Chapter 275

The officials of the Administrative Secretary and the Department of Internal Affairs opened their doors wide and welcomed the new High Scholars. They consoled them and gave them a feast. Finally, they accompanied them out of the government office. They followed the High Scholars and paraded them through the streets, showing them around the sights and places of interest. They paid their respects to Confucius. It could be said that the scenery was boundless.

After another three days, the Administrative Secretary's office sent out an official letter, making arrangements for the new High Scholars. After seeing the official letter from the Administrative Secretary's office, some of the 30 High Scholars were happy, while others were worried.

Out of the 30 High Scholars, 11 of them were assigned to the Administrative Secretary, the Department of Internal Affairs, the Department of Internal Affairs, and the Department of Internal Affairs. The remaining 6 were assigned to various places to be officials.

However, this was only a temporary appointment after the two departments had discussed it. After taking up the post, it was only a temporary appointment. It still needed to be reported to the Imperial Court and approved by the Emperor. Then, the Ministry of Appointments would officially announce their appointment. Only then would they be considered as an official appointed by the Imperial Court.

However, for these low ranking officials, in addition to the special circumstances of Guizhou, submitting the document to the Emperor and the Ministry of Appointments was just a formality. There had never been a case where they were not approved. Therefore, once they received the appointment from the Administrative Secretary's office, they were almost certain to be appointed officials by the Imperial Court.

Of the remaining 19 people, Tu Fanglin and Tu Jieyuan were sent to the capital to prepare for next year's national examinations. If he was lucky, he would become a High Scholar and receive a ticket to a meteoric rise. However, looking at his bad luck, this luck would most likely have nothing to do with him.

There were also eight people who were recommended to enter the Imperial College. They were also sent to the capital, but they were much luckier than Tu Jieyuan.

There were four types of students in the Imperial College. The first type were Elementary Scholars and were called Imperial Scholars. The second type were children of high ranking officials who had inherited their parents' influence and were called Imperial Scholars. The third type were like these eight people who entered the college as High Scholars and were called Imperial Scholars. The fourth type were students who had donated money to enter the college.

Among the first three types of students, the Imperial Scholars had background and connections. Their only purpose in entering the Imperial College was to be gilded. Their futures had already been arranged. The High Scholars who entered the Imperial College were second only to them. After graduating from the Imperial College, they would usually receive an arrangement.

The Elementary Scholars who entered the Imperial College through donations could not receive the same treatment as the Imperial Scholars. If they wanted to become officials after graduating, they could only rely on their fathers, teachers, and social connections. As for the Imperial Scholars who had donated money to enter the college, they basically wanted a more glorious title. They did not have much hope of becoming an official.

Out of the thirty High Scholars, the ten who did not receive the approval to build the Merit Square were sent back to their villages. Although they were not as lucky as the other lucky ones, they were exempted from taxes and were honored in their villages.

Among the thirty candidates, there were three people who attracted the most attention. One was Xu Boyi, the other was Zhao Wenyuan, and the last one was Ye Xiaotian, who was the most talked about. All three of them had been sent to Gourd County to be officials.

Magistrate Magistrate Meng Xu Boyi. Boyi Magistrate Meng Magistrate Meng. Zhao. Magistrate Magistrate Magistrate Scholar Meng Meng.

Among the three of them, Xu Boyi was an eighth-ranked official. For a High Scholar, he could be appointed as a Magistrate Magistrate of a county. This was considered a pretty good ending for him. However, with his third place in the High Scholar Examinations, he was indeed worthy of this appointment.

As for Zhao. Magistrate Scholar Meng and Ye Xiaotian, they were unranked officials. They were below the ninth rank. Both of them received a monthly salary of four stones. However, the positions of these two were special. Unranked officials did not need to be appointed by the Imperial Court. They could be appointed by the local government. All they had to do was to report to the Ministry of Appointments.

But there was something special about the Warden. That was, when there was a vacancy in the position of the County Magistrate or Registrar, the Warden would take over the position. In this way, the Warden was equivalent to the County Magistrate or Registrar who had the same rank as the County Magistrate or Registrar. Therefore, the Warden also had to be selected by the Ministry of Appointments, and the Emperor personally signed and approved the appointment. Although he was not a high-ranking official, he was still an official appointed by the Imperial Court.

As for the relay station's deputy, he was in charge of the guards of honor, carriages, and other matters. He was also a low-ranking official. However, because Gourd County was located at the northernmost end of Guizhou's relay station, it was the only transportation route that connected the north and south of Guizhou. Therefore, the deputy here was very different from those in the Central Plains who were in charge of receiving and sending guests.

The post officials here had many military uses, such as transporting military supplies and information. For example, the officers and soldiers stationed in the Yunnan region could not support so many officers and soldiers with the local economic conditions. A portion of the food needed to be allocated by the imperial court.

If there were a hundred thousand soldiers stationed here, each person would have to collect food from the local area and cultivate their own crops, and the court would have to replenish an additional half a dan per month. In a year, that would be five to six hundred thousand dans. A portion of it would have to be transported by sea, and the other portion would have to be transported by this post road.

During this process, the relay station would have to be responsible for the safekeeping of supplies, handing over supplies, and maintaining the relay road. Other than that, there were also banknotes, cloth, cotton, uniforms, military boots, and weapons … Yang Yinglong naturally had his reasons for eyeing this position.

According to Commissioner Jiang, Gourd County was located in a strategic location and had only been established for a short period of time. Moreover, the two important positions of County Deputy and Warden were currently vacant. Therefore, there was a need for more young officials to strengthen the governance of Gourd County.

The real reason was naturally well known to everyone. Only those who did not know the reason but knew that Ye Xiaotian and Xu Boyi did not get along with each other enthusiastically talked about it, hoping that the two of them would have a showdown when they arrived at Gourd County. That way, they would have something to talk about during their leisure time.

… …

Inside the Yang Residence, Zhao Xin and his son Zhao Wenyuan stood respectfully in front of Yang Yinglong.

Yang Yinglong said indifferently, "I can't leave Bozhou for too long, so I have to return now. Wenyuan, when you go to Gourd County, I only have one request. You must grasp the relay road that passes through Gourd County. Even if you leave Gourd County one day to take up a post elsewhere, you must ensure that your eyes, ears, and hands are there so that they can be of use at the critical moment! "

Zhao Wenyuan replied respectfully, "Yes! This lowly official will remember it! "

Yang Yinglong pondered for a moment, then added, "Also, Xu Boyi and Ye Xiaotian will be going with you to Gourd County. This Xu Boyi is from the Tian family, so you must be careful of him. As for that Ye Xiaotian, there is no harm in befriending him. "

Zhao Wenyuan was slightly surprised, thinking to himself, Xu Boyi is from the Tian family, but isn't that Ye Xiaotian from the Xia family? I heard that it was all because of the Xia family that he was able to become an official! Why does Your Excellency want me to befriend him? Could it be that the Xia family of Red Maple Lake has secretly formed an alliance with our Chieftain?

Zhao Wenyuan did not know of Ye Xiaotian's Venerable identity, nor did he know that Yaoyao was Yang Yinglong's biological daughter. Without Yang Yinglong's permission, even his biological father, Zhao Xin of Bozhou, would not dare to reveal this secret to him. It was inevitable that he would be suspicious. However, Zhao Wenyuan did not dare to ask too many questions and only nodded his head in agreement.

Yang Yinglong smiled and lightly clapped his hands three times. A tall and beautiful woman wearing a pomegranate skirt and a light silk gown with her hair in a bun leisurely walked out from behind the screen. She gracefully bowed to Yang Yinglong.

Yang Yinglong said, "Qingqing is intelligent and vigilant. She is also skilled in martial arts, so she can lend you a helping hand. On this trip to Gourd County, let her accompany you and act as your wife. If I have any instructions, I will pass it on to you through Qingqing. The two of you must work together. Whether or not we can control this important road depends entirely on the two of you. "

"Yes!"

Zhao Wenyuan and Qian Qingqing simultaneously cupped their hands and said yes.

Zhao Wenyuan secretly glanced at the beautiful woman standing beside him, who was almost as tall as him. Smelling the faint fragrance on her body, he could not help but become restless, "On this trip to Gourd County, not only will I become an official, but I will also have such a beautiful woman for me to play with and enjoy. Your Excellency really treats me well."

… …

In the Tian Residence, Tian Miaowen was also giving advice to Xu Boyi.

Tian Miaowen was still wearing a light headband. She was not pretending to be mysterious, but in reality, her appearance was very different from the image and temperament that she had established in front of her subordinates.

In the eyes of others, Lian Xie Ji was a smart, capable, and decisive female hero. However, her sharp chin, heart-shaped face, and especially her pair of eyes, no matter if they were sullen or solemn, always gave people the impression that she was delicate and pitiful. This would destroy the dignified image that she had painstakingly built up, so she rarely showed her true face to the public.

Tian Miaowen said to Xu Boyi, "I only need you to do two things. First, take control of Gourd County! Second, stop Zhao Wenyuan from meddling in Gourd County. These two things are originally one, two, and two are one. Your starting point is higher than theirs. As a district magistrate, you are the second most important person in Gourd County, while the district magistrate, Hua Qingfeng, is famous for being incompetent. You already have more than half of the advantages. "

Xu Boyi confidently said, "This time, Boyi will do his best and will not disappoint Miss!"

Tian Miaowen gently nodded, "Towards Zhao Wenyuan, you do not need to fight openly. I do not care what methods you use, as long as you can take control of Gourd County at a critical moment, you will be able to change the course of events in Gourd County. That will be a great achievement for you!"

Xu Boyi bowed, "Yes!"

Tian Miaowen smiled, "You and Ye Xiaotian must have had many conflicts, right?"

Xu Boyi's heart trembled, and he hurriedly explained, "Eldest Miss, Boyi and him …"

Tian Miaowen lightly said, "Alright, you do not need to rush to explain to me. It does not matter if you have any conflicts or not. When you arrive at Gourd County, this Ye Xiaotian will be your direct subordinate as the Warden. However, he has close ties with the Xia Family and will not work for me. If you want to control Gourd County, this person must be eliminated. I will not interfere, and if necessary, I will provide you with some assistance. "

Xu Boyi was overjoyed. Ever since he learned that Xie Chuanfeng was chased out of the Tian Mansion by Tian Daisuke, his heart trembled, and he did not dare to use public power for personal gain. Now, with Tian Daisuke's words, he can act without worry.

Tian Miaowen said, "In the officialdom, there is only one way to climb up, and there are only two kinds of people. If you do not want to be the one being stepped on, you must be the one stepping on others. I have already sent you on your way, whether you step on others or be stepped on depends on yourself. Do not disappoint me! "

Xu Boyi bowed, "Yes!"

When he thought of returning to Gourd County, he would be second to only one, and above tens of thousands. In the past, he left like a stray dog. Xu Boyi could not help but feel his blood boil, wishing that he could grow wings and fly to Gourd County, and let those who once ridiculed and despised him see his glory today.

But on the other hand, he felt a faint sense of loss. If Tian Daisuke had even the slightest bit of affection for him, how could she have sent him to Gourd County? In Tian Daisuke's eyes, he was only a pawn that could be groomed! He could not climb up to Miss Tian's gums and taste the taste of a noble lady.