Chapter 290 Pillars and Pillars
Zhao Yulin said that they had just arrived, so they should first choose a house to settle down in and send three months' salary to all the candidates at all levels. Then he should ask the aides to send all the documents and newspapers of Sichuan in the past year to the mansion so that he could familiarize himself with the situation. Then they could discuss it together after General Cao came back.
Everyone thought his arrangement was very good.
First, we solved the problem of food and accommodation for these people, and then let them familiarize themselves with the situation in Sichuan and Shu before settling them down. This is a targeted approach.
He asked Zhao Feiyan to contact these old ministers more often and listen to their suggestions and ideas to facilitate future position arrangements.
Lord Ding thought this was a perfect approach and praised Zhao Yulin for his thoughtful consideration.
Qiao Xingjian and his companions were delighted. The four of them left the government office and took two carriages to the posthouse. Fan Zhong and You Shi took one carriage. Looking at the bustling streets around them, they could not help but sigh, "Chengdu is so big. When Commander Zhao first petitioned the government to move the capital to Shu, Prime Minister Shi firmly disagreed. Now it seems that it was a complete mistake."
You Shi said that when he arrived in Xuzhou, he felt that the Song Dynasty was a different world. After he went to Jiading and Chengdu, he sighed that the government was picking up sesame seeds and losing big watermelons. He ended up being a prisoner on the street. It was really not worth it.
Fan Zhong said that he had heard the news yesterday that Chengdu would clear out the entire Jinguan City to build an imperial city, called the New Song Central Government Council. How much money would that cost? It would be another big deal.
As soon as they sat down at the inn, Zhao Feiyan arrived. They stood up and saluted the little princess. Zhao Feiyan asked about their lives with a smile personally registered the families of each family, asking for their opinions on the size of the houses.
Qiao Xingjian and others were so excited that they burst into tears when they saw how well Sichuan and Shu had arranged things.
Later, the little princess told them that the Transportation Department would compensate them with three-month salary based on the corresponding official positions, and immediately, aides brought boxes of silver and money to each family.
When Youshi opened the box, he saw that it was full of brand new silver coins. He was so surprised that his mouth couldn't close. Everyone held back their tears and was stunned.
Zhao Feiyan said with a smile, "Commander Zhao, please take a good rest, and we will discuss state affairs together after General Cao returns."
These people escorted Zhao Feiyan out of the door with all their might. There were already four brand new carriages parked at the entrance of the post house. When Zhao Feiyan told them that these were daily carriages sent by the Administration Office for the four adults, these people didn't know how to answer the little princess.
It was not until they saw Zhao Feiyan get into the carriage and leave that they hurriedly shouted "Thank you, Princess, Brother Yulin, and the Third Young Master."
Du Fan was so happy that he fainted. You Shi supported him and pinched his nose to save him. After he woke up, Qiao Xingjian said with a smile, "Look how happy Mr. Du is. The good days have just begun. We must do a good job and live up to the hospitable people of Western Shu."
Youshi was so happy looking at the brand new carriage that he couldn't stop smiling.
You have to know that at that time, the Song Dynasty was surrounded by enemies, and they regarded horses as strategic and scarce materials and prohibited the sale to the Song people.
The imperial court had to supply the army with domestic horses, so horses were rarely seen in the Lin'an court. Officials usually traveled in ox carts or sedan chairs. Young men in fancy clothes and riding horses were rare.
He said cheerfully that since we came to Western Shu, we will take root there and won’t leave. We are also Western Shu people. Is there anyone who wants to go back?
Everyone burst into laughter.
Zhao Yulin was busy in the government office for a long time and came back. Ma Ling'er and Yang Jin were chatting in the study. Seeing him come back, Yang Jin immediately pulled him over to sit down.
It's already November, and the temperature in Chengdu is still a bit low in winter. A cold wave is coming, and Ma Ling has asked someone to light the heater in the study.
Zhao Yulin sat down by the fireplace and asked her two sisters what they were busy with.
Ma Linger looked at Yangjin with a smile and said that she was helping him consider how to accommodate those important figures from Lin'an , "Sir Shangshu, right?"
Yangjin walked back and forth in the room with her hands behind her back, pacing proudly. Then she stopped and twirled her beard as if thinking: I have thought over and over again. I think it would be better for Mr. Qiao to become a professor in the academy as he is old. As for Fan Zhong and You Shi, they can still be of some use.
Then he saw Zhao Yulin's surprised look, and ran over to him with a smile and fell into his arms. He said that this was a big deal in the court, and how could he, a high-ranking official, still make jokes here?
The two women laughed even more happily.
He helped Yangjin up, smacked her lips, and said that these things were now her business.
Could she go with Feiyan to visit the other three officials and see which position they are suitable for? Wouldn't it be better to give Ding Gong some advice?
Yangjin pouted and said to him, "I'm not going." The reason was that she had just come back and hadn't had enough fun yet, and she didn't want to meet those old-fashioned people in long gowns.
This kind of young lady from later generations got so angry that Zhao Yulin was helpless.
Ma Linger was complaining on Yangjin's side, saying that Yangjin had been traveling during the day and copying documents on the Ministry of Personnel's reforms at night. She even dozed off on her horse and almost fell off a cliff.
My brother is busy with his work all day long and doesn't take good care of our sister.
He suddenly felt that he owed Yangjin something, so he smiled and said, "You're not really busy. Why don't we go to Wenjun Restaurant in Qintai for dinner in the evening to welcome Yangjin? What do you think?"
Only then did Yangjin change her unhappy expression and pretended to be dead in his arms with a smile on her face.
Ma Linger told him happily that this year's tax revenue was estimated to be more than 55 million strings of cash, and the Shenwei Army's self-operated income had also increased by two levels. This was one of the rare years of relaxation since the establishment of our army.
Of course, the Shenwei Army not only has its own income, but also uses money from Sichuan and Shu. So he is a man who never has to worry about money.
Zhao Yulin said that there will be a lot of things to do next year. General Cao wants to redeem the land, and we are still planning to relocate to Jinguan City. These two are gold-devouring monsters.
Ma Ling told him that it would be better to do it slowly as his brother said. We could also implement a tax system whereby taxes are paid once in the first half of the year and once in the following year. By depositing the money into the treasury in two installments, we can raise funds earlier to complete the land redemption.
He immediately gave Ma Ling a thumbs up and praised her for being smart and resourceful.
As they were chatting happily, the guards outside shouted that Ding Gong was here to invite them. Yang Jin suddenly jumped up like a rabbit, and Zhao Yulin followed with a smile and helped her tidy up her clothes.
The aide came in and said that Lord Ding invited them to have dinner together at Qintai in the evening to welcome the officials who came from Lin'an.
When Yangjin heard that her meal time was taken up, her face changed immediately.
Zhao Yulin quickly said to the aide: Reply to Mr. Ding, his two wives are free and would like to attend the dinner together.
The guest immediately said "yes" in agreement and left happily.
Yangjin said angrily that it was such a bummer and she would not go.
Ma Linger said with a smile, "Let's go together," and it was difficult for me to refuse.
Zhao Yulin said that he approved the deputy envoy's arrangement for Mr. Qiao and invited him to be a professor. Is that okay?
Yangjin suddenly laughed, went up to hold his square face, stamped it and locked it, saying that whether it was okay or not depended on everyone's discussion, so let's go have dinner together.
The group went out, squeezed into a carriage and headed towards the Qintai.
When Qiao Xingjian and his colleagues got the news, they just happened to get on their brand new carriages to tour Chengdu. They had already set off long ago, and several old officials were very happy.
The brand new shock-absorbing carriage was a hundred times more comfortable than the ox-drawn carts they used to ride in. Even before Lin'an suffered the disaster, when they were still serving as officials in the court, they could only travel in ox-drawn carts because of the scarcity of horses.
Now everyone in Shu has a carriage, and the little princess has specially selected four strong white horses for them. This is not simple.
Zhao Yulin walked into the restaurant and saw that all the gentlemen were present, including Zhao Feiyan. They all sat down at their tables with smiles on their faces.
Mr. Ding raised his wine glass and gave an opening speech with emotion, welcoming the pillars of the Song Dynasty and the country to Chengdu to discuss state affairs. After everyone congratulated them in unison, they began to eat and drink.
After three rounds of drinks, the atmosphere became very lively.
Fan Zhong told everyone that when Mr. Qiao heard that Caotang was building the largest academy in the Song Dynasty, he was very happy. The fact that Shu was willing to spend a lot of money to build a school showed that it valued and desired talents. In the future, young talents in the country will surely emerge in an endless stream.
Mr. Ding enjoyed listening to this very much and his face was full of smiles.
Yangjin said with a smile that if Lord Qiao really likes Caotang Academy, we can hire the old gentleman as a special professor of the academy and let him enjoy the treatment of the highest-level professor in the New Song Kingdom.
Everyone was stunned. Li Zhongmian and Hua Yue looked at Zhao Yulin with doubt, suspecting that he had instructed Yang Jin to say that.
Before Zhao Yulin could figure out how to tell Qiao Xingjian, Yang Jin spoke directly to him.
He quickly tried to smooth things over, and smilingly asked Mr. Qiao to consider becoming a special professor at our Caotang Academy and enjoying the salary of a deputy envoy of the Ministry of Defense.
Everyone was still in an awkward state, but Qiao Xingjian laughed out loud, "Good, great good." "The peach and plum trees are silent, yet people come to them of their own accord. I went to the academy to do something within my ability. I didn't expect that at my age, I could still discuss world affairs with students."
Lord Ding saw that Lord Qiao had a smile on his face, which was not a normal expression of anger but a smile, but also a sign of joy. He raised his glass and proposed to congratulate Lord Qiao.
With everyone's blessings, he was promoted to the position of special professor in New Song State.
After a short rest, Zhao Yan asked Deputy Envoy Yangjin with a smile, "Where is a suitable place for Mr. Fan to go?"
This is very unfriendly.
If Yang Jin had acted rashly just now, Zhao Yan shouldn't have attacked her here. Zhao Yulin felt uncomfortable, as this was clearly bullying his woman.
He looked at Zhao Yan with some dissatisfaction, raised his chopsticks and invited him to eat the food.
Unexpectedly, Yangjin didn't even look at them and fired directly at Ding Gong.
She said: Right now, Director Ding is in charge of the Ministry of Personnel. Lord Ding is already the ruler of a country, and it may not be appropriate for him to serve as the Minister of Personnel. I think Mr. Fan used to be in charge of the Ministry of Personnel in the court, so he may be able to share Lord Ding's worries.
Everyone was shocked again. It turned out that the had already figured out Fan Zhong's situation.
Zhao Yulin stared at Yangjin blankly, worried that Mr. Ding might be unhappy and angry because of her sharing of power in this way.
