Qing Yao

Chapter 190 Teacher Zhao Gives a Gift
The first person to come and congratulate Committee Member Zhao on receiving the only "Boatwoman" honorary title in the fifty-fifth year of the Qianlong Emperor's reign was Zheng Bowen, the Salt Commissioner.

This man was also a "bondservant chief" in the Imperial Household Department, but he followed the path of Liu Quan, Heshen's chief steward.

Imperial Censor Zheng was very knowledgeable about etiquette and presented one hundred taels of "fancy" gifts.

"Fancy" refers to the money that people waiting in line for official positions in the Ministry of Personnel donated to buy their official posts, as well as the gifts given to the staff. Officially, it was called "donating fancy." Later, this practice quickly became popular in the officialdom of the capital. Even if it wasn't about getting an official position or being promoted, as long as it was something worth celebrating, people would donate fancy.

It means to give gifts in various creative ways.

Although Zhao An's situation wasn't a promotion, it was similar in nature, so Imperial Censor Zheng naturally offered him a donation.

The main reason for this special trip was to strengthen the relationship between the two "bondservants," since in the officialdom of Yangzhou, he and Commissioner Zhao were the only two with the same background, both being bondservants of the Imperial Household Department.

Although Akeadang, the salt commissioner of Lianghuai, was also a servant of the emperor, he came from the Manchu Plain White Banner of the Upper Three Banners, which was several levels higher than the Han Chinese bondservants under the Imperial Household Department. They usually did not "play" together.

Akdang'a is a man of great generosity, but he has one flaw: he looks down on officials who are not from the Upper Three Banners.

Officials who don't frequently deal with Akdang'a might not realize this, but Zheng Bowen, a salt inspector who often deals with the salt administration, is well aware of this "cleanliness obsession" of the wealthy Akdang'a.

Therefore, I don't really hang out with Akdang'a. Why bother trying to be friendly when he's being snubbed?

On the other hand, Commissioner Zhao is good at interpersonal relationships and knows the rules. Now that he has been granted the status of a bondservant by the Emperor, he is clearly valued by Grand Secretary He. Naturally, Imperial Censor Zheng would come to get close to him.

As fellow members of the "Baoyi Da" (a powerful local government agency), if they don't band together, who will?

Zhao An warmly received Imperial Censor Zheng, and after exchanging pleasantries, he expressed his gratitude to the old master, the Grand Secretary, and the Qing Dynasty.

In short, my success today is not due to personal effort, but entirely to the organization's cultivation.

At the same time, he implied that since he and Imperial Censor Zheng came from the same background, they should support each other in the future.

This was exactly what Zheng Bowen wanted to do, and the two sides were undoubtedly one step closer.

However, Zheng Bowen seemed quite shrewd, and Zhao An had no leverage over him, so Zhao An had no plans to drag him down for the time being.

Let's observe for a while before making a decision.

As they chatted, the topic turned to the Grand Canal. Censor Zheng recounted how desolate the market was, how there was no festive atmosphere in Yangzhou, and how many merchants were forced to stay there. Then he said, "Things are getting more and more outrageous. I've already written the memorial to the Grand Canal Transport Office. When does Lord Zhao plan to submit his memorial?"

Zhao An's memorial was actually submitted this morning, but he vaguely said it would be submitted in two days.

"The New Year is just half a month away. If this matter is delayed any longer, the canal transport and salt transport will be affected next year. If the imperial court listens to the canal transport authorities and sends troops to suppress the canal workers, the Huai River region will probably not be peaceful, and countless innocent people will suffer unjust disasters and be torn apart from their families."

Judging from Zheng Bowen's tone, he seemed to be a man who cared deeply about the country and its people, which made Zhao An think more highly of him.

Whether it's an act or not, anyone who can constantly talk about the interests of the people is good candidate for officialdom.

On second thought, if the canal workers really rebelled, they would definitely kill officials. Which officials would they kill first?
He's just an official from Yangzhou!

Good heavens, they're only resorting to appeasement and strong reassurance because they're afraid of losing their heads.

However, it takes a smart person to think of this.

The second person to congratulate Zhao Anrong on his ascension to slavery was Old Song.

Old Song did a good job organizing the "Umbrella for the People" project, and the governor was very pleased. The total cost was only a little over a thousand taels of silver, and it wasn't paid to the county or prefectural schools, but rather directly "apportioned" to the gentry.

Of course, Lao Song has to repay this "favor".

The main ways to repay the subsidies were the quota of students from the county school who could receive the imperial "scholarship" and the additional quota of students who did not receive subsidies.

Although these spots do not greatly help students' academic pursuits, they are still an honor.

Moreover, those who accumulate many honors are eligible for admission to the Imperial Academy.

It's equivalent to winning one competition or getting first place in another in later generations, and then getting into Tsinghua or Peking University through bonus points.

The Imperial College is just as prestigious as Tsinghua and Peking Universities; graduates are guaranteed an official position.

However, the starting point is very low, mostly at the section chief level.

For the sons of gentry whose academic achievements were not the best, being recommended for admission to prison through the proper channels was far better than the less desirable path of purchasing a prison seat through donation.

Because they are wealthy, they can use money to buy official positions and advancements for their children.

Therefore, the quotas for both the "born into the family" and "extra-birth" students have always been areas rife with underhanded dealings during the Xiucai (scholarship) stage.

It's very unfair to children from poor families. Objectively speaking, even if children from poor families are sent to prison through special channels, they won't have a bright future.

The reason is that children from poor families cannot afford to buy official positions, and the only way for them to advance further in officialdom is through corruption and bribery.

Either they are noticed by a powerful person and promoted exceptionally.

Only children from poor families who could persevere through the imperial examinations to the metropolitan examination could maintain their original aspirations. As disciples of the emperor, they obtained official positions and were promoted faster than those who took other paths, while spending far less money unnecessarily.

For example, if Zhao An, who was granted the title of Jinshi with the advantage of being a bondservant, were to be selected for official positions alongside the regular Jinshi graduates of the first and second classes, the former Jinshi graduates would definitely be given priority.

He's at most a bit better than a top-ranking scholar, but it also depends on his interpersonal skills.

Regardless, the imperial examination system was still highly prestigious.

How to repay the favor to Lao Song is not something Zhao An can easily do, as it's Lao Song's "own little territory".

No matter how good our relationship is, it's not appropriate to interfere in other people's business, especially when it's something we're doing on behalf of you, Committee Member Zhao.

Besides congratulating Lord Zhao on becoming a servant, Old Song also brought many articles praising Magistrate Ding, which he had mobilized the teachers and students of the county school to write.

Zhao An casually picked up a few articles and glanced at them, then pointed to one and said, "It would be best to add two sentences to the end of this one." Old Song hurriedly replied, "Add what? Please tell me, sir!"

"The prosperity of the Qing Dynasty is inseparable from good officials like Magistrate Ding who are dedicated to doing practical work! The people's wealth is also inseparable from the hard work and dedication of good officials like Magistrate Ding! In addition, Magistrate Ding has only one belief in his official career, which is to do every little thing carefully, well, and to the satisfaction of the people, the court, and the emperor."

"Plain language?"

Old Song was stunned. This way of writing is acceptable?
Zhao An chuckled lightly: "Who are you writing these articles for?"

"Of course, it's the common people."

"Since it's written for the common people, and you use plain language for your own use, how can the common people understand your flowery and flattering style?"

Zhao An instructed Lao Song to go back and select a few good "literary translations of vernacular Chinese," and then hire people to casually circulate and interpret these articles in the city, gradually building momentum for Lao Ding's promotion.

Vernacular Chinese had already become widespread during the Qianlong era, and there were many vernacular novels on the market, such as "The Scholars" and the unbanned "Dream of the Red Chamber".

It's just that he really didn't have the time. Otherwise, Zhao An would have written a couple of articles for Lao Ding himself, making up a more sentimental story to evoke empathy from the people.

Old Ding is in Huai'an, not Ganquan, otherwise there would definitely be a scene where the county magistrate jumps into the Grand Canal to save the orphaned children of the canal workers who have fallen into the water, or perhaps he stops his carriage to rescue the injured from a car accident.

Zhao An is an expert at forgery.

After receiving several more subordinates from the academy who came to congratulate him and give gifts, Zhao An tidied up, as he also had to go and give his own gift.

The governor is returning to Suzhou tomorrow, and if we don't pay him a visit today, it would seem like Commissioner Zhao is being inconsiderate.

The gifts prepared by Vice Principal Ma filled an entire carload, worth over 700 taels of silver, including two precious old ginseng roots.

These two old ginseng roots from Liaodong alone cost two hundred taels of silver. They were from the Imperial Household Department, and I got them through Manager Shi's connections.

After donning his official robes, he summoned sedan chair bearers and guards and hurried toward the governor's residence.

Before setting off, he didn't forget to ask Vice Principal Ma to collect his professor's salary for the second half of the year from the government office.

It wasn't a lot of money, but it was his legitimate income, and there was no reason not to claim it.

Upon arriving at the governor's residence, he called for the sedan chair bearers to alight from afar, tidied his appearance, and then respectfully went over to present his visiting card.

The gatekeeper informed the committee member on his behalf, and soon someone came to lead him inside. The gifts he brought were also carried inside by the relevant personnel.

Zhao An was a man who knew the rules; he gave them a door bag and a tip as soon as they entered.

The gatekeeper's fee was 160 taels for a governor-general and 200 taels for a viceroy. This money was not for the gatekeepers, but was to be recorded as the legitimate income of the governor-general.

Tips are the doorman's personal income.

Zhao An gave a tip of 40 taels, which was split equally among the six staff members on duty.

In other words, without 200 taels of silver, you wouldn't even get to see the governor.

Not to mention Zhao An, a seventh-rank official, who has to pay, even the governor himself has to pay!

When Lord Fu was the governor of Zhejiang, he went to see the former governor-general of Fujian and Zhejiang, Lord Fulehun. In addition to the prescribed 200 taels for the door, he also gave an extra 80 taels as a tip before he was allowed to enter.

Whether an official is honest or corrupt, they all have to abide by this rule.

The garden where the governor lived belonged to Jiang Chun, the former head of the salt merchants. It cost eight million taels to build and the old master stayed there twice during his southern tours. However, with Jiang Chun's downfall, the garden was confiscated by the government.

I heard that the prefectural government planned to auction off this garden, but it failed to sell because the price was too high.

Rumor has it that other wealthy salt merchants disliked the garden because it was considered unlucky, so they dared not buy it.

Since it couldn't be left empty, it was used as a "grand hotel" to receive important officials from the province and the imperial court, and more than twenty paid staff members were assigned to it.

In preparation.

The governor is currently discussing matters with his staff when he receives news from the capital that the emperor plans to appoint Sun Shiyi, a Grand Councilor and Minister of Personnel, as the Governor-General of Liangjiang after the New Year.

In other words, the title "Acting Governor-General" for the Governor-General was not changed to "Acting".

The specifics are still unclear; the only news that came through was that Ah Zhongtang tried to help Lord Fu but was unsuccessful.

The staff speculated that the reason why the governor-general was unable to take over as governor-general might be because Heshen was behind it.

Otherwise, given A Zhongtang's status, how could the Emperor not listen to his opinions?

The governor thought so too. He was feeling depressed when the gatekeeper came to report that Zhao Youlu, the Jiangsu Provincial Education Commissioner, was requesting an audience. He had already heard that Zhao Youlu had been granted a place in the Imperial Household Department by the Emperor, and combined with the fact that he had been flogged by Kui Lun, he understood the Emperor's intention.

So he had someone lead him in, but instructed them to keep him at a distance for now.

The reason for loving someone because of their love for them, and hating someone because of their hate for them.

Who could blame them but Zhao Youlu, who was one of Heshen's men?

"If His Majesty truly intends to send Grand Secretary Sun to Liangjiang after the New Year, some things must be prepared in advance. We cannot allow Grand Secretary Sun to come and speak ill of me, the governor."

Just as the governor was giving instructions, a personal attendant came in to report: "Sir, Zhao Youlu said that with the Spring Festival approaching, he has specially presented you with a gift of eight thousand taels of silver."

"Eight thousand taels?"

The governor's originally stern expression softened little by little, as if a warm breeze from an air conditioner had been blowing on it.

(End of this chapter)