After the man stood up, his eyes turned red. He hesitated for a moment, then scratched his head, feeling a little shy. He gathered his courage and said, "I'm from Jinzhou, only three hundred li away from the General's and Your Highness's hometown. However, I left Liaodong six or seven years later than the General. I once mingled in another army, but I committed a crime and had no choice but to follow the General. All these years, I've been working for General Chu, and I haven't made any contributions. It's all hard work that anyone can do. A few years ago, I married a wife and gave birth to a few little girls. At the beginning of autumn, I finally had a boy with a handle. My family doesn't lack money, so I'd like to ask Your Highness to name my boy when you're free. If Your Highness is too busy, just pretend that I didn't say anything."
Hsu Fengnian said softly, "There are many things to pay attention to when choosing a name. If it's not chosen well, it will affect one's future luck. I believe in this very much, so I don't dare to name your son."
The man didn't have much hope, so he wasn't disappointed. Hsu Fengnian suddenly smiled and said, "But Xu Xiao doesn't believe in this. When I go to Liangzhou, I'll ask Xu Xiao to name your son. If it's not chosen well, or if it's unpleasant, you can use it as a nickname."
The man was about to kneel again, but Hsu Fengnian grabbed his arm and said helplessly, "Alright, even if you kneel a few more times, I can't ask for a few more names for your son. Besides, your son doesn't need them. Names aren't money, so the more the better."
The man smiled shyly. He no longer had his original shrewdness and caution, but rather a sincere and honest look.
"After you leave, send a message to Xu Beizhi in Longqing County and ask him to come to the General's Mansion."
After saying this, Hsu Fengnian walked to the window. The man, who was full of joy, didn't disturb His Royal Highness's thoughts and silently left the study. Hsu Fengnian gazed at the pot of Impatiens Balsamine that Huyan Guanyin had 'sacrificed' to bring over.
The strength of Liyang lay in the fact that after the unification of the Central Plains, the Grand Preceptor Sun Xiji, as the head of the civil officials, led a large group of old remnants of West Chu to pledge their allegiance to Liyang. The dust had completely settled on the dust of the struggle for orthodoxy in the world. As long as the Imperial Court was willing to use talents, there was practically an inexhaustible supply. These talents all had their own specialties. Some were focused on writing moral articles and establishing their views. Some were pragmatic and buried in their work to render meritorious service. There were also a large number of people doing dirty and tiring work. If Liyang was said to be a fertile land with tens of thousands of mu and qualified to bully customers in the taverns, then Beiliang was a small piece of land. His master, Li Yishan, for so many years, could be said to be a clever housewife who couldn't cook without rice. Hsu Fengnian used to joke in private. Whether it was with Xu Xiao or with his two sisters, he said that even if he could become the Emperor, he would rather die than sit in the throne room. This was because he had long known how difficult it was to be in charge of a region. However, when he really began to personally set up the plan, he felt that even if he was the Crown Prince of Beiliang, if he wanted to do anything, he was still trapped in a square cage. The slightest movement would cause him to run into a wall. This cage was something painstakingly built by the people of each dynasty.
Hsu Fengnian returned to the writing desk and picked up the brush to write down the loosely structured three words, "Only Tell Corpses". Then, he added a side note next to the word "Only Tell Corpses", completing the word "Weave". Putting down the brush, Hsu Fengnian put his hands in his sleeves and walked out of the study. He walked aimlessly through the corridors and buildings. At a small pavilion by the water, he bumped into Wang Lvting, who was jumping around to warm himself. This fellow, along with Li Hanlin, Wang Yunshu, and a young master who committed crimes in Emei County, were known as the Four Tyrants of Lingzhou. Not to mention Wang Xihua, who could not be underestimated, but compared to the lifeless Wang Zhenlu, the head of the Su Of Gojoseon family, Hsu Fengnian was undoubtedly more interested in this new master of the Purple Gold Wang Family, Wang Lvting. Because of the hereditary succession, Beiliang was now in an unavoidable era of turmoil. A new Emperor would bring in new officials. Those who should have fallen had already fallen, and those who should have risen had yet to rise. Many families were following the general trend and moving around, but the timing was different. Zhong Hongwu, who was born into a noble family, let his only son, Zhong Chengxin, take the path of a civil official in order to seek change. Wang Xihua, who was already a famous scholar, let Wang Yunshu take the path of a military general in order to seek change. However, most of these people had good fathers, so they could get twice the result with half the effort. Hsu Fengnian only knew that the Purple Gold Wang Family had not produced any great talents for several generations. He originally thought that Wang Lvting's generation would also fall into decline. He did not expect that this time, he would have the courage to come to the general's mansion. If he returned empty-handed, the first target to be dealt with by the Administrator would definitely not be the two families of Wang Xihua and Wang Zhenlu, but the Purple Gold Wang Family, whose foundation was not stable. It could be imagined that the young Wang Lvting was shouldering a lot of pressure.
Seeing His Royal Highness approaching, Wang Lvting just turned his head and smiled, continuing to jump and jump.
Hsu Fengnian stood beside Wang Lvting. The latter opened his mouth and joked, "Knowing that Your Highness is a straightforward person, Lvting will speak bluntly. This time, I followed behind my two elders here to ask for a reward from Your Highness. I'm really cutting off all means of retreat. If I don't get an official position, when I return to Hwangnam County, I will definitely be criticized by those old men behind my back. Your Highness, please do me a favor and take pity on Wang Lvting."
Hsu Fengnian looked at the narrow ripples that were only slightly rippled within the "rules" and calmly said, "First, tell me what kind of official position you want. If it's too big, I can't afford it. If it's too small, I can't take it out. If I try to fool the Purple Gold Wang Family, I will also be drowned in the spit of those old men behind my back. "
Wang Lvting laughed heartily and said, "It's not big. Beiliang's Weaving Bureau only has this kind of official position. The two Weaving Bureau in Gangnam-do are fourth-rank positions. Our Beiliang's Golden Thread Weaving Bureau is only fifth-rank. Anyway, the old weaver Li Xifeng has worked for twelve years. He should have retired long ago. "
Hsu Fengnian said calmly, "Fifth-rank isn't small."
Wang Lvting was indeed thick-skinned. He stopped jumping and exhaled a mouthful of smoke. He turned his head and looked at His Royal Highness with a bright smile, "Lvting knew that it would be difficult to get an official position, so I have the intention to buy one from Your Highness. The Purple Gold Wang Family is willing to take out one hundred and eighty thousand taels of silver, all in cash. If it's not enough, the family still has some rare antiques and calligraphy rubbing, which can be converted into silver. As long as Your Highness is generous, we can probably gather another one hundred thousand taels of silver. There's no other way. We can't be compared to the other three Princes of Hwangnam County. Our Purple Gold Wang Family is poor. "
Hsu Fengnian sat on a long bench and gestured at Wang Lvting. The two of them sat facing each other. Hsu Fengnian smiled and said, "I can sell you a Golden Thread Weaving Bureau for one hundred and eighty thousand taels of silver. However, there's an additional condition."
Wang Lvting smiled and said, "Your Highness, my sister is indeed famous for being virtuous. However, her beauty is only average. Furthermore, she has a matchmaker. Your Highness, please don't have this idea."
Hsu Fengnian was stunned. He didn't know whether to laugh or cry. He smiled and said, "Don't try to be glib with me. Let's be serious. I know that you have a good friend who comes from a poor family. He is a teacher in the Purple Gold Wang Family. Yao Baifeng said that as long as this person is willing to take the imperial examinations and obtain scholarly honors, he will definitely become the top scorer of the Lingzhou Imperial Examinations, as well as the Huiyuan Imperial Examinations of the Eight Prefectures. He might even become the Zhuangyuan Imperial Examinations of the Three Prefectures. This year, Lu Yuyuan of Hwangnam County obtained the top three of the Palace Examinations and was bestowed with the title of Jinshi. It seems that he benefited from your friend's weaving techniques. Otherwise, he would only be able to pass the County Examinations. Not to mention the Palace Examinations, even the Metropolitan Examinations would be an extravagant hope. If you can persuade this person to leave the mountain, I will let you become a Golden Thread Weaving Bureau. If you can't persuade him, then you will have to obediently return to the Purple Gold Wang Family. "
Wang Lvting held his stomach and laughed loudly.
Hsu Fengnian was indifferent.
Wang Lvting stopped laughing and said with a cunning expression, "Your Highness, please don't worry. This fellow has already been forcefully kidnapped by me and brought to the city. Should I call him over for Your Highness now?"
Hsu Fengnian shook his head and said, "There's no need to meet him. Tell him to come to Lingzhou's capital after the New Year. I have an official's hat to give to him for free."
Wang Lvting sighed ruefully and said, "Comparisons are odious. I still have to spend my entire fortune to buy an official's position. This fellow has it all."
Hsu Fengnian suddenly said, "You are neither the son of the first wife nor the eldest son. To be able to become the head of the Purple Gold Wang Family, it must not have been easy."
Wang Lvting retracted his frivolous expression. However, he did not purposely sit upright and still. Instead, he said softly, "Compared to Your Highness, it is much easier."
Hsu Fengnian laughed and said, "You haven't even become an official yet and you are already bootlicking?"
Wang Lvting laughed again, "Let's get familiar with each other first. Since I want to live under someone else's roof, how can I not look at his face? In the future, Your Highness should give Wang Lvting more opportunities to flatter you. "
Hsu Fengnian joked, "Then you should first become Chu Lushan's disciple and learn from him."
Wang Lvting wanted to say something but stopped.
Hsu Fengnian knew that he was a smart person and said directly, "I know what you are thinking. Indeed, whether it is me or others, Chu Lushan's bootlicking has always been disgusting. However, there is one thing that many people don't see. Chu Lushan only treats one person this way. This is called being faithful to one person until death. Therefore, he and Administrator Li both …"
At this point, Hsu Fengnian paused for a moment and did not continue speaking. He stood up and left directly.
Wang Lvting, who had been secretly tense, did not think too deeply about the strange words at the end. After all, he had obtained everything he wanted on this trip and had even exceeded his expectations. At the same time, he felt as if a heavy burden had been lifted off his shoulders and he could not suppress his excitement. However, when he realized the meaning behind it, he felt a chill all over his body. Could it be that the owner of the neighboring mansion would also change his name as Beiliang changed?
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