Rise From the Humble

"Bian water, Si water, flowing to the ancient ferry of Guazhou, Wushan is a little sad... It is the twelfth lunar month in winter, and the scenery of Guazhou ferry is so beautiful, poetic and picturesque, the sky is vast, the river is surging, and the jungle is all over. Colored and colorful, no wonder it has left so many beautiful poems that have been sung for thousands of years."

Zhao Wenhua sat on the terrace of the painting boat, holding a glass of Huadiao wine in one hand and pointing to the reeds, maple forests and tidal flats at Guazhou Ferry with the other hand, commenting as if pointing to the mountains and rivers.

There was a table in front of him, with a dazzling array of wine and food on it. In the center was a charcoal stove. On the charcoal stove were slices of fine beef. A thin Yangzhou horse with fair skin, beautiful appearance and scantily clad clothes was roasting the beef.

Two Yangzhou thin horses, who were also dressed to reveal their flesh, were squeezing his shoulders. There were also two Yangzhou thin horses kneeling under the knees, one on the left and one on the right. They were holding Zhao Wenhua's thighs in their arms, squeezing them gently and slowly with their slender hands.

Although it was cold winter, several thin Yangzhou horses were wearing scantily clad clothes, but they seemed not to notice the cold and smiled sweetly.

"Mr. Zhao is worthy of being Mr. Yan Ge's right-hand man. He has revealed the mystery of Guazhou's poetic scenery in one sentence. The scenery nourishes the poems, the poems form the scenery, and the scenery and poems complement each other. I am ashamed, I am ashamed. I have been in power in Yangzhou for five years. I don't know this Guazhou ferry." I’ve been here so many times but I haven’t been able to see through the mystery. I’m really ashamed of myself.”

Wu Zhuolong, the prefect of Yangzhou, stood respectfully below Zhao Wenhua, bowed slightly and said with a compliment.

The smile on his face is even more impressive than that of Yangzhou's thin horse.

"Haha, Magistrate Wu doesn't know the true face of Guazhou, just because he is in Guazhou." Zhao Wenhua said with a smile.

"What your Excellency said is absolutely true." Wu Zhuolong laughed along.

"Has the news of Ben Yan's arrival reached Yingtian?" Zhao Wenhua asked Wu Zhuolong as he stopped a glass of Huadiao wine.

"Returning to your lord, I have sent people to Yingtiantong yesterday to report the letter. I told them to drive all night with two horses and transfer to two horses at the inn along the way. The major yamen in Yingtian should have received the letter this morning. This association is probably notifying officials of fifth rank and above from other places to rush to Yingtian and await your arrival."

Wu Zhuolong replied as if he was flying.

"Very good. Magistrate Wu has done his job well and has outstanding abilities. When I return to Beijing, I will highly recommend Mr. Wu to my adoptive father."

Zhao Wenhua nodded with satisfaction and promised casually.

"Thank you, sir. Thank you for your recommendation. You are not the parents of a low-ranking official, but you are better than the parents of a low-ranking official."

Wu Zhuolong was overjoyed when he heard this. He bowed to the end and thanked Zhao Wenhua endlessly, comparing Zhao Wenhua to his reborn parents.

Several thin horses from Yangzhou who were waiting on the boat saw Wu Caolong who was bowing and sticking out his buttocks to express his ambition to Zhao Wenhua. They couldn't help but pull down their lips. They were ridiculed in their hearts. They felt that the prefect of Yangzhou, who dominated everything and was superior to them, was inferior to them. It's no different. How many times have I enjoyed their affection and loved letting them call me daddy when I enjoy them. Unexpectedly, Magistrate Wu also called me parents.

Geez, the way Wu Hefu kneels down and sticks out his buttocks to call his parents, is any different from when they stuck out their buttocks to obey the special guest.

But speaking of it, they are even more proud than Magistrate Wu. Magistrate Wu is willing to fall, at least they are forced to do so.

"Where is it? Magistrate Wu's words are serious. Ever since I took the emperor's mission and left Beijing to go south, I have kept a record in my heart. I have kept it in mind whether the officials from various places I passed through are good or bad. I was recommended by my adoptive father. I have the responsibility. The emperor's important mission must be to appoint talented people to repay the saint's kindness and the trust of his adoptive father."

Zhao Wenhua said seriously.

Account?!

When Magistrate Wu heard Zhao Wenhua mention that he had a ledger in his mind, he kept it in mind whether officials from various places along the way were good or bad... His mind suddenly turned over and over again, what did Mr. Zhao mean? Officials from all over the place were all on the ledger, so I gave a thousand taels of silver last night to seek help from the capital, but I'm afraid it wasn't enough.

There were so many officials along the way, and I'm afraid there were many who donated more silver than myself. The opportunity was rare, so I gave it a try.

Thinking of this, Magistrate Wu gritted his teeth and took out a stack of banknotes from his arms. Each one was in denomination of one hundred taels. There were ten of them, totaling one thousand taels. He bowed and presented the banknotes in both hands. To Zhao Wenhua.

Magistrate Wu said humbly: "Master Zhao has come a long way to work hard. This is just a small thought from a lower official. It is not respectful. Please don't take it personally."

"Prefect Wu, what are you doing? Stop it, stop it." Zhao Wenhua smiled and did not accept the banknote.

Magistrate Wu bent over and froze on the spot. Am I dreaming? Zhao Wenhua actually changed his character and stopped accepting cash? Didn't you work hard to collect money from me yesterday? Why don't you accept it today?

Is it too little? !

Then his appetite is too big. This is a thousand taels of silver, and it is enough to be dedicated to Mr. Yan Ge.

Or do you think it's not secretive enough? It was offered at night yesterday, but today is daytime. Mr. Zhao doesn't think it's secret enough?

Thinking of this, Magistrate Wu realized that he had found the reason, and said softly, "Don't worry, sir. All the people on this boat are our own people, and the contracts for the sale of these thin horses are all in the hands of the lower officials. You can rest assured, God knows this." You know it and I know it, no one else will know it, and after today, this matter will be buried in my heart."

"Ahem, why did Magistrate Wu say this? I am a greedy person. I am dedicated to serving the country. I regard gold and silver as dirt. I shoulder the heavy responsibility of sacrificing the sea. I sold all my property to buy sacrifices for the sea. , how can you covet Mr. Zhao's money?" Zhao Wenhua shook his head, coughed, and said with a righteous face.

Do you regard gold and silver as dung?

is it you?

Magistrate Wu was stunned at first. After being stunned for a second, he suddenly realized. He quickly stepped forward, pretended to slap himself, and changed his words, "Look at the official's mouth. He really can't speak clearly. Mr. Zhao regards gold and silver as gold and silver." Dung, this is something everyone knows, how can a lower official bring bad luck to you? Your Excellency is responsible for offering sacrifices to the sea, and offering sacrifices to the sea is related to the stability of the country in the southeast of the Ming Dynasty. If you are not talented, I am willing to contribute to offering sacrifices to the sea. I will use my little efforts and a little care to help purchase things to offer sacrifices to the sea. I hope you will take the emperor's mission as your priority and never refuse."

"Well, Magistrate Wu is determined to help with the sacrifice to the sea. This is a matter of stabilizing the country and benefiting millions of people in the Ming Dynasty. How can I fail to accomplish it?" Zhao Wenhua said with a smile and approval, and then patted Magistrate Wu. Looking over his shoulder, he promised with a serious look on his face, "Prefect Wu cares about the people of his country and country, and he knows the general principles. He is really good. After I return to Beijing, I will give priority to recommending him to my adoptive father. There is no false promise."

"Thank you, sir. Thank you, sir." Magistrate Wu was overjoyed to know that things were now stable, and thanked him repeatedly.