Controlling mountains and rivers since the Warring States Period

Chapter 74 Departure

Chapter 74 Departure (Part )

mid-July,

As expected, the Marquis of Wei ordered Ximen Bao to go to the capital to report on his work.

Only this time, no messenger came.

The messenger also reminded Ximen Bao, "This time there is a good thing, please bring your family with you to avoid the hassle of traveling later."

So Ximen Bao had some guesses in his mind, and went to the temple to burn a document for He Bo as a farewell notice.

Then he found Yu and asked him if he was willing to follow him to Anyi.

"Is it like last time?" Yu asked.

Ximen Bao smiled and said, "Once we leave this time, it will be difficult to return to Ye County."

So Yu was unwilling.

"Why don't you ask more? Anyi is the capital, and I want to be an official who can be used by the king, so that you can gain more."

Yu kowtowed to him and said sincerely, "I know in my heart that the reason why the county magistrate initially appointed me was because of the guidance of ghosts and gods."

"Later, I proved my ability, so the county magistrate really hired me."

Ximen Bao remained silent, but nodded in agreement with Yu's words.

Yu said again, "I know Anyi is a better place, but I am rude and have lived in the capital for a long time. I might offend the nobles and cause trouble for you."

"Moreover, my father is buried by the Zhang River, and my children grew up by the Zhang River. How can I bear to abandon them and pursue my own wealth and honor?"

Ximen Bao sighed, "You are a gentleman. Since you have your own ambitions in your heart, how can I force you?"

"However, I am also aware of your abilities. While we are still in Ye County, I will try my best to gain some wealth for you."

"You should be the county magistrate of Ye County."

The official system of the Wei State was generally the same at both the local and central levels.

In a county, the highest official is called "Ling", which means he has authority over the county.

Under the county magistrate, there are many assistant officials.

They are called: County Magistrate, County Lieutenant, County Sima and County Sikong.

The county magistrate is responsible for the collection of food and fodder and the trial of cases. It is a very delicate and important position, and Yu is not good at such meticulous work.

The county lieutenant was in charge of military affairs, but given the situation in Ye County, if Ximen Bao left and someone else took over, he would definitely appoint his own confidant to such a position, and Yu would not be able to be protected.

The county Sima is in charge of horses and is equally important.

As for the county Sikong, he was in charge of the construction of a county. Since the manpower at that time was mainly prisoners, he was also the official in charge of prisoners. His power was smaller than that of other county officials, but the benefits were considerable.

Those who came later, after taking the positions of Sima, Cheng, and Wei, had to leave some food for the people of Ye County.

Yu had been in Ye County for more than a year and had gained a certain amount of popularity. In addition, the wealthy families in the city were quite supportive of him.

Yu was a person favored by the River God, and the routes newly opened up by the wealthy families to sell tofu and soy sauce to the prosperous cities downstream all relied on water transportation, so no one would compete with Yu for this position.

"Thank you!"

Yu knew that this was definitely a good thing, so he kowtowed to Ximen Bao again and again.

Then, Ximen Bao said to him, "Since you want to be a person of status, you can't be without a surname."

"I once named Heiwa 'Heiyi', so you might as well follow the name 'Heiyi'."

At this time, although most surnames were still owned by nobles, there were already some businessmen among the people who were slowly becoming wealthy and taking surnames for themselves.

This is an era of the collapse of rituals and music.
It is an era of collapse, change, and rebirth from top to bottom.

It is also an era when lowly people try to challenge the nobles who are high above them.

Giving a commoner a surname was just an ordinary little thing in such an era.

Yu didn't think there was anything wrong with taking his son's surname. Instead, he was very happy.

"Okay, then I'll be a black fisherman from now on!"

A dark-looking fisherman sounds much better than “black-butt” or “black-back”!
Afterwards, Ximen Bao went to meet several wealthy families in the city and hinted to them that he was about to leave.

Liu Ping was the most reluctant.

Over the past year, Liu and Ximen Bao have cooperated very well, and they wish the latter would stay in Ye County forever.

But if a person wants to fly high, no one can stop him.

Liu Ping could only wish Ximen Bao a bright future.

He still felt a little regretful: If someone from the younger generation of the Liu family served as a minor official in the Wei State, then Ximen Bao could become his helper after his promotion, allowing the Liu family to thrive more in the Wei State.

But no means no.
Liu Ping could only go home and scold his disappointing son, hoping that one of his grandchildren would be capable.

After everything in Ye County is arranged, Ximen Bao will take his family and confidants and set off for Anyi.

He Bo came to see him off.

"The last time you went to Anyi, you took the Yellow River."

"We have to go to Zhangshui this time, so let me give you a ride."

Ximen Bao naturally agreed.

He boarded the boat that had been prepared for a long time, took a last look at the city wall of Ye County in the distance, then turned around and never looked back.

The waves of the Zhang River lifted the boats full of people and goods, and then they moved upstream without any wind.

The wind comes from the water,

There were also people on the shore chasing the boat.

Ximen Bao was in charge of Ye County for two years. He often dealt with various issues without taking off his clothes and successfully turned Ye County into what it is today.

The people of Ye County appreciate the kindness of ghosts and gods, but they are not foolish enough to think that it is only ghosts and gods that are kind.

They recognized Ximen Bao.

So when Ximen Bao was about to leave, they tried to stop him, blocked his door, or went to the temple to pray to the gods to help keep the official.
An old man even shed tears and said to Ximen Bao, "I heard that the best officials in the world treat the villagers as if they were their own children."

"Now the parents are abandoning their children and going far away. How can we not be sad?"

Ximen Bao also covered his face and cried, but he could not stay.

Then the wind and water rose, and the boats moved,
The villagers who were seeing them off on the shore also started running.

They waved on the shore and called out to Ximen Bao, "County Magistrate!"

"Ximen County Magistrate!"

"When you have time in the future, remember to come back to Ye County for a visit!"

Ximen Bao also waved in response from a distance.

“Will you come back here in the future?”

His wife took Ximen Bao's arm and asked him.

"Will do."

Ximen Bao looked at the surging Zhang River in front of him and smiled slightly, "The Zhang River flows long. It can take me to Anyi, and it can naturally bring me back."

"Next time you come, bring the children with you."

His wife also laughed and said, “Maybe we’ll have to bring our grandchildren along!”

"This time when I return to Anyi, I have to consider my child's marriage!"

"Alas, in Ye County, I had to worry about you; when I returned to Anyi, I had to worry about my children... My hair has turned a lot white in the past two years."

Ximen Bao tidied up his wife's hair that was blown by the wind, "What does it matter?"

"You said it yourself, old age has its own charm!"

"I won't dislike you!"

His wife suddenly became furious and pinched Ximen Bao's arm.

Ximen Bao felt both pain and laughter.

And on the Zhang River, there was also a faint and gentle singing voice.

"The swallows are flying, their feathers are fluttering. My daughter is getting married, and I am sending her off in the wild.

I looked up and saw it but it was too late, tears streaming down my face. The swallows were flying, swarming with each other.

My son is getting married, but he is far away. I look forward to seeing him but he cannot reach me. I stand there and cry.

……

When I returned to Anyi and met the king,
The Marquis of Wei thanked Ximen Bao.

His old voice was still full of ups and downs and majesty. "I heard that you have governed Ye County very well. This is a happy event for Wei State."

"I am grateful to you."

Ximen Bao kowtowed and told him how he had treated the two envoys.

Then he said, "In previous years, I governed Ye for the king, and the king wanted to take back the seal. This year, I changed the way I governed Ye, and the king thanked me. I can't govern anymore, so please allow me to resign."

The Marquis of Wei smiled nonchalantly and said, "I know you have been wronged, and I will punish those people later!"

"Ye County will be governed by someone else. Since you have returned to Anyi, please stay in the capital and continue to assist Wei's hegemony."

"I, your Majesty, would like to make you my doctor!"

The Marquis of Wei raised his hand, and a servant brought the prepared seal to Ximen Bao.

Ximen Bao took it calmly and put on the small seal.

Marquis Wei twirled his beard and smiled, "Thank you for your continued hard work in the future, Doctor Ximen!"

"As it should be!"

Ximen Bao saluted.

……

The land of Gaolang,

After seeing his friend off, He Bo lay in the Guan River, looking somewhat listless.

Gongzi Chao, who had finally escaped from the hands of the Mo family who had been questioning him about ghosts and gods, saw that the divine turtle was too lazy to even raise its head and looked sad and weak, so he asked him, "What happened?"

He Bo said, "I have a friend who passed away recently."

So, Gongzi Chao was silent for a while, and then he spoke again, and began to persuade He Bo, "Please accept my condolences."

He Bo gave him a puzzled look.

Gongzi Chao also recalled sadly, "I had a dog when I was young, and then it passed away. I was also very sad."

"..."

"Why don't you speak? Isn't that right?"

The young master scratched his head and said in confusion.

Subsequently,

He was splashed with water in the face again.

"what!"

"Why are you spraying me again!"

The young man ran away with his face covered, and in the end he didn't know what he had said wrong.