Eighth year of Chongzhen

Chapter 24
After Zhu Youjian returned to the imperial case, he motioned for Sun Chuanting to sit down, and the two continued to talk freely.

Zhu Youjian said: "I know that the situation in Shaanxi is complicated now, and there is no way to calm it down without a great talent.

Originally, there were frontier soldiers stationed in the Shaanxi-Gansu region to deter the inside and outside. The governor spent most of his energy on civil affairs and local governance, and the burden was relatively light.

Now years of severe drought has resulted in no crops in the fields. People sell their sons and daughters to survive, and some even exchange sons for food. It is a tragedy in the world.

What makes me even more angry is the inaction of the imperial court and the local government. After such a disaster occurred, they did not actively provide disaster relief and properly handle the disaster to prevent it from spreading. Even saying that you shouldn't rebel even if you starve to death.

All natural disasters and man-made disasters have led to frequent civil upheavals, which have intensified, and even reached the point where it is difficult to manage today.

Troubled times require heavy codes!After you go there, you must first rectify the local guards. The original system of guarding fields in the guards has existed in name only.

As far as I know, most of the fields in the guards are occupied by powerful people like commanders, and the military households in the guards are poor and miserable.You have to arrest a few guard officers who have a bad influence in the local area, and the people in the military households are very angry, kill them as an example, confiscate their property, and then use part of it to subsidize the most difficult military households, and use the rest to build water conservancy, relieve the people, and use it as military expenses .

The second is to build an army that is loyal to the court and brave to fight well. The scale depends on your expenditure.

The local folk customs are tough, and Qin soldiers have always been brave, which is a good source of soldiers.Zhenhui will decree to reduce and exempt Shaanxi's taxes for three years. You must make good use of the money and food. You must use Qin soldiers to defend the Qin land and use the Qin land to support the Qin soldiers.

After gaining a firm foothold, you must fight steadily. I will let Hong Chengchou lead troops into Qin. You must cooperate with each other. I have no time limit, but I hope you will act according to the situation and pacify Shaanxi as soon as possible.

The third is to order the officials of the prefectures and counties under the jurisdiction to mobilize the gentry to provide relief to the refugees, dig wells to fight the drought, and try to stay in the local area to develop production, so that they will not be deceived by the thieves.

Then there is the rectification of the frontier soldiers. The Shaanxi-Gansu border soldiers are all locals, and they are inextricably linked with the thieves. Sometimes they deliberately manipulated the enemy, and some even directly rebelled against the imperial court.

Once you have enough force in your hands, you must vigorously rectify the frontier army. The black sheep among them must be eliminated decisively, but Huairou should still be the main focus. Food and salaries for the frontier soldiers must be paid in a timely manner to make them feel at ease. With this two-pronged approach, I believe the situation in Shaanxi will change. Much better.

I will not set a deadline for you. What I discussed today is just a plan. You have to implement it according to the actual situation. I will let the local guard of Jinyiwei cooperate with you. I hope that the pacification of Shaanxi is only the cornerstone and starting point of your career. The great Ming Dynasty is so vast , I still need you to give full play to your talents and help me build a brand new Ming Dynasty! "

Sun Chuanting accepted the order generously, it was past noon, Zhu Youjian kept him for a simple lunch, and Sun Chuanting left the palace.

A few days later, Sun Chuanting, who was the governor of Shaanxi with the title of left deputy capital censor, wore a red official robe, and rode out of the capital from Xihuamen with two entourages. This is waiting.

The leader of the Yongwei Battalion is a heroic and extraordinary Qianhu in his twenties. His name is Luo Shifang. .

Luo Shifang has been nurtured by her family since she was a child, and she is very outstanding in literary skills and martial arts. When the Yongwei Camp was established, Sun Yingyuan took a fancy to him and was transferred from the Beijing Camp to the Yongwei Camp.Because of his strict command and clear rewards and punishments, his subordinates all support him.

Luo Shifang was very excited to be selected to go to Shaanxi with Sun Chuanting this time.It's time to prove yourself. In this chaotic world, a good man should fight in all directions and put down the bandits. Going to Shaanxi should do a lot.

The new-style military rations carried by the army were warmly welcomed by the soldiers of the Yongwei Battalion. Let alone the taste of the dry rice they ate before, because they were not nutritious, they were not hungry at all, and they felt hungry after an hour after eating.Today's military rations are added with oil, salt and sugar, which not only tastes great, but also endures hunger. When eating, add water and knead it into a cake shape. After eating a piece for several hours, you will not feel hungry.

At this time, a large number of rogues such as Gao Yingxiang and others were fighting fiercely with Lu Xiangsheng in Henan Province, and captured Li Zicheng and other thieves in the Yan'an area in northern Shaanxi, so the journey from the capital to Shaanxi was very easy.Even if they encountered a small group of bandits on the road, they would flee quickly if they saw a large group of elite cavalry from a distance.

Sun Chuanting did not enter the city in the prefectures and counties that he passed along the way. He simply met with local officials and continued on his way. Because of the continuous severe drought, the roads were not muddy. After a long journey of more than a month, Sun Chuanting and his party finally arrived in Xi'an.

Riding his horse and standing under the majestic and tall city walls, Sun Chuanting felt a little emotional in his heart, and his political career had officially begun.

A large group of officials who had been notified at the gate of the city came to meet Sun Chuanting. The leader was Zhu Yongyou, the chief envoy of Shaanxi.

Sun Chuanting dismounted from his horse, Zhu Yongyou and others came to the front and bowed his hands to salute, and reported his official position.

Sun Chuanting smiled at the crowd, cupped his hands, and said, "I was appointed to be the governor of Shaanxi, and I will be colleagues with you in the future. I also hope that you will unite and help each other, and work together to govern the Qin land well, so as to comfort the heart of the emperor!" Only claiming to be right is naturally a voice of praise and compliments.

Zhu Yongyou then asked Sun Chuanting to enter the city in an official sedan chair. Sun Chuanting agreed with a smile, and then entered the city in an official sedan chair carried by six people. The rest of the officials also followed each other in sedan chairs. into the city.

Xi'an City retains the architectural style since the Tang Dynasty, the streets are wide and flat, and the shops on both sides are still thriving.

Guarded by Qing Dao's guard of honor, the party arrived at the governor's yamen in the city quarter of an hour later. Sun Chuanting and others got off the sedan chair one after another. They saw a wide square in front of the yamen. The seven big characters "Shaanxi Sun" fluttered in the wind, which Zhu Yongyou had already received the news to make.

A group of yamen miscellaneous officials and servants lined up on both sides to welcome, Sun Chuanting nodded in satisfaction, and stepped into the yamen first.

In the spacious second hall, Sun Chuanting sat down in the main seat, and Zhu Yongyou and others sat in the lower two rows of seats according to their official positions.

After everyone sat down, Zhu Yongyou said with a smile: "Your Excellency has worked hard all the way. The official has arranged a banquet at Deshengju in the city according to the usual practice. After your Excellency takes a bath and rest, I will clean up for you!"

This is what the title should mean. When the new official arrives, everyone gathers to have a good time, and by the way, we can learn more about the new governor's style and preferences.

Sun Chuanting nodded and agreed with a smile, and the yamen servant brought tea to everyone. After some unnutritious talk, Zhu Yongyou led all the officials to leave, and Sun Chuanting went to the inner courtyard to take a bath and rest.

The inner courtyard is divided into three courtyards. The main courtyard has seven rooms including main room, living room and wing room.

Sun Chuanting entered the main room, the bath water was ready, and two young white servants stood aside, waiting to serve.

After leaving the capital, Sun Chuanting had already sent Sun Zhian back to his hometown in Daizhou. Zhuang Yuanzhou, a student he had met in Daizhou, and students Cui Shisheng and Xie Renxing had already greeted him in advance, and they were willing to serve as staff with Sun Chuanting.

Counting the time, it will be almost here, and now there is only one Sun Fugui with him, Sun Fugui knows that the young master doesn't like outsiders to serve him, so he sent two white servants away, closed the door and waited outside, Sun Chuanting took a good bath, and his body stopped Feel a lot lighter.

Around You, Zhu Yongyou came to the yamen in person and invited the governor to a banquet. Sun Chuanting went out of the yamen and saw Luo Shifang in neat clothes waiting outside with twenty pacesetters. Sun Chuanting learned from him that all the subordinate officers and soldiers had settled down. Then he went to the restaurant in a sedan chair, Luo Shifang and others mounted guards, and Sun Fugui also rode to follow.

At this time, the sky had gradually darkened, the entire restaurant in Deshengju was brightly lit, and the square in front of the restaurant was full of sedan chairs and carriages.

After Sun Chuanting got off the official sedan chair, Zhu Yongyou came over to exchange a few words of greeting, then solemnly asked the governor to go first, and Sun Chuanting strode into the restaurant. The hall on the first floor was already full of attendants and guards brought by various officials.Sun Chuanting took a glance, and the noisy attendants were suddenly silent. Zhu Yongyou smiled and said, "Master Futai, please go to the second floor!" Sun Chuanting nodded with a smile, and went straight up the stairs to the second floor.

The second floor was originally divided into private seats by screens, but today all the screens were removed, and the governor, the chief envoy, the inspector, a group of high-level officials who are all in charge of the yamen, as well as the prefects of various prefectures, and the famous gentry in Xi'an gathered together, The entire lobby on the second floor was filled.

Seeing the governor coming up, all the officials stood up one after another and bowed their hands to salute. The hall was filled with all kinds of accents and greetings. Sun Chuanting smiled and bowed to everyone. Zhu Yongyou hurriedly greeted him to sit at the main table.

After Sun Chuanting sat down in the main seat, the rest of the officials sat down.

Zhu Yongyou ordered the dishes to be served, and all kinds of delicacies that had been prepared were filled with the table in a short while. Sun Chuanting frowned slightly, and then relaxed them.

Zhu Yongyou picked up his wine glass and stood up, coughing, all the officials looked at him, and he said: "Today the new governor, Mr. Sun, took office. He has admired Mr. Sun's reputation for a long time. Mr. Sun is the governor of Shaanxi on behalf of heaven. It is indeed the blessing of Shaanxi, and also the blessing of our subordinates! Come on, let's raise our glasses together, welcome the arrival of the governor, and win!"

The officials got up again, held up their wine glasses, and the crowd was extremely lively.

Sun Chuanting stood up with a smile, held up his wine glass, and said, "I just arrived in Shaanxi, and I don't know much about the situation in this province. I hope you will help me a lot in the future. We will work together to wipe out the thieves and appease the people, so that the Holy One can feel at ease! "

After speaking, he drank the wine in the glass in one gulp, and all the officials also drank the wine.

Zhu Yongyou announced that each table was free, and the hall gradually became lively. Although a province is an official, its responsibilities are different. Many officials rarely meet each other. Now that they have the opportunity to sit together, they introduced each other and exchanged greetings.

There were not many people at Sun Chuanting's table. In addition to Zhu Yongyou, the chief envoy, there were Qian Shouqian, the inspector, Yao Huailong, the inspector, Li Dazhong, the governor, and several representatives of the local gentry.

Sun Chuanting chatted happily with everyone, and the atmosphere was very harmonious.

After drinking for three rounds, officials from all tables came to toast one after another. Sun Chuanting had a large capacity for drinking, and he never refused to come.Everyone praised him for his generosity, but they secretly despised him. It seemed that he was another kid from a rich family, so greedy for drinking. Such a person must be fooled as a provincial chief.After a while, Sun Chuanting became so drunk that Zhu Yongyou hurriedly ordered the governor to be sent back to the yamen to rest, and the banquet came to an end.

After returning to the room in the office courtyard, Sun Fugui helped Sun Chuanting to lie down on the bed, lit the candles, turned around and went out to order his servants to boil hot water for the young master to take a bath to sober up. Sun Chuanting suddenly opened his eyes, his eyes were clear, how could he A hint of drunkenness.

He got up and took off his official uniform that smelled of alcohol. When everyone was toasting, he continued to cover up with his big sleeves and poured most of the wine into his inner sleeves.

He started to walk around the room in his middle coat, thinking about the first impression of everyone at the banquet just now while pacing.

Qian Shouqian, the inspector censor, was quiet and serious, and he only said a few polite words when toasting;

Several gentry representatives were flattering and full of compliments.

The chief envoy, Zhu Yongyou, was born as a Beijing official, so he was naturally free and easy, and had a good chat with Sun Chuanting.As for other officials, it is the standard respect that subordinates show to superiors, at least superficially.

What didn't please him was that when he traveled all the way from the capital, what he saw was devastated, the soil in the fields was dry and clumped, and the crops were almost useless.

On the official road, there are groups of poorly clothed refugees with yellow faces and skinny faces.

And the officials seem to never know that the people under their rule are facing the threat of death every day. Tonight's luxurious banquet will cost enough food for thousands of people a day.

Thinking of this, Sun Chuanting suddenly felt extremely heavy, and the courage on his shoulders seemed to weigh a thousand catties.

Sun Fugui brought someone into the room carrying the bath water, and seeing the young master standing there contemplating, he made a hand gesture, and the two servants quietly put down the barrel, and slowly exited the room, Sun Fugui closed the door, and said : "Master, take a bath while it's hot and relax."

Sun Chuanting woke up from his contemplation, nodded, and asked while taking off his clothes, "Is there any news from Sun Zhi'an? After all, the time has come. Could it be that something happened on the way?"

Sun Fugui replied: "Don't worry, young master, Anzi is very capable, and dozens of ordinary thieves can't do anything to him, not to mention that the family has arranged for escorts from a commercial company. Several old grandfathers have domestic servants, maybe it is the road. It’s hard to do, maybe it’ll be here in a few days.”

After taking a bath, Sun Chuanting slept soundly all night, got up early in the morning and ate a simple breakfast, put on his official uniform and was about to go to work in the front. Just as he was about to go out, there was a sound of hurried footsteps, and then Sun Fugui ran into the yard excitedly. shouted: "Master, Sun Zhi'an and the masters have arrived, and they are coming to the inner courtyard first!"

Sun Chuanting was also very happy to hear that a good man needs three helpers, what he urgently needs now is helpers.

After a while, Zhuang Yuanzhou stepped into the yard first. He was in his thirties, from Daizhou, with a white face and a slight beard. He had a bold and generous personality and a wealthy family. Unexpectedly, it was not tested again.

After Sun Chuanting resigned from office and returned to his hometown, Zhuang Yuanzhou came to visit him admiringly. After meeting for the first time, the two talked very happily. They had many similar views on the current situation and government affairs. After several contacts, they became confidants.

Zhuang Yuanzhou admired Sun Chuanting's insight and ambition, and firmly believed that such a great talent as Sun Chuanting would not be buried. The two agreed that after Sun Chuanting became an official, Zhuang Yuanzhou would definitely go to assist him. Unexpectedly, this day finally came.

The other two students, Cui Shisheng and Xie Renxing, are both from Daizhou. They are in their twenties.

Both of them were born in ordinary households. They studied a lot in addition to studying history, military affairs, strategy, and mathematics. They had a close relationship with Zhuang Yuanzhou, who liked to make friends, and later met Sun Chuanting through Zhuang Yuanzhou. , I also admire his vision and talent.

This time Sun Chuanting took up the post in Shaanxi, and the two are also willing to follow and come to help.

After Zhuang Yuanzhou saw Sun Chuanting, he walked up to Sun Chuanting in a few strides, laughed and cupped his hands and said, "Brother Baigu, did my younger brother's prophecy come true? Hahaha, now brother Baigu has finally become a member of the party. My younger brother congratulates Brother Baigu." !"

Sun Chuanting smiled back and said: "Brother Zhongfang is straight to the point, Brother Yu admires it!"

At this time, Cui and Xie also rushed over to see the ceremony. Their joy was beyond words. Sun Chuanting hurriedly invited the three of them to sit in the living room.

Sun Chuanting said: "Brother Yu just arrived yesterday, and he was worrying about being alone. He was looking forward to the early arrival of some virtuous brothers to help me. I didn't expect them to come so quickly."

Zhuang Yuanzhou took a sip of the tea, put down the teacup and said with a smile: "Sun Zhian traveled all night and returned to Daizhou in five days. The old lady of your mansion notified me, Cui and Xie, my brothers. I was overjoyed when I heard the news!
The elder brother's great talent was finally appreciated by the court, and we were sincerely happy for Brother Bai Gu to arrive, and then we went home to prepare.

Because she was afraid that the road would be uneven, when the caravan from the house returned to Daizhou, the old lady selected [-] capable guards from the caravan guards to accompany us to protect us.

I know that the imperial court may not give Brother Bai Gu too much money, so I have withdrawn 5000 taels of silver from my mansion, which can be regarded as a small gesture!
The old lady also took 1 taels of silver from the caravan and entrusted me to bring them. The twenty guards will stay in Brother Baigu's yamen from now on as his personal guards.

Mrs. Sister-in-law originally wanted to entrust me to be a few servant girls to serve my brother, but I knew that Brother Baigu didn’t like women, so I gently persuaded Mrs. Sister-in-law to bring two servants from your family to come.

Both brothers Cui and Xie came alone, only bringing their clothes and books with them, Brother Baigu, you have to give us a monthly salary in the future, hahaha! "

Sun Chuanting was greatly moved, he got up and saluted the three of them solemnly, and said: "It is a real honor in this life for me to be able to get to know all the virtuous brothers, especially the virtuous brother Zhongfang. The second is loyalty to my Ming court!
There are also two virtuous brothers, Cui and Xie, who are in the year of the imperial examination, let go of their bright future, and come all the way to this dangerous place to help me, I am grateful for my brother!When my grandson Chuanting's career rises to the top, that is when the three virtuous younger brothers show their ambitions, my Sun Mou once again swore that he will never fail the three virtuous younger brothers! "

The three of Zhuang Yuanzhou also put away their smiling faces, got up and solemnly returned the salute, Sun Chuanting walked up to the three of them, and held up their arms, everyone looked at each other, and their arms were tightly held together.

(End of this chapter)