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The things that Zhao Junchen asked Xiao Wenxuan to prepare were very simple, just locks and keys!

Among them, there are 37 locks, which is not much, but the number of keys is very large, and it is necessary to prepare as many as 3,700!

In other words, each lock should be equipped with a hundred keys, and there is no limit to the style, size, and type of keys, but only one of them is correct and can match the lock!

In addition, all keys have to be specially treated to make them slightly deformed, and although it does not affect the unlocking, even the key that matches the lock head is not easy to insert into the lock hole.

*

After hearing Zhao Junchen's instructions, Xiao Wenxuan's expression was very complicated, both a little puzzled and a little embarrassed.

First, Xiao Wenxuan didn't understand what the use of these things was; Second, the number of keys is too much, and it is very troublesome to prepare.

Seeing Xiao Wenxuan's expression, Zhao Junchen asked, "What?" Difficult? ”

Xiao Wenxuan gritted his teeth and replied: "There is no difficulty, although the number of keys is a bit large, but the subordinates can prepare properly!" ”

After a pause, Xiao Wenxuan couldn't help but ask: "It's just that my subordinates don't understand, what is the use of you preparing so many locks and keys, my lord?" Do you want to use them to evaluate the talents of those masters? ”

Zhao Junchen nodded and said, "That's right, as for the specific method, you'll know it tomorrow." ”

Seeing that Zhao Junchen didn't plan to explain, Xiao Wenxuan didn't ask, but just said goodbye to Zhao Junchen and left, and went to prepare.

Predictably. Tonight, all the lock shops near Yangzhou will receive a big deal!

……

Nothing was said all night. In the blink of an eye, it was the early morning of the next day.

After resting for a night, Zhao Junchen was finally much more energetic.

The other side. Su Xiqing also led the thirty-seven masters he invited to the ancestral house of the Zhao family to meet Zhao Junchen.

Because of the large number of people, the place where the two sides met was the vestibule of the Zhao family's ancestral house.

After the meeting, Su Xiqing introduced to Zhao Junchen in detail the identities, resumes, specialties, etc. of the thirty-seven masters, listening to Su Xiqing's introduction, Zhao Junchen also nodded secretly, and found that these masters really all have their own strengths, some are proficient in accounting, some are good at pen and ink, some are familiar with criminal law, and some are good at government affairs. There is even a master named Niu Fude, who is familiar with military books and military strategy, and has worked under the governor of Liaodong for many years......

In addition, the reason why these masters are very famous is also because of their rich resumes! After they became masters, they first started by assisting the grass-roots officials of the imperial court such as Zhixian, and then began to assist the middle-level officials of the imperial court such as Zhizhou and the prefect after they became famous, and after their fame grew, most of them assisted the high-ranking officials of the imperial court such as the political envoy and the envoy of the inspection, and there were even six or seven masters who had run errands under some governors. It can be said that these masters have a very broad vision, from An Min's case to temple games, they all have their own methods.

After meeting Zhao Junchen, these masters also looked calm and retreated. And they can properly show their talents, neither too much arrogance, nor too much humility, and are obviously doers.

The only thing that made Zhao Junchen slightly dissatisfied was that these masters were a little old. Except for a few people, most of them were already in their forties and fifties. Although people of this age are experienced, well-organized, and knowledgeable, they will also have the shortcomings of lack of energy, lack of courage, and conformism. It can be said that there are advantages and disadvantages.

All kinds of thoughts kept changing in Zhao Junchen's heart, but Zhao Junchen didn't show it, but after a few polite words with these masters, he proposed to assess their abilities.

"This official has been in charge of the world's money and grain for the imperial court over the years, and has participated in various policies of the central court of the imperial court, although he can barely cope with it, but he often feels that he is not energetic and overwhelmed, so he wants to set up a staff team to assist him, so it can be easier, so he entrusted Su Xiqing Su Master Su to recruit a few talented and experienced masters on my behalf...... Originally, the official only wanted to recruit more than ten or twenty people, but he didn't expect Master Su to work hard, and he actually recruited thirty-seven people in one go, which was twice as many as expected, and they were all the best in the master's industry, but it made the official a little embarrassed......"

Hearing Zhao Junchen say this, the expressions of the thirty-seven masters all changed slightly.

Could it be that Zhao Junchen finally invited them here, but he had to drive away half of them?

Seeing the change in the expressions of all the masters, Zhao Junchen smiled slightly, and said: "Of course, you are all great talents, and you are willing to take refuge in this official, and this official will only feel honored, but it will never be too much!" It's just that there are only so many things that the official needs to deal with on weekdays, although it is not a few, but it is also light and heavy, some things will be related to the overall situation of the imperial court, and some things are just trivial matters. Who should handle the less important things? Even, in the future, when doing things, who should be the main person and who should be the auxiliary? The distribution of these things is as much related to your faithfulness as it is to your abilities...... Of course, those who are both faithful and capable will be valued and will be paid more on weekdays. ”

After a pause, Zhao Junchen continued: "The issue of loyalty, we can slowly observe and cultivate it in the future, but how high your talents are and what kind of tasks should be assigned in the future, this official wants to take advantage of today's opportunity to investigate. ”

After hearing Zhao Junchen's statement, there was a slight commotion among the masters.

However, although they are all the best in the master's business, the status of the master is not high after all, and they do not have so much arrogance, and the staff members were inspected by the master at the beginning of entering the palace, which is also the proper meaning of the question, and they can also take advantage of this opportunity to show their talents and abilities in front of Zhao Junchen.

So, after a little commotion. The masters quickly calmed down, but they all looked at Zhao Junchen. Waiting for Zhao Junchen's assessment content.

Under the attention of all the masters, Zhao Junchen waved his hand.

And then. The people of the Zhao family, who had been preparing for a long time, began to get busy.

I saw that the Zhao family moved thirty-seven sets of tables and chairs one after another, lined up in four columns and nine rows in the direction of Zhao Junchen, between the tables and the tables, each with a curtain covering, on these tables, there are also a large number of keys densely placed, and on the top of the key pile, there is a seemingly ordinary lock.

Then. Someone brought another incense burner and placed it at Zhao Junchen's feet, and there was a six-inch long incense stick inserted in the incense burner.

After all the arrangements were over, Zhao Junchen said to the masters: "The content of my assessment is very simple, that is, to open the lock. Please also find a place on the table, there is a lock on the table, and a hundred keys, among these hundred keys, only one key can open the lock, so please find the right key to open the lock in the shortest possible time. If it can be completed within half a stick of incense, the assessment results will be considered excellent, and you can assist me in handling the affairs of the court in the future, and the salary will be as high as more than 100 taels of silver. If I can complete it within one stick of incense, my assessment score will be considered a passing grade, and I can help me deal with some personal affairs in the future. The salary will be seventy taels or more after the end of the time of one stick of incense. If I can't find the right key, then I'll have to put him in charge of the trivial things. The salary was only fifty taels of silver. ”

Hearing the difference in treatment, the masters felt impatient, but also a little disappreciative in their hearts.

Not to mention how to find a key to unlock this kind of thing can reflect their talents and abilities, and Zhao Junchen gave them too much time, a stick of incense is enough time for them to try each key, as long as there is no accident, everyone's results can reach excellent, and I don't know what the significance of Zhao Junchen's assessment is.

However, when Zhao Junchen announced "light incense and start", they quickly found a place, picked up the lock and key, and began to try one by one.

At the very beginning, all the masters behaved very calmly, but how could Zhao Junchen's assessment be so simple?

After all the masters found their positions, Zhao Junchen suddenly nodded to Xu Qingyan behind him.

Then, I saw a wicked smile suddenly flashing on Xu Qingyan's face, and when he came to the incense burner, he suddenly reached out and pulled out the fine incense in the incense burner, and then broke the six-inch long fine incense by about two inches, and then inserted the remaining four inches of fine incense into the incense burner!

After doing this, Xu Qingyan raised his voice and said: "Please pay attention to the masters, the incense has already burned for a third of the time, and it will reach half in a short time, please speed up your actions!" ”

Hearing Xu Qingyan's announcement, the hearts of the thirty-seven masters were all scolded-that incense was obviously broken by you, right? We have all seen it with our own eyes, how could it burn out on its own? You are still shamelessly reversing right and wrong and talking nonsense, which is really shameless!

However, seeing that the originally abundant time has suddenly decreased a lot, and the assessment content that was originally thought to be easy has suddenly become much more difficult, thinking of the various differences in treatment, many masters were still very calm and anxious.

However, Xu Qingyan's action is not over.

I saw Xu Qingyan suddenly squatting next to the incense burner again, and he took out a fan out of nowhere, humming a small song while fanning the incense burner, and under the action of the wind, the speed of burning the fine incense suddenly doubled!

Seeing that Xu Qingyan was doing bad again, the hearts of the masters were even more secretly scolding, but they also knew that Xu Qingyan's actions should have been instructed by Zhao Junchen, and Zhao Junchen did this to deliberately embarrass them, so they didn't dare to raise any objections, but quietly accelerated the movements in their hands, and their mood became more and more urgent.

At this time, Zhao Junchen stood next to the incense burner, quietly watching the expressions and movements of the masters, and suddenly turned his head to Xiao Wenxuan and said: "Whether a person can succeed and how much he can accomplish is not his talent, but his heart and character!" And what a person's heart and character are will only be truly expressed when he is in a hurry and in chaos...... Wen Xuan, didn't you ask me yesterday why I had to test them with the key and the lock? I still won't say the answer, it's up to you to see! ”

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…… (To be continued......)