Chapter 452

Liu Bingzhong was shocked, his previously bowing body stopped abruptly, as if he had been acupointed by someone and froze in place.

The joy that could not be hidden instantly bloomed on his face, which had just carried relaxation. The fine lines at the corners of his eyes were squeezed into folds due to this sudden surprise, and even his voice trembled. He subconsciously took half a step forward, lowered his voice, and asked in astonishment: "Pillar of State, could your meaning be...?"

That's right.

That's right.

If he, Old Liu, doesn't get promoted, how can he make room for the Pillar of State and the Prince Heir?

Plus the previous standing in line, and the kindness forged with the Chen Pillar of State...

Could it not be a promotion?

Chen Yan raised his hand, patted Liu Bingzhong's shoulder, the smile in his eyes deepened, but he didn't say much, only containing a touch of tacit understanding: "You understand!"

Liu Bingzhong instantly understood, the joy on his face could no longer be held back. He hurriedly clasped his hands and bowed, his voice full of excited sincerity: "Many thanks, Pillar of State!"

He knew very well what his next task was...

Stand well at the last post, ensuring the smooth handover of power!

Deeply implement the Pillar of State's guidelines, always adhere to the Pillar of State's leadership, take the Pillar of State's decision-making and deployment as important work for the current and future period! Study the Pillar of State's spirit deeply, understand it thoroughly, and integrate it! Put personnel work in the overall cause to think, plan, and promote! Truly enhance the sense of responsibility and mission. For personal concepts that appear in work, one should not use them without criticism, but use them critically, dialectically, and objectively, so as to benefit the people in down-to-earth work!

The morning light just drifted over the blue brick eaves of the Wannian County Office.

Dyeing the plaque of "Wannian County Office" warm and bright.

Chen Yan stood on the street with his hands behind his back, his dark brocade robes slightly lifted by the morning breeze, his gaze falling on the plaque in the distance, his fingertips stroking the patterns on the jade belt around his waist unconsciously.

The copper bells under the eaves swayed lightly, mixed with the sound of leaves of the ancient locust tree in the courtyard.

He turned his head to look at Liu Mu Zhi beside him, a touch of teasing smile in his eyes, and teased: "Muzhi, sometimes your mouth is really quite spiritual..."

He paused, raised his hand to point at the main gate of the county office, and the smile in his tone deepened, "You wanted to be a county registrar, but I came to accompany you to be a county magistrate!"

"Hahaha!"

Liu Mu Zhi hurriedly clasped his hands and bowed, his waist bent just right, solemnly: "This is all the Grand Chancellor's appreciation for you, Lord!"

Although his own Lord had never stated it clearly, after analysis from multiple parties, Liu Mu Zhi had long seen through the leader's leader's intentions...

Chen Yan folded his hands on his chest, smiled indifferently, and said: "Let's go, go in and take a look!"

After speaking, he took the lead to step across the street, crossed the threshold of the county office, and walked toward the courtyard.

Liu Mu Zhi, Zhu Yi, Hongye, Yuwen Xiang, and others followed closely behind.

Just as Chen Yan entered, a short exclamation suddenly came from the east corridor.

The yamen runner was originally carrying a water bucket to the water vat. The moment he caught a glimpse of the dark brocade robes, his hand shook, and the water bucket "clanged" against the stone vat. He didn't even notice the water splashing all over his trouser legs.

He stared wide-eyed at Chen Yan's figure, his voice full of surprise and joy, and even his tone was raised a few points: "It's Chen Yan Lord!"

"It's Chen Yan Lord!"

Other yamen runners in the corridor heard the movement, and the brooms and rags in their hands fell to the ground with a "clatter."

The one closest reacted first, his eyes wide, his voice full of unsuppressible excitement, shouting to his companions: "Chen Yan Lord is here, Chen Yan Lord has come to take office as magistrate!"

They had heard this morning the news of Chen Yan Lord's transfer to Magistrate of Wannian, but had not expected that he would come to take office not long after...

Behind the crowd, a young yamen runner holding a door bolt trembled all over. The knuckles that had been white from gripping slowly loosened, then clenched violently again, and his eye sockets were slightly red.

He squeezed forward half a step, his voice carrying unsuppressible excitement, mixed with a touch of incredulous feeling: "Never thought that one day, I would actually have the honor to serve under Chen Yan Lord!"

As soon as he finished speaking, he hurriedly covered his mouth, fearing he had lost his sense of proportion, but the light in his eyes couldn't be hidden.

In the vast Chang'an, who wouldn't want to work under the Blue Sky of this Era?

What good luck he has!

An older yamen runner in the corridor couldn't help but sigh lightly and praised: "Chen Yan Lord is truly heroic and extraordinary!"

A burst of hurried footsteps came from the side. County Clerk Feng Xiao Yan ran over quickly, the ribbons on his official hat swaying constantly with the movement.

County Magistrate Gao Jiong, who followed behind, also had hurried steps.

A group of Wannian county officials followed quickly.

The two arrived in front of Chen Yan and bowed in unison. Feng Xiao Yan's voice still carried a touch of panting: "Greetings, Lord!"

The yamen runners and clerks in the courtyard saw this, stopped their work, tidied their robes one after another, and bowed or lowered their heads. The neat and uniform voice sounded in the courtyard: "Greetings, Lord!"

Chen Yan raised his hand to support them lightly, and said loudly with a smile: "All exempt from courtesy!"

A neat response sounded in the courtyard instantly: "Many thanks, Lord!"

Everyone straightened up slowly, their gazes still carrying respect and the excitement of successfully "chasing stars."

Chen Yan walked to Gao Jiong and Feng Xiao Yan, his gaze sweeping over the familiar faces of the two, a touch of smile rippling in his eyes, his tone full of familiarity: "A Jiong, Xiaoyan, never thought that we would continue to work together next!"

Quite a few of the Wannian County Office are old hands; future work will be very easy to develop...

And Yuwen Ze's Chang'an County is almost the same.

The excitement on Feng Xiao Yan's face was almost overflowing, his gaze burning as he looked at Chen Yan, full of excitement, and clasped his fists: "Your subordinate also never thought that I would have the honor to continue to obey orders under your command!"

Gao Jiong on the side also couldn't stop the corners of his mouth from rising, his hand holding the sword hilt stroking lightly, his tone carrying a touch of feeling and smile: "It seems that the two of us brothers really have a deep fate with you, Lord..."

Not to mention anything else, he and his brother are much luckier than others, still able to continue to follow Chen Yan Lord...

Continue to follow the Lord to make merits!

Chen Yan smiled and patted the two on the shoulder, didn't say any more polite words, and said loudly: "Alright, summon the officials of the county office, let's have a meeting first!"

The two looked at each other and clasped their fists in response: "Yes."

The wooden windows of the main hall of the county office were open, and the morning light slanted on the desk, reflecting a faint light on the scrolls and seals on the desk.

Chen Yan sat in the main seat, his dark brocade robes making his posture even more straight, his fingertips tapping lightly on the edge of the table, his gaze sweeping over the officials sitting in order below.

Feng Xiao Yan walked quickly to the side of the main seat, bowed, and lowered his voice to report: "Lord, all officials have arrived!"

"Good."

Chen Yan nodded slightly, his gaze falling back on the officials below, his voice clear and powerful: "I suppose everyone knows this office, right?"

"This office will not make a self-introduction..."

As he spoke, he raised his hand and pointed at himself with his fingertips.

The officials below heard this, exchanged glances one after another, their eyes hiding a touch of tacit understanding, and couldn't help but mutter in their hearts: "In the vast Chang'an, can there be anyone who doesn't know you?"

From princes and nobles to market people, who hasn't heard the name of Chen Yan Lord?

Not to mention knowing, even the deeds of punishing evil and promoting good, toppling national thieves and giants, and winning every battle can be told vividly by the storytellers on the street. How can anyone not know you!

It can be called deafening and respected by ten thousand people.

Unless it is a spy from another country...

No!

Spies are probably even clearer!

"Everyone relax!"

Chen Yan raised his hand to press lightly, his palm facing down and pressing virtually, and smiled: "This office gathered you together, not for lecturing, and even less for any three fires of a new official!"

The officials below instantly restrained their previous relaxation and held their breath one after another.

Their gazes were locked tightly on Chen Yan's body.

They couldn't understand what kind of medicine this famous Lord was preparing to sell in his gourd...

"Just want to declare to you gentlemen, the principles of this office..."

Chen Yan leaned back slightly against the chair back, the lines of his shoulders and back relaxed a bit, but the smile on his face became even more gentle. His gaze swept over everyone, and he said with ups and downs: "Work well under this office, and there will be no lack of benefits for you!"

As soon as the words fell, the smile on his face instantly receded, his back straightened slightly, his tone suddenly became serious, and his eyes became sharper: "But ugly words are also said in front; those who neglect their duties, sit in their positions and eat without doing anything, or perfunctorily handle things, don't blame this office for not being affectionate!"

A neat and uniform response sounded in the main hall instantly: "Yes."

The officials lowered their heads one after another, their eyes full of fear in addition to respect.

Because they suddenly remembered that this person previously held the Mingjing Si, and when he took action, he would never be soft-hearted...

The seriousness on Chen Yan's face instantly faded, the smile hooked at the corners of his mouth again, and his tone became lighter: "This office has prepared a meeting gift for each of you!"

Afterward, he called out toward the seat below: "Muzhi!"

Liu Mu Zhi stood up, took out a large handful of silver notes from his bosom, each with a considerable face value. The crisp sound of the paper was exceptionally clear in the quiet main hall.

The gazes of the officials below were instantly sucked by the handful of silver notes. Many people leaned forward subconsciously, their eyes staring straight, and even their breathing stopped for half a beat.

The previous tense expression was now replaced by a touch of incredulous surprise, secretly pondering that this Chen Yan Lord's style of doing things was even more generous than the rumors.

"Each person has one hundred taels!"

"Each yamen runner in the county office has ten taels!"

"A little bit of heart from this office!"

Chen Yan smiled indifferently, his gaze swept over everyone, and he said loudly.

Liu Mu Zhi immediately stepped forward and distributed the silver notes to everyone.

Gao Jiong pinched the silver note in his hand, his fingertips clearly touching the texture of the paper, and couldn't help but sigh in his heart: "Chen Yan Lord is still Chen Yan Lord!"

With this gentleman's style of doing things, he still makes people want to pledge their lives to serve!

Yuwen Xiang on the side stared at the amount on the silver note, his eyes slightly straight, and his heart was full of shock: "So it can still be used to win people's hearts like this?!"

At that moment, this Prince Heir only felt that his eyes were opened...

Previously, he only heard that new officials taking office must either establish prestige or speak of rules; he had never seen directly distributing silver notes to subordinates...

Can it still be played like this?!

Learned, learned!

Merit Officer Sun Xiangbai raised his eyes to look at Chen Yan, who was smiling calmly in the main seat, then lowered his head to look at the silver note in his hand, sighing in his heart: "Chen Yan Lord is truly extraordinary!"

This one hundred taels is worth more than half a year of his salary...

With such a leader, who wouldn't want to offer loyalty?

His success is not without reason...

(Merit Officer: responsible for official assessment, personnel appointment related affairs)

Just then, a burst of hurried footsteps came from outside the door. A yamen runner rushed in sweating profusely, his collar crooked from running. As soon as he entered, he shouted urgently: "Lord, it's not good!"

Feng Xiao Yan stood up abruptly, the hand that had just put away the silver note clenched into a fist, the smile on his face instantly faded, and he hurriedly asked: "What happened?"

The yamen runner leaned against the door frame and gasped for breath, sweat beads sliding down his cheeks, his voice full of panic: "Member Shi of Shengping Ward died miserably in his mansion!"

He swallowed his saliva, finally stabilized his breath, and added urgently: "His son just came to the county office to report the case..."

This Member Shi was a well-known philanthropist, virtuous and respected, deeply loved by the people of Wannian County.

He was also a long-term donor to the county office.

Chen Yan was stunned, his brows raised slightly, he pulled the corners of his mouth, and muttered in surprise in his heart: "I just came to take office today, and a murder case happened already?!"