Zhao Hanzhang paused, picked up an egg for him, and Fu Tinghan, sitting to the side, also turned to glance at Wang Xuan, similarly giving him an egg, "Eat more."
Wang Xuan looked at the two of them, feeling sowhat moved. There were only two eggs left in the bowl, and he had eaten most of the good dishes this evening.
Wang Xuan: "Speak up, what happened in Jingzhou that made my uncle send an envoy to find from so far away?"
Zhao Hanzhang raised an eyebrow, put down her bowl and chopsticks, wiped the corner of her mouth, and said, "The refugees in Jingzhou have been without settlent for a long ti, Governor Wang spends his days drinking, ignoring governntal affairs, so the refugees in Jingzhou rebelled, and now it’s chaotic. A while ago, he dispatched troops to attack and kill over 8,000 refugees, among them quite a number of local civilians who were forced to get involved. These people, though impoverished, have lived in Jingzhou for generations, with many relatives and clan mbers, thus not only did the rebellion not get quelled, it incited even greater rebellion, affecting a wider area."
"He must be hoping Brother Wang will help?"
After a mont’s thought, Wang Xuan shook his head, "No, with my uncle’s arrogance, he would rather resign than seek help from a second person."
Wang Xuan said, "If he’s seeking , it’s probably because he doesn’t want to be the Governor of Jingzhou anymore, and wants to pass Jingzhou to ."
Zhao Hanzhang’s eyes sparking, she couldn’t help but sit up straight, if that’s the case, she wouldn’t feel sleepy anymore, "He is willing to fully entrust Jingzhou to you?"
Wang Xuan gave a wry smile, "What good is his willingness? The appointnt of a governor must be conferred by the court. My uncle is highly reputable and appointed by the court, but even the gentry in Jingzhou do not obey him, much less ."
Zhao Hanzhang countered, "Why not give it a try? I am willing to recomnd Brother Wang as the Governor of Jingzhou."
Wang Xuan couldn’t help but glance at her, "If I’m not mistaken, Third Lady initially didn’t want to go to Jingzhou, why the sudden change of heart?"
Zhao Hanzhang said, "Wang Cheng is unruly, his arrogance is no less than your uncle’s, and his political chaos is even greater. Brother Wang is a fine jade and true talent, and I certainly don’t want you to be polluted by such filth in Jingzhou. But if you go as the governor, you would be there to correct the climate, granting the people of Jingzhou a sliver of hope."
Wang Xuan pressed his lips, not expecting Zhao Hanzhang to have such confidence in him. Frankly, he didn’t even have that confidence in himself.
Given his current standing, those who were appointed as regional governors were all of his uncle’s generation. Wang Xuan knew his place, though he held so fa, he had never served in office; even with Zhao Hanzhang’s recomndation, it would be difficult to imdiately be appointed as the Governor of Jingzhou.
Zhao Hanzhang, however, saw no impossibility. Under Yu State lies Jingzhou, which she aims to recapture Jiangnan one day; Jingzhou is a must-pass route. Its geographical location is extrely important; if she can manage to successfully secure Jingzhou by recomnding Wang Xuan now, her future efforts would be twice the yield for half the work.
Zhao Hanzhang: "Brother Wang, just speak up whether you dare to go to Jingzhou as governor, if you dare, I will secure it for you."
Wang Xuan: ...so fierce, he seed to see his father.
Back then, his father wanted to leave a backway for the Wang Family, thus sent one uncle to Qingzhou as governor, and another to Jingzhou as governor.
Now Zhao Hanzhang showed the sa confident deanor, as if he just needed to express the desire to beco governor and she would make it happen. He couldn’t help but worry, "Is Third Lady trying to leave a back route for like my father? Why not select soone from the Zhao Family, but choose ?"
Zhao Hanzhang: "Brother Wang, your mory is concerning, I already said, recomnding you to Jingzhou is for purging the climate. You are more suitable to serve as governor than Governor Wang, to provide a lifeline for the people of Jingzhou."
"Though there are talents among the Zhao Family, their knowledge and insight are far less than yours, Brother Wang."
The most outstanding disciple of their generation, Zhao Kuan, is still just a Luoyang County Magistrate, oh, he’s about to take office as Governor of Henan County in a few days.
Actually, with Zhao Kuan’s ability, he might be able to take up the role of Jingzhou Governor.
Zhao Hanzhang took a glance at Wang Xuan, and to speak honestly, she thought in terms of administrative abilities, Zhao Kuan might be above Wang Xuan.
However...
If Wang Xuan were to beco the Governor of Jingzhou, Wang Cheng and the Langya Wang Family might possibly relinquish power, but if Zhao Kuan went, it’s obvious they wouldn’t agree.
Nor would Gou Xi agree to it.
The maneuverability is too small, so it’s better to choose Wang Xuan.
Wang Xuan was unable to decide imdiately; the position of a governor bore too much responsibility. If he were offered a role as a County Magistrate or military advisor, he would accept without a second thought.
But a governor oversees the military and civil administration of a whole state, responsible for the welfare of the state’s people. Jingzhou’s geographic location is also special, with great strategic significance. Even though Wang Xuan was confident in his abilities, he wasn’t sure he could handle this governor role well.
Had it been two years earlier, he wouldn’t have this concern, even if he wouldn’t be as aloof and arrogant as his uncles, who didn’t care much about the role of a state governor, he would still calmly and confidently step into the position.
But the wandering life of the past year or so made him realize the gravity of a state governor’s responsibility. The lives of hundreds of thousands of people depended on him, and it might even affect the overall situation of the world.
Wang Xuan did want to contribute to the world and had grand ambitions, believing he would eventually beco a pillar of the nation, but he never thought of taking a giant leap to beco a governor directly; he wasn’t sure he could do it well.
Wang Si Niang, rushing back from Ruyin County, hadn’t even had the chance to embrace Wang Xuan for a tearful reunion. Passing by the side room next to the entrance of the Inspector’s Mansion, she overheard two scribes discussing inside while eating, "Didn’t Wang izi agree to the envoy from Jingzhou to go to Jingzhou?"
"Not yet. The envoy has released a statent to recomnd Wang izi to succeed as Governor of Jingzhou, but he seems to be quite reluctant."
"Governor Wang is willing to yield?"
"The entirety of Jingzhou is nearly ruined by him. Him sending an envoy to find Wang izi, isn’t it just to shirk responsibility? What’s there to be reluctant about?"
Wang Si Niang, after listening, quickened her pace toward the backyard.
Wang Xuan was still contemplating, though not idly during his musing; he casually leafed through the Ministry of Industry’s docunts, organizing them for Fu Tinghan.
This was Fu An’s work duty.
Deprived of his task, Fu An exuded an air of resentnt, silently watching them from the corner, grabbing any opportunity to refill their teacups with hot water.
Wang Xuan, observing the steam rising from the cup, was montarily puzzled, "In such hot weather, we’re drinking hot water..."
Fu Tinghan, reviewing a disbursent of funds, casually replied, "Drinking hot water in sumr is good for health."
Wang Xuan silently looked at him, "Ting Han, you’re a few years younger than , isn’t it too early to already be concerned about health maintenance?"
Fu Tinghan lifted his head, but before he could speak, Wang Si Niang rushed in, tapping rapidly from outside the door.
Seeing his younger sister, Wang Xuan imdiately put Fu Tinghan aside, excitedly standing up from the mat, and he ran toward her with just socks on, arms wide open ready to hold her, so the two siblings could have a good cry.
They had both gone through life and death since they last parted, nearly missing the chance to ever see each other again.
Just as he enveloped her, without a mont to cry out, Wang Si Niang already pushed him back, with a stern face, "Big Brother, consent to the envoy, we are going to Jingzhou as Governor!"
Wang Xuan: ...
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