Chapter 2754 Don’t Get Into Trouble if Nothing Happens

At this time, Li Cheng was not alone.

What he faced were the unspoken rules of the entire officialdom.

Travel expenses, writing expenses.

This is from the Internal Affairs Department. It’s okay if you don’t pay, but let’s see how many trips you can make. Being able to get it in three trips is considered a skill! If you don't pay traveling expenses, you won't be able to get to the room where the work is actually done. Instead, you will be taken to another empty room. Just wait! When it gets dark, I feel sorry for getting off work and will come back tomorrow.

As for the retouching fee, it doesn't matter if you don't pay it. At that time, the clerk's hand will shake, a drop of ink will fall, and the written official certificate will be invalid.

Write another one?

Official certificates are numbered and have a certain amount. You have to apply for them again. Sorry, you can come back when you get them.

What's wrong with this? Everything is done according to the regulations!

There is a huge sign outside the empty house, "Waiting Room." Is there a problem with that? If the official identity certificate is stained and cannot be seen clearly, it means it will be invalidated. What's the problem?

The clerk in the inner warehouse wants wedding money, and he doesn't have to give it, but believe it or not, he will find a hidden hole in his official robe the next moment?

The same goes for money for printing ribbons. It is true that you can withhold it. The clerk in the inner warehouse will not really refuse to give money for printing ribbons. This is against the rules. It's just that the old seal ribbon is given for free, and the regulations don't say that a new seal ribbon must be given. Doesn't the old seal ribbon count as a seal ribbon?

The old seal is made by smoothing the previous person's seal before carving the next one, so I don't know how long it will take. I will cry when I get it, because it is smoothed with the old seal, and I don't know how many hands it took. As soon as I got it, it was a lot shorter than other people’s seals...

The same goes for the second set of replacement official uniforms, etc.

"Give! I'll give it all! Li Cheng said, "I won't be nagging, so why don't you give me a discount?" 』

"My lord!" expert! "The clerk in the inner warehouse gave a thumbs up, "Yes, I will give you a discount..."

After a while, Li Cheng finally walked out. He was carrying a large and heavy package, which contained various robes, seals and ribbons that he had received, as well as official certificates in his arms. In addition, he also received a Empty, shriveled money bag...

Happy time is always short-lived, and accidents like to come suddenly.

But before Li Cheng's complicated mood of excitement, helplessness, and a bit of longing could last long, he was stopped by Chief Qinghe hurriedly and took away the official document not long after he walked out. Identity certificate, "I'm sorry, I'm sorry... I can't give you this appointment for the time being..."

Li Cheng's eyes widened, like a monkey who had been prostituted for nothing and was humiliated, "What?" What's going on! Isn't it already agreed? How could this be? 』

Chief Qinghe also smiled bitterly. This was also the first time he had encountered this. To be honest, he was a little embarrassed, "Sorry, sorry." This is the order of the county magistrate, I am just following the order..."

Naturally, Li Cheng refused to give up, so he found the Qinghe County Magistrate.

In the county government hall of Qinghe County, Li Cheng met the Qinghe County Magistrate.

Li Cheng seemed to have just been working hard in and out, and when he was about to reach the high point of his life, he was suddenly stopped and couldn't move. For some reason, Li Cheng suddenly thought of the phrase "extreme happiness brings about sadness", and he felt that before he could even feel extremely happy, sadness came.

This is so sour...

Just like Laotan sauerkraut.

"Why is the county magistrate like this?" ! "As soon as Li Cheng opened his mouth, his mouth was full of the taste of pickled cabbage, "If the county magistrate doesn't like it, it's just because he didn't allow it before, why do you have to do it again and again? 』

The current magistrate of Qinghe County, whose surname is Cao, is said to be a distant relative of Cao Hong. Although County Magistrate Cao has always said that he has nothing to do with Cao Hong, everyone knows that if there is really no relationship, how could he be allowed to take charge of such a large county?

Of course Magistrate Cao also understood that Li Cheng would definitely have opinions, so he didn't pay attention to Li Cheng's sarcasm that he was a repeating villain. He smiled and said, "My nephew doesn't know something, and this county has no choice..."

After a pause, Magistrate Cao said: "Now there are changes in the court, and the storm is coming. We are all ordinary people, how can we violate it?" Someone is coming..."

Magistrate Cao asked someone to bring a small brocade box, and then handed it to Li Cheng personally, "This county apologizes to my nephew... But this is not the case in this county alone. The same is true in other counties." Same...all official selections this autumn have been completed. If my nephew can trust this county, he might as well come back next year..."

After saying these words, which was regarded as an explanation, Magistrate Cao left.

In the small brocade box, there are naturally those "filial piety" that Li Cheng originally had.

Although the money was returned, Li Cheng was a little confused.

A world where money can't be used to clear the way makes Li Cheng feel very strange, and he also has some faint fear.

Although Li Cheng wanted to stop Magistrate Cao to ask what was going on, he couldn't stop him, so when he met the magistrate at the county government office, he didn't let go. He stepped forward and grabbed Cui Magistrate's sleeve.

"Oh, my dear nephew, it's useless for you to look for me," Cui Xiancheng said, "Now it's not just about Qinghe, it's going to be a big deal, you know?" Something big happened! All autumn elections have been stopped, all have been stopped... I am also anxious, but it is useless to be anxious. If you think I am still trustworthy, just go home and stay well. If you feel that you are still unhappy, just Just scold me, no matter how you scold me..."

"How dare your nephew insult the county magistrate?" But what exactly is this big event that the county magistrate mentioned? ” Li Cheng wanted to ask about the specific situation, but it was obvious that Cui Xiancheng didn’t want to say more. He hurriedly got rid of Li Cheng’s pull and turned to leave.

Wherever Li Cheng was willing to let go, he just pulled Cui Xian Cheng's sleeve and said, "Xian Cheng!" I just spent a lot of money on your warehouse! 』

"Shhh!" ” Cui Xiancheng turned around and said, “My nephew’s words make no sense... How can Neicang Si belong to my family?” 』

Li Cheng sneered.

Cui Xiancheng had no choice but to whisper: "I will only tell my nephew, and my nephew must not tell anyone else!" Qiao County, something big happened in Qiao County... The Prime Minister dealt with more than ten people in the Cao clan, either beheaded or exiled... What is this if it's not a big deal? ! Okay, let go! Don’t spread rumors! 』

Cui Xiancheng warned, pulled out his sleeves, and left in a hurry.

Li Cheng was stunned by the news, and it took him a while to come back to his senses.

Around him, around the county government office, many officials were walking in a hurry, with flustered faces, and a few even bumped into each other with documents in their hands. Not only did they fall to the ground, but even the documents were scattered. land.

It almost looks like a disaster is imminent...

Li Cheng could suddenly understand why Magistrate Cao and Magistrate Cui were in a hurry. People like them must have a lot of things to deal with in the face of such news...

Warehouses need to be repaired, accounts need to be leveled, people need to be sealed, and all kinds of things have to be done. If you can spare the time to say a few words to Li Cheng, you can say that you have taken great care of Li Cheng.

The Prime Minister wants to rectify the officialdom?

This time, is it really coming?

Prime Minister Cao said that he wanted to rectify it. Actually, this was not the first time. However, he had never been able to implement it before. Most of the time, it was like a formality, shouting from above, shouting from below, and then it was over. . At most, arrest a few people who are just ignorant, such as those who only take money for themselves without showing respect to their bosses, or those who are really careless, only take money and do nothing, or those who mess up things in a haphazard manner. etc……

Now Prime Minister Cao has actually attacked his own people? !

this……

How big is this going to be?

Li Cheng suddenly felt a chill down his back!

Even he knew that the person collecting money was not just Cao County Magistrate Cui County Cheng, nor just Qinghe, but the entire Jizhou, Yuzhou, Qingzhou, Xuzhou...

Going up and down Shandong, from the inside to the outside, Li Cheng felt that not only 10% of the time, but 90% of the time they were paid!

This is a tradition that started with Emperor Heng Ling. How does Cao Cao change it now?

How could it be changed? !

Does Cao Cao want to compete with all the officials in Shandong?

Is Cao Cao crazy?

Now Li Cheng doesn't know whether Cao Cao is crazy or not, but he knows that Qinghe County also knows. Even though Cui County Prime Minister said that it should not be spread outside, this kind of news spreads faster than the wind. Everyone knows about Cao Cao. This time I am afraid he is serious about it, and in order to sharpen the knife, Cao Cao first used his own family members. This makes it difficult for others to use the Cao family and the Xiahou family if the knife hits someone else. The tribesmen are acting as shields!

The shield is gone! When the knife falls, of course it hurts the most!

Li Cheng hurriedly left the county seat, mounted a fast horse, and hurried along in disgrace, and then found Li Pan.

Li Pan was a little surprised by Li Cheng's arrival.

It's not that he was slow about what happened in Qiao County, but that he focused on Xu County, Kong Rong, the Emperor and other related matters, and naturally paid less attention to what happened in other places.

When Li Pan left, he had already made an agreement with Li Cheng. The two brothers would take care of each other, and one would be radical and the other conservative. In this way, no matter which side wins, the Li family will win. Now Li Cheng suddenly broke the original situation of no contact with each other and came over hurriedly. Li Pan asked what happened.

Li Cheng told everything he had encountered in Qinghe.

Li Pan sat, silent, thinking, and then his face fell down little by little, and finally turned into an ugly look, like a dying person. Although it was autumn and winter, there was faint sweat on the temples. seep out.

"It's broken..." Li Pan sighed, "It's broken..."

Li Cheng asked: "Brother, what's wrong?" 』

Li Pan closed his eyes and exhaled a long breath, "Kong Wenju is broken..."

"This, what does this have to do with Kong Wenju?" Li Cheng was stunned for a moment.

Isn't this Cao Cao's rectification of officialdom? Why is it connected with Kong Rong again?

Li Pan sighed again, "This is true all over Shandong... Is it possible that the Prime Minister wants to kill all the officials in Shandong?" 』

"How can this be? ” Li Cheng said subconsciously, “This... how... can... ”

But after saying half a sentence, Li Cheng suddenly realized that this was indeed possible!

It's not about the possibility of Cao Cao killing all the officials in Shandong, but the possibility of Kong Rong's death...

Politics can be compromised.

This compromise can be worn by anyone, regardless of whether it is contaminated with athlete’s foot from the previous one…

Dirty and full of dirt.

But everyone who wears it will turn a blind eye.

Or turn a blind eye.

Kong Rong's life belongs to Kong Rong, but it does not belong to Kong Rong himself.

The people who protect Kong Rong now are these people from Shandong, the sons of the gentry. These people kept Kong Rong, not because of how much they liked Kong Rong, but because of their own interests. Just like Li Pan.

Li Pan was originally unable to fight against Kong Rong, but now Li Pan is taking the lead in protecting Kong Rong. Is it for Kong Rong himself? No, again, this is just for Li Pan himself. For example, if a gang boss is killed in later generations, whoever can avenge the boss and kill the murderer will be more qualified to take the position. It does not mean that every competitor has a close relationship with the boss or a deep emotion.

Of course, it was impossible for Cao Cao to kill all the officials in Shandong, big and small. If Cao Cao really did this, there would be no need for Fei Qian to fight, Cao Cao himself would fall first. Cao Cao also knew this, but why did Cao Cao do such a thing? Isn't it because many Shandong officials were like Kong Rong, who not only did not cooperate with Cao Cao in governing, but also secretly tried to undermine Cao Cao?

Li Pan felt that it looked like Cao Cao was fighting corruption, but in fact Cao Cao and Fei Qian's anti-corruption actions were different. Cao Cao was just cleaning up those who opposed him, or those who did not cooperate or support him. The name "anti-corruption" is just incidental to Cao Cao's political purpose, or just a cover-up.

Whether Cao Cao killed someone before and gave way to him, or whether he wants to kill Kong Rong now, it doesn't mean that Cao Cao dislikes someone, or someone scolds him, and then Cao Cao will kill someone, but because of political needs...

Since it is a political issue, there are games and compromises. That's why Li Pan dared to jump out and raise the flag when Cui Yan didn't come forward. Of course, Li Pan had risks, but he did it more for the later game and compromise and profit from it.

But now, Li Pan discovered that he lost.

"In the past two or three days..." Li Pan smiled bitterly, "There are a lot less people coming to look for me... So-and-so thought he was busy with planning for autumn... and didn't pay much attention to it. Now that I think about it, it's because It's about this. 』

Li Pan figured it out.

Fewer people came to look for him, which naturally meant that fewer people originally wanted to keep Kong Rong.

This is a very natural game process.

Kong Rong represents not just him, but the type of Kong Rong he belongs to, the old path of the gentry's children who use the reputation system as a condition for promotion. To protect Kong Rong from death is to keep the original path unchanged.

Promote filial piety and integrity, cultivate reputation, and ascend to the court.

The greater your reputation, the more people will come to you, asking for advice and reviews. Ordinary people believe this and think that if someone takes it with salt, it is a good thing. The previous generation of bricks and mortar fell, but the new generation of Internet celebrities stood up and continued to deceive and deceive unswervingly.

Does Cao Cao hate these entrepreneurs or Internet celebrities? No, he just hates those brick-and-mortar entrepreneurs and Internet celebrities who make money. They dare not pay taxes and transfer the money that should have been collected to Guanzhong! Cao Cao needs loyalty!

Cao Cao wanted to make these people abide by the rules and Cao's rules, but these people were unwilling, so they broke out on Kong Rong. Cao Cao arrested Kong Rong and showed his attitude, but people like Li Pan still thought that Cao Cao was just showing off. Unexpectedly, Cao Cao actually took action at that moment, and he first cleaned up those people in his own clan who "stood in and out".

So, everyone was afraid.

Since Cao Cao couldn't kill everyone, he could definitely kill some people. Who has become this part, and who wants to be this part?

Ever since, Li Pan became a "fellow Taoist".

"Brother!" The matter has come to this, why not... let's do it as soon as possible..." Li Cheng said in a panic, "Since it can't be done, then we might as well forget it..." Just like he can't be an official in Qinghe County, if he doesn't succeed this year, he will wait until next year. , anyway, anti-corruption is like the repetition of fresh meat, happening every year, year after year.

Li Pan was silent for a moment, and when he was about to say something, he suddenly saw a servant rushing down the hall almost stumbling, "It's not good!" Oh no! Outside, people are coming outside...Many people are coming, saying they are the school minister and want to see Mr. Lang..."

Li Pan's face suddenly turned pale, and then he wanted to stand up, but his legs and feet felt a little weak, and then he sat back with a clang.

Perhaps sitting like this woke him up a little. Li Pan turned around and grabbed Li Cheng and said urgently: "They are here to find me. They must not know you are coming!" I...I probably can't escape. You, go to the backyard quickly, change into ordinary clothes, and run away! Get out! 』

Li Pan gritted his teeth, pushed Li Cheng towards the backyard, and then managed to stand up again. He took a deep breath, tried to pretend to be calm, and shouted loudly, "Since... Huh... …Since this is a distinguished guest, so-and-so should welcome him..."

This may be the last appearance of Li Pan himself. Maybe one day in the future, when someone talks about Li Pan, they can say that he has a heroic spirit and is not afraid of danger, instead of saying that he is trembling with fear. Trembling, almost wanting to pee...

Outside the small courtyard, Lu Hong's voice also came in, "Hahaha, you are indeed Mr. Li Lang!" So proud! Since that's the case, there's no need to be shackles anymore, just ask Kururo-kun to come over! 』

Of course, the servants couldn't stop these school ministers. Seeing that Lu Hong was about to rush into the courtyard with his men, Li Pan glared at Li Cheng and gritted his teeth to signal.

Li Cheng also knew that the matter was urgent at the moment, so he could only lower his head and shed tears, and hurriedly bypassed the screen in the hall and went to the backyard.

When Li Pan saw Li Cheng leaving, he breathed out a little and saw that Lu Hong and his men had rushed into the courtyard and entered the hall.

"Lilang-kun is so polite in front of you. ” Lu Hong held his hands casually and said, “Please, please go on your way. I believe that in the loneliness of the prison, Kong Wenju will also welcome Mr. Li Lang to come in person... Ahaha, hahaha...”

Lu Hong thought he had told a good joke, so he laughed to himself without waiting for Li Pan's reaction.

Li Pan didn't answer, gritted his teeth, and led the way out of the hall.

Lu Hong didn't take it seriously. Anyway, he came here just to catch Li Pan, not to drink tea and chat with Li Pan...

Have tea?

Lu Hong was about to leave when he suddenly stopped and turned his eyes to the obviously extra tea sets and snacks on the table beside him. "Li Langjun, are there any foreign guests?" 』

"..." Li Pan paused, "That's right." But he's gone. 』

"gone? Lu Hong chuckled, not believing it at all, and waved his hand, "Here comes someone!" Go to the backyard quickly and apprehend the suspect! 』