The Happy Life of Small Officials in Northern Song Dynasty

Update time: 22--4

Cao Min was arrested, and people were very happy; after Fu Bi took people away, the news spread to the whole courtyard in a short while, and everyone breathed a sigh of relief, as if seeing the sun through the clouds, and the shadow of yin in their hearts disappeared. , suddenly became enlightened.

People have speculated about who reported the matter, using Shu Xiu's opportunity to commit corruption, and Cao Min's evidence in the student case. The number of people who know about these two crimes is actually very limited. Some people think that it was Qi Shunbin who did it, because What Cao Min did almost ruined the courtyard he worked so hard for and was so proud of.

But Su Jin doesn't think so. Qi Shunbin is the kind of person who will do anything for the academy. The reputation of the academy is higher than his life. Cao Min's actions almost destroyed the academy, but it is also based on the reputation of the academy. It is impossible for Qi Shunbin to expose Cao Min's corrupt and domineering behavior in the courtyard, because this will also bring stains to the reputation of the courtyard and himself.

This can also explain why, before the student case, Cao Min took advantage of Shu Xiu's opportunity to embezzle a large amount of money, while Qi Shunbin, as the head of the mountain, was well aware of this matter but did not punish him.

Su Jin didn't have time to guess these things, he was thinking, why did Master Yan Shu come to Yingtian Mansion again?Take Cao Min?Rebuke Qi Shunbin?Such a trivial matter did not require Yan Shu to come in person at all. Facts have proved that even if he came to Yingtian, such a matter would not even show his face, and Fu Bi would handle it entirely on his behalf.

But for King Teng?For Tang Jie?For yourself?Su Jin's mind was filled with question marks.

……

At the second watch of the night, the guards outside Yingtianfu's official post were heavily guarded. The three envoys and guards patrolled the alleys around the official post in groups of three. The officials waiting to meet Yan Shu waited from noon until dark. Seeing Yan Shu, they each got into the car at the beginning of the watch, cursing fiercely in their stomachs, and walked away cleanly.

Su Jin's mule cart was subjected to strict interrogation and questioning when it approached the periphery of the official post. The soldiers seemed to have been confessed. After Su Jin reported his name, they came to the gate of the official post unimpeded.

Su Jin got out of the car, straightened her clothes, looked at the posture around her, and felt a drum in her heart, the situation was scary enough, Yan Shu didn't want to be like this when he came to Yingtianfu before.

The servant led Su Jin to the official post. As soon as he entered the second entrance, he saw a tall figure standing outside the main room of the second entrance, looking around. Seeing Su Jin hurriedly came up to him, he said with a smile: "Brother Su You came on time, and you arrived as soon as the clapper of the second watch rang."

Su Jin hurriedly bowed his hands and saluted: "Your Excellency summoned you, how dare you not be punctual, brother Lao Fu is waiting for you."

Fu Bi smiled and took Su Jin's arm and said, "Go, my father-in-law is waiting for you."

He held Su Jin's arm, and his scalp felt numb for a while, but he was dragged helplessly by him and staggered forward, into the main room.

Pushing the door open and entering, the room was brightly lit. Yan Shu was dressed in a black silk robe, and was sitting behind the desk talking with a dark and thin middle-aged man. He is a local rich man, but he doesn't know that this person is the third envoy of the Song court who stepped on his feet and trembled.

Seeing Su Jin coming in, Yan Shu stood up with a smile on his face; Su Jin hurried forward to say hello, Yan Shu laughed and said, "We meet again, come here, let me introduce you to someone."

After finishing speaking, he stretched out his hand and gestured to the black and thin middle-aged man sitting at the bottom: "This is General Li. Those who return to the German army in Yingtian Mansion will deploy generals. I'm afraid you don't know each other yet."

Su Jin stepped forward to salute and said, "My lord Li."

Li Gang bowed his hand to return the salute, his eyes were shining, he looked up and down Su Jin with a little impoliteness, and said in a deep voice: "So this is Su Xiaoguan, who has been admiring him for a long time."

Su Jinxin said: "I'm an unknown person. If you say Jiu Yang, isn't it a lie to your face? Just about to say a few words of politeness, Li Gang continued: "Su Xiaoguan has caused the world to turn upside down in Yingtian Mansion. I have long wanted to see and see honor. I didn't expect to see him here at the third secretary, and he is a handsome young man."

"Lord Li, now I know what it means to be afraid of the young." Yan Shu smiled while twisting his beard.

Li Gang said: "That's true, heroes are born in youth."

Su Jin was humble, the guest of honor was seated, Fu Bi ordered the servants to serve tea, and then ordered the door to be closed tightly to prevent anyone from entering.

Yan Shu opened his mouth and said, "Today, Master Li and Xuezi Su were invited here to discuss important matters. To be honest, in this Yingtian Mansion, there are only two people that I can trust."

Li Gang got up and cupped his hands and said: "My lord, why did you say this? The next official is carried by your lord. Although he has been leading troops outside these few years, and he belongs to the Privy Council, he didn't dare to move more because he was afraid of causing trouble to your lord. Your lord has orders. , as long as it does not violate the court's laws and regulations, I will not refuse to die as an official."

Yan Shu chuckled and said, "You're still the same. Before doing things, you always have to add a sentence that doesn't violate the court's laws and regulations. You have the same problem with Bao Zheng."

Li Gang blushed and said: "These are all taught by the boss. The teachings of the past are vividly remembered, and I dare not violate them."

Yan Shu smiled, then put away his smile, and sighed: "Ying Tianfu has not been peaceful recently. There have been accidents one after another. In the past two years, there have been many people in Yingtian Mansion who have gone to the Ministry of Criminal Justice to complain. Strange."

Li Gang said: "My lord, forgive me for speaking bluntly. Some people here are making too much trouble. Although the officials have no right to manage government affairs, they are clear about their activities. On the contrary, relying on favors creates arrogance, colluding with each other, there is a tendency to be a gangster, and there are some activities, the lower officials have no real evidence, so don't talk nonsense; disaster."

Yan Shu frowned and remained silent. Su Jin thought to himself: This Li Gang is a straightforward person, and what he said was pointing directly at King Teng and Tang Jie. It seems that this person has also noticed some dangerous behaviors of King Teng.

"Master Li is worried about state affairs, and this old man admires me very much; I understand what you mean, and to tell you the truth, I have mentioned this matter to the emperor several times; the current emperor is benevolent and honest, and he also thinks about the love of bones and blood. If you don’t want to do something for a long time, we, as courtiers, must understand the kindness of the Holy One; but this is not a bad thing, it is that the sores will eventually show up, and when the sores are not broken, the appearance is no different from that of intact skin; At this time, if you dig it open with a knife, you will find the rotten meat inside, but it will also hurt your heart, and others will think you are stupid, digging out a good piece of meat; but once the sore is broken, it will be easy. Now, just grit your teeth and squeeze it with your hands, the pus and blood will flow out, and then wash and apply medicine, and the scar will heal within a few days, and no one will blame you for being vicious."

All the people present here are smart people. Although Yan Shu's words are obscure, everyone can understand them. Su Jin wonders whose meaning it is, the emperor's meaning, or Yan Shu's meaning. In short, no matter who it is, maybe This is why after I sent Zhu Manizi and the two confessions to Beijing, what I got in exchange was a reprimand for not meddling in other people's business.

"The lower official has been taught, and the boss awakened the lower official with a few words, but the lower official didn't understand, should we just let it develop at this time and not stop it? If it is really too big to get rid of, even if it can be solved in the future, I am afraid the price paid will not be small, and it will hurt the vitality of the people and the court."

Yan Shu nodded and said: "Master Li is very reasonable, that's why I invited you here today; this time Yingtian Mansion has a student case, and in the end even Grandfather entrusted him to Su Xiaoguan in a dream, The emperor was very angry in private when the contents of the oath tablet in the Taimiao were made public. However, Yin Tangjie of Yingtianfu concealed it seamlessly, and took credit for this wrong thing, saying that Yingtianfu managed well and won the favor of the great grandfather. With the blessing of the spirit of the sky, dreaming is a sign of auspiciousness, and what he said was that the great grandfather announced it through the mouth of an ordinary student in order to spread the word and dispel the worries of the scholars in the world. .”

Only then did Su Jin understand why the case of the student had been going on for so many days, and the court hadn't expressed the slightest sign, nor had Tang Jie and King Teng been punished or reprimanded. It turned out that these two guys shamelessly reported the matter as auspicious And to put it bluntly, the run-on court cannot be punished. There is really no shameless one, only more shameless. Su Jin admires them a little.

Yan Shu continued: "Furthermore, the auspicious excerpts written by a group of officials in Yingtian Mansion have the same caliber, as if they were carved out of the same mold. Although this made it impossible for the court to punish them, it also exposed that this group of people advanced and retreated together The essence of offensive and defensive alliances."

Li Gang said: "It's very cunning, that Tang Jie is an old fox, I caught him several times, and in the end he used some method to withdraw his confession and escape."

Yan Shu smiled and said, "Master Li, if you play tricks with him, you might not be your match."

Li Gang gritted his teeth and said, "Let's talk about it, my lord, what should I do if I want to be dismissed this time?"

Yan Shu said: "The sage issued a decree to Zhao Zongdan and Tang Jie. One of the purposes of this old man's visit is to proclaim the decree."

Li Gang was moved and said: "After talking for a long time, does the Holy One still want to do it? What crime?"

Yan Shu laughed loudly, shook his head slightly, and said, "Not only is it not a convict, but a promotion, Tang Jie can make a lot of money now."

Li Gang and Su Jin were tongue-tied and froze on the spot.