SFS Chapter 407 Who taught you the characters
Chapter 407 Who taught you the characters
Inside the county government office of Qingshan County, Jiangzhou, the exterior was renovated to make the facade more magnificent.
As for taxes, the imperial palace looked down on those small amounts and was too lazy to ask for them. They were all at the disposal of the local counties, who were all quite wealthy. They either recruited monks and trained them themselves, or used the money for local people's livelihood. The higher the official position, the more money they could control. The money used to repair the county government office was actually nothing.
If there is no problem with the local people's livelihood, then the money can be used on your own officials, to increase the salaries of local minor officials or to spend money on wine and women. As long as the local people live well and the plan of this year's performance evaluation law is completed, no one will care about you.
This year, County Magistrate Wang Jingzhong's plan is to increase the average income of local residents to 20 taels of silver per year.
In today's Daqian Dynasty, the common people can live on five taels a year. Of course, this does not apply to those who practice cultivation. If you want to practice cultivation, you have to make money yourself. They only care about how many people can survive and become rich.
The average income in Qingshan County is ten taels of silver per year.
Local governments set up livelihood projects to help people make money, established workshops, etc., which were all experiences of getting rich passed down from above.
But in fact, this year it can reach about 15 taels of silver, and twenty taels of silver a year are for promotion based on performance evaluation.
But he didn't want to be promoted, as long as he didn't get demoted. It sounded comfortable to be an official here, but there would be a lot more things to manage after he got promoted.
With food and drink and no worries, Wang Jingzhong felt quite comfortable. At this moment, he was talking with a group of local county officials about the plans here.
"The Lunar New Year is coming soon. Before the end of the year, we need to send some of Qingshan County's unique Qingshan Ink to Jiangzhou. If the higher-ups can mobilize resources, our lives will be better. The local people's happiness index will be high, and the people will have hope. Only then can our path be more stable."
"The county government office should be bigger, and the injustice drum should also be bigger. If there are more of them, if any people are wronged, they can be dealt with immediately."
"We must deeply learn from the experience of the imperial capital and open more convenient government service windows for local people, so that the people will feel that we are one with them. We come from the people and go to the people. As officials, we should only care about the people's livelihood. If the people don't live well, how can we live well?"
"Yes, yes, Lord Wang's words make sense. No wonder he was once a person who went to the capital to learn from the local bureaucratic experience. We admire him. We have already followed Lord Wang's instructions and issued the order."
The middle-aged man nodded slightly. "Back then, I met the former Prime Minister, Qiu, from a distance. Although he was just an ordinary old man, his words were shocking. He was trusted by both the Emperor and Your Majesty. When Your Majesty and the Emperor went on a trip, it was Qiu who managed the entire Tianxuan Continent. He was very capable and had a very good vision."
"It's such a pity. God is jealous of talented people. They died accidentally. I heard that they were assassinated. The current Prime Minister is not so good either. He is a corrupt official. It's just that the laws of the dynasty are there that he dares not act arbitrarily. Otherwise, the world that has finally eased for several years will be in chaos again..."
While everyone was talking, a government guard suddenly came quickly and bowed to report.
"Your Excellency, two children have come outside. They claim that their calligraphy is unmatched in the world and they would like to contribute to the county government."
Everyone smiled.
"Two children, how old are they?"
"About ten years old."
Wang Jingzhong smiled and said, "Haha, there is no one in the world who can surpass his calligraphy skills. He is young but he is so arrogant. I know that those who come to the county government or the gate for renovation to pick up their calligraphy must have read some books. It is a good thing. Just take them there. When they are finished, there is no need to return them. Just put them somewhere and give them a few taels of money as a reward."
"We understand, sir."
After the guards left, an official suddenly seemed to have thought of something.
"I have heard that in the county next to our Qingshan County, there was once an official from the former Great Zhou Dynasty. He resigned and returned home. Later, the royal family of the Great Zhou Dynasty was beheaded by the Emperor, and all the officials were killed. He has always been resentful of our Great Qian Dynasty."
"Hmm, why are you suddenly mentioning this person? Isn't it a good thing that the world is at peace and there is no more conflict? Why are you still angry?"
"That's unclear, but this person's calligraphy was praised by the emperor of the previous Great Zhou Dynasty. If I could obtain a piece of his calligraphy..."
"It doesn't have to be this way."
Wang Jingzhong said calmly, "Can the scholars of my Daqian Dynasty be inferior to the collapsed Great Zhou Dynasty? Anyway, it will take a long time for the county government to be completed, so I will definitely be able to wait for a good calligraphy. At worst, I can go to the Jiangzhou Prefecture and ask for a good calligraphy. Who is afraid that I can't suppress the fortune of this county government?"
"That makes sense. This person is so proud of what he has, so don't worry about it."
"It's a shame that the orphans of the old dynasty don't recognize the achievements of our new dynasty. It's truly ridiculous. Now the people are happy and their families are joyful. Isn't this much better than the days when people were starving to death or freezing to death at any time?"
"Since this person is an official, he is naturally arrogant. How can he not see the suffering of the world? Even if someone died in front of him, he would be an eyesore. No matter how good his handwriting is, the county government will not accept such a person."
"Sir, sir, leave a calligraphy work for the two children and don't ask for any fee. You said you will make your decision after you have seen it. You think the few taels of silver are too little."
Everyone looked at it curiously, and found it unbelievable.
"You wrote so quickly, could it be that you had a draft in mind?"
"I'm afraid so."
Wang Jingzhong asked curiously, "I've already finished it, but I think it's too little. I want to review it before I consider how much to give you."
"Haha, the kid is just talking nonsense, why should you care about it?"
"Even so, it's inevitable that there are such arrogant and ambitious young people. It's worth going and taking a look."
"I think it's a waste of time to go. It's better to have tea."
"Liu Zhibi drank a lot of Lord Wang's good tea, I'm afraid he can't drink enough."
"Hey, how can you say that? Didn't you drink?"
Wang Jingzhong thought for a moment and nodded slightly.
"Everyone, please rest here. I will go and take a look."
"Hey, sir, what you said is embarrassing for us. Since you are planning to go and see it, why don't we go together?"
"Naturally."
Everyone set off and headed towards the study.
At this moment, there were actually quite a few people sitting on the table outside the study who were trying to cheat for their writing fees.
In fact, if you are bold, your writing is not too ugly, or you are good at writing poetry, you can fool people, but not by much.
But few of them are brave enough. The officials here are at the same level as you. Even the most powerful monks dare not show off in front of the dynasty rules. If the monks don't dare to go, the common people naturally won't dare to go. Those who dare to come are all capable.
Chu Tianran and Zhao Linger were standing in front of a table. The rest of the people were of different ages, some in their twenties or thirties, some in middle age, and even some in their eighties.
"Little kid, you're so brave! Do you think you can come to the county government office?"
An old man had just finished writing and came over jokingly, curious about the writings left by the two men.
He has practiced calligraphy for hundreds of years and feels that his brushwork has reached perfection, but brushwork is only one thing, poetry is also another. Today, he feels that he can be appreciated by the county magistrate and perhaps even get a job as an official.
However, when the two men turned around, the old man couldn't help but be stunned when he saw the young man's extraordinary appearance, extraordinary demeanor, and the appearance of a banished immortal.
This young man has great courage, and I'm afraid his cultivation roots are also very strong!
Chu Tianran turned around, smiled slightly, and bowed.
"Although I am not as old as you, my literary talent and writing skills are not necessarily inferior to yours."
The old man laughed loudly and stepped forward: "You are really very arrogant. This is what a young man should do. In this case, let me take a look at this ink. This ink..."
His eyes fixed, and he was suddenly stunned. With a look of astonishment, he suddenly looked at the young man!
Could this font be the dragon-style font that only exists in the imperial palace?
"Sir, please come this way..."
A group of people came over with smiles in the distance, and Wang Jingzhong, who was in the lead, saw the astonished old man.
"Huh! Even Mr. Xu is here today. I want to thank you for your support."
He is a famous calligrapher in Qingshan County, but he is a little poor. His calligraphy is very good, but his poems are just average.
When it comes to welcoming and seeing off guests, Wang Jingzhong never offends anyone and always praises everyone.
Wang Jingzhong smiled and bowed: "Mr. Xu is here, I'm afraid the red head today will fall on Mr. Xu!"
Upon hearing this, the old man hurriedly bowed and shook his head: "I am unworthy of this position. Please take a look at this calligraphy..."
Wang Jingzhong's gaze fell on Chu Tianran and Zhao Linger.
The young man had an extraordinary bearing and a graceful demeanor, while the girl looked a little frightened.
A smile appeared on his face.
"There is no one in the world who can surpass you in calligraphy. Could it be you?"
Chu Tianran smiled slightly and nodded.
"You are talking about me, but what I am saying is that there are only a handful of people in the world whose calligraphy skills can surpass mine. I hope you can explain it clearly."
"Haha, you're all so proud, you didn't even want the writing fee?"
"If you have read my handwriting, you will definitely not just give me that much silver."
"Oh?"
Everyone came forward out of curiosity.
"With such a tone, I'd like to see it."
"Haha, I want to see it too."
"Please, Lord Wang, go ahead."
Wang Jingzhong nodded slightly, walked forward, and everyone followed him, and then his eyes fell.
"Let me see this calligraphy. It says..."
Everyone was stunned.
When laws and regulations are in place, the world will be at peace; when officials are impartial, the people will be at peace.
It's quite standard, and if placed in front of the county government office, it has good meaning, as it's Qingming Festival.
Everyone is an honest official, giving the people a good impression.
But this word...
Wang Jingzhong's eyes trembled.
"Long Kai..."
"There are only a few hundred people in the capital who can learn this style of calligraphy. It was created by the Emperor, and only the nobles among the nobles in the capital, at least second-rank officials, are qualified to learn it..."
Originally, only the Emperor knew how to do it, and later it was learned by the former Prime Minister Qiu Zun. Later, it became popular in the court, but few people in the court dared to learn it, only those in the cabinet dared to learn it.
Anyone who can write this character must be a descendant of the previous cabinet member.
Everyone praised him.
"The calligraphy is so rare, it's truly wonderful!"
"The style of Long Kai is extremely difficult to even describe. It seems that it took you many years to write it. You don't look that old..."
Wang Jingzhong immediately stopped everyone present from speaking, with a serious look in his eyes.
These people have never been to the capital.
He has been there.
I went to visit one of my former teachers, who is now a senior official in the Ministry of Revenue.
In front of this teacher's house, there is a couplet written by the prince himself, which is of this style.
Long Kai can be copied and learned, but those who can write with such style must have been taught by the most core group of people and can write with such spirit.
This person has an extraordinary background, or the person he knows must be extraordinary.
"Young man, may I ask who taught you this word?"