Chapter 17 Section 1 "Sea Pen Holder"

At the age of forty-five, Hai Rui, a county school teacher with gray temples, was promoted to the county magistrate of Chun'an, Zhejiang.It took him nearly half a century to reach the seventh rank. For many people in the officialdom, his official career was considered difficult, but for Hai Rui, it was an extraordinary promotion. Hai Rui was born as a junior candidate, won the examination at the age of thirty-seven, and was assigned to teach in Fujian at the age of forty-one, equivalent to the director of the county education committee.Being able to be promoted to county magistrate within four years has already made many people envious.

The reason for the exceptional promotion was the reputation of "Xiao Jie".As now, alternative moves often attract people's attention, and the concentration of eyeballs often brings unexpected benefits.Since the reputation of "Mr. Pen Holder" spread, officials all over the province knew about this little official with a slightly weird temper. It was Hai Rui's second year as an instructor. His direct leader, the inspector from Yanping Prefecture, went to Nanping to inspect the work, and received the academic officer at the Nanping County Academic Office.The two assistants entered the hall led by Hai Rui. When they saw the inspector, they hurried forward, one from the left and the other from the right, and kowtowed to see him.Hai Rui was sandwiched between the two, standing instead of kneeling, just cupping his hands.Shixue was surprised at first, then ashamed and angry, sneered, and said to the followers on both sides: "Hey, look at these three people, they are actually a pen holder!"

Kneeling twice and standing between each other, it's not like a mountain-shaped pen holder.Shi Xue felt that Hai Rui was belittling him on purpose, so he walked away.Hai Rui thinks that the inspection lacks righteousness and does not strictly abide by the imperial regulations. When the country was founded, the empire stipulated that school officials should meet their superiors at school and worship instead of kneeling, so as to reflect the dignity of teachers.A hundred years later, the morality of the scholars has deteriorated day by day. In order to please their superiors, the academic officials will do everything they can.Therefore, this stop of Hai Rui was astonishing.All of a sudden, the reputation of "Haibijia" spread in the officialdom.

The reputation of "Mr. Penholder" is getting bigger and bigger.Taoist priests, Xue Xian, and the court came to inspect the scene one after another. Hai Rui bowed but did not kneel. People thought of the imperial regulations, but they had nothing to say.The self-cultivation of these high-ranking officials is of course beyond comparison.Not only did they not get angry with Hai Rui, but they praised Hai Rui for abiding by the etiquette, which is a model.In today's society, it is common for laws not to be followed and rules not to be followed. Once the rules of the empire are obeyed, it will be reversed. What's wrong with this!After sighing, many people had a good impression of Hai Rui.

The "alternative" behavior won him the attention of provincial officials, and since he became an academic officer, he has worked hard and made one of the most miserable and tasteless instructors impressive, and various achievements have entered the field of vision of the senior officials.County school education has become a decoration in many places, most of the school officials are perfunctory, and it is common for students to impersonate and play truant.After Hai Rui took office, he watched the school every day, drew up sixteen teaching regulations, screened out the age and status of students, paid attention to ideological and political education, strictly enforced school discipline, and improved the quality of teaching.The students all called Hai Rui the "King of Hell", and the discipline has indeed improved a lot.The appearance of such a "model official" under his subordinates is a matter of honor to every big official in the borderlands, so "the inspector supervises and inspects and recommends him", and Hai Rui got this unexpected promotion.

Facts have proved that although the bureaucratic system has been corrupted after the middle of the Ming Dynasty, the bureaucratic group still hopes and needs "clean officials".Although everyone has benefited from corruption, if this society eventually collapses due to corruption, wouldn't everyone lose their wealth and lives? Moreover, working hard, earning a "straight voice" and accumulating a certain amount of reputation capital is also a way of starting an official career.With the increase of experience, people believe that such people will eventually integrate into the official order, and may be more "understanding" than others.Hai Rui's boss undoubtedly hoped that Hai Rui would mature and achieve greater achievements in his career, so that he could repay his promotion as soon as possible.

No one expected that "Mr. Hai Bijia" would carry out this "alternative spirit" throughout his official career.