Chapter 534 – The Flotilla Returns

Sure enough, it was just as the king’s official had said.

The people in the cleaners’ room invited Hu Mu to come forward to talk.

The content of the conversation, although it has not been formalized, the other side out of the mouth is very cautious, just to verify the situation of Hu Mu.

Hu Mu, however, knew in his heart that he was about to be promoted high.

Strange to say, although it is a district of a secretary, in fact, for Hu Mu, it is nothing.

Or rather, the people that the Hu family has traditionally dealt with are not ordinary people.

Not to mention that it was just a mandarin who didn’t even have an official title.

But Hu Mu has a feeling of excitement, as if his feet, across the past a threshold. He can finally understand, whether it is Wang Siling such ambitious, or even some people do not have a lot of volunteers, but still willing to run on the railroad line.

This may not be worth mentioning, but for the vast majority of people on this railroad line, it is a rare encounter in life that can be seized. For those who once had nothing, such a situation was undoubtedly a carp turning into a dragon.

A few days later, the appointment was made, and not only that, because of the manpower problem on the street side of Raozhou Station, a new batch of clerical and military officials were also drawn in at the strong request of the Raozhou Station Chief.

A new division of duties began to take place, and as one of the eight chief magistrates of the Raozhou station, what Hu Mu was now responsible for was civil affairs.

Civil affairs, the most complicated, but also the most productive, the station manager on the following day, called him to go, said some gossip, which can not help but some incentives, and at the same time implied knocking the meaning.

Now on this side of the street, some of the people who have migrated here have begun to appear, and it is only after these people have settled down that more will be willing to come.

But if something goes wrong and causes any controversy, it will be even more difficult for the people, who are already hard to leave their homeland, to move here.

It is for this reason that, in terms of civil affairs, there must be no mistakes!

This stationmaster has even made a performance, and he himself has made a military order to the side of the Railway Division that the population in the coming year, at least, should be doubled.

This stationmaster said, in fact, the meaning is already very obvious, this stationmaster made a military order, you can not fall off the chain, mistakes, can not settle the people in time, we have no good fruit to eat.

Hu Mu immediately received orders, and then in the civil affairs room side, called nine subordinates, and divided the duties.

These things, he is familiar with, after all, dry so many days of clerks, has long been hand to hand. So these things, he has a bottom in his heart, the lower clerks can not hide from him.

Only Hu Mu soon realized that he was getting busier and busier.

It’s good to know that all this hustle seems to be worthwhile for Humu.

Of course, there were times when such a tedious business was too boring and boring for him.

At noon of this day, he was already dizzy because the number of a statistic did not match. He also had to coordinate a lawsuit, which was not a serious matter, but just some disputes between the people who moved from Poyang County and Leping Prefecture. If these disputes were to be reported to the government and become lawsuits, they would be serious! However, if they were left unattended, they were afraid that things would deteriorate and something would really happen.

At this point, it is necessary for him to intercede and try his best to make both sides make some concessions.

Being worried about these, can’t help but be a little discouraged, the lower clerical Liu Zhan but came with gusto, with a few excitement, “Things are done, done.”

Liu Zhan is a high school students of the government school, originally have a better future, but because of the ancestry in Jiangxi, and therefore volunteered to come to this Jiangxi Railway Division, is a very angry young man.

Of course, there are angry young people who are not immune to frizziness, and their skills are there, but they are just quick-tempered.

At this time, Hu Mu, although not from this Liu Zhan body to see the original self, but also like the Wang SiLan that, attentively coaching him.

Now see this kid, come with gusto, Hu Mu will deliberately look slow, deliberately ignoring him, lowered his head and continued to consult a statistical table.

Liu Zhan but there is no eye, but said: “our application, approved! Over there, said the Jiangxi Railway Department this side, now the most valued, is to the Railway Academy, licensed will have an exceptionally special recruitment examination, the difficulty will be quite low, mainly for some of the drudgery. In addition, if there are drudgery under the merit, can also be recommended for enrollment, only …… but need to be first attached to the small school for two years, and then into the railway academy for further study!”

“Hu Secretary, we here, there are nine people can enter the examination, not only so, there is another person, that is, that Wang Jiu, his father to open the mountain quarrying gravel when the gunpowder explosion, now as serious injuries, allow this Wang Jiu do not have to enroll in the examination, the first primary school enrollment, and then into the Railway Academy. Hu Secretary you look at it, this is the Ministry of Railways issued a new document.”

When Hu Mu heard this, he first froze, and then he also couldn’t help but show a look of ecstasy, and immediately said, “Fetch me and see.”

Liu Zhan presented the paperwork.

Hu Mu carefully looked at, to ensure that there is no problem, immediately said: “The Ministry of the Hall is really a timely rain, so that can also have an explanation to them! In this way …… to immediately notify them, the recruitment examination is imminent, to arrange for them to go to Nanjing car, take the steam locomotive to go, just today there is a car to come, tomorrow morning early departure, the world’s affairs, only the examination is not to be delayed. You go to coordinate ……”

At this point, he snapped, then cautiously said, “No, I’ll coordinate.”

Hu Mu all of a sudden, the heart was violently open, the pent-up worries, finally dissipated a lot.

Maybe it’s just a small thing, but Hu Mu has personally touched those people and knows that for these people, it’s the biggest thing in life.

This kind of thing, you are in the book, listen to go, maybe just laugh, but really talked to them, to understand their real situation, when the thing is done, there is an indescribable sense of accomplishment.

Hu Mu and happy: “Later, but also go to see the station chief, need to report, this trip these people go to the capital to take the test, our station, can not be harsh! This is for us to choose the Ministry of talent, should not be counted with leave, still count them on the job, otherwise …… people went to the capital to take the test, the family to cut off food.”

Liu Zhan joyfully said, “This matter …… Hu Sifan ran for so long, but I did not expect the ministry hall side of the hammer. Maybe, it is Hu’s report has had an effect.”

Hu Mu shook his head and said, “This is overstated, in the end there are still people who are willing to advance, and all stations have such laborers who are willing to read and write with all their heart, and this is what has attracted the attention of the stations.”

Hu Mu was red-faced and immediately started to get busy.

After half a month, this joy was supposed to be washed away, and after it slowly settled, Hu Mu was replaced by new worries.

In the evening of this day, Hu Mu had just returned to his dormitory, but he saw that there were many people standing in front of his dormitory.

Hu Mu was feeling puzzled, but some people saw him, and then those people came forward and surrounded him.

And then his eyes blinked, only to see seven of them bowing down in front of him, and among them, a teenager with a thin body said, “Many thanks to the Benefactor.”

Hu Mu froze, carefully identified, this teenager …… he vaguely seen, just can t think of it for a moment.

At this time, this young man excitedly said, “Today’s admission paperwork has been sent, my father heard about it and was overjoyed, all said that it was Hu SiLin who saddled up to make the effort, and taught me to come and kowtow to the Benefactor.”

This teenager immediately, kowtowed several times to Hu Mu.

It was only then that Hu Mu remembered that this teenager was none other than that teenager Wang Jiu whose father was severely disabled.

The other six, too, all kowtowed and thanked, “The little people have also received the paperwork of acceptance this time, and will enroll in school on the first day of next month, so they have come to pay their respects.”

Hu Mu more feel unexpected, then happy: “Examined so much? Come, come, come, no need to be polite, hey …… Wang Jiu, what are you crying.”

Pulling people up one by one, Hu Mutong felt a sense of relief through his body, a sense of accomplishment and pleasure that always teaches people to be unspeakable.

Then he said, “Come, come, come, come, all sit together inside.”

A pleasantries, asked about some recent developments, can not help but pull Wang Jiu’s hand, reluctantly a few sentences, and remembered something, immediately began to go to the bookshelf.

This dormitory is actually very small, study, bedroom, small hall, can be said to be in a hundred or so feet square, cover because the clerical staff of the dormitory has not yet been built, had to be aggrieved here.

Hu Mu here, the wall shelves, the most is the book, they are from his family’s study brought.

Immediately, he chose some, sent to the hands of the people, said: “you can not be compared with those who enroll in the examination, I heard that now, there are still the Xiu Cai to go to the examination, this time you have such an opportunity, of course, no better, but really into the school, but must be more than others can not be hard work. The Ministry of Railways, I am ashamed to say, I do not quite understand, I only have some books here, I do not know whether it can be useful to you. But under the sky, it never hurts to read more. You and take it with you, take the time to look at, do not have to know it by heart, can read through can.”

The crowd thanked them again.

Hu Mu felt embarrassed instead.

The next day dawned with only a sliver of white in the sky.

A steam train, about to head for the capital, had by now sounded its whistle.

The seven men had straightened their traveling clothes, and it was not yet quite light, and on the platforms the crew, with their horse-lamps, were still making their final rounds.

Hu Mu, however, arrived at that moment, and when the people saw Hu Mu, they immediately wanted to salute.

Hu Mu always felt that there were many words that he wanted to explain, and always felt that when they went to the capital, they were bound to be unable to adapt and get used to it.

But when the words came to his mouth, it was as if his throat was blocked, and it was difficult to speak.

In the end, he grabbed the skinny Wang Jiu’s hand, but a few words popped out, “Strike hard!”

The bell rang out, the sound of a departure, and the smoke that rolled in, suddenly taught the fog of this early morning to be thicker.

…………

Time rushes by, this half year past, Zhang Anshi to Wen Yuan Pavilion, less and less, after all, to be busy in too many facts.

This time, however, he came in a hurry, because the new Wen Yuan Pavilion has been built, and has been moved.

This new Wen Yuan Pavilion, from the invitation to the design, are Zhang Anshi single-handedly, this time does not appear, really can not say.

This Wen Yuan Pavilion is really joyful, a few university professors also have no intention to draw up a ticket, in this spacious lobby head to sit and drink tea.

When he saw Zhang Anshi come, he had no choice but to greet each other.

Zhang Anshi also said some jokes, then went to his own value room, this value house is very spacious, well organized, even the tables and chairs are brand new, the sunlight through the huge windows sprinkled in, the Sheriff has pulled open the curtains, so that, the whole value room is extraordinarily bright.

Not only that, in this office seat opposite, there is a set of coffee table, as well as tables and chairs, which is specialized in the proposed ticket, used to guests and tea with, the ground is a blanket, on the one hand, is for the winter warmth considerations, on the other hand, but also to give people a sense of comfort.

At this time, Zhang Anshi took his seat, looked at the spacious and bright duty room, couldn’t help but say: “Or this kind of duty room is comfortable, how about it, all the gentlemen can be satisfied?”

That sherpa was stacking the sangs for Zhang Anshi, and returned with a smile, “Your Highness, all the princes are overjoyed, and are praising His Majesty’s loving kindness.”

Zhang Anshi couldn’t help but mumble in his mind, My credit, my credit.

Heart this way, Zhang Anshi but a serious said: “good, if not His Majesty generous grace, where is such a good office conditions it? I heard that his majesty is now scrimping on food and clothing, but still not forget to give us as subjects this kind of enjoyment, hey …… really teach people to feel emotion.”

The Sheriff was busy nodding yes.

Saying that, he poured a set of tea for Zhang Anshi.

Zhang Anshi cozily took a sip, and before he could put down the tea, Hu Guang came.

Hu Guang and Zhang Anshi exchanged pleasantries and talked in a marginal manner.

Seeing him like this, Zhang Anshi seemed to see something, and immediately coughed, “Let me pour tea for Lord Hu.”

When he said this, the Sheriff who stayed by the side understood the meaning and immediately retired.

Zhang Anshi personally poured tea for Hu Guang and said with a smile, “Lord Hu, what’s wrong?”

Hu Guang, however, his face was green for a while, red for a while, wriggling, said: ”What can the old man have to do? Just come to sit down. Your Highness, you this value room, than the old man’s still small dozens of feet square, this …… is somewhat inappropriate, the old man here, your Highness go to a more spacious place.”

Zhang Anshi then laughed: “Hu Gong so say, will teach me to be ashamed, you are older, is the elder.”

Hu Guang smiled and suddenly said coldly, “Your Highness, what do you say …… about the secretary of this railroad division?”

The topic changed a bit quickly, so much so that Zhang Anshi was a bit unresponsive for a moment and said with a surprised face, “Ah ……”

Hu Guang felt embarrassed and busily lowered his head to drink tea.

Zhang Anshi paused, only to recall, so he said, “Secretary, as the name suggests ……”

Hu Guang, however, shook his hand and said, “No, no, no, no, the old man means …… cough …… what is the difference between this Secretary of the Department, and the Secretary of the Department of the other services?”

Zhang Anshi was seriously think about it, only to say: “This well, it is not easy to say, as if …… the same as the book, if it is in the book of the Cabinet of Wen Yuan, that do not look at the Cabinet of Wen Yuan is only miscellaneous, can be placed in the outside, but also to teach the people marveled at it, is not it? But if it is a local bookkeeper, no one is willing to look at the eye.”

“Right, right, right.” Hu Guang said with a deeply impressed face, “Your Highness, these words are very well said.”

Zhang Anshi: “……”

See Hu Guang bawling at himself, Zhang Anshi finally resisted the urge to spit, continued: “As for this Secretary Well, whether in Zhili, or in the Division of Railroads, are serious officials, in the Division of Clearance, there is a file. Railroad Division, as a matter of fact, is only a small Yamen, but Hu Gong also know, it is directly under the jurisdiction of the Ministry of Railways, and other local three divisions, state and county offices are not under each other, so it is, this railroad division looks, even if it is the ambassador of the railroad division of the province, but only a district of the fifth grade, but in fact, at least in the railroad, can be described as a word of truth, enough to be separated from the local three divisions, to fight against the law. ”

Hu Guang nodded vigorously and smacked his lips, “Yes, that’s what it means.”

Zhang Anshi then continued, “But building railroads is more laborious. Therefore, the Ministry of Railways, on the local railroads, there are some concessions. Not to mention the other, let’s say the salary, on the one hand, the local railroad division because of the major responsibilities, so the salary is plus one, the division, other places or nine pints of salary, but in the railroad division, the collar is eight pints.”

Hu Guang’s eyes instantly brightened a few points, and he said with slightly open eyes, “There’s such a thing?”

Zhang Anshi revealed a smile, nodded his head and said: “Not only that, there are various aspects, such as Jiangxi’s Railway Division, because of the heavy responsibility, management of things more, but more hard, so on this basis, and to add a first-class salary, compared to the seven-grade official salary. Cover because …… don’t see this is only the Secretary, but many stations, temporarily are in front of the village after not store place, which how hard, how good not to give more money?”

After a pause, he went on to say, “Furthermore, don’t look at just the Secretary, but the Railway Division military, civil affairs, transportation, education, a handful, may be a Secretary, will have to take charge of it alone. Hu Gong, tell me, look at it this way, this duty is actually not under the seventh grade county magistrate, can be aggrieved?”

“Seventh grade magistrate ……” Hu Guang can t help but smack his lips again and murmur in a low voice.

Zhang Anshi, on the other hand, looked at Hu Guang with a fixed gaze and said, “How come Duke Hu has the heart to care about this?”

Hu Guang Fang was still seriously thinking about something, when he heard Zhang Anshi’s words, he was busy fighting a jolt and said, “Just asking, just asking ……”

A smile tugged at his lips, he paused, but then muttered, “Is it such a great responsibility to be in charge of so many things? If so …… only afraid …… hey ……”

He gradually sad face began to sigh, seemingly out of concern for someone, always feel …… that the son who has been pampered for a long time, without any experience, obviously can not be competent, and may …… even have to stir up a mess.

Zhang Anshi looked at his face that had changed many times and said with a smile, “Right, Hu Gong, I actually forgot that your clan is now at the Railroad Division there ……”

Hu Guang immediately boarded up his face, “Do not talk about this, do not talk about this, you and I are ministers, do not catch up on personal feelings, can not of ……”

Zhang Anshi couldn’t help but be amused by Hu Guang’s appearance, and wanted to continue to pursue the matter.

But it is sudden to hear the sheriff singing outside, “Your Highness, Hu Gong, His Majesty urgently summoned all the princes to have an audience, saying that the …… fleet of ships that went to the West …… Ocean has returned. Please all the public immediately see the driving, there shall be no mistake.”