In March, it was returned to Xiayi County, Defu Province.

The snow melted, and after a heavy snowfall last year, the crops in the fields were growing very well.

Heavy snow accumulates in the silt fields along the river beach, melting the snow and melting.

After October last year, the winter wheat planted by the people in these nearly 1,000 acres of fields has already been jointed and is approaching the time of harvest.

Lin Yanchao stood on the embankment and looked from afar, but saw that the Yellow River was tightly confined within the embankment, and between the embankment and the embankment was wheat fields.

Lin Yanchao walked to the edge of the field at the moment, came to the edge of the field and picked up the heavy ears of wheat, and couldn't help nodding.

Huang Yue, who was in charge of the house on the side, said: "Lord Sima, this year's wheat is growing very well, and three stones per mu will be harvested in April. ”

Lin Yanchao nodded and said, "Sanshi, can this silt field really be harvested like this?" ”

The officials on the left and right who accompanied him, as well as the squires, all nodded happily. Xiayi County Zhixian said: "Yes, the land in the north is not as barren as the south of the Yangtze River, and my Henan soil is barren and sandy. ”

"This silt field along the river, the people have cultivated for half a year, enough to eat, and there is another half a year to make a living, we did not starve to death in Guide Mansion last winter, this is all the kindness of Lord Sima!"

All the officials and squires praised together.

Lin Yanchao nodded and said: "The official didn't think much about it at the beginning, but when he saw this scene, he didn't live up to it, just the people who bought the land at the beginning." ”

"Sima Zhi's grace, not to mention this, now the people on both sides of the Yellow River can have a mouthful of tea and rice, this is all the virtue left by Sima!"

Lin Yanchao smiled and said to the left and right: "This is also the credit of the parents, Ben Cheng doesn't dare to enjoy it alone!" ”

Hearing Lin Yanchao say this, the magistrate of Xiayi County hurriedly said: "Sima is too famous, and the lower officials dare not take credit." ”

Lin Yanchao said to the left and right: "The overall planning is in the official, and the governance lies in the locality, if there is no support from the parents, officials and the people, the Yellow River will not turn harm into benefit, and collect nearly 1,000 hectares of silted fields." ”

Lin Yanchao looked around, but saw that the silt field was growing very well, and he was relieved.

I have been busy in Guide for more than a year, just to see this bumper harvest, which is my political achievement, so I live up to my term as an official in Guide.

Lin Yanchao walked all the way along the embankment, but saw a monument erected next to the road.

Lin Yanchao asked the magistrate of Xiayi County, "What does this mean?" ”

The magistrate of Xiayi County did not answer, and all the squires said together: "Sima's work of controlling the water and opening up the fields, blessing the people of Xiayi, our people are grateful for their kindness, and at this moment the monument is recorded as merit. ”

Lin Yanchao was ecstatic in his heart, but his face sank and said, "Whose idea is this?" ”

Everyone didn't know whether Lin Yanchao was happy or angry, and wondered if the horse's fart would be slapped on the horse's leg.

At this time, the squires did not dare to answer, but the magistrate stepped forward and said that he had something to say.

Lin Yanchao walked aside with him at the moment.

The magistrate stepped forward and said: "The lower officials heard that there was a rumor in the officialdom, saying that Sima was about to be transferred, and if Sima left office, the achievements of repairing the embankment would be left to the next office." ”

"Therefore, the lower officials consulted with the people, erected a monument and engraved merits, so that the court and the people of later generations would know that this embankment was the credit of Sima."

Lin Yanchao was stunned when he heard this, and thought to himself that I thought that the common people really carved a monument to praise virtue, but it turned out that you kid rushed to pat himself on the back.

Lin Yanchao said: "The official just thought that the hundred-mile embankment along the river has not yet been built, so he said that there are still three miles of construction in Xiayi County." Before the embankment is completed, you are in a hurry to engrave the monument, if this word spreads, let Ben Cheng become the laughing stock of officialdom, not to mention, you will also offend the next main hall of the mansion. ”

The magistrate was anxious at the moment and said: "But it is Sima Gong's work that the Guide Mansion can have today, if the successor is allowed to be greedy, then the lower officials and the people will not be convinced." ”

Lin Yanchao was silent for a while when he heard this, and then said: "I know that you have good intentions, but now the Holy Tomorrow is in the hall, and Shoufu is also a person who has become a man who seeks the country, if this official really makes political achievements, even if he does not engrave a stone stele, they will see it." ”

"It's you who did it deliberately, but let others think that the official has shown his merits. In this way, the official performance has ten points, and it is also regarded by others as only seven points. This monument is not allowed to be erected again, as for the name of this embankment, it should not be called Lin Gong Embankment, and it will be left to the next government when it is completed! ”

"So you're also sending him a favor, understand?"

After speaking, the magistrate of Xiayi County moved his lips when he heard this, and then lowered his head and said, "Back to Sima, the lower official understands." ”

Lin Yanchao nodded, and then said: "It's April soon, and the Yellow River flood is coming, and you, as a parent official, need to organize the people to harvest wheat immediately." ”

"After harvesting the wheat, you can raise river men from the people who cultivate the silt fields to patrol the embankment, and the service money will be paid from the River Engineering Department, who will do their best to protect the embankment if they have land in the embankment. In addition, the people are greedy for profit, and they can't help but have a fluke heart, but you can't do that, as soon as April passes, no one is allowed to live in this remote embankment, but can only live on the embankment. If the flood of May comes, and drowns any of the people, no matter where you are, you will be the only one who asks. ”

"Xia Guan remembered." I don't know when Zhixian's throat was a little hoarse.

But after seeing Lin Yanchao pat him on the shoulder, he continued to inspect the embankment.

After Lin Yanchao inspected Xiayi County that day, he returned to the government office the next day.

After arriving at the mansion, he saw that the grain capture in the main hall was sentenced to Ma Tong, Shang Yu was sentenced to Wu Tong, and Suizhou

Zhizhou Ma Guang and the three of them were chatting in the hall.

When the three of them saw Lin Yanchao arrive, they all got up and saluted.

Lin Yanchao saw the three of them and smiled: "Why are you so happy to talk about it?" ”

Wu Tongju stood up and said with a smile: "Sima, a good thing, a great good thing." ”

"How?"

Wu Tongju exchanged glances with Ma Guang and said, "Has Lord Sima heard about it?" This time, Grandpa Chen, who was sent by the emperor, was really as good as Grandpa Huaien. ”

"What's a good way?"

Wu Tong sentenced: "Since Gonggong Chen arrived in Kaifeng last month, the first thing he did was to dispose of Ma Yuyu's party, and those who had hundreds of people on hand asked the court to ask for beheading, and those who extorted the people were sentenced to exile for 3,000 li, and the people praised Gonggong Chen's merits when they heard it!" ”

Lin Yanchao nodded, this is really in line with Chen Ju's style of doing things, killing people first to gain prestige and win popularity.

"After that, he ordered to exempt Henan from building a feudal mansion, and let King Lu establish a feudal domain in Huguang, which saved 680,000 taels for the province."

"In addition, it was ordered to return the salt administration of Guide and Kaifeng Erfu to this government, and Luwangfu only used Weihui and Huaiqing Erfu to lead the salt."

Hearing this, Lin Yanchao couldn't help frowning, but then he was relieved, it was already very good to be able to do this, although this time Ma Yu's matter made the Son of Heaven very dissatisfied with King Lu.

But as long as King Lu is the younger brother of the Son of Heaven for one day, and the Queen Mother is still the mother of the Son of Heaven for one day, then the Son of Heaven cannot be too ruthless.

His purpose is to beat other clans through King Lu, as long as King Lu, the source of the vassals, can be contained, so that in the future, the resistance of the imperial court to reduce the clan will be much smaller.

At this time, Ma Guang said with a smile: "The following is how to use the silver taels that are saved, Gonggong Chen proposed to use the silver taels collected before to build the mansion, so that they can be taken from the people and used by the people, and then someone proposed that this use should be used to dredge the Jialu River." ”

Wu Tong said: "This Jialu River runs through Xuzhou to Kaifeng, most of it flows through the province, Kaifeng, if the Jialu River can be dredged, not only the grain ships in the south of the Yangtze River can reach Kaifeng, but the government can also use the grain ships to get a lot of benefits." ”

Lin Yanchao knew that Chen Ju really did things with 'books', and really promoted the dredging of the Jialu River.

Lin Yanchao asked, "What about the discussion in the province?" ”

Wu Tong judged: "I don't know what the attitude of officials in other provinces is, some officials went to ask Fu Fantai what he meant, but Fu Fantai said that he had just been promoted to political envoy, and it was not good to make decisions on his own, so he had not yet come up with a result." ”

Ma Guang couldn't help but say: "Fu Fantai is too cautious, he has also served as the prefect of his own mansion, why don't he come forward to fight over the matter of dredging the Jialu River?" ”

Lin Yanchao said as soon as he spoke: "You are wrong to blame Fu Fantai, the new official is definitely not good at expressing his opinion." ”

So he didn't say anything about this matter, but he said that it meant to dredge the Jialu River, so he was sure that other officials in the province would also sell him and Gonggong Chen's face. Therefore, this matter must be fine, the province will discuss it, and then the court will just go through the motions. ”

Ma Guang was refuted by Lin Yanchao, not angry but happy, and Wu Tongju was even more overjoyed.

Wu Tong judged: "That's good, dredging the Jialu River is a big work, not to mention benefiting the people, it is also a great achievement for our officials, if it is done well, we can be promoted to a higher level with this official, and the lower officials are here to congratulate Sima first." ”

Hearing Wu Tongju say this, Lin Yanchao smiled slightly, but did not speak.

There is no impermeable wall in the officialdom, and everyone present knows that Fu Zhiyuan has been promoted, and Lin Yanchao is about to be transferred.

So as soon as the news came out, Wu Tongju immediately took action.

He immediately worked hard to move around the province through his various connections and sought the qualifications of the next prefect.

Among the officials of Guide Mansion, Ma Tongju, who was caught in grain, had just been promoted from a promotion official by Lin Yanchao, and it was impossible for him to be promoted again before a year.

Although He Tongju was born as a Jinshi, he had offended the senior officials of the court before, and it is estimated that he would sit on a cold bench in Guide Mansion.

Only he, Wu Tong, has been an official in Guide Mansion for several years, although it is useless, but there is nothing wrong with it, after so long of qualifications, if he can be successfully promoted to the prefect this time.

Then, with the achievements of repairing the embankment and dredging the Jialu River, he will be promoted to another level in the future, and finally become a member of the domain, which is almost a officialdom myth for him as an official from a prominent background.

Even if he can't be promoted, but such a big project as dredging the Jialu River, as well as the surplus of tens of thousands of taels of silver in the River Engineering Department last year, then Wu Tongju can live a very prosperous life in the future.

As for Ma Guang, he also seemed to have heard the news, and he also had a little stammering with Wu Tong's judgment.

Of course, Wu Tong was also very respectful to Lin Yanchao on his face, but he couldn't hide the impatience and excitement in his heart, as well as the mood of looking forward to Lin Yanchao's early transfer.

Lin Yanchao saw it in his eyes and didn't say anything, and soon Wu Tongju and Ma Guang said goodbye.

Ma Tong, who was left, stopped talking, and Lin Yanchao said: "What do you have to say!" ”

Ma Tong judged: "It's about Wu Tong's sentence!" ”

Lin Yanchao asked, "What do you say?" ”

Ma Tong said: "As soon as the news of Sima's departure came out, Wu Tong tried to travel to the province. ”

Lin Yanchao nodded and said, "I know about this." ”

This matter is still relatively taboo for Lin Yanchao, as the official of Ma Tongju, before he left office, the people below began to move to take his place.

Although this was understandable, he was still a little uncomfortable.

Lin Yanchao said again: "However, although the province can suggest the promotion of the prefect, the real power of appointment lies in the ministry. Wu Tong was sentenced not to go to the ministry, but to work hard in the province...... It's a bit useless. ”

Ma Tong judged: "Wu Tong's background is not enough, of course, he can't find a backer in the ministry. Of course, if he could pass Sima and ask for a recommendation from the Ministry of Officials, it would be fine, but he didn't go like this. ”

When Lin Yanchao heard this, of course he knew what Wu Tongju's plan was, and if he didn't pass Lin Yanchao's recommendation, he would be able to take all of it in the future in terms of his achievements in repairing embankments and controlling rivers, and seek political achievements for himself after he was promoted to the prefect.

Ma Tongju lowered his voice and said: "Wu Tongju has already contacted the squires of the officials of this government in Beijing, and made various promises, promising that after he became the prefect, he would give benefits to these squires. ”

"What's the benefit?"

"In the silt fields, the river affairs, and the materials for the repair of the river, a few days ago he went to the squire's banquet, and after the banquet he was drunk and let out a speech. He has been sentenced for many years, and he has no credit for the government and has worked hard. This mansion was able to be safe last year, and he was also working hard for Sima Saddle before and after the horse, if he couldn't be the prefect this time, then he would ask the court for a tribute. ”

In addition, he said that if he became the prefect one day, what would he do...... This is true not only for the squire, but also for the officials and officials in the government. ”

Lin Yanchao couldn't help but shake his head, this Wu Tong's sentence is too presumptuous, this is not the prefect, and he can't wait to start exercising the power of the prefect.

He added...... He also said that in the past, when he paid the feudal platform and Sima Zhifu, there were too many political affairs, and the monthly and quarterly classes for officials were too harsh, if he was the prefect, he should simplify his administration and loosen the assessment......"

Lin Yanchao couldn't help but snort coldly when he heard this.

Ma Tong judged: "Of course, Wu Tong judged that he was not a bad person, he used to be an official in the mansion, whether he served Sima or Fu Fantai, he was still respectful." It's just that under the temptation of power, my heart is not quiet, and before I am complacent, I have forgotten my form. ”

Lin Yanchao knew what he said when he heard this.

That night, Lin Yanchao was in the signing room to handle official business, when he heard Chen Jichuan enter the house and say, "Master, Wu Tongju is here and asks to see him outside." ”

When Lin Yanchao heard Wu Tong's three words, he frowned and said, "If you don't see it, tell him that I'm asleep." ”

So Chen Jichuan went out to see Wu Tongju and told him that Lin Yanchao had already rested.

Wu Tongju saw that the lights in the signing room were still on, of course he knew that Lin Yanchao hadn't slept yet, so he was closed.

Only then did Wu Tong know that he had offended Lin Yanchao, and he couldn't help but panic and couldn't help himself.

So he wandered all night outside Lin Yanchao's house, braving the cold wind!