The Happy Life of Small Officials in Northern Song Dynasty

On a hill seven miles south of the south gate of Yangzhou, in a grove of sparse shadows and dark fragrances, a dozen or so women stood in front of a new tomb, with tearful eyes and silk handkerchiefs piercing through their eyes.

Mi Huaniang’s grave was buried here by Su Jin’s order. On the day of the burial, Su Jin didn’t come because he had something to do, so he ordered someone to hire a helper and bought a good coffin to bury her here. It is a land of Fengshui.

Before Mi Hua was alive, she was welcomed and sent to Yangzhou, which is well-known, but after her death, it was deserted and not many people knew about it. She went there silently. Although Su Jin felt very unworthy of her for Feng Jingyao's death, she was moved by her steadfastness. .

Love is love, just like a familiar oath in Su Jin's memory said: Whether you are poor or rich, whether you are healthy or sick, whether you are good or bad, I am willing to live and die Sui; his behavior may be questionable, but his spirit is commendable.

The sky was gloomy, and the north wind was blowing, filling the sky with dark clouds; the last piece of paper money in front of the grave was turned into ashes, Su Jin softly greeted Bai Mudan and others, and was ready to go on the road; The car, the car did not enter the city again, but went west around the city, heading up the official road leading to Luzhou.

Su Jin ordered Zhang Long and Zhao Hu to walk with Bai Mudan and the others, while he galloped to the west gate, where his own convoy was already one step ahead, while Ouyang Xiu and Song Xiang had already set up a banquet outside the west gate for him to practice.

As soon as Su Jin came to the west gate, he was stunned by the situation in front of him. Who knows who released the news that he was leaving Yangzhou, which actually attracted the common people to see each other off. The large open ground outside the west gate was full of people And the moving head.

As soon as Su Jin appeared, the crowd immediately became commotion, and someone shouted: "Su Qingtian, have a good journey."

Someone shouted: "Su Qingtian, the people of Yangzhou thank you for your great kindness."

There were even people holding wine bowls, baskets full of eggs, and lively fresh fish to squeeze forward to give to Su Jin.

With a smile on his face, Su Jin got off his horse and handed over the reins to a soldier. He bowed his hands and thanked him. He walked all the way and took the wine bowls handed over by the people and drank it. When he reached the long shed built by Song Xiang, Su Jin Already drunk.

Ouyang Xiu and Song Xiang stood outside the shed and looked at all this with a smile on their faces. Only now did they feel the weight of the special envoy of the Soviet Union in the hearts of the people. It was not easy for a teenager to be so valued and loved by people. .

Some people often lament that the people's hearts have been tricky since ancient times. It is the same whether it is in troubled times or in peaceful times. One person is difficult to satisfy everyone. You are a perfect person, but you may not be recognized by everyone. This is why people often lament that the people are everywhere. reason.

If a person can be so loved by the people in the city, it means that this person must have something unique; to Su Jin, this is no secret, almost all the lives of the people in Yangzhou City were saved by him, so they can enjoy such treatment It just illustrates a very simple truth. At the moment of helplessness when the people cannot survive, if you can meet the basic survival needs of the people, it is enough to gain their trust, nothing else.

The so-called "where the land is extravagant, the people will be extravagant, rich and courteous" and "where the land is barren, the people will be restrained, evil and dangerous" should actually be said in reverse. The lower it is, the easier it is to satisfy the extremely low desires of the people, and the more they can be loved; and vice versa.

Although Su Jin didn't have the time to sum it up, he proved it with facts.

"Special Envoy Su, on behalf of the people of Yangzhou, my government would like to offer you a glass of wine. Thank you, Mr. Special Envoy, for what you have done for the people of Yangzhou in the past two months. This government is ashamed of itself." Emotional contagion, perhaps really from the heart.

Su Jin wobbled and drank the wine glass, and said with a smile: "Your Majesty, you are being polite. I have made him angry in the past two months, but fortunately, you and I have finally overcome the crisis in Yangzhou City. It’s a perfect ending, so I won’t say much else.”

Song Xiang took a drink and said with melancholy: "This government also wants to understand. After the new year on the first day, I asked to resign from the post of Yangzhou magistrate. It’s a big disaster, it’s time to wake up.”

Su Jin smiled and said: "Master Fu, why should you be anxious? Although there were some incidents in Yangzhou's grain affairs administration, they were resolved by the Lord after all. Even if the merits and demerits are offset, the emperor will not blame the Lord. Everything is in the hands of the emperor." In my heart, why should you and I bother? However, if you don’t want to be the magistrate, I would suggest that you edit and compile historical books and organize manuscripts. It is actually a waste for adults to be full of poems."

Ouyang Xiu rolled his eyes, this kid is drunk and talking nonsense, is this a compliment or a derogation?Although historians such as editors sound good in name, in fact, everyone regards them as incompetent people, saying that the magistrate is a waste of talent and learning, isn't this scolding the bald donkey in front of the monk?

However, Song Xiang was not angry, instead he nodded his head and said yes, he asked about the political fact is really a big task, Su Jin's suggestion is not just a random one, it is worth considering.

Su Jin picked up a glass of wine and said to Ouyang Xiu: "Lord Zhongcheng came to Yangzhou all the way, and he gave me a lot of help. Before Lord Zhongcheng arrived, we were in a hurry and disorderly. As soon as you arrived, you were in order. I admire you very much." ; Not much to say, I respect Lord Zhongcheng for this glass of wine, the words are in the wine."

Ouyang Xiu naturally heard Su Jin's words, and said with a smile: "Special Envoy Su is young and promising, and he will be a pillar of the court in the future. His ability will be even higher than that of my official. He will be able to achieve great success just around the corner. If I can work with you in Yangzhou, this official will also learn from you." I have learned a lot; when I go back this time, please greet Ling Tang for me, and we will meet later."

Su Jin thanked them, and the two drank a toast.

Su Jin once again had a drink with Ma Jun, Zhao and Fang, and the Xiang Jun Erpan two commanders to drink and say goodbye. Liu rushed to Luzhou to obey orders. These horse soldiers followed Su Jin for more than two months and finally had a vacation. Naturally, they were very happy. It stands to reason that they could not return to Beijing after their errands. , they also followed the income, and made a lot of money with the envoy for a few months, and they just happened to go back to the capital to have a good time, and they were very happy.

Su Jin was never worried that Ma Jun would be interrogated after returning to Beijing. These things were basically inevitable, but Ma Jun knew nothing about the military rations and Long Zhen's death. If the matter is not caught, Su Jin is not afraid of anything.

For Pan Jiang, Su Jin naturally tried his best to win him over, not only because Pan Jiang knew about his military rations, but also because, after two months, Su Jin found that Pan Jiang was a decent and down-to-earth person. , and Pan Jiang could not be moved and did not fall into Feng Jingyao's trap, so Su Jin looked at him with admiration; in the subsequent series of events, Pan Jiang always stood by his side, and even dared to take his side in the execution ground yesterday. The soldiers confronted the guards in front of the palace, which was enough to make Su Jin feel at ease with him.

When saying goodbye to Pan Jiang, Su Jin said to Pan Jiang without hesitation: "Commander Pan, the grain affairs will be over after the next year. When I return to Beijing to return to my command, I will strongly recommend you to the emperor. You must be prepared; But before that, you still have to work hard to stabilize the situation in Yangzhou, Feng Jingyao's remnants must still be leaking, so beware of them causing chaos."

The people in Panjiang's army naturally don't have so many flamboyants, and they admire whoever has the ability. From the time when Su Jin led a thousand people under him to uproot the bandits in Bagong Mountain, Panjiang has always been against him. The envoy fell to the ground.

Pan Jiang asked himself that he might dare to go up the mountain, but it is wishful thinking if he wants to make a difference, but the special envoy can dodge in the bandit's nest and finally defeat it in one fell swoop. This is not just a matter of courage, it is a matter of courage; As for the special envoy to provide food for the people, Pan Jiang didn't think there was anything wrong. Later, a dead city was gradually revived in the hands of the special envoy, and Feng Jingyao and a bunch of corrupt officials were captured along the way, which made Pan Jiang firm in his embrace of this city. The determination of the thick thighs.

Pan Jiang took a gulp of the wine bowl and said: "A humble job does not seek high officials and rich salary, but only wants to be able to do errands with adults in the future. Doing errands with lord envoys is the most proud time in a humble job in this life."

Su Jin laughed, leaned close to Pan Jiang's ear and whispered: "I ordered someone to send 20 coins to your house, [-] to you and Pan Shiyi, and you distribute the other [-] to the Xiangbing brothers in your own name. During this period of time, without your help, this envoy would not have been able to accomplish this great event; in the future, you and my brother will definitely work together one day, so you can rest assured."

Pan Jiang was surprised and said: "What should I do, how can I ask for money from adults."

Su Jin laughed and said: "It's not my money, it's the filial piety of that dead ghost Feng Jingyao, you know it in your heart."

Of course Pan Jiang knew it well, but he didn't have much desire for money, and he never took it seriously. Since the envoy rewarded him, he no longer declined, and thanked him.

Su Jin sent everyone to drink a few more glasses of wine in the same way, then got on the horse crookedly, and said goodbye.

With a yell from the dynasty, the Su family motorcade slowly started on the road, and the people of Yangzhou knelt down and watched Su Jin leave.

Su Jin sat swaying on the horse, and suddenly felt a chill on his face. When he looked up, there were thousands of flying catkins flying in the sky. The second heavy snow fell this year.