Chapter 868: Ruohua (Part )
The naive girl who used to hide behind Aunt Mei Lu Ying has completely transformed into a mainstay among Daliang officials, with her eyes revealing her ambition to achieve success.
Jiang Shaohua knew this feeling clearly. The pleasure brought by power and status far surpassed the temporary pleasure of love between men and women.
When a woman reaches a high position, possesses power, and experiences what it feels like to be the master of her own destiny and the destiny of others, she will never want to go back to the past.
The only thing to do is to keep moving forward, always moving forward.
"I'll need to think about this for a few days." Jiang Shaohua said in a businesslike tone, and did not agree immediately: "I'll make a decision after I've thought it over."
Not saying no is half the battle.
Lu Ruohua was overjoyed, but he remained calm and quickly changed the subject to talk about the government affairs of Hexi County.
Jiang Shaohua stayed in Hexi County for more than half a month, inspected all departments in the government office, and went around Hexi County twice. He was particularly satisfied with the school in Hexi County.
After Jiang Shaohua ascended the throne, he first established a girls' school, and then promoted public schools that were free of tuition fees. After twenty years, it was quite effective. Even in the most remote counties, schools were established.
Children over eight years old can go to school. In fact, very few people can really embark on the path of official career and imperial examination. In the provincial and metropolitan examinations held every three years, most of those who can pass the examinations are children of aristocratic families. However, over the years, the proportion of students from poor families who pass the examinations has gradually increased.
What is particularly gratifying is that more and more women are signing up for the women's examination. The best career path for women is to become an official. Even if they fail the examination, literate women can still find a job outside the home, such as being a female school teacher or a female accountant.
Changing customs and habits is not something that can be accomplished overnight, but after twenty years of walking on this road, it has become wider and smoother.
Lu Ruohua, the governor of Hexi County, attached great importance to education. He not only established free schools for girls and boys, but also established a higher-level county academy. This also provided a place for students from poor families to study. As long as they could pass the academy's assessment, they could study for free, and the government would provide food and accommodation.
The annual expenditure of Hexi County on the academy accounts for 30% of the government expenditure. The effect is also obvious. In the past few years, a large number of students have emerged in the impoverished Hexi County. In the provincial examination last year, Hexi County had 18 successful candidates. In this year's joint examination, three people from Hexi County passed the imperial examination.
These are all the real political achievements of County Magistrate Lu.
Jiang Shaohua saw this and was quite satisfied with Lu Ruohua's performance.
When leaving Hexi County, Jiang Shaohua said to Lu Ruohua: "I have to inspect all the way, and it will take about half a year to reach the border."
"Hexi County cannot do without you. Just do your job and wait for half a year. When the Ministry of Personnel sends someone to replace you as the county governor, you can go directly to the border and wait for me."
"I will establish Xinliang City at the border, and you will be the first governor of Xinliang City."
Lu Ruohua's eyes sparkled with brilliance, and he bowed deeply: "Thank you, Your Majesty, for trusting me. I will do my best."
……
Prime Minister Wang Jin, who had just taken office for a year, went to see His Royal Highness the Crown Prince immediately after receiving the emperor's letter.
The nineteen-year-old Crown Prince Jiang Ning was tall and slender, taller than the Empress, with a heroic look between his brows.
Jiang Ning smiled and said, "My mother also wrote me a letter, talking about the establishment of Xinliang City, and planning to let County Magistrate Lu go to Xinliang City as the first county magistrate."
"The Ministry of Personnel must select a suitable person to serve as the governor of Hexi County." "In addition, the Ministry of Revenue must also prepare in advance. Building a new city requires a large amount of money, food, manpower and material resources. We have more than half a year, so we can prepare calmly."
Prime Minister Wang cupped his hands and said, "I will ask Minister Feng and others to come and discuss this matter."
Minister Feng is nearly 80 years old, and he still has to worry about Daliang's money and grain all day long. His Royal Highness felt sorry for him, and after thinking for a while, he said, "Let Minister Tang come. Minister Feng should take a good rest."
Prime Minister Wang smiled helplessly: "Your Highness is not unaware of Minister Feng's temper. If we bypass him on such an important matter, he will definitely be angry."
Prime Minister Chen retired, and Minister Feng was the most senior official in the court. With Minister Feng's straightforward temper, when he glared, even His Royal Highness the Crown Prince would be frightened.
Jiang Ning had no choice but to smile and change his words: "Then please ask Minister Feng to come and discuss the matter together."
Minister Feng was not deliberately refusing to leave. He was three years older than Prime Minister Chen. He worked hard all day, but he was in excellent health. Now he had a head full of white hair, but he was still as fast as an arrow. After entering the Zhaohe Palace, Minister Feng took out the emperor's handwritten letter: "The emperor wants to build a new Liangcheng and absorb the grassland tribes. If this is done well, it will bring real long-term peace to the border."
"I fully agree with this old minister."
"The money, grain and materials needed to build the new Liangcheng will all be paid for by the Ministry of Revenue."
Daliang has enjoyed good weather and good harvests in recent years, with clean government, prosperous people and a full treasury. Minister Feng is full of confidence and stands straight.
The Crown Prince was pleased and said, "Then it's settled." He paused and gently reminded, "Minister Feng is still strong and healthy, so don't overwork yourself. If you need anything, just tell Minister Tang to do it."
Minister Feng smiled and said, "Your Highness, please rest assured. I know the importance of this matter and will not force myself to do anything. Once the new Liang City is built, I will submit a memorial and retire to enjoy my remaining years in peace."
That being said, once the Ministry of Revenue was up and running, Minister Feng had no time to spare. He still adhered to his usual style of doing things, personally watching the officials of the Ministry of Revenue work every day.
Half a year later, a newly sent official from the Ministry of Personnel went to Hexi County and took over the post of county magistrate.
Lu Ruohua packed her luggage and set off for the border.
Lu Ying, who had been serving as the county magistrate in Li County, smiled and said to Aunt Mei, "Mother, don't worry about your sister in the future. Your sister is energetic and motivated, and she is the emperor's confidant and beloved minister."
"When Xinliang City is built, my sister will be the governor of Xinliang City and educate the tribes outside the Great Wall. This will be recorded in history in the future."
Aunt Mei didn't understand this and was a little confused: "Isn't it just being a county governor? She used to be the county governor of Hexi County. How can she be so powerful just by being a county governor at the border?"
Lu Ying smiled and sighed, "Of course it's very different. Mother, just know that my sister will be a famous official in Daliang in the future."
Aunt Mei relaxed her brows and laughed, "I don't understand these. Anyway, you two brothers and sisters should be loyal subjects of the emperor and work hard."
Lu Ying nodded with a smile.
His career has basically reached its peak. Her Majesty the Empress will use him, but she won't use him too much.
Lu Ruohua was different. A female official who gave up even marrying and having children and was only focused on building a career was the most loyal and most useful minister to Her Majesty the Empress.
The naive girl who used to hide behind Aunt Mei Lu Ying has completely transformed into a mainstay among Daliang officials, with her eyes revealing her ambition to achieve success.
Jiang Shaohua knew this feeling clearly. The pleasure brought by power and status far surpassed the temporary pleasure of love between men and women.
When a woman reaches a high position, possesses power, and experiences what it feels like to be the master of her own destiny and the destiny of others, she will never want to go back to the past.
The only thing to do is to keep moving forward, always moving forward.
"I'll need to think about this for a few days." Jiang Shaohua said in a businesslike tone, and did not agree immediately: "I'll make a decision after I've thought it over."
Not saying no is half the battle.
Lu Ruohua was overjoyed, but he remained calm and quickly changed the subject to talk about the government affairs of Hexi County.
Jiang Shaohua stayed in Hexi County for more than half a month, inspected all departments in the government office, and went around Hexi County twice. He was particularly satisfied with the school in Hexi County.
After Jiang Shaohua ascended the throne, he first established a girls' school, and then promoted public schools that were free of tuition fees. After twenty years, it was quite effective. Even in the most remote counties, schools were established.
Children over eight years old can go to school. In fact, very few people can really embark on the path of official career and imperial examination. In the provincial and metropolitan examinations held every three years, most of those who can pass the examinations are children of aristocratic families. However, over the years, the proportion of students from poor families who pass the examinations has gradually increased.
What is particularly gratifying is that more and more women are signing up for the women's examination. The best career path for women is to become an official. Even if they fail the examination, literate women can still find a job outside the home, such as being a female school teacher or a female accountant.
Changing customs and habits is not something that can be accomplished overnight, but after twenty years of walking on this road, it has become wider and smoother.
Lu Ruohua, the governor of Hexi County, attached great importance to education. He not only established free schools for girls and boys, but also established a higher-level county academy. This also provided a place for students from poor families to study. As long as they could pass the academy's assessment, they could study for free, and the government would provide food and accommodation.
The annual expenditure of Hexi County on the academy accounts for 30% of the government expenditure. The effect is also obvious. In the past few years, a large number of students have emerged in the impoverished Hexi County. In the provincial examination last year, Hexi County had 18 successful candidates. In this year's joint examination, three people from Hexi County passed the imperial examination.
These are all the real political achievements of County Magistrate Lu.
Jiang Shaohua saw this and was quite satisfied with Lu Ruohua's performance.
When leaving Hexi County, Jiang Shaohua said to Lu Ruohua: "I have to inspect all the way, and it will take about half a year to reach the border."
"Hexi County cannot do without you. Just do your job and wait for half a year. When the Ministry of Personnel sends someone to replace you as the county governor, you can go directly to the border and wait for me."
"I will establish Xinliang City at the border, and you will be the first governor of Xinliang City."
Lu Ruohua's eyes sparkled with brilliance, and he bowed deeply: "Thank you, Your Majesty, for trusting me. I will do my best."
……
Prime Minister Wang Jin, who had just taken office for a year, went to see His Royal Highness the Crown Prince immediately after receiving the emperor's letter.
The nineteen-year-old Crown Prince Jiang Ning was tall and slender, taller than the Empress, with a heroic look between his brows.
Jiang Ning smiled and said, "My mother also wrote me a letter, talking about the establishment of Xinliang City, and planning to let County Magistrate Lu go to Xinliang City as the first county magistrate."
"The Ministry of Personnel must select a suitable person to serve as the governor of Hexi County." "In addition, the Ministry of Revenue must also prepare in advance. Building a new city requires a large amount of money, food, manpower and material resources. We have more than half a year, so we can prepare calmly."
Prime Minister Wang cupped his hands and said, "I will ask Minister Feng and others to come and discuss this matter."
Minister Feng is nearly 80 years old, and he still has to worry about Daliang's money and grain all day long. His Royal Highness felt sorry for him, and after thinking for a while, he said, "Let Minister Tang come. Minister Feng should take a good rest."
Prime Minister Wang smiled helplessly: "Your Highness is not unaware of Minister Feng's temper. If we bypass him on such an important matter, he will definitely be angry."
Prime Minister Chen retired, and Minister Feng was the most senior official in the court. With Minister Feng's straightforward temper, when he glared, even His Royal Highness the Crown Prince would be frightened.
Jiang Ning had no choice but to smile and change his words: "Then please ask Minister Feng to come and discuss the matter together."
Minister Feng was not deliberately refusing to leave. He was three years older than Prime Minister Chen. He worked hard all day, but he was in excellent health. Now he had a head full of white hair, but he was still as fast as an arrow. After entering the Zhaohe Palace, Minister Feng took out the emperor's handwritten letter: "The emperor wants to build a new Liangcheng and absorb the grassland tribes. If this is done well, it will bring real long-term peace to the border."
"I fully agree with this old minister."
"The money, grain and materials needed to build the new Liangcheng will all be paid for by the Ministry of Revenue."
Daliang has enjoyed good weather and good harvests in recent years, with clean government, prosperous people and a full treasury. Minister Feng is full of confidence and stands straight.
The Crown Prince was pleased and said, "Then it's settled." He paused and gently reminded, "Minister Feng is still strong and healthy, so don't overwork yourself. If you need anything, just tell Minister Tang to do it."
Minister Feng smiled and said, "Your Highness, please rest assured. I know the importance of this matter and will not force myself to do anything. Once the new Liang City is built, I will submit a memorial and retire to enjoy my remaining years in peace."
That being said, once the Ministry of Revenue was up and running, Minister Feng had no time to spare. He still adhered to his usual style of doing things, personally watching the officials of the Ministry of Revenue work every day.
Half a year later, a newly sent official from the Ministry of Personnel went to Hexi County and took over the post of county magistrate.
Lu Ruohua packed her luggage and set off for the border.
Lu Ying, who had been serving as the county magistrate in Li County, smiled and said to Aunt Mei, "Mother, don't worry about your sister in the future. Your sister is energetic and motivated, and she is the emperor's confidant and beloved minister."
"When Xinliang City is built, my sister will be the governor of Xinliang City and educate the tribes outside the Great Wall. This will be recorded in history in the future."
Aunt Mei didn't understand this and was a little confused: "Isn't it just being a county governor? She used to be the county governor of Hexi County. How can she be so powerful just by being a county governor at the border?"
Lu Ying smiled and sighed, "Of course it's very different. Mother, just know that my sister will be a famous official in Daliang in the future."
Aunt Mei relaxed her brows and laughed, "I don't understand these. Anyway, you two brothers and sisters should be loyal subjects of the emperor and work hard."
Lu Ying nodded with a smile.
His career has basically reached its peak. Her Majesty the Empress will use him, but she won't use him too much.
Lu Ruohua was different. A female official who gave up even marrying and having children and was only focused on building a career was the most loyal and most useful minister to Her Majesty the Empress.
