Chapter 23 6. Dare to participate in Baogeng and Wang Dingan, it seems that Zhang Xiangtao is not a nerd

Yan Jingming walked out the door and saw a middle-aged man in his forties standing in front of him.This person was wearing a black tights and was carrying a black suitcase on his back. Along with the suitcase was a long sword with a black handle. He lowered his head and ate the weeds by the wall.Yan Jingming boasted in his heart: I haven't seen such a heroic and tall figure in more than ten years. Where is this general who took off his battle robe?There was an approving smile on his face, and he said, "I am Yan Jingming. May I have your name? Where do you come from?" Hearing this, the man quickly threw away the reins, clasped his fists deeply and said, "You are the old man Yan Dan, you have offended me just now. My name is Sang Zhiping from Taiyuan Mansion, and I am here to pay homage to you by the order of Zhang Futai." you."

After Sang Zhiping finished speaking, he raised his head and took a serious look at Yan Jingming.If he hadn't reported his family background himself, he couldn't believe it. The person standing in front of him was the former governor of Shandong and the minister of the Ministry of Industry. He was the one who was highly valued by Hu Linyi and remembered by the Empress Dowager Cixi. He was recruited by the court many times. ZTE famous official.Unconsciously, Sang Zhiping took a closer look: his face was covered with rough skin, and there were many lines of wrinkles on it, his hair was almost gray, and his beard was messy, as if it had never been trimmed.His back was slightly hunched, it was already mid-spring, and he was still wearing a thick black cotton robe of coarse cloth, which made him look bloated.From top to bottom, he has the demeanor of an old northern farmer, without the slightest trace of the spirit of a minister.

"Mr. Sang, please come into the room and talk!" Yan Jingming greeted with a strong Shaanxi accent, and the voice was as if it came from a water tank. This is a very ordinary Jinnan farmhouse, which is located next to Jiezhou Academy.After entering the gate, Yan Jingming invited Sang Zhiping into his study.The study room is also very simple: a bookshelf made of white wood boards, dozens of books are scattered here and there, and the tables, chairs and benches are not painted. The only thing that stands out is a beautifully framed couplet hanging on the middle wall: Wanqing In the world of Yanbogull, the spirit of the nine-day wind dew crane.In the upper right corner of the first couplet, there is a line of small characters: Shu Dizhang's old couplet as a gift to Brother Danchu.There is also a line of small characters in the lower left corner of the second couplet: Yiyang Hu Linyi was in Wuchang Festival Department.

As soon as he sat down, an old lady in her sixties with white hair and cloth clothes came out with a large clay bowl in both hands.Yan Jingming said: "This is a bitch. Please invite Mr. Sang to drink tea." Sang Zhiping was startled and quickly stood up.With a complicated mood, he took the bowl of tea respectfully and held it in both hands, as if it weighed a thousand catties.Yan Jingming sat on the side and said: "Sit down, sit down. Jiezhou is poor and there is no good tea. Please drink some." Sang Zhiping looked at the thick leaves and the black and yellow tea in the bowl, lifted the bowl and took a big sip.The tea was bitter, but his heart was full of sweetness.Sang Zhiping traveled all over the north and south and made friends for a long time. This was the first time he met such a strange person.There is a great talent hidden in his chest, but he looks like an uneducated farmer; although he has been in and out of the golden horse gate of Yutang and sat in the tiger skin chair for a long time, he is now contented in the bamboo fence hut; Tens of millions, but now the walls are desolate, and the family has no long-term possessions; once called front and back, surrounded by majesty, commanded thousands of troops, but now his heart is like an ancient well, quietly spending his old age with a white-haired old woman.Is it the long-term hardship in adolescence that has cultivated this temperament of seeing hardships without suffering, or is it the return to basics after experiencing wealth and prosperity?Is it natural, or is it great wisdom?No matter what the reason is, after more than ten years like this, wouldn't the years integrate his life with all of them, can he still let go and leave?Is he still willing to return to the officialdom and shoulder the big responsibility again?

Seeing Sang Zhiping drinking tea like this, Yan Jingming thought he must be hungry: "My old wife is cooking for you, should I eat two cold yam eggs to satisfy my hunger?" "No, no!" Sang Zhiping hurriedly said, "I'm not hungry, I like the thick tea brewed in this kind of clay bowl. It's the original color and taste, and it's the most pleasant." "Mr. Sang came from Taiyuan Mansion, but he doesn't dislike the shabby place here. It's really rare!" It seems that he has never been out of Jiezhou City and has never seen the world in his life; it seems that he has always been a farmer and has never enjoyed happiness in his life.This sentence was spoken so naturally and smoothly that Sang Zhiping was deeply moved!He put down his luggage, took out a large envelope, and handed it over with both hands: "Dan Lao, this is a letter from Zhang Futai."

"The old man has no relationship with Zhang Futai, how could he think of sending me a letter?" Yan Jingming took the envelope while talking, and took out a letter from it. He squinted his eyes and looked at it: After Yan Jingming read the letter, a smile appeared on the corner of his mouth.He raised his head and met Sang Zhiping's gaze staring at him.Sang Zhiping's eyes were clear and deep, friendly and resolute, which made Yan Jingming's heart light up: this person is not an ordinary person! "Zhang Futai's letter said that there is a letter from Mr. Hu Wenzhong twenty years ago. Mr. Tosang brought it. Can you show this old man?"

"This letter is specially brought for you." Sang Zhiping took out a small wooden board about eight inches long and five inches wide from his luggage.He pressed it with his hand, and a wooden board was divided into two pieces, with several letterheads neatly pressed inside.Sang Zhiping took off the letterhead and presented it to Yan Jingming respectfully. Yan Jingming wiped his hands on the black cotton robe twice, took the letter paper with a serious face, and said, "Sit down a bit, I'll get a pair of glasses." After a while, Yan Jingming took a pair of glasses from the next room come out.Sang Zhiping saw that the glasses were very old, and one foot was gone, replaced by a hemp rope.Yan Jingming put on his presbyopic glasses.When he picked up the letter again, Sang Zhiping saw that his hands were trembling slightly, and his thin lips seemed to be twitching.This situation is completely different from the letter I read from Zhang Zhidong just now.How could Sang Zhiping understand the mood of this thick-faced and deep-faced old man at this time!

Facing this letter written by Hu Linyi, Yan Jingming felt like seeing an old friend who passed away many years ago.He silently recited the words on Hu Linyi's letter in his heart, as if hearing an old friend talking.Twenty years ago in Wuchang City, in the governor's yamen and Liangtai yamen, they sat face to face in this way, discussing military and state affairs, deploying strategies for the Eastern Expedition, talking about poetry and articles, and narrating family trifles and human relationships.How many wise men's thoughts and benevolent friendships are filled in the soft, eloquent Yiyang mandarin!

As Zhang Zhidong said, this letter was written by Hu Linyi to Zhang Zhidong who was studying his homework in Nanpi and preparing for next spring.Hu Linyi said in the letter to his former disciples that he might as well go south to live in Wuchang while he is free.Of course you need to read books, but you can't get lost in the pile of books and ignore world affairs. Gaining fame is not the ultimate goal of reading, but the ultimate goal is to benefit the people.With your current knowledge, next year's exam for high school will be like picking something out of your bag, but it will be a real talent for running a country, and it is a major matter to consider.After the Chinese ceremony next year, if you enter the Imperial Academy or become a Bailihou, you will have no more time to practice. This is the most rare time in your life.

Yan Jingming nodded while reading, knowing that Hu Linyi's words of admonishment to his disciples were words of real experience.Yan Jingming himself was a Jinshi in the thirties. Compared with those who were in their twenties who were inscribed on the gold list, his fame cannot be regarded as early.However, it was because he became emperor late that he had enough time to work as an aide and accountant, so as to develop practical ability to manage affairs.Later, as soon as I arrived at the Ministry of Household Affairs, I was able to be on my own.As for the accounts reported by the provinces, which ones are honest and which ones are adulterated, he can tell seven or eight points at a glance.Yan Jingming read the letter again, and then Hu Linyi talked about him.

The old friend's letter said: Mr. Yan Danchu, the prime minister of Liangtai, is a talented person today, and his financial management skills are the first in Hubei, which is rare in the world.The Eastern Expedition to Hunan Army was able to have sufficient wages and food, and it all depended on this National People's Congress to prepare for it. This is the real great question of helping the world.Lin Yi is far from being able to catch up. Looking around today, there are few big officials and famous eunuchs in the universe.This kind of knowledge cannot be obtained in the study, but must come from experience.In the future, a good brother must be a talent for the country, and he must have this knowledge.Mr. Danchu is talented and sincere, and his future is limitless.It is expected that he will be a governor in Wuchang today, and he may be transferred to another province to be a feudal secretary tomorrow, and then promoted to governor the next day.In a few years, it must be the proper meaning of the question to pay homage to the prime minister and join the cabinet.When you come to Wuchang at this time, with Lin Yi's thin face, you can still accept you as a disciple.In a few days, he will be promoted externally or internally, and then Lin Yi will be beyond his reach.As the saying goes: Don't miss the opportunity, the time will never come again, Xianqi can pack up and go south after receiving the letter, Lin Yi is looking forward to it by the Yellow Crane Tower! Hu Linyi never mentioned the words of "feudal secretary", "governor" and "enrolling in the cabinet to pay homage to the prime minister" in person.What was written in the letter was his prophecy to his disciples thousands of miles away.Twenty years have passed, and these predictions of feudal officials and governors have become a reality. In this way, "joining the cabinet to pay homage to the prime minister" will also become a reality?For a while, Yan Jingming, who was over sixty years old, felt hot in his heart.Which scholar does not hope that he will have the day of being a court minister, let alone Yan Jingming, who has been a senior official and a genius in his heart!The reason why he returned to the field in his prime was because he was disappointed with the world, and because of this, he was disappointed with his own future.This letter from Hu Linyi twenty years ago brought back Yan Jingming's long-lost enthusiasm.In fact, over the years, in the depths of the soul of the lecturer of Jiezhou Academy, why has he really become indifferent to everything, and has really become ashamed of eunuchs and officialdom?The hidden regret of not fully displaying his life's ambitions often burrows into his chest like a sharp bug at the corner of his mouth when he wakes up early, eats in the middle of the night, or drinks alone and is slightly drunk. Biting his noble and lonely heart.However, once the dawn dawned, or when the drunkenness cleared, he was relieved quickly.Although the imperial court said that they had been recruited several times, they did not say what positions they would confer.Yan Jingming knew that he had a straightforward personality, he was alone, he had no support from the government, and his appointments were only governors and ministers.Rather than being disappointed, it is better not to leave the mountain.Yan Jingming's heart fluctuated repeatedly like this.On the outside, it looks like an old farmer on the bank of the Yellow River, watching the turbid waves emptying in the daytime and listening to the turbulent waves breaking the bank at night, seeming to forget both about life and affairs.People say that Hu Linyi has a good knowledge of people. From this point of view, perhaps it is not an empty talk to enter the cabinet to pay homage to the prime minister. He may still do something extraordinary in this life? While Yan Jingming was thinking about it, his old wife had already prepared dinner.So, he solemnly returned Hu Linyi's letter to Sang Zhiping.Then, accompanied Sang Zhiping to drink a few cups of liqueur made from sweet potatoes, and happily ate a farm meal in southern Shanxi.After the meal, he accompanied Sang Zhiping to walk around the Xiezhou Academy, telling stories about the academy with great interest.It wasn't until the sun went down and the mountain wind became colder that they returned to the simple study room to drink tea and talk. When they were in Taiyuan, Zhang Zhidong and Sang Zhiping discussed the matter of Yan Jingming for a long time.Sang Zhiping believed that, from various indications, if Yan Jingming was willing to enter Beijing this time, the imperial court would definitely use him more heavily, and his position would be higher than that of the minister.Zhang Zhidong agreed with his analysis, saying that if Yan Jingming can get out of the mountain, it will be a great contribution!Sang Zhiping said, yes, this move can kill three birds with one stone!For the queen mother, it can be said that she lived up to her holy order.What the imperial court has repeatedly enlisted but failed to do, can be done this time, and will be praised by the Queen Mother.This is a bird.As far as you are concerned, after this contact, Yan Jingming will be grateful in his heart, and he is expected to become a powerful internal aid in the court in the future.This is two birds. For Yan Jingming himself, it is hoped that the great talents in his life will be fully developed, so that he will not die of old age in Jiezhou Academy and hold grudges all day long.This is three birds.Zhang Zhidong said with a smile, that's a good point.When you go to Jiezhou this time, you have to act on camera, so please move him.In this way, Sang Zhiping was ordered to come to Jiezhou Academy. "I originally thought that Mr. Sang was a member of the Futai yamen. After reading Xiang Tao's letter, I realized that I was his friend. May I ask if you originally lived in Taiyuan, or did you come from Beijing with Xiang Tao this time?" What about Jin?" Hu Linyi's letter narrowed the distance between Yan Jingming and Zhang Zhidong.In his consciousness, there seems to be a feeling that he regards Zhang Zhidong as his disciple. He no longer uses the serious and distant official title of "Zhang Futai", but uses the more casual and friendly title of "Xiang Tao" to refer to him. Called Zhang Zhidong.After hearing this, Sang Zhiping also felt that the distance between him and the strange old man in front of him had shortened a lot. "Old Dan," Sang Zhiping replied with the attitude of a junior and a student, "I used to be a painting friend of Xiangtao's cousin Ziqing Zhitai. Over the years, Ziqing Zhitai returned to Nanpi after serving as an official, and I have been wandering all over the world. Thanks to Xiangtao, I came to Shanxi with him last year to do some small things." "Oh! This step turns out to be Mr. Zhang Ziqing's painting friend. Disrespect, disrespect!" Yan Jingming's eyes shone with joy, which was quite different from the dim eyes just now.Sang Zhiping was secretly startled, thinking: Such vision is probably the true nature of the former Prime Minister of Liangtai. "When I was the governor of Shandong, he was the governor of water transportation in Qingjiangpu. We kept in touch with each other often. He loved painting in his spare time, and he painted very well. Twenty years have passed in a flash, and he is a few years older than me. I'm almost seventy years old, are you in good health?" "Seventy this year. It's very old, and it's natural to have some problems with your body, but it's still tough." Sang Zhiping thought to himself, and just borrowed Zhang Zhiwan's fuss to heat Yan Jingming's long-cooled heart. "In the spring of last year, Wang Zhizhao of Ziqing Production Station came to the capital. I rushed to the city from Gubeikou to meet the old production platform. We haven't seen each other for many years. This time the old production platform and I He spoke a lot from his heart.” "Yes, old friends always have a lot to say when they meet each other. What did they say?" Yan Jingming moved his body a little while talking, with a serene smile on his face, as if an old farmer was leisurely talking about his life and his neighbors.Sang Zhiping also leaned his body over, making an air of casual heart-to-heart talk. "Old Zaitai said that King Chun wanted to ask him to come out of the mountains and do something else. He said that he had returned to the field for six or seven years, and he was very old, so he could do something. King Chun said that the country still relies on old age to steer the helm. Recently, with When the queen mother talked about this incident, the queen mother also felt the same way. She was thinking of using a group of Zhongxing Xunsu promoted by Emperor Wenzong. The old Zhitai told me personally, King Chun said that when the queen mother mentioned Zhongxing Xunsu, she said goodbye. Counting one by one with his fingers, he was counted among them, and Peng Yulin who was recuperating in his hometown in Hengyang. After Peng Yulin, the queen mother counted you. The queen mother said that there was another Yan Jingming who was recuperating in his hometown. , thanks to him running military supplies." In fact, Zhang Zhiwan never said these words at all, it was purely Sang Zhiping's impromptu fabrication.These few fabricated sentences made Yan Jingming's heart burst into flames. "The empress dowager cares so much, and the old minister is very grateful. It's just that he is old and weak, and he has been lazy like a wild crane over the years, so he can't do anything for the empress dowager. Where is Mr. Ziqing? Is he willing to come out of the mountain?" This question came to the point, and Sang Zhiping hurriedly said: "The old boss said, personally, I really don't want to come out to do things anymore. Let's talk about being an official. I have become the governor, and I have lived up to my life's ambitions." , I don’t insult my ancestors. Speaking of doing things, what else can I do at my age? These years, I have been free and comfortable. What’s more, I have been in the officialdom for a long time, and there is too much darkness and filth in it. I'm disappointed. Why bother to get involved again and take the blame and be wronged?" "Mr. Ziqing is a sensible person, what he said is what he said." Yan Jingming couldn't help but interjected. "However, Lao Zhitai also said that from the perspective of the imperial court, since the Queen Mother and King Chun still think highly of me as an old horse, and hope that I will bear a little more weight for the country, I have no reason to refuse. Isn’t it a reward from the imperial court to spend your old age peacefully? Reading the books of sages and sages since childhood, what you have learned is the principle of sharing the worries of the king and serving the country, how can you abandon it when you are old?” Yan Jingming listened silently and subconsciously nodded his head twice. Sang Zhiping continued: "I smiled and said to Lao Zhitai, it is necessary even personally for the Queen Mother and King Chun to invite you to come out of the mountain. It is of course lofty and lofty to be an official and governor, but it has not reached the top. Since ancient times He said that worshiping the prime minister in the court is the best of the ministers, and now he can be the top official, why not do it? The old Zaotai also laughed, and said, why do you say 'excellent'. I said, the old Zaotai You are over seventy years old, and you are retiring from the post of governor. If you don’t pay homage to the prime minister, how can you be willing to come out of the mountain again? This point, the Queen Mother and King Chun will think of it. The old boss said, you are right. Really Let me enter the cabinet to pay homage to the prime minister, of course I will come out of the mountain. Not for the individual, nor for the country, but for the sake of the ancestors, I have to fight my life. My Zhang family in Nanpi really has a prime minister. It is a great thing to honor the virtues of the ancestors and inspire the ambitions of the descendants! After we finished speaking, we all burst out laughing." Yan Jingming couldn't help laughing either.He felt that Sang Zhiping in front of him was a very interesting person, and the strangeness at the first meeting disappeared with his contagious conversation, as if they were old acquaintances. "The ancestral tomb of Zhang's family in Nanpi is very good. There is Zhang Ziqing, the number one governor, and Zhang Xiangtao, the governor of Tanhua. In the future, there will be another prime minister. It will be really amazing! It's worth it if you work hard!" Sang Zhiping heard the implication in Yan Jingming's words, and said with a smile, "Yes, I don't have this fate. If I have this fate, even if I am a hundred years old, I will do it. Being a prime minister for a day is still a prime minister!" "Yes! Yes! What you said is very interesting." Yan Jingming cheerfully asked again, "Zhang Xiangtao has been in Shanxi for more than three months now. What is he busy with?" Sang Zhiping noticed that the color of concern in Yan Jingming's eyes had obviously increased.This sentence is obviously not a general question.He restrained his face and replied: "Zhang Futai has long had great ambitions, but he has been hovering among the academic officers of Hanyuan and cannot spread them out. He has always regretted it. This time, under the grace of the Holy Grace, he was able to be sent to the governor of Shanxi, and his life ambitions can be fulfilled." He is extremely grateful to the Empress Dowager and the Emperor, and is determined to govern Shanxi well, to repay the court's kindness, and to extend his long-suppressed arms." Yan Jingming interjected and said: "Zhang Xiangtao has great ambitions. He took Shanxi as the place where he first tested his sword. I read his Xie Enzhe after he arrived in Shanxi. I still remember two sentences in it. The way is: As a border official, he is stubborn It is the heart of looking forward to the ninefold; the position is limited, and I dare not forget the strategy of managing the eight forms. People who have served as Xinjiang officials have never dared to say such a thing, only Zhang Xiangtao can say it, and I am afraid that it will be passed down as a famous saying in the future gone." After hearing this, Sang Zhiping thought to himself: This old man has been reading the mansion newspaper all the time. It seems that he is not the kind of person who completely quits. It should be possible to come out of the mountain again.But, where did he get his residence report?Sang Zhiping said: "You really know people with great eyes. I am willing to go from the capital to Taiyuan with him because of his kindness. After Zhang Futai came to Shanxi, he made many public and private investigations. At present, the situation of Sanjin is basically I figured it out." "Shanxi is complicated, so it's better to listen to the public opinion." Yan Jingming looked at Sang Zhiping and asked, "There are three fires for a new official. Where are Zhang Xiangtao's three fires going to burn?" "Zhang Futai's first priority is to eradicate poppies. He said that this kind of poisonous plant competes with the people for profit, which is the most hateful." "He has seen the ills of Shanxi." Yan Jingming interjected, "Idiots only focus on immediate benefits, and have no long-term plans. Opium can only provide a temporary boost, and cannot support life. There was a severe drought a few years ago, and although the disaster was severe, it was also It will not reach the point where more than two million people starve to death. One of the main reasons is that there is no food. Farmers don’t farm, and use the money from selling opium to buy food. When there is a drought, there is no food far and near. You have money to go Where to buy it? In many places, families starve to death, but there is a lot of money in the cabinet. This is the end of opium cultivation. If opium is not completely eradicated, there will be no hope of governance in the Three Jin Dynasties." These few words of Yan Jingming are clean and neat, and they hit the real point.Sang Zhiping nodded frequently, thinking in his heart that when he was the prime minister of Liangtai, he must have spoken with this kind of momentum. "Zhang Futai said that the second is to rectify the administration of officials. Shanxi's officialdom has a very bad atmosphere, lazy and irresponsible, and lack of integrity. This is the second. The worst thing is heavy labor, exploitation of the people, corruption and bribery, and profiteering. The entire officialdom is A hotbed of unscrupulous shame and human desires must be reversed." "Alas!" Yan Jingming sighed heavily, Sang Zhiping hurriedly stopped talking, and listened to his next words with staring eyes. "I often tell people that the officialdom in Shanxi will rot sooner or later. It is not cold in a day. This kind of corruption has a long history. Being a governor in Shanxi is not doing the Qing school in the capital. A manifesto issued by a gathering of celebrities can be effective, and it is intricately rooted in it, and it affects the whole body. It is not an easy task to straighten it out." "You are right!" Sang Zhiping said, "Zhang Futai also knows the complexity of this. He said that the lack of power in the officialdom has been the same since ancient times, and it can be said that it is the same in all provinces, but Shanxi is more serious now. Dan Lao , you may not be very clear about Zhang Futai's character. Although he has no power to restrain a chicken, he is very courageous. He is not afraid of offending people or taking risks. He said that the officialdom in Shanxi would not be shaken unless it collapsed. Right now there is a big event, as long as you dare to touch it, and if you hit the bottom, the world will collapse. This matter is to clear the treasury money that has accumulated for thirty years." "Thirty years, how many Shanxi governors and vassals will be involved, isn't Zhang Xiangtao afraid of getting into trouble?" "Not afraid!" Sang Zhiping replied firmly, "Zhang Futai said that not all governors and vassals in the past thirty years have problems, and whoever is involved is whoever is involved. There is no ambiguity." Yan Jingming looked at Sang Zhiping's unquestionable demeanor, and nodded his head twice.He is very aware of the situation in Shanxi, and he has long been aware of the root causes of official corruption in recent years.As an upright and honest former official, Yan Jingming hated the dirty and greedy situation in Shanxi officialdom.Helplessly, the previous governors over the years have not been people who eliminate corruption and refuse bribes: Bao Yuanshen himself has an eye for money, Zeng Guoquan takes credit for selling his old man and not doing things, Wei Rongguang is timid and weak.Now here comes Zhang Zhidong, who is young and vigorous, and newly promoted as governor, so he should have a heroic spirit.However, Zhang Zhidong had been a minister and scholar for many years, and he was ignorant of political affairs. His reputation depended on his articles.Qingliu has always been full of nerds, or has high eyesight but low power, or works behind closed doors, or only sings high-profile but doesn't know how to turn around, most of them are not suitable for doing things.He wanted to test Zhang Zhidong's proficiency, as well as the handling ability of this Mr. Sang, Zhang Zhidong's senior advisor. "From what Mr. Sang said just now, Zhang Xiangtao's courage and determination can indeed be seen. These two fires are burning to the point of death. However, I would like to ask if Zhang Xiangtao has talked with this step." Yan Jingming paused for a while and said, "The people of Jin have abandoned their crops to grow poppies for a long time, and suddenly eradicated them. On the one hand, they will damage their immediate interests, and on the other hand, where will the seeds for replanting crops come from?" Sang Zhiping immediately replied: "Zhang Futai has already considered it. First, show righteousness to the farmers and persuade them to eradicate them by themselves. If they do not listen to repeated advice, then take strong measures and must eradicate them before stopping. This is the hard side. In addition, the prefecture and county will distribute seeds and some farm tools to farmers who switch to crops. The autumn harvest will only be charged half of the tax to make up for losses." "Oh!" Yan Jingming touched his shriveled chin, pondered for a moment and asked again, "Corruption and bribery in the officialdom is of course the reason why officials are greedy for profit. I don't know if Xiang Tao has thought about it. Officials, especially those in prefectures and counties, The salary is low, and many bad rules have been formed over the years. For example, during the Chinese New Year, the subordinates must contribute to the superiors, and there are also gifts of various names to give. These are also the reasons that prompt them to embezzle and accept bribes. , why is the official style upright?" As if interrogating, after Yan Jingming finished speaking in a stern tone, he fixed his eyes on Sang Zhiping. This question was very sharp, and Zhang Zhidong hadn't specifically planned for this big event, and he hadn't discussed it with Sang Zhiping.But Sang Zhiping has also seen the ills of officialdom with his own experience.Not only in the local area, but also in the official circles of the capital, the problem is very serious. The small officials in various ministries and yamen, if they live only on the salaries of the yamen, their lives are actually quite poor.Don't say that you can't shake your prestige in front of the people, even if you ask the little boss of the grocery store.Now when someone asks you to do something, as long as you open your mouth, the money will be in your hands.Such a mouth, why not open it?Many people are willing to send money and gifts to their homes.Why refuse such goods?Even if I want to be clean and honest, my family will not agree!Sang Zhiping often thinks that to eradicate corruption and bribery in official circles, it is not enough to rely on moral restraint and legal warnings.Raising salaries and making petty officials live a better life than ordinary people can play a role in eliminating the greed of most people.In fact, the old adage of "a generous salary nourishes the honesty" has been practiced since ancient times.It's a pity that today's temple scholars have forgotten this ancient teaching.When Sang Zhiping was young, he thought that one day if he had some real power, he must restore the ancient law of "a generous salary to support honesty" in the areas under his jurisdiction.Seeing that there is no hope of holding real power in this life, it is better to persuade Zhang Zhidong to restore it with his hands.This is actually a good compliment to his rectification of Shanxi officials. Thinking of this, Sang Zhiping replied in a very happy tone: "Zhang Futai has also thought about this level, and has set up new rules. On the one hand, the new rules completely prohibit all kinds of courtesies in the officialdom. Take the lead in thrift and refuse to accept gifts of all names. The other side of the new rules is to increase the maintenance fees for officials at all levels as appropriate, so that they can live a decent life with their salaries." "Exempt half of the tax, distribute seeds, increase the maintenance fee, reduce income and increase expenditure. Has Zhang Xiangtao thought about it, Shanxi is a poor province, where does the money come from?" Sang Zhiping replied without hesitation: "Because of this, Zhang Futai wants to clean up the treasury funds. In addition, he also heard that a large amount of disaster relief money was embezzled and embezzled two years ago, and he wants to take this opportunity to recover it. " "The people in charge of the disaster relief are Feudal Secretary Bao Geng and Ji Ning Dao Wang Ding'an. They are both high-ranking officials in Shanxi. If they meet them, there will be big trouble." Yan Jingming half-closed his eyes, and picked up the rough tableware on the table. Clay tea bowl. "Zhang Futai said that no matter whether it is the two divisions or the Taoist government, they will not evade the investigation. Those who should be compensated will be compensated, and those who should participate will participate!" While blowing the tea leaves in the bowl, Yan Jingming said slowly: "Bao Geng is a yellow belt, and there are many people in the court! Wang Ding'an is Zeng Jiushuai's celebrity, and Zeng Jiushuai has the worst temper. .” Sang Zhiping said without hesitation: "Zhang Futai has already made preparations to clean up the situation. As long as Bao Geng and Wang Ding'an really embezzled and embezzled the disaster relief funds from the Rehabilitation Bureau, it doesn't matter how strong their background is. It's a big deal. Just throw away a black hat!" "Okay! Have a strong character!" Yan Jingming stood up quickly, put the thick clay tea bowl on the coffee table heavily, and looked directly at Sang Zhiping. "This is the way to deal with these corrupt officials, and you have to use strong methods. Let me tell you the truth, as long as Baogeng and Wang Ding'an are defeated in Shanxi, the rectification of officials will be considered real. Zhang Xiangtao dares to participate in Baogeng, Wang Ding'an Wang Ding'an is not a nerd. Wen Zhonggong has good eyesight and accepted such a good disciple. Back then, Wen Zhonggong hung a pair of couplets drawn up and written by himself in the signing room of the Wuchang Festival Office, and the officials in Hubei were praised by everyone. We Write it out today and pass it on to Zhang Xiangtao!" Seeing Yan Jingming in such a good mood, Sang Zhiping was very happy: "That's great, thank you on behalf of Zhang Futai!" Yan Jingming walked to the desk and picked up two long strips of ready-made rice paper, while Sang Zhiping was busy grinding ink for him.Yan Jingming was soaked in thick ink, straightened his waist, hung his right arm, and looked at his luck.Then, he wrote two lines in one swoop: Show the Bodhisattva's heart by means of thunderbolt. "Okay!" Sang Zhiping cried out unconsciously. Yan Jingming didn't stop writing, and wrote a line of small characters in the upper right corner of the first couplet: Hu Wenzhong's old couplet, recorded as a gift to Xiang Taoxian.It is also written in the lower left corner of the second couplet: Yan Jingming wrote in Renwu Zhongchun in Jiezhou Academy. Sang Zhiping said: "Mr. Dan, this gift from you is too heavy. Zhang Futai will definitely hang it in the Fusuo's signing room to motivate himself and warn the officials of the various yamen." "You go back and tell Zhang Xiangtao that Mr. Hu Wenzhong is a man of great learning ability, and ask him to study carefully the text left by his master. During the Tongzhi period, Zeng Guoquan and Zheng Dunjin presided over the editing of Mr. Hu Wenzhong's legacy. The Hu family printed three I don’t know if Xiang Tao has this book in his hand. If not, I have a copy here and give it to him.” Sang Zhiping said: "Old Dan's advice, I will definitely tell Zhang Futai. Zhang Futai said that you are an expert in financial management. Shanxi is barren and silver is scarce. How to develop financial resources. He wants you to praise and praise the painting for him." "In Shanxi, it's poor if you say it's poor, and it's rich if you say it's rich. It depends on whether the head of the family has the ability to benefit. I have no reason not to support him. Go back and tell him that when the weather is warmer, I will go to Taiyuan to live for a while and help him. Make plans, make plans." "Then it's settled." Sang Zhiping looked at the minister of Zhongxing who had been extinct from the political arena for many years, and his heart was full of joy.Since he is willing to go to Taiyuan to help Zhang Zhidong, it will be possible to accept the imperial court's conscript under Zhang Zhidong's persuasion.The purpose of this trip to Jiezhou has been achieved. "Dan Lao, in early summer, I made a special trip to Xiezhou Academy to pick you up." "OK! OK!" After talking for a long time, Sang Zhiping saw a happy smile on Yan Jingming's face.