The Happy Life of Small Officials in Northern Song Dynasty

In the afternoon, many sneaky figures suddenly appeared on the streets of Yangzhou. They were dressed in common people's clothes and spread news on the street.

"Brother, do you know? The imperial envoy Ouyang Zhongcheng is going to take the officials who are slacking off to the stables."

"Tch, what's so strange about this, the emperor will definitely behead these dogs himself, it's a joyous thing, what's the fuss about."

"You know what the hell, these guys will retract their confessions as soon as they arrive in the stables. Who among these officials has no background? Look, in a few years, these bastards will come back to settle accounts with us like dogs; Su Qingtian scolded his mother angrily in the government office, but there was nothing he could do."

"What? Is that really the case? These people can turn their lives around? I don't think it's possible."

"Why don't you say that you are short-sighted? None of these people have embezzled Wanguan's furniture, sprinkled a lot of money, and opened up joints everywhere. Officials harm people, just thinking about it will make my mother's heart explode."

"Then what should we do? We can't take advantage of these bastards. We have been plagued by Yangzhou for so many years. If we just ran away like this, wouldn't it be too cheap?"

"Yeah, who didn't say that? Su Qingtian was afraid that they would do this, so he wanted to ask the imperial envoy Ouyang to report to the court, so he would end these dog officials in Yangzhou; I almost got into a rough fight with the imperial envoy, but after all, he is a big official, and the first level of the official crushes people to death, so Su Qingtian has nothing to do except get angry."

"That can't be done. We have to help Su Qingtian speak out in this matter. He is wholeheartedly for the good of our Yangzhou. There will always be this kind of thing to disrupt the situation; it's just that we can't think of a way."

"There is a way, but I'm afraid that everyone's hearts are not in harmony. As long as everyone goes to the Yamen to petition together, can we, the imperial envoy, turn a blind eye to the public opinion of the people in Yangzhou? The emperor loves the people like a son, and he will support our people when he knows it."

"Petition? How to petition?"

"You elm head, let's go to the gate of the yamen together and ask the imperial envoy to chop off the heads of these guys in Yangzhou to anger the people. There are so many people and strength, so I don't believe that the imperial envoy will ignore it; besides, with Su Qingtian's backing, he will definitely effective."

"Yes, yes, this is a good way, then let's go quickly..."

"Hurry up? It's just the two of us going there for a fart."

"what is it now?"

"Let's tell everyone about these things, let's go together."

"Hey, look at my brain, come on, I'm not going to do business anymore, so I'm going to tell the neighbors."

"Go... hurry... I'll tell the other neighbors too."

"That... this brother has worked hard, how do you know these things? Even Su Qingtian knew about the quarrel with the Imperial Envoy..."

"Oh, my daughter-in-law's cousin's third uncle's uncle's uncle works in the Yamen. When there is a quarrel, his uncle will wait on the sidelines, otherwise we would still be kept in the dark."

"Oh, your uncle is responsible for this. Come on, I'll go and get someone to go, thank you for sending the message."

"..."

The same dialogue scene was repeated in the four cities and eight major cities. Some people ignored it, some people were busy doing business, but more people responded positively; Su Qingtian worked so hard to help Yangzhou get rid of the cancer, but finally let these people get away with it; even some people who had been directly persecuted were emotionally gritted their teeth and jumped, and soon crowds began to gather in front of the government office.

An hour later, the government office was already crowded with people. Song Xiang, who had just been evacuated to guard and regained his freedom, hadn't recovered from his senses. He was hiding in the inner hall like a frightened bird thinking about it. Suddenly, the government servant came to report that the government office square The common people are gathering, noisy and do not know what happened.

Song Xiang's head is getting bigger, what's wrong? Can't he stop for a few days?

"Quickly ask Pan Dutou to bring the soldiers over, and you go to the gate of the yamen and stand there to prevent the people from rushing in." Song Xiang repeatedly ordered.

"I obey... But those people seem to be clamoring to see the imperial envoy, sir, do you think it's time to send someone to the official post to invite the imperial envoy?"

"Why don't you go quickly? What are you doing here? Tell the imperial envoy that the government is here to appease the people first, and ask him to come here quickly." Song Xiang hurriedly got up and walked out. He had made up his mind, and the soldiers didn't come to him. He won't show his face, but when he heard that these people were looking for Ouyang Xiu, he immediately felt relieved; since he had nothing to do with him, it would be fine if he went out; besides, when the imperial envoy arrived, if he wasn't there to appease him, it would be unreasonable .

Ouyang Xiu was given a few more drinks by Su Jin at the Yuelai Inn, and because he had something on his mind, his head felt dizzy when he drank so much; The attendants shouted loudly outside the door, and Ouyang Xiu was so angry that he cursed a few words and had to get up.

After listening to the stuttering narration of the yamen servant, Ouyang Xiu didn't hesitate at all, and hurriedly led the people out of the door, and went straight to the government office square. When he arrived at the ground, he got out of the carriage and took a look. He was shocked. Excited, it makes people feel hairy.

Ouyang Xiu thinks he has nothing to do with the people of Yangzhou, but he has also heard about the people of Yangzhou who gathered together to smash and loot. These people are ordinary people if they don't do bad things.

So Ouyang Xiu chose to come to the front of the government office quickly from a secluded passage. As soon as he climbed the steps, he saw Song Xiang explaining something hoarsely to the people with a sad face: "Father, fellow countrymen, how could this matter? It's really not the case .”

"You don't lie to us, call the imperial envoy to speak, we don't believe what you say."

"You don't believe what my government says, so who do you believe? Believe in this official. There is no such thing as what you said... This government is your parents' official, so how could I lie to you?"

"Fucking parent officer, you are such a wimp. After staying here for three years, the dog official who has raised so many fish and meat people doesn't even know it. He just knows that he travels around mountains and rivers, recites poems and paints all day long; when Su Qingtian comes, our Yangzhou immediately The sky is fine, I count on you, everyone is afraid that they will starve to death and freeze to death, so if they don't talk to you, let's ask the imperial envoy to bring a message to the emperor..."

Song Xiang blushed, wanted to get angry but couldn't, his proud self-esteem was hit, but he couldn't really walk away, so he had to bite the bullet and continue to explain.

Ouyang Xiu felt sorry for Song Xiang, the former number one scholar, now even a state official is treated like this. A big cancer, actually ignorant and ignorant.

"Prefect Song, what's going on?" Ouyang Xiu asked Song Xiang's sleeve from behind.

Seeing Ouyang Xiu, Song Xiang burst into tears, and hurriedly cupped his hands and said, "Lord Zhongcheng, you are here, I can't hold it anymore."

Ouyang Xiudao: "What's the matter?"

Song Xiang said: "I don't know where the news came, saying that we are going to escort the prisoner and Feng Jingyao to Beijing. The people are afraid that the prisoner will be sheltered if he goes to the stable, so they all come to the imperial envoy and ask him to send a message to the emperor. The emperor executed the criminals in Yangzhou to anger the common people."

As soon as Ouyang Xiu heard this, he immediately understood that this must be Su Jin's tricks. He just talked to him at noon that criminals who have great public grievances can apply for local execution to quell public grievances. It took only two hours, and the people immediately gathered to petition. If it wasn't for Su Jin's tricks, it would be strange.

However, the fact that the common people can gather together to petition so quickly also shows that these officials really have too much public grievances, so it is only logical that they should be executed locally.

"Fathers and folks in Yangzhou, I am the imperial envoy you are looking for. What exactly do you want? You can tell me that such a commotion is not a problem. Please recommend some of you to come and talk." Ouyang Xiu Su Rong said loudly.

The imperial envoy naturally has a dignified presence. Although the common people are clamoring, they are afraid of the government in their hearts. The bigger the official, the more they are afraid. The noise gradually subsides. They didn't dare to step forward, for fear that they would force themselves to stand out and be settled by Qiuhou in the future.

In embarrassment, one person raised his arm and said, "Let me tell you, I'm not afraid."

Ouyang Xiu smiled and said, "Let this brother come forward and speak."

The crowd made way for a passage, and Zheng She stepped forward with big strides, and the soldiers moved their swords away and let him go up the steps at the gate of the yamen.

"See my lord, the villain Zheng She, who sells fish at Nanshikou."

Ouyang Xiu said: "Tell me, what is it?"

Zheng She cupped his hands and said, "My lord, we heard that the criminals caught by Master Su this time will be taken to the stables for sentencing?"

Ouyang Xiu said with a twist: "According to the procedure, it is true that the Ministry of Punishment needs a review before a verdict can be issued."

Zheng She said: "That's it. We Yangzhou people call these bastards a lot of harm. My father was forced to death by Feng Jingyao colluding with these dog officials. My fish stall is far away from Feng Huhu's shop." More than ten zhang away, they insisted that my stall blocked their door, and they made trouble every three days; my father was so angry that he went to the yamen to report the case, but not only did the yamen not deal with it, but my father beat dozens of boards and threw it out. , My father was very angry and hated him, and he died with hatred after three months; the villain refused to give up, and planned to go to the stable to file a complaint, but was discovered by Feng Huohu's subordinates, chased him back, and forcibly cut off three fingers, my lord, look."

Zheng She stretched out his right hand, which was tucked in his sleeve, and sure enough, only the thumb and little finger remained of the five fingers, and the middle three left three bald piles.

Zheng She said: "The villain was thrown into the prison. If Su Qingtian hadn't come to Yangzhou, the villain would never have seen the sun in his life. These dog officials and bullies killed my father and mutilated the villain. The villain can't wait to eat Their meat, drink their blood, so the villain wants to ask the adults to bring a message to the emperor, hoping to witness the beheading of these harmful scum, please do it."

Song Xiang couldn't help but said: "Zheng She, the government knows about your case, and has already compensated you, and the stalls have been returned to you, and you are still messing around; the court has court procedures, and you can't do whatever you want."

As soon as Song Xiang interjected, the people immediately became dissatisfied. Someone yelled boldly: "You're a loser, get the hell out of here. If it wasn't for your incompetence, how could the people of Yangzhou suffer so much?"

Someone took the lead, and immediately roared like thunder: "Go away, useless."

"What kind of bird magistrate, don't make decisions for the people, go home and sell sweet potatoes."

Song Xiang offended the people of Yangzhou for some reason. Some time ago, when they opened the warehouse to release grain, everyone was still shouting "Song Qingtian" at the gate of the yamen. Why is the situation getting better and better now? It became a thorn in the side of the flesh, which made him unexpected.

What made Song Xiang even more ashamed was that Ouyang Xiu also squinted at him and said: "Prefect Song, what you said is unreasonable. The emperor loves to listen to the voices of the common people. How could he ignore the demands of the common people as you said? You step back and rest."

Song Xiang was ashamed to death, covered his face and stepped back.