My Great Ming Takes Agriculture as its Foundation, Maritime Trade is the Source of Chaos in the World!

"Ah! Your Excellency's words spring from a heart of benevolence and righteousness, and cut straight to the way of the gentleman... Hearing them, this student felt as if he had heard the morning bell and evening drum of a buddhist temple, and all at once the clouds parted and the sky cleared... This student will surely obey your teachings with reverence, and follow them at all times hereafter!..."

Faced with Provincial Administration Commissioner Wang Zhe's sudden question, Shi Wende immediately answered with sincerity, showing praise that came from the bottom of his heart. Then, standing in the courtyard, he solemnly performed a scholar's bow toward Wang Zhe in the study inside. He first stood with cupped hands, bowed deeply, then raised his hands and pushed them downward from above, before slowly straightening.

"Mm!... Your temperament is fairly steady... Si Cheng, come and sit!..."

Provincial Administration Commissioner Wang Zhe smiled faintly. Only after receiving this solemn bow in full did he point to the small chair before the desk and have Shi Wende come sit down. To him, ruling those below from above was nothing more than applying both grace and authority. Making Shi Wende wait two hours first, then stand in attendance for another hour, was merely the most common way of showing authority.

With Provincial Administration Commissioner Wang Zhe's more than thirty years of experience rising and sinking in the sea of officialdom, he never needed long to judge a person. A simple test like this could very easily reveal Shi Wende's temperament. Those minute expressions and movements could reflect whether the other party held awe in his heart, and whether he was respectful and knew gratitude.

And as for the scholar-official class's logic in employing people, in the eyes of an official at Provincial Administration Commissioner Wang Zhe's