A powerful minister of the Song Dynasty

Chapter 293 Let the Azure Dragon Mutual Aid Study Group Evolve!

Cao Qing blinked, realizing that she had become Song Xuan's wife.

Both sides are young people.

The match last night was quite intense towards the end.

Song Xuan was used to being free and unrestrained, so he didn't follow many rules.

However, the old master of the Song family arrived early in the morning, waiting for his granddaughter-in-law to serve tea.

In terms of status, she is the daughter of the Privy Councilor. This huge difference in status alone is enough to make Old Master Song obediently come and wait for her.

Although Song Xuan had risen from the common people to the scholar class, his family background was still weak.

The differences between their family backgrounds are also quite significant.

Old Master Song knew perfectly well that it was entirely due to Song Xuan's abilities and had nothing to do with the Song family. He absolutely could not put on airs.

Tao Hong did give him face:
"Please wait a moment, sir. I'll go and wake the young master right away."

"Oh, no need, no need."

Old Master Song had a smile on his face:
"I was young once too. I know how to sleep in at this age. It's better to start having children as early as possible."

Tao Hong didn't say anything more, but busied himself with instructing the kitchen staff, as they still had to prepare a banquet today.

And so, Cao Qingyao finally couldn't hold back any longer:

"My lord, shall we take a bath and change our clothes?"

"Let's get started."

Song Xuan did not refuse.

The maids sent by the Cao family helped Cao Qingyao into the wooden tub to take a hot bath.

Cao Qingyao was still a little unaccustomed to losing her virginity for the first time.

He frowned and stepped into the bathtub.

The two maids, on the other hand, had faces as red as apples.

After all, Song Xuan's physique is not bad, and it is quite attractive.

If they are lucky enough, when Cao Qingyao, the head mistress, is unavailable, the two of them can step in to serve Song Xuan.

Song Xuan put on a coat and went downstairs to take a shower.

Only then was everything tidied up.

We should serve tea to the elderly in our family according to custom.

Song Xuan then gave Tao Hong a few more instructions.

Then Zhang Fangping and others followed Han Qi back to his hometown to attend his wedding. After finishing his work here, Song Xuan took his wife to attend as well.

No matter how much trouble they caused, they never left the territory of Henan.

Han Qi's hometown, Anyang, is located at the junction of Shanxi, Hebei, and Henan provinces, which is a turn from Kaifeng and a journey upstream along the river.

The group rode horses and donkey carts toward the dock.

Qian Shishi also brought her child to the banquet yesterday.

This morning, I stood at the door of the house next door, holding my daughter, watching Song Xuan mount his horse and go home.

Song Xuan smiled and waved to her.

Qian Shishi quickly fiddled with her daughter's hand and responded with a smile.

After Song Xuan rode away, Qian Shishi led her daughter into the room.

Song Kang pointed to the ten ships docked at the pier:

"Father, there are ten ships full of dowry items! Can we go and take a look?"

Song Ji's eyes also lit up, but then he saw his father looking at the two of them.

He immediately turned off the engine.

“Your grandfather said that if anything goes wrong with this, he will break my legs, kick me out, and leave me to fend for myself.”

Song Kang also let out a long sigh; his leg had indeed been broken by his grandfather.

Grandpa was really too ruthless.

Seeing his son as a precedent, Song Ji dared not act recklessly.

His current thought is that someone will consider Song Xuan's status as the top scholar in the imperial examination.

They are willing to spend money on themselves.

Because Song Ji believed that someone would do that.

Song Xuan bid farewell to Cao Liyong and his family.

He planned to attend Han Qi's wedding directly before returning to Tokyo.

As for the dowry of these ten ships, let's take them back first.

Cao nodded, indicating that he understood.

Then I watched as my daughter and son-in-law sailed upstream.

After his family boarded the ship, Cao Liyong bid farewell to Li Di.

The sight of these ten ships as a dowry also surprised Li Di:

"Is it possible that Minister Cao has emptied his coffers?"

"Sigh." Cao waved his hand casually.

"It's just a little money; exchanging it for a son-in-law like this is nothing big."

Li Di didn't think it was just a small amount of money!
Could it be just a little money that could empty the coffers of a powerful official in power?
Last night, he went home and told his son about it. After his son's analysis, Li Di felt that he needed to reach a certain consensus with Cao Yongli.

Even if they didn't form a faction, they still needed to unite to deal with Empress Dowager Liu.

Not to mention Song Xuan's considerable influence in Songcheng.

He wanted to achieve political success quickly, and he also needed Song Xuan's influence in the local area to cooperate so that he could return to Tokyo more quickly.

"About what we talked about yesterday."

"what's up?"

Cao made those remarks yesterday while under the influence of alcohol.

Li Di's failure to immediately agree indicates that he is not a qualified ally.

It seems that he hasn't been pressured too much by Lü Yijian and Empress Dowager Liu.

Li Di paused upon hearing this, then looked somewhat bewildered.

You were the one who brought it up first, so why are you denying it now?
"Yes, yes."

Cao Liyong sighed and said:

"Brother Retro, some things, once missed, are missed forever."

"Let's talk about it another time. First, you need to make some achievements in Yingtian Prefecture. Maybe then someone will speak up for you in the future."

After Cao finished speaking, he didn't give Li Di a chance to speak again and went straight onto the boat using the footboard.

Li Di was left bewildered.

No, are all military generals this decisive in their actions?

Song Xuan and his group left Song City, but the lively atmosphere continued.

Now, the students who came to study abroad flocked to the area like locusts.

When Song Xuan and his party arrived in Ningling County, the local people, under the organization of the county magistrate, welcomed them for thirty li.

If the top scholar, who has passed the imperial examinations three times, returns to his hometown, and Song Xuan can provide some resources to his fellow townsmen in the future, then he will have made a profit.

In fact, Song Xuan, riding his tall horse, did not find the noisy scene of gongs and drums disruptive.

It did indeed give me a genuine sense of triumph, like returning home in glory.

"The top scholar is back."

The students of the Song family private school stood at the entrance, led by Master Song.

They used to look down on Song Xuan, but now, seeing him surrounded by thousands and riding a tall horse, they couldn't help but feel envious.

“I’ve known all along that my twelfth brother is a child prodigy, and you all believe it.”

"You talk as if you believe it."

"Hey."

When Master Song saw Song Xuan approaching, he immediately took a step forward.

Song Xuan politely cupped his hands in greeting:
"Teacher, I, the last-ranked student in the private school, have come back as the top scholar. I haven't lost face, have I?"

"Hahaha."

Master Song just laughed, completely oblivious to the sarcasm in Song Xuan's words.

After teaching for more than ten years, he finally produced a disciple named Song Xuan who achieved the "Triple Crown" in the imperial examinations, a talent that will be recorded in the family genealogy in the future.

In any case, Song Xuan cannot escape.

"Good good."

Master Song tilted his head back and laughed:
"I hope that when you, Song Twelve, become an official in the future, you will not forget your roots."

Song Xuan cupped his hands in greeting and was then surrounded by the crowd as he continued his parade through the streets.

Master Song watched Song Xuan walk away.

To be honest, he didn't expect that Song Xuan, the street bully, would get such good grades!
Back then, Song Xuan was constantly used as a negative example.

To celebrate, the Song family also set up several tables of food in their hometown and invited neighbors to come and join them.

Actually, they would come to help on their own initiative without being invited.

Old Master Song's mouth never closed.

Even the playboy Song Ji was praised, with people saying he was really lucky to have such a good son.

The crowd surrounded Song Xuan, offering their congratulations.

Song Xuan didn't care. He just chatted with his former neighbors about how his children could go to a private school to learn to read and write in the future.

This made the group extremely happy. If their child could become a Jinshi (a successful candidate in the highest imperial examinations) even if not the top scholar, it would be a life-changing achievement.

Ever since Song Xuan and his new bride paid homage to their ancestors, rumors have circulated in Lema Town that the Song family's ancestral graves are located in a place of auspicious feng shui.

Otherwise, how could a scholar who passed the imperial examination in the previous generation produce a top scholar who passed the imperial examination in the next generation?

As a result, the Zhao family even held a clan meeting overnight to discuss moving their ancestral graves next to the Song family's.

Consider it a stroke of luck.

But they dared not be too blatant.

In the countryside, this kind of thing is considered very taboo.

In fact, many people don't understand the concept of connections.

In the simple mindset of the people of Songxuan Township, knowing an official is considered having connections.

In reality, this is not what is meant by connections.

Most of these deals require an exchange of benefits, a principle Song Xuan understood long ago.

But many people never understand this in their entire lives, thinking that knowing one person is enough to build a network of connections.

Song Xuan did not linger, and with his wife and guards, headed towards Anyang County to attend Han Qi's wedding.

Han Qi's father-in-law, Cui Li, was very polite to Song Xuan and even called his son, Cui Mian, to get to know Song Xuan.

Cui Li didn't stand on ceremony either:
"I've been wanting to have a chat with you for a long time, but I haven't been able to get the chance until today. I finally have some free time."

"Hahaha." Song Xuan raised his wine glass and laughed.

"Today, Minister Cui, you must have a good chat with me about your official duties in the capital city."

Cui Li has always worked in other places, but this year he felt physically weak and wanted to take a less demanding job.

"Didn't your father-in-law talk to you about this?"

“My father-in-law wasn’t a Jinshi (a successful candidate in the highest imperial examinations). The promotion system for military personnel is different from ours, and he rarely encounters any schemes or plots.”

Song Xuan chuckled a few times: "Unlike me, I offended the Hanlin Academician and the Prefect of Kaifeng right from the start."

"Hahaha."

Upon hearing this, Cui Li couldn't help but burst into laughter.

But then again, it was because Song Xuan stood up for Han Qi that he got into trouble, so he couldn't just ignore it.

"It doesn't matter."

Cui Li stroked his beard and said:
“Chen Yaozi has very few opportunities to cause you trouble. After the palace examination, many people will be eyeing his position, and he will be too busy to take care of himself.”

"The only troublesome one is Chen Yaozuo, the prefect of Kaifeng. He is in charge of your county magistrate position, and he has a legitimate reason to make things difficult for you in some official matters."

"Moreover, Kaifeng County is a large county with more than 100,000 registered residents, and there are many more unregistered residents, as well as those scoundrels from Wuyou Cave."

"In addition, the local people are fond of fighting and litigating, and the prisons are full of prisoners, which is known as 'difficult to govern', which poses a great challenge to you."

"At that time, Chen Yaozu will have many opportunities to evaluate you and give you a mediocre or below-average evaluation."

Song Xuan nodded. He had long heard that the people of Dongjing City liked to file lawsuits and would often beat drums to file complaints.

After all, this place is cramped and has an extremely high population density.

Numerous problems and various disturbances have arisen.

Below you are slick clerks, and above you are superiors who are always ready to find fault with you.

You, Song Twelve, are still a newbie in officialdom. Even if your father-in-law is a Privy Councilor, he can't exert much influence to protect you in the county government.

Even the emperor couldn't control the various trivial matters that occurred within the capital city of Tokyo.

"Actually, I'm not afraid of his mediocre or below-average rating."

Song Xuan lowered his voice and said:
"I am not only being examined while sitting in this position of county magistrate, but I also have the intention of bringing him down."

Cui Li's eyes widened immediately.

He had inquired about Song Xuan and knew that he had driven the Hanlin scholar Dou Chou to commit suicide by hanging himself.

However, everyone knew that the Chen brothers were Lü Yijian's men.

Lü Yijian was a person of the Empress Dowager.

Their power was at its zenith.

Otherwise, Chen Yaozi wouldn't have been so bold as to use underhanded tactics during the palace examination, and then nothing would have been found out.

This clearly indicates that someone has given orders to stop the investigation.

The person speaking from behind was very obvious.

Cui Li was unaware of the proverb "willing to risk one's life to bring down the emperor," but he was genuinely taken aback by Song Xuan's "arrogant" words.

Because I dare not even think about such a thing.

To bring down the Chen brothers is to bring down the Empress Dowager.

This involves far too many complexities!
Cui Li had no doubt that Song Xuan knew about the relationship between the current emperor and the empress dowager.

After all, his father-in-law was Cao Liyong.

I definitely told him about this.

But then again, it's normal that Cao Liyong wouldn't say it.

Looking across the entire Song Dynasty, who would dare to dethrone the Empress Dowager?

As expected of the top scholar who passed the imperial examinations in three consecutive years, he angrily rebuked the prince of the imperial clan, scolded the prefect of Kaifeng, and refused the prime minister's marriage proposal.

He really dares to think big, and it seems he dares to act on it too!
Cui Lilian drank three cups of wine to calm his nerves before cautiously speaking:

"Twelfth Brother, you still need to be careful in the future. To put it bluntly, they can make you run your legs off with just a few words."

"Ah."

Song Xuan nodded slightly.

Cui Li was indeed still shaken.

really.

Tokyo is not a place for people who want easy jobs.

He plans to wait and see in Tokyo for a while longer.

If you can help Song Xuan, then help him.

If I can't help, then I'll have no choice but to go to another place and find a leisurely job.

The waters of Tokyo are not only deep.

There's never a shortage of people who want to stir up trouble in these deep waters!

Unfortunately, I'm not that kind of person, especially now that I'm older. All I want is for my children to be happy and fulfilled, and for me to be an official and live a happy life.

Cui Li himself is not someone who enjoys climbing the social ladder.

Otherwise, they wouldn't have volunteered to relieve themselves of the burden.

At his age of nearly fifty, most people would be making their way in the world of officialdom.

Song Xuan already knew.

Having money is not as good as having power, and having power is not as good as having it in your own hands.

Why do people go to such lengths to take the imperial examinations? Isn't it all for the purpose of gaining more and more power?
He achieved the highest honors in all three examinations, aiming to accumulate more capital for future promotions in officialdom.

Empress Dowager Liu E understands this principle very well now.

Therefore, even if Emperor Zhao Zhen grows up, she will not relinquish power.

Even before her death, she arranged for Consort Yang to continue ruling as regent!
Consort Yang, however, did not have this idea and directly allowed Emperor Renzong to rule in his own right.

After drinking a few cups of wine, Cui Li watched as his daughter and son-in-law entered the bridal chamber, then pulled Song Xuan aside and said:
"Now that you are serving as the magistrate of Kaifeng, you face five major challenges."

"Oh?"

Song Xuan had assumed that Cui Li was finding things troublesome and wanted to run away.

"Appreciate further details."

Cui Li was not ungrateful. Although he was relieved that his son-in-law had been sent to a post outside the capital, wouldn't the posting be to a prefecture under Lü Yijian's command?
Wouldn't that have anything to do with the Chen brothers?

However, Song Xuan, who was in Tokyo, faced a much stronger challenge.

"After I learned about your official positions, I did some special analysis."

Cui Li held up his finger and said:
"First, the powerful and wealthy run rampant, making it difficult for the judiciary to make judgments. Members of the imperial family and relatives of the empress break the law, and the sons of officials cause trouble."

"Many of the imperial relatives and their families reside in Kaifeng. They are accustomed to forcibly occupying people's homes and allowing their servants to commit violence. If we uphold the law impartially, we will surely face retaliation. If we condone such behavior, we will definitely be impeached by the censor. What do you plan to do?"

"The judgment will be made in accordance with the laws of the Great Song Dynasty."

Cui Ligang was about to say something was wrong when he heard:
"Then I will transfer the case to the Prefect of Kaifeng."

"Uh, um."

Cui Li nodded repeatedly: "It's safe, it's very safe."

Song Xuan's actions were to assign responsibility according to the law.

The case was then transferred for review as normal.

Ultimately, it's a matter of arrest or release.

Hatred and impeachment have all turned against Chen Yaozuo, the Prefect of Kaifeng.

Because this was his duty as the Prefect of Kaifeng.

Song Xuan poured wine for Cui Li again:

"What about the second point?"

Cui Li, however, had gained some confidence in Song Xuan:
"The second point is administrative constraints and multiple management bodies."

“Your Kaifeng County and Kaifeng Prefecture overlap. The key issue is that as a county magistrate, you cannot mobilize the local militia, and you also have to bear more responsibilities for taxation, public security, and other assessments.”

"The most troublesome thing is that fires are likely to break out in Tokyo almost all the time. If you can't mobilize the local troops, then you, as the county magistrate, will be held accountable for your poor performance in fighting fires."

"A new broom sweeps clean, and if someone sets three fires for you, you won't be able to withstand it!"

Despite its low-lying location and susceptibility to flooding, Tokyo is also prone to fires.

Tokyo's urban structure and dense population make it highly susceptible to fires.

Firstly, it broke the separation of wards and markets in the Tang Dynasty, forming a system where streets, alleys, and houses were connected, coupled with frequent population movement and a complex composition of people.

Accidental fires and arson incidents are occurring frequently.

The buildings featured thatched roofs and wooden walls. The streets were lined with restaurants, incense and medicine shops, candle shops, and other flammable goods stores. Fanlou itself consisted of five interconnected three-story wooden buildings, making firefighting extremely difficult.

Not only that, they also illegally built structures, encroached on streets, and blocked fire lanes.

There is no curfew at night, and the city is often brightly lit, making it easier for fires to start.

In addition, there are lanterns lit during Buddhist and Taoist festivals, and lanterns lit during various other festivals.

Because of the intense business competition in Tokyo, some merchants even commit arson to defraud insurance companies.

The system of fire protection money already existed in the Song Dynasty.

Not to mention the common people who are prone to fires, even the Song Dynasty imperial palace suffered countless fires.

The Yuqing Zhaoying Palace, which was even more luxurious than the Epang Palace, was also destroyed by fire. The fire was so intense that it could not be extinguished. Of the more than 2,600 rooms, only two remained intact.

"The third point is floods."

After Cui Li finished speaking, he said that fire and water were like the sword of Damocles hanging over the head of Tokyo, this prosperous capital city!
“Every summer there are floods, and you, as the county magistrate, will be doing your best to provide disaster relief. However, the Ministry of Works may not approve your funding in a timely manner, which will cause many disaster victims to riot.”

“Even the people of Wuyou Cave will deceive these disaster victims. As Wuyou Cave’s power grows, what taxes will you, as the county magistrate, be able to collect?”

"As their power grew, the next issue became the fourth problem: security."

Even officials won't give you face.

"The Imperial City Guard and the Imperial Guards can not arrest people at will, and even the county magistrate has no right to interfere. Even if they occupy farmland, you can only coordinate through the Ministry of Revenue, which is a very lengthy process."

"Even if the military camp is built on the fertile land for three to five years, it may not be able to solve your problem."

"This will further exacerbate public security problems. If those villagers gather and cause trouble, can you handle it?"

Song Xuan agreed with Cui Li's words.

In officialdom, you're not even in the same system. If you're anxious, why should others be anxious with you?

Leaving aside the fact that Song Dynasty officials were often late for work and left early, the number of days they had off on holidays was also extremely high.

That's why it's said that the Song Dynasty had the best welfare and benefits for its civil servants.

“Whenever disaster strikes, tens of thousands of refugees flock to Kaifeng, gather on the banks of the Huimin River to build shacks, and wait for the imperial court to provide porridge and for them to join the local militia so that they will not starve.”

“If anything goes wrong, it could trigger a major epidemic. The city of Tokyo has a population of one million. If an epidemic breaks out, who knows how many people will die? As the magistrate, you will have to be on the front line.”

Cui Li sighed softly:
"Not to mention that rice merchants would manipulate the market at this time, would you dare to forcibly suppress prices?"

"Do you dare to forcibly impose a business tax?"

"It is even more important to maintain stability at this time, as disaster victims are easily incited."

"The fifth point is that you're already embroiled in factional strife."

Listening to Cui Li's words, Song Xuan realized that, aside from the fifth point, the other four points were issues that every magistrate of Kaifeng County had encountered.

"Thank you, Lord Cui. I will consider these five points carefully."

"it is good."

Cui Li didn't say anything more.

The next day, Han Qi hosted a banquet for Song Xuan and his classmates.

"After today's parting, I don't know when we will meet again."

Lu Lejian said with a sigh, "But I can go south to attend Brother Bao's wedding."

"Hahaha."

Several people laughed.

Because Bao Zheng's home was far away, everyone had to go to his hometown to attend the wedding and then go to their new post, which didn't give them enough time.

Bao Zheng couldn't help but smile: "Actually, I would still prefer to send someone else."

"Hey, hey, hey."

Lü Lejian immediately objected: "Brother Bao, you can't be so sabotaging me."

"Let's keep in touch by letter from now on," Song Xuan chimed in.
"After all, given everyone's official rank, they haven't been able to go to the capital to report on their work in recent years."

"Sigh, it feels like a dream, time just flies by."

Wang Tai also had a look of reminiscence on his face:

"I still feel like we're still studying in the classroom, and in the blink of an eye we'll pass the imperial examination and become officials."

"They've all gone their separate ways."

Zhang Fangping chimed in, "If you achieve more political success during your tenure, you might be able to become officials in the capital sooner."

"We might go out once you arrive."

Song Xuan continued the conversation by adding another sentence.

"Yes."

Wang Tai raised his wine glass and said, "Twelfth Brother, you must be more careful in the future. The waters of Tokyo are really too deep."

“I have already spoken to my two older brothers. They can’t say they can take care of you, but they will let you know in advance about some things.”

"Thank you."

Song Xuan also raised his glass.

After Wang Tai finished drinking, he glanced at Lü Lejian.

Lu Lejian simply kept picking up food and didn't dare to join in the conversation.

His cousin, Lü Yijian, was a good elder brother and leader to the Chen brothers.

There's no need to wonder who Lü Yijian will side with in their conflict of interest with Song Xuan.

Therefore, Lü Lejian did not make such boastful remarks.

Han Qi also poured Song Xuan a glass of wine:

"Twelfth Brother, please take good care of yourself from now on. I will write to you when I get to Zizhou."

"it is good."

Song Xuan patted Han Qi on the shoulder:

"Actually, I'm not afraid of any trouble. In fact, sometimes I find that fighting with people can be quite enjoyable."

Lu Lejian glanced at Song Xuan but remained silent.

He felt that Song Xuan might really be a good fit for the turbulent city of Tokyo.

While others may be suffering as if they are in hell, Song Xuan may be thriving!
"Hahaha."

Zhang Fangping chuckled a few times before speaking:

"Twelfth Brother, don't think that this officialdom is still like when you were eight years old and fighting for territory on the street."

"Actually, there's no difference."

Song Xuan spread his hands: "The streets are a place where people fight for a living, and so is the officialdom."

"Everyone says that we were like thousands of soldiers crossing a single-plank bridge to pass the imperial examination with flying colors."

“But we all know that the Song Dynasty is not short of Jinshi (successful candidates in the highest imperial examinations). Wasn’t our teacher Wang Zhu invited by Prefect Yan to teach at the academy because there was no good vacancy?”

"When we first enter officialdom, isn't it just like taking the imperial examination? If we work hard and achieve good results in our local areas, it's like getting a good score so that we can keep climbing the ranks?"

"We've passed the exam, who wouldn't want to be the prime minister!"

Even Bao Zheng, who was only thinking about being closer to his parents and being filial to them, couldn't bring himself to say that he didn't want to be prime minister.

After all, everyone worked hard to pass the imperial examination and become a Jinshi.

And isn't the ultimate goal of a Jinshi (successful candidate in the highest imperial examination) to become the prime minister of the Song Dynasty?

Even if he wasn't second only to the emperor, he was still at the pinnacle of power among civil officials.

Who doesn't have this dream?

"No need to be embarrassed," Song Xuan said with a smile, looking at them.

"A soldier who doesn't want to be a general is not a good soldier, just as a scholar who doesn't want to be a prime minister is not a good scholar!"

Lü Lejian stared at Song Xuan in disbelief:

"Twelfth Brother, where did you hear this proverb from? I've never heard of it before."

"Is that even a question?" Zhang Fangping chuckled.
"All the proverbs you haven't heard of were made up by Twelfth Brother himself."

"That makes sense."

Lu Lejian's father was the prime minister, and he did indeed teach him similar things.

In the Song Dynasty, serving as prime minister was considered a life without regrets.

Wang Tai's father was a prime minister, and he educated his son in the same way.

Otherwise, why would Wang Tai go to such lengths to take the imperial examinations when both of Wang Dan's sons were appointed officials through hereditary privilege?
Han Qi recalled what the fortune teller at Daxiangguo Temple had said: that he would become prime minister in the future.

As Twelfth Brother said, since he had passed the imperial examination at a young age and entered officialdom.

Could he also be younger than others when they became prime minister?
That's the advantage!
Song Xuan took a sip of wine and smiled:

"Gentlemen, let's work hard and aim for the position of prime minister. What's the point of watching others take it? Why not take it yourself and have a good time?"

"Who can compare to you!"

Lü Lejian sighed:

"I'm sure my twelfth brother will be able to wear a purple robe in less than ten years and become prime minister in less than fifteen years."

Wang Zeng's rapid rise through the ranks, achieving the highest honors in three consecutive imperial examinations, had already paved the way for future generations.

It's just unknown how far Song Xiang, the last "pseudo" triple crown winner, will go.

After all, he was the Empress Dowager's man, and everyone was wondering how long the Empress Dowager could rule.
The government is also constantly growing and wants more power.

Bao Zheng wholeheartedly agreed. He was the oldest person present, and he thought that perhaps by the time Song Xuan had established himself in the central government, he would still be an official in a local area.

"Hahaha." Song Xuan chuckled.
"You think someone can become prime minister just by passing the imperial examinations three times in a row? Others can do that too. Do you really believe such a thing, Lü Lejian?"

Lü Lejian understood that simply getting good grades in the imperial examinations did not equate to having the ability to be a good official.

Even if you have the ability to be a good official, it doesn't mean you have outstanding political achievements.

Even if you achieve outstanding political results, it doesn't mean you'll be promoted.

None of the sons or relatives of the former prime minister were promoted, so how could it be your turn?
Having connections in the imperial court is the best way to become an official!

"Twelfth Brother, it's just that you started from a higher point than us."

Lu Lejian didn't explain further, after all, among those present, his Lu family was the most powerful.

“I was actually worried that you would be easily bullied in Tokyo. Then we classmates wouldn’t have the chance to parade through the streets with you, beat the petition drum, and stand behind you to support you in seeking justice.”

"We're all officials now, how can we still engage in things like parading through the streets and beating the drum to appeal to the emperor?"

Song Xuan poured more wine for the people around him:
"You can write a memorial to the emperor for me later, impeaching people."

Those who passed the imperial examinations had the right to write memorials directly to the emperor, and no one could stop them.

Xia Song promoted Fan Zhongyan, but suppressed him during the reform period, intending to transfer Fan Zhongyan to a military post.

Aren't you good at fighting?

I support you.

However, this would deprive Fan Zhongyan of the right to submit a memorial to the emperor, which Fan Zhongyan sternly refused.

If your words cannot reach the Emperor's ears smoothly, will the Emperor believe what you say through intermediaries, or will he be more likely to believe what I say directly to him?
This provides a great deal of room for maneuver.

Language, in particular, is an art.

Especially in the political arena!

Lu Lejian's lips twitched as he helped Song Xuan impeach someone. What a good brother!

“Twelfth Brother, the Emperor is very wary of forming cliques. If something happens to you, how will we, who are far away in the countryside, know?”

"It's too easy for people to find fault with us."

"Forming a party?"

Zhang Fangping glanced at Lü Lejian and smiled:

"You, as a beneficiary of the system, have the least right to say such things. Who doesn't know the Lü family?"

Lü Lejian was also deeply influenced by his family's ideals, which were to ensure that the Lü family would continue to be great in the Song Dynasty.

Lü Lejian immediately muted her microphone.

The Lü family claims they don't form factions, but they are actually the most adept at forming them.

This matter does not appear to be a secret.

Some people can see it; nobody's stupid.

"Hey, we're not forming a faction."

Song Xuan waved his hand, signaling Zhang Fangping not to pursue and kill:

"We were just the Azure Dragon Learning and Mutual Aid Group, which evolved into the Azure Dragon Officialdom Mutual Aid Group."

“When you take up a local post in the future, you will encounter all kinds of governance problems. Just like before, we will work together to come up with a suitable solution.”

"It's even from a third-party perspective, which can offer more impartial advice and prevent you from being blinded by your own involvement. Isn't that great?"

"Yes, what Twelfth Brother said makes sense."

Wang Tai naturally wanted to maintain close ties with Song Xuan, as his father had already passed away.

And the brothers-in-law are not of high rank at present.

Although the Wang family and the Lü family are related by marriage, the Lü family's role is more about paving the way for their own descendants.

"Indeed."

Han Qi also expressed concern in his words:

“Back when I was an official in the local government with my father, I witnessed firsthand how those corrupt officials had embezzled public funds and caused havoc in the region.”

Your position as an official is transient; you'll be gone in two or three years.

However, most clerks and officials do this job for their entire lives, and it can even be passed down from father to son.

The local power base is deeply entrenched, and it's highly likely that they will sideline you, the newly appointed county magistrate.

They might even use your name to commit evil deeds.

After all, the county magistrate, being a local tyrant, rarely had the opportunity to interact with the people below him.

Most of the officials that ordinary people come into contact with are minor clerks.

Unless a major and heinous murder occurs, the county constable will lead a team to investigate.

You, a commoner, have the audacity to witness a proper official of the imperial court!
"That's right," Bao Zheng agreed.
"We are new to officialdom, so we must be wary of these seasoned officials. We should write to each other and communicate more to prevent problems before they arise."

"I was just saying that casually."

Lü Lejian understood that even if he had connections in the court, he still needed to achieve certain political accomplishments.

Cutting ties with Song Xuan wouldn't bring him much benefit; on the contrary, it would harm his own interests.

After all, we've been to prison together, frequented brothels together, studied together, and even passed the imperial examinations together.

Given such a connection, Lü Lejian was unwilling to sever it easily.

The Chen brothers are nothing!

They are my cousin's confidants, not my confidants, Lü Lejian.

Lu Lejian immediately raised his glass in celebration.

I hope everyone will have a better future, and I look forward to seeing you all at the Second Palace.

Seeing that they had reached a basic consensus, Song Xuan felt that today's meal was even more meaningful.

It's better to actually form a party than to be falsely accused of forming one.

Only then can you effectively shut the other party up.

Instead of desperately trying to prove themselves!

Under Han Qi's arrangement, everyone went their separate ways, with Wang Tai heading to Shanxi first.

Lü Lejian and Bao Zheng did not linger in Tokyo and headed straight for Jiangxi.

Song Xuan helped his wife off the boat, and Zhang Fangping, Wang Gui, Wang Bao, and Xu Xianchun followed suit.

Song Xuan stood on the dock, looking at the increasingly bustling waterway, even busier than in winter.

There are quite a few people working at the docks.

Immediately, someone came up to ask if we needed a guide.

Even if you don't need a guide, you can buy a simple map.

Before navigation systems were available, even in modern times, maps of various locations were very easy to sell when traveling to new cities.

When you arrive in a new place and ask for directions, that is an extremely common occurrence.

"No need, we are locals."

Wang Gui declined, speaking with a Tokyo accent.

Wang Bao then led out the horses, and those who had come to buy them ignored them and went to find the next victim.

Being able to raise horses proves that one truly has the capability.

Petty thieves generally wouldn't dare to steal easily.

Most people who survive in Tokyo understand the difference between having a full meal at one meal and having a full meal every day.

Otherwise, if so many people died in Tokyo every day, they wouldn't be alive.

Song Xuan and his group entered Tokyo again.

Perhaps it was because the weather was getting warmer, there were more and more people on the streets of Tokyo, and the people who had frozen to death were no longer visible.

Merchants, soldiers, and tax collectors were constantly traveling around.

The city's imperial guards checked the "official documents," or passes, and allowed Song Xuan and his group, who were dressed smartly and even leading horses, to pass directly.

They didn't even bother with inspections, for fear of offending any powerful or influential people.

Song Xuan was certain that the Imperial Guards had been harassed by "privileged" individuals more than once, so he judged by their clothing and released them directly to avoid trouble.

Song Xuan even saw someone bribing a clerk to allow him to avoid inspection and transport some goods into the city.

Such things are extremely common, and the Imperial Guards understand the rules, so they turn a blind eye.

Although the Imperial Guards did not directly participate in collecting money, they would still receive a share afterward.

Otherwise, why should two departments that are not subordinate to each other cooperate with you?
If anything happens in the city, the imperial guards will be in deep trouble.

Although the Dragon Boat Festival is still a few days away, shops on the street are already hanging mugwort and selling colorful ropes.

Zhangjiaxiang Shop launched mosquito-repellent sachets, and Cao Qingyao quickly dragged Song Xuan to buy a few.

As the weather gets hotter, the number of mosquitoes in Kaifeng increases. They are not afraid of people at all and only suck blood, which is very annoying.

Song Xuan watched as Cao Qingyao picked out sachets, then gestured with the colors on her own waist and bought ten packs in one go.

It wasn't just prepared for the couple; as the "sister-in-law," it was also given to a few people around Song Xuan.

After all, they weren't married yet.

Cao Qingyao quickly got used to her new identity and even started making arrangements to introduce them to young ladies so they could settle down as soon as possible.

Wang Bao and the others thanked him repeatedly, saying that following Song Xuan would not only secure their future, but also help them find wives and sisters-in-law.

This is something I never dared to imagine before.

After all, could the young lady Madam Song knew be from a bad family?

"Twelfth Brother, should we go back to where we stayed when we first arrived in Tokyo, or should we escort you directly to the Cao residence?"

Wang Gui stood at the intersection and asked, "They went directly from Zhang Qi's house back to Songcheng, without any mention of canceling the lease or anything like that."

Song Xuan waved his hand without hesitation:
"Let's go to the place we used to live in. My father-in-law probably didn't give me a refund, and besides, I'll be serving as an official in Kaifeng in the future."

"That's fine."

Wang Gui nodded repeatedly, showing no hurry.

"Twelfth Brother, now that I'm back, I really need to find my uncle and join the Imperial Guard."

"Okay, tell me about your uncle's job situation when you get home, and I'll tell my father-in-law."

Wang Gui's face immediately lit up with excitement.

Song Xuan nodded and glanced at Xu Xianchun:
"Would you like to join the Imperial Guard?"

Xu Xianchun glanced at Wang Bao and said:

"Twelfth Brother, why didn't you ask Wang Bao first?"

(End of this chapter)