Officials of the Ming Dynasty once said that in ancient times, in feudal times, officials did not leave their hometowns. When they went out in the court, they served their kings. When they returned in the evening, they would support their relatives. Therefore, the way of loyalty and filial piety was always complete.

But later, many dynasties implemented a system of avoidance for officials, and officials could not be officials locally, making it difficult to meet their families.

In the Ming Dynasty, where the two words "loyalty and filial piety" were the most important, officials would be criticized for not being able to marry for a long time. For example, Wan An from the three famous paper-paste masters of the previous dynasty was scolded by the censors for not returning to their hometowns for 46 years.

In order to take care of the return of officials from Beijing, the imperial court established a system of visiting relatives every three years and every six years. However, such a system is still too contrary to human nature. How can we do it for three years to be an official and meet parents and family members every six years?

Once, Emperor Wanli asked Zhang Juzheng why the previous reports of the Ministry of Justice’s trial and decree of prisoners could not be delivered after one year?

Zhang Juzheng said that officials from the Ministry of Justice took the opportunity of delivering reports and turned home to live for a while. After staying comfortable, they continued to go on the road.

In order to prevent such a vain return to your hometown, the Ming Dynasty had strict regulations on visiting relatives. From the mileage on the road and the vacation time when you arrive at home, there are strict schedules, so you should not delay the time.

Lin Yanchao traveled all the way through mountains and rivers. He walked from Ningde to the North Post Road and returned home. Then he stayed at the nearest post station to the provincial capital for one night, where Lin Yanchao stayed.

The postmaster at the postmaster was extremely surprised to hear that the throne-yuan Gong returned home to visit his relatives. It was common for the postmaster to welcome and see him off as an official at the postmaster. Lin Yanchao was a Hanlin, such a valuable official, who returned to his hometown to visit his relatives. He had a cabinet master and the president in Beijing. Hanlin personally wrote poems to him and hired a ship for free.

When you return to the station you use, there will be effective people in the government and prefectures and counties, and you will be able to communicate one after another. For example, if an official rests at the station, someone will immediately rush to the next station to fight the front station to do a good job of welcoming and hospitality, and then the station will wait for Shangguan to arrive.

As the top scholar, Lin Yanchao returned home and had no news. How could this not surprise the postmaster?

Although the official secretary had questions in his heart, he was very respectful and personally served Lin Yanchao tea and water.

After Lin Yanchao wiped his sweat with a scarf and a squid, the postmaster asked carefully: "Do you dare to ask if the throne master returned to the province on the road or the Ministry of Personnel meets the case?"

When I returned to the province, I even had business operations on my body and took the lead home to take a look. It is understandable that the officials in the previous station were slow and slow.

But if the Ministry of Personnel meets you, it will be like the top scholar returning home in glory. There is no need to be so low-key. Instead, it should be very extravagant. Before you get home, the city caused a sensation, and the people in the provincial capital looked forward to it. This is the show that the top scholar and Lin Sanyuan agreed.

When Lin Yanchao heard what the postmaster said, he knew what he wanted to ask, but he still said truthfully: "It was a regular encounter between the Ministry of Personnel."

The official secretary understood as soon as he heard this. The Ministry of Personnel encountered this, which was not about returning home to visit relatives, but about the same treatment as the dismissal of his post and returning home, Guandai's idle living.

The Yicheng's face changed when he heard this. When he felt a little unfair about Lin Yanchao, he said, "In the past sixty years, even the master has only produced three top scholars. It can be said that he only met once in twenty years. Master, you won three yuan in a row, and you are the first in this dynasty. This time, you are going back to the countryside and the people in the countryside are happy. The first person in the first place is now resting for a night in the small office today. I will immediately send someone to the patrol and the hospital to inform him."

Lin Yanchao waved his hand and said, "No need. I returned home just to visit my grandfather, but there was no intention of showing off. There was no need to be alarmed at the place."

Lin Yanchao also knew the local officials, but in fact he had known the news that he had returned home for a long time. Now he was deliberately pretending to be ignorant. The top scholar returned to the province and was not an exaggeration. But now he was almost at the city gate, and there was still no news inside, but he just didn't plan to welcome him. They would never come to surprise him.

After hearing Lin Yanchao's words, the postmaster sighed and immediately said dismissal. However, he was still unwilling to give up and immediately sent his men to the yamen to inform Lin Yanchao of returning to the mansion.

The ancients said that a son is filial to show his relatives, while an official is proud to return home.

Lin Yanchao finally went home easily, but of course he wanted to welcome him in the village and show off in front of his family. Didn’t Xiang Yu just say that it’s better to return to his hometown, like walking in the night in a bright night.

Without this feeling, no matter how great I achieve in the future, I seem to have lost something. But now it seems that I will be the most unlucky person to return home.

Thinking of the honor and disgrace, Lin Yanchao felt a little sad. It was not because he had any regrets for not being able to show off, but because he could not let his grandfather, uncle, and teacher be so glorious, and he could not help but feel a little regretful.

"Brother Chao!"

Lin Yanchao was stunned to see Lin Qianqian standing behind him.

Lin Yanchao asked quietly: "What's wrong?"

Lin Qianqian said: "Brother Chao, I know you are bored. People in the officialdom can only look at the face of the evil actors. Therefore, this time they knew that you were returning home, but deliberately neglected you."

Lin Yanchao smiled and said, "It's okay, officials are seeking profit and avoiding harm. If I were to change my position, I would have been like this. No one would blame anyone else at all. It's just that you, the top lady, are the ones who have made you wronged."

"I'm fine," Lin Qian said with a smile. "When you first won the top scorer, I had already...satisfied. One by one, the third and fourth-rank officials, I had to respectfully call the top scorer's wife when I saw me. I was not satisfied with anything. Besides, I have obtained the sixth-rank An people now. I will not suffer any loss at all when I entered Beijing."

Lin Yanchao couldn't help laughing when he heard this. The little bit of pain before was quickly relieved: "This time I returned home, I wanted to be filial to my grandfather, serve my teacher, and take care of my old friends when I meet them again. As for other things, they are also beautiful when others see each other, so what do you have to do with me? It is the only way for everyone to get together and reunite with their families."

Lin Qianqian said: "Brother Chao, you are right. I'll go and prepare. This time I came back from Beijing to bring gifts to my grandfather, uncle, and the third uncle. The aunt and the third aunt are all petty and love to compete with each other. If I give them the second time, there will be a conflict."

Lin Yanchao smiled and said, "Yes, it would be bad if something happened to the family."

After saying that, Lin Qianqian went down to prepare the gift. Lin Yanchao wrote a letter and asked Chen Jichuan to rush back to his family first, saying that he would be here tomorrow.

So Lin Yanchao rested overnight in the inn and walked back to the provincial capital the next day.

From the inn to the provincial capital, you need to pass through Dabeiling Road.

The Dabeiling Road is very steep, with folk songs and 3,000 stone steps in Beiling. My father carried a load and hurried down the mountain. When he went out, the moon shone on the mountain road, and when he got home, the sun set early.

Although the ancient road is steep, it is the earliest post road to leave the province in Fujian. Any top scholar in Fujian who took the exam has passed by since then, so it is also called the top scholar ancient road. (To be continued.)
Chapter completed!