The boat sailed forward for more than ten miles, leaving the Wusong River to the north and entering the Xiaolai River.
As soon as we entered the Xiaolai River, the miserable scene on the south bank of the Wusong River was thrown behind the boat.
The water town scene like an ink painting was restored before our eyes.
There are high-rise and low-rise residential houses with black tiles and brick walls on both sides of the river. There are small bridges made of blue stones on the river, and green rice fields are connected in the distance.
But the streets along the river bank were crowded with people fleeing the disaster, reminding people that the disaster was not far away.
Zhao Shouzheng was already worried and kept urging the boatman to move forward quickly. Because until now, he had not seen an official figure on the river embankment along the way.
However, some common people, under the command of the squire, spontaneously dug soil to strengthen the river embankment. However, on the dozens of miles long river embankment, there are only a few hundred people in the east and west, which is a drop in the bucket and does not help.
Where have all the officials gone?
Magistrate Zhao is eager to know the answer.
Looking at his father¡¯s worried look, Zhao Hao felt deeply relieved. As expected, people still have to take on something in order to become mature.
??~~
After the meal, the official ship entered the Loujiang River, and a blue brick city more than two feet high suddenly appeared in front of everyone.
"Hey, the county town is quite new." Zhao Hao couldn't help but be a little surprised.
"In the past, all the people in Kunshan County were from Tuweizi. Later, auspicious stars came and Gu Dingchen, the number one scholar, came out." Xu Wei said with a smile: "Speaking of which, Lao Gu was the first person to submit a poem to the late emperor."
Zhao Hao nodded, Qingci Prime Minister Gu Dingchen is very famous.
"Gu Ge is always a flatterer, he can't do anything, he just fills his position." Wu Chengen also had some disdain for Lao Gu, and then changed the subject: "But his prestige in Kunshan is extremely high. It was he who worked hard back then to turn the original low The short adobe city wall was replaced by a tall brick and stone city wall. During the Japanese rebellion in the past few years, the people of Kunshan were saved due to this, and they are all very grateful to Mr. Gu Ge for his kindness."
"So when you enter the county town, don't speak ill of Mr. Gu Ge, or you will be beaten." Wu Chengen said this specifically to Xu Wei.
Xu Wenchang curled his lips and was about to speak.
But I heard Mr. Zhao say something. "What are you doing?"
Everyone followed the sound and saw hundreds of lanterns and many torches lit on the pier in front.
By now it was dark and raining, making this scene particularly eye-catching.
¡°It¡¯s coming, it¡¯s coming!¡± Immediately afterwards, noisy voices sounded on the pier.
Soon, a speedboat came up to meet him, and an official wearing a ninth-grade uniform shouted loudly:
"Bai Shouli, the Chief Secretary of Kunshan County, would like to welcome the eldest son of the county to his office! More than 200 officials and gentry in the county have been waiting for the eldest son at the dock all day!"
"Oh." Zhao Shouzheng finally knew where all the officials in the county had gone.
When the official ship docked, dozens of miscellaneous officials, scribes, and more than a hundred well-dressed gentry, led by an eighth-grade official, crowded to the edge of the pier to warmly welcome the new grand master.
Several officers lit firecrackers in the pavilion, and the musicians next to them played the "Welcome Music" hard in the crackling and smoke-filled environment.
As soon as the suona sounds, all worries disappear and the cheerful atmosphere rises.
It¡¯s just that the red carpet on the ground has been soaked by the rain, and the colorful building covered with flowers and red silk has also lost its color in the dim sky, making the Kunshan officials and gentry who had carefully prepared for the ceremony very sad.
What makes them even more sad is that they didn¡¯t receive the call until now. Will they be considered a neglect?
An eighth-grade official in his fifties with gray beard and hair first led everyone to pay homage to the great master. Then he stepped forward with fear and fear, bowed and said:
"I am lowered to the post of Prime Minister He Wenwei of Kunshan County, and I respectfully welcome the eldest sir to take office."
"We were stupid and mistakenly thought that the great master would come directly from Fucheng to the Loujiang River, so all the people to greet him were placed on the Loujiang River. Xiong Dianshi also brought the great master's sedan to wait at the county border" He said He quickly explained again.
"The elder took a detour from Wusong River and crossed over from Xiaolai River." Fan Datong, who also served as Zhao Shouzheng's personal bodyguard, explained loudly for him.
"This" Prime Minister He County, Chief Bai and all the officials in the county were nervous and had a bad feeling.
"When the eldest master took office, he began to inspect the public sentiment. He is really a role model for the lower officials and others." He Xiancheng had no choice but to bite the bullet and said.
Zhao Shouzheng walked out of the boat angrily. He wanted to scold these people who were not doing business, but he felt that they were excusable If he didn't follow the rules, Long LongWhat should I do if I am greeted again and the big boss hates me?
While he was wandering around, he heard Zhao Hao, who was following him and holding an umbrella for him, whisper: "You can scold him if you want, no need to be polite."
"A bunch of people who are not doing their job properly!" Mr. Zhao immediately became energetic and scolded the officials with a dark face:
"Half of Kunshan County is submerged in water, hundreds of thousands of people have been displaced, and the streets are full of people fleeing for their lives. Yet you are still here decorating with lanterns, beating gongs and drums, greetings every three miles, and picking up every five miles! This Are you welcoming this county? I think you are putting me on the fire to roast! You are deliberately letting the common people poke my spine!"
???????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????: The bad breath is gone, it feels so good.
A group of Kunshan county officials were scolded by the county magistrate, and they all remained silent in the rain.
"Comfort me, gentleman" Zhao Hao reminded again in a voice as loud as a mosquito.
Mr. Zhao was also angry and his tone was no longer so harsh. Then he gave a fist to a group of Kunshan gentry who dared not breathe.
"The flood situation is severe, and the county's temper has become a bit irritable. Please bear with me."
"My parents care about their people, which is really a blessing to this county!" A gentleman in his fifties, wearing the uniform of a fifth-grade official.
As soon as he spoke, all the gentry nodded in agreement. It seems that he should be the leader of the Kunshan gentry.
"May I ask this old gentleman his surname?" Zhao Shouzheng asked politely.
"Xiao Keyongli Gu's Dadong, pay homage to my old parents." The old man named Gu Dadong once again gave Zhao Shouzheng a big gift.
"It turns out to be the famous Mr. Yongli, disrespectful." Zhao Shouzheng hurriedly supported Gu Dadong.
He did his homework before coming and knew that among the five wealthy families in Kunshan, the Gu family was at the top. The contemporary patriarch of the Gu family is Gu Dadong.
Seeing that the magistrate did not beat them all to death with a stick, he respected them gentry quite a lot. The big dog owners came forward to salute one after another.
?The patriarch of the Zheng family is named Zheng Ruozeng.
"Mr. Kaiyang" Looking at the white-haired old man, Mr. Zhao's eyes lit up and he swallowed secretly.
Xu Wei behind him also winked at the old man named Zheng Ruozeng.
Seeing Xu Wei, Zheng Ruozeng rubbed his eyes in surprise, and then pinched his beard in surprise.
It¡¯s just that this kind of occasion is not suitable for reminiscing about the past, so the two made eye contact and agreed to talk later.
??~~
Wait until Zhao Shouzheng and the gentry have finished greeting.
Gu Dadongfang respectfully invited: "Xiao Ke and others set some wine on Xitang Street to help their old parents wash away their dust and look forward to seeing them."
When Zhao Shouzheng heard that there was wine, his eyes lit up at first, and then he shook his head and said: "I accept the kindness. Thinking of the disaster-stricken people crying for food, how can this county afford it?"
After saying that, he raised his hands to the gentry and said: "Tomorrow morning, the county wants to inspect the river embankment. I wonder if you can honor me and accompany me?"
"Follow your orders!" All the gentry knew the three things a new official should do when he took office, so naturally they all cooperated.