The Happy Life of Small Officials in Northern Song Dynasty

Zhang Mei waved her hand and led her subordinates to leave the stage. Ouyang Xiu and Song Xiang hurried forward to hold her back. Ouyang Xiu smiled and said, "Why is the envoy Zhang in such a hurry? You are here to proclaim the decree, and you will go back before the decree is announced. How do you deal with the emperor?" "

Zhang Mei said with a sneer: "Everyone is killed, what purpose is there to announce? Is Ouyang Zhongcheng just entertaining himself?"

Ouyang Xiudao: "Don't dare, although Zhang Dushi came a step late, but the decree still needs to be announced, otherwise, wouldn't the emperor blame Zhang Dushi for his dereliction of duty? I am also thinking of you; besides, I am also very puzzled. The emperor just yesterday The decree issued, allowing me to execute criminals in Yangzhou, why did you send Zhang Dushi thousands of miles to spread the decree to suspend the execution?"

Zhang Mei thought for a while and said: "Forget it, what Ouyang Zhongcheng said makes sense. Even though people didn't stop him, the imperial decree still has to be announced, otherwise I really can't explain it when I go back. Welcome to reading"

After finishing speaking, he turned around and took the brocade box from the guard behind him, and said loudly: "Ouyang Xiu, Song Xiang, Su Jin listen to the order!"

Everyone hurriedly dressed and knelt down on the ground, and all the people and soldiers also knelt on the ground to listen to the order.

"Ouyang Aiqing, Song Aiqing, Su Aiqing, I issued an imperial edict to promise you to execute Yangzhou criminals on the spot for the anger of the common people. The most important case of official administration, the hasty execution is illegal. Lu Aiqing requested to send a secretary to Yangzhou to audit the case before making a ruling. I also feel that the request of the Privy Council of the Zhengshitang is a prudent move, so I have considered it again and again and decided to postpone the execution. This time, I did not consider properly. It is understandable for you to be considerate of the people. If the soldiers and civilians in Yangzhou have any doubts, the three lovers should do a good job of appeasing and explaining. I promise you that after the audit is completed, the place of execution will still remain. Yangzhou, let the common people witness the conferment of the chieftain as soon as possible! Here it is!"

Everyone shouted long live three times, cheered and got up, Zhang Mei gathered the imperial decree and said indifferently: "Ouyang Zhongcheng, I have accepted the imperial decree."

Ouyang Xiu moved forward to receive the decree, but Su Jin hurriedly grabbed him, stepped forward and said, "Master Zhang, please take this imperial decree back to the capital, and I can't accept the decree."

Zhang Mei said angrily: "Su Jin, what did you say? The imperial edict was read out in public, is there any reason not to accept the imperial edict?"

Su Jindao: "Zhang Dushi, the Holy Majesty's order is to suspend the execution, but the criminal has already been executed, and I accept the order again. Isn't it disrespectful? I can't bear the responsibility of this crime. Just bring it back to the capital and return it to the Holy Majesty, there is nothing you can do if you fail to announce the decree before the execution, and the Emperor will not blame you, you have fulfilled your duty."

Only now did Ouyang Xiu and Song Xiang understand that Zhang Mei had set a trick to let them drill in. If the imperial decree was accepted and the prisoner was executed again, Zhang Mei could report to Ouyang Xiu, Su Jin and others for disrespecting the decree. As for whether the criminal was executed before receiving the order or after receiving the order, even ten mouths cannot tell.

Ouyang Xiu secretly called it a fluke, if it wasn't for Su Jin's quick thinking, he would have fallen into this trap today.

"Really refuse to accept the order?" Zhang Mei said angrily.

Ouyang Xiu cupped his hands and said: "Master Zhang, I am not refusing to accept you, but I dare not. Please forgive me, Mr. Zhang! Mr. Zhang came here in a hurry, and he was exhausted. I will arrange a place for you, and hold a banquet for Mr. Du to welcome you." How about washing the dust, resting overnight and returning to the capital tomorrow?"

Zhang Mei's face was ashen, and she said coldly: "No need, I will go back and reply to the order. There are still important things to do in the capital, so I will leave."

Ouyang Xiu was already very dissatisfied with this person's act of setting a trap just now. It was originally a polite remark, so of course he did not insist on trying to persuade him to stay at this moment.

Zhang Mei's cold eyes swept over the faces of the three of them one by one, and landed on Su Jin's face. She sneered and said, "Special Envoy Su has been a man of the hour recently, and the daily topic inside and outside the court cannot be separated from Special Envoy Su. I have some skills, but I will report this matter to the emperor truthfully, you wish for blessings, and leave."

Su Jin cupped his hands and said with a smile: "I hope Dushi Zhang will play the performance truthfully. It's cold and the road is far away. Dushi Zhang is careful all the way, so I won't give it away!"

Zhang Mei snorted angrily, led a dozen guards in front of the palace down the high platform, stepped on the horses, swung the whip to drive the people out of a passage again, and galloped away.

Ouyang Xiu's forehead was covered with cold sweat, looking at Su Jin speechless; Su Jin breathed out and asked, "Lord Zhongcheng, will the emperor blame me for this?"

Ouyang Xiu rolled his eyes at him and said: "Do you feel scared now? This matter is big or small; we are indeed executing the sentence before receiving the order, and the crime of resisting the order is absolutely out of the question; but Zhang Mei He has already spoken to stop him, and we will continue to execute him in front of him, and the two governments will definitely have doubts, and I am afraid that they will not let him go, and they will definitely send people to investigate secretly."

Su Jin said: "Check it out, what's wrong with him?"

Ouyang Xiu spat: "Do you think you can fool the past without hearing a word, and all the tens of thousands of people present will cover for you? Hey! Troubles will continue."

Su Jin's scalp was numb, so he simply didn't think about it, and cupped his hands and said: "The soldiers come to block, the water comes to the soil, at least these prisoners have been executed, and they want to make trouble, but it is not so easy."

Ouyang Xiu nodded and sighed: "That's the only way to go. Let's talk about it after passing this test. Up to now, the three of us have clenched our lips and said that we didn't hear it. No matter how much he questioned, we didn't hear three words. If anyone relaxes It’s over, everyone is playing.”

Su Jin smiled and said: "Very true, I would like to follow the words of Mr. Zhongcheng."

Ouyang Xiu was not in the mood to play tricks on Su Jin, turned his head and said: "The prefect of Song Dynasty called for an autopsy, and after the death of the prisoner was confirmed, the body was collected, and the head was hung on the gates of the four cities for public display for three days; no matter what, the matter of Yangzhou is understood. "

Listening to the two people's conversation, Song Xiang faintly felt that Su Jin and Ouyang Xiu were killing people to silence them, but he also learned to be a good boy. From now on, he will never interrupt what should not be interrupted, just follow the footsteps of Su Jin and Ouyang Xiu. ;As long as Su Jin is okay, he is even more okay, so there is no need to think too hard.

……

The Yuelai inn was very busy, and the Su family packed their luggage one after another. There was a row of black-covered horse-drawn carriages at the entrance of the inn, and Wang Chao, Mahan and others hey-y-h-hh-hhh-hhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh, I'awn, we moved big boxes one after another from the inn I put them on the car. Su Jin stood aside with her hips crossed, her heart was overwhelmed with beauty.

These are a large amount of money looted in the past two months. The bandits in Bagong Mountain and Feng Jingyao made Su Jin a fortune. Adding up the two places, the property obtained is no less than fifty or six million. Su Jin is dreaming I didn't expect to be so fat and oily that I could do it on a job; the matter is not over yet, there are still a group of people in Luzhou waiting for me to clean it up, and maybe I can make a lot of money again; Su Jin's smiling eyes are full of Copper coins and ingots, Le's mouth couldn't close.

Rou Niang and Yan Biyun stood in the lobby of the inn and looked at Su Jin, Rou Niang sighed softly: "My lord is playing with fire, I really worry about him."

Yan Biyun smiled and said: "What are you worried about? He has his reasons. Although these belongings are suspected of being greedy, they are all ill-gotten gains. Although your son loves money, he is not a stingy person. I am thinking, Even if these properties are handed over to the imperial court, how much will they benefit the people? But in his hands, they may really be used for the people.”

Rou Niang said: "Did you tell me how to use the money?"

Yan Biyun covered his mouth and smiled: "He said that when we go back, we will first build a luxurious mansion to raise you all in, and call it the Grand View Garden. This is for a golden house to hide the beauty. It seems that your son is going to collect all the beauties from all over the world. Accepted as a private pet."

Rou Niang blushed and said: "Sister Yan, you can still laugh, you don't care about such absurd things."

Yan Biyun also blushed and said: "I don't care about the servants, your son should be in charge of you, what does it matter to me?"

Rou Niang said: "Sister, is this going to get rid of it? I don't know who got into my sister's room that night and came out early the next morning."

Yan Biyun hurriedly looked around, and spat: "You also come to make fun of me, how can I see people in the servant's house when the news spreads?"

Seeing Yan Biyun's serious expression, Rou Niang hurriedly apologized: "I'm talking too much, sister, but I still need to talk more. I heard from Huanniang and Sui'er that Xia Siling in the capital went to the rented house in the capital several times. Well, before coming to Yangzhou, Miss Xia even wrote a letter asking Sui'er to bring it to the young master."

Yan Biyun was startled and said, "What about the letter?"

Rou Niang leaned into Yan Biyun's ear and whispered: "Sui'er was torn, you know Sister Sui'er's temper, how could she bring a letter to the young master for Miss Xia?"

Yan Biyun nodded and remained silent.

Rou Niang said softly: "So I still want to remind my sister, don't take it lightly, there are many people who are eyeing tigers outside, my sister can't do nothing, my father is young, if he is tempted and can't control it, that would be terrible .”

Yan Biyun shook his head and said, "If he treats me sincerely, why should I worry about this?"

Rou Niang shook her head and said: "That's true, but you can't let others take advantage of the loopholes. For example, this time you are going back to the capital for the New Year. In my sister's opinion, you might as well go to Luzhou together and meet the old lady. In the end, I still need the old lady." People agree."

Yan Biyun's heart skipped a beat, thoughtful.