The Happy Life of Small Officials in Northern Song Dynasty

A leader of the Xiangbing quickly ran in from the outside and saluted: "My lord, the humble Chen Erwang searched Hefeng Building and just returned."

Zhu Shiyong said: "Didn't you realize that the Su family is small?"

Chen Erwang said: "Except for dozens of shopkeepers in Hefeng Building, I have never seen anyone else hiding in Hefeng Building."

"How is it possible? Did you wait and search carefully?"

"I searched upstairs and downstairs, inside and out, and even went down to the ice cellar where they store ingredients and vegetables, and there were no outsiders."

Zhu Shiyong said angrily: "This is amazing, could it be possible to fly? Isn't Hefenglou Nudong in the building?"

Chen Erwang said: "The humble officer went to the backyard to search, only five or six women, children, and maidservants guarded a boudoir, but he didn't see the daughter of the Yan family. ..."

"Bastard, why are women not women? You are acting on official business and not deliberately harassing. Why are you worrying so much? So you didn't search the boudoir carefully enough?"

Chen Erwang bowed and said: "The humble officer roughly checked the inside and outside, that's all."

Zhu Shiyong said: "No, immediately take someone to search carefully. Since the daughter of the Yan family is not here, it will be easier to handle."

Chen Erwang was ordered to turn around and go out, Yang Yi couldn't sit still, and shouted: "Chen Du, wait a minute!"

Zhu Shiyong frowned and said, "Commander Yang, what are you doing? You have already startled the snake, but if you delay now, if the person runs away, will you be responsible?"

Yang Yi said: "Master Zhifu, I have to remind you that what you are disturbing is the family members and property of Lord Sansi's family. I would like to ask you again, what is the reason that made you insist on it without any evidence? If you want to catch Su Jin, you don't even pay attention to Master Sansi?"

Zhu Shiyong said coldly: "Commander Yang, the more you talk, the more presumptuous you are. Our government is investigating the escape of the Xishan gangsters, and it is for official business. You are timid and fearful, but for Zhu, you have always adhered to the principle that the prince breaks the law." The dogma of the same crime as the people; whether it is the Yan family or Su Jin, as long as it is related to this matter, how can the government back down because of this? Don't worry, if there is any blame from the higher authorities, the government will definitely not implicate the blame on you It's on the head."

Yang Yi sneered and said: "The Baoxin Army is under my Yang Yi's command. If something goes wrong, I can't get away with it. I hope that the magistrate speaks from the bottom of his heart, but everyone will say what he said. If something goes wrong, I'm afraid." It is indisputable.”

Zhu Shiyong walked with Buddha's sleeves on his shoulders and said: "This government has no time to talk to you. If you are suspicious, you slowly think in this hall. This government is going to arrest someone."

After finishing speaking, he stepped out, ordered the whole team of Xiang soldiers gathered at the gate of the Yamen, and went straight to Hefeng Tower; Yang Yi's face was pale, and after thinking about it, he stepped on his horse and followed closely.

……

Hefeng Building was turned upside down inside and out, and the elegant hall behind and Yan Biyun's residence were not spared. The magistrate was in charge, and the soldiers were all unscrupulous, rummaging around in the boudoir. Silk curtains, incense, calligraphy, paintings, and potted plants were thrown everywhere, and a boudoir was turned into a garbage dump after a search, in a mess.

But apart from the trembling maids and the poor girls, there was no trace of Su Jin's family at all, and Yan Dong's family naturally had no way of seeing them.

Zhu Shiyong's eyes were red, and this time he was at a dead end. If he didn't understand this matter, he would not be able to explain all this to Yan Shu, the third secretary in the future. In fact, he didn't need to explain it at all, because he didn't know that There is no after.

But after searching all over the city, I didn't see Su Jin's family, nor did I see Yan Biyun, who was closest to him, what should I do?Everyone exited Hefeng Building and stood in line on the street.

Zhu Shiyong looked at the sky and saw the light, his heart was very anxious, and he shouted hoarsely: "All the soldiers are divided into two teams, one team goes from east to west, and the other team goes from south to north. We need to search all the houses in the city again, don't miss any area, we must find the escaped family of the Su family or the daughter-in-law of Hefeng Building; I tell you, don't take chances, and find them before dawn. If you can’t find someone, continue searching during the day, if you can’t find someone, then search for one day, if you can’t find someone for two days, then search for two days, if you can’t find anyone, everyone has to stop.”

All the soldiers looked at each other in blank dismay, tossing and tossing all night, it's already dawn, and they still can't live in peace, is it possible that the magistrate has gone crazy?Everyone was anxious, and they began to mutter and scold their mothers in their stomachs; Zhu Shiyong glared and shouted: "If you don't act quickly, what are you waiting for? Do you want my house to carry eight big sedan chairs to ask you to do business?"

Everyone reluctantly squirmed and lined up separately, and a timid voice sounded from the corner: "That...Master Fuzun, are you saying that you want to find the female owner of this Hefeng building?"

Zhu Shiyong scolded: "Are you deaf? Didn't the officer speak clearly enough?"

The man hurriedly said: "I went to Beicheng to search just now, and I seem to have seen that Yan Dong's family in a house."

Zhu Shiyong was overjoyed, and hurriedly said: "Really? Is he in his twenties and very beautiful?"

The man said: "Yes, yes."

Zhu Shiyong raised his hand and slapped the man several times, cursing, "Why didn't you say it earlier? What's your plan?"

The man was whipped and turned in a circle, his cheeks were hot and painful, and he smiled and said: "I don't know that my lord is looking for this woman. I just brought people back to the government office. I heard that the yamen stayed behind and the superior sent an order to wait for me to come here." At the command of the adults, how do you know that you have just arrived?"

How could Zhu Shiyong admit his mistake, and said angrily, "Don't make excuses, lead the way quickly, how many people are there?"

The soldiers on that side covered their cheeks and spat out a mouthful of blood, saying, "Old and young are not old or young."

Zhu Shiyong said happily: "That's right, Su Jin's family must be there, Yan Biyun is alone, with some attendants and maids, where are the old and small family members, this is definitely true; you immediately lead the way, After taking the person, the government will reward you a lot."

The Xiang soldiers turned their heads from sorrow to joy, and regardless of the pain and swelling of their cheeks, they hurriedly yelled for several people to gather and lead the way north. Zhu Shiyong followed behind with a large group of troops, and soon came to the house in front of the house in Beicheng. At the corner; Nadu stopped and pointed, "That's the house."

Zhu Shiyong had a half-smile on his face, and said: "It's still a private house, it seems that he is afraid of being discovered by others, so immediately surround this house and never let anyone go."

……

The watchman of the Yan family had just informed Yan Biyun of the news that the officers and soldiers had left and returned, there were already chaotic footsteps outside, and in the blink of an eye, the house was surrounded by hundreds of soldiers.

Everyone panicked and gathered in the hall to look at Yan Biyun, waiting for her to speak; Yan Biyun knew that there was no need to panic at this moment, the more panicked, the more panicked the crowd would be.

The situation was extremely dangerous, surrounded by soldiers from all sides, Zhu Shiyong's aggressive approach seemed to be desperate, and the only thing he could rely on was his identity as the Yan family, so he could only procrastinate to see if he could turn things around.

But Yan Biyun also knew that since Zhu Shiyong had turned his back on him, his identity would not be able to scare him anymore. If he allowed him to take the Su family away from him, how could he explain to Su Jin; Taking Su Jin's family as hostages, forcing Su Jin to hand over Chen Laogen and the fictitious letter, and destroying the evidence at that time, only saying that when the fugitive was arrested, Su's family was detained by mistake, and they quarreled up to Zhu Shiyong There is no mortal punishment either.

That's all, if Mrs. Wang and the Su family's maid fall into Zhu Shiyong's hands, as long as there is an accident, Su Jin will never trust him again, and the relationship between himself and Su Jin will be completely over.

Yan Biyun thought very clearly. She made up her mind that when the critical moment came, she would not hesitate to fight to the death, and she must not just sit and watch Mrs. Wang being taken away by her own hands; The ten or so companions under him want to protect the house full of women, children and children, it is tantamount to a dream.

The gate of the courtyard came to mind, and someone shouted loudly: "The people in the house quickly opened the door. Master Zhu, the prefect of Luzhou, personally led troops to search for the fugitives. If he didn't open the door again, he would smash the door and enter."

Yan Biyun adjusted her clothes, stepped out of the hall and came to the courtyard, Xiao Sui'er Rou Niang and others followed closely behind her, all of them looked dignified, knowing that today's test might not be passed, but there was only panic, but nothing timid.

"Outside the door is Mr. Zhu, the magistrate of Luzhou? Yan Biyun, my servant, is polite." Yan Biyun went straight to the point and reported his family.

Zhu Shiyong laughed dryly and said, "It's really Hefeng Lou's hostess, I'm being polite; I don't want to disturb Miss Yan too much, and let me wait to search the fugitives from the Xishan quarry, and leave after searching."

Yan Biyun smiled and said: "The prefect Zhu was joking, how could the fugitive from Xishan be in the slave's house, and the soldiers came to search it just now, didn't they report to you?"

Zhu Shiyong said: "Of course, our government knows that the fugitive is not in Miss Yan's courtyard. This government has obtained clues that the escape of the death row prisoner in Xishan is somehow related to some people in the city. This government is actually here to arrest these people."

Yan Biyun chuckled lightly and said, "Master Zhifu is saying that I, Yan Biyun, am the accomplice who helped the death row prisoner escape?"

Zhu Shiyong said: "Don't dare, Miss Yan is certainly not, but the person under your wing protection is not necessarily."

Yan Biyun said: "How do you say that?"

Zhu Shiyong sighed and said: "Miss Yan, you are a smart person, and it is useless for you to delay the time. To tell you the truth, Su Jin is the one who colluded with the death row prisoner to escape. How can you protect his family? Quickly open the door and let the government bring Su Jin, who was kidnapped by his family and forced to escape, to justice. If you don't know about this matter, the government will not embarrass you."

Yan Biyun was speechless, and suddenly said: "Prefect Zhu, you said that Su Jin was involved in the escape from the death row prisoner, do you have evidence?"

Zhu Shiyong said: "Miss Yan, how can I just talk about important government affairs with you casually? After the government's trial is clear, the truth will naturally be revealed to the world."

Yan Biyun sneered and said: "It seems that the prefect Zhu has no evidence, and he came to arrest people without evidence, really confused."

Zhu Shiyong was suddenly displeased and said: "Miss Yan, this government has given you enough face. This government guarantees you in the name of one of the parents and officials. This government has evidence that Su Jin is related to this matter. You will do your best to protect the suspect's family. Whether it will damage my uncle's reputation, or open the door without hesitation, otherwise the government will be offended."

Yan Biyun said hesitantly: "It's a big joke in the world, how can anyone use his own identity as a guarantee to prove that others are guilty without evidence? If you want to say this, the servant uses the identity of the uncle of the third envoy as a guarantee to guarantee that Su Jin and this There is nothing involved, can you?"

Zhu Shiyong grimaced, and shouted: "Lord Sansi is used to suppress my feelings, but this government will not accept your tricks. After all I say, this government will no longer be polite to you. You are a woman who is restless. Why come to this muddy water, no one can blame this mansion."

Zhu Shiyong took a breath, gritted his teeth and shouted at the soldiers around him: "Small the gate of the courtyard, go in and take people, if anyone resists, they will be killed without mercy!"