Prime Minister.

Chapter 103, Section 102: [Yangzhou Slow]

Yangzhou, formerly known as Guangling, Huaiyang, or Jiangdu.

This city, with a history of over a thousand years, is located at the confluence of the Yangtze River and the Grand Canal. Benefiting from both the transport of grain and salt, it can be considered the most prosperous city north of the Yangtze River.

At the third quarter of the morning, the sun climbed over Shugang Mountain, and the city of Yangzhou unfolded in the sunlight. The gray city walls were like an old dragon coiled up, and the willows along the moat dipped in the water. Willow catkins mixed with petals floated in the sky, as if covering this vital waterway with a layer of fine snow gauze.

At the end of Fudong Street in the city, a vermilion gate stands imposingly, and the Yangzhou Prefectural Government Office resembles a crouching stone beast.

Inside the government office, however, there was a relaxed and leisurely atmosphere.

The officials gathered in small groups; some were drowsy with drunkenness, some were yawning, and others were talking animatedly.

The topics they discussed sounded quite interesting, such as the luxurious scenery inside the Yingyuan Garden on the east bank of the Xiaoqinhuai River, the unique charm of a painted boat on the Slender West Lake, and of course, the gilded pavement of Dongguan Street and the misty rain of Daming Temple in late spring.

In short, it's hard to find the kind of swaggering scene you see in government offices in the capital, even if some of the latter is just an act.

On the east and west sides of the main hall of the prefectural government office are dozens of corridor rooms and offices. These are the duty rooms of the six departments, the Records Office, the Observation Office, and the Prison Office. The duty rooms of the Prefect and the Judge are also located here.

In the deepest room of the east corridor, Liu Rang, the prefect of Yangzhou, sat at a table with two celadon horseshoe cups in front of him and spring water from Shugang simmering in a charcoal stove.

He is thirty-nine years old this year and is a graduate of the imperial examination. Five years ago, he was promoted to the position of Tongpan. In the past five years, three prefects of Yangzhou have changed, but his position has remained unchanged.

On the one hand, he did not have any clear evidence against him, and on the other hand, he came from the prominent local Liu family, one of the four famous families of Yangzhou, namely the Liu family, Qiao family, Zheng family, and Wang family.

These four families, relying on their accumulated wealth over a century, held a pivotal position among the people of Yangzhou. The properties and estates they owned were too numerous to count. Apart from the exceptionally talented Prefect Xue from over a decade ago, all other prefects had to rely on the support of these four families to achieve any political success. This explains why Liu Rang firmly held onto the position of Vice Prefect.

On the other side of the table sat a man over forty years old, Wang Gui, the clerk of the government office, a member of a collateral branch of the Wang family, one of the four prominent families.

Of the four families, the Liu and Qiao families have always been at odds, while the Wang family is closer to the Liu family.

Seeing Liu Rang brew and steep the tea three times, and the aroma gradually spreading, Wang Gui couldn't help but praise, "This Kui Long Zhu is truly remarkable. It combines the refreshing taste of Kui Zhen from southern Anhui, the sweet and smooth taste of Longjing from western Zhejiang, and the rich aroma of Zhu Lan from northern Jiangsu, thus creating the elegant style of Huaiyang tea."

The so-called Kuilongzhu refers to a blended tea from Yangzhou, which is one of the local specialties.

Liu Rang remained silent, poured tea and handed one cup to Wang Gui, while he leisurely sipped another cup himself.

"how?"

Liu Rang put down his teacup and asked calmly.

Wang Gui picked up the celadon horseshoe cup, its smooth, warm texture fitting perfectly in his hand.

The light blue tea soup was clear and bright, reflecting his slightly shrewd face.

Wang Gui took a small sip, savoring it on his tongue for a moment before swallowing. He then said sincerely, "The fragrance of this pearl orchid is the finishing touch. If it were only crisp and sweet, without this rich floral scent, it would lose the charm of Yangzhou."

Liu Rang had a faint smile on his lips, but his eyes were fixed on the tender leaves floating in the cup, as if he were examining something through the tea leaves: "You know your stuff. For this Kui Long Zhu tea, proper blending is fundamental, and the water used for brewing cannot be taken lightly. Only the spring water from Shugang can bring out the flavors of these three teas, blending them without mixing them up, each showing its own strengths. This water is just like our Yangzhou region."

Wang Gui held the teacup, looking intently at the other person.

Liu Rang continued in a leisurely tone, "The Grand Canal, which has been a hub of commerce for thousands of years, is a place where merchants gather and all industries prosper. It is a place where all kinds of people mingle, yet it has also nurtured the unique charm of the famous city of Huaizuo. Whatever wind comes here must be soaked in this water and soil before it can truly enter the harbor."

"Exactly this!"

Wang Gui immediately agreed, his eyes becoming more eager: "This bowl of tea in Yangzhou may seem simple, but it's actually quite complex. The magistrate said that the water is the key, and the charcoal fire used to boil the tea and the brewing technique are all things that have been refined over hundreds of years. Without sufficient expertise, even the best tea leaves might taste burnt."

The next moment, he changed the subject, saying, "I originally thought you would take over as the Assistant Prefect. In the past few years, as the Prefect's deputy, you have been in charge of grain transport, water conservancy, litigation, and river works. If you didn't understand the waterways of Yangzhou and have a thorough grasp of the nuances of the streets, alleys, fields, and waterways, how could you have managed things so well for the Prefect? ​​But alas..." The unspoken meaning in his words was clear: Liu Rang ultimately failed to take that crucial step. A few days ago, an official document was issued by the Jiangsu Provincial Administration Commission, and the newly appointed Assistant Prefect of Yangzhou, Xue Huai, had already departed from the capital and would arrive here in about half a month.

Liu Rang remained noncommittal, gently stirring the foam with the cup lid in an elegant and slow motion, as if he were manipulating an invisible cloud of smoke.

"The high-ranking officials in the capital naturally have lofty ambitions, looking down upon the entire country." He looked up at Wang Gui, his gaze sharp. "But you're also right, Yangzhou is different from other places. Salt administration, grain transport, taxes—which of these doesn't have far-reaching consequences? Which of these can bypass the intricate web of human relationships nurtured by this land beneath our feet? Even that Xue Wensu Gong back then..."

He suddenly stopped speaking, a barely perceptible glint of coldness flashing in his eyes.

Over the past decade, Xue Mingzhang's reputation in Yangzhou has gradually become polarized.

To most ordinary people who had experienced those events, Lord Xue was a rare and capable official who was both upright and skillful. Under his rule, Yangzhou was freed from years of afflictions, and even when it was hit by floods, it was able to quickly return to a peaceful life.

However, for the local powerful clans and gentry, those years were undoubtedly extremely difficult, and they were almost suffocated by the oppression.

The so-called four prominent families of Yangzhou were no match for the rising Shen family, which had the support of Xue Mingzhang.

After Xue Mingzhang stepped down as the prefect of Yangzhou and returned to the capital, the Shen family's power had already taken shape, while the local powerful families could only cautiously lick their wounds. It wasn't until news of Xue Mingzhang's death came from the capital that they dared to resurface. It was at that time that Liu Rang entered the Yangzhou government office.

"Lord Xue Wensu was indeed extraordinary back then." Wang Gui replied tacitly, his words carrying three parts of fear of his old friend and seven parts of probing. "I heard that the soon-to-be-appointed Assistant Magistrate Xue is Lord Xue's only son? A nineteen-year-old rising star of the Hanlin Academy, now appointed to a substantive position as Assistant Magistrate, he is truly a young talent with unlimited potential. I just wonder how much of Lord Xue's character he has inherited?"

"Hehe, young people are full of vigor, so of course they love to explore the wonders of dangerous peaks and steep mountains, and enjoy the sounds of wind, thunder and lightning."

Liu Rang put down his cup with a barely audible sound, like a pebble being dropped into a deep pool.

He leaned back slightly in his chair, his posture seemingly relaxed, but his eyes pierced through the rising steam of the tea like sharp blades. "He has been in office for more than three years and has offended countless people in the court. In the last six months alone, he and his mentor have punished dozens of people in the Ministry of Works. This year's imperial examination has also caused Grand Secretary Ning to lose his right-hand man, Vice Minister Yue of the Ministry of Rites."

Wang Gui nodded solemnly: "What I was worried about is exactly right. That young man is young and impetuous, and has a reputation for being upright and outspoken. He is bound to be full of sharp edges. This Yangzhou city is not the quiet study of the Hanlin Academy. The account books and documents here are vast and complicated, the salt administration of Lianghuai is intricate and complex, and the canal transport system is deeply entrenched. How many years have we spent figuring out the ways of things? I'm afraid that Lord Xue is not familiar with these things, but he is eager to do something big, and he will take a trivial matter as an imperial edict, and start to investigate the root of the matter without distinguishing right from wrong."

"Putting the cart before the horse is the most fatal mistake," Liu Rang coldly interjected, a glint in his eyes. "Whether the source is mud or a clear spring is sometimes not the most important thing. What's most important is that the water flows smoothly, so that everyone, both upstream and downstream, can drink and quench their thirst. If we insist on tracing the source, stirring up mud and sand, creating turbulent waves that flood fertile fields and destroy livelihoods, then we've done more harm than good."

"Your Excellency is wise, and your insight is absolutely correct!" Wang Gui finally understood Liu Rang's attitude and bottom line, and his heart was at ease. He put on a respectful smile again. "The weather in Yangzhou changes with its own reasons, just as tea should be savored slowly and a road should be walked steadily. Your Excellency is familiar with the local customs and conditions of Yangzhou. You have been in the position of Vice Prefect for five years without wavering, just like the charcoal fire in the stove. You are the key to maintaining the mellow and smooth taste of this bowl of Kuilongzhu tea."

Liu Rang naturally understood the other party's intention in saying those words.

Although Wang Gui is only a member of a collateral branch, his presence here today must represent the opinions of his elders in his family.

In short, the local powerful families should adopt a largely similar attitude toward the young upstart who is about to take office.

As for Prefect Tan, who was probably still buried in old papers in the back of the government office, neither of them mentioned him from beginning to end.

Former Prefect Han Yi was dismissed from office for his poor performance in flood control. Tan Mingguang, who was nearly fifty years old, was transferred from the Huguang Provincial Administration Commission. At first, the local officials, led by Liu Rang, observed him cautiously, but soon discovered that Prefect Tan was a pedantic Confucian scholar who spent all his time studying official documents. Over time, no one paid him any attention.

After a brief silence, Liu Rang slowly said, "Governing a large country is like cooking a small fish. Governing a prefecture, especially a place like Yangzhou, which is adorned with gold and jade, embroidered with brocade, and has a complex network of internal affairs, requires even more meticulous work and slow, gentle simmering. Lord Xue Wensu was well-versed in this art, which is why he was able to take control of the situation in just a few years. However, judging from the news from the capital in the past few years, that young Lord Xue is used to acting recklessly and is not at all like his father. I'm afraid he will make Yangzhou a mess."

Wang Gui understood immediately, picked up the teapot and refilled Liu Rang's cup with warm tea, and said respectfully, "We were born and raised in Yangzhou, and have been blessed by our hometown for generations. Naturally, we do not want to see such a scene. Please rest assured, sir, we will follow your instructions and do our best to manage everything inside and outside the government office, ensuring that everything appears to be in order."

Liu Rang nodded slightly, picked up the newly filled celadon horseshoe cup, and gently touched it to Wang Gui's cup through the faint tea smoke.

"In the end, as long as we work together, this Yangzhou region will not be turned upside down." Liu Rang finally revealed a meaningful smile and slowly said, "Half a month later, when the guests arrive, we will brew another pot of good tea in this corridor and invite that young Master Xue to carefully appreciate the local customs and culture of Yangzhou."

Wang Gui was all smiles, looking quite pleased with himself.

The tea was finished, but the guests hadn't left yet. The breeze in the corridor seemed to carry an elegant and leisurely weight, just like the timeless charm of this scenic spot in Huaiyang.

(End of this chapter)