imperial psychologist

Chapter 716 Inappropriate Sympathy
"General Chang chose the right time to move, I'm afraid the intention is to give the people more time to prepare," Wang Meng said in a low voice, and he looked at Shao Kuan, "but now that Cao Xun is directly looking at both ends, we will instead It’s not good to interfere.”

Bo Ling looked at Magistrate Shao who was sitting aside, and gradually felt a sense of urgency in his heart.

"This is not the worst." Shao Kuan looked at the ground, "Because both sides are not enough to produce enough grain. In the past, the government had to subsidize the grain for the winter, and the wheat harvested by the people every autumn is basically not kept in their hands. , and most of them will be handed over.”

"So the people in the city don't have any food left?"

"Of course there is, but not much." Shao Kuan replied, "After all, no one would be foolish enough to turn in all the grain and not keep any of it. But with that little surplus grain, the people would not be able to survive the winter."

"Now Cao Xun is going to transport all the food—except the military food here—to Zhuozhou, leaving only five days' surplus food for the people to continue distributing at various food relief points." Shao Kuan closed his eyes forcefully, "This is They are forcing me to take the people out of the city today and tomorrow..."

Bai Ling looked at Wang Meng, "So is Vice-General Wang accompanying, escorting these two thousand people to Yanzhou together?"

Wang Meng shook his head, "The order I received was to continue to be stationed at the two ends until next spring."

"That……"

"You don't need to ask, there are only 50 people escorting the people, all of whom are government servants brought by Cao Xun from Zhuozhou." Shao Kuan said softly, "Counting the two small officials in the yamen, it can barely gather nearly a hundred people—— Most of the officials in Wangli have been conscripted to help transport food."

Bo Ling stood there thinking for a while, and quickly understood.

In the years that Shao Kuan has been on the sidelines, although his political achievements are not outstanding, they have never been serious. What's more, this person has a real name, and he has a history of feud with Cao Xun, so just relying on fabricated facts, probably is not enough.

Then he needs to really jump into the pit, for example, take the people to migrate in the harsh winter, and then there will be no death or injury.

"Master Shao, why should you be discouraged?" Bai Ling looked at Shao Kuan, "You write a note now, and send it directly to Pingjing as before, and report what happened here today to the capital. The magistrate of a state regards the lives of the people like nothing, and when he is investigated in Beijing, can Cao Xun escape?"

As Bai Ling talked, the inspiration came even more, "At present, the gold thieves have not retreated, and General Chang's letter vaguely says "move at the right time", Cao Xun probably relies on this, thinking that this pot We can go to both sides. We threatened Cao Xun with the letter of entry to Beijing, and delayed it for a few days. At the same time, we sent people to Zhuozhou to report to General Chang, and asked General Chang to write a new letter, clearly stating the time of moving to the county. He, Cao Xun, has no other support, so naturally he didn't dare to force it—"

When Bo Ling said this, he faintly felt that something was wrong.

Shao Kuan in front of him didn't raise his spirits at all, and his eyes that lost energy were still looking at the ground feebly.

"Master Shao?" Bai Ling called out with some doubts.

Shao Kuan raised his eyes and looked at Bai Ling.

"I may not have clarified some things last night," Bo Ling said softly, "If there is such a moth in the middle..."

"Gold thieves will take advantage of the chaos to attack, won't they?" Shao Kuan looked at Bai Ling.

Bai Ling frowned, looked at Shao Kuan suspiciously, and then at Wang Meng.

"Lord Wang has already told me this morning." Shao Kuan said in a low voice, "It is indeed possible, but as long as I leave here, Cao Xun will not run amok in the eyes of both sides. I am relieved to leave the affairs of the city to Wang Meng.

"On the contrary, it can't be delayed." Shao Kuan said in a low voice, "Since Cao Xun is targeting me, as long as I stay on the sidelines for one more day, he won't be able to let it go, so..."

"What is Magistrate Shao talking about?" Bo Ling interrupted Shao Kuan directly, "You said you were frank last night—"

"Song Qing," Wang Meng raised his hand to stop Bo Ling, "Let's go out and talk."

Bo Ling glanced at Wang Meng in disbelief, and then looked not far away at Shao Kuan, who seemed to have been stripped of his backbone.

She clenched her teeth and turned around with a bit of annoyance.

……

Everything in the barracks in the north of the city was in order. Wang Meng, wearing combat armor, walked slowly along the edge of the barracks with Bo Ling.

Bai Ling silently listened to Wang Meng's narration, she guessed correctly, Wang Meng went to Shao Kuan this morning, and explained the pros and cons of the whole thing, how important the two ends are, if Xiao Qiang gets into trouble, the consequences will be disastrous .

However, at that time, Shao Kuan's energy had already collapsed—just like what Bo Ling saw just now.

"I was in the yamen this morning, and I heard people said that Cao Xun and Master Shao had fought in the backyard." Bai Ling frowned, "Cao Xun and Master Shao said something?"

Wang Meng nodded.

"So what did Cao Xun say?" Bai Ling clenched his fists in his sleeves.

"...One thing you may not be clear about," Wang Meng said softly, "Shao Kuan used to be Song Bozong's disciple."

Song Bozong...

The figure of an old man suddenly appeared in Bai Ling's mind.

It has been many years since I heard this name...

"So?" Bo Ling lowered his head slightly, his eyes sinking, "During the 20 years of Song Bozong's power, half of the officials in the court were promoted by him or his henchmen, and the current emperor has not pursued it, Shao County What are you afraid of?"

"Shao Kuan came to the Northern Territory more than ten years ago, but he didn't become an official at the beginning. He...was demoted to this point." Wang Meng said again.

"So?" Burling asked again.

"When the Song family fell from power and officials from all over the country followed the edict and scolded the rebels, he read that Song Bozong had shown him a kindness, so he didn't write a letter." Wang Meng said softly, "After Jingzhong noticed it, he said he couldn't tell. Big right and wrong, so I was downgraded several levels, and then I went around and around, and was put on both sides to watch this place..."

Burling frowned.

Wang Meng's footsteps stopped, "But he has kept all the letters between himself and Song Bozong, which I didn't expect. Cao Xun just pinched this handle."

"Is there any evidence in the letter that Mr. Shao conspired together?"

"of course not."

"Is that evidence that he and Song Bozong's party jointly corrupted the law?"

"No, they're just holiday greeting letters." Wang Meng looked at Bo Ling, "Shao Kuan is an upright person, and I know that."

"Then Mr. Shao shows the letter to others from time to time, and spreads the benevolence, righteousness, propriety, wisdom and faith of the Song family father and son everywhere?"

"This..." Wang Meng frowned, "Of course he wouldn't do such a stupid thing."

"...Then what kind of trick is this?" Bo Ling was puzzled, "Teachers are like father and son, even if they keep the old letters, what kind of crime is that?"

After Bo Ling finished speaking, it was Wang Meng who became confused.

"Sympathize with the traitor, Song Qing, don't you understand what a crime it is to sympathize with the traitor?"

(End of this chapter)