ATPnovel Chapter 43 Promotion
Chapter 43 Promotion
The crows that used to perch on the eaves in the courtyard have disappeared.
The field mice and weasels in the corner of the vegetable garden had already hidden themselves very well.
Tang Shijun glanced around briefly, his gaze sweeping over the spirit pearl grass beside the door.
The plaque was carried in, but because the lintel was too small to be placed on it, it had to be temporarily set aside.
"You earn quite a bit of silver every year, so why are you still so frugal?" Tang Shijun asked.
In Zhangnan County, wealthy households, if they had a little money, would build tall and large new houses.
Unlike Chu Xun, whose house, though newly built a few years ago, only has two or three rooms and can hardly be considered grand.
Chu Xun replied with a smile, "A few rooms to shelter me from the wind and rain are enough. I'd much rather spend my money on meat and wine. At least it goes into my own stomach, so it's not a loss."
Tang Shijun remained noncommittal; he came from a prominent family and was used to grand occasions.
I naturally wouldn't agree with such a view.
In the countryside, there's nothing wrong with doing things this way.
After thinking for a moment, Tang Shijun said, "I just happened to bring you a painting of farmers working in the green mountains. It's a minor post, so with a little decoration, it won't look shabby."
An official immediately stepped forward and presented Tang Shijun with his own painting.
The fields are neatly arranged, and a man in a blue robe is working hard, with a pine tree standing beside him.
The middle ground features a winding stream that meanders around several thatched cottages.
In the distance, there is a light ink-wash view of distant mountains, their peaks hidden in a thin mist, seemingly shrouded in wispy clouds.
It uses peach wood as the axis and is backed with mulberry bark paper.
It measures 1.5 feet vertically and 1 foot horizontally.
Although Chu Xun didn't understand painting, he still thought it was beautiful.
There were too many blank spaces, and it felt like something was missing, so I asked, "Sir, could you please add a few more words?"
Tang Shijun did not refuse; since he had already come, he might as well give him face.
After someone brought him pen and ink, he thought for a moment and then wrote the poem.
"Green peaks surround the fields, where one cultivates the land with integrity; with aspirations reaching for the clouds, one never forgets the hills and valleys. Presented to Chu Jun Jiebin, handwritten by Mr. Huaitang."
Then he took out a small red seal from his bosom, which read "Heart yearns for the blue sky" and was Tang Shijun's private seal.
Presenting calligraphy or paintings without writing one's full name, but instead using an elegant name, is a sign of prudence.
Many people, having obtained calligraphy and paintings from officials, used them as a shield to act arrogantly and domineeringly.
Although Tang Shijun did not think Chu Xun was that kind of person, he still cherished the name of Mr. Huaitang.
After affixing his seal, Tang Shijun smiled and said, "I don't use this private seal on all my calligraphy and paintings. It's a family heirloom that your family would envy."
Such words, spoken to others, would make them seem overly arrogant.
But when it comes to him, it seems perfectly natural.
Magistrate Tang never concealed his arrogance.
Then, Tang Shijun brought over documents stamped with the official seal of the government.
He was rewarded with two mu of fertile land, a set of curved plows, three jin of salt, and two bolts of official cloth.
It's not too expensive, and it's practical.
In addition, the tax grain tax will be reduced by another 20% on top of the original amount.
Chu Xun and one male member of his family were exempted from corvée labor for life, and were allowed to bow deeply to officials below the county level without kneeling.
If one needs to meet with the county magistrate for matters related to the village school or agricultural affairs, one may wear plain clothes and enter the hall directly.
Furthermore, the county magistrate could recommend one member of the Chu family, even if they were of low social status, to participate in the imperial examinations.
This honor greatly enhanced Chu Xun's reputation.
Originally, only Pingshui Town and a very small surrounding area knew about it, but now the entire Zhangnan County knows about it.
There was a man named Chu Jiebin who received a calligraphy and painting personally written by the county magistrate, and even had his private seal affixed to it.
For a time, people flocked to visit and admire the calligraphy and paintings.
The repeated calls of "May Master Chu be well" resonated so strongly that the crows on the eaves covered their heads with their wings.
Zhang Anxiu, with her dark skin, became the envy of the women.
Many others, who considered themselves far more beautiful and well-proportioned than her, secretly grumbled, "How could a dark-skinned girl be so lucky as to marry someone like Master Chu!"
Some of the bolder ones even hired matchmakers to come to Chu Xun's home to propose marriage.
If I can't be the principal wife, I can be a concubine.
Everyone knows that Chu Xun and Zhang Anxiu have been married for many years but have no children.
How can this family fortune be left uninherited?
As long as she can give birth to a son, it's not impossible for the concubine to become the wife next year.
Zhang Anxiu remained silent on this matter.
Although she disliked it, she understood the significance of continuing the family line.
If your stomach is uncooperative, who can you blame?
But Chu Xun was ruthless and kicked out all the matchmakers who came to propose marriage.
When he got really annoyed, he let the crows sit at the gate of the courtyard.
One comes, one pecks.
These crows are enormous, exceptionally fierce, and awe-inspiring.
After several matchmakers were pecked until their heads bled, no one dared to come to their door anymore.
Three years later.
In the twenty-ninth year of the Jing Kingdom, Chu Xun was thirty-three years old.
Because of Tang Shijun's effective governance, Zhangnan County not only did not have any displaced people causing trouble, but instead absorbed them into the local population.
Pingshui Town, in particular, saw a significant increase in its population.
In eight years, Pingshui Town has transformed from a place of widespread anxiety to a place of peace and prosperity.
With consecutive years of bumper harvests, Tang Shijun passed three examinations and achieved remarkable results, which even the Ministry of Personnel could not ignore.
The term "three examinations" originates from the ancient state of Yu, which recorded "three years of performance evaluation, three examinations to determine promotion or demotion, and the distinction between the wise and the foolish."
Performance is assessed every three years, then again every six years, and finally completed every nine years.
Only if you pass the exam will the Ministry of Personnel promote you.
In the sixth year, Tang Shijun should have been promoted, but the Ministry of Personnel refused to budge, and it was delayed for another three years.
There may be reasons related to Tang Shijun's powerful family background and its discord with the Ministry of Personnel, which are unclear to ordinary people.
But regardless, it seems that this year the emperor asked casually, and the Ministry of Personnel gave in.
Originally, the family had made arrangements to get Tang Shijun a position in the Ministry of Revenue.
That was a sixth-rank official in the capital. In the future, he would have to take this route to become a vice minister or minister.
But Tang Shijun didn't go; instead, he went to Fenggu City and became the prefectural magistrate.
This is a sixth-rank official position, which, in terms of both rank and reputation, is inferior to that of the principal officials of the Six Ministries.
However, he was in charge of salt, grain, river defense, coastal defense, river works, water conservancy, and pacification of the people and barbarians, so he also held real power.
His Majesty values the people's livelihood most and also favors officials related to it.
Tang Shijun was ambitious and proud, so he naturally refused to take those six "nominal" positions.
He climbed the ranks step by step, eventually becoming a high-ranking official in a region, and even the Grand Secretary!
The former prefect, Liang Mingzheng, had already stepped down several years ago.
However, because he embezzled tens of thousands of taels of silver, someone secretly reported him to the emperor, and he sentenced his entire family to be executed.
His father was the emperor's personal guard and died protecting the emperor during wartime. Although he did not receive a high title after the founding of the country, he was posthumously granted the title of Earl of Loyalty and Bravery, which was still considered a great favor from the emperor.
Perhaps out of consideration for past relationships, the emperor decreed: "The Marquis of Zhongyong died in my place, but one member of the Liang family is to be spared."
I heard that Liang Mingzheng's grandson, Liang Qifeng, is clever and quick-witted, and can compose a poem in seven steps when he is eleven or twelve years old.
If one person's life is to be spared, it should be his.
This last thread of incense may one day rise again.
Many elderly people in Pingshui Town looked at each other in bewilderment after hearing about this.
Back then, the Lin family wanted to marry Lin Qiaoxi to Liang Mingzheng's mentally challenged son, but Lin Qiaoxi refused and insisted on marrying the simple-minded Zhang Sanchun.
In those years, many people openly or secretly laughed at Lin Qiaoxi for not knowing how lucky she was.
Even if the prefect's son is foolish, you are still the prefect's daughter-in-law.
Heaps of blessings fall from the sky, yet he discards them like worn-out shoes.
If we're talking about stupidity, the Lin family's daughter is far more foolish than Zhang Hanzi.
However, ten years later, the Lin family was implicated and their entire clan was wiped out because of Lin Xianzong's affair.
The Liang family was executed because Liang Mingzheng was corrupt, leaving only one member alive.
On the contrary, Zhang Sanchun, who was once looked down upon, now runs a nut and nut shop in town, and his business is booming.
The son is clever and quick-witted, and the daughter, who is only a few years old, is also lively and adorable. They gave her the nickname "Xi'er".
The couple's life is getting better and better, and they are now an enviable family.
Moreover, his brother-in-law, Chu Xun, was highly regarded by two successive county magistrates, making him stand out among the many guests at the village banquet.
The rise and fall of one left onlookers dumbfounded.
During the drizzling season.
Before Tang Shijun was about to take up his post in Fenggu City, he specially summoned Chu Xun to the stone beam bridge over the Songliu River.
Standing at the stone tablet at the bridgehead, Tang Shijun gazed at the Pine and Willow Water God Temple on the opposite bank: "Chu Xun, do you think there really is a water god in this river? I've heard that he commands turtles and snakes and possesses boundless magical power. The good weather and abundant harvests of these past years are all thanks to his protection."
Chu Xun replied, "It's hard to say, since no one has seen it with their own eyes. But even if there really is a Pine Willow Water God, the county's increasing prosperity may not be due to him. Your Excellency deserves great credit."
This is not an exaggeration. During Tang Shijun's eight years here, Zhangnan County has made steady progress, which is evident to all.
In response to Chu Xun's praise, Tang Shijun smiled and said, "With your words, it's a bit less of a regret."
"Although I am now being promoted to the position of Assistant Magistrate and will not be in Zhangnan County, I will still pay close attention to this matter."
"Of all the so-called talented people in this county, only you have caught my eye."
"It's a pity that I don't have any official rank and can't serve in the court, but even if I'm just a country bumpkin, I still need to guard against arrogance and impetuosity."
"When I visit your home again next year, I'll take a look at that calligraphy and painting to see if it's even more vibrant now."
Calligraphy and paintings only age with time; they never become more vibrant over time.
But Chu Xun knew that Tang Shijun wasn't talking about paintings, but about people, and even more so about this land.
Having served as a county magistrate for eight years, he naturally developed deep feelings for the place and was reluctant to leave.
But driven by their ambitions, they had no choice but to strive upwards.
Chu Xun bowed respectfully: "I will remember your teachings, sir, and will diligently cultivate myself. I also hope that you will rise rapidly in your career and achieve great things!"
Tang Shijun smiled and patted Chu Xun on the shoulder.
He didn't say anything more, but his hands felt as heavy as if they weighed a ton.
He valued Chu Xun, but because Chu Xun had no official rank, he could not entrust him with the affairs of this region.
This tap seemed both light and heavy.
There was private affection, and there was also public regret.
It's rare to see someone so arrogant as to refuse a higher official position take this so seriously.
Extremely rare.