless eunuchs? Doesn't the emperor
Will I ask this young master to come from the palace to serve him with a sword?
"Don't talk nonsense!" Mr. Fang glared at him, "The Sanqi Changshi is a civil servant, not a eunuch."
Mr. Fang looked at the sky and then called Butler Sun, "Today is a big happy event for our Fang family. I asked my servants to get ready. I want to go to the ancestral hall to pay homage to my ancestors."
So, after preparing the sacrificial animals, candles and other items, the three members of the Fang family, led by Mr. Fang, went into the ancestral hall to worship the ancestors of the Fang family. Mr. Fang knelt in the ancestral hall with tears streaming down his face, comforting the spirits of his ancestors in heaven.
The Fang family has been doing business for several generations, and finally there is an official. It is really a blessing from the ancestors.
The servants were kneeling in two rows outside the ancestral hall with solemn expressions. Butler Sun and Butler Liu were kneeling on the left and right outside the ancestral hall door respectively. The two old men who had worked hard for the Fang family for half their lives were acting like children at the moment, crying their noses out.
A handful of tears.
The Fang family's incense has been passed down for more than ten generations. No one in the ancestors has ever been an official, either farming or doing business. In terms of social status, the Fang family has been at the bottom for so many years. Now Fang Zheng is fighting for the Fang family.
Tone, if nothing unexpected happens, from now on the Fang family will be able to join the upper-class wealthy family and truly realize the model of a rich and powerful upper-class family. Master Fang, Mrs. Fang, and even the one or two hundred servants in the family, their identities
As a result, everything will rise, and we will no longer have to face the scornful eyes of others outside. This day, for the Fang family, is a day of rebirth and exhilaration. The Fang family has finally crossed the line from a merchant to an official family in one step.
change..
After paying homage, Mr. Fang waved his hand and ordered people to close the door of the mansion. All the servants of the Fang mansion gathered together. Each person was rewarded with five taels of silver and allowed to drink and revel until they were drunk.
The entire Fang Mansion was in an uproar. On this day, the Fang family did not invite any guests. From the three masters of the Fang family down, all the people drinking and celebrating were servants of the mansion. Mr. Fang even temporarily transferred half of the cooks from Yaoyue House.
Everyone indulged in eating, drinking and laughing from the afternoon until late at night.
The entire Fang Mansion was drunk. Mr. Fang was the most drunk, almost unconscious. When he was helped back to the room by his servants, he was still muttering "Blessed by our ancestors, may the Fang family be prosperous..."
Fang Zheng was more cunning. When the servants came to toast him, he would often cheat and do whatever he could. So when everyone was almost drunk, he drank five or six points. Seeing that everyone was drunk, Fang Zheng
The eldest young master smiled mischievously and went back to sleep.
In June of the twelfth year of Jianwu, the Northern Army reported that 20,000 elite cavalry led by Feng Qiudao, dressed as Turks, entered the grassland from Shaanxi and Gansu, slaughtering and exterminating dozens of small Turkic tribes with swords and swords all the way.
They deliberately spread the news that they were the subordinates of the new Turkic Khan Mochu, and under the orders of the new Khan, they took over all the tribes on the grassland.
Twenty thousand people fought all the way to the vicinity of the Black Sand City of the Turkic Royal Court. Feng Qiudao just turned around and left, running from the grassland to the desert, and then back to the Chinese Dynasty via the Silk Road.
Mo Chuo, who stayed behind on the grassland, became furious when he heard that someone was massacring Turks in his name. He mobilized an army of 20,000 to pursue Feng Qiudao's troops. Fortunately, Feng Qiudao escaped early and waited for the Turks.
When the people chased him, Feng Qiudao had already led his army to flee into the desert.
The Turkic Khan Guduulu, who was attacking the Chinese city, fell into the trap and was very angry when he heard that his younger brother Mochu had established himself as Khan and slaughtered dozens of tribesmen, women and children.
The military camps of the Turkic army also spread rumors everywhere, which caused the morale of the army to be unstable. The night when the exact news came from the grassland, three or four military camps mutinied. Seeing this, Gu Duolu immediately gave up the planned attack on China.
He planned to lead the Turkic army back to the grassland at full speed, preparing to "suppress" the rebellion of his brother Mochu.
At this point, Fang Zheng's strategy of retreating from the Turks was completely successful.
In this battle, Feng Qiudao's troops slaughtered countless old and weak women and children from the Turkic tribes, and the 20,000 elite men he brought into the grassland also suffered a lot. Among the Turkic tribes, even women and children were good at riding and shooting. When Feng Qiudao
When the troops entered the border of Dahua, there were only more than 6,000 people left.
When the military news reached the capital, the whole city cheered, and people took to the streets to celebrate each other. Feng Qiudao, who led the lone army deep into the grassland, was praised by the people and became a national hero.
I don’t know who got the news. This plan to retreat from the enemy was offered by Fang Taisui, the prodigal son of the Fang family business. Moreover, the prodigal son had been awarded a title by the emperor and entered the court as an official. Everyone was shocked and suspicious, and specially found Fang.
The shopkeepers of the shop inquired, and after receiving a positive reply, the people immediately praised him ravely. Even Fang Zheng's bad deeds in the past were praised as being young and unruly, elegant, and wealthy.
At this time, Fang Zheng was sitting in the back hall of Fatty's palace, drinking and chatting with Fatty.
These days, the door of the Fang Mansion is almost crowded. There are those who fawn over, those who give gifts, and those who talk about matchmaking. Everyone knows that the Fang family has a promising son who is not far away from becoming famous. If you don't fawn over at this time,
When can we wait? Especially when there were three business owners who wanted to marry their daughters to Fang Zheng in the past. They even pestered Mr. Fang to ask for their daughters to be married immediately.
These people gave Fang Zheng a headache. He didn't take a step out of the front door for several days. Today he finally couldn't stand it anymore and sneaked out from the back door. After leaving Fang Zheng, he immediately came to Prince Fu's Mansion to look for Fatty.
"I said, Fatty, what are you worried about? Didn't I tell you that I don't want to be an official? If your father wants to reward me, just give me some gold, silver, jewelry, and stunning beauty. Why should I be an official?
What? Do you think I look like official material?" Fang Zheng took a sip of wine and glared at the fat man dissatisfied.
"Haha, my father must let you be an official. What can I do? Otherwise, you can go and talk to my father in person? Anyway, now you are a regular servant, and you can enter the palace to meet the saint at any time." The fat man smiled.
He was very proud, like a fat fox who stole a hundred chickens. He dragged Fang Zheng into the court as an official. This kid worked a lot behind the scenes.
"Come on, why don't your father chop off my head immediately?" Fang Zheng rolled his eyes.
"Brother Fang, why don't you try to do something for the country? Even if you don't care about high-ranking officials and big salaries, what's wrong with being able to do something for the people? Do you know how many people's lives you have saved with this strategy?
?I don’t understand why you are so resistant to being an official?”
"Fat man, I'm going to tell you the truth today. It's really... alas! What a treasonous thing to say." Fang Zheng glanced around and saw no one around. Then he leaned into the fat man's ear and whispered: "As the saying goes, companionship
You are like a tiger accompanying you..."
The fat man was stunned when he heard this. Before he could react, Fang Zheng immediately put on a scoundrel face and said: "Hey, don't go snitching. I didn't say anything. I won't recognize anyone after walking out of this door."
of."
The fat man thought for a moment and suddenly realized: "Ah! So you are afraid of this..."
The fat man continued: "You are really worrying for nothing. As long as you don't commit the serious crime of treason and usurpation, and be careful in what you say and do, you will be fine. It has been twelve years since my father ascended the throne, and all the court officials he killed have been killed."
The crime is punishable by death. Besides, am I still here? How serious a crime can you commit for someone like you?"
Fang Zheng nodded, then reacted and said unhappily: "What do you mean it's just me? What do you mean?"
The fat man smiled and said, "It means that for someone like you, even if you have the courage to do so, you won't be able to commit a serious crime. At most, you will just be greedy for money and have bad morals. It's not a big deal."
Fang Zheng narrowed his eyes slightly, "Why don't I feel uncomfortable listening to what you said? Others who have the ability can govern the country and bring peace to the world. Those who have no ability are mediocre and live an ordinary life. I am not good at it. I don't even have the ability to commit crimes.
?”
The fat man laughed and said, "Brother Fang, don't be humble. You are very capable."
Then, the fat man said in a serious tone: "Brother Fang, you have told me before that the greater the ability, the greater the responsibility. Nowadays, the Chinese dynasty is suffering from internal and external troubles and is in devastation. Most of the ministers in the dynasty are doing nothing and protecting themselves wisely. Local officials
The common people are greedy and greedy, and the Turks outside are watching. My father is always worried when he thinks about this. Brother Fang, we have known each other for so long, so you can help me, okay? Be a good official and try your best to help my father.
Emperor, can you do something to help the people of Hua Dynasty?"
Fang Zheng was silent. He felt that everything was contrary to his original intention. Master, my dream was to be a dandy, how could I become an official in the blink of an eye? Besides, I didn't do anything, I just came up with a crooked idea.
, people in ancient times studied hard for ten years and went to Beijing to take the exam with great hardships, but they may not be able to pass the exam. Why can I get a fifth-grade official with a few words and a title? This official is too easy to come by?
I really feel bad for those talented people.
Since this official position has been sealed, it is not appropriate to return it, so let’s face it, young master, no matter what, I should be considered a progressive young man. Some people are willing to give me an official position, why wouldn’t I be willing to be one? Besides, if the fat man was like that on the day when Yuzhai opened
What Fang Zheng said, Fang Zheng has deeply remembered in his heart. No matter from which point of view, he has to be this official. This is often the case in the world. Sometimes when things happen to him, he no longer
I don't want to, and I can't refuse. Personal will seems so insignificant in the face of the development trend of things.
Should he rise up to resist, or should he enjoy it silently? With the temperament of Young Master Fang, it seems that there is no need to choose the answer.
Thinking of this, Fang Zheng made up his mind and said with a smile: "Fat man, let me ask first, how much is the salary per month as an official? Oh, I mean how much salary? It's agreed, I won't do anything less.
Damn it, alas, I am really an unprincipled person..."
When the fat man heard this, he knew that Fang Zheng had agreed to become an official. He couldn't help but be overjoyed. He patted Fang Zheng on the shoulder and laughed and said: "With your family's financial resources, I'm afraid that small amount of salary will not be able to catch your eye. My father asked you to be an official."
Another good thing is that all the officials in the world can be greedy, but you cannot be greedy, because your family is so rich, and you are embarrassed to hand out the little money given by others."
Fang Zheng also laughed, "Yes, but there is a downside to being an official. If someone tries to trick me, I think I will surrender soon..."
"..."
(The end of the first volume, please read the second volume to see how Master Fang has turned the officialdom of the court into a chaotic atmosphere, where everyone is afraid and ghosts are worried.)
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The first volume is over, and I feel a little emotional. It’s nearly 180,000 words, and I’ve never typed so many words in my life. I’m proud of myself. Regardless of whether everyone likes this book or not, I feel that I have tried my best.
Thank you to all the friends in the book review area for your support. Many of them are already die-hard readers of this book, which makes me very touched. To me, your attention seems to be a responsibility that I voluntarily carry on my back.
I often think about it, I can’t let people down, I have to use more brains to code some exciting chapters, otherwise I will be sorry for myself and the readers.
The second volume starts tomorrow. I don’t know much about officialdom, but I will try to look at this ancient officialdom from the perspective of the protagonist Fang Zheng, and I will also try my best to write the plot in a more relaxed way. Who said officialdom must be serious?
From ancient times to the present, more absurd, funny and incredible things have happened in official circles than among the people.
It’s so long-winded, but fortunately this is a free chapter for the public. In fact, today I originally wanted to write a separate epilogue about the work, but I’m too lazy, so I’ll just post it here. Thank you again
Thanks to everyone's support, the second volume is about to begin, let's complete it together.