Chapter 12 Epoch-making Changes (IV)

The chief officer of Dali Temple is still He Tengjiao. In the more than two years he has been in office, he has not had any wrongful and false cases. Although he is sometimes a little stubborn, he is still a pretty good official in general.

"Master, it's the hour of the New Year. Everyone has gone back from get off work. It's time for you to go back. My wife is still waiting for you to go back for dinner at home."

"Oh." He Tengjiao responded casually without even raising his head, and his eyes never left the official documents in his hand.

He Chun is He Tengjiao's follower, and he is considered a caring servant. He Tengjiao works in the yamen until late at night every night, and he went to the yamen office before dawn the next morning. He was earlier than others, and he didn't even bother to say a few words to his wife. Seeing that his body was losing weight day by day, the wife was anxious. He was even more anxious than the wife, but he was just a gentleman. How could he make sense to his master? Therefore, he could only sigh, shake his head and turn around and prepare dinner for He Tengjiao. It's not like this today. It's probably only time and twice. Supper can only be solved here.

"He Chun?"

"Master!" He Chun turned around in surprise, and a happy look suddenly appeared on his face. He thought the master had changed his temperament today and wanted to go back early, but unexpectedly, he looked back and saw that his master was still buried in the official document, but his head still did not raise up.

"Today we won't eat the food cooked by the government office. When you go back, let your wife cook a few good dishes. Remember to have braised pork, a big bowl, and two pairs of chopsticks to bring it to me." He Tengjiao continued to order.

"Master, He Chun remembers that you don't eat braised pork." He Chun asked in surprise.

"What are you doing if you ask so much, just do what I said." He Tengjiao said impatiently.

"Yes, lord." He Chun turned around and left Dali Temple with a full stomach of questions.

The dark and humid Dali Temple cell had been abandoned and no longer used, but three months ago, a special prisoner arrived and it was re-activated. There were only two people from the prison to the prison guard, but they were just temporarily brought over to serve.

There was only one prisoner living in the empty cell. More than half of the officials had been impeached and was ordered by Zhu Yinglong to go to Dali Temple Prison.

Life in the prison is not sad. The prison head and the prison guard both knew that this Lord Shi Kefa was a rare good official, but the officialdom was too dark. The emperor was blinded by those foolish officials who colluded with each other. They all firmly believed that Shi Kefa would one day leave the Dali Temple prison. Half out of gratitude, thanks to Shi Kefa for the people who were in office and returned the land of corrupt officials and evil gentry to them. Half out of respect. Although Shi Kefa lost his freedom, his life was quite comfortable. He had books and people to serve food, drink, and defecate, but he suddenly became quiet and idle, which made Master Shi, who was already accustomed to being busy, feel a little uncomfortable.

Under the dim oil lamp, a prisoner wearing a red prison suit leaned on the soft mat, facing away from the prison door. Due to the light, the prisoner's face could not be seen clearly. However, Dali Temple is now closed to a prisoner, so the prisoner is naturally Shi Kefa, who was convicted and imprisoned in Dali Temple.

Without a daughter naughty and tiring her father's beard, the four-month prison life did not change too much Shi Kefa. The most intuitive feeling is that his beard was left with a bit of a beautiful beard. If he took off his prison uniform and changed into a Taoist robe, he might even see a little bit of immortality and a sensation of a paradise. However, if he had changed, it was not without. Silence, Shi Kefa learned to be silent. Anyone who has been an official knows that silence is the first priority in the officialdom, and those who can be silent are the most powerful people. This prison disaster made Shi Kefa understand a lot. First of all, the emperor himself sometimes has no control, so it is important to be appreciated and valued by the emperor, but more importantly, he must learn to protect himself. Only by protecting himself can he play his talents in a more important position.

Judging the situation is a kind of ability that Shi Kefa feels that he needs the most to cultivate.

"Sir Shi, it's time to eat. Today is a braised lion head. The wife personally sent someone to send it to you." The head of the prison said with a kind voice outside the prison. Because Shi Kefa was a serious offender, but because of Zihe's relationship, Zhu Yinglong specially issued an order to allow him to visit at any time. However, in the past few days, due to the sudden warming weather, Zihe worked hard every day and was infected with the cold. Therefore, he could only send someone to deliver food in every day.

"Let's leave it, I'll eat it later." Shi Kefa's indifferent voice rang out.

"Hello." The prisoner agreed and put the food box in his hand. When he turned around and left, he suddenly found someone standing behind him.

"Sir, why are you here?" The prison head was quite surprised. The largest official in Dali Temple stood behind him, which made him feel a little flattered. He didn't know where this feeling came from, but he just felt that his heartbeat was twice as fast as usual.

"You go down first and get two candles for me and Lord Shi. The oil lamp is too dark." He Tengjiao ordered the prison head since ancient times.

"Oh, I'll go now!" The prison head ran out.

He Tengjiao saw the food box that had been placed on the table, smiled slightly, lowered his head and walked in, put down the food box in his hand, placed it side by side with the food box that the prison head took in, then wiped the dust on the stool, slowly sat down and said to Shi Kefa's back: "Brother Xianzhi, haven't even avoided me?"

"Mr. He thought you were a righteous and upright official, but I didn't expect you to be with those people, so I will participate in my book." Shi Kefa was a little angry. Yang He, Zhou Tingru and others participated in him. Those people were not all the way, and he hated him, but far from a friend who thought he was still a similar temper participated in him.

"I'm not because Xianzhi did something wrong, but because Xianzhi did something too hastily." He Tengjiao sighed and said, "Shi Kefa was locked up in his Dali Temple. He only came to visit him now, hoping that he could calmly think about gains and losses in prison. If another person was replaced by another person, it might have another effect. Shi Kefa did not have any identity or prestige. He did something that was overestimated and almost made it difficult for the emperor to end. For this reason, He Tengjiao believed that Shi Kefa's prison disaster was not unfair at all.

"Mr. He, what do you want to say?" Shi Kefa heard this and crawled over him, sat down opposite He Tengjiao, staring at He Tengjiao with his eyes.

"How old are you in Tengjiao Changxian? Can you call me "Xianzhi Brother?"

Shi Kefa frowned and said nothing.

Seeing that Shi Kefa had no conversation, He Tengjiao knew that he had agreed to his name, and then continued: "Brother Xianzhi, Tengjiao knew all the things you did, but if so, you at most established many enemies you may not know. The least you should have put on that secret letter and found three people to jointly sign. What is even more careless is that someone like Ruan Dacheng was deceived. Fortunately, it was you. If it were someone else, it would be great that you could have half your life left now."

He Tengjiao was talking, Shi Kefa was listening quietly.

"I'm involved in you. On the surface, I'm talking for those people. In fact, I want to be beheaded these people and demoted them. But being an official Guangping is not good enough. Do you still remember what Teng Jiao was doing in Kaifeng? Xianzhi's brother is also an insider. Teng Jiao relied on his passion and justice. What's the result? So, later I realized that officials cannot do things straightforwardly, they need to pay attention to strategies, and sometimes they need to understand a little bit of military strategy..."

The more Shi Kefa heard it, the more surprised he became. He did not expect that He Tengjiao would undergo such a transformation after being stimulated in Kaifeng. Over the past few years, he had thoroughly understood the entire officialdom, when should he take action, when should he be obscure, when should he need perseverance, and how to maintain an open and innocent heart for the country and the people.

A righteous heart means a good body, and a wrong heart means a wrong body. This is a summary of He Tengjiao's experience and lessons.

Shi Kefa was not stupid at first. After He Tengjiao's guidance, he suddenly felt enlightened, and his previous resentment disappeared.
Chapter completed!