Chapter 559: Talents Fall into the Trap

Shenjing North City, Yulong Street.

Jia Cong boarded the carriage, Jiang Liu whipped the horse, and the carriage slowly drove away from the Prince Zhao Mansion.

In the carriage, Jia Cong leaned against the carriage wall, closed his eyes to rest, and thought about the scene he saw at the Prince Zhao Mansion just now, his thoughts rolling in his mind.

The carriage walked for a while, as if it suddenly stopped. A dense sound of horse hooves came from outside the carriage window, waking Jia Cong from his deep thought.

He knew that he must have encountered something just now, which was why Jiang Liu suddenly stopped the carriage.

Jia Cong lifted the carriage window and saw many soldiers appearing on both sides of the road, driving away pedestrians on the road, and street vendors were clearing the street.

More than twenty fast horses were galloping through the street, flying toward the west of the city, and everyone on the horses was wearing official military uniforms, with a very arrogant and fierce momentum.

Jia Cong walked in government offices daily, entered and exited the palace, and had dealt with the Embroidered Uniform Guard and other government offices.

He recognized that these did not actually belong to the Embroidered Uniform Guard, nor did they belong to the Patrol City Soldier and Horse Division, let alone the Forbidden Army and the Five Army Battalion cavalry.

They were the arrest officers belonging to the Tui Shi Yuan, equivalent to the military guards of the Embroidered Uniform Guard, specializing in arrest and search.

Seeing them galloping through the city with dozens of fast horses, their behavior was urgent, so it must not be a good thing. I don't know which official family was targeted by the cruel officials of the Tui Shi Yuan, and they would probably suffer.

Jia Cong pondered slightly, called Jiang Liu into the carriage, and whispered a few words. Jiang Liu got off the carriage and disappeared into the crowd.

Love Shenjing East, Hancheng Street, a two-entry courtyard.

When Lin Zhaohe's carriage arrived, he saw two people standing at the entrance of the courtyard, chatting and talking there.

One of them was nearly forty years old, with a strong build, eyes shining like torches, and a face with quite a bit of wind and frost.

The other was a young man of about thirty, of medium build, with a straight waist and back, wearing an azure dark-patterned round-collared long robe, with a gentle expression and a smile.

This person wore a brown finger sleeve on the little finger of his left hand. Because the color of the finger sleeve was close to the skin, it was even a bit difficult to notice at first glance.

When Lin Zhaohe's carriage stopped at the entrance of the courtyard, the middle-aged man smiled and greeted him.

Seeing Lin Zhaohe dismount, he smiled and said, "Third Brother, I have been waiting for a long time. Everything is ready for you; come in and settle down."

Lin Zhaohe also smiled and said, "Big Brother left home to do business many years ago and has been missing ever since. Now that you have settled your family business in Shenjing, it is truly rare for us brothers to reunite in a foreign land."

This middle-aged man over forty was Lin Zhaohe's cousin, Lin Zhaorong. He took his father out to do business many years ago, and then lost contact with his family.

A few days ago, he suddenly visited Lin Zhaohe at the inn. The cousins hadn't seen each other for many years, and they were very surprised by the sudden reunion, so he invited Lin Zhaohe to live in his villa to read and study.

Lin Zhaorong smiled and said, "I am not as clever as Third Brother, born to be a seed for reading. I failed to read, so I had to take the business path to make a living.

Many years ago, I took my old father out to do business, but the timing was too bad in the first few years, and I almost lost all my family wealth. I was really ashamed to communicate with my family.

Fortunately, the timing turned around in the last two years, and I met noble people to help me. I moved around in the distant border areas and only established a foothold in Shenjing last year.

Because Shenjing and Hangzhou Prefecture are too far apart, and the traffic and information are always too inconvenient, I haven't been able to communicate with my family for these few years.

However, Third Brother didn't know my news, but even though I was thousands of miles away, I heard your reputation.

Last year, while I was traveling and doing business, I met travelers from Jiangzhe, and they talked about Third Brother winning the Jieyuan of the Hangzhou Prefecture Enke Township Exam in the 13th year of Emperor Jia Zhao. It really made me overjoyed.

At that time, I concluded that Third Brother would definitely go to the capital to take the exam one day, but I sent a letter to my hometown and received a reply saying that Third Brother had already traveled far away.

Shenjing and Hangzhou Prefecture are really too far apart, and the traffic and information are always too inconvenient.

Since the beginning of spring, scholars from all over the country have come to the capital one after another, and I have also sent people to inquire.

But Shenjing is the capital of a country, and the territory is too vast. There are many scholars from all over the country, so it is not easy to find them.

It was thanks to Shopkeeper Liu's wide connections that he accidentally learned of Third Brother's residence and whereabouts from the scholars who came to take the exam. Otherwise, I don't know when we brothers would have met."

Lin Zhaohe listened to Lin Zhaorong's words, and his eyes couldn't help but look at the young man standing quietly on the side.

That person heard Lin Zhaorong's words, smiled slightly, and said to Lin Zhaorong, "I am Liu Wenxuan, the shopkeeper of Hongjin Silk Shop.

Hangzhou Prefecture has always been a major township for imperial exams in Jiangnan. Lin Young Master can win the Jieyuan of the Hangzhou Prefecture Township Exam, and his talent is amazing, which is truly admirable.

I happened to have the fate to help, letting you brothers reunite, which can be considered a happy event."

Lin Zhaohe saw that although Liu Wenxuan was a merchant running silk, his speech and behavior were elegant and steady, without half a merchant's atmosphere, and he was quite extraordinary, so he felt a bit more concerned in his heart.

He hurriedly bowed and said, "Shopkeeper Liu is too polite. With your help, we brothers were able to meet early. Zhaohe thanks you here."

Liu Wenxuan smiled and said, "I have business to discuss with your brother today, and I also took the convenience to see the demeanor of Jieyuan Lin. You family members are reunited, so I won't disturb you too much.

Another day, I will invite you to a banquet, and I hope Brother Lin and Jieyuan Lin will definitely take time to appreciate it."

Liu Wenxuan smiled and said goodbye. Lin Zhaohe watched his distant figure and said to his cousin, "Big Brother, Shopkeeper Liu's speech and bearing are quite extraordinary. Big Brother has made a good character."

Lin Zhaorong smiled and said, "Shopkeeper Liu is a capable person. I was tossing and turning for several years, and I only met him by chance after arriving in Shenjing. We have had many dealings in business and have gained a lot of convenience.

Last year, I was able to buy property and settle down in Shenjing, and I also got a lot of help from Shopkeeper Liu. Even if I say he is my noble person, it is not an exaggeration."

The brothers chatted for a few more words, and Lin Zhaorong asked his family to move the carriage and luggage to settle down. The brothers held hands and entered the courtyard to pay respects to the elders of the family and recount the feelings of reunion.

Love Shenjing East, Yuping Street, Hongjin Silk Shop.

Yuping Street is a prosperous street in the east of Love Shenjing, with shops lined up on both sides of the street, and the flow of people coming and going is bustling.

Hongjin Silk Shop opened in October last year. It is a shop with three rooms facing the street. Among the many shops on Yuping Street, it is not big or small, and it is unremarkable and not very eye-catching.

After Liu Wenxuan said goodbye to the Lin brothers, he walked in the city for a while and returned to the silk shop.

He asked the shopkeeper about today's business, flipped through the account books of the past two days, gave a few casual instructions, and entered the backyard of the shop.

The backyard of the shop does not occupy much space. In addition to two warehouses, there are two wing rooms, which is where Liu Wenxuan lives daily.

However, he didn't stay in the courtyard for long, but opened the back door of the courtyard and entered the back alley of Yuping Street.

He walked a little in the back alley, turned into another alley, and walked all the way through the deep alleys and small roads behind the main street.

After walking for half a cup of tea in this way, he stopped at the end of a clean and quiet alley and knocked on the yellow copper door knocker of a small courtyard.

The monotonous and regular knocking sound echoed in the quiet alley...

Soon the courtyard door was opened. Except for a tall woman, after Liu Wenxuan entered the small courtyard, the courtyard door was gently closed again.

This is just a single-entry small courtyard, with a main room and two wing rooms on the left and right sides.

The spacious courtyard is planted with all kinds of green plants and flowers. In the spring sunshine, they are either green or purple and red, looking exceptionally vibrant.

A middle-aged man of about forty, wearing short brown clothes convenient for movement, with his sleeves rolled up, was focused on watering and loosening the soil for these flowers and trees.

Although he was dressed simply, his clothes and hands were stained with a lot of mud, looking like a flower farmer. But the warm sunshine shone on him, and he seemed to be able to shine, showing his upright features, handsome appearance, and demeanor, which had a natural elegance.

The tall woman did not step forward to help, but sat on the side alone, watching the man serve the flowers and plants with great interest.

The quiet and elegant small courtyard, the hermit with elegant interests—anyone who sees such a scene will probably feel at ease and close...

Liu Wenxuan entered the small courtyard and stood by the middle-aged man, saying, "Master, the things you ordered have all been handled."

"Today's last person is Lin Zhaohe from Hangzhou Prefecture. Because his cousin has business dealings with me, I contacted this person personally."

The middle-aged man put down the water scoop and flower hoe in his hand, walked to the water well on the side, took a water bucket tied with a rope, and threw it gently into the well.

He heard the sound of water falling into the well, shook his wrist skillfully, and then exchanged his hands left and right, and pulled up a full bucket of well water, which looked exceptionally smooth and harmonious, all in one go.

Even such a simple thing, but doing it in his hands, seemed to have more rhythm and rules than ordinary people, and a trace of steady and unhurried determination.

He used well water to wash away the mud on his body, and he didn't forget to use well water to rub away the mud on the corners of his clothes.

After he cleaned himself up, he laughed at himself, "This period of time has been quiet and comfortable. It's been a long time since I've had such days."

Saying that, he took Liu Wenxuan into the main room, and the two sat down at the table. Liu Wenxuan said, "Since September last year, according to the Master's meaning, we have relied on business connections in various places."

"Plus the old connections in the Ministry of Rites, we screened 113 people from the name list of the 13th year of Emperor Jia Zhao Township Exam. These people are all Jieyuan of the state township exam and those who ranked at the forefront."

"I also followed the Master's meaning and screened those with simple family backgrounds and no roots in the officialdom, totaling 23 people."

"In these ten days, I have assigned manpower to contact them and connected the relationship. Once used in the future, they all have points of effort."

The middle-aged man took out an exquisite scroll from the dark grid in the room and spread it out on the table. It was written with dense names, and there were text descriptions behind each name.

Some of the names were outlined with vermilion pens. He took the inkstone, ground the vermilion ink on it, wetted it with a brush, and handed it to Liu Wenxuan.

Liu Wenxuan used a vermilion pen to outline several new names on the scroll, one of which was "Jieyuan Lin Zhaohe of Hangzhou Prefecture."

The middle-aged man took the name list and looked at it carefully, saying, "These people are all outstanding talents, and many of them are Jieyuan of a state."

"But they are from ordinary families and rely entirely on the imperial exam to change their family status. They are all hardworking people and have great potential."

"In this spring exam, these people may all be ranked in the top three. Once such people enter the officialdom, they have no family roots as a stepping stone."

"Such people with simple official entanglements are most suitable for support and cultivation with external forces..."

Liu Wenxuan said, "These days, I have sent people to pay attention to the movements of these people. In fact, their daily behavior is as the Master expected, with no difference."

"Although that blue booklet is popular among the candidates for the exam, many candidates follow the index of the blue booklet to visit officials involved in the spring exam, which is tireless and noisy."

"But the characters we screened according to the Master's meaning, their family backgrounds are simple and cold, and most of these people are proud of their talents and disdain to visit and walk around, confident that they can rely on their talents to be on the gold list."

"A few people also follow the visits, but because their family roots are limited, even if they participate in the visits, their gains are limited. Many people are just foils for the wealthy children."

"Moreover, candidates for the exam are all hot for the imperial exam, and it is inevitable that people will be jealous of the wise and able. Here, the family background is cold, but the candidates who are proud of the imperial exam are mostly targets of exclusion by others."

"Ordinary visits to subordinate officials of the spring exam may have people pulling them to fill the scene, but when it comes to the visits to the chief examiner who must be decided, few candidates will bring these people with them."

"And these people have cold family backgrounds and no connections in the capital, and no one recommends them, so relying on their own talent, I am afraid they can't even cross the threshold of high officials."

"But such people are just right. Now the situation outside is chaotic. If any accident happens, it is difficult for these people to be implicated."

The middle-aged man smiled slightly and said, "Such things are common sense. The noble family steps on a high position, and the hero sinks into the lower official. It has been like this since ancient times."

"The more such characters, the more determined they are. Their life's ambition is to rely on the imperial exam path to change their family status and change their destiny."

"Once these people are ranked in the top three, they are more ambitious than ordinary people, but they lack family connections and support. As long as they are given external help, they can stir up the situation for you!"

The middle-aged man looked at the name list, which were all outstanding talents of the contemporary era, but he was indifferent and talked freely, as if nothing.

The hermit-like elegance and calmness on his body gradually faded, and his whole body exuded a steady determination like a mountain, making people feel a little palpitating...

Liu Wenxuan, who was sitting on the side, looked at the middle-aged man, his eyes calm, listening attentively.

The middle-aged man continued, "Have the people who performed the duties a few days ago been settled now?"

Liu Wenxuan replied, "People have left Shenjing. Three days ago, they boarded a ship to the south. According to the itinerary, they will arrive at the place to settle down in the middle of the month. Master, please rest assured."

The middle-aged man nodded, "Wenxuan, I once had a close friend. Although we were of similar age, his wisdom and knowledge were above mine."

"He once said to me that there are hundreds of industries in the world, regardless of noble or low. As long as you are proficient in the matter and climb to the peak, you can also be the leader."

"In the eyes of noble families, merchants are low-class and are regarded as lower-class. Even the likes of Tao Zhu and Yi Dun in the past were often criticized and ridiculed."

"But they don't know that the merchant's way, managing firewood, rice, oil, salt, clothing, food, housing, and transportation, is just the way of managing things."

"The merchant's method, the lower one manages things, the middle one manages talent, and the upper one manages the situation! The situation in the world is not born of heaven and earth, but arises because of people. If we cannot be the person who decides the situation, then help people do some things that follow the situation..."

Marquis's Mansion, Jia Cong's courtyard.

Zhi Shao and Liu Wuer saw Jia Cong return safely, so Liu Wuer's worry was just a matter without a shadow, and they were both relieved.

Jia Cong returned to the study, let Zhen Ying Lian grind ink and spread paper, calmed his mind, and turned the book to write.

Just an hour later, he heard Qingwen come to report, saying that the outside courtyard sent a message, and Cong Sanye's little servant had handled the matter and was waiting in the side hall to report to Cong Sanye.

Jia Cong's spirit was slightly lifted, so he got up and went to the side hall of the outside courtyard.

As soon as Jiang Liu saw him coming, he said, "Cong Sanye, I followed the horse tracks of the Tui Shi Yuan arrest officers from afar until I reached a courtyard at the root of the city wall in the west of the city."

"As soon as the Tui Shi Yuan arrest officers arrived at the place, they surrounded the front and back doors."

"They originally wanted to enter the courtyard to take people, but the owner of the courtyard had already left, leaving only a few old servants who looked after the house, and they were all taken away by the Tui Shi Yuan arrest officers."

"This courtyard was searched inside and out by the Tui Shi Yuan arrest officers, and they also took away many papers and books when they left."

"Afterward, I asked the surrounding neighbors, and they said that the owner of this courtyard was a retired official of the Ministry of Personnel, who had always lived here to retire."

"This person is nearly sixty years old, very kind and polite, often helping the nearby villagers, and his reputation is very good. I heard that officials and old friends often come to visit."

Jia Cong heard that it was a retired official of the Ministry of Personnel, and a flash of light flashed in his mind, as if he had grasped something.

He asked, "Did you ask for this person's name and official position?"

Jiang Liu replied, "The Tui Shi Yuan people took the old servants who looked after the house, which caused a lot of noise, and the surrounding neighbors were alarmed, and many people came out to watch the fun."

"Because this person is also a big official in this area, I heard the villagers discuss that this person's name is Wang Shien, and he was a fifth-rank Physician of the Ministry of Personnel's Case Department before retiring."

Jia Cong heard the official position of this Wang Shien and vaguely guessed something...

(End of chapter) ===== CHAPTER 560 =====