As the Jingcha Storm and the Border Storm unfolded, Fang Shoushi became a very acceptable candidate for rescue. This candidate was reported by Shen Yicheng and received Zhu Yijun's approval and approval.
However, Fang Shoushi did not feel happy about his promotion. On the contrary, after receiving the news, he appeared to be very worried. When he returned home, he did not say a word. He just sat in his study and thought about something.
Around dinnertime, someone came to Fang Shoushi's study.
"Dong Weng, you were looking for me?"
Fang Shoushi raised his head and looked at the middle-aged man in front of him who had thick hair, big eyes, and a strange appearance.
"Oh, Zhi Sheng is here. Come, sit."
Fang Shoushi pointed to the chair in front of him and invited the middle-aged man to sit.
"Thank you, Dong Weng."
The middle-aged man, Sun Chengzong, thanked Fang Shoushi and sat down. He then said, "Both of you have done your homework well today."
"Yes, with Zhi Sheng, with his talent, I am not worried about my son's studies."
Fang Shoushi smiled slightly and then revealed a worried expression. "Zhi Sheng, I just received a transfer order from the Literary Selection Department."
"Transfer order?"
Sun Chengzong was slightly stunned. "To where?"
Fang Shoushi said in a low voice, "Datong's Inspector-General."
"Datong's Inspector-General?"
Sun Chengzong was shocked. "The war in Datong has not ended, and the previous Inspector-General, Mei Guozhen, has just died. For the imperial court to make Dong Weng the Inspector-General of Datong at this critical juncture, this …"
"Yes, the war in Datong has not ended, and five hundred thousand Northern Barbarians have invaded the borders. The situation is extremely urgent. I have many years of experience in managing the borders, and I have even led troops to obtain some military merits. As a result, Minister Shen took a fancy to me and personally recommended me to His Majesty. His Majesty is also very satisfied with me and appointed me the Inspector-General of Datong. It is impossible for me to refuse now."
Fang Shoushi sighed. "Currently, the situation in Datong is not looking good. Five hundred thousand Northern Barbarians have invaded the border. Although Xiao Zhennan is leading the army to defend it, Datong has been occupied by the Northern Barbarians for several months. It has long become a living hell. I'm afraid that everything will have to start from scratch. If I go there, not only will there be a myriad of problems, my life will also be in danger …"
Fang Shoushi wasn't young anymore. He couldn't stand the torment anymore. He didn't want to agree, but he had no choice but to agree.
Sun Chengzong thought for a moment, then said, "Actually, you don't have to worry too much, Dong Weng. According to what I know, Datong is currently being guarded by Xiao Zhennan. Xiao Zhennan is a famous general. With him around, at least the Northern Barbarians won't be able to break into Datong, right?"
"That's hard to say."
Fang Shoushi said, "Although Xiao Zhennan is indeed a famous general of the dynasty, they are still five hundred thousand Northern Barbarians. Their soldiers are in the hundreds of thousands, and their scale is so large that it has never been seen in the decades since Jiajing. Datong has long been scorched earth, and it's hard to say what will happen. Moreover, Xiao Zhennan is now the viceroy, the viceroy of the four borders, and my immediate superior."
Sun Chengzong finally understood why his Dong Weng was so hesitant.
Fang Shoushi was someone who had been honed at the borders. He shouldn't be afraid. Based on Sun Chengzong's understanding of Fang Shoushi, Fang Shoushi was not someone who was afraid of death. The reason he was so hesitant was probably because of Xiao Ruxun's position as the viceroy.
For a sixty-year-old high-ranking official to have a twenty-eight-year-old young man as his immediate superior, no matter how he thought about it, he felt a little uncomfortable. Not to mention that Xiao Ruxun was born a military general, a pure military general. She was the first military governor of the dynasty. Even though it was rare, she was still a military general.
The innate psychological advantage of scholars made it difficult for their self-esteem to accept such a situation.
After going over, he had to bow to a young man who was about the same age as his grandson. How could Fang Shoushi get over this hurdle in his heart?
If he was just a general, it would be fine. But he was the viceroy, a position that only civil generals could take. How could Fang Shoushi treat him?
Forget about Fang Shoushi, even if Sun Chengzong was in his shoes, he might not be able to take it. Although he was only a High Scholar, and Fang Shoushi had hired a private tutor for his son, he could be considered half an advisor. However, scholars had their own pride, not to mention that Sun Chengzong was much older than him.
This was indeed a little hard to accept.
"Dong Weng, actually, you don't have to feel so bad."
Sun Chengzong analyzed the situation and said, "Xiao Zhennan is after all a noble general. At this time, making an exception to become the viceroy is just a temporary measure. The situation is too urgent, and Xiao Zhennan is needed to turn the tide. Once this war is over, how can the court tolerate a general as the viceroy? Not to mention that Xiao Zhennan's prestige and reputation are so great. The longer he commands the army, the more the court will worry! "
Fang Shoushi pondered for a while.
"What Zhi Sheng said makes sense. I also think so. Once the war is over, Xiao Zhennan will definitely leave his post. But even so, before the war is over, he will still be the viceroy, and I will still be his subordinate. This …"
Sun Chengzong chuckled.
Moreover, Xiao Zhennan's reputation in the imperial court is very good. Those who have worked with him all say that he is reasonable and knows etiquette. He has studied with the great Confucian scholars and comes from a family of generals. He is not someone that those illiterate boorish men can compare to. His disciples believe that he knows what he should do and that he knows what to do. "
Fang Shoushi felt that what Sun Chengzong said made sense.
"Moreover, since Xiao Zhennan made a name for himself in the battle of Ningxia, he has never lost a single battle. His military exploits are outstanding, and I still have some admiration for him. I also want to meet him."
Fang Shoushi smiled and said, "In that case, Zhi Sheng is willing to follow me to Datong?"
"Yes, I am willing."
Sun Chengzong stood up and clasped his hands. "I ask for Dong Weng's permission!"
"You are not staying in the capital to study for the examination?"
Sun Chengzong bitterly smiled. "Dong Weng has no need to make fun of me. This is the second time, and I have failed the examination twice. I am already thirty-five, and I don't know how to face my family. I don't know if I will ever have the chance to become a jinshi. It is only because Meng Dong Weng did not abandon me that I can stay in the capital. "
Fang Shoushi stood up and walked up to Sun Chengzong, patting him on the shoulder.
"I am well aware of Zhi Sheng's talent. Don't worry too much about a temporary setback in the exam. When I took the jinshi examination, I also suffered defeat after defeat. I persevered and finally became a jinshi in my forties. Zhi Sheng is only thirty-five, so why do you need to belittle yourself?"
Sun Chengzong's eyes became hot, his nose sore, and he could not help but cry.
"Many thanks, Dong Weng …"
No one could understand the pain of being defeated in the exam better than him. The doubts of his family, the difficulty of making a living, and every time his hopes were dashed, they all fiercely hammered at Sun Chengzong's fragile self-esteem.
He was already middle-aged, but he had yet to become a jinshi. If he came from a wealthy family, it would be enough to pass the imperial examination, and he could stop there. If he had no ambition, it would be enough to pass the imperial examination. There would be people working for him, and he could live a wealthy life as a local gentry.
But Sun Chengzong was not willing!
He had the ambition to serve his country. He did not want to be a local gentry, relying on exploiting the people and avoiding taxes to live his life. He wanted to realize his ambition.
The only person in the capital who admired him was this sixty-year-old old man in front of him. If he was not here, he would have no way out of the capital.
Go home?
That was not his choice. He would only be more embarrassed when he returned home.
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