Chapter 665: Taking Office in Wenshui County
In the ninth month of the fifth year of Chongzhen's reign, Magistrate Xu Zhaoji had been in office for barely seven days before he was killed by rebels.
Zhu Youjian gazed at the memorial before him, his emotions plummeting as if he'd just been on a drop tower ride.
He was furious, and profoundly saddened.
A magistrate, barely seven days into his post!
Even in the ruthless imperial household, a flicker of compassion stirred. Zhu Youjian said somberly, "Ensure Xu Zhaoji's family is properly comforted, and provide them ample funds."
The chief eunuch, Cao Huachun, bowed, responding, "As Your Majesty commands."
Then, his tone shifted. "Your Majesty," he began, "a minor issue has arisen."
"Oh?" Zhu Youjian prompted.
Cao Huachun lowered his voice. "Court officials are no longer willing to serve in Shaanxi and Shanxi. In the past, whenever a vacancy for a prefect or magistrate arose, civil officials would immediately form cliques, eagerly recommending their own people, desperate to secure the posts. But recently, several such positions have opened in Shaanxi and Shanxi, and surprisingly, no one volunteers. Everyone shirks the responsibility, refusing to put forward worthy candidates. Even officials explicitly named by the Ministry of Personnel are resorting to pulling strings and offering bribes, begging for someone else to be sent to Shaanxi and Shanxi instead."
"These accursed officials!" Zhu Youjian roared, his fury erupting. "When benefits are to be had, their hands stretch out endlessly, but the moment I need them to share my burdens, every single one of them scuttles away to hide in the shadows."
Cao Huachun murmured, "Barely seven days into their post and... ah... given the circumstances... it is understandable that they are unwilling."
Zhu Youjian sighed heavily. "Is there truly no good news at all?"
Cao Huachun replied, "There is, in fact, some good news. After the rebels breached Zezhou, they amassed a large fleet of boats, intending to cross the Yellow River southwards into Mengjin County..."
At this, Zhu Youjian gasped in alarm. "Heavens, isn't that right near Luoyang?"
Cao Huachun quickly reassured him, "Calm yourself, Your Majesty, the rebels' attempt to cross the river failed. A local gentry member named Bai Yuan organized a militia, which garrisoned the Yellow River's banks. According to reports from local officials, Bai Yuan mobilized a hundred thousand archers, with an endless supply of arrows. On the banks of the Yellow River, arrows rained down like a storm, and the rebels, unable to land, retreated back into Shanxi."
"A hundred thousand archers?" Zhu Youjian's face, upon hearing such a figure, twisted not in surprise, but in outrage. "Are they feeding me false numbers again?"
Cao Huachun murmured, "This old servant agrees, a hundred thousand is quite a stretch. It's likely only a few thousand archers, perhaps relying on the Yellow River's treacherous currents, which made it difficult for the brigands to land, allowing them to be repelled with arrows."
Only then did Zhu Youjian nod. "To prevent the rebels from crossing the Yellow River, that's truly commendable, ah! Truly commendable!" he conceded.
His spirits soared as if he’d been launched skyward on a jet plane.
A sudden thought struck him. "A sovereign's ability to govern successfully," he mused, "lies in having virtuous individuals to aid him. Let officials seek out and recommend men of integrity and talent, even those dwelling in seclusion. I shall appoint them, to bring about an era of perfect governance."
"Your Majesty is brilliant," Cao Huachun praised.
Zhu Youjian slapped the table decisively. "So, officials are unwilling to go to Shaanxi and Shanxi, are they? Very well then! We shall appoint talented individuals from among the common folk. Let officials from every region put forward their recommendations. Any outstanding talents, like Bai Yuan, who are willing to share my burdens shall be appointed to official posts in Shaanxi and Shanxi."——
Autumn winds brought increasingly cooler rains.
Golden October arrived.
Li Daoxuan and Gao Yiye, aboard a pleasure boat, sailed gracefully upon the autumn waters of the Yellow River.
This pleasure boat, however, was no ordinary vessel; it was a plastic pleasure boat, crafted by Cai Xinzhi, and powered by an electric motor. Its cabin, adorned with exquisitely carved railings and painted pillars, was a marvel of luxurious beauty.
Inside, an assortment of modern snacks was laid out.
Naturally, they weren't alone on the pleasure boat. Gao Yiye's personal guard was present, as was another significant figure: Chen Yuanbo, the most exceptional student from Gao Family Village's first middle school graduating class.
After graduating from middle school, Chen Yuanbo had traveled to Puzhou, where he served for a time as Prefect Qiu Qianfan's chief strategist. The combination of theory and practice had been transformative, converting much of his academic learning, which might have seemed abstract, into invaluable practical knowledge.
Now, Chen Yuanbo was a capable and pragmatic individual, fully prepared to take on responsibilities independently.
Days earlier, Zhu Youjian had issued an imperial edict stating that the magistrate of Wenshui County had been murdered by brigands just seven days into his term, and a new magistrate was desperately needed. He called upon all to recommend suitable candidates.
However, the high-ranking officials at court collectively fell silent. This time, they adamantly refused to assign any of their own protégés to the dangerous post.
Consequently, Qiu Qianfan, Prefect of Puzhou, petitioned the court, vouching for his chief strategist, Chen Yuanbo, as an exceptionally capable civilian talent perfectly suited for the position of Wenshui County magistrate.
Since no one else was willing to go anyway, Zhu Youjian, with a decisive flourish of his brush, granted the approval.
Thus, Chen Yuanbo relinquished his duties as chief strategist, donned a set of scholarly blue robes, gathered a team of middle school students dispatched from Gao Family Village as his aides, and, accompanied by five hundred members of the Gao Family Village Militia, set out for Wenshui County to assume his new post.
Chen Yuanbo, departing from the Yongji ferry dock, led his formidable contingent of over five hundred people. They traveled by transport ship towards Wenshui County, and it was as they passed Xiaolangdi that they encountered the Heavenly Lord's pleasure boat.
He understood, of course, that the Heavenly Lord was surely waiting for him in the middle of the river by design.
He promptly ordered his vessel to dock alongside, then ascended into the Heavenly Lord's pleasure boat.
"Greetings, Heavenly Lord!" Chen Yuanbo said, bowing with profound reverence.
Li Daoxuan smiled at him. "You're off to be a magistrate," he said. "How are you feeling about it?"
Chen Yuanbo confessed, "To be truthful, Heavenly Lord, I've heard that the Henan Governor, Fan Shangzheng, led his army to relieve Huaiqing Prefecture, but they failed to defeat the rebels and were routed, forced to flee in utter disarray. The rebels are still active around Huaiqing Prefecture, and I confess, I am quite apprehensive."
Li Daoxuan chuckled. "There's no need to fear. With our five hundred militia flintlock soldiers joining you, as long as you hold fast within the county town and do not venture out, it will be exceedingly difficult for the rebels to breach your defenses. And what's more..."
He pointed to the silver-thread Heavenly Lord emblem embroidered on Chen Yuanbo's chest. "I will come to check on you from time to time. Should any brigands attack the county town, you need only hold your ground with your flintlock soldiers, and I will personally bring reinforcements to your aid. Wenshui County lies directly on the Yellow River bank, allowing our militia to travel by boat, ensuring our support will arrive swiftly."
Chen Yuanbo felt a measure of relief upon hearing this. "However," he said, "if I must restrict our operations within the county town, it will be challenging to develop Gao Family Village's larger industries."
Gao Family Village's major factories, each sprawling across vast tracts of land, could hardly be squeezed and developed within the confines of a small county town. They would invariably need to be constructed outside the city walls, and should the rebels arrive, these factories would be impossible to defend.
Li Daoxuan, of course, was well aware of this.
He smiled and waved a dismissive hand. "Don't start too grandly," he advised. "For now, just establish some small workshops, all tucked away within the county town. Once the rebels withdraw, then you can expand and flourish. Be flexible."
"Understood!" Chen Yuanbo declared.
With their official business concluded, Gao Yiye, who had been patiently listening nearby, finally seized her chance to speak. "I heard the name Wenshui County comes from the two hot springs located there, didn't it?" she asked, her eyes gleaming. "I would really love to soak in a hot spring."
Comments