#408 - Chapter 407 Who taught you the characters

#408 - Chapter 407 Who taught you the characters

In the Jiangzhou Qingshan County Yamen, the renovations were focused on the exterior, making the facade more magnificent.

As for tax revenue, the imperial palace didn't care about the small amount, too lazy to even collect it. The local counties and cities could allocate it themselves. They were quite wealthy, either independently recruiting and training cultivators or using it for local people's livelihood. The higher the official rank, the more they could allocate. The money for repairing the county yamen was nothing.

If there were no problems with the local people's livelihood, it could be used on the local officials themselves, increasing the salaries of the local petty officials or spending it on lavish entertainment. As long as the local people lived well and the planning for this year's performance assessment was completed, no one would care about what you did.

This year, County Magistrate Wang Jingzhong's plan was to have the average income of the local people reach twenty taels of silver per year.

In the current Daqian Dynasty, the common people could live on five taels a year. Of course, this didn't include those involved in cultivation. If you wanted to cultivate, you had to earn money yourself. They only looked at how many people could survive and become prosperous.

The average income in Qingshan County was ten taels of silver per year.

The local government would start public welfare projects to earn money for the people, such as setting up workshops. These were all wealth-generating experiences passed down from above.

But in reality, it would be almost possible to reach 15 taels of silver this year, and twenty taels of silver a year would qualify for performance-based promotion.

But he didn't want to be promoted, as long as he wasn't demoted. Being an official here was very comfortable. Once he went up, there would be more things to manage.

With food and drink, carefree, Wang Jingzhong was quite comfortable. At this moment, he was talking about the planning here with a group of local county yamen officials.

"The New Year is coming soon. Before the end of the year, the Qingshan ink unique to our Qingshan County must be sent to Jiangzhou. If the resources allocated from above, wouldn't our lives be better? If the local people's happiness index is high and the people have hope, our path will be more stable."

"The county yamen should be bigger, and the grievance drum should also be bigger, and more should be set up, so that if the people are wronged, it can be dealt with as soon as possible."

"We must deeply learn from the experience of the imperial capital, and develop more convenient government service windows for the local people, so that the people think that we are one with them, come from the people, and go to the people. Being an official is about remembering that the ruler is a boat and the people are water. If the people are not doing well, how can we live well?"

"Yes, yes, Lord Wang is right. No wonder he is the one who once went to the capital to learn about the local bureaucracy's governance experience. We admire you. We have already followed Lord Wang's instructions and ordered them to go down."

The middle-aged man nodded slightly: "In those years, I had seen the former Chief Assistant Qiu from afar. Although this person was just an unremarkable old man, he was surprisingly insightful. He was trusted by both the Emperor and His Majesty. When His Majesty and the Emperor traveled, Chief Assistant Qiu managed the entire Tianxuan Continent. This person's methods were very powerful, and his vision was also very good."

"It's just a pity that heaven is jealous of talent, and he unfortunately died. I heard that he was assassinated. The current Chief Assistant is not very good. He is a top-notch corrupt official. It is only because the dynasty's laws are here that he does not dare to act rashly. Otherwise, the world, which has eased for a few years, will be in chaos again..."

While everyone was talking, a government guard hurried over and presented a report with cupped fists.

"County Magistrate, two children have come outside, saying that their calligraphy is unmatched in the world and want to add a piece of calligraphy to the county yamen."

Everyone smiled.

"Two children, how old are they?"

"Around ten years old."

Wang Jingzhong said with a smile: "Haha, their calligraphy is unmatched in the world. They are young, but their tone is not small. But knowing that the county yamen is renovated or the gate is renovated to propose calligraphy, it is estimated that they have read some books, which is a good thing. Just take them there, and when they are finished writing, there is no need to send it here. Just put it anywhere and give them a few taels of brush fee."

"We understand, sir."

After the guard left, an official suddenly seemed to think of something.

"I heard that in the county next to our Qingshan County, there was a former official of the Great Zhou Dynasty. This person had already resigned and returned to his hometown. Later, the imperial family of the Great Zhou Dynasty was beheaded by the Emperor, and all the officials died. He has always been resentful of our Daqian Dynasty."

"Hmm, why suddenly mention this person? Isn't it a good thing that there is no more strife in the world? Why is he still resentful?"

"I don't know, but this person's calligraphy has been praised by the emperor of the previous Great Zhou Dynasty. If we can ask for a piece of calligraphy..."

"No need for that."

Wang Jingzhong said lightly: "Are the people who study in our Daqian Dynasty inferior to a destroyed Great Zhou Dynasty? Anyway, there is still a long time before the county yamen is completed, and we can always wait for a good piece of calligraphy. At worst, this official will go to Jiangzhou Prefecture and ask for a good piece of calligraphy. Are we still afraid that we can't suppress the luck of this county yamen?"

"That makes sense. This person cherishes his own broom, so there is no need to care about him."

"It's just a pity that the remnants of the old dynasty do not recognize the achievements of our new dynasty. It is really ridiculous. Now the people are happy and harmonious, isn't it much better than starving or freezing to death at every turn?"

"Since this person is an official, he is naturally arrogant. How can he see the suffering of the world? Even if someone dies in front of him, he will find it annoying. The county yamen will not want the calligraphy of such a person, no matter how good it is."

"Sir, sir, the two children who left a piece of calligraphy don't even want a brush fee, saying that they will consider it after the adults have seen it. They think those few taels of silver are too little."

Everyone was curious and looked over, unbelievable.

"Writing so fast, could it be that they already had a draft in their minds?"

"I'm afraid so."

Wang Jingzhong asked curiously: "They have already finished writing, but they think it's too little and want me to consider how much to give after I have seen it?"

"Haha, the kid is just talking wildly, why should adults care?"

"Although that's true, it's inevitable that there will be such arrogant and high-spirited young people. It's okay to go and take a look."

"I think it's a waste of time to go, why not drink tea."

"Writer Liu has drunk a lot of Lord Wang's good tea, I'm afraid he hasn't had enough."

"Hey, how can you say that? Didn't you drink it?"

Wang Jingzhong pondered slightly and nodded slightly.

"Everyone, please rest here, I will go and take a look."

"Hey, sir, these words shame us. Since the adults are planning to go and see, why don't we go together?"

"Of course."

Everyone set off and walked towards the location of the study.

At this moment, there were actually many people outside the study on the table, trying to cheat for brush fees.

In fact, if you are brave enough and write not too ugly, or write good poems, you can fool a sum, but not much.

But not many are brave enough. The government officials here are not inferior to you in the Celestial Phenomenon Realm. No matter how great the cultivator is, they dare not be presumptuous in front of the dynasty's rules. Cultivators dare not go, and the common people naturally dare not go. Those who dare to come have some level of skill.

Chu Tianran and Zhao Ling'er stood in front of a table, and the others were of different ages, some in their twenties and thirties, some in middle age, and even old men in their twilight years.

"Little kids, how dare you come to the county yamen?"

An old man had just finished writing, and then walked over jokingly, curious about the calligraphy left by the two.

He had been practicing calligraphy for hundreds of years, and felt that his calligraphy skills had reached perfection, but calligraphy was one thing, and poetry was also one thing. Today, he felt that he could get the appreciation of the county magistrate, and maybe even get a government job.

However, when the two turned around, the old man was stunned when he saw that the young man had an outstanding appearance, extraordinary bearing, and the appearance of a banished immortal.

This young man has great courage, I'm afraid his cultivation foundation is also extremely important!

Chu Tianran turned around, smiled slightly, and bowed.

"Although my age is not as old as the old gentleman, my literary talent and calligraphy may not be inferior."

The old man laughed, and then stepped forward: "Your tone is really not small, young people should be like this. In that case, let the old man take a look at this calligraphy, this calligraphy..."

His eyes narrowed, and he suddenly froze, looking shocked, and suddenly looked at the young man!

This font, could it be the dragon script that only the imperial palace has!

"My Lord, this way please..."

A group of people came smiling from a distance, and Wang Jingzhong, who was headed by them, saw the shocked old man.

"Oh! Old Mr. Xu has actually come today, I thank Old Mr. Xu for his support."

A famous calligrapher in Qingshan County, he is a little poor, but his calligraphy is very good, but his poems are average.

Welcoming and sending people off, Wang Jingzhong would not offend anyone, and praised everyone.

Wang Jingzhong smiled and cupped his hands: "Old Mr. Xu has come, I'm afraid this red head will fall on Old Mr. Xu!"

The old man hurriedly cupped his hands and shook his head: "The old man is ashamed to be worthy of it, please take a look at this calligraphy..."

Wang Jingzhong's eyes fell on Chu Tianran and Zhao Ling'er.

The young man had an extraordinary bearing and demeanor, but the young girl looked a little frightened.

A smile appeared on his face.

"Your calligraphy is unmatched in the world, are you talking about yourself?"

Chu Tianran smiled slightly and nodded.

"I am talking about myself, but what I said is that in the world, there are only a handful of people whose calligraphy is better than mine. I hope you can tell the difference."

"Hehe, you are all very high-spirited. You just said you don't want the brush fee?"

"If you have seen my calligraphy, you will definitely not give me only those silver taels."

"Oh?"

Everyone was curious and stepped forward.

"With such a tone, I have to take a look."

"Hehe, this official also wants to see it."

"Please take a step forward, Lord Wang."

Wang Jingzhong nodded slightly and walked forward, followed by everyone, and then their eyes fell.

"This calligraphy, let me see, it is written..."

Everyone was stunned.

Regulations are moderate, and the world is smooth, officials are selfless, and the people are at peace.

Moderate and proper, it has a good meaning if placed in front of the county yamen, clear and bright.

Everyone was an upright official, giving the common people a good impression.

But this calligraphy...

Wang Jingzhong's eyes trembled.

“Long Kai...”

“Among the people in the capital, those who can learn this kind of brushwork are no more than a hundred. It was created by the Emperor and inherited only by the most noble among the capital's aristocracy. At the very least, one must be a second-rank official to be qualified to learn it...”

Originally, only the Emperor knew it. Later, the former Grand Secretary, Qiu Zun, learned it. Afterwards, it became popular in the court, but few in the court dared to learn it, except for those in the Grand Secretariat.

To be able to write this calligraphy, he must be a descendant of someone from the former Grand Secretariat.

Everyone praised him.

“Such calligraphy is rarely seen. It is truly exquisite!”

“The style of Long Kai is extremely difficult to even imitate. It seems that it took many years of practice to be able to write like this. And you are not very old.......”

Wang Jingzhong immediately stopped everyone present from speaking, a trace of solemnity in his eyes.

These people had never been to the capital.

He had been there.

He had visited a former teacher, who was now a high-ranking official in the Ministry of Revenue.

In front of this teacher's house, there was a couplet written by the former Crown Prince himself, in this very style.

Long Kai can be imitated, and it can be learned, but to be able to write with this kind of brushwork, one must have been taught by the most core group of people to be able to write with such spirit.

This person has an extraordinary background, or rather, the people he knows must be extraordinary.

“Young man, may I ask who taught you this calligraphy?”