In front of the gate of Jingnan County, there was a large sedan chair carried by four people, and behind the sedan chair stood Zhang Xiancheng and a group of clerks.
A hand with slightly thick joints but well-maintained, with a raised orchid finger, stretched out from the sedan chair and opened the curtain, revealing the gloomy face of Eunuch Qian. Just as Li Dianshi said, Eunuch Qian was very angry at the moment.
Looking at the deserted city gate with no one to welcome him, Eunuch Qian's face was as gloomy as if water was about to drip.
His fingers clenched the curtain tightly, veins exposed, and it seemed as if he was going to pinch a hole in the curtain.
"Zhu Ping'an, how dare you treat me so lightly!"
Eunuch Qian gritted his teeth and uttered a word between his teeth.
Eunuch Qian was extremely angry at the moment. He couldn't believe that Zhu Ping'an actually looked down on him.
Since he left the capital for business, he has traveled southwards through many counties, prefectures and cities. No matter where he goes, officials there will entertain him warmly, flatter him and give him generous gifts!
Not to mention that Zhu Ping'an was just a small seventh-rank county magistrate, even the prefects and county governors would also go out of the city to welcome me with enthusiasm! In fact, when I passed by a county town in Shandong Province, the local prefect not only went out of the city ten miles early to welcome me, but also opened the sedan chair curtain for me, helped me onto the BMW, and personally held the reins to welcome me to the county town post station.
Wherever I go, there is no place that is not warm and hospitable! Only you, Zhu Ping'an, did not leave the city to welcome me!
You are just a small seventh-rank county magistrate, how dare you treat me like this!
snort!
Don’t think that you are so high and so deep just because you have made some small contribution!
You offended Lord Yan in the capital and were demoted to this remote county! Your career as an official ends here!
What are you showing off for!
It seems that you haven't learned your lesson even after being demoted to this small county!
good!
This time, I will teach you a lesson! I will let you know how high the sky is and how thick the earth is!
Haha, I'm just worried about what gifts to bring to the Madam and His Royal Highness Prince Jing, so I'll give you, a former subordinate of Prince Yu's Mansion, a good meal and present you to the Madam and His Royal Highness Prince Jing as one of the gifts. Haha, I think Lord Yan and Little Lord Yan will definitely be very happy to see it!
"Alas! I didn't expect that Magistrate Zhu not only didn't go out of the city to welcome Eunuch Qian, but he didn't even arrange to send someone to welcome him! Alas, Magistrate Zhu, why did you do things this way? I'm really sorry, Eunuch Qian, for making you suffer."
County Magistrate Zhang came to the sedan chair, bowed his body and confessed his crime to Lord Qian, stepping hard on Zhu Ping'an's feet while speaking.
"Haha, I am just a humble servant, how dare I trouble the Magistrate Zhu to come here?"
Eunuch Qian sneered, pinched his fingers together, slammed the door curtain hard, and his face was terribly gloomy.
Seeing that Eunuch Qian was so angry, County Magistrate Zhang and Chief Clerk Yao looked at each other and smiles appeared on their faces.
"Ahem, Eunuch Qian, maybe... maybe Magistrate Zhu is waiting for you at the posthouse right now."
Yao Zhubu stepped forward and bowed to Eunuch Qian. His words seemed to be consoling, but in fact they were fanning the flames. How could he speak for Zhu Ping'an? He just wanted to lead Eunuch Qian to the posthouse and watch the deserted scene, which would make Eunuch Qian even angrier.
"Inn?! Ha..." Eunuch Qian sneered.
"Eunuch Qian, maybe, as Chief Clerk Yao said, Magistrate Zhu is waiting for you at the post station right now. It just so happens that our county's post station is in the city, not far ahead." County Magistrate Zhang understood what Chief Clerk Yao meant and continued.
Under the persuasion of County Magistrate Zhang, Chief Secretary Yao and others, Eunuch Qian got on the sedan chair again, and the group entered the city and went to the posthouse.
When County Magistrate Zhang and others escorted Eunuch Qian to the post station, the newly appointed barracks clerk Liu Jie was inspecting the post station. Yesterday, Zhu Ping'an reorganized the county government office and put the post station affairs under the management of the barracks. So after reporting to the county government office early this morning, Liu Jie came to the post station to familiarize himself with and arrange the work of the post station.
"Open the door, open the door! Eunuch Qian is here, everyone in the posthouse, why don't you come out to greet him?"
A few clerks who wanted to show off came to the gate of the posthouse and knocked loudly.
"Written Officer Zhang, Officer Liu... Ahem, the new officer of the barracks has reiterated the rules, so I dare not let you in casually. Please ask Eunuch Qian to show me the official documents, and I will check and complete the formalities before you can move in."
The gatekeeper at the post station knew the clerk who knocked on the door, and also knew that they had been dismissed. Now their immediate superior was the new barracks clerk Liu Jie, who reiterated the rules and required them to strictly abide by the laws of the Ming Dynasty. Only those with major military or administrative business could stay in the post station, and they dared not make any mistakes at this time.
"You are shameless, aren't you? What official documents, what procedures? Hurry up and open the door to welcome Eunuch Qian."
Zhang Wenshu and Liu Dianli cursed impatiently.
"Sir Zhang, Dianli Liu... I'm just a gatekeeper, please don't make things difficult for me. Dianli Liu has just assumed office and has reiterated the rules. I have a family to support and I dare not make any mistakes at this time." The gatekeeper of the post station apologized with a smile and insisted on verifying the official documents before allowing check-in.
"What official document?! My father-in-law is the best official document! You dogs and slaves, why don't you open the door and welcome him!"
A young eunuch couldn't help it anymore, so he stepped forward with his fingers pinched together and scolded the gatekeeper.
In fact, they really didn't have any official documents. First, the official documents were with the eunuch Chen Hong, the imperial horse supervisor; second, these eunuchs were not considered officials. According to the Ming Dynasty laws, only officials were qualified to use the post station; third, purchasing gold, treasures and pearls was just a purchasing matter, not an official business, let alone a military or national affair.
If they strictly follow the regulations of the Daming Post House, people like them will not be allowed to stay in the post house.
However, there is no such thing as strict adherence to laws these days.
They had stayed in so many post houses along the way! Humph! This was a post house in the wilderness, they had no choice but to stay there! If they were in the city, they would not be happy to stay in a post house! How could a shabby post house be as comfortable as a VIP building in the city! Anyway, they didn't have to pay, and the local officials were scrambling to pay the bill.
"I'm sorry, at this critical moment, I dare not let you stay without official documents!"
The station gatekeeper shook his head.
"Zhu Ping'an, you are going too far!" Eunuch Qian in the sedan chair could no longer sit still. He slammed the door curtain and got out of the sedan chair. He was already full of anger at the city gate, and now he was even angrier at the gate of the post station. He could no longer hold back his anger. His face turned ashen and he cursed in a shrill voice, "Since I left the capital and headed south, which local official along the way did not fawn on me? The prefect even personally held the stirrups for me! But when I arrived in your small Jingnan County, you, Zhu Ping'an, not only did you not come out of the city to greet me, but you even refused to let me into the post station! Do you really think I am a vegetarian?"