Chapter 12 Meeting the “Buyer”
"Speak clearly!" Zhao Duan was shocked, and a little sleepiness dissipated.
"Yes," Zhu Kui said:
"Yesterday, according to your order, my subordinates sent people to follow Wang Xian and ask for reports on any unusual movements.
As a result, this person went straight back home after leaving Dingfeng Tower. During this period, he did not go out and no one came to the door.
It wasn't until dawn that a servant quietly went out and went straight to the house of the head of the Literary and Selection Department of the Ministry of Personnel, suspected of delivering a message, and then returned. "
Department of Selected Works of the Ministry of Personnel? Zhao Duan was startled and asked:
"Which one is in charge?"
Each of the six yamen has several "divisions" under its jurisdiction. Each division has one doctor, one yuanwailang, and two principals.
He is in charge of the sixth rank and manages various "departments" below him. Although his rank may not sound high, it is because the Literary and Selection Department is in charge of the transfer, appointment and removal of local officials below the fourth rank, which is related to the future.
Therefore, even in Beijing, he is still considered an official with real power.
Li Shizhen (not Li Shizhen), the father of Li Shutong, the lyricist of the famous song "Farewell", once served as the head of the Ministry of Civil Affairs.
"Feng Ju, Chief Feng," Zhu Kui had obviously done some background work before he arrived. Seeing Zhao Duan frowning, he reminded him in a low voice: "He is also a Jiangnan scholar. He was born in the same Jinshi family in the 38th year of Longjing's reign. ”
Thirty-eight years of Longjing?
Zhao Duan felt that the numbers sounded familiar.
Thinking about it carefully, he suddenly remembered that the "criminal officer" who was being bribed by Ning'an County to rescue him and was currently being held in the Ministry of Punishment was also a Jinshi in the 38th year of Longjing.
As the two are "of the same age", they are most likely members of the same official "small circle".
Maybe it was out of friendship, maybe there were interests involved, he belonged to the community and had to be rescued... It didn't matter. The important thing was that Zhao Duan finally locked the "buyer".
"Well done," Zhao Duan praised, "I will give you credit."
Zhu Kui laughed and asked for instructions:
"What are you going to do, sir?"
The old official had already thought about it and realized that his envoy might be causing trouble.
Zhao Duan did not answer. He looked out the window at the pale sun rising in the morning fog and the dark clouds gathering faintly in the sky, and remained silent.
…
…
Noon.
Outside the gate of the Literary and Selection Department of the Ministry of Civil Affairs in the capital, a simple-looking carriage slowly drove out and returned to the mansion.
Feng Ju is in his forties this year. He has a lean appearance and a typical literati temperament.
With his background, it was extremely difficult to climb to this position at this age in the officialdom of the Yu Dynasty.
Of course, the support from fellow villagers and classmates is indispensable.
In the small circles of official circles, Jinshi who took the imperial examination in the same year would form small groups with each other, and they were born in the same place, and there were also "township associations".
Members must support and recommend each other. The model is similar to the Indian executives recommended by each other in Zhao Duan's previous life in the American imperial companies.
There are gains and losses. Feng Ju has benefited from being in a small circle. When members are in trouble, he must take risks to rescue them.
Consider a recent incident:
A local bureaucrat in the circle was caught by the patrol censor and found out about corruption. He was arrested and brought to Beijing and detained in the Ministry of Punishment for investigation.
Feng Ju faced his colleagues asking for help and tried to make a move. He traveled to Ning'an County and bribed the rumored saint's "male favorite" Zhao Duan.
As a result, the other party made no move, so Feng Ju was anxious and urged Wang Xian to ask.
The good news is:
Wang Xian's servant came to deliver the message this morning, and Zhao Duan has promised to help in the next few days.
The bad news is:
I went to the Yamen this morning and learned that Zhao Duan failed to capture the rebels and was facing impeachment jointly by the Yamen and the Metropolitan Procuratorate. He was in danger.
"well."
In the carriage, Feng Ju felt a headache and felt uneasy.
Although Wang Xianyan was confident that Zhao Duan would not fall, he wanted to rest assured.
But things in the officialdom are unpredictable, who can say for sure?
After gathering his thoughts, he decided not to think too much for the time being, and it would be better to go home for dinner first - Feng's house was not far from the Yamen, and he was used to going home for lunch at noon.
However, halfway through the journey, the carriage stopped suddenly. Feng Ju asked through the curtain: "What happened?" The coachman said:
"Someone is blocking the road... Oh, who are you? Did you know that the person in the car is..."
"Master Feng," a sinister voice sounded.
Immediately, Feng Ju was shocked to see the car curtain opened and several men standing outside. Zhu Kui, the leader, smiled and said: "My lord invites the master to have a chat by the lake. I wonder if you would like to be honored?"
…
…
When Feng Ju, forced by his lust, arrived at the north bank of the Hun River that runs east-west across the capital, and stepped out of the carriage, there was faint raindrops in the sky.
Overcast clouds piled up, and willows were planted all over the long river embankment.
On the gray muddy river, a awning boat floated, and a small boat was parked on the shore.
"Master Feng, please."
Zhu Kui stared at him and made a "please get on board" gesture.
Feng Ju felt uneasy in his heart, but he wanted to be a scholar, and he did not believe that there would be danger at the emperor's feet. He told the coachman to wait, and he boarded the ship happily.
Zhu Kui personally operated the boat. After a while, the two boats docked. The old official left Feng Ju behind and drove the boat back to the shore.
In this way, the conversation on the ship will not be known to a third person.
"My servant is rude. I invite you rashly and may be rude. Master Feng, please come in and sit down." A voice came.
Only then did Feng Ju realize that there was a man in rich clothes sitting cross-legged in the awning, with an unusually handsome appearance.
There is a small table in front of him, and he is holding a small fan to make tea. Scarlet flames are licking under the small red clay stove, steam is rising, and cakes are placed around it.
In the misty and rainy season, there is a awning on the lake and tea is cooked around the stove...
Feng Ju's scholarly DNA moved, and he was shocked by this elegant and bourgeois scene.
In a daze, I couldn't tell whether I was "kidnapped" or invited to a private gathering of literati.
"May I ask who this young master is..."
Feng Ju couldn't figure out the other party's approach and asked cautiously.
There were countless officials and dignitaries in the capital, and Zhao Duan had only risen to prominence for a year, so Feng Ju had never seen him.
"Master Feng doesn't recognize me?" Zhao Duan pretended to be surprised and said with a smile: "Then why do you want Wang Xianqiu to come to my door again?"
Feng Ju was stunned for a moment, and said in astonishment: "You are the capital of Zhao... the envoy of Zhao?!"
He was confused and didn't understand why the other party found him. He also knew that he was the person behind Wang Xian... This was against the rules!
Feng Ju suddenly felt angry, thinking that Wang Xian had not followed the rules and, as a middleman, actually informed the other party of his identity.
Then, it turned to vigilance and doubt, unable to figure out the other party's intention.
Zhao Duan caught his expression in his eyes and nodded gently:
"It's me. Although it's raining lightly outside, it's easy to get windy and cold. Come in and sit down."
Feng Ju was surprised and uncertain, stepped into the awning, and sat down cross-legged opposite him.
At the same time, he looked carefully and felt quite surprised.
According to the rumors he heard, Zhao Duan, the "Emperor's Face", was a frivolous villain who gained power in one fell swoop.
He is arrogant and domineering to his subordinates, and flattering to his superiors. He was born as a soldier in the imperial army. Although he has a good skin, his temperament is foul and smelly, and scholars are ashamed to associate with him.
But seeing it with my own eyes was very different.
The man in front of him was not only handsome and handsome, but also had a calm and restrained temperament. He was not vulgar as a soldier, but had a faint bookish air.
He has a calm demeanor and a vague demeanor that has been immersed in officialdom for many years.
If Zhao Duan knew what he was thinking, he would probably roll his eyes and say nonsense.
After all, I started out as a question writer in a small town, took exam-oriented education to get admitted to a prestigious university, and stayed with the big leaders for several years within the system.
With the influence of his ears and eyes, coupled with his knowledge far beyond the current era, he is really worthy of being the head of the official department.
"I wonder why Ambassador Zhao invited me here?"
Feng Ju cautiously opened his mouth.
(End of chapter)