Chapter 1082: Running for Office! (2)

Ma Runchuan waited anxiously for about a cup of tea, and then a familiar figure appeared in his sight...
"Brother! You're back in Yijing!"

Seeing Gu Sansi walking towards him with a smile on his face, Ma Runchuan's originally uneasy mood calmed down, and he immediately started to speak:
"I came back to Yijing to report on my work this time, and I came to see you three times!"

"Brother, please come in!"

Under the personal welcome of Gu Sansi, Ma Runchuan also walked into this ancient mansion. After entering the mansion and looking at the luxurious decoration and vast area inside, although Ma Runchuan didn't say much, a hint of envy flashed in his eyes!
If he remembered correctly, when the Fengwu Army first entered the pass, the Marshal rewarded Gu Sansi with a house near the South City Gate.

Although that house was not bad, it was a large house with three courtyards and more than ten rooms, and the several courtyards together could accommodate fifty or sixty people, but compared with the mansion in front of him, it still seemed dwarfed!

This house is not only large in area and luxuriously decorated, but most importantly, it is located in a prime location on Jiuhua Avenue!
After walking for about an incense stick of time, Gu Sansi led Ma Runchuan to the main hall. As soon as they sat down, the maid began to serve tea to Ma Runchuan...

After taking two sips, Ma Runchuan asked the servant beside him to hand the prepared gift to Gu Sansi.

"This is our Qilu specialty, the best donkey-hide gelatin. Sansi, take it back for your brother and sister-in-law and your grandfather to eat. This thing is the best for replenishing qi and blood!"

"Don't think twice. Ever since I went to Qilu, I don't know if it's because I'm old or for other reasons, but I always feel unwell, lacking energy and blood. I've been looking for famous doctors but couldn't get treatment. Later, someone recommended this donkey-hide gelatin to me. I tried it and it felt very good!"

"Your old man is weak, has palpitations and is short of breath. Let him try this to see if it works. If it does, I'll have someone send it back to you!"

Hearing this, Gu Sansi's eyes lit up. His father had palpitations and shortness of breath. Over the years, he had consulted some famous doctors and tried many prescriptions, but the problem had never been cured.
In addition, his beloved concubine Chen Wanting also suffered from a chronic illness when she was abused by Cai Yaozu. She was weak and often had cold hands and feet. She needed something as tonic as donkey-hide gelatin!
Therefore, Gu Sansi did not bother to be polite with Ma Runchuan, and immediately bowed and said:
"Thank you for your consideration, Brother!"

"Alas! My father has always been in poor health, and I can't be by his side to show my filial piety!"

Ma Runchuan also comforted him after hearing this:
"Think carefully. I believe your father can understand you. Didn't he always teach you to put state affairs first?"

"Besides, isn't your sister-in-law in Liaoyang? Your old man will be worry-free with her here. Don't think too much!"

“I hope so…”

After the two chatted for a while, Chen Wanting knew that the pair of brothers hadn't seen each other for a while and must have a lot to talk about, so the chef sent a banquet and a bottle of good wine to the pair of brothers.

After three rounds of wine and five dishes, Ma Runchuan saw that the groundwork was almost done and immediately began to perform. He first drank a full glass of wine, then pretended to be a little drunk, pointed at himself and said with a wry smile:

"Think carefully, do you think I have failed in my life?"

Gu Sansi, who was also a little drunk, waved his hand and said:
"Brother, your life has been full of ups and downs, so how can you talk about failure?"

"If I remember correctly, when we were studying under our teacher, you told me that you would be very happy if you could become a fifth-rank prefect in your lifetime and bring honor to your family!"

"And now you are a third-rank deputy governor of Qilu. Brother, you have finally achieved what you wanted in this life!"

Listening to Gu Sansi's words, Ma Runchuan seemed to recall the past when he and Gu Sansi studied hard under the great scholar Wang Zhi. A slight smile appeared on his face and he said:
"Think carefully, life was so hard when we were studying under our teacher. A roast chicken was a delicacy for us. I still remember that Mid-Autumn Festival, we all pooled our money together to go to the restaurant for a feast!"

Gu Sansi seemed to recall the past when he heard this, and also said with a smile:

“At that time, you ate the most! You ate both the legs of a roast chicken, and I only ate one chicken wing…”

Ma Runchuan laughed and said:

"Who told you to be so reserved and modest there, Sansi?"

After the words fell, Ma Runchuan sighed again:

“Life was tough back then, but it was also interesting, and we all had hope for the future!”

Ma Runchuan paused for a moment, then looked at Gu Sansi with a complicated expression and said:

"Sansi, among all the disciples back then, the teacher was most optimistic about you. If the teacher knew that you have become the Minister of Personnel, he would definitely be very happy!"

"His greatest wish in this life is that one of his disciples can become a prime minister!"

Hearing what Ma Runchuan said, Gu Sansi's expression became a little heavy. After a moment of silence, he drank the wine in the glass.

When he was ostracized by the officialdom because of his foreign blood, he also found his teacher Wang Zhi, hoping that Wang Zhi could help him, but to Gu Sansi's disappointment, Wang Zhi did not help him in the end!
Seeing this, Ma Runchuan also advised:
"Think carefully, I know you have resentment in your heart, but the teacher has been kind to us after all. If you have the chance, go back to Liaoyang to sweep his grave and pay your respects!" "When the teacher passed away, I was by his side. He told me that he regretted it. If you give him another chance, he will definitely lower his face to plead for you!"

Hearing this, Gu Sansi's expression was also moved. Then, under Ma Runchuan's gaze, he nodded and said:

“Brother, I understand. I will go…”

Ma Runchuan heard this and raised his glass with a smile:
"Drink! We must get drunk today!"

Although he said he would not stop until he was drunk, when the drinking party ended half an hour later, Ma Runchuan, who was already a little drunk, still declined Gu Sansi's idea of ​​letting him stay in the mansion and insisted on letting his followers send him home!

Gu Sansi also personally sent Ma Runchuan to the door of the mansion. Watching the carriage carrying Ma Runchuan gradually disappear on the street, Gu Sansi couldn't help but sigh softly.

At night, after a fierce battle with Chen Wanting, Gu Sansi leaned against the head of the bed, seemingly thinking about something, or recalling what had just happened.

Seeing this, Chen Wanting hesitated for a moment and said:
"My husband, your Senior Brother Ma came back at this time, and it seems that he doesn't just want to catch up with me!"

Gu Sansi opened his eyes and asked with interest:
"Wanting, what do you think?"

Facing Gu Sansi's gaze, Chen Wanting used her slender fingers as a pen and began to write in Gu Sansi's palm.

When Chen Wanting finished writing, the smile on Gu Sansi's face became more and more abundant. This was what he admired most about Chen Wanting: she was smart, insightful, had ideas, and could think along the same lines as himself.

Instead of talking to yourself about those trivial matters all day long, you are a person who wants to do great things, and those trivial matters are frustrating to listen to...

After pondering for a while, Gu Sansi pushed Chen Wanting's hair behind her head, then said to her with a smile:

"Wanting, you keep half of the donkey-hide gelatin that Senior Brother Ma sent. Then send the remaining half back to my father's hometown!"

Hearing this, Chen Wanting's mouth curled up slightly, and she said coquettishly:
"I have seen that the donkey-hide gelatin sent by Lord Ma is indeed the best quality donkey-hide gelatin. This stuff was only sent to the palace before and cannot be found on the market at all."

"But they said this is for your father and his sister-in-law. Is it appropriate for you to give me a concubine?"

Facing Chen Wanting's question, Gu Sansi laughed and said:

"My Senior Brother Ma is, after all, the Deputy Governor of Qilu, the third most important person in the Qilu officialdom. The things he sends must be correct!"

After saying this, Gu Sansi paused, gently stroked Chen Wanting's pretty face, and then spoke apologetically;
"Wanting, I'm sorry that I can't give you a name, but what I can guarantee is that in this ancient mansion in Yijing, you are the real mistress!"

Chen Wanting was also very moved by Gu Sansi's words.

"Gu Lang!"

The two of them lingered for a while, and Chen Wanting said again:
"I've heard from my father that in official circles, if you don't run around or give gifts, you'll be demoted; if you run around but don't give gifts, you'll stay where you are; and if you run around and give gifts, you'll be promoted. This Lord Ma, by taking advantage of his job-reporting trip to the capital, seems to be determined to get the position of Youyan's governor..."

"But he is quite interesting. He wanted to ask you for help, but he didn't say a word and only talked to you about the past!"

Gu Sansi nodded slightly when he heard this, with a trace of confusion in his eyes, and then he said quietly:
"My Senior Brother Ma is a good man, but he is a bit cautious. He didn't tell me because he was worried that I would reject him and affect the relationship between us!"

When he heard that Ma Runchuan was coming, Gu Sansi didn't react at first, but he soon realized that Ma Runchuan's purpose was not just to reminisce about the past!
Gu Sansi and Ma Runchuan knew each other when they were teenagers, and have known each other for nearly thirty years now. Gu Sansi is very clear that his senior brother Ma is a man who has great ideas about his career and wants to go further!
His original decision to go to Qi and Lu to serve as deputy governor was a typical political gamble. Ma Runchuan figured out Ye Mingsheng's thoughts and felt that Ye Mingsheng's continued use of Sun Jing'an was just a stopgap measure for the sake of stability in Qi and Lu.

When the Fengwu Army's rule in Qi and Lu is completely consolidated, Ye Mingsheng will remove Sun Jingan and replace him with one of his own!

So Ma Runchuan applied to go to Qilu. He thought that although he was not the first one to follow Ye Mingsheng, he was one of the first to join the Fengwu Army and was an old member of the Fengwu Army...
Therefore, as long as he goes to Qilu to serve as the deputy governor now, when Ye Mingsheng replaces Sun Jingan, Ma Runchuan is an old man in Fengwu Army and has served as the deputy governor of Qilu for a period of time. He has a better understanding of the situation of the governor of Qilu. Therefore, there is no doubt that there is no other candidate for the position of governor except him!
It has to be said that Ma Runchuan's idea was very good, but what he never expected was that Sun Jing'an finally won the trust of Ye Mingsheng, and until now he has not changed his position as the Governor of Qilu to make room for him, Ma Runchuan!

Ma Runchuan also felt a sense of regret for not gaining the most and ending up with nothing. After all, if he had not been transferred to Qilu that year, but had stayed in the central government!
Not to mention that he can now serve as the Shangshu of one of the six ministries, he should have no problem at least being an assistant minister. But now he has wasted several years in Qi and Lu, which is really not worth it!
Gu Sansi knew very well what Ma Runchuan was thinking, so he also realized that Ma Runchuan would definitely make efforts for his career under the pretext of returning to Beijing to report on his work!
You know, Liu Zhengyue's case has just ended, and the position of Youyan Governor is still vacant. Ma Runchuan came back at this juncture without a doubt that he had ideas about this vacant Governor position...

Although the rank of the Governor and the Provincial Governor are both of the second rank, their importance is completely incomparable. For example, between the Governor of Liaoyang and the Governor of Jiangnan, even a fool would know which one to choose!
After Ye Mingsheng moved the capital to Yijing, the political status of Youyan's governor rose sharply. After all, in the court, power is only responsible to the source of power!
Therefore, no matter how good your political achievements are in some remote areas, if the higher-ups don’t see it, it’s like winking at a blind man and it’s useless!
But Youyan is under the feet of the emperor, and after a series of reforms by the Fengwu Army, the basic situation is very good, so it is easy to achieve results in Youyan, and your achievements will be visible. In this way, if you do a good job in your previous term, you will most likely be able to take over the central government!

Precisely because the post of Youyan Governor is so important, after Liu Zhengyue’s failure this time, many people in the Fengwu Army have set their sights on this position!
Everyone is trying their best to show off their unique abilities and find their own way to become the final winner!

As the Minister of Personnel, Gu Sansi naturally has a say in this matter. Some people have come to Gu Sansi to lobby for help before, but in the end they were simply rejected by Gu Sansi!
Gu Sansi felt that the matter of Youyan Provincial Administration was too complicated, and it involved multiple parties fighting each other and the situation was very unclear, so he did not want to get involved. He just wanted to watch the situation develop from the other side of the river. However, the arrival of his senior brother Ma Runchuan made Gu Sansi fall into a dilemma...
(End of this chapter)