“The Bian River flows, the Si River flows, and they flow to the ancient Guazhou ferry, and the Wushan Mountain is dotted with sorrow… Even in the cold winter, the scenery of the Guazhou ferry is so beautiful, like a poem or a painting, with a vast sky, surging rivers, and colorful jungles. No wonder so many beautiful poems have been left behind and sung for thousands of years.”
Zhao Wenhua sat on the terrace of the pleasure boat, holding a glass of Huadiao wine in one hand and pointing at the reeds, maple forests and mudflats at Guazhou Ferry with the other, commenting on it as if he were pointing at a landscape.
In front of him was a table with a wide variety of food and wine on it. In the middle was a charcoal stove with slices of fine beef on it. A skinny girl from Yangzhou with fair skin and beautiful looks and revealing clothes was flipping the roasted beef.
Two skinny Yangzhou women who were also dressed in revealing clothes were massaging his shoulders. There were also two other skinny Yangzhou women kneeling on his left and right, holding Zhao Wenhua's thighs in their arms and kneading them gently with their slender hands.
Although it was winter, the skinny girls from Yangzhou were wearing revealing clothes but they didn't seem to feel the cold and were smiling sweetly.
"Lord Zhao is indeed the right-hand man of Lord Yan. He has revealed the secret of Guazhou's poetry and scenery. The scenery nourishes the poetry, and the poetry creates the scenery. The scenery and poetry complement each other. I am ashamed. I have been in charge of Yangzhou for five years. I have come to this Guazhou ferry countless times, but I have not been able to see through the mystery. I am really ashamed of myself."
Yangzhou prefect Wu Zhuolong stood respectfully below Zhao Wenhua, slightly bent at the waist, and said with a flattering look on his face.
The smile on his face is no less than that of a skinny horse in Yangzhou.
"Haha, Magistrate Wu doesn't know the true face of Guazhou because he is in Guazhou." Zhao Wenhua said with a smile.
"Your Excellency is absolutely right." Wu Zhuolong followed with a smile.
"Has the news of Ben Yan's visit reached Yingtian?" Zhao Wenhua asked Wu Zhuolong after finishing his glass of Huadiao wine.
"Your Excellency, I sent someone to Yingtian yesterday to report the news. I told them to ride two horses at full speed and travel overnight. They should also change horses at the post stations along the way. The various government offices in Yingtian should have received the letter this morning. They are probably notifying officials of the fifth rank and above from other places to rush to Yingtian to await your arrival."
Wu Zhuolong replied as if he was flying in the sky.
"Very good. Magistrate Wu has done a good job and has outstanding abilities. When I return to the capital, I will recommend you, Lord Wu, to my adoptive father."
Zhao Wenhua nodded with satisfaction and made a promise casually.
"Thank you, sir. Thank you for your recommendation. You are not my parents, but you are better than them."
Upon hearing this, Wu Zhuolong was overjoyed. He bowed deeply and thanked Zhao Wenhua repeatedly, comparing Zhao Wenhua to his second parent.
The thin Yangzhou ladies serving on the pleasure boats couldn't help but pull their lips downwards when they saw Wu Caolong bowing and sticking his butt out to express his wishes to Zhao Wenhua. They felt that the Yangzhou prefect who dominated everything over them and was high above them was no different from them. He had enjoyed their guests for many times and liked to have them call him daddy while enjoying them. Unexpectedly, Prefect Wu also called people parents.
Hehe, the way Wu Hefu knelt on the ground with her butt sticking out and shouting "the parents are gone" was no different from when they were sticking their butts out to serve Tenke.
But to be honest, they are more proud than Prefect Wu. Prefect Wu is willing to degenerate, but at least they are forced.
"No, no, Magistrate Wu, you are too kind. Since I left the capital and headed south on the imperial mission, I have kept a record of the officials I passed through. I have kept a record of their abilities and talents. I am honored to be recommended by my adoptive father and have been entrusted with the important task of the imperial mission. I must appoint talented people to the post in order to repay the emperor's kindness and my adoptive father's trust."
Zhao Wenhua said seriously.
Account?!
When Magistrate Wu heard Zhao Wenhua mention that he had an account in his mind, and kept track of the merits and demerits of officials from various places along the way... he immediately began to think in a whirlwind of thoughts. What did Lord Zhao mean by this? Officials from various places were all in the account. Then he himself offered 1,200 taels of silver last night in an attempt to get a position in the capital, but he was afraid that the amount was not enough.
There are so many officials along the way, and I'm afraid there are many who offer more silver than me. This opportunity is rare, so I'd better give it a try.
Thinking of this, Magistrate Wu gritted his teeth and took out another stack of silver bills from his arms. Each bill was worth one hundred taels. There were ten of them in total, totaling one thousand taels. He bent over and held the silver bills in both hands and presented them to Zhao Wenhua.
Magistrate Wu said humbly, "Lord Zhao, you have come a long way and worked hard. This is a small token of my respect. I hope you will not despise it."
"Prefect Wu, what are you doing? Stop, stop..." Zhao Wenhua smiled but did not take the banknote.
Magistrate Wu bent over and stood there in a daze. Am I dreaming? Zhao Wenhua has changed his temper and won't accept money anymore? Wasn't he very enthusiastic about collecting money from me yesterday? Why is he not collecting money today
Don't you think it's too little? !
His appetite is really too big. This is a full one thousand taels of silver, which is enough to be presented to Lord Yan.
Or do you think it's not secret enough? It was presented at night yesterday, and it was presented during the day today. Lord Zhao thinks it's not secret enough
Thinking of this, Magistrate Wu felt that he had found the reason, so he said softly, "Don't worry, sir. The people on this pleasure boat are all ours. The indentures of these skinny horses are in my hands. Don't worry, sir. This matter is known only to heaven and earth, you and me, and no one else will know about it. After today, I will keep this matter to myself."
"Ahem, why does Magistrate Wu say that? How could I be a greedy person? I am dedicated to serving my country and regard gold and silver as dirt. I shoulder the important task of offering sacrifices to the sea and have sold all my property to buy offerings for the sea sacrifice. How could I be greedy for Lord Zhao's money?" Zhao Wenhua shook his head, coughed, and said with a righteous look on his face.
Treat gold and silver as dirt
Is that you
Prefect Wu was stunned at first, and after a second, he suddenly realized what was going on. He quickly stepped forward, pretended to slap himself on the mouth, and changed his words, "Look at this humble official, I can't even speak clearly. Lord Zhao regards gold and silver as dirt, which is a well-known fact. How could this humble official offend you? Your Excellency is entrusted with the imperial mission of offering sacrifices to the sea, and the sea sacrifice is related to the stability of the southeast of our Ming Dynasty. This humble official is not talented, but I am willing to contribute my humble efforts to the sea sacrifice, a small token of my appreciation, to help purchase the items for the sea sacrifice. I hope that your Excellency will take the imperial mission seriously and do not refuse."
"Well, Magistrate Wu is willing to help with the sea sacrifice. This is a matter of stabilizing the country and benefiting the people of Ming Dynasty. How can I not help him?" Zhao Wenhua said with a smile and approval, then patted Magistrate Wu on the shoulder and promised seriously, "Governor Wu cares about his country and the people, and he knows the general situation and the truth. He is really good. After returning to Beijing, I will give priority to recommending him to my adoptive father. I will never say anything false."
"Thank you, sir. Thank you, sir." Magistrate Wu knew that the matter was now settled, and he was very happy and kept thanking him.