Chapter 666: Welcoming, Sending Off, and Inheritance

February is the beginning of spring, and it is warm and cold at first, but it is the real beginning of a year's livelihood. Farmers began to prepare for spring plowing, merchants began to prepare to go out, and the Cao army began to move out.

Zhao Shenlu, the governor of Yingtian, was dismissed from his post and set off to return to his hometown. The journey was not far away. Everyone knew that he was from the neighboring province of Zhejiang.

It may be a coincidence that after Governor Zhao lost his official position, the public grievances in the Susong area subsided immediately.

Tu Shufang Nian, the prefect of Suzhou, sent Zhao Canlu to Wujiang County out of friendship with the same province and camp.

Going further south is beyond the boundary of Suzhou, and Tu Zhifu cannot go further.

Looking at Zhao Shenlu, who was still bedridden and with white hair, Magistrate Tu felt sad and sighed: "Don't think about it anymore, just have a good rest after returning home."

Zhao Canlu felt a little resentful. He felt that Magistrate Tu did not support him enough.

Everyone took office together and should have worked closely with each other. He had been fighting bravely, but Tu Shufang was timid.

If the prefect has this attitude, then the counties below will be even more obedient and disobey them, causing the governor's orders to fail.

Tu Shufang said helplessly: "It's not that I don't want to help you, it's just that I don't have the ability to help you. It's good if I can try my best to protect myself.

Because I discovered in the government office that even if we officials are gone, there seems to be no impact at all. "

"What do you mean by this? Is it an excuse?" Zhao Shenlu asked.

Tu Shufang replied: "What I mean is that even if all our officials disappear, Suzhou City seems to be able to operate as usual without being affected at all.

In other words, Suzhou City does not need officials like us, and our role to the people of Suzhou is insignificant.

Faced with such a situation, how can we superfluous people win in Suzhou? What can I do to support you? "

As another failed governor, Zhao Shenlu left Suzhou while lying in bed while seriously ill.

Suzhou people have discovered a pattern. In recent years, failed governors and successful governors have appeared alternately.

After Governor Wei who was dismissed, there was the successful Zhao Zhigao, then Governor Li who committed suicide, then the successful Zhou Ji, and then Zhao Canlu who attempted suicide this time.

Since the governor failed this time, he will probably be the successful one next time.

However, after seeing off Zhao Canlu, Tu Zhifu continued to stay in Wujiang County, the south gate of Suzhou Prefecture.

In official entertainment, in addition to sending people off, there is also welcoming.

Zhu Geng, the Minister of the Ministry of Rites, who entered Wenyuan Pavilion, participated in machine maintenance, and was a scholar of Jia Dian Pavilion, set out from his hometown in Shanyin County, Zhejiang Province, to the capital to take up his post, and happened to pass by Suzhou Prefecture.

The etiquette in officialdom has its own set of rules. As a new cabinet elder, Zhu Geng is definitely worthy of being greeted by the governor at the border of his own government whenever he crosses the border.

Two days after Zhao Canlu left, Magistrate Tu welcomed Mr. Zhu Ge's boat in Wujiang County.

Magistrate Tu is also from Zhejiang, so he and Mr. Zhu Ge can find something in common, so they won't have nothing to say.

Speaking of which, Zhejiang may be the most divided province in the current imperial court.

Officials in other provinces are generally united and have a sense of solidarity with each other, but this is not the case in Zhejiang at all.

The top leaders of the Qingliu forces, such as Lu Guangzu, Sun Quan, and Chen Younian, were all from Zhejiang. In history, these three people also became ministers of the Ministry of official affairs.

However, Shen Yiguan, who has a good relationship with Shen Shixing, and Zhao Zhigao, who was pushed to the position by Lin Jiuyuan, are also from Zhejiang.

Therefore, it is really difficult to judge the political stance of a Zhejiang official based on his place of origin. It mainly depends on his social circle.

After getting acquainted with each other for a while, Magistrate Tu still wanted to make some insinuations and ask Wang Xijue why he recommended Zhu Geng.

This is a question that most officials are curious about. After all, Wang Xijue and Zhu Geng are obviously incompatible.

But Mr. Zhu Ge asked first: "Is Lin Jiuyuan in Suzhou City right now?"

Magistrate Tu replied: "I went to Songjiang Prefecture a few days ago, but I stayed in Songjiang Prefecture for two days and then came back. I should be at home in the city now."

After hesitating for a moment, Mr. Zhu Ge asked again: "You should be familiar with Lin Jiuyuan. In your opinion, if my ship docks at Gusu Station, will Lin Jiuyuan come to visit?"

Magistrate Tu couldn't help but be stunned, what's the problem? It seems simple, but it's weird.

After thinking about it for a while, Magistrate Tu helplessly replied: "I don't even know, even my subordinates."

If he were a normal serving official and encountered Mr. Ge passing through the border, he would definitely pay him a visit. This is the most basic official etiquette. Whether the elder will receive him or not is another matter.

But Lin Tailai is a man who, to put it mildly, is informal and plays as he pleases.

No one can guess whether Lin Tailai, who is often arrogant, will visit Mr. Zhu Ge who is passing through the border.

Perhaps in order to prevent the elder Ge from getting angry, Magistrate Tu reassured him in advance: "It's a real celebrity who is in a romantic relationship. Even if Lin Jiuyuan doesn't show up, it won't hurt.

At that time, Yan Song was passing through Suzhou and stopped his boat on the river. Wen Zhengming, a famous scholar of the generation, did not visit him. "

Magistrate Tu guessed that Mr. Zhu Ge might be worried about losing face.

So the implication behind the words is that if Lin Jiuyuan really doesn't take you as a pavilion boss seriously, don't take it to heart, and don't be as knowledgeable as Lin Jiuyuan. That's not a shame.

Zhu Geng glanced at Magistrate Tu and suddenly said, "What if I want to see Lin Jiuyuan?"

Magistrate Tu: "."

It turns out that what you, Mr. Zhu Ge, are not afraid of being disgraced by Lin Tailai, but that you are afraid of not being able to see Lin Tailai.

Indeed, in terms of etiquette, if you go to visit Lin Tailai as a pavilion elder, it will be too cheap and you will be laughed at by the world.

But if Lin Tailai doesn't take the initiative to visit again, it's like two parallel lines, and it's hard to meet.

So Zhu Ge Lao's mentality now is that he wants to see Lin Jiuyuan, but he is afraid that Lin Jiuyuan will ignore the rules of officialdom and not come to visit.

And the key is that Zhu Geng and Lin Jiuyuan have nothing to do with each other, and there is not even a suitable middleman. Prefect Tu and Lin Tailai don't have this kind of friendship.

With the intention of making friends with Zhu Ge Lao, Prefect Tu thought about it carefully and came up with an idea: "If the old man is not in a hurry to go north, he can stay in Suzhou for a few more days. He will definitely meet Lin Jiuyuan, and it will not lose dignity."

Zhu Geng asked with great interest: "What's the story?"

Prefect Tu replied: "According to the report, the former Prime Minister Shen Yaoquan will soon arrive in Suzhou City, and Lin Jiuyuan will definitely go out of the city to greet him!

After all, when Lin Jiuyuan debuted, he always regarded himself as a guest of Shen Mansion. Now he can't Can we not welcome Lord Yaoquan back home?

If the old cabinet stays for a few more days and goes to Fengqiao to welcome Prime Minister Shen, he will naturally be able to meet Lin Jiuyuan.

This will not seem too deliberate, and it is enough to maintain the dignity of the old cabinet. "

"Very good!" Zhu Geng replied without hesitation: "Then stay for a few more days until Senior Shen returns to Suzhou."

Prefect Tu was still quite surprised. Generally, officials are in a hurry to take office in order to seize power, but this old cabinet Zhu would rather delay a few more days to meet Lin Jiuyuan.

When Zhu arrived in Suzhou City, he stayed at Gusu Station for a few days. As expected, there was no accident. As expected, Lin Jiuyuan did not come to visit.

Perhaps to Lin Jiuyuan, Zhu Geng, the new old cabinet, is just an insignificant passerby.

After all, he has the iron triangle "little brothers" such as the chief assistant, the heavenly official, and the great Sima under his command. An ordinary old cabinet is really mediocre.

But others were much more normal, and Zhu Ge Lao would not feel ignored, as he was accompanied by Xu Xianqing, a fellow student from Suzhou.

They passed the imperial examination together, were selected as Shujishi together, and became editors after leaving the academy together.

At the end of the 17th year of Wanli, after Xu Xianqing was attacked and dismissed by the Qingliu forces, he returned to Suzhou to join the Weaving Industry Office. Anyway, the Xu family in the east of the city was a big weaving family and had no worries about food and drink.

However, when Zhu Geng asked Xu Xianqing to help introduce Lin Jiuyuan, he was politely declined.

A few days later, flags were flying on both sides of the Fengqiao River, gongs and drums were beating, and there were crowds of people.

What happened here today may be the largest welcoming ceremony in recent decades.

Officials from various government offices, gentry, township officials, and scholars came out in droves, not to mention that there was also a current Ge Lao present, which was enough to raise the level of the ceremony by several levels.

Accompanied by Xu Xianqing, a fellow student, when Zhu Ge Lao arrived at Fengqiao Town, he saw the core of the crowd at a glance.

The physically superior Jiuyuan Zhenxian wore a very low-key green robe and stood casually.

But a group of officials and celebrities automatically surrounded him, listening to him talking nonsense and following the rhythm.

"I'm not bragging, brother. Old Shen has been doing a really bad job in the past few years. Whenever I'm not in the capital, there will be mistakes.

In the 15th year of Wanli, Old Shen almost stepped down. Fortunately, I tried my best to save him. We in Suzhou also lost a good prefect and a good governor.

At the end of the 17th year of Wanli, I went back home, and as a result, a fellow villager, Xu Xianqing, the right assistant minister of the Ministry of Rites, was killed. It's a pity for Old Xu. He had hope to enter the cabinet."

The people around laughed in unison, and then looked at Xu Xianqing next to Zhu Ge Lao, and the atmosphere suddenly became cheerful.

Lin Jiuyuan turned his back to Zhu Ge Lao and Xu Xianqing, and seemed to be unaware, and continued to talk nonsense.

"The year before last, in the eighteenth year of Wanli, I went to the northwest, and as a result, Old Shen lost the position of Left Censor-in-Chief, and the position of the Ministry of Personnel was also in danger!

Not to mention the end of last year, I had only been back to Suzhou for a month or two, and Old Shen couldn't even protect himself. How embarrassing!"

When he said this, Jiuyuan Zhenxian suddenly realized something, turned around, and said to Xu Xianqing, who had already turned black:

"Old Xu! Why did your Weaving Industry Office, which occupies the east of the city, go against the trend and suppress the calls of Pingjiang Road business owners to establish a municipal management office?

We are all from the Hanlin lineage, why are you so disrespectful? At most, the Pingjiang Road area is divided into 30% and 70%, you 30% and I 70%!"

Zhu Geng: "."

Is this social group member who keeps talking about grabbing territory really the top scholar of the court, the Hanlin Academy attendant, the Taichang Temple Shaoqing, and the Sanbu Si Langzhong?

Xu Xianqing ignored the social group affairs negotiation initiated by Lin Tailai, pointed at Zhu Ge Lao, and introduced him in a somewhat irritable mood.

It was also the first time that Mr. Lin met Zhu Geng. During the years when he was stirring up trouble in the court, Zhu Geng had been in his hometown, so they had never dealt with each other.

Mr. Zhu was not arrogant and said to Mr. Lin: "I have not been in the court for these years and am very unfamiliar with the current situation. If Lin Jiuyuan has time, I hope you will give me some advice."

Lin Tailai was a little surprised and asked tentatively: "The current Prime Minister Zhao is your fellow countryman. It is enough to have his guidance."

Zhu Geng replied: "Brother Zhao wrote to say that you should not miss the opportunity to pass by and communicate more with Lin Jiuyuan. You will definitely benefit a lot."

When the smart people heard this, they guessed why Wang Xijue recommended Zhu Geng.

It is estimated that Wang Xijue made a deal with Prime Minister Zhao Zhigao and recommended Zhu Geng on behalf of Zhao Zhigao.

Lin Tailai was even more surprised. Zhu Geng had already entered the cabinet, so why did he need to find him?

But after a little guessing, I came up with a direction. Could it be that Zhu Geng wanted to be the second assistant?

At this time, a yamen runner suddenly called out loudly, "Here they come! Here they come!"

Everyone stopped talking and all faced the river, looking to the north.

When Shen Shixing appeared on the bow deck, huge cheers erupted from both sides of the river to welcome the chief minister home after being away from his hometown for decades.

Lin Daguan kept muttering in his heart, why did the old chief minister look more radiant than last year.

Freed from the shackles, the unofficial and light-weight Shen Shixing disembarked from the boat and landed quickly, frowning at Lin Tailai and saying:

"Why are you still in Suzhou? How can a young man be content with contentment rather than making progress? When you reach my age, you can retire to enjoy the pleasures of forests and springs!"

Lin Daguan replied lazily: "A wanderer is homesick, why not stay at home for a few more months?"

Shen Shixing pointed to the north and said: "I have retreated, but your career is still over there. Aren't you afraid that you will make mistakes if you are absent from the government for a long time?"

Lin Tailai still said nonchalantly: "No hurry, no hurry! As the saying goes, rushing is not a business. I am waiting for the court to beg me to go back."

No one dared to disturb the conversation between the old chief assistant and Lin Daguan, but they were all speechless after hearing this.

What does it mean that the court is begging you to go back? What could possibly happen that would make the court beg you?

Shen Shoufu asked again: "How many gardens have you built over the years?"

Lin Tailai answered truthfully: "I haven't done much repairs. I mainly buy ready-made ones so that the seniors can live wherever they want."

Second Master Shen, who was silent next to him, said: "."

Who is your biological son? I'm standing here, dad, can't you see?

Shen Shixing looked past the second generation of the Shen family and looked at the third generation of the Shen family who had grown up over the years with kind eyes.

"Which one is married to the Lin family?" Shen Shixing asked his son Shen Yongjia.

Shen Yongjia, who finally talked to his father, pointed to a five or six-year-old daughter, and Shen Shixing picked up the granddaughter.

Then he smiled at everyone and said, "I can finally enjoy the fun of entertaining my grandchildren."

In the eyes of everyone, this series of words and deeds seemed as if Shen Shixing had passed on his position as the leader of the Suzhou Gang to Lin Jiuyuan.

After the grand ceremony on the shore, Shen Shixing returned to the boat and continued to move slowly along the river.

Ge Lao Zhu Geng and Lin Tailai both got on the boat and accompanied Shen Shixing into the city.

"He wants to be the second assistant." Lin Tailai pointed at Zhu Geng and said to Shen Shixing, "The Zhang position you recommend should be placed at the back. Zhang position is a bit headstrong and not suitable for being too prominent."

Zhu Geng: "."

Is this how you, Lin Jiuyuan, always talk to the old chief assistant? It seems that not visiting yourself is not treating yourself lightly.