Wei Zhishu came to Yuhang to meet the magistrate Lu Houhuang.
"I want to build a house. I think it will be called General Manor. You have to help me acquire land and build an official road. I'm busy in the Forbidden City now, so I can let my parents live there. In the future, I can let my son live there. Your Excellency, you know that everyone gets old. After I work for the Emperor, I will retire and return to my hometown.”
Lu Houhuang narrowed his eyes and said,""You must not call me lord. If you acknowledge me, call me big brother. You are a person by the emperor's side. People say that the imperial court's bailiffs are extremely powerful. I'll do what you said right away. Brother, have you chosen the location to build the house?”
"Yes, it's on the east side of our old residence. I've looked at that place before. It's backed by mountains and faces water. It's said to have good feng shui. How about a year?”
"No problem. As long as the funds are in place and the start-up funds are in place, there will be no problem with the construction site. I can send the best craftsmen to work for you. Do you have the blueprint for the house?”
"I've already designed one, but I'm not too satisfied. I'm still designing another one. I'll give it to you in a few days."
"I wonder when the start-up funds will arrive?" Lu Houhuang asked. The wages are now more expensive than the materials, but I promise that I will not cut corners. The quality is not a problem, and I will pay you for a hundred years.”
"Sir, you still want me to get the start-up funds? You want me to take the money?"
"Isn't that right? You're not taking the money? How could he build the General's Estate without spending a single cent?”
Wei Zhishu was unhappily aggressive and said,"Milord, are you serious? I'm flattering you and giving you a chance to perform. I need to pay for the house myself. Why would I look for you? Do you know that there are many people who want to give me money but don't have the chance? You're an official, don't you know the rules of the game? I'm the emperor's subordinate and can see him anytime. If I say a word to him, I can replace you for ten years. Do you believe me?”
"I believe you."
" But, but, but, the people's awareness of rights protection is gradually awakening. They also know that the Emperor has repeatedly issued orders to punish corruption and not allow officials to ask for bribes. They will gather to make trouble and file a complaint. Once the Emperor finds out, he will be furious and our lives and official positions will be lost. I am in a difficult position. You should understand my difficulties. My national treasury is empty and I dare not touch a single penny. I'm just about to formulate a series of plans to make the country prosperous and be a good official with a clear conscience. If I make a big fuss and ask the people to use money to build a house for you, I don't dare.”Lu Houhuang said sincerely.
"Your loyalty to the emperor, your loyalty to your duty, your diligence and responsibility are commendable. However, can you use your brain and think of a way? Borrowing the chicken to lay eggs, pulling the flag to make the tiger's skin, these were the tricks that the ancients used. Can't you draw inferences from one instance and make the past serve the present?”
Lu Houhuang was still confused. He leaned closer to Wei Zhishu and said,"Brother, please enlighten me."
"Although I'm not a general, I can at least set a small goal in life, right? As long as it doesn't affect the interests of the country, it's also a form of patriotic education to urge my son to work hard and become a general who gallops on the battlefield and makes contributions to the country.”
"Well said. Standing high, you can see far." Lu Houhuang praised.
"I am currently the assistant minister of the Ministry of Works stationed in the Forbidden City. You can use this signboard. The signboard is resources and money.”
"I'm too short-sighted and one-track minded. Please give me some pointers.”
Wei Zhishu continued," In our district, there are many rich people, many relatives of officials, and many poor children who are holding money to buy official promotions. This is a resource, this is an opportunity. We have to make them obediently send the money over. I'm the Emperor's subordinate, so I can do things, right?”
"Yes."
"Many people can't find a way to talk to the emperor, but I'm the way. I can do whatever they want, do you believe it?”
"I believe you. After being in the officialdom for so many years, I believe you." Lu Houhuang sighed.
"Spread the word out. I want to hold a banquet to thank my fellow villagers. It's only once. I won't wait until it's over. Five hundred taels of silver for eating with me, and five hundred taels of snowflake silver for eating with me. I want them to realize that I am more effective than Buddha. I can do things, and what they want to do is easy for me.”
Lu Houhuang slapped his forehead and shouted,""Clever, my god. Why didn't I think of that? This was the bottom line. If you wanted to do something big, you had to pay more. The price was clearly marked. Some people also understood the market price.”
"That's true."
"I'll do it now." Lu Houhuang said.
Lu Houhuang gathered a few important rich and powerful people in the radiation area to discuss the specific solution.
Mao Bu said,"Magistrate, it's not that I don't support your work. Tell me, is this Wei Zhishu reliable?" Everyone knew what he was like. He was just a loafer. Some people were noble because of their mothers, and some people were noble because of their fathers. Wei Zhishu, this kid, was simply a cuckold because his wife had been promoted and made a fortune. He wanted to use this to plunder us, but I didn't give him a single cent. Was he still a man with a backbone?”
Lu Houhuang said,"Everyone, be careful with what you say. We are not facing any ordinary soldiers. He is someone close to the Emperor."”
"What do you mean by the people around the Emperor? The assistant minister of the Ministry of Works is stationed in the Forbidden City. Bullsh * t, there's no personnel order. He was just a hoodwinker, a street sweeper. Wasn't he just cleaning? I doubt whether he can see the emperor or not, and he can even do things for us through the emperor? Impossible, he's just a swindler, a swindler. I advise everyone not to fall for it.”
"I called you guys here to discuss what to do," said Lu Houhuang. I've been in the officialdom for so many years. I finally understand that it's very difficult for no one above to want to be promoted. No matter how good you do, no one will appreciate you. You have to have a backer. I won't force you. My son, I originally wanted him to seek fame, but in the end, I was stupid. A stupid son is my heart disease. You can't even get a wife. You guys take care of yourselves. I'm just a messenger. I don't dare to offend him. It's easy to see the King of Hell, but it's hard to keep a kid out. I don't dare to not do it, nor do I dare to make a big deal out of it. That's why I came to you to discuss it. You also know that I'm already disheartened and don't want to be promoted anymore. Besides, I'm already an official on the Emperor's blacklist. I'm scared and don't dare to make any more mistakes. To be able to beg for retirement and return to my hometown, I'll be able to retire legitimately and enjoy retirement benefits. I'm already burning incense.”
"The imperial court keeps saying that they'll punish corruption and those around them, but I won't give him money and will go to the capital to sue him."”
"Who are you suing? Who should I sue?"
"Brawn but brain, officials protect each other. Think about it calmly. Since ancient times, how many people have succeeded in reporting? He was the Emperor's subordinate. This was the truth. He wasn't lying. If things weren't handled well, he could easily take your life with a single finger. He could even exterminate your entire family. Yue Fei, this is a groundless crime. Do you understand? Learning more history is good for you. Don't get yourself into trouble. This kind of person could not be offended. It might not be useful to say good things. If you said bad things, it would be useful. Rich people needed to have political status and the right to speak. Powerful people needed to improve. This was human nature. Everyone wanted to be better than they were now and better than others. Why did you keep the money? Money only belongs to you when you spend it. Making the best use of everything, using all the power that could be mobilized to serve him, that was what an expert was. Ancient prose said that the gentleman's nature is not different, but good at giving things.”
"From what you're saying, you want to take the money for nothing? Meat Bun beat a dog and never came back? Purely a sucker."
"Take, I'll take at least five hundred taels of Snow Silver.”
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