A group of officials followed Zhang Jing to welcome Zhao Wenhua. After Zhao Wenhua got off the boat, they paid homage to him.
"Governor Zhang and all the other gentlemen, please stand up quickly."
After Zhao Wenhua stood and accepted the gifts from the officials, he smiled and said, then he took a step forward and tried to pull up Zhang Jing.
Zhang Jing stood up automatically while Zhao Wenhua was speaking, without even waiting for Zhao Wenhua to reach out to pull him, which made Zhao Wenhua feel a little embarrassed when he stretched out his hands, and his smile froze.
"Master Zhao has traveled a long way and arrived only at dusk. He must be tired. The official residence has been arranged. Please go in and rest. We will welcome you tomorrow."
After Zhang Jing stood up, he spoke lightly, expressing his dissatisfaction with Zhao Wenhua's late arrival.
"Haha, thank you Governor Zhang for your concern. It is a great honor to be able to work for His Majesty. After receiving the order, I am full of energy and I don't feel tired at all. I could have arrived in Yingtian an hour earlier, but I passed by Linjiang Town. I know that the talisman paper in Linjiang Town is the best in the world. I am responsible for the sea sacrifice, so how can I miss such a great sacrifice? So I stopped at Linjiang Town, compared several old talisman paper shops, spent some time, carefully selected and bought some high-quality talisman paper. Although it was a bit complicated and rushed, I didn't feel tired at all when I thought about doing more preparations for the sea sacrifice."
Zhao Wenhua smiled slightly, rejected Zhang Jing's arrangement, and explained the reason for his late arrival.
In his words, the reason why he was late was because he was focused on the important task of offering sacrifices to the sea and fulfilling the emperor's order.
He is so diligent and conscientious.
"No wonder Lord Zhao is trusted by His Majesty and entrusted with the important task of offering sacrifices to the sea. It turns out that Lord Zhao never forgets the important task he shoulders at all times and in all places. He is truly a role model for our generation."
"When we see a virtuous person, we should strive to emulate him. We should learn from Mr. Zhao, emulate him, and be a person who puts work first."
After Zhao Wenhua finished speaking, all the officials at the scene began to praise his professionalism.
Zhao Wenhua was an imperial commissioner, the well-known adopted son of Yan Song, and a heavyweight figure in Yan's party. Any of these identities was enough to attract many officials to flock to him and flatter him.
Zhang Jing snorted, showing great disdain for Zhao Wenhua.
Bullshit of stopping at Linjiang Town to compare and buy talisman paper. You accepted an invitation from a wealthy merchant in Linjiang Town and stayed in the merchant's house for nearly an hour before leaving with a full load. I don't know how many generous gifts you received from the wealthy merchant and what shady power-for-money transactions you reached. In order to cover up your tracks, you just bought a few carts of talisman paper and got on board.
Since Zhang Jing became the chief of Jiangnan, he has held great power and no matter what happened in Jiangnan, he could not hide it. Zhao Wenhua's every move from Yangzhou to Yingtian was under his control and he was always reporting.
However, Zhang Jing did not expose Zhao Wenhua's lies on the spot. After all, the other party was now an imperial envoy.
Don’t look at the monk’s face, look at the emperor’s face.
"Since Lord Zhao is not tired, please go to the Imperial Commissioner's Office. I have arranged for the Ministry of Rites to prepare simple tea and meals to welcome Lord Zhao." Zhang Jing said in a light tone, a formal invitation.
"Please come in, Lord Zhao."
A group of officials extended their hands to invite Zhao Wenhua to move to the Imperial Commissioner's Office.
"Thank you, Lord Zhang, and thank you all my colleagues. The reception is not important. What matters to me is the opportunity to meet all of you talented people and to have your help in completing the important task of His Majesty."
Zhao Wenhua glanced at all the officials and said with a smile, complimenting them all.
"Lord Zhao, you are so flattering. We are not talented people, but we will do our best to help you complete the important task for the emperor."
Many officials expressed their feelings with emotion.
"With the help of Governor Zhang and the others, I am confident that I can successfully complete the mission entrusted by His Majesty."
Zhao Wenhua bowed to Zhang Jing and a group of officials, then followed Zhang Jing's arrangements and moved to the Imperial Commissioner's Office.
On the way to the Imperial Commissioner's Office, Zhao Wenhua met each of the officials above the fourth rank one by one and had a brief exchange with them.
"Haha, Zihou, long time no see. Why don't you take the initiative to come forward and say hello to me, the teacher, and wait for me to ask you."
Zhao Wenhua looked at Zhu Ping'an with a smile, waved his hand, and motioned Zhu Ping'an to come closer and talk.
"Student, I greet Master Zhao."
Zhu Ping'an had no choice but to step forward and greet him, performing the etiquette of a disciple and calling him "student".
There was no way. Zhao Wenhua called himself a teacher in public, and Zhu Ping'an could not possibly discredit him in public. Moreover, if we really talk about it in general terms, Zhao Wenhua could indeed be called his teacher. In the qualifying exam before the provincial examination - the imperial examination, Zhao Wenhua was the chief examiner, and it was he who was testing himself.
"Ah?! Master Zhao and Master Zhu actually have a teacher-student relationship? Why have I never heard Master Zhu mention it? I didn't expect there is such a secret?"
Upon hearing and seeing this, the officials nearby all opened their mouths in surprise. They never expected that Zhu Ping'an, an enemy of the Yan Party, actually had a teacher-student relationship with Yan Party leader Zhao Wenhua. They couldn't help but ask out of curiosity.
How could I not be surprised?! Everyone knows how Zhu Pingan came to Jiangnan. Zhu Pingan offended the old man Yan and the Yan party, so he was demoted to Jingnan and became a small county magistrate.
"Haha, that's a long story. This official has a deep connection with Yingtian. Three years ago, the Nanzhili education official was transferred to Sichuan, and this official took over as the Nanzhili education official. I inspected the schools in the prefectures, states, and counties in the province, checked the teaching quality, managed the Imperial College, and presided over the provincial examinations. It was also that year that Zihou came to Yingtian to participate in the provincial examinations. It was I who personally examined the imperial examinations before the provincial examinations. At that time, Zihou handed in his paper very early. To be honest, when I first saw Zihou, he was a young boy with childishness. I thought he was a student sponsored by some noble family. I didn't expect that his answer paper made me look at him in a new light. I gave him some questions on the spot to test him. Zihou responded calmly, answered fluently, and was full of literary spirit, which amazed me. I ranked him as first-class on the spot... What do you think, are Zihou and I teacher and student?"
Zhao Wenhua smiled and spoke, describing the situation of that year in detail and praising Zhu Ping'an.
"Of course they are teacher and student. No wonder Master Zhu is so talented at such a young age. It turns out that a good teacher produces a good student."
"With Lord Zhao as his teacher, teaching him knowledge and supporting him, it's no wonder that Lord Zhu was able to reach the fourth rank at such a young age."
"Master Zhu is so lucky to have Master Zhao as his teacher. His future is limitless. I am really envious of him."
A group of officials spoke up one after another, attributing all of Zhu Ping'an's achievements to Zhao Wenhua with their eyes closed.
Zhu Pingan pulled the corner of his mouth speechlessly, "Whatever you say, as long as you are happy..."