Volume 2: The King's Way Chapter 191 Jiao Zhongqing
Listening to Jiao Qing's sincere tone, Bai Tu was a little speechless. Come to think of it - if this was done to all the clerks, the chief clerk would probably not be able to carry out his work. Would Zhou Yu tolerate any grain of sand in his eyes by then?
The key point is that Baitu doesn't necessarily need them. Lujiang is not Baitu's base. Even if they go from top to bottom, Baitu won't be hurt. Who dares to be so stubborn?
"Well, why do you two have a grudge against each other?" Bai Tu asked casually.
"These are just some trivial matters. I dare not pollute my lord's ears." Jiao Qing said quickly.
Bai Tu did not think that Jiao Qing was afraid to file a complaint, but he felt that Jiao Qing had a good heart. Otherwise, if he filed a complaint against the chief clerk, no matter whether it was reasonable or not, Bai Tu would definitely protect him because of his previous contributions.
"Then let's talk about the big things. Tell me about yourself... You were born into the Jiao family. Is it a local noble family in Lujiang? What do you think of Lujiang now in all aspects? Don't think too much. Just speak freely, and I will hear what you want to say." Bai Tu said in a gentle voice.
Lujiang had just been taken over by the General of Chariots and Cavalry's Mansion. Before that, Lujiang did not have a talent recruitment hall or talent selection examination. Most of these minor officials were from local gentry - scribes, insignificant officials. However, Bai Tu was no rookie now. He understood that the scribe in the prefectural government, although not of high rank, was a position with great potential for development. At least he could improve his reputation in front of the prefect.
Jiao Qing looks about the same age as Bai Tu, and he can work as a clerk in the prefectural government. This shows that although he is not from a wealthy family, and is certainly not a direct descendant of an aristocratic family, he should be a relatively promising branch of the gentry.
"My lord, you have a keen eye. I was born into the Jiao family of Shu County, Lujiang, with the courtesy name Zhongqing... I was favored by the magistrate of Shu County and selected as a filial and incorrupt official in the early years of the Jian'an period. Last year..." Although Jiao Qing was an honest man, he also knew that he should show his ability at this time, and introduced himself in great detail.
Bai Tu was a little distracted, and didn't really listen to most of the rest...
Name Zhongqing?
Jiao Zhongqing...why does this name sound so familiar?
Bai Tu's previous guess was correct. Although the Jiao family was not a prominent family, they had a prefect three generations ago. Of course... it was not the branch of Jiao Zhongqing, but the direct line. However, because of this, the Jiao family had some connections in Lujiang. Jiao Qing, as a "smart kid" who was good at studying in this generation, also had opportunities for development, and his starting point was much higher than that of ordinary farmers.
As for the following question - what do you think of Lujiang?
Jiao Zhongqing said: I was watching quietly behind the secretary's desk...
Can I just give a casual answer to this? Just because I happened to help the lord a big favor, I can give advice on the affairs of a county? I, Jiao Er, am not such an arrogant person!
Jiao Zhongqing talked about all kinds of things in a way that avoided the main point. Anyway, the main point was that Governor Lu was good, Yuan Shu was a bastard, Liu Xun was just average, and of course the wisest one was the lord... and so on . These were definitely not wrong words.
Although he was a secretary who took office when , he was just a secretary and was not involved in anything. Even if "a new governor has new officials", even the secretary would not be implicated.
After Jiao Zhongqing finished speaking, he looked at Bai Tu nervously. Seeing that Bai Tu had not spoken for a long time, he thought that his words were meaningless and had displeased his lord. However, at this time, he heard Bai Tu ask, "Did Zhongqing get married?"
Jiao Zhongqing: ???
The miraculous turn of events almost sprained Jiao Zhongqing's waist, but he still said with some embarrassment: "We got married two years ago. My wife, Liu, is from the same clan as the prefect Liu..."
His wife's surname was also Liu. She was the daughter of a branch of the Liu family who Liu Xun brought to Lujiang from the Liu clan of Donghai - just like the descendants of the Gan clan of Shu County who had now defected to Gan Ning.
However, his father-in-law was just a handyman for Liu Xun before, so he wouldn't have much impact. Moreover, their relationship was beyond the fifth degree of mourning, so they were not even relatives, but just from the same clan. Liu Xun probably had forgotten about Jiao Zhongqing, so there was nothing to be shy about.
Bai Tu originally wanted to ask whether the couple's life was harmonious or not...
But after thinking about it carefully, it was not very serious, so I didn't say anything yet.
"Gao Biao, Gao Bingchen... Well, this Gao Zhubu was also promoted by Liu Xun, right?" Bai Tu asked.
Jiao Zhongqing had mentioned this "Zhu Bu Gao" before. His surname was Gao, his given name was Biao, and his courtesy name was Bingchen. He came from the Gao family, which was also a small aristocratic family in Lujiang. However, Gao Biao was a direct descendant of the family, and because he had a real relationship with Liu Xun by marriage, although he was only two years older than Jiao Zhongqing, he was already a Zhu Bu.
"Yes, when he was in Wan County, Gao Zhubu had already assisted Governor Liu," said Jiao Zhongqing.
Unlike Jiao Zhongqing, who was a small secretary, the chief clerk of the prefectural governor's mansion was the prefect's "secretary". He had a heavy imprint of Liu Xun on him. I don't know who gave him the courage to cause trouble at such a critical moment. He was not afraid that Zhou Yu would easily kill him...
Is it possible that he knows that he will be dealt with sooner or later and has given up hope?
The group was traveling until midnight when they met a team coming out from Shucheng, led by Zhou Yu himself. After all, Bai Tu was attacked in Lu'an County, Lujiang Prefecture. Zhou Yu, who was now in charge of all Lujiang affairs, naturally had the responsibility to take charge. If it were an outsider, he would probably be scared to death.
"Hahaha, my third brother is here!" Bai Tu laughed out loud from a distance, to prevent Xiao San from thinking that he was frightened.
"My Lord..." Zhou Yu just opened his mouth when Bai Tu interrupted him, "We are not in the main hall. There are no outsiders here. Call me brother!"
Zhou Yu glanced at Bai Tu with resentment, as if to say "I still prefer to call you Lord", but he still called out faintly: "Brother, I'm late..."
"That's right, you're late! I heard that these four bandits are causing great trouble in Lujiang. There's no need for you to take action. I'll defeat them first...hahahaha."
Those who didn’t know would think that Bai Tu really took the initiative to suppress the bandits.
But this is true. If Chen Lan and the others are determined to hide, it will take some effort to wipe them out.
"Brother is so awesome." Zhou Yu rolled his eyes.
After joining forces with Zhou Yu, we returned to Shucheng, the capital of Lujiang. It was already early in the morning. It had been a very tiring day.
Not only Bai Tu, but also officials of all ranks in Lujiang were holding their breath at this time - there was news that Bai Tu was dissatisfied with the officials of Lujiang this time, so he made the trip, but in the end... he was robbed and killed on the way?
During the late Han Dynasty and the Three Kingdoms period, it was very normal for hostile forces to send assassins and spies to each other. There was no rule that prohibited sending assassins. Not to mention Bai Tu's second brother Sun Ce, who died in assassination in history. Even after the formation of the Three Kingdoms, Fei Yi, the prime minister of Shu Han, died in assassination.
But the key now is that he hasn't been killed yet!
Moreover, it is rumored that the mastermind is the Yuan family of Runan. Now there are many officials in Lujiang who were promoted by Yuan Shu when he was in Huainan. What if...
I heard that several bandit leaders were captured alive. Wouldn't it be too easy for Bai Tu to make them say things they shouldn't?
In Lujiang Prefecture, there was a panic for a while!
After Bai Tu moved into the prefectural government, the first thing he did was to go to the backyard to find Shu Ji, then insert the official seal and look for information.
Sure enough, Bai Tu was not wrong.
The preface of the Han Dynasty Yuefu poem "The Peacock Flies Southeast" says: In the Jian'an period of the late Han Dynasty, Liu, the wife of Jiao Zhongqing, a minor official in Lujiang Prefecture, was sent away by Zhongqing's mother and vowed not to marry again. Her family forced her to do so, so she drowned herself. When Zhongqing heard about it, he also hanged himself on a tree in the yard. People at that time were saddened by it and wrote a poem like this...
At this time, Jiao Zhongqing had no idea that he was being exposed by Bai Tu for no apparent reason. After the news that he and Bai Tu had returned to Shucheng spread, the commander and the county magistrate of the prefectural government immediately summoned him overnight. The originally unknown little clerk became a hot commodity!
