The Happy Life of Small Officials in Northern Song Dynasty

Ouyang Xiu regretted it to death, why did he have to go through this muddy water, he only blamed himself for saying something extra in the morning, and actually volunteered to come to Huainan Road to investigate Su Jin's case, he thought that by doing this, he could take a picture without any trace Yan Shu's flattery, in the future, after Yan Shu pays homage to the prime minister, he can also benefit from it.

But I didn't expect to find such a thing again when I arrived in Yangzhou City; originally this was also my chance, every time I found out a major case, my official position would jump up; even though Su Jin belonged to Yan Shu, However, judging from Su Jin's age and seniority, it can be concluded that the relationship between Su Jin and Yan Shu will not be too deep. If a big mistake is caught, Yan Shu will definitely lose the car. As long as I communicate with Yan Shu in advance, Yan Shu will make some preparations in advance. Yan Shu would not be offended, and Yan Shu would thank him instead.

There are various indications that the group of officials far away in the stables should not know what Su Jin is doing at all, otherwise there will be troubles already; A crime of embezzlement of military rations is enough to make Su Jin die without a place to bury him.

The current situation is that once he takes Su Jin to the stables for questioning, and Yan Biyun gets agitated and wipes his neck or hangs himself, no matter how much he informs him beforehand, Yan Shu will never let him go; There is no way to retreat after taking a step back, just like halfway through a relationship between a man and a woman, suddenly someone breaks in and throws the quilt, it is so annoying.

Ouyang Xiu wished he could find a piece of tofu to kill him, but the only thing to be thankful for was that he had a heart. When he came to Yangzhou on the first day, he learned about it from the criminal officer, but he had a heart and was not in a hurry His usual caution has helped him a lot, otherwise he can only go to Hei all the way now, and go to Beijing with Su Jin; in the future, he can only resign himself to fate.

"Lord Zhongcheng, why don't you pretend to let me go first, trick Yan Xiu into the stable, hand it into the hands of Lord Yan, and then take me back; talk to Lord Yan in advance, so that even if you get out You can't be blamed for this matter. Master Yan will definitely take care of Yan Xiu in every possible way, and he won't let Yan Xiu die in vain; the next official also just spent some time to enlighten Yan Xiu, if it doesn't work, I will pretend to be a villain. Immediately expel her."

Ouyang Xiu looked at Su Jin's squirming lips, wishing he could go up and slap him twice: "Are you an idiot today? I have already told Yan Xiu that I will escort you to Beijing, but now I suddenly changed my words, do you think she will believe it? You are so devoted, and now she will not leave you unless you tie her to the stable by force; but I can't do that with a woman tied to the stable; I can't think of anything good about you? You are so desperate."

Su Jin scratched his head and said, "This is not true, and that is not acceptable, so what do you think should be done?"

"I know what to do, why am I still talking to you?" Ouyang Xiu said angrily.

Su Jin suddenly leaned over and looked at Ouyang Xiu with a playful smile. Ouyang Xiu was frightened by him, and frowned, "What are you doing? You are smiling so happily when you are about to die."

Su Jin whispered in Ouyang Xiu's ear: "Why don't you just turn a blind eye and close your eyes, Mr. Zhongcheng, anyway, the army rations have been replenished, and there is no trouble; why are you holding on to me? Just pretend not to know Let me go, Su Jin will definitely thank Master Zhongcheng for saving his life in the future."

Ouyang Xiu was startled, and said loudly: "What? Absolutely not"

Su Jin hurriedly booed and said, "Even if you disagree, don't be so public, just pretend I didn't say it."

Ouyang Xiu pointed at Su Jin's nose and said, "You're thinking beautifully. Can you hide this matter? The prisoner leaked everything when he came to Beijing. Are you trying to drag me down?"

Su Jin cupped his hands and said: "How dare a lower official drag your lord into the water? I am also thinking of you. You did this kind of thing for no reason. Originally, you could get promoted and make a fortune by virtue of this. But if Yan Xiu really can't think about it, just let me go. I'm afraid that Master Yan will blame you; the life of a lower official is worthless, and the future of your lord is great, how can you ruin your future for the life of a lower official; besides, if this matter can be covered, the lower official is grateful to you for the rest of your life. He said, if Lord Sansi can successfully become the prime minister, I will let Yan Xiu talk about your benefits in the ear of Lord Sansi; and my little life can be saved by the way, so why don't you consider it? consider?"

Ouyang Xiu was pointed out by him, the pain in his heart was pointed out, his mouth was full of steel teeth, and he jumped out word by word from the gap between his teeth: "I advise you to give up this heart. I am favored by the emperor, how can I protect you?" You have committed a serious crime; this official is working hard for the court, who is he afraid of offending? Even if the third envoy blames the crime, this official has no choice but to act in accordance with the laws of the country and will never tolerate it."

Su Jin sighed and said: "Since your lord said so, the lower officials are naturally speechless; although I violated the laws of the country, it was not for personal gain. My thoughts have already been told to my lord. The opening of a warehouse is forced by the situation, and it is not true. If you want to make trouble, the emperor knows this, and he must understand it in his heart; so your lord can say that I violated the laws of the country, but you can't say that I did something wrong; The official can't say that what you did is wrong; it seems that there is only one way now, that is, the adults quickly take me to the stables to question the crime, anyway, I am going to die, so it is better to understand this matter as soon as possible."

Ouyang Xiu just wanted to say: "So what if I take you." Before he could say anything, Su Jin seemed to mutter: "If my lord can let go of the official, the lower official has an idea to let this matter rot in Yangzhou City , will never let the court know; but Mr. Zhongcheng obviously won’t agree, so I’d better shut up obediently.”

Ouyang Xiu's heart moved. What he was worried about was that this matter could not be covered. If he covered up, the prisoner would definitely come back after being escorted to Beijing. Obviously, he would be implicated and lose his life; but if there is a way to make the news go away , it might not be a way to get the best of both worlds; Ouyang Xiu is not so pedantic as Bao Zheng and the others, as long as he breaks the law, he will not show mercy, and he must deal with it according to the law and then quickly.

"Su Jin, I advise you not to make any crooked ideas. This lax official is going to be sent to the stable for review by the Ministry of Criminal Justice. I am afraid that the emperor will personally intervene in such a big case. You still want to cover up the crime. Don't Dreaming."

Su Jin felt happy, asking himself in a disguised form: "How can I cover it up? Tell me quickly, my lord is an ant on a hot pot right now."

Su Jin said softly: "Your Excellency is right, this matter is indeed difficult, but I believe that there are more solutions than difficulties, isn't it because I am afraid that this lazy official will go to the stables and talk nonsense in the Ministry of punishment? It will be fine if you don't send them to the stables Is it gone?"

Ouyang Xiu said suddenly: "Stupid words, the Ministry of Criminal Justice needs to review the confession. How can the prisoner be reviewed if he is not escorted to the stable? The state government has no right to draw conclusions. The state government is only responsible for the initial trial, and the Ministry of Criminal Justice needs to be convicted; you don't understand procedural matters at all. .”

Su Jin said: "Is there no exception?"

Ouyang Xiudao: "Naturally, if there are force majeure factors, such as road impassability, war blocking, or the execution of heinous criminals in the local area, the people will be outraged, and they can report to the imperial court after the 'Five Repeats'."

Su Jin said: "According to the law of the Song Dynasty, what punishment should these officials be punished?"

Ouyang Xiudao: "They are all capital crimes, and none of them can escape; corruption and dereliction of duty, collusion with the evil, disregarding human life, fish and meat of the common people, a hundred deaths will not atone for their crimes."

Su Jin said: "Has the criminal evidence been collected?"

Ouyang Xiudao: "The prefect of Song Dynasty has already conducted a very detailed trial. In addition, there are evidences of the victims in Yangzhou, and the confessions that the group of people you handed over to me left Feng Jingyao as a handle. There are witnesses, material evidences and oral confessions. It's a done deal."

Su Jin clapped his hands and said: "Then it's over? Repeat the replay, as long as people don't go to the stables; the adults can sort out the evidence and confession, and say that the people of Yangzhou are agitated and demand severe punishment for corrupt officials, and then all of them will be punished." They were slaughtered years ago, can their ghosts still leak this matter?"

Ouyang Xiu was startled, this kid is ruthless enough, in order to save his own life, he will use a knife to kill someone.

But these people really deserve to die, and they will never be wronged if they are killed, and the method Su Jin said will work, as long as the people in Yangzhou collectively petition that they want to see corrupt officials confer their heads with their own eyes. To let the people who have experienced catastrophe live a happy and comfortable year, it is the best choice to execute criminals in Yangzhou; according to the emperor's temperament, he will probably approve it.

It's just that Ouyang Xiu always felt that something was wrong. If he did this, he might be able to cover up the matter, but wouldn't it be in vain to make Su Jin cheaper? Moreover, he and he were also a partnership to deceive the court. Su Jin made money, but he himself I didn't get anything; what I will be grateful for in the future, and so on, after Master Sansi won the aspect, it is all a vague word, whether it will be really beneficial is still unknown, why take such a big risk with him.

Su Jin could see that Ouyang Xiu had a little bit of emotion, and quickly added a weight: "Master Zhongcheng, if you can save the life of the lower official, the lower official will give you a big gift."

Ouyang Xiu stared at Su Jin and yelled softly: "If you think that I am a greedy person and will be bought by you, you are wrong."

Su Jin said with a smile: "Your Excellency is the number one honest official in the world, don't you know it; it's just that this big gift is not money, but two big cases; I originally wanted to save it for my own promotion. But if my lord can save this life for the next official, these two big cases will be regarded as a generous gift for my lord, and my lord Guanbao will be greatly appreciated by the Holy Majesty, and the day of promotion is just around the corner."