Chapter 318 Liangzhou Governor

Chapter 318 Liangzhou Governor

Chapter 318 Liangzhou Governor (Part )

The Liangzhou General Administration was a medium-sized general administration office, which had jurisdiction over Xingyang County, Dong County and Liang County, with an army of 20,000. Its map looked like a sheep's head, with Xingyang County and Dong County as the two sheep's horns, distributed on the left and right above, and Liang County as the long sheep's face.

Chenliu County is located right at the center of the eyebrows and belongs to Liang County, but it is very close to the other two counties, so this strategic location became the seat of the Liangzhou General Administration Office.

Chenliu County is surrounded by dense river networks, a dense population, and endless farmland. It has been a large county since ancient times, with a population of over 100,000, second only to Songcheng County, the county seat.

According to today's map, Chenliu County is Kaifeng, Songcheng County is Shangqiu, and Guancheng County, the county seat of Xingyang County, is Zhengzhou.

That morning, a horse-drawn carriage slowly drove into Chenliu County. Liu Wenjing opened the window and looked around the county. Compared with the grandeur and neat streets of Chang'an, Chenliu County seemed a bit messy. The houses were low and there were no walls. There were shops of different heights on both sides. The ground was not paved with stone slabs but full of potholes. There were few trees, giving people a gray feeling.

Of course, it is not just Chenliu County that is like this. All county towns in the Central Plains are like this. Unless they were the capitals of the Northern and Southern Dynasties and were specially renovated, which would make them look a little better, otherwise they have basically remained unchanged for hundreds of years.

Although he was mentally prepared, Liu Wenjing was used to the spacious and tidy Chang'an, so he still didn't like Chenliu County and had a bad first impression.

Soon, the carriage stopped in front of the county government office. Liu Wenjing got off the carriage, walked up to the gatekeeper and said, "I'm from Chang'an. My surname is Liu. I'm looking for the county magistrate, Wang Pu!"

"Please wait!"

The bailiff went in to report, and soon an official in his thirties hurried out. It was Wang Pu, the magistrate of Chenliu County.

"Hey! Brother Liu, I haven't seen you for many years!"

The two were classmates and good friends in the county school. They haven't seen each other for more than ten years, but they still exchange letters.

The two of them hugged each other warmly, and Wang Pu said with a smile: "I will arrange for brother to stay first, and then we can talk in detail!"

The posthouse in Chenliu County is just opposite the county government office. It is equivalent to an official guesthouse. It usually only receives officials on official business trips, and provides free food and accommodation. Although Liu Wenjing is not an official, he can also stay there because of Wang Pu's face.

Liu Wenjing had written a letter to Wang Pu before, and Wang Pu knew that his classmate was actually the aide to the new governor of Liangzhou. Of course, he was very much looking forward to it.

Wang Pu arranged for Liu Wenjing to stay in a small courtyard with three rooms, which was very quiet and comfortable.

"How about it, the conditions are not bad!"

"Not bad!"

Liu Wenjing is very satisfied with this place. The pillows, bedding and various utensils are all new, and her classmates and friends are caring people.

"I'm sorry to trouble you, brother!"

"You're welcome. It's just a piece of cake!"

The two sat down in the living room, and the inn staff brought them a pot of hot tea.

Liu Wenjing poured tea for the two of them and asked with a smile, "Is the chief steward Hou Mochen still here?"

Wang Pu smiled and said, "He was transferred to be the governor of Guizhou and left ten days ago. Now the chief secretary Zhou Mo is in charge of the daily affairs of the governor's office."

Wang Pu asked again, "When will Chief Manager Xiao take office?"

"Soon, just two or three days."

"I heard that Manager Xiao is very young?"

Liu Wenjing smiled slightly and said, "The emperor's grandson! He is naturally younger, but if anyone looks down on him because of his youth, they are totally wrong. He has a tolerant side, but also a ruthless side. To put it simply, those who obey him will prosper, and those who go against him will perish. Of course, if the criticism and suggestions are made out of public interest, no matter how harsh they are, he will humbly accept them."

Wang Pu nodded, "Thank you for telling me, brother!"

Liu Wenjing pondered for a moment and asked again: "Do you know the situation in the General Manager's Mansion?"

Wang Pu said slowly: "The General Administration Office actually consists of three major officials, the Chief Clerk, the Military Secretary and the Recorder. The Chief Clerk Zhou Mo is the son-in-law of Zheng from Xingyang. The Military Secretary Liu Huan is said to be a man of Han Wang Yang Liang. The Recorder Zhao Guangcai is from the Han family army and is a clerk in the army of Han Qinhu.

In addition, General Manager Houmochen had several trusted aides who were very powerful, but they were all taken away. The troublemaker among them was Sima Liuhuan, who controlled the financial power. When General Manager Houmochen was in office, he could not deal with him because he had the support of the King of Han. "

"How is the Chenliu County Magistrate?" "Jiang County Magistrate is not bad. He was born in a poor family and passed the imperial examination with the support of the Cui family. He became the Chenliu County Magistrate three years ago. He is very diligent and honest, and is deeply loved by the people. He is admirable!"

The two chatted for a while, and then Wang Pu stood up and said goodbye.

Liu Wenjing packed up and went to the General Manager's Office in the north of the city. He said to the gatekeeper, "Please tell Zhou Changshi that the new general manager has sent someone."

Liu Wenjing's arrival was warmly received by the general manager Zhou Mo. Although Sima Liu Huan also greeted him, there was not much contact.

Liu Huan was about 40 years old. He was originally a retainer of the Prince of Han's Palace. He clung to the Prince of Han's thigh and was recommended by Yang Liang. He was appointed by the court as Sima of Liangzhou General Administration Office. He had been in office for four years and his term would expire in one year.

Just at this time, a new steward took office, and this new steward turned out to be the son of King of Jin, and was an enemy of King of Han. This made Liu Huan a little frightened.

In the afternoon, Liu Huan returned to his mansion. As soon as he entered the door, the housekeeper came to greet him and said, "Master, a guest came from Taiyuan and brought you a letter."

Liu Huan's heart trembled. The person coming from Taiyuan must be sent by the King of Han, right?

He quickly asked: "Where is the person?"

"Wait in the living room!"

Liu Huan didn't even bother to change his clothes and went straight to the living room.

Sitting in the guest hall was a scholar in his forties. His name was Lian Wentao, and he was also one of the Han King's staff. Liu Huan recognized him at a glance and quickly clasped his fists and said, "It turns out to be Brother Lian. Sorry for the long wait!"

Lian Wentao stood up and said with a smile: "Actually, I just got here too. You are doing well, brother. This house must be at least ten acres!"

"A ten-acre house in a small place is not as good as a one-acre courtyard in Chang'an. It is not worth boasting about."

The two of them sat down, and Lian Wentao took out a letter and handed it to him, "This is the handwritten letter from His Royal Highness the King of Han, take a look first!"

Liu Huan hurriedly took the letter and read it carefully. The request of the King of Han in it made him break out in a cold sweat. The King of Han actually asked him to hold on to the financial power tightly and not to give the new general manager any additional military salary.

In other words, it means asking himself to go against the new steward. Although he has kept the financial power and prevented Steward Hou Mochen from interfering in the past four years, he has not made things difficult for Steward Hou Mochen. Basically, he arranged money and grain according to Steward Hou Mochen's wishes, and everyone got along well. But now asking himself to go against the new steward would be a bit troublesome.

"Does the new steward have any personal grudge against His Royal Highness the King of Han?" Liu Huan asked in a low voice.

Lian Wentao snorted, "It seems that you don't understand the situation in the court."

Liu Huan smiled bitterly and said, "I have been in Liang County for four years and have never been back to Chang'an. I really don't know much about the situation in Chang'an. Please teach me, Brother Lian!"

"You are playing dumb!"

Lian Wentao sneered and said, "Don't you know that the new chief steward Xiao Xia is the son of King Jin? Don't you know what the relationship between King Jin and King Han is?"

"I know all this, but isn't their common opponent the Crown Prince?"

"Bullshit!"

Lian Wentao said coldly, "Let me make it clear! This Xiao Xia will take 6,000 private soldiers with him. These 6,000 soldiers were originally the private soldiers of the King of Han, but he took them away by force. He can't support his own private soldiers, so he must ask the General Administration Office to bear the cost. His Highness the King of Han wants to block the military salary supply of these 6,000 people and let him solve it himself. Do you understand?"

"I understand, but the barracks are ready-made. I can't block them."

"Your Highness the King of Han means that we only need to hold back the salaries of these 6,000 men. In addition, if Xiao Xia wants to recruit troops, you must hold him back financially and not allow him to increase his army."

Liu Huan wiped the cold sweat from his forehead and nodded repeatedly, "I'll remember it!"

"You should study the contents of the letter carefully! What I said is all in the letter. I'll give you a little more information. It is very likely that His Royal Highness the King of Han will send troops to the Central Plains. The first thing he will do is to destroy the Liangzhou army. You must play a role."

After saying that, Lian Wentao stood up and said, "There's nothing else to say. Your wife and children have been taken to Taiyuan by the King of Han. You don't have to worry!"

Liu Huan was speechless for a long time. What did he mean by not to worry? His wife and children were taken hostage.

(End of this chapter)